New Britain herald., 1925-09-26
"OPENING TP" \ NEW
 EMPIRE

nhnulN Nl CollSlueTllS tnt Nlut 'h- | panse of territory--are said to favor a change in governmental policy, | In other words. 1t Is desired to | "open up" the country by having | the government relinquish It's "oner ous,,. restrictions. The population of Alaska stood still in the last de- cade, in spite of the rosy anticipa tons that once were held out for the development of this vast terri tory.
 The locked up treasures of Alaska chiefly include coal and timber, The governments railroad there has been losing large sums because of a lack of traffic. If the territory were opened up. it is claimed, there would be more business for the railroad and also more prosperity 10 others concerned in the indus tries of the territory.
 The matter is to be brought up in Congress once again A con gressional party made tour of the fterritory this summer and is said to have decided 10 report in favor of the opening up process. The na- ton ought to go slow, however Tn such an undertaking, as the riches of Alaska will not slip away under the present system, and q future generations may need them to q larger extent than We do at present.
 Of course, Alaska is "locled up' to certain extent; that was the plan since 1906. At present coal In Alaska can be mined in sufficient quantities to meet any demand that may exist on the Pacific coast; but no matter whether the present law IS lHTOWll dSluc UT ID l'lI oii 'H- books, coal from Alaska cannot be brought 10 any American market as cheaply as it can be produced nearer at hand. The nation has been producing more soft coal than it can use and the bituminOus mines of late years have not been work ing half the time.
 Those who have been Concentrat- ing upon the Hooked up" policy In Alaska have been thinking eXclu- sively of the coal and timber situa- 1 tion. The idea all along has not been to produce more coal in Alas ka, but 10 gain title to the coal | lands which are reserved to the government. Stalking out claims does not mean mining coal. It is a game of the future, not for the present. The person who holds title to coal lands in Alaska now will leave d legacy to his descendants that will be much more valuable 100 years from now.
 The value of Alaska's salmon fisheries now exceeds the gold out put, while the copper output nearly equals that of gold. But the coal output is negligible, although the estimated area of the Alaskan coal fields is 20,0O0 miles.
 One is reminded of the words of President Roosevelt during the Bal finger controversy: T predict that Alaska, within the next century, will support as large a population as does the entire Scandinavian peninsula of Europe. l predict that vou will see Alaska, with her enor.
 nous resources of minerals, hel fisheries and her possibilities tha
 almost exceed belief, produce at hardy and vigorous a race as an! part of America"
 Some of which may not become true in this country; Roosevel
 probably was too optimistic. Durini
 the past few decades the popula
 ton of Alaska has virtually stoo' still. This means that people %h
 might be attracted to it have foun
 means for a satisfactory liveihoo
 in more equitable climate o
 closer to their kin at home. Evcntu
 ally Alaska will break from Il shell. and unless the governmcI
 has hccn radically in the wrong . it's conception of conserving Il great estate In the northwest, Il resources will be Of great value an
 greater benefit 10 the people large at that time than at presen
 At present we need and ntili7
 Alaeka's salmon, her gold and ht
 corpcr; we have not deyclopc ,, much of her other resources b' cause we have not needed the'
 greatly. Her timber may be tf
 next big item We will need -
 product that is under as strict so'
 ernmental regulation as her coal B. 25 Yonrs A0o Tndov