Evening star., 1923-07-28

ly Let US see about that. In 1915
Alaska turned out $16.000,000 of gold,
and 1921, $S,000,000. That is a loss of
one-half. But the United States as
almost the same percentage: From
101 100000 in 1915 to $50,000,00O in
1921. The world never needed new
gold supplies more than now to re-
habilitate ruined financial systems.
Yet from 1908 to 1920 Australasia
duction; and since the war began in
Europe the world as whole has lost
just about one-fourth. We all know
perfectly well that this has been the
result of worldwide economic condi-
tions. Gold is worth just about one
fore the war. The wonder is not that
Alaska's gold production has fallen
off, but that it has fallen relatively
SO little. There is every reason to
believe that its gold crop will be re-
stored just as soon as the world re-
sumes a normal economical balance.
Follows Path of All.
Precisely the same story is told
by the figures on copper. . The
couraging fact, 1t is true. but
Alaskas copper did not lose in price
so much as Minnesotas wheat or
Iowas corn. Look at it as you will,
Alaska Is simply going through the
wash along with the remainder of the
world. 1t will come out with the
rest. and then, able to realize it's
natural riches, will be second to no
community in prosperity.
1t may be said now, as we'll as
later, that there is no panacea for
Alaska; largely because Alaska needs
none, but also because Alaskan
troubles flow from the same general
"a lob II
where. The world has burned up so
much of its capital that there is not
enough to go around. When the
stocks of liquid capital are restored
Alaska will come in for a better
share than ever before has fallen to
It's lot. simply because our country.
If 1t clings to stable ways, will be
the greatest capital nation. 1t i'm
poses no strain on credulity to be-
lleve that when that time comes
Alaska will go forward at such a
rate that the ground recently lost
Will soon be more than regained.
Urges Check on Fishing.
The greatest Alaskan industry
stands in entirely different relation
than either gold or copper. 1 refer
TO the fisheries. which in present
wealth producing potency far exceed
the mines. In fact the fisheries prod
uct is now in value more than double
that of all metals and minerals. 1t is
too great for the good of the terri
tory. for If it shall continue without
more general and effective regula-
tion than is now imposed it will
presently exhaust the fish and leave
no basis for the industry
1t Is vastly more easy to declare
Tor protection and conservation OF
such resource than to formulate
a practicable and equitable program
lished to restock streams, but the
results are still conjectural and con-
troVersial. Argument Is advanced
for the abolition of one method of
nshlng In one spot, the condemna-
ton of another type in another. and
so on. until there is confusion OF
local controversies which no specific
and exclusive prohibition will solve
But there is announcement
In the almost unanimous agreement
IN Alaska that regulation must and
shall be enforced, and we must apply
a practical wisdom to the varied
situations as the salvage of the in
duStry demands.
Reserves Have Helped.
BY the establishment of reserves
along sections of the coast we have
already accomplished much. More
restriction is necessary and urgent
The conservation must be effected
II congress cannot agree upon a
program of helpful legislation the
reservations and their regulations
will be further extended by executive
order
Il must confess journeyed tc
Alaska with the impression that oul
and that Alaskan protest would be
heard on every side. Frankly, 1 had
a wrong impression. Alaska fayors
no miserly boarding, but her people
Alaskan people. find little to grieve
about In the restrictive policies of the
unanimity of opinion. but the vas,
majority is Of one mind. The Alaskan
people do not wish their natural
wealth sacrificed in vain attempt to
defeat the laws Of economics which
are everlasting and unchanging.
fear the chief opponents of the for
estry policy have never seen Alaska
and their concern for speedy Alaskan
development Is not inspired by Alas
kan interests.
Urges Pulpvood Production.
Il have alluded to the threatened
destruction Of the fisheries, due to
admitted lack of regulation and pro-
lection. We have begun on the safe
plan with the forests, even though we
may have erred in excessive restric-
tions. With the lesson of forest de-
struction painfully learned. with the
nation wide call for reforestation
throughout the states. which will re-
quire generations and vast painstak
Ing, 1t has been sought to provide for
the utilization of the Alaskan forests
and at the same time provide their
perpetuation through reproduction"
The President detailed the govern
ment plan for encouraging production
of pulpwood and added:
"A cord of wood produces about
three-fourths of a ton of paper; that
is. the manufacturer pays about SO
cents for wood and waterpower rights
to make a ton of paper worth about
$40. Can it be charged that three
fourths of 1 per cent for these two
raw materials Is so heavy a tax as to
paralyze the industry? I reply that
1t Is not, and that no such charge is
seriously made by intelligent and sim
cere people.
Praises Contracts.
But there is another proviso which
the critics protest. We reserve the
right, in each fifth year, to revise the
cordage price. 1t may be raised, but
not beyond the price which has been
paid for other timber of like quality
and in like circumstances, during the
preceding year. We adjust to the pre-
vailing market. Does that seem un-
reasonable? If the same manufac-
turer had taken his contract on the
Canadian crown lands he would be
subject to an advance of his price at
any time. and without such a limita-
ton; or. If he had bought outright the
necessary timber lands to operate a
mill for a long period, he would have
had to carry comparatively large
initial investment / venture, with
some knowledge of conditions in va
rious paper-making countries, to state
that no better contract, indeed, none
SO good, can be secured in any OF
them.
But there is also protest that the
red tape of departmental regulation
ana interference makes 1T impossible
to enlist enterprise which the gov
ernment in any wise supervises. AT
this point the answer is easy. This
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