The Cordova daily times., 1921-04-02

IS detriment to a growing country
 Is it not fact that the evacuation of Alaska commenced when mining
 ceased, when the canneries shut down and the news of the big wages paid sourdough shipyard workers per colated to the northland? Has Mir
 Cummins ever considered that an Alaskan must eat and wear clothing regular fellows? When work in the territory was stopped on account of high prices and the grocery clerk got
 busy in another part of the store when he entered, the old-timer knew that fitting time was at hand, and waited not to argue as to the cause therefor, the effect being painfully apparent.
 The establishment of a government line of steamships from Seattle to Seward would cause the vessels now running to the northland to be pulled off the route, because they could not make expenses by competing with government-manned vessels, any deficit iu operating the latter be- ing paid from the United States teasury. We have some very fine vessels on the run at the present time and while the fare is high it has not assumed the staggering pro- portions described by the Iowa guar dian of Alaska's integrity. Unless the government would place as many yes. sells on the line as are now in opera veniences it would be turning from Scylla to Charybdis. It would be an experiment which would be fatal to Alaska were it to fail The gov ernment has never yet handled pub lie utility as cheaply as a private cor poration.
 The better way to help Alaska, in case the senator really desires to be of some assistance, would be to give the territory broader powers of self government; to pay the steamship companies fair remuneration for carrying the mails; to pay subsidy or bonus on new gold produced: to abolish the many bureaus which ham, per and retard development; to turn over the resources of the territory to the citizens of Alaska; to force men holding territorial offices to reside in Alaska, instead of attempting to transact business from Seattle; to modify the game laws refusing li- censes to head-hunters, more savage and wasteful than the aborigines; to build a network of roads and trails throughout the territory; to allow the territorial legislature to place a high tax on canneries operated by outside capital; to enact fish laws which will prevent the frightful waste of food fishes by the canneries; to allow municipalities to bond for educational purposes; to giving the natives suf- ficient food and clothing to take the place of the fish and game, practi- cally eXtorminated by the canneries and head-hunters. All these with many more innovations could be given citizens of the territory with out swamping the ship of state or creating a ripple among the sOlons who judging by their actions, have never heard of Alaska.
 The removal of Col. Mears as head of construction on the government railway would be the most unwise step of all. He has the railway prac- tically completed; it has been built without graft, in a substantial, eff cient manner. It would appear sui cidal for the success of the enterprise to swap horses in the middle of the stream and place a new man in charge of operations, who would be forced to adopt new plans and new methods, delaying the completion of the road for an indefinite period It is true the colonel has refused to build up private enterprise at gov ernment expense, and has probably adhered to his original plans in de- fiance of townsite promoters. But as a railroad builder we believe Colonel Mears is without peer. He has sur mounted engineering difficulties be- lieved impossible and has linked up the interior with the coast with an expedition which is marvellous.
 It is unfortunate that Senator Cum mins does not confine his efforts to matters. closer at home His plans bear the thumb prints of our late and unlamented delegates efforts to in- jure the Kennecott corporation, or of Seward promoters to get the scalp of Col. Mears. It has remained for a