The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-06-28
CON PARKS BACK FROM AIRPLANE TOUR, INTERIOR
Over 2000 Miles Covered by Governor s Party Tn
 Plane During Month

I and 2,500 miles by airplane Ii an extensive trip around the Ter ritory, Gov. George A. Parks re turned this morning on the Yu kon, slightly over a month from the day he left. Major Malcolm Elliott, President of the Alaska Road Commission, who, with R J. Sommers, Territorial Highway Engineer, accompanied the Gov ernor on the trip, continued tr Ketchikan on the Yukon and wifi return on the AIeutian next week MT. Sommers will remain at the Westward for sometime.
 A. A. Bennett of the Bennett Rodebaugh Airplane company of Fairbanks, piloted the Swallow plane, which had cabin with a comfortable carrying capacity for four persons, in which the nine day trip from Fairbanks was made by the party. In that time they visited Nenana, MacGrath Ophir, Tocotna, Flat, Iditarod Unalakleet, Golovin, Nome, Teller Candle, Kotzebue, Nulato, Ruby Panama, Bettles, Wiseman, Fort Yukon, Circle Hot Springs, Liven good and returned to Fairbanks Wiseman, which is one degree above the Arctic Circle, is the farthest north point visited by the Governors party, though Kotzebue is also above the Arctic Circle. They were unable to land at Bethel, Holy Cross and Circle as they have no landing fields as yet, and high water pre-. vented the plane from landing on sand bars. There was so much wind and rain at Eagle that they were advised not to attempt the landing. and the high water in tho river made landing on tho bars impossible, Gov Parks said
 Great Prosperity
 "The whole Territory is enjoy ing great prosperity, judging from the places we visited The fuI catch Is expected to be very largo this year, and transportation by alrplane will enable the .irappers to get a quick return on then skins. The aviation landing field' were splendid in nearly every place we stopped, though that al Fairbanks naturally surpasseS them all as it is the home port for the aviation companies" Gov Parks said. Aviation is doing moro to develop the Territor, than Is ordinarily realized, anc | it's future can not be foreseen The advance in the last few years l is amazing when it Is realized that but a few years ago there was not landing field in Alaska and that now there are about 5b fields already constructed or in the process of construction. There are four operating companies in the Territory now, in which every dollar of invested capital Is Alas kan money. and to date there naf not been one fatal accident" he declared.
 In Air 29 +fours
 Altogether the party spent 29 hours in the alr and in that time covered territory that would re quire at least a year by the or dinary methoas of transporta' tion, Gov. Parks said. 'is
 Visits Industrisl schools
 On the way to the rnterio-, Gov, Parks stayed in Seward for tive days and went from there to An chorage where he attended the meeting of the Policy Board at which matters pertaining to the Alaska Railroad were taken ,ip. He visited the industrial school at Eklutna about 25 miles from Anchorage, which is doing spien- did work under the direction of Charles Brefett. The schojl is better equipped than any other in the Territory, with a model carpenter shop. and othet facflf ties. The boys are making snow shoes, sleds and are experiment. ing in the tanning of skins, Gov Parks said. While he wHs at the school group of boys were work ing on baseball field With q Fordson tractor belonging to the school. tss 3s
 Attends crsduation Exefeises
 At Fairbanks, Gov. Parks, Ma ior Elliott and MT. Sommers, whV joined him there. attended the graduation exercises of the Alas ka Agricultural College and School of Mines. The program was excellent and was attended by several hundred people, Gov Parks declared. The address was given by Judge F.. Coke Hill.
 The party left Fairbanks on the morning of June ' and flew to Nenana where they had iinnel and remained for several hours visiting the Bureau of Education hospital boat on the river. The boat was preparing to leave Ne mana, where 1t had undergone re pair work. and had doctor, den tist and nurse on board. Int same evening they flew to Mac Grath passing Mt. Mckinley r