The Alaska daily empire., 1923-08-13
MISLEADING STATEMENT UNLESS
 MODIFIED.

Secretary Wa1Iaeo.e doclaration that the delay in Alaskan development is due to the that economic conditions have net been propitious for itthat 1t is a case developing older sections hrst-is very hkey to be misleading. It is true, in sense as to the agricultural development of the Territory, which depends upon markets, and perhaps some of the ether potential resources but it is not the case as to lot of the natural resources that remain in idleness
 Based upon this statement of Secretary Wallace the declaration has teen made that Alaskas hour has not struck account of the remoteness of the Territory and the lack of transportation facilities
 The his.cry of American development and the facts of Aaskas situation do not warrant such con clusion.
 The country had far les than 4,OOO.OoO popula- ton when the movement began across the Allegehany Mountains, and from that time forward the west ward of development continued in advance of transportation facilities. The settlement of the Pacific Coast began in earnest about eighty ago From that time onward the development of the whole Nation proceeded simultaneously The timber and agricultural of the Pacific Coast were de- veloped far byecnd the Alaska development of today seventy years ago notwithstanding that the exports from the Pacific Coast that tme gold and furs-and not of nearly the value of the present nual exports from Alaska Those sates then far remote and their transportation facilities less adequate than these of Alaska Those engaged i'll farming there at that time, like those here were limited to local maikes However their timber
 
 those who would dig, and it not long before Washington and Oregon lumber and Washington coal Were shipped to the markets of the Pacific and lum- Der cargoes finding their way around the Horn to the Atlantic There nothing approaching Alaska's present proxemity tc markets available to the enterprising mon who began the development of the natural resources south of us more than sixty years ago. And the East, South and Middle West were producing lumber and coal in those days in greater quantities than the market demands. The 
 energy and capital are given opportunity operate The Westcrners cf the Pacific Coast States given very liberal chance and they took the ques tion as to whether not the hour had struck for Pacific Coast natural resources and enterprise
 But the alleged fact of Alaska's remotneess and lack of transportation is dsproved by those engaged in industries where individuals and capital have given opportunity fer activity. Alaska fish, copper and furs have found the markets of the world. If the timber had not been placed in the National re- serves, and development prevented. il, too would be following the copper and fish And if they had dis covered it in sufficient quantities. Alaska coal would be in distant coal yards had the heavy hand of the Government been laid upon it at the inception of the attempt to develop it.
 There is net thing in the Alaska situation that justihes the position of the Pinchotttes or ho-oaied conservation it has been operating in the past. There is however the fact that Sthe Forestry Bureau and other agencies of the Federal Government have promised 10 make the misnamcd anda unholy
 
 able, to give enterprise and capital chance and the other fact that the socaed conservationsts have sold their propaganda extensively the East that to DUCK their game IS too great task for Alaska to prosecute alone 1T the premise of cooperation is full hlied to the extent of making It productive
 The first declaration that should be made by those In charge is that the Federal Government does not expect 10 make profit out of it's ownership of the natural reeourees-to make profit through stnmpage royalties tolls taxes, etc.-except through their development That has been tho policy in the past ana through the operation of that policy the country developed beyond any other section of tho world in the same length of time. Open up the country lei the opportunity to realize upon the so-caed 'sun- earned increment be held up as a prize to the country, and Alaska development will begin
 II Alaskans have conveyed the impression to Vlfors to the Territory that they favor the conser- vatlon policy of Pinchot and Roosevelt. The Empire believes they did go unintentionally. They are wiling as matter of policy however to accept con fefvatien if fl be made to harmonize with inc principle applied in the past--that behind the prin- cipe of the homestead law. behind the principle under which Mississippi Valley lands were sold at sl25 an acre behind tho principle which permitted the sale of timber lands elsewhere for SIPS and $250 an acre, behind the principle which gave water power to those who would use it and minerals to those who would mine it.
 Tbe real purpose of conservation, as it was sold