Evening star., 1923-05-16
PRESIDENT TO SlFT
ALASKA PROBLEMS
Continued from First Paxe.)

ores. quicksilver. graphite and as
1922 amounted to approximately $ls.-
100000. an increase of 100000 over
1921. but two years before the mineral
| production was over 5000: 900. show
Ing that Alaska is still behind Its
previous records. The partial stagna-
ritory Is due to the decrease In pop
ulation. inability to transport min
ing machinery over the poor ROADS
/; and trails and lack OF capital to
sink shafts in the mines. Evidence
of petroleum in Alaska exists in many
| regions. but difficulties of transporta-
tion have prevented drilling on an ex-
| tensive scale
The fisheries Of ALASKA make up
Its principal commerce. Salmon. her.
; ring. CLANS. shrimps. and other sea
| foods in abundant quantities are tax
| en- from its waters annually and an
! immense canning industry has been
built.
Climate Delightful.
"Tn the popular fancy. Alaska is
| supposed to be 4 forbidding. ice
covered. glacier-crowned land OF dog
! teams and polar bears. The truth
OF the matter Is that II is country
of delightful climate many months
OF the year, with an area of 100000
square miles, fitted for agriculturel
development and capable OF producing
crops of almost endless variety.
Along the coasts Of Alaska are
magnificent virgin forests, the value
Of which runs into many millions OF
dollars and the timber of which has
| scarcely been touched. They cover
| an area of 20,579.336 acres or slight
ly 6 per cent less than the total area
of the entire territory.
"The American government has
just completed the construction or
railroad through the far-off wilder
ness of Alaska at a cost of about
| Seward to Fairbanks, distance OF
467 miles, penetrating into the very
heart of the territory. and Is the hrst
railroad ever built and operat>d by
this government. Although running
at loss 1t is the first great step in
building an empire in this northern
country that must be followed by the
construction of roads and trails upon
a scale of over -shadowinE magnitude
in order to encourage settlement and
with full complement of freight
| and passenger traffic.
THE administration of the affairs
| of the territory of Alaska is now In
the hands of thirty-five different de-
partments and bureaus of the govern
ment. The various functions per-
formed by them consist of 135 activi-
ties dealing with every conceivable
phase or governmental supervision
and jurisdiction.
"The complexity of governmental
| activities that govern the territory.
| therefore. presents an enigma in itself
that must be untangled before this
| country OF vast resources can be
| opened up. A summary OF some Of
the problems that the President and
the members of his cabinet will study
during their tour OF Alaska follows:
whether the complete jurisdiction
over the whole of Alaska shall be
vested in single department of the
government.
whether a colonization and fmmi-
grafton plan shall be Immediately
put into effect to increase its popula- :
tion and begin the ultimate develop
ment of it's resources.
| Whether there shall be built up a
corps of trained men with headquar-
ters In Alaska TO search out and re-
port regularly upon the mineral re-
sources of the territory.
whether branch lines and spurs to
the Alaska railroad shall be construct
ed to bring it into fuller usefulness In
meeting industrial needs.
Whether there shall be more liberal
: appropriations for the building OF
roads and trails in the interior OF
Alaska. regular appropriation OF
$l.500.000 annually being asked
,,rsstsnas Mhs.hsr ,ts the .,fsas fishing industry
exploitation is to be wholly checked
: and regulated through the vesting of
supreme power to control it IA the De-
present divided authority permitting
the state governments bordering upon
the continental coast to exercise juris-
whether the government is n
eliminate the dangers of navigation
along the coast of Alaska by providing
: suficient number Of lights and other
, warnings to naviga tors
whether steps are to be taken to
iurther protect the seals which have
increased under government reguIa-
tion. but are being destroyed b,
whales and other sea animals
through lack of proper protection
wv e t er all law enforcing
consolidated under the Department OF
Justice.
! Whether the mining and land law.
OF Alaska shall be liberalized to meet
, distinctive and divergent conditions
In Alaska and to stimulate enterprise
and encourage settlement
whether improved facilities fol
travel and commerce to Alaska shall
be put into effect by placing vessels
OF the United States Shipping Board
into the Alaskan service
! whether an admin istrative build
Ing or territorial capitol shall be
erected by the government to house
the various government officials and
agencies.
Tourist Road Question,
Whether tourist roads shall be
constructed into the national parks
OF Alaska, which include Mount Nc.
kinley Park and Mount Katmai Park
In order to open them to the public
whether a new game law shall be
enacted covering the territory OF
Alaska that will secure conservation
Of its wild animal life.
whether an allotment Of a per.
centage OF the revenue derived from
kan waters. shall be made to general
fund of the territory"
President Harding plans to make
his trip to Alaska this summer on
board the Navy transport Henderson
but on the return voyage he is ex-
to Shipping Board vessel for q cir
cult through the Panama canal back
to an Atlantic port.
The Presidents tentative plans pro-
vide that he board the Henderson al
tSeattle. The trip to Alaska and back
to San Francisco is to occupy about 3
month. At San Francisco the Hen
derson will resume her regular sail.
ing hedule.
By returning through the canal the
making plans in the west by about
one-half. He previously had planned
to come back to Washington through
the northern tier of states, with
speeches at Aberdeen. Minneapolis
Chicago, Detroit and other cities In
that territory.
During his visit to Alaska, it was
announced today at the Interior De-
partment, the President will drive q
golden spike, celebrating the com.
pletion Of the Alaskan railroad. The
spike will be furnished by the citi-
1 1$ ca hA 10 a.