Seward daily gateway., 1923-12-08

CAcICISt Ol LllOoc pOW GIS.
 Conservation of the fisheries, so es- sential to the preservation of the great industry, is being enforced by the Department of Commerce, thru it's Bureau of Fisheries, under the re- serve system adopted as the only all formative in the absence of needed legislation, and the Territory is coop erating fully toward the desired end
 Material Progress
 Materially the fiscal year 1922-23 showed appreciable improvement in business and industry, and an almost complete recovery from adverse con- ditions immediately following the World War. Mining activities increas- ed in many parts of the Territory, mo- tably in the Hyder district, at the head of Portland Canal; in the Willow Creek District, contiguous to the Alas ka Railroad, and in the Nome District in the far north, where dredging Oper- ations were renewed on an extensive scale, supported by ample capital Throughout Southeastern Alaska, On the islands and mainland, mining en- terpEises received a stimulus and were put upon basis Of more suc- cessful operation. No notable strikes or discoveries were recorded. During the fiscal year the mineral output showed gratifying gain, as revealed by the detailed statistics following. Dredging work and placer mining were handicapped somewhat the latter part of the year by lack of water in cident to an unusually clear and dry summer throughout the Territory.
 Gains in commerce, exports and i'm ports, were most gratifying and, in dicative of prosperity. Postal receipts in towns along the coast were the largest since 1917. All communities on the lines of travel, water and rail, shared measurably i'll the benefits of the influx of tourists which was the largest in Alaskan history. A sue cesslul fishing season, in most dis tricts, contributed largely to the sum total of prosperity.
 Although pulp and paper enterprises many of which have been impending for several years, have not yet event uated, headway was made toward the establishment ol at least one such important project and it is believed the coming year will witness reaii- zation oI dreams in this respect.
 Tourist Travel
 The season of 1923, in bringing thousands of visitors to AlasKa, enl- phasizes decidedly that systematic of tourist facilities of for Alaska The two American steam ship companies and the Canadian line, with eleven passenger-carrying ves- sels running on schedule from Seat tie and Vancouver, five of them mak- ing regular trips across the Gulf of Alaska to Seward, and two other large vessels making the voyage by outside Passage to Nome, were taxed to the very limit of their capacity and over three thousand applicants for reserva- tions could not be accommodated. The coming season promises likewise to| be limited only by the facilities pro vided.
 Under the existing transportation tourists must make con tinuous round trip through the Inside Passage or to the westward, and re- turn, or risk long delays in securingI passage outward Thus but fleeting glimpses of the beauties of Alaska are permitted the many visi tors who would otherwise tarry, if they could.
 One new and modern AmericanI steamship was added to the regular service during the year and at least another will be in the service theI coming year. It is probable that two more large Canadian vessels will also further relieve the situation in south- eastern Alaska. Meanwhile the trans portation companies and tourist agen- cies are working out in conjunction or separately better system of handl- ing tourist traffic.
 The need of more adequate hotel facilities in the Territory, with hotels designed and equipped tol please tourists at vantage points onI the coast and in the interior, is appa- rent and steps are being taken toI meet this need.
 The refusal or disinclination of theI Canadian and White Pass RailroadI lines to enter into a tourist arrange ment with the American lines, where by visitors might make the trip over the White Pass and down the Yukon River to Tanana, and up the TananaI River to Nenana, with side trip to Fairbanks, and out over The Alaska Railroad to Seward and thence byI steamer to Prince Rupert, Vancouver or Seattle, deprives visitors of the privilege of most attractive scenic journey. However, 1t is believed thatI this and other obstacles to the devel- opment of tourist traffic will be over