The Alaska daily empire., 1923-06-11
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALASKA AND
 OTHER FRONTIERS.

That the Senators and Representatives who are in Alaska and who will be here this week are anxious to learn all about Alaska and to make use of what they learn to aid in the growth and development or the Territory there is not question of doubt That great good their trip there is hope and reason to believe However, the people of Alaska not expect too much of them, and there should be disappointment if the growth and develop ment of the Territory should continue to be slower than should like to have it. We sometimes expect too much from the Outside We too often think of the rapid growth of other and earlier frontiers and feel that hidden away sbme place there is electric button of some sort that if touched would cause
 Alaska to spring forth full like Minerva from the brain of Jehovah. But there is no such button
 This is different country than that found by those who crossed the mountains into Kentucky and Tennessee the old Northwest Territory and through cut the Ms-issppi Valley and the Gulf States And the times have changed in the last century.
 A family could put it's all in wagon and move into that earlier frontier and begin immediately to produce their necessities and many did They worked their way with team of horses hitched to wagon COW two and little equipment and lived off the country They did without luxuries, depend ing the future to reward them their children for the hardships, priyations and sef-denal that their lot Those the days of large families and in few years the family of two became of Ia dozen There rapid population gain, and capital followed the population to establish industries and to develop other than agr- culture.
 It is different in Alaska People cannot hitch span of horses to and into this Ter rtory. And twentieth century Americans demand more than did those pioneers of hundred years ago They do not have to undergo the self denial and poverty that acceptable by those of that other day, and they won't
 Large accessions to the population of Alaska de- pend upon the development of the natural resources Of the country. The capital must before m- migration in great numbers. Population will follow mining. fsEeries. pulp and paper, farming water power an other development
 The po nlalon chat Alaska has came argev t.i the wake of mining and fishing q d.velopment The greatest potential popualing resodrce that we nave in Southeastern Alaska is in timber which has been proved to be specially adapted to pulp and paper manufacture. It is estimated that Southeastern Alaska can produce from 100000 to ,5OO 900 tons ol paper annually and in perpetuty. That would give employment to 30,000 to 4500O men, which to the population, markets for farmers fishermen craftsmen, manufacturers, business men and profes- sinals It would eventually mean great American State
 There are things that could be done to facilitate this development. The agricultural States were de- Sveloped because the Government adopted a lbera, attitude in the disposal of the lands Development in
 Alaska Will be facilitated by berally in the disposal foi the natural resources It should made so that yAaskans may line up resources of timber and water power, etc, and take them to the man with capital for development they can with their min Ing prospects, The Government should not denend upon us ownership of the for profits from Alaska It's profits will come with their devalonn,er, just as they came from the other States in which + never owned any of the resources or disnosed f them without profit to it.
 This means, of course that Alaska will not yrou as fast' probaby, other sections grew but fl will -siYn III population and wealth and value to the N''oh II mere IS the right sort of cooperation