The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
MANY PROBLEMS.
FACE HARDING ON
TRIP To Al ASKA
Rich Oil Lands Of Northern
Territory To Be DeveI-
Oped

WASHINGTON. May 5.-President
Harding. when he enters Alaska on
his coming trip, will be introduced
to several difficult problems who's.
solution will determine future gov
Ell nment policy in developing this
rich territory. Decisions must be
made very carefully, as difference
On general government policy which
involved Alaska-that of conserva-
tlon-has already caused the with
draWal of one member of his cab-
net. former Secretary of the Interior
Fall.
lens which the President faces:
!. Development of oil resources
which recent discoveries have proved
are very rich.
nected with valuable forests in Alas
ka. such as the lumber and paper
and pulp industries.
j. Determination of admir- on
of the territory, whether best under
several government departments as
now, or under one special bureau.
a. Transportation facilities.
5. 1mmi grafton.
Oil Chief Question.
OIL. now one of the principal con-
siderations of the governments of
ton for the United States govern
ment in Alaska. Oil was discovered
there only recently The first dis
| covery was made in the far north,
| near Point Barrow. beyond the Arc
tic Circle. by Alex Smith. veteran
Scotch trader. whose dogs stumbled
into a Shiny pool one day as they
were pushing across the white will
derness of snow.
Since then. oil has been discovered
in the south. and it is there that the
first development has begun. Both
Associated Oil company are prepar-
ing to drill early in the summer near
Cold Bay Private individuals have
already started development on a
small scale.
Small Concessions Given.
Under present laws only very
small concessions are granted for
development. An oil company and a
private individual are on the same
basis.
OIL companies are anxious to have
| larger grants authorized. claiming
that only in this way can they af-
| ford to undertake development. Pres
sure Will be brought to bear on
| President Harding to urge some ex-
tension of the present narrow con-
| cessions. On the other hand, this
extension will probably be opposed
by those who favor slow develop
ment and strict conservation, and
who protested at the recent grant of
naval oil tracts at Teapot Dome.
! Wyoming. to the Sinclair interests.
| Lumber concerns operating in
Alaska are we'll satisfied with the
conditions prescribed by the govern
| ment. according to officials of the
department of agriculture. However.
/ n nm IF n RI ref
on larger scale the usual demand
for more extensive rights may be
| expected, and the President will bear
the brunt of the attack.
Administrative Problems.
One of the biggest problems is
that of administration of the vast
| territory, once facetiously called
Stewards folly" AS it is now, near
ly every department Of the govern
ment has jurisdiction over some por-
ton of Alaskan administration. Ci
is under the interior department
forests under agriculture, while thu
navy controls wireless, and cable
rights, and the two government boats
which ply the Yukon are under ths
war department. The President has
been urged to place administration
of the territory under one special
bureau formed for the purpose an(
devoted wholly to Alaskan questions
The Alaskan railway. running $50
miles to the interior, was completed
last year. but the necessity for feed
! er lines from the surrounding terri.
tory has been urged and the Presi-
dent will be called on to -Hcide
whether he shall ask Congress- for
money for that purpose.
One of the livest problems In
| Alaska today IS that of immi grafton
due to the migration of more thar
| 10000 inhabitants during the war
who never returned. The President
has already been urged to modify
the immigration laws. which are the
same as for the United States, in
order that more people may enter
| Alaska to assist in it's de- lOpment