The Alaska daily empire., 1922-04-04
CONFIDENCE IN
FUTURE STRONG
OVER DISTRICT
People Everywhere Optimis-
tic, Says Whittier, After
Visiting Many Points.

Everywhere IN Southeastern AL
aska there is a strong feeling OF opti-
mism as regards the outlook for the
year and the future generally" said
NJ. S. Whittier, Special Deputy Col
lector of Customs, who returned yes
terday on the Unalga from a tour
of supports which took him in vir-
tually every part Of the Division.
mo where in the Division did | find
any serious encouragement prevalent
or pessimism over the future of the
several towns visited or of the entire
district as a whole" he said.
Conditions look very good in all
sections, he said. In Ketchikan
everyone is optimistic over the can
merry outlook. The cold storage ca
pacity, one of the big plants there,
has just been materially increased
most of the cannemes in the district
are going to run and new one is
being built at Sunny Point. Bust
ness, as a consequence, is picking
up steadily and a very good year is
anticipated for both the laborers and
the business men.
Hyder Looking Good
The people at Hyder are more
optimistic over the mining outlook
there than ever before. The word
that the Jackling- Thane-Jackson peo-
pie had taken bonds on the property
OF the Fish Creek Mining Company
is hailed there with satisfaction and
is looked upon as the beginning of
the development of a big producer on
the American side of the line. Three
other big companies are also said to
be interested Ia Portland Canal prop
critics and substantial exploration and
development activity is looked for
this summer.
There are some 800 people in Hy-
der, said Mr.. Whittier the town be-
ing even larger than he had expected
to see. About 500 men are working
at the Premier mine. Production at
that property, he said, is steadily
increasing. 1t was almost $1,0OO,00O
last month and will reach that figure
during the month of April, he was as
sured. The mine is shipping two
cargoes weekly to the smelter.
Building New cannery
A new cannery is being erected at
Hidden Inlet, where the plant of the
Hidden Inlet Cannery Company was
destroyed by fire just after the close
of the 1920 season. Mr.. Whittier
visited the cannery site where a crew
was engaged in construction work.
The new plant is being put up by the
Atlantic & Pacific Products Corpora
ton, big New Jersey wholesale con
Germ with branch establishments all
over the Atlantic section of the
country. It has been recommended
that a reimbursable customs substa
tfon be established there this season.
Craig Is Prosperous
The town of Craig on the West
Cost, said Mr.. Whittier, is prosper
Gus and looks forward to a good
year. 1t had the best herring run in
Southeastern Alaska during the past
winter and sold bait to Seattle, Brit
Hsh Columbia and Alaska halibut
fleets. Two canneries will operate in
that district this season. The saw
mill Is also preparing for a busy
season and is almost ready to begin
cutting.
Wraneell Looks Good
The town of Wrangell looked very
good, said Mr. Whittier. who COM
mended on the substantial residences
erected there since his last visit.
Two canneries will operate there this
season. The Wrangell sawmill has
bid on Japanese contract calling for
cedar timber and expects to ship at
heast two shiploads this year.
At Petersburg the sawmill has
started up and is running full time
with full shifts employed. 1t expects
10 operate the entire season. The
halibut fleet is out and the trollers
getting their boats and equipment
ready for a busy season A recon
raissance of timber in the Thomas
BaylCascade Creek district north of
Petersburg just started by the For