Evening star., 1923-05-16
PRESIDENT TO S|FT
ALASKA PROBLEMS
Whether One Department
Shall Have Jurisdiction to
Be Studied on Trip.

The problems which the President
and members of his cabinet will study
during their approaching tour of
Alaska are summarized in an oficial
statement given out at the White
House today.
Foremost among these problems
is placed the question as to whether
the complete jurisdiction over the
whole territory of Alaska shall be
vested in a single department of the
government. Other questions enumer-
ated include proposals for immigra-
ton and colonization Of the vast ter
ritory; further railroad development;
questions relating to the liberaliza-
ton Of the mining laws; questions re-
lating to the fisheries.
The President, il has been an
nounced, will leave Washington, June
90, under present plans, on his way
to Alaska. He will be accompanied.
1t was oficialIy stated today, by the
Secretary of the Interior. the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and the Secretary
Of Commerce. For the f1rst time IN
history the chief executive of the
government is to tour this northern
country.
Difficulties of Supervision.
According to the White House
statement:
Difficulties of governmental super
vision of Alaska. complications in ad-
ministration. coordination and CO.
operation of executive and judicial
functions including Capitalization of
jurisdiction will receive the personal
and intimate attention Of the Presi-
dent and the departmental heads ac-
companying him along with the
proposition of the adoption Of a con-
structive program for the opening up
of the immense resources of the ter
ritory.
Heretofore compelled to visualize
conditions existing in Alaska through
reports made annually by depart
mental bureaus. these high off1cials
Of the United States will see the sit
and will be enabled to reach decisions
upon the very ground instead of at a
distance Of 5000 miles.
"The history Of Alaska since its
purchase by the United States reveals
some startling facts. The territory
pire in 1857 for the comparatively in
significant sum of $7.200.000. the
amount being paid in gold. Since then
1t has proved to be a most lucrative
investment. Up to 1922. 1t has pro-
duced from its mines, it's sea and fur
ooo. 900. and during this time 1t has
cost the American government. in
GLIDING the original purchase price,
approximately $2oo.0oo.ooo.
Riches Await Development.
"Inestimable riches and hidden
treasures are still Theoretically sealed
in it's natural recesses awaiting de-
velopment. The total area of Alaska
sity can only be realized when COM
parison with the area of the United
States shows that 1t Is one-fifth as
large as the total territory embraced
in the forty-eight states OF the Union.
The population Of Alaska presents
after this country became American
territory there was slow. but grad
ual Increase in the number of inhab-
ttants. Ten years ago. following the
census Of 1910. the population began
to dwindle, and. as a result. 10000
people left Alaska between 1910 and
1920. Its permanent population Is
now fixed at approximately 10000, OF
which about one-half are whites and
the other half Indians. Eskimos and
persons or divers natlOnalitfeS.
And along with the decrease in in
habitants has come a corresponding
loss in the commerce and trade OF
Alaska. The total commerce in 1920
amounted to some s106.000.O00. as
compared with s63.00O,00O in 1921. a
decrease Of $43.000.0o0.
"Alaska,s greatest resource is Its
mineral Wealth. There is gold, silver.
copper. zinc. antimony and tungsten
in immense quantities. Deposits Of
coal, including bituminous and 1ig-
mite, have been found upon a magni-
tudinous scale. So has oil and petro-
leum. in addition to platinum, lead
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