The Cordova daily times., 1921-12-07
CContinued from yesterday

lContnued rom yesterday
 The most promising sign of the
 times today for Alaska is the awak-
 ened interest in Washington in the
 opening of this rich domain and the
 expressed determination in both the
 Executive and Legislative departments
 of the government to coordinate and
 simplify the methods and system of administration and meet the manifest
 needs of the Territory Surely it was
 never intended that the rich natural
 resources of Alaska should be unused. ! Nature never intended 1t so. The gold
 and silver and other precious metals, and coal and oil, clearly are intended 1 for the use and benefit of mankind. So. too, the countless acres of untitled soil. The fact that more than half 1 century has elapsed since the pur- chase of the Territory with so little done toward developing it and mak- 1 ing it's resources available for the pub. lie good is past understanding to those who know and comprehend Alaska's richness. Now, with the completion of the Government Railroad, a sy-to- matte course of development becomes doubly incumbent It is the part of wisdom and the part of actual economy as we'll
 Following the consolidation under one directing head at Washington ol the many bureaus whose activities reach Alaska. which. it is assumed, will be brought about by early Con gressional enactment, it is thorough l ly advisable that a representative of each of these essentiaI bureaus be stationed in Alaska and empowered to act upon matters under their juris- diCtiOn which constantly arise. Jul neau should be the executive head 1 quarters of these necessary agencies, if administration business Is to be cX. pedited and delays avoided. The an- nual visitations of bureau officials to Alaska to familiarize themselves with conditions and make reports are not conducive to the dispatch of business and a satisfactory administration of affairs, nor are they conducive to 1 economy Most of them are unncces- l sary and unprofitable Too often they ! partake merely of the nature of hoIi. | day trips, not to call them juukets, with only a prefunctory inspection of ! conditions and chronicling of facts already we'll known The money that may be saved by curtailing useless 1 trips of bureau officials across the continent and along the shores of Alas ] ka would easily maintain executive offices in Juneau and make for action and results Similarly, and for like reason, officials who deal with Alas | ka affairs from the headquarters in Seattle and Portland should be trans | fcrrcd to Juneau In short. the husi- ness of Alaska should be conducted in Alaska to the fullest extent possible consistent with continued govern mental supervision at Washington
 Two governmental agencies in Al. aska the Engineering Commission,
 which is building the railroad, and tHc Alaska Road Commission, which
 is constructing roads and trails, are functioning smoothly. efficiently and 1 successfully. These are free-handed and simply organized, having big work
 to do, they are doing 1t in a practical, 1 business,like way, unobstructed by slow circumlocution and long-rangc di- 1 rcctiOn. and unhampered save when
 waiting upon appropriations. The 1 achievements Of these organizations in
 pioneer development bespeak clo-
 quently the wisdom of further center
 ing and ccntralizing authority and re-
 sponsibility in Alaska,
 Coordination cannot be effected at
 long range and with bureaus operat- ing from various centers, especially outside of Alaska
 Hearings affecting the fisheries
 should be held, not in Seattle. or
 Portland, or san Francisco, but in Ju-
 raau Then citizens of Ala-t. a.I
 dfe fishermen themselves. as N.. a. . 'ho omaev anu aud UIraau oI-a...
 .oui1 hay. opportunity to b. a..rd.