The Alaska daily empire., 1921-05-07
TOO MUCH CONTEMPT FOR OUR
 ANCESTORS.

We are prone in this hopeful Western land some times to under-rate or forget about the achieve mens of our ancestors The other day, for instance the Seattle Times said the opportunity presented itself to President Harding accomplish for Alaska in four years much was accomplished in four. decades in the Mississippi Valley during it's early developing stage in the last century Did the Times really stop to think what accomplished in the Mississippi Valley during four decades in the early part of the century? If it had stopped to think or consult authority, it would probably have trained from setting large task for the President
 In 179O Kentucky and Tennessee the only political divisions in the Mississippi Valley whose inhabitants enumerated Kentucky had 73,677 population and Tennessee 35691. Four decades later in 1880, Kentucky had a population of 6S7,917 and Tennessee had 681904. President Harding would have go to make Alaska meet that record in four years! But that is not half. Ohio which did not appear in the census returns until 1900, and then with a smaller population than Alaska has had population in 1880 of 937, ,903-that three decades achievement If give Ohio the bene- fit of four decades, find that in 1840, she had population of 1,549,467. Indiana, which first ap- peared in the rolls with Ohio in 1S00 with 564 popuation,s Ga few more than Juneau) had reached 343,031 in three decades and 685S66 in four Illinois first into the census returns in 1810, ten years after Ohio with 2,282 population Two decades later, the date of the Tennessee and Kentucky figures, she had population of 157 ,445 and if we give her the allotted four decades find her in 1850 with S51470. In Michigans first four decades she went from 4,762 to 397654. Wisconsin shows record of from 30,945 to 1,215,497. Missis sipp went from 8,s5o in 1880 to 375 651 That Mississippi Valley crowd of the last century not slouches, we'll tell the world!
 But let's the river Missouri did not get started until 1880 when she had 8S50, about as many people have Gastineau Channel and immediate vicinity. In four decades she had 6S2,0 Arkansas started in 1910 with 1062, a few than Petersburg, but fewer than Sitka in four de cades she had 209,S97 Sitka will do well if sha meets that in four years Iowa, in her first foul decades grew from 10000 to 1624 615 and Minnesola from corr to 1,310,2S3. Kansas had reached l. 4io,4S5 four decades after her name first appeared in the census tables and Nebraska, O66 300.
 The fact is, in spite of the Times apparent con tempt for the Mississippi Valley section of the Continent ever accomplished much in the same leigth of time The rapidity which which that coun- try settled up and developed far greater than that ol Washington and Oregon. California alone O. the Pacific Slope country has shown a speed ap- preaching that of the Mississippi Valley in the last century We often boast of the marveousIy fas growth Of Seattle and Portland of Tacoma and Spokane, but they were sloths as compared with Chcagos youth.
 Alaska will be very highly elated if President Harding should be instrumental in bringing about an accomplishment in Alaska during the next four years that will equal the accomplishment in the Hississlpp valley during the period of the last century If Alaska can advance fast and as far between 1921 and 1925 that country advanced between ls2l and 1925 it will be all hope Tor We shall be content if We can develop a gait heariy as swift as the strides of grand-daddies