Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-21


ing properly developed and that
the methods and conditions of Federal admin
istration in that territory are in part respon-
sible, is statement which has been emphat-
ically made in connection with the proposal
to take the Bureau of Forestry out of the
Department of Agriculture and place it in
the Department of Interior.
This, Of course, would give the Interior
Department control of the great national
forests in Alaska, and would make the de-
partment the chief Federal arbiter of Alaska 8
industrial destiny, as the Interior depart
ment already has the administration of other
public lands in Alaska.
Curiously enough, the conservationists 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
a bad way industrially and that federal adj
ministration is in part the reason for this.
These conservationists claim that the move
to place the Alaskan forests under the ad-
miniStration of the Department of Interior
is part of general plan for the abandon
ment of the Roosevelt conservation policy in
Alaska, and for freer use of her natural
resources Such a 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 Washing
ton by such interests
These interests say that Alaska is not de-
veloping and that the federal policy of care
full conservation is responsible for the lack
Of development. The conservationists
as it should, but claim that every
one of it's natural resources is open to de-
velopment. This is hindered, they claim to
some extent by .he long-range methods of
Federal administration which should be aban-
doned in favor of administration on the
spot, but mainly by the fact that Alaska is
far from markets and has poor transporta-
ton facilities.
Our Last Frontier
The greater American public is Indifferent
to and ignorant of the whole matter. That
is, in sense, the most serious and unfortu-
nate 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 individual may obtain land
and other natural resources free or at nomi-
nal cost.
Such frontier country should be valu-
able 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 chance
to win place of his own on the face of the
earth. To some extent Alaska has been that,
and to some slight extent perhaps it still is.
But this last frontier of ours is certainly not
functioning as it should.
No doubt a harsh climate in many parts Of
it has something to do with it. Also, there
is not a great deal of farm land in Alaska,
and the establishment of a profitable farm
there lis a difficult business The one-man
placer mining is largely thing of the past
All observers seem agreed that the develop
ment of Alaska is largely task for organized
capital. 1t never will be the land Of individ-
ual opportunity that the old West was But
it is far more land of individual opportunity
than the. greater part of the States, and should
be even more so than it is. There is rich
land to be taken up. Fur-farming is a profit
able business there, and one where little CAPT
tai is needed. Small capital has many chances
in Alaska.
Needless to say, conservation favors the
development of Alaska as place where the
little fellow has a good chance, and the
demand for a less strict conservation policy
springs chiefly from men of large capital. The
| timber on the national forests of Alaska can
! be cut, but only under Forest Service super
vision SO that they are not destroyed They
are being cut, and at the same time conserved
| to furnish the paper supply Of the future for
! the United States. Without any Federal re-
striction they could undoubtedly be exploited
more rapidly and more profitably for the
men doing the exploiting, but it is claimed by
the conservationists that such exploitation
the people of the United States as whole
cannot afford.
Alaskan Wealth Accessible
The coal and oil in Alaska were, under the
last administration, long withheld from pub
| lie entry. Now that the coal and oil leasing
bills have been passed, these resources may
| be developed under the new laws, which are
certainly lenient enough All of the other
| resources of Alaska-fish, minerals, water
power, like her agricultural land, timber, coal
and oil, are accessible to development.