The Daily Alaska empire., 1927-11-09
BART l.. THANE.


 Back in 1915, in writing Of Bartlett L. Thane whose death in New York reported Monday The Empire said cditorially "Thane is bis mai who is doing great work in large way More than decade, 12 years in fact. has passe since that was written. Yet nothing that ha transpired in the interim would make il far fetched statement
 Bart Thane, IS he was so well known il Juneau and to all his friends, was busy man From the day he left school to enter into ta estate of manhood he was almost eontnuous active. Whatever might be the immediate task it to him that was worthy of and re ceived his whole-souled interest and all of tha energy for which he was noted And each mc ceeding job performed found him advanced an other rung upward on the ladder of his ehosel profession, mining engineering. From job il the Sum Dum mines, he stepped into the Ebne mine as Superintendent. From there he tool charge of the Eagle River Mining Company work promoted big company at Berners Bay and capped the climax by promoting and organ izng the Alaska Gasiineau Company, becoming it's general manager and later managing director which position lie held at the time of his death In few short years. from 1910 to 1916, h' crowded in achievements that ordinarily require a lifetime of endeavor
 When circumstances brought about by condi 
 dustry of the entire world had control nor wa of foreseeng wiped out the great enterpris which he had been instrumental in bringing int existence he wasted time in idle regrets was not his habit, nor in his nature, to replne He threw himself into the breach in valian effort to build upon the ruins of the mining venture something which would recoup losses in cured and give life to the community whfcf bore his name and to the surrounding towns
 And the plan he devised not visionary in the sense that it was impractical To h trained mind there nothing unsound in util izing already developed water power machine shops, docks warehouses and other plant facli ties together with millions of feet of timber an nually rotting away to waste, in the establishment of pulp and paper industry. His vision of 1927 is now the dream of all Southeastern Alaska, dream which seems wellnigh to the point O. realization.
 He was the pioneer of present day steps look ing toward early erection of great manu facturing establishments employing thousands O trained skilled workers ill turning Alaska timbe into pulp and then into finished paper He wal among the very first to recognize the unparalleled opportunities in Alaska for the industry An' before anyone else he began to accumulate dat on water power and timber resources on loggins costs on transpor tation facilities and costs, oi the limetsone deposits needed and the hundred of other details about which information mus be had.
 He knew what was necessary, and he go it. or most of it at any rate. Having obtained it. he placed it before others who might be il position to help him bring about realization of his vision. And in that field he excelled. II his ability to master his subject, to set it fortl in clearcnt understandable terms. logically an' with unmistakable force. lay his greatest attri bute One that gave him power of compelling sympathetic attention which is altogether uncom mon Because of these things, Of his interes in Keeping alive what he had created in tn first instance Southeastern Alaska, Juneau il particular stands on the threshold of ne, industrial era which the establishment of tn pulp and paper industry will eventually set up.
 It is a matter of regret that death came [ him before he could the fuflment of hi vision But he saw the initial steps taken whel the Zelerbach and Cameron interests last Sprn bid in two immense pulpwood units. Alaska the big loser in his demise. He lived here lon enough to have great love for the country. II wasn't one to talk volubly about it. but the scop and intensity of his work directed toward de yeoping this section of the Territory gave evi dence more strongly than any words could hay told of his ever living interest in it.
 As The Empire said in 1915 No man ca serve his fellows better than by developing new country and adding to the gold supply c the Nation He never tired in his efforts t do both As 1t said then, it repeats now Bart Thane was "a big man
 Only miracle would give the Democrats chance in the National election next year, forme Gov Scott C. Hone is quoted as saying in Seal lsIo interview While one respects his views