The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-07-16
President t
Blasts Hope
of Alaskans
Harding Opposed to Further
Expenditures for Develop
ment Purposes in Far
Northern Territory.
Job for Private Capital
BY Universal Service.

Fairbanks, Alaska, July 15.-Spend-
ing the entire day on the government
railway as it skirted alongside mann
moth glaciers and sleeping at night
in the train on a siding close to an
imperative coal mine were the ex-
periences of President Harding and
~nis party's first journey into the heart
of Alaska.
The president got his first glimpse
of the region to develop which the
preceding administration sunk vast
sum on coal mines under navy super
vision, and which cost the admins
tration s57 100000 for construction of
the road. AS a result of the expert
ment it is revealed to the president
that while the whole of Alaska terri
tory Is rich in possibilities, the cost
of development is almost prohibitive.
under present methods and manage
ment of American industry.
Thus, while the president brings to
Alaskans message of hope and en-
couragement, accompanied by praise
for their hardy spirit and enterprise,
he has carefully avoided so far, and
will avoid in the future, uttering any
word which might imply that the
government is willing to make further
expenditures to hasten land develop
ment.
Against New Enterprise.
Whatever may have been the presi-
dents thoughts about Alaska before
leaving Washington, his trip has
caused him to set his face resolutely
against any further attempts by the
government to launch any new enter
prise here or sink more millions in
the effort to build up industry here.
The president rode in comfort in an
up-to-date Pullman coach, but the ex-
perience will not change views now
entertained by him and which are to-
ward private, not public, ownership
Aand operation of all railroads. Nor
will the Navy departments expert
ment in the opening and operation of
coal mines alter his belief that the
government should keep out of the
coal business.
on the contrary, the president is
likely to become more firm in the posi-
ton that the most the government
can do for Alaska is to loosen UP to
some degree, regulations over land
mineral deposits and forests, to the
end that private capital may be en-.
couraged to come in and take hold Of
the task of development.
Doomed to Disappointment.
Americans who brayed the hard
ships and priyations to come upon
this land and pioneer the way to de-
velop its resources are doomed to dis
appointment in their hope that the
government would aid them. These
hopes were enlarged by the news Of
the presidents coming but later blast
ed by what he says in his speeches
that they must keep up courage and
lean upon themselves rather than
expect help from the government.
Not only has the president refrain
ed from extending any promise of as
sistance toward mineral and agricul-
tural development but also disappoint-
ed those who make a living by the
fishing industry through his failure
to make any decision on the
questions which are destroying their
hope of making comfortable livings.
Views Mine Three.
Saturday morning the presidential
party breakfasted and viewed Mine
Three on the way back through Mata-
Tuska valley where real experiments
in the agricultural business have
been made with a fair degree OF sue
cess.
At Anchorage Saturday night the
president had an unique experience
in addressing an open air meeting one
hour before midnight. with daylight
still sufficient TO make reading pos
sible. The sun disappeared about II.
but an hour later bobbed up again
above the horizon and everyone in
the party wondered IL it was ever
going to get dark enough for sleep.
But the sun fooled them, and once
up, stayed up all day.
For all purposes of transportation
the road has been going some time.
but tho ceremony has been arranged
as part OF the presidents visit. The
gold spike win be pulled UP after the
ceremony is over and put in Juneau
museum.