Seward daily gateway., 1928-02-01

Ihe Truth About Alaska" IS quite perpleXlng to me. The capon to say the least is misleading and the object of the article is obscure. You the word debunk that Is very harsh language It preconceves the exist of bunk. What kind of bunk pray? bill of par tcuars should be forthcoming You quote General Rich ardson, saying; "The American people have been led to believe that the purchase of Alaska from Russia great business bargain Is that bunk? That purchase certainly great business bargain. Business alone however not responsible for the sale and purchase other matters entered into the consideration.
 Your article refers to comparison between that purchase and the Louisiana Purchase While surely not detractng from the latter yet the comparison dis advantageous the Alaska Purchase It is stated that the Government has already expended about $2OO000000 the Territory You do not state how much money has been expended the Territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase. Those expenditures up in the millions. You state that the Alaska Government Railroad was built owing exaggerated statements of Aaskas wealth and opportunities, and quite frankly admit that other things besides entered into the transaction We of the North know what you by "the other things" and generally speaking will designate them political orI perhaps financial
 It is also stated that Secretary Fall championed the slogan Develop Alaska. We can not understand his championship when 1t is well known fact that Secretary Fall about the time of the birth of Teapot Dome sent his engineer to the Maanuska coal fields in Alaska for an adverse report thereon. These coal fields had always previously received the highest commendation from the engineers of the Interior Department we'll by the United States Navy in making coal tests for battesps It is generally presumed that Maanuska coal fields n for the treatment as Teapot Dome and the Gov ernment's California oil reserve
 Your article also states the conclusion of President Harding among other things that the Placer Gold mines in Alaska exhausted and charged President Hard ing with other information of like tenor which you claim he gained while his trip to Alaska. The writer of this article heard President Harding speak in Seattle Wash immediately upon his return from Alaska and just before his death in San Francisco and the writer can recall no such sentiment expressed by President Hardng In fact the records are absolutely contrary to the statement m your paper that the placer mines of Alaska are exhaust ed. The annual gold production in Alaska during the last few years has averaged around $G000000. sub sidiaTy of the United States Smelling Refining Co., of Boston and New York is just completing the eXpend of around $100000O00 in the vicinity of Fairbanks Alaska in preparing 10 placer mine, and is stated that this company estimates 9 gross production from it's placer mines there of around $4,O0OOOO. Likewise a large English company is completing it's development at expense of about 4O00000 to work it's placer hold ings in the same vicinity These are only two companies and cover but small part of Alaska placer territory. Therefore, 1t is hard for to understand what you mean by saying Placer mines in Alaska have been exhausted" But glad to note that you admit that day Alas ka will come into it's Alaska is infant territory was at one time the Louisiana Purchase.
 You also refer to Secretary Hoover and his work in reference to the Alaskan fisheries. great many peo pie in Alaska and the Pacific coast differ with Secre tary Hoovers theory the Alaskan fisheries. Seward and is the logical terminus of the Government Rail road and much money would have been saved had this fact been kept in mind.
 We all want the truth about Alaska. The writer also is opposed to bombast about the resources of Alaska know about the am frank to say that the cap tiOn of your editorial needs some revision
 FRANK B. WRESTLING
 16 West 84th St., New York City,
 Possibly we might have great in future if