The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-12-07

project, means much materially to
! the whole of Alaska and results are
far-reaching.
Agricultural Progress
Farming in the interior continued
to advance and the acreage under
cultivation IN the Tanana, Matanuska
and Susitna Valleys is annually
showing an increase. Almost every
thing Is grown excepting corn, cotton,
beans, melons and fruits. Wheat of
finest grade has averaged from TWEEN
tyfive to thirty bushels per acre.
Small homesteaders near markets
thrive and industrial population viii
stimulate agricultural development
throughout the interior Berries grow
wild in great abundance everywhere.
Millions of acres OF inland are nat
urally adapted to grazing and dairy
ing and the prospects in this direc-
ton are very bright. The reindeer
industry is rapidly extending, and is
greatly facilitated by the operation
of the railroad
Native agricultural products, as the
Territory settles up. will supply the,
needs OF a large population and it
is within reason to believe that, in
course OF years, Alaskan meat and
dairy;ng products will figure largely
in the outside markets of the world.
The agricultural experimental sta
tons have rendered a magnificent
service to the Territory in its retard-
ed infancy. The farming possibilities
of the great interior, added to fish
ing, mining and timber resources,
strengthen faith to the permanent
future OF ALASKA
\ potent sign Of the times is the
opening Of tho Agricultural College
and School OF Mines at Fairbanks
the first institution OF higher and
technical learning in the entire
Northland. II starts with small
enrolment, bat under bright
auspices
Tourist Facilities Inadequate.
The tourist season of 1922 was
especially significant and would have
been more successful but lor in
adequate steamship accommodations.
Combined, the American and Can
adian liners carried 5,53T tourists,
an increase OF 1906 over the number
in 1921. The bulk of these Travelled
on the foreign vessels. the Processes,
StllllS mum iti' OiN'i " t'if'sa Nty
and operating in connection with the
White Pass Railroad to Lake Atlin
and the Yukon. Reservations were
exhausted on all the steamers early
in the season uhtil its close and Al
askans@ frequently experienced diIfi-
culties and delays in securing accom-
modations.
Two vessels only of the American
companies cater TO tourist travel,
and as they do a large freight bust
ness at the height OF the season,
prolonged stops at canneries TO dis
charge and take on cargoes, and I'M
certain schedules, mar the comfort
and pleasure OF passengers on sight
seeing bent. The Canadian Company,
on the contrary, with well-adyertised,
modern ships equipped and adaptou
to please tourists, provides short. |
but attractive itinerary and main /,
tains its schedules.
Whether by one boat or another, |
the journey through The scenic seas
of Southeastern Alaska is of incom !
parable charm, and disComforts and !
delays are quickly forgotten; but il
Alaska is TO become the Summer par !
adise OF tourists, as il should be, up
to-date facilities and accommodations
must be provided. 1t is American
shortsightedn that permits Cana !
dian enterprise to preempt a growing
business in Alaskan waters properly /!
belonging to America.
A deplorable phase of the transpor- !
tation situation as affecting tourist
travel is that American travellers in /
large number are routed through TO
the British Columbia boundary and I
the Yukon, getting picturesque !
glimpses OF an important stretch and |
strip of Alaska in passing. but see !
ing and learning little OF Alaska as !
a whole. Few tourists go westward |
to Seward and take the trip over the /
Railroad to the coal ,
fields and into the interior where .
development is under way and great
Alaska is TO be found. /
The United States Shipping Board ,
undoubtedly could find profitable !
use for two tourist steamers in Al !
askan waters three months in the |
year and should not only cover the
inside passage, but proceed across
the Gulf OF Alaska to Resurrection
Bay and Cooks Inlet, giving tourists /
opportunity 10 go over Tue bVfSi IL
ment Railroad to Fairbanks and re-
turn Such tour, with its unriv-
allied scenery, il attractively adyer-
tised as are the tours to South
America, would bring to Alaska thou
sands of visitors and greatly benciit
the Territory. The transcontihental
railroads manifestly would /
gain largely by promoting such tours /
and cooperating with the steamships |
and the Alaska Railroad in effecting |
through passenger traffic arrange 7
mentS.
Once tourist travel is systematic
ally sought and properly cared Tor, |
Mt. Mckinley Park will become a |
popular resort and hotels along the !
coast will speedily be provided.
Two tourists steamers should thus /
be operated, beginning in 1923, by |
and through the existing Alaska !
steamship companies, or the United !
States Shipping Board direct; and an /,
intensive preliminary advertising I
campaign be inaugurated at once. /
Amoricans are tolay craving the full (