The Cordova daily times., 1920-08-10

or course, billions O1 QOlldTS WOllH oA halibut, salmon and cod were given thought.
 So about the time when the pion- eers of '9i and '9S were regretfuliy making plans to make trip "outslde" for the last time and say farewell to their beloved treasurer land, Amer ican capital was laying plans for the development of Alaska along scien- tifie, businesslike lines. me Copper River Railroad was one of the first ones. Such vast mining operations as the Treadwel mines were begun, the ill-fated railroad that was o make Seward the metropolis of the north was financed and work was actually started. And the outside" was be- ginning to learn when the free gold had been taken out Alaska had been but barely scratched, that with the proper aid and encouragement Sew ards Folly" could be developed into one of the most magnificent empires under the American flag.
 Soon after the United States begun to learn that Alaska" was not a word to be used synonomously with North Pole," down here in Seattle we began to see some of the products of the Alaskan farms and to learn that Alaska had summers and winters, just as did Seattle, and that the idea that the whole vast empire was a region of snow and ice was mistake.
 Then began the agitation that fin ally resulted in the project of the government railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks, and the men whose heart and soul were wrapped up in tie development of Alaska believed that the country's future was asurred-
 But delay after delay, restriction after restriction has kept the country back. The prospectors could not get the financial assistance to develop their discoveries. Capitalists found themselves hindered in their efforts at development. No frontier empire can be developed under a policy of restriction. In order to make the wonderful empire what it should be, the government must adopt more liberal policy, must encourage home building, must make every effort to attract to Alaska a class of citizens who will build the country up, and the government must offer the en- couragement and aid necessary to all frontier development
 Few people realize just how big Alaska is, what is the value of her products, even under a hampering policy that prevents fuller develop ment. In 1919 alone Alaska's imports totaled $38,957 ,259, her exports $70,- 695, ,080, a total Alaska trade of $109,- 652 ,339. And that figure would be trebled,, yes, and more, were Alaska given fuller aid, allowed more free dom. Think what trade of over three hundred million year from just one country would mean to Seattle. s.... .- .@.
 Since 1867 the value of the gold shipped from Alaska was $311 ,238, ,961 Other Alaska minerals brought the total value of her minerals to S437,- 465,930. But, on the other hand, the fish, whalebone, oil and other pro- ducts shipped from Alaska were worth $413,749, ,223-and the common impress sion of Alaska is that gold, and gold alone, is the only thing up there Outside Of the above mentioned ex- ports Alaska has sent to the outside world furs valued at S84,7O4,428, and the fur industry is but one of the minor ones.
 Alaska is rightly called an empire Her area of 59O,884 square miles, is greater tl:an that of the thirteen original states plus the area of Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Indiana, Ten nesee, Kentucky and Michigan. Ger many, France and Spain have total l area of but little more than Alaska Alaska is rightly named an empire, wonderful, rich, with resources and possibilities that make it's future se- cure.
 Seattle, and all this great North west, should be as jealous of any pol icy that hampers or restricts Alaska as she would be of a policy that re- tards or injures the Northwest. Alaska made Seattle in one sense of the word, and though the early boom" days of the Klondike rush are over though today the water