The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-13

failed utterly. and it will inevitably fail wherever put to the test. Ap- piled to 9 domain 4.000 miles away from governmental base, a bureau cratic administration becomes hope lessly impossible and positively re- pressive.
 Bureaucracy Condemned by Census
 Report
 t has killed the pioneer spirit in Alaska. robbed the Territory of in dividull initiative and brought about stagnation. The census statistics of 1910 and 1920, showing a loss of 10,- 000 in population, condemn bureauc- racy anI indict the existing system and present situation imperatiyaly reguiring action The administration and Congress realize that complete and sweeping change is the prere nuisita of the development of Alaska t will be brought about. The execu- tive and Legislative departments CT the government are determined upon this. The important bureau which has been engaged for months in CO orli1ating governn ental work is alert to Alaska needs and will contribute to the desired end Ana the neces- sary Icgislation, once its details have taen agreed upon, will meet with little, if any, resistance in Congress. Tn fsct. so obvious a business propo- sition must naturally stop cons1o- versy.
 An inveetmeot of $50 009.oO9 in tha Government Railroad from Sew9rd to Fairbanks con only 'be turned to profit through constructive, upbu.ld ing pelic as for the Territory. Waan Congress vctod the n,iilions for tnis great project. t assumed that sach Dslieies would be develo0o1 co7cur- Yansly w:h the construction, but the World War came on and attert3or was diverted from Alaska. Hence the completion ard operation Of the ra.l road finds Alaska unroady and un- rre.aared to utilize t to the fuii measure of advantage.
 RaiIroed Already Proves 8 Boon
 Nevertheless. it is tho first great step toward the development of Al aska. and the future will assuredly demonstrate the wisdom Of the in vestment Already this railroad has proven a boon to Interior Al2ska F furnishing the necessities oI life IT industry at one-half their former cost The building of the railroad. withou scandal or the hint of graft or iool forever silences and stops critics whc loudly proclaim that Uncle Sam can not do such work and do it we'll Thi government railroad is a monumen. 10 ifs builders, and especially to the modest engineering officer of the army. Col. Frederick Mears, who has had full charge of the constructio1 in it's final stages and succeeded n joining the rails several months in advanee of schedule.
 Railroad Does Big Business During
 Year
 Happi,y, a just recognition and ar nreciation of the wonderful achieve hlent away off in the wilds of AlasHa is now tardily appearing in Wash ineton. and no longer is the en.cr prise derided and scoffed at as Tor merly. The government raiiroaa reaches the vast coal fields at Chick aloon. Coal Creek and Eska, and per etrates the Susitna, Matanuska an Tanana valleys, so rich in agricui' tural possibilities. The choice or til railroad route is no longer a moof ouestjon. It is the best that could possibly have been selected In IL stages the road has don business approximating s3O,ooo per month. and this should increase daf' ine the current year to So0,0oo per month. It is being operated eco nomically. with only two throusn trains per week. Necessarily, branen lines to the mining districts must he bu;lt together with other arteries of highways ard trails. Roads ana roads and still more roads. all through the Territory, as have sali in my report to Congress. must con st;sute the major part of the program fer the development of Alaska.
 rho ccapa of the greater activities