The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-24
UNDESIRABLE ADVERTISING.

Great harm may Alaska through the quarrel between the Departments at Washington over the more less nconsequential question to which of them is jurisdiction certain bureaus and governmental functions in this Territory, and the publicity that is being given the quarrel by the newspapers The question of self-government in Alaska is involved in the quarrel at a and it is difficult what material difference it will make 10 Alaska which side wins the long end in the dis pue. The publicity caused by the quarrel however, is likely to people to think it were not worth while invest in Alaska under present conditions on the ground that they would not get for their money
 The fact is that the effect of governmental condi- tions in Alaska being exaggerated all shape It is that Alaskans have that of self government that they ought to have-here is too much government from Washington and the agents of Washington and too little by the people of Alaska. But transfer certain of those agencies from one Department another would not materially amend that situation if at all. Alaska's troubles not political, governmental if that word is preferred, nearly much they economic in their nature. What Alaska needs is what other sections of the country noed-markets for her products and capital to develop resources that will make products. We need just a market for fish and copper and capital and market for pulp and paper. It is nonsense, it is than nonsense doing direct injury to Alaska to tell the people of the country that it is impossible to do business in Alaska to acquire the natural resources of the Territory a basis that will allow of practicable operation All the indications point to the beginning of the construction of pulp and paper mill early date at Juneau. If the work does not when expected it will not be because bureaus preventing The right to cut timber has been secured on basis that is satisfactory to those interested in the project, and the water power is not only in satisfactory condition as far governmental control is concerned but it is already developed. The proof of the pudding is the eating
 The Empire believes that any country will develop DriVa in of fha and and resources than under the leasing sysem that question is not involved in the quarrel between the Interior and Agricultural Departments No one has proposed that the be thrown open on such basis as would permit the acquisition of title in fee simple to the timber lands and the power sites Alaskas natural within the reserves are in exactly the same position the resources of like nature Ill the States that in reserves. When business revives in the country people will invest money in Alaska for the manufacture of pulp and paper and the Forestry Bureau has shown a disposi- tion to make reasonable terms induce the de- velopment When the copper market improves we shall have new copper mines, and shall have greater activity in the fisheries industry when mar kets in that line improve.
 The great need of Alaska in governmental mat ters is full Territorial form of government, in cludng Jurisdiction her fisheries the erection of counties where needed that she may govern herself and promote progress. That question is not involv ed Tn lhe present quarrel at Washington But Alaska will progress when she gets market for her products whether she gets political justice not She will not develop as fast she would under self-govern- ment but 1t would not facilitate her development at all 10 transfer the bureaus control oyer reserva lions and leases from Cabinet Department to another.
 The quarrel at Washington is a quarrel between tweededee and twecdledum. They making noun tains out of mole hills Both sides are so far from Ihe original Curry plan that has been lost re bof nla aNin tha the aHey It has become matter of personnel rather than principle
 Unless they can get back to the original Lane curry Idea Of Development Board, and full Ter ritorial form of government go hand-in-hand it would be a. good thing the controversy cease ana put an end 10 lot of very undesirable advertising