The Cordova daily times., 1920-01-07
ALIVE TO SITUATION

We may rest assured that our Cana dian brethren are alive to the poten- tial possibilities of the great Ameri- can-Canadian mineral belt that lies in the region of the Portland canal, in Southeastern Alaska, and in the Cana dian territory adjacent. Our news dispatches of this week tell of the completion of a good, substantial road connecting the town of Stewart, in British Columbia, and the town of Fly der, on American soil. This road was built at a considerable cost, due to the heavy rock work incident to it's con- struction. It skirts along the base of a big, forbidding mountain. The Cana dians did not build this wagon road just to connect with the American town Rather they built it so that the town of Stewart might stand a show to become the supply base for the big silves mines along the American-Ca Ga hadian border, the Salmon river be- ing the natural boundary line Most of the big mines in the Portland canal district, so far discovered and deve1- oped to any appreciable extent, hap pen to be on the Canadian side, but their location is such that it is neces- sary to pass through American terri tory for some ten to twenty miles to get to them. Indeed, the only pres ent feasible way to reach these mines is via the American side of the Salmon river valley. The road from Stewart to Hyder, of course, taps the Ameri- can road running up the Salmon river valley to the mines. So the building of this Stewart-Hyder road has but one object in view, namely, to bring the big mines in touch with the Cana dian town.
 Now, this is all very commendab1e on the part of our Canadian brethren. They are reaching out for future trade, as they have a perfect right to do. If Stewart, a Canadian town, is made the supply base of the big silves mines, it follows as a logical result that Ca nadian firms will garner in the greater part of the commercial business incl dent thereto. Canadian steamers will likewise get the biggest part of the freight and passenger traffic that is certain to ensue with the development of these mineral properties.
 Here is but an instance of the con structive policy that the Canadian government has adopted. This gov ernmen sees big business in sight for it's people and wastes no time in lend ing a helping hand.
 What is the American government doing in the matter? Did it build a wagon road from Hyder, the American town, up the Salmon river valley to the mines, so that Americans might pct a share of this valuable trade? It did nothing, of course. Private people hewed out this road themselves, un- aided by Uncle Sam. Did it build a dock at Hyder, or do anything at all to gather trade to the American side? No: no funds available for that pur- pose, or some other excuse employed to put the matter off indefinitely Thanks to the progressive spirit of Americans, company of hardy Alaska sourdoughs proposes to build a good wharf at Hyder, the thing most needed to bring trade to the American side. This dock will also permit American steamers to make Hyder a port of call, en route to Alaska. With ont a dock there would be fat chance for Americans to gain portion of the very desirable trade that Will Iollo" and precede the extensive mining de velopments planned for the Portland canal district.
 The business concerns of Seattle are advised that there is a very de sirable trade opened to them by the great mineral discoveries made in the Portland canal district. This is going to be one of the biggest mining camps