Evening star., 1923-04-22
By PAU. GRIGGS.


The President will enter a region
OF comparative industrial silence or
his projected visit to our empire OF
the far north.
Alaska, compared with the United
States, comprises Il vast area almost
devoid Of our familiar telegraph and
telephone pole.
IT, is a land in which nature seems
TO be relatively as unfavorably pre-
disposed toward the land wire sys-
TENS as it is favorably predisposeo
toward radio. AS a result radio is
destined to break the silence thai
has prevailed over this region since
the beginning of time and TO play
a most important part in its indus
trial development.
The huge networks of intricate
land wire communication systems
which link together our Atlantic and
Pacific scaboards, our cities, town:
and even most of our farmhouses. are
lacking in our rich territory up near
the top of the world.
Extensive land wire communication
systems such as ours would be dill
cult TO maintain in country or Sucn
rugged topography and rigorous ell
mate as Alaska even If the territory
was sufficiently populated 10 justify
their establishment.
These natural conditions which are
Infavorablt to the land wire sys-
TENS are In the main, favorable for
wireless or radio. Other natural con-
ditionS in Alaska are especially Ia
vora Bile for radio.
Atmospheric conditions in partlcu-
lar are most favorable for radio
Static In Alaska.
In the summer static season at
mospheric or ether disturbances are
very much less severe in Alaska than
within the area over the United
States. During other seasons of the
year static is rarely ever experienced
Ether or radio waves travelling over
Alaska do not lose their strength dur
ing the late spring, summer. and ear
lv fall in the same relative proper
fion that they do when travelling
over the United States during these
seasons.
The atmosphere which enveiops
Nlaska is therefore unusually favor
able for both radio transmission and
reception.
Moreover. situated as it is up near
the top of the world. the air line dis
tanccs intervening between Alaska
and North America are. in general
no greater than those intervening be
tween Alaska and Europe and be-
tween Alaska and Asia
It is not inconceivable therefore
;hat Alaska will eventually become
the cross roads in the ether lanes of
the northern hemisphere-the point
of relay for radio signals between
North America. Europe and Asia. IN
Guiding re-radiatiou of worldwide
broadcast programs.
With the further development and
application of radiophone broadcast
cast programs. the radio factors
peculiar TO Alaska may assume the
status of valuable national assets:
They may assume an intangible
value equal in Importance TO the tan
giblc value of the coal, oil or miner
al deposits, of Alaska or of its forests
and fisheries.
The Presidents forthcoming visit
TO Alaska will undoubtedly have far
reaching consequences as regards the
ultimate development of this poten-
tally rich territory. 1t should serve
to also focus attention on this vast
region with respect to radio. because
radio will constitute the chief re-
lance of the President and his party
not only for establishing contact with
remote points within the interior OF
Alaska. but also for keeping in touch
with the affairs of the United states
and the rest OF the world while in
This region.
Requirements Barely Met.
rilities in Alaska are meager at TINS
Both the existing radio and land
wire intelligence Communication ia