The Nome nugget., 1922-01-28
ANNUAL REPORT OF
 ALASKA'S GOVERNOR

Alaska needs capital, Alaska needs obvious It's resources are apparent and real It's opportunities are in- viting and manifold
 Hut chaotic system of govern ment has rcpollcd capital and re- tardcd growth and population.
 Iibcraligcd laws for Alaska and Iacrc flexible rulcs and regulations under such laws, with . conccntra ton of authority ani responsibility and an administration courdinated needed to speed the progress and de- y.iopmcnt of the Territory
 Ear removed from the seat of Fed crul Government, aloof. comparative lv unknown. save for it's scenery and it's gold. Alaska has hidicn in vain Tor fair recognition and just treat mcnt for the fifty-odd years since it's purchase from Russia for the modest sum of S7.2O0.0 .000.
 Every Governor of Alaska has pre- Scntcd its needs. always in forccful and often in picturesque terms, and some of these needs have been mot through picccmcHl legislation, Hut the paramount nocd of coherent. constructive. uphuildipg Federal pol icy for Alaska has gone unhceded Thus, after moro than half Il century the victim of iuattcntion at Washington and the prey of vision u!.,e A.A ,.,,,...--- -.... 'tS'Nh- irs have come to be entrusted largely to multitudinous. overlapping hu- reaus. admirable and efficient in their personnel. but confusing and complicattng in their operation,
 Individual initiative, which is es- scntinl to substantial development in any country or community. new or old. has hcen halted and the pioneer cpirit maimcd Alaska has made progress slowly under these heavy haudicaps
 A change of system is imperative
 Tho construction Of the Govern meut Railroah from the coas; to the interior. uo4u seward iu FatrhGUk. project now approaching compile ton. should mark an epoch in Al aska's history. lt should mean tho actual opening up of tho Territory to settlement and civilization. It should mean the bringing of Alaska }nto caslrr reach and closer touch with the world. IL should mean that obstacles which have hiterto haE- lied the ingenuity ot man and scent cd impossible aa surmount will bc overcome. IL should mean to Alaska what the trauscontuental lines in the nineteenth century meant to the country west oi the Rocky Mountains, IL should mean anf mark the frs; step in the building ot an empire, And it will mean all this and moro. to the greatness and slory of Amertta, ii the Government at Washington will now proceed to supplement this great project by kindred interests, enterprise and ac- tivity ill other directions.
 Unfortunately, owing 10 the in terven,ion of tho World War, gov ernmeutal attention was distracted from Alaska and there was failure to evolve and put into effect con currently with the huildinS of the railroad comprehensive po'tcies ct scneral expansion and development The completion of tho enterprise thcrrtore, finds Alaska nnnropaN,d to turn irs railroad at once tc ifs maNipum degree Of usctnl"csS. l! ,hc purYosr intended hv it: builder is 10 be attained, II the generous in vesrmeut authorized by Congress is to be iuStircd iu full measure. the inauguration ot practical, business like policies for the Territory that will appeal in capital and people cannot now hc delayed
 This governmental railroad VII pay = not in immediate or early fuauc;al returns or even interest upou the investment, but surely and substantially in tho ultimate heneSt' which will he derived both to ths Territory and the nation. How soon il will pay and demonstrate the wis dom ot it's cost ot fifty millions and nore will depend upon how wisely and tsr-sishte6jy the Government heuceforih deals wi;h this vast ac maiu in The noryhlanG
 Mauitesily. consolidation al bureaus under one department head