Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-02
GOV. BONE PREDICTS
BOOM FOR ALASKA:
Presidents Coming Visit and
New Railroad Will Be Two
,,Momentous Events.

Gov. Scott c. Bone of Alaska is in
| Washington on official business, and
J yesterday had conference with the
| President. His six months residence
| in the territory, he says, has given
| him increased faith in its resources
! and rich potentialities, and he is OPP
| timistic of the future. Although
| Alaska has gone backward in the last
| decade. losing approximately 10000
! in population between 1910 and 1920,
| and is still practically at a standstfil,
he regards the general outlook as
| more promising than at any time in
recent years. A co-ordinated and
, in his opinion, is the territory's most
| urgent and immediate need. He be-
| lieves that the present session of
/ Congress will provide the necessary
| relief.
Two Great Coming Events.
THE year 1922" said Gov. Bone,
will be the most memorable and his
toric since the Seward purchase, be-
cause of two events of supreme
moment the completion and opera
| ton of the government railroad from
| the coast into the interior. and, more
! significant and epoch making than all
! else. the visit to Alaska Of the Press
! ident of the United States. Alaska
has never been hOnored as it will thus
! be honored. These two events Will
1 center attention upon Alaska as 1t has
| never been centered before. and the
! truth about the territory will become
| known.
| Il regard the outlook as exceeding
lily favorable for needed legislation.
Never in all the history Of the ter.
ritory have the combined influences at
Washington been SO friendly and Son-
ducive to beneficial results. The
President has repeatedly emphasized
his interest and made it perfectly
clear. He intends to demonstrate
this interest by visiting Alaska.
Secretary Fall, essentially a terri
torial problems. is no less actively
concerned. Both have a vision OF
the future greatness of Alaska.
! Champions in Congress.
| In Senator New and Representa-
tive Curry. chairmen Of the commit
tees on territories Alaska has two
sturdy champions. who are striving
with all their might to be of help
fulness. There is no disagreement in
the administration or in Congress. l
believe. as to paramount need OF
better system of administration for
Alaska.
! The first step toward development
! is a centralizing of authority and re-
sponsibiity. The bureaucratic gov
eminent long fastened upon Alaska
has retarded growth and prosperity.
i 1t has spelled delay and decay and
made for lost population.
| However efficient the bureaus, re-
gardless Of their high personnel and
lofty aims. a bureaucratic system OF
administration will inevitably break
down. Applied to a great domain like
\ A oil 70
such a system becomes doubly I'M
workable and hopelessly impossible.
! THE failure of the bureaucratic
system is generally recognized and
admitted. Opposition to measures
proposed. therefore, has been centered
upon and directed against collateral
provisions. However, ] am most
/ sanguine that the needed legislation
will be worked out in a manner that
will be promotive of the interests of
Alaska as whole and be acceptable
to all AlaskanS"