The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-21
1000 Miles From Governed.

1000 Miles rrom oO"e
washington. with its thousands OF
Alaskan governing officials. is 4,00o
miles of Juneau, capital OF the Terri-
tory. Telegraph and radio communi-
cation is slow and difficult Transact
ing business by letter requires months
sometimes when there Is taken into con-
sideration the fact that nearly all letters
dispatched by Government official usu-
ally must be approved by several other
officials. These facts, say Administration
officials. explain why Alaska. richer In
natural resources than half Of the States
in the Union, richer than any OF the
Scandinavian countries, has lain COM
paratively dormant for a half century as
far as commercial development and
colonization Is concerned.
The new Administration proposes first
Of all to remove the barrier Of trans
acting business over 1000 miles of land
and water and to make juneau the vir-
tual capital of the Territory. Business
men, prospective colonists and miners
then can transact their business with
the least possible inconvenience and de-
lay. To make Juneau the real govern
ing capital the setting UP OF an Alaskan
governing board Is virtually necessary.
it is admitted.
For some reason Congress heretofore
has hestitated to establish this board.
Many bills to this end have been intro
duced and sent to the discard. But
with the Administration behind the
board plan it now is expected to go
through Congress as soon as the regular
session convenes.
Meanwhile Gov. Bone upon his arrival
In Alaska is expected to begin a study
of conditions with the idea of making
a report to President Harding contain
ing recommendations for the reorganiza-
ton of the Territorial Government. Un-
der the board plan all the work now
done by the overlapping bureaus at
Washington would be gathered under
one head. All business concerning
Alaska would be transacted by officials
selected by the board. Furthermore. the
officials in charge would live in the Ter
ritory, be a part Of 1t and understand
its needs.
Alaska started her American connec-
ton under the popular title of Stewards
Iceberg" w. II. Seward, Secretary of
State when the Territory was purchased
from Russia, was instrumental in nego-
tiating the purchase.
Gold Rush Boom Is Brief.
The gold rush to Alaska doomed the
population for short period of years.
But during the decade preceding the war
there followed a slump. especially in the
white population. The native popula-
ton. however, increased slightly.
AS matter of real fact. the climate
of Alaska Is not different, the official
records show, from that of many parts
of the United States most densely popu-
lated. Southern Alaska has climate
In which the temperature changes are
but slight. and some sections are as
mild in summer as the summers of New
York, Ohio and Illinois. In these Sec
tons the winters are seldom more severe
than in the States mentioned.
The climate should induce COLOMBIA
ton, officials say. The reorganization
plans probably will include advertise
ment OF the real delights of the Alaskan
climate.
Railroad trains and steamboat lines
viii be encouraged to put into effect re-
duced rates to the Territory. which then
will be pictured as an ideal vacation
spot. The beauties of Alaska soon vii,
become a popular subject of CONVERSE
ton throughout the United States. IL Is
hoped.
Alaska has an area of 590.ss4 square
miles. All but about one-tenth of the
Territory still Is reserved as public do
main. Under the recently enacted min
eral leasing bill Alaskan territory now
is open to prospcctors for minerals and
oil and development under certain stipu.
lations.
Quick communication by cable and
airplane will be developed to bring the
residents of Alaska into daily and even
hourly contact with their former homes
I'm the continental United States Alaska
will no longer be thought OF as a dis
tant inaccessible land of ice.