The Cordova daily times., 1922-07-11
WRITER GIVES ALASKA OIL
 GOOD BOOST

In an article published in a recent issue of the San Francisco Examiner, Miss Estelle Lawton, a special writer, has the following to say in regard to Alaska:
 Will Alaska outdo California as an oil center?
 Albert E. Fraser, for F years a resi- detn of Alaska, and just now a visitor in Los Angeles, predicted that she will. Fraser is in the freight depart ment of the government railroad, and he has through his work an unusual opportunity to know of the resources of the great terrftroy.
 His enthusiasm has the vigor of the far north When speaking of Alaska he is almost scornful of our boasted eli mate, and if by chance you happen to mention the extreme cold of Alaska MT. Fraser just snorts and advises you to inform yourself on the facts of physical geography.
 You don't know that every harbor in Alaska from Ketchikan to Dutch Harbor is open all year," he demand ed. Our climate is no severer than that of Boston or any New England state. True, our summers are short, but they are glorious, with fruits and flowers, every kind of vegetable that anyone could desire.
 "The recent completion of the gov ernment railroad has opened a marVe- lous scenic route and the service is excellent.
 During the gold\ rush everybody was talking about Alaska; now all the world remembers is that we used to be on the map.
 If people but knew it we are the great natural sanitarium of the west ern continent. You see no pale people in Alaska, no anemic ones. Weddings who come to our country get strongv Even the mosquitoes are harmless, though carniverous. There are no germs to poison their peaks. We are on the way to oil development that will furnish potential death to every mosquito on the continent.
 Several big companies are now drilling inside the Arctic circle and the indications are excellent. I'll bet that within the next few years we shall witness an oil rush to Alaska that will exceed in interest and eX- citement the gold rush of the sos.
 "The government makes it possible for anyone honestly wishing to begin development to drill on 2,500 acres of , land Now between Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay the ground is staked for ! miles. True, the ground is always frozen a few feet below the surface, but that helps rather than flinders oil drilling.
 And when it comes to natural won-
  ders, where can you find the like of the "Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes?" That is believed by most people to be inaccessible.
 Tt is not. Anybody who cares to take his own food and bedding may reach the valley in a three-day trip from the end of the boat line. It con- tafns the largest active volcano in the world and colors that make the G"and canyon colors look pale and uninter- esting. As potential tourist camp ing ground Alaska can't be beat. All we need is adequate hotels, and there you have an opening for some enter prising capitalist.
 "A prophet may be without honor in his own country, but country seems to be without honor among it's own sons. I've seen California and I've seen Alaska, and I tell you that Alaska has more opportunities, more beauty and a better climate than your boasted California. That's why I i've there. I love it."