Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-21
The Haskin Letter : 's1 zssss:
THE CASE OF ALASKA.

Washington, Jan. 16-That the re-
sources of Alaska are not being prop
erly developed, and that the methods
and conditions of federal adminlstra-
ton in that territory are in part re-
sponsible, is a statement which has
been emphatically made in connection
with the proposal to take the bureau
agriculture and place it in the depart
ment of the interior.
This, of course, would give the inte-
rlor department control of the great
national forests in Alaska, and would
arbiter of Alaska's industrial destiny
as the interior department already has
the administration of other public lands
in Alaska.
Curiously enough, the conservation
lists in and out of the forest service,
who are all opposed to the transfer OF
the forest service, agree with their
opponents that Alaska is in bad way
industrially and that federal admins
tration is in part the reason for this.
These conservationists claim that the
move to place the Alaskan forests I'M
der the administration of the depart
ment Of the interior is part of gen.
eral plan for the abandonment of the
Roosevelt conservation policy in Alas
ka, and for freer use of her natural
resources. Such q policy is demanded
by many persons financially interested
in Alaska, and a vigorous lobby in
favor of such a policy has long been
maintained in Washington by such in
terests.
These interests say that Alaska is
not developing and that the federal pol
icy of careful conservation is respon-
sible for the lack Of development. The
conservationists agree that Alaska is
not developing as it should, but claim
that every one of its natural resources
is open to development. This is hin
dered, they claim, to some extent by
the long range methods Of federal ad
ministration, which should be aban-
doned in favor of administration on the
spot. but mainly by the fact that Alas
ka is far from markets and has poor
transportation facilities.
Our Last Frontier
The greater American public is in
different to and ignorant Of the whole
matter. That is, in sense. the most
serious and unfortunate part Of the
situation. Alaska is the last American
frontier. Ninety-nine per cent of the
area is public land. 1t is almost the
only part Of the territory Of the United
States where true pioneer conditions
still obtain-that is, where the individ-
ual may obtain land and other natural
resources free or at nominal cost
Such frontier country should be a
valuable overflow land for our excess
population, as the frontier west long
was. Alaska should be the haven Of
the hardy and adventurous man who
has no capital, but wants a chance
to win place of his own on the face
Of the earth. To some extent Alaska
has been that, and to some slight ex-
tent perhaps it still is. But this last
frontier of ours is certainly not func-
tioning as it should.
No doubt a harsh climate in many
parts Of it has something to do with it,
Also there is not great deal of farm
land in Alaska and the establishment
of profitable farm there is difficult
business. The one-man placer mining
is largely thing of the past All OBJ
servers seem agreed that the develop
ment of Alaska is largely task for
organized capital. 1t never will be the
land Of individual opportunity that the
old west was. But it is far more a
land of individual opportunity than the
greater part of the states and should
be even more so that it is. There is
rich land to be taken up. Fur-farm-
ing is a profitable business there, and
one where little capital is needed.