The Kusko times., 1922-08-23
Seattle Alaska Letter.
Publicity Department, Seattle Cham
 Der of Commerce.

Seattle.-With 8 record home build ing program, much downtown building construction, and considerable public work, a pick up in commerce and good crops throughout the State, Seattle is good shape. Business men are con servatively optimistic about the bal ance of the year. A IA story office building is to be started immediately by the Dexter Horton estate. and it is expected that funds for $3, 100000 ! hotel will soon be available.
 The Alaska department of the Se- attle Chamber of Commerce. with Charles D. Garfield as director, is being visited by more people this year than at any time since it was established. An increasing number of tourists are coming to the department to look at the extensive exhibits of grains, grasses, minerals, fish and other Alaska products. To the average Easterner. the idea that things grow in Alaska is surprise.
 More tourists are coming to Seattle than at any time since the A. Y. F. ex- position, and they are bringing new money and color to the city. The sum- mer has been marked by absence of any rain, and conditions have been ideal for the tourists.
 For the first five months of this year, shipments from Seattle to Alaska to- tailed IT, 936 tons. as compared with 3d. 40 tons for the same period last year gain of 43,526 tons. or 126 per cent. The shipments this year repre- sent virtually 39 cargoes of 2,000 tons, a lgain ef 21 cargoes over the same period last year.
 Under the direction of the new com missioner of fisheries. Henry O'Malley, plans are being made by the Bureau of Fisheries for season of unusual actiy- itY in Alaska. A party of scientists has been dispatched to spend the entire summer Investigating and studying conditions and possibilities in the new AAAUoN0 pOotboOld including the waters of the Aleutian islands reservation. This party con- sists of Dr. Charles H. Gilbert and Willis H. Rich, both of Stanford Uni- versity. and W. P. Stadder, of Seattle, graduate of the fisheries school of the University of Washington.
 A summary of the fishing activities of Alaska for 1921 shows the active in- yestment in fisheries was S3a, ,001, STA. The industry gave employment to 15s070 persons. Products of fisheries were valued at S24, ,0S6, 867. The pack of canned salmon was 2,896,82 cases. In Western Alaska the pack was l, 156,- 656, an increase over 1920 of 283, 1852 cases, or over g per cent. The total value of canned salmon was S19, ,632. TAI The total catch of salmon in Alaska in 1921 was 37,9O5, 591 fish. as compared with 65,0S0, 5S9 in 1920, decrease of approximately Il per cent.
 The steamship Redondo brought to Seattle on its last trip 10000 cases of Alaska canned salmon, and carried & full cargo on it's return trip.
 A Washington special says: 'Thor- ough inspection of the Coal Bay, Alas ka, oil fields at an expense of quarter of million dollars is assured, accord ing to J. W. McCord. The Standard Oil Company of California and the Gen. eral Petroleum Company have taken over from McCord and associates the assignment of four oil prospecting per mits in the Coal Bey district, with per- mission of the Interior D Denartmant.