The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-02

dress at Seattle was in effect a
plea In behalf Of Aaska-the name means Great
Country" and John Muir used to call 1t my beau
tifu fruitful wilderness" Said Mr.. Harding:
Against a program of ruinous exploitation we
must stand firmly. Our dopted program must be
Development of Alaska for Alaskans
Incidentally, In his Seattle speech, Mr. Harding
made these points That Alaska does not need
"government-managed, federally ypaid-for, hothouse
development; that more restriction Of the fish
Ing industry Is necessary and urgent that more
liberal terms In leasing may be necessary to de-
Selop the oil fields; that there should be organ
ization capable of the readiest response to de-
mands for roads and trails; that there Ia the
cessity to provide feeders for the government rail-
road; that "in very few years very well
set Off the Panhandle and large block Of the
connecting southeastern part state"
=. The purpose of this article, however, Is infor-
NATIVE not argumentative. What follows Is largely
a compilation from the latest authoritative sources
of information Of interesting facts about Alaska.
OF course until development takes place 1t Is i'm
possible to estimate approximately, the prob
able value Of Alaskas natural resources. There Is
no question that they are varied and immense:
Coal OIL copper, gold silver, lead, various metals
marble, timber, fish, fur, agriculture water power
scenery. Probably no state in the Union has SO
great variety Of assets and much potential
wealth.
Even now, when 1t is admitted that Alaska Is
not fourishing that Its production Is decreasing
and that Its population Is falling off, 1t pays annu-
ally several hundred per cent its original cost
in 1S87-$7 100000 Cess than two cents an acre)
The total mineral production In 1921 was $17,OO4-
124. The total Of fishery products In 1921 was
k24,0S8.881.
Alaska, since 1867, has produced mineral. fish
and fur products considerably In excess of one
billion dollars.
Gov Scott c. Bones latest available report TO
the secretary Of the interior contains these gures
According to the 1920 census, the population was
b5030, an apparent decrease Of 9,320 from that of
1910, though the former was taken In the dead
of winter and the latter In the spring
In 1921 the number of persons employed IN the
fisheries industry was 15,070 and the total active
Investment $4,000, ,S74. The total value of
the fishery products. exclusive Of seal and other
aquatic furs was 1857. a decrease of ST.
406257 from the preceding year. The output Of
canned salmon consisted Of 2,598,s2e cases. valued
at $19632,744, as compared with 4420,463 cases
In 1920 valued at $35,602, 800
The total commerce Of Alaska for the calendar
year 1921 was $65,954,566, decrease Of $42,s75-
BIO from the amount in 1920. The total commerce
with the United States $685. SS1, as against
e106,5s6,096 In 1920, decrease of $43O44.s14
There were approximately 100000 reindeer two
thirds Of which belong to the natives.
There were fifteen territorial and three national
banks; 214 domestic and 42S foreign corporations.
The government Of Alaska IL more perplexing
than any Chinese puzzle. The executive power Is
vested in the governor. who Il appointed by the
president for a term Of four years by and with
the advice and consent OF the senate The legisla-
live power is vested in territorial legislature
consisting Of q senate and house Of representa-
tfves. The judicial power Of the territory IL
vested In the District court Of the United States
for the District of Alaska. The territory elects
delegate to congress, who may participate In de-
bate. but who has no vote
Yet, according to Alaskans. 1T IL a.cass Of ~too
much government BY too many bureaus too far
away" There are ct least thirty-eight bureaus Of
The ssvwsi departments that have I hand n thls