Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-04
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governing In many cases their activities overlap.
In general there has been little coordination and
cooperation. In addition, it is government at long
range. Rules and regulations under existing stat
utes are made by the authorities at Washington,
who are also in large measure charged with their
execution.
Bear in mind that nearly all of Alaska's re-
sources are directly or indirectly controlled by
the federal government. About 90 per cent of the
land is still in government ownership. The devel-
opment of coal and oil deposits is under govern
ment leases. Water powers and fisheries are IN
der federal CONTROL and nearly all Alaska timber
is in government ownership
Moreover, the territory has its own fiscal system,
controlled by laws enacted by the territorial leg
isature, which is entirely separate and apart
from the revenues received by the federal govern
ment from business and trade licenses and which
are covered into and disbursed from the Alaskan
fund in the general treasury.
There should be no lack of up-to-date hrst-hand
information in Washington presently concerning
the various phases Of the Alaskan problem With
President Harding were Secretary of the Interior
Work, Secretary of Agriculture Wallace, Secre-
tary Of Commerce Hoover and many bureau Off
Gals congressional committee including Sen
ator Francis E. Warren of Wyoming, chairman of
the Senate appropriations committee, visited
Alaska during the summer. Six scientists of the
Interior department have been exploring this sum-
mer the naval oil reserve Of $4,000 square miles
The government railroad from Seward to Fair
banks begun in 1916, has been completed. It is
467 miles long, and cost over $56,00O000. 1t
operates Pullmans, passenger coaches and freight
cars to the total number of about 500. The gov
eminent operates two connecting Yukon river
transports and mosquito fleets navigate the smaller
rivers The fare is about six cents a mile. The
railroad is administered by a commission of the
Department of the Interior. Col. Frederick Mears
is chairman and at present in charge of the road.
Says Colonel Mears
"Wherever a region or development PROPOSE
ton warrants it we will build spurs from the main
line OF course, we do not expect to break even,
at least for some time. Until the interior is more
thickly settled, until tourists in greater
bers to enjoy the beauties of the Mckinley park
region until the varied resources of the Interior
are developed this road will not pay. But without
the railroad the interior of Alaska never will de-
velop and without the exploitation of these
resources the road never will get tonnage. Each
is dependent upon the other
The completion OF the government railroad will
doubtless stimulate tourist travel especially to
Mount Mckinley National park, which has hitherto
been practically inaccessible. The park contains
1896 square miles and is next in size to Yellow
stone It's biggest feature is Mount Mckinley.
2O;464 feet, the highest mountain in North Amer
lea and one of the most impressive earth 1t is
a wonderful preserve of Alaskan wild animal
life; caribou, bighorn, moose deer, goat and bear
live and breed there in immense numbers.
Unique among Alaska's majestic and varied
scenery is the new national monument, Katnai
"The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes" which is
easily accessible by automobile Katmai volcano
blew its head off during three days in June of
1872 covering all Alaska with thick coating of
dust The explosion left crater $500 feet deep
and eight miles around with lake at the bottom
Close by is valley several miles long, from which
are shooting up thousands of steam jets. 1t is
~ ;vo h nl~SN 1oxy
steam jets may cool off enough to become geysers
like those of the Yellowstone
government booklet says: "The principal
shipments from the United States to Alaska dur
ing the past three years chemicals, automo
biles COAL coffee, confectionery, eggs, electrical
machinery and other manufactures of iron and
STEEL explosives, fruits boots and shoes, meat
and dairy products mineral oils, sugar, tobacco
vegetables and manufactures of paper, wood and
WOOL" This means that Alaska, with its own coal
deposits is importing coal with it's own oil fields
is importing oil with its forests is importing
manufactures of wood The booklet says:
"Winter rye and winter wheat be success