The Alaska daily empire., 1926-09-16
fine ADDRESS
BY RUSTCARD,
FAIR OPENING
Attorney General Paints
Splendid Agricultural
Picture for Alaska.

In an able address. full of good
points, stating why such institu-
tions were needed, and their worth
both to the individual and the Ter.
ritory Attorney General John Rr
gard last night formally opened the
fifth Southeastern Alaska Fair. There
was a large audience and close at
tention was paid 10 the speaker.
The speaker of the evening was
introduced by J. ?. Mullen. president
of the Southeastern Alaska Fair AS
sociation. who sail
Speaking for the directors of the
Southeastern Alaska Fair Associa-
'tion, | extend you cordial welcome
ito our fifth annual Fair The his
tory of the past four fairs shows
there is a popular demand for fairs
of this kind. We feel however, that
we have not been able to keep pace
with that demand because of the
want of a build ing to adequately
house the Fair A large part of
our funds is expended each year
lis practically a total loss from year
to year. These funds could be other
wise used in enla ging the scope of
the Fair and introducing greater
variety of exhibits. The Fair build
ing would be a profitable investment
and it is our hope that we may
have such building before the
1927 Fair convenes.
"The directors of the Association
believe the Fair has been successful
in promoting an increased interest in
some of our resottfces. In agricul-
ture, alone, there are larger posi-.
bilities; at least, to supply the local
market with much of the produce
that is now imported.
"As to the future work of the Fair
and the latent possibilities of some
of our resources. however Mr.. Rust
gard, Attorney General of the Ter
ritory, has consented to address you
/ am pleased to introduce Mr.. Rust
gard to you"
Mr.. Rustgard spoke in part as fol
lows
"The purpose Of this Fair is four
fold: To demonstrate the possibil-
tiles of the natural resources lying
at our door. to encourage each other
in the development of these re-
sources, to instruct each other in
the best method for that develop
ment, and. finally, to demonstrate
to the rest of the world the capacity
of Alaska. and especially of South
eastern Alaska, in fostering an in
telligent population.
at is one of our tragedies that
the world has long under-estimated
the possibilities Of this country. The
tales of hardships which have been
circulated by those who have visited
the distant regions of the extreme
north have been generally consider
ed descriptive Of all parts of Alaska.
for people generally forget that this
territory Is continental in extent
and presents many climates and
many conditions of soil This mis-.
understanding has been further aug.
mented by many adventurers who en-
ioyed representing themselves as
heroes by relating heart-rending
stories about the dangers they have
braved and the hardships they have
conquered. until even at this late
date, when in the States, the moment
you mention Alaska people com
mence to shiver But even we our
selves. who came here in the early
days, long deceived ourselves with
reference to the possibilities of the
agricultural resources. We were all
ready and disposed to paint in opa.
lescent colors the future of the min
ing industry and of the fishing, but
we all entertained greater doubts
than we sometimes expressed re
garding the capacity Of the country
to produce the food and the clothing
with which to sustain and to protect
the life Of civilized man. Even
late as IA or Is years ago surveyors
and prospectors who had been
Through the interior valleys. through
Matanuska and Kenai Peninsula.
would impeach the sanity of any
man who asserted that cereals could
be raised in those regions. Today it
i is demonstrated beyond the question
OF doubt that Alaska not only
can raise but is raising successfully
the finest quality Of cereals. both
oats, barley, rye and wheat, surpass-
ing in food values and In yield, any
thing that is grown in any part OF
the best agricultural regions in the
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