The Kusko times., 1928-10-27
MORMON ELDER HAS WON-
 DERFUL VISION OF MATA-
 NUSKA VALLEY DISTRICT
(Anchorage Times.)

Alaska during the summer are con- vinced that the Matanuska valley has 2 great future, according to Heber J. Meeks, chief officer of the Kanab Stake Presidency, who was member of the visiting delegation. The state mentsmas made in letter addressed to- Attorney A. G. Thompson, presi- dent4 of {. the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, in answer to direct ques- . tion.
 "You ask our opinion of the Mata- E1euska valley. Our united judgment lis it has a great future," the elder Gwrites "Where in all the world," he tasks, "is a more favorable setting for ga. great industrial and beautiful city, between the mountains and the sea, than in the Matanuska valley? With moderate climate, railroad passing through it from coast to interior, deep arich soil of glacial sand loam, timber, ecoal, abundance of water for culinary, light. and power, and surrounded by dand and water of untold resources upsleveloped, there appears not an es sential lacking, unless it is the vision, brain and brawn, the manhood and swomanhood.
 s.Tmagine a city of 250,000 inhabit- aants in the Matanuska valley and yourself in the roof garden on top the Heading hotel Look at the farms in ,directions, how green and well culti- yated. Look at the business section; see the foundries, mills and factories. Notice the activity at the docks and frailroad stations; see the wealth of the Territory pouring into the great industrial center. Cast your eye upon tsthei mountains and look at those lofty peaks and let your gaze follow the gently sloping landscape to the waters edge, and watch the sun lose itself in the bosom of the distant waters. Oh, those magnificent sun- sets, so glorious and inspiring!
 Now you have my vision of the Matanuska valley, say fifty y ears hence. I realize that lal this must come from very small beginning, but so confident am I that the future will. justify these statements that 1 ..aml filing in my family record copy of this letter, so that my children, visiting Alaska 50 or 75 years from now, can take this letter and as they read it and look over the valley, de- termine whether their sire looked into the future of the valley with a pro- phetic eye.
 3I can think of no more worthy un- sdertaking thaan group of young men with their families to dedicate their lives to this high and noble pur- pose. There is honor and glory in such achievement. There is every re- source to make it successful.
 "An appeal should be made to young Americans, especially those twho are renting farms. The Govern ment should encourage and assist worthy persons who would become bona fde residents of the district. There is fascination in pioneering that appeals to young men and women. There is worthy accam- plishment in making two blades of grass grow where one grew before, and there is satisfaction and high purpose in making thriving communi-- ties take the place of the wilderness.
 e'I arrived home September 4, hav- ing spent most profitable and inter esting summer. Before leaving Alas ka Elder Mower joined our party and he and Elder Plowman will remain in the Territory all winter, spending most of their time at Juneau. In the spring they will be joined by other elders who will visit Anchorage and interior towns during the summer and some of them may spend the winter