The Cordova daily times., 1921-01-04
Aldskd Needs Immediate. Definite, Adequate Relief y Coast and eeodet Survey,


tory that have been consumed by it's population.
 The imports to Alaska for the past
 53 years have amounted to $547, ,4OO,-
 900, reaching the high-water mark in
 1918, $146,020,124. These figures are
 to show briefly the enormous amount
 Of shipping necessary to handle this
 large amount of trade
 For the first 30 years after the pur-
 chase of Alaska by the United States
 few small vessels only were required
 for the commerce between Alaska
 ports and the ports on the Pacific
 coast of continental United States.
 In 1919 there were over 4,000 vessels.
 with a tonnage of over 2,000,000,
 entering and clearing Alaska; but in
 stead of having vessels of 10 or 12 feet draft as were the earlier ones,
 we now have them up to 28 feet. In
 other words, when the work of the
 coast and geodetic survey is at it's
 lowest ebb there, Alaska's prosperity
 is greater than ever before
 | Few people realize or even think | of the territory's enormous area From Dixon entrance, on the inter- national boundary line, to the farth- est Attu island it is nearly 5000 l miles. Along this stretch of coast there are about 465 islands in Alas ka containing one or more square miles and innumerable smaller ones. The longest island is Prince of Wales | i31 miles long and 39 miles wide while Kodiak island has the largest
 area, 101 miles long and 63 miles
 wide-equal to the combined areas
 of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The total area of Alaska is 568,- 1 400 square miles, or nearly twice the
 size of the original 13 states of the
 union. To this we can add seven other states east of the Mississippi
 river, and still we do not have the amount of area in Alaska. Norway,
 Sweden, Finland, England, Scotland.
 and Ireland do not contain as much
 territory as Alaska. Germany France, and Spain have only a trifle more area than this territory.
 UNEMPLOYED ALASKA HARBoRS | Unlike the waters adjacent to the states bordering on the Pacific coast, | Alaska has many fine harbors; and, except a stretch beginning at Cross sound, in southern Alaska, and ex- tending to Controller bay, Prince William sound south, central Alaska, a distance off 275 miles, where there is only one harbor of refuge for vessels tYakutat bay), over the many miles of Alaskas coasts nature has provided bountifully for ships and shipping in splendid harbors.
 In this respect the south coast of Alaska resembels Norway and Swe- den, her harbors being so numerous as to meet every demand Tor the fu- ture development of the entire terri tory. In Boring sea, northward and eastward of Uniniak pass, the har- bors are not so plentiful and are characterized by shoals in the ap- breaches. This makes it specially ne cessary that accurate surveys by made in order to permit safe naviga- tion. There is little accurate knowl- edge available in connection with the many bays adjacent to the mainland, and more especially about the many islands of Alaska
 Not until these are properly safe guarded can it be hoped that they will will be properly or permanently developed.
 With the great demand for paper and substitutes for wooden boxes the country is looking to Alaska for in the history of Alaska has there been such a centering in interest on these important products that have been so scarce and in such demand in the past two or three years. One of the first conditions looked for by those who are interested in building paper mills or factories are good harbors and cheap power. Alaska abounds in both Hundreds of har- bors adequate for the carrying of large vessels and conducting manu- featuring plants are in southern Alas ka, and in close proximity to many of them is wonderful water power that is only waiting to be put to pro- per use The anticipated develop ment along these lines is about to be