New Britain herald., 1923-04-13
PROSPEROUS DAYS
 F0R ALASKA TRADE
Officials Foresee Prospects After ! Her Difficulties

Washington. April is,-pespite scr
 ous handicaps during. the past few
 years, industrial Alaska has recovered
 It's stability and. in the words of a
 department of interior announcement,
 Is riding once more on an even keel
 like ship fighting herself after a terrible gale"
 The forecast of smooth sailing
 ahead is based on the report Of the
 collector of customs at Juneau, just
 received iu Washington.
 Increase In Commerce
 The year closed with an increase in the commerce of tl,c territory over
 1921 of $e0, 0,7so, ,4oi and with a healthy growth in practically all the industries" says the statement issued from the department of Secretary Work. Exports from the territory of Alaska more than doubled the im- ports. leaving the balance of trade in hlaska's favor by a handsome margin.
 ''The outstanding increase in value of shipments to the United States is shown in canned salmon, both as to the number of pounds and value. This was due to the revival of the salmon canning industry, as we'll as a more nearly normal run of salmon in Alas ka. An increase also worthy of note. because of It's rapid growth. is that of pickled fish represented primarily by the herring industry. A number of large herring salteries were installed t;uriAg 1922 in southwest Alaska and these were kept running until late in the fan to meet the demands for this sea food.
 Mineral Output Great
 'In spite of serious gold mining re- verses during the past few years the mineral output of the territory for 1922 was approximately $1s,000,000 or an increase over 1921 of more than $1,000,00o. This increase was due l primarily to larger output of cop per, yet 1t reflects in some measure the improvement of the entire mineral | Industry. Pre-war figures can be con- sidered only in comparisons, and for the five years ended in 1914 the aver age annual value of Alaska's mineral lutput was s19,7oO,ooo. So. compar- ed in values Alaskas mineral output h 1922 is most encouraging for re- vival of this industry.
 The canned clam industry, which was somewhat dormant during 1920- 91, took on new life in 1922 and the outlook for a larger pack in 1923 is good. With shipments aggregating i144,471, the shrimp industry is show ng a steady growth.
 ssrTbo c1,irp,onf couyad 1,,y,, bor rom Alaska to the United States, and llso for export to foreign countries, is most gratifying. During 1922 lum- per was loaded direct on vessels for export trade. A number of mills are to be under contract for similar shipments during 1923.
 Mineral Oil Development
 The possibility of increased oil de- ,elopment in Alaska was most prom sing at the close of 1922. The oil wells of the Katalla fields produced teadily during 1929 and their refined ,roduct found ready markets within he territory Production from this leld, however, has not yet reached he exporting age. A new oil field , now under development in the Cold Bay district.
 The travel movement, as shown in he statement of arrivals and de- artures, discloses a pleasing increase l travel to Alaska from the States While the departures from Alaska are l excess of the arrivals. it is not be- eyed that this indicates any failing if in population, but rather is due to 1e fact that the residents of the in- srior are taking advantage of the heaper transportation offered by the laska railroad to spend part of the inter in the states"