The Dolores star., 1923-10-12

governing In many cases their activities overlap.
In general there has been little coordination and
cooperation. In addition II is government at long
range. Rules and regulations under existing stat
utes are made by the authorities at Washington,
who are also In large measure charged with their
execution.
Bear in mind that nearly all OF Alaska's re-
sources directly or Indirectly controlled by
the federal government. About 90 per cent of the
land is still In government ownership. The devel-
opment of coal and oil deposits is under govern
ment leases. Water powers and fisheries are un-
der federal control, and nearly all Alaska timber
Is in government ownership.
Moreover, the territory has its own fiscal system.
controlled by laws enacted by the territorial leg
islature, which is entirely separate and apart
from the revenues received by the federal govern
ment from business and trade licenses and which
are covered into and disbursed from the Alaskan
fund in the general treasury.
There should be no lack of up-todate frs-hand
information in Washington presently concerning
the various phases of the Alaskan problem With
President Harding were Secretary of the Interior
Work, Secretary of Agriculture Wallace, Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover and many bureau Off
cials A congressional committee including Sen
ator Francis L. Warren of Wyoming, chairman of
the Senate appropriations committee, visited
Alaska during the summer Six scientists of the
Interior department have been exploring this sum-
mer the naval oil reserve of $4,000 square miles
in Alaskas northwest corner.
The government railroad from Seward to Fair
banks begun in 1915, has been completed. 1t is
467 miles long, and cost S5GO0OOOO. It
operates Pumans, passenger coaches and freight
cars to the total number of about 500 The gov
ernment operates two connecting Yukon river
transports and mosquito fleets navigate the smaller
rivers The fare Is about SIX cents a mile The
railroad is administered by a commission of the
Department of the Interior. Col. Frederick Mears
is chairman and at present in charge of the road
Says Colonel Mears:
wherever a region or development PROPOSE
tion warrants it will build spurs from the main
line. OF course, we do not expect to break even
at least for some time. Until the interior is more
thickly settled until tourists in greater num-
bers to enjoy the beauties of the Mckinley park
region, until the varied resources of the Interior
are developed this road will not pay. But without
the railroad the interior of Alaska never Will de-
velop and without the exploitation of these
resources the road never will get tonnage Each
is dependent upon the other
The completion of the government railroad will
doubtless stimulate tourist travel, especially TO
Mount Mckinley National park, which has hitherto
been practically inaccessible. The park contains
1905 square miles and is next in size to Yellow
stone Its biggest feature is Mount Mckinley
2O,4G4 feet the highest mountain in North Amer
lea and of the most Impressive on earth 1t is
Il wonderful preserve of Alaskan wild animal
life; caribou bighorn, moose, deer goat and bear
live and breed there In immense numbers
Unique among AlaSkas majestic and varied
scenery is the new national monument. Katmai
THE Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes" which is
easily accessible by automobile. Katlnal Volcano
blew its head off during three days in June of
1912 covering all Alaska with thick coating of
dust The explosion left crater $500 feet leep
and eight miles around, with lake at the bottom
Close by is valley several miles long from which
are shooting up thousands of steam Jets II Ia
a sample of earth in the making. Some day these
steam Jets may cool off enough to become peysers
like those of the Yellowstone.
government booklet says: 1.-THE Drincina,
shipments from the United States to Alaska dur
ing the past three years were chemicals automo-
biles coal coffee confectionery, eggs electrical
machinery and other manufactures of iron ana
STEEL explosives, fruits boots and shoes meat
and dairy products, mineral oils, sugar. tobacco
vegetables and manufactures of paper, wood and
wool" This means that Alaska, with It's own con,
deposits, Is importing coal; with its own OIL fields
Is importing oil with its forests is importing
manufactures of wood The same booklet says: :
"Winter rye and winter wheat can be success