The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-14


 aska, and in close proximity to mos of them is wonderful water powe that is only waiting to be put t proper use. The anticipated develop ment along these lines is about to b. realied, but the principal forerunne for encouraging this development ia to safeguard the waterways b! completed surveys. In very few iii stances is this done. Now the de mand by the public for surveys O many of these harbors is being made and to prevent further delay it would require vessels, more men, and sui ficient money to bring about the imperative Initial step to this very important commercial development.
 "In order to appreciate the neet of rapidly extending surveys ill these waters, it should be clearly under stood that Alaska's only connection with the rest of the world is by the water routes.
 The Tool in Wrecks
 "It is impossible to give the list oi hundreds of vessels that have strand ed, foundered and been total wrecks in the waters of Alaska during the past 53 years. The records, which have been somewhat neglected, c5 pecialIy in the earlier history of this comparatively new possession of the United States, are anything but com plete, but they are sufficiently known to convey to the minds of those who are interested most narrowing con dition that has existed during the past half century. While it shoulj be understood that not all of these disasters have been caused by lack of proper sailing charts and lack ol knowledge of currents, it can be said that the greater portion of these wrecks have been due to the lack or accurate nautEt,l information which can be furnished by proper surveys.
 The history of the industrial de velopment of Alaska shows that a! most without exception, the estab 1ishment of industries and commerce has preceded rather than followed the surveys of the locality and tha: their establishment and development has been greatly retarded and often times entirely suspended by the lack of such surveys.
 Complete Surveys Needed
 Because of the rapidly increasng commercial importance of Alaska, il is imperative that the present condi ton as regards survey work be rem edied by means of complete surveys carried on in a systematic manner and extended with all possible rapid ity.
 Tn order to appreciate the imme diate need for this work, it must be clearly understood that Alaska's only connection with the rest of the work. is by water routes. The millions oi dollars that are being expended to build the Government-owned railroad to the interior of Alaska; the large amount of private capital that has been and will be spent to develop her mines. to build up her fishing industry; the certain early opening up of vast coal fields; the utiliza- tion of the great timber resources. etc; all this would be wasted and her vast resources would be worth less if vessels could not reach and enter her ports or visit the railroad terminals, canneries and nearest ports as outlets to the many mines.
 Modern Vessels Needed
 'The natural resources of Alaska have so tempted commerce that vessels have ventured into these re- gions far in advance of adequate surveys. The means of the Coast and Geodetic Survey for Charting these waters have been and are so limited that the best that could be done and can now be done is to shift from place to place and make examinations where industry has pre- ceded surveys and dangers have been found by vessels striking them. or wheer industry has established itself and demands local survey.
 "The equipment for these surveys is so limited that no definite plan can be laid for their ultimate compile ton or for the issuing of charts that will be guides to all parts of AL askan waters.
 "The making of surveys and sup plying of reliable charts for the urgent needs of Alaska is a question of the number of surveying vessels