The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-02-25
CAPITAL IS ALAshA's HOPE.

While the report of Collector Mcbride covering last years Alaska business makes good showing for the Territory it. considered with the reports that have gone before does not indicate the sort Of pro- gress that one would expect from new country. It makes it plain that the development of Alaska IS not comparable for speed with that of the old frontiers The gain the previous year was more than satisfactory, yet the total volume of trade for the year marked it only as the fourth best in the history of the Territory It is possible that if we had complete record of the home consumption for the various years it would show the last year to have been the best we have had, but not good enough
 AS to population, the report shows fewer arrivals in the Territory than departures from i-32,5o6 ar rivals and 33345 departures, of departures of 739
 There are indications of better days coming. Min ing seems to be on the upgrade, and the utillza- ton of the forests for pulp and paper and other wood products is not far away. Lunbering is the largest industry in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, It ought in the course of time to com pete with the fisheries industry for first place n this Territory With the use of the forests the building of pulp and paper mills and increased exports of lumber, will come population gains. We also may expect more people to come to the Territory to en- gage in mining mining for gold silver copper and other metals and coal and development of oil With these will come increased food consumption and people to make farms and raise crops We may ex- pect continued gains in the number of those that will be engaged in fur farming.
 However. it is very plain that the hope for growth and progress in Alaska rests in getting more capital for the development of additional resources. Of it would be possible to increase the population slowly by producing in the Territory more of the things that are used in it. but for marked popua- ton growth must depend upon the utilization of forests, water power, mineral and agricultural lands That requires capital, and we ought to do everything within our power to encourage it's com ing The best encouragement can offer is fair treatment for the capital already invested here Peo- pie do not have to to Alaska to find profitable use for money There opportunities everywhere in the States Canada, Mexico Central and South America and elsewhere The best way to divert some of the money that is flowing in other directions is to make of every one who has invested money. in Alaska booster. Make it so that he say that Alaska is one place where it is safe to invest-one place where capital may rely absolutely square deal
 What does this mean in practical terms? It that we ought to reduce taxes. It means that must not venture into costly experimental fields It means that we must hold ourselves down as much as possible and go without some of the things that long-settled, popuous communities where there has been large accumulations of wealth, indulge in. We must never for a moment forget that the easiest money, and the most useful to get for development in Alaska is that money that has been made in the Territory
 The big eannery companies that make profits ir Alaska provide the most promising source for capital for the utilization of varities of fish not used and for the introduction of other processes of pairing fish for food use that would prolong the seasons increase payros and bring more people here to stay. The canneries ought to be encouraged tc invest their profits in the Territory The thing applies to copper mining. The Kennecott Corpora ton for instance, is the most likely company to de- velop copper mines to replace those in opera ton. Money made in gold mining in Alaska is the best hope for the development of gold mines And so along the whole line
 The greatest need in Alaska is constructive work that is both conservative and progressive.