The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-07-27
More Roads Absolutely
 Necessary
Continued Development of Country not Possible With out Greater Activity in Road Building.

It is safe to say that no govern mental activity has contributed so much to the growth and develop ment of Southeastern Alaska as road building, and none has contributed more to the pleasure of those living here. The Government roads radi- ating from the centers of population have resulted in the building of many little farms and the location of many settlers Scores of working men who might not have remained in the Territory have built homes along the roads that reach out from the towns, and have thus become fix lures in Alaska. It has aided in the development of the agricultural resources and mine development. The people in the cities have been given an opportunity to get out in to the country and life has been made more agreeable. In other words the roads have helped to bring people into the Territory, and what Alaska needs more than anything else is population. They have also IcoHtributed immeasureably to attrac- | tions tor tourists, and the tourist traffic, now large, is destined to be the foundation of one of the largest lof our industries.
 The road leading north of Juneau has led to the establishment of dairy and vegetable and chicken farms that have added materially to the wealth of this section. It gives road to the gold prospects and canneries at Aux Bay and before the end of the sum- mer it will connect the cannery at Tee Harbor with Juneau. It gives Juneau an outlet on Lynn Canal that often makes it unnecessary for Icannery tenders and other vessels to come around Douglas Island to en- able people to reach the city. In an- other year it is proposed to continue the road on to Eagle River where there are many settlers on home steads and some very promising gold prospects. In addition to this it gives this city one of the finest scenic highways out of doors. It gives the people of the largest center in Alaska to get out of town and the tourists sights that feature their Alaskan trips. There is probably more automobile traffic on the roads that lead out of Juneau than over any other roads in the Territory.
 The roads at Ketchikan are simi- lar to those of Juneau. They con- meet the city with four or five can neries and other industrial plants. They are dotted with little homes, and make available small farms for raising vegetables and other products for the people of the city. Like the roads at Juneau, they permit the town to expand from the cribbe1. cabined and confined condition that existed before road building was be- gun.
 Along the same general lines are the roads built and proposed at Wran- gell, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway and elsewhere.
 ! The Forestry Bureau and Alaska { Road Commission have also shown that they are alive in meeting the necessity for roads in connection with mine development. At Hyder the road that has been built has enabled people to prospect and do develop ment work on properties that would have been impossible if the road had
 5000 tons of freight have been moved over the Hyder road since it was nstructed-probably thegreat- est tonnage that has passed over any road in Alaska in the same length of time. Likewise the road from Haines toward the Rainy Hollow and other
 mining sections in the Chilkat Val
 ley has aided immensely in mine
 prospecting and development work.
 It, too. is opening up an important agricultural section.
 The trail building on Prince of
 Wales Island has permitted the pros
 pecting of Harris River and other sections where there are promising quartz indications and it is meet to
 remark that when the Forestry Eu-
 reau builds a trail it is on a wagon
 road location so the work performe
 may be utilized should further deyel-
 opment disclose the necessity of a