The Cordova daily times., 1922-08-24
Alaska-Looking Ahead


has has done this Territory infinite harm. Intensive campaigns of educa- tion, conducted more or less system atically for years, have not, unhap- oily, dispelled and eradicated untruths and transformation implanted in the public mind fifty-five years ago when William H. Seward consummated the remarkable purchase from Russia. Alaska was then called Stewards s Iceberg" and in the minds eye it has since so remained.
 Vilhdalmur Stefansson, college-bred, in an Illuminating discussion of "The North That Never Was" gives ap- proval to the idea of a Cambridge preacher that the country needs Ma tional University of Polite Unlearning Stefansson himself would fit into the Alaskan chair of the institution. Or, equally so, Dr. Alfred Brooks, the eminent geologist, or Major J. c. Got walls, practical road builder, who has mushed the Territory over and knows it from A to 2.
 Sitka has a Pioneers Home filled with aged prospectors, many of them of Klondike days, who likewise could contribute enlightenedly, if not po- litely, to the curriculem of such uni versity. They know Alaska for hav- ing roughed it in quest of gold and for having their roseate dreams of early pioneering days unrealized at the end of the long, long trail
 Nothing could possibly benefit Alas ka more than to have. the American people unlearn what they have errone- ously learned this last half century. Prevailing ignorance of the Territory is dense and overwhelming. Five out of six people I met in Washington, on my recent official visit, including our national law makers. uniformly ex- pressed surprise that was able to get out of Alaska in the winter season and marvelled how I was to return to my post of duty until the ice went out I was kept busy explaining that the1 ports of Alaska, save those Ill the northernmost Arctic regions were open the year around. I was asked whether the Government Railroad reached Sitka and touched Nome! ltl was taken for granted that it extend ed to Juneau. Similar lnqulrles' absurd and amusing, if not so annoying, impressed upon me theI paramount need of the spread ot the truth about this wonderful northland.
 It is a deep disappointment to me- as I am sure it is to all Alaskans, that President Harding, owing to the pro- Ionged session of Congress, is unable to carry out his plans to visit Alaska this season. He had his heart set mon coming, and Mrs. Harding, too' They looked forward to such a visit with consuming and enthusiastic ln- 4erest. It would have meant not only an experience of life time to them, but incalculable benefit to AlasKa. World attention would have been cen tered upon this Territory as never De- fore. A large corps of newspaper ana magazine writers, photographers ana motion picture artists would nave come along and Alaska thus would have received exploitation and adver- Using which would have been of last ing advantage.
 But the Presidential trip is not abandoned-only deferred. The year of our Lord, 1923, if not 1922, will be made historically memorable by such a visit. The present administration will not come to a close without the President familiarizing himself at first hand with Alaska and Alaska S needs. Therefore, let the stout hearted people of this vast domain continue to be strong of faith. AS Ill the past, let not hope deferred serve to make the heart sick. For time out of mind Alaska has waited and walt ed and encountered obstacles and oe- lays. and practiced patience supremes but, optimistic, I confidently believe and predict that the dawn of a new and brighter and better era IS ap- preaching this vast domain, and that the turn toward growth and prosper ity and development is close at hano'
 Twenty years ago, in a speech de- 1ivered at Seattle. Theodore RooseVele sanguinely prophesied that within the lives of his generation Alaska' "ouiu