The Cordova daily times., 1923-04-05
SPEND MORE MONEY IN ALASKA

Alaska s greatest needs are population and payrols. The same thing may truthfully be said of Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, or any other city, and even of the smaller towns. Alaska's needs in this respect are the greater in proportion to the vast extent of territory available for settlement and the many natural opportunities that the Territory offers for individual employment.
 Population and payrolls go together as a rule; but it must be remembered that while the mere presence of many people does not force tie establishment of payrolls-as wit ness Russia-the existence of payrols and the chance 10 connect with them, form the strong est possible inducement to increase of popu- lation.
 Rig ght now it is possible to spend much more money in Alaska than is being spent here; and by so spending make it possible and profitable for many more people to live in Alaska. This can be done without percep- tible reduction in the amount of money spent on the outside for things that Alaska requires. Sounds paradoxical, perhaps; but after all the solution calls only for a simple readjust- ment of business methods.
 Let the departments, bureaus and branches of the Federal Government, and the corpora tions doing business in Alaska, give more of their patronage to merchants resident in Alas ka. That alone will work big turn in the direction of greater population and greater prosperity for the Territory. It might well be expected, also, to work big turn for better understanding between Alaskans, on the one hand, and the Federal bureaus and private concerns engaged in the development and use cf AlnSI-A e tho Otlar
 In the past there may have been too much of an impersonal tendency on the part of the Government and the corporations look upon Alaska as a place to go and get out of. The tendency must take a new direction. Alaska must have consideration as place of perma- ncnt abode, where population and wealth shall increase year after year, and each opportunity shall open the way to a score of others.
 If this is to be done, as it should be, the start must be made in more business for those who are now in Alaska. Everything that Alaska needs and does not produce-and that means many things at present-is bought and paid for on the Outside The resident mer- chants in every town of Alaska stock them7 selves from the merchants of Seattle and other Coast cities Every dollar that is spent dl- rectlv with these resident merchants increases by so much the volume of business done in Alaska, and no less directly increases the volume of sales made by Outside merchants on Alaskan accounts
 The Federal bureaus, and the companies, big and ittle that do business in Alaska, will do we'll to get these facts in mind and turn them into action. Let them spend every dollar that they can reasonably spend with the mer- chants of Alaska, those who are located at the most convenient points. Such course involves no loss or sacrifice of economy. On the contrary it will invite a greater degree Of confidence and cooperation; it will be of i'm mediate benefit to every Alaska community, and stimulant to Alaska's business all the way back to the original sources of supply. wherever those may be located. - Alaska Weekly