The Washington times., 1928-05-19

Innuit or Eskimo Language the
word Alaska means Great
Land" Few Of as indeed have
more than i meager conception
Of the immense vastness Of
Alaska's domain; her diversi-
fled climate, ranging from tenn
perate on the south to frigid on
the north. Alaska is much more
than merely 4 land Of ice and
snow. II is i land Of beautiful
flowers mighty forests and
magnificent mountains.
Alaska was purchased from
Russia in 1857 for $1,000. 900,
less than two cents per acre,
one Of the great land deals in
the annals Of time. Since It's
purchase It has produced more
than 81 200, 0OOy 900 in wealth.
Alaska IL $4,000 square miles
in area, one-fifth the size OF
the United States and more than
twelve times the size Of the
State Of New York. il has more
than $4,000 miles of coast line;
its greatest breadth is equal to
the distance from Cuba to Green
land. Because Of its irregular
shape, could we superimpose
Alaska over the United States
there could be part IN Canada,
part IN the Atlantic Ocean and
part in tia Pacific Ocean. =
Alaska is rich IN natural re-
sources. It contains more gold
than California, more copper
than Michigan and Arizona COM
bined, greater fisheries than the
Scandinavian countries, more
coal than Pennsylvania, the only
tin deposits Of North America,
many other metals, fur, oil, tre-
nnendous water power, and is =
hunters paradise. With all this
potential wealth, it does not be-
hoove 4 man. to rush of to
Alaska without proper study and
preparation. It is no longer q
boom country and has no place
for the Stacker or the man
afraid of work. For the tourist
it is q land of enchantment and
wondrous beauty.
Alaska has q Territorial form
OF government with q governor
and secretary, appointed by the
President, and = Territorial
legislature, which meets BIZ
annually. There are both Fed
eral and Territorial schools,
grammar and q high, and these
schools are on a parity with the
best public schools Of our large
cities; that is, they turn out
students who win honOrs in the
largest and best colleges and
universities Of the United States.
There are four aboriginal
peoples in the territory.
The Eskimos / know best--a
kindly, lovable people - and D
clever people. There are but
five to seven thousand OF them
living in Alaska, but they are
experts in the technique Of the
Arctic.
With the advent of the white
man - the American whaler,
with improved guns-the whales
and walrus, an important part
of the Eskimo diet, were killed
off or driven farther north, and
the Eskimos left in q destitute
condition and often faced with
starvation.
What is the condition of these
peoples today?
They are the aristocrats or
the North. You ask why? Be
cause Of the coming of the rein
deer.
I am wondering just how
much you folks know about
reindeer?
The reindeer is one of the
Oldest of the domesticated ami
mails and its habitat is circun-
polar. 1t is the most docile OF
the domesticated animals and
most particular in the selection
of it, 6&od. 1t is free of dis
Many Americans. adventure
like to go to Alaska, see the g.
biggest bears in the world, and
the reindeer beside streams, I
golden lodges still Undiscovere
Good housewives will be i.
supply of food is coming, one ]
And EVERYBODY will hi
Lomen, who has devoted his
deer and new food supply.