The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-08-21
GREAT PLANS TO
DEVELOP ALASKA
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
PAYNE's INSPECTION TRIP
WILL HAVE RESULTS
CHANCES FOR NEW CAPITAL
Exploitation by Selfish Interests viii
Not Be Permitted, But Develop
ment Of Territory's Huge Re-
sources Will be Fostered

Washington.-John Barton Payne,
secretary of the department Of the
interior has returned to Washington
from an inspection tour Of Alaska
with Josephus Daniels, secretary of
the navy. The trip was made from
Seattle to Alaska on a United States
destroyer and the object was to get
information at first hand as to what
steps should be taken by the gov
ernemtn toward facilitating the de-
velopment Of the last frontier" Of
the United States.
Before Secretary Payne started on
| tn trip he had plans under way for
the greater developmnt of Alaskan
resources. He had special commit
tee at work for some time preparing
recommendations, which the secretary
has now approved. The plans include
cooperation of commercial organiza-
lions interested in the territory and
the development Of its resources.
alaska has immense natural re-
sources which have never been de
veloped properly" said Secretary
Payn. During the war the white
population of the territory actually
decreased from $4,000 in 1915, to S6
!. 600 at present, and the output o.
mineral and other industries showed
a SIMILAR decrease. The rich mining
agricultural and fishing reserves o
the region have never been made
properly available. Under the poll
lcies which the department is now put
ting into effect an opportunity vii
be given for the investment of new
capital"
No Selfish Exploitation
Secretary Payne makes it plain
cwever, that the resources Of thi
s.sat wonderland of the north vii
ot be permitted to be exploited b,
selfish interests.
Exploitation of the resources o
the territory will not be turned owe
to one interest or group Of interests,
he says. Improvement of shippint
and railroad facilities is undertake.
with the purpose of admitting fresl
capital and opening the country 10
settlement by American citizens. Tn
first step in this direction is the low
ering of freight rates and passenge
fares and the Improvement Of trans
portation and mail service through
economies introduced by combination
of the two existing steamship line
into one, which the department hope
to effect"
The two steamship liens referred t
are the Pacific Steamship compan
and the Alaska Steamship company
Conferences have been arranged b
the secretary for the purpose Of gel
ting the companies together. 1t
understood that the plan is not OF
posed by the companies, If a pla
for consolidation can be worked oui
Concentration and coordination Q
federal control of Alaska lands an
resources is contemplated by Obtain
ing legislative authority for an Alas
ka development board, and, pendin
this, by the appointment Of an inter
departmental Alaska committee,
says the secretary.
Roads Copper and Timber
''other plans include the co-Ordi
nation Of federal road construction
and the development of plan for
comprehensive system of roads an
trails to serve the entire territory
and also the requesting Of an opprc
priation of at least one million dollar
for the inauguration of this system.
Investigation Of the feasibility 0
smelling Alaska copper ores on
commercial basis within the territor,
win be undertaken. OF great impor