The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-08-27
PEOPLE SHOW INTEREST IN
 SETTLERSPLAN
Many Letters and Other Evidence Indicate Many
 People Would Settle

M D. Snodgras5, whom the Agri- cultural Department loaned to the Interior Department for the purpose of handling the details of the pro- posed Alaska settlement plan, has received more than 1900 letters from prospective settlers, said Charles D. Garfield, of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, who is in Juneau. He said, further, that the Alaska Department of the Cham Der of Commerce and the special settlement committee of the Cham bcr is coming in contact with many interested people. The transporta- tion companies, he said, are special ly interested and have made special rates for passenger fares and freight between Chicago and Fair banks for those wishing to come to Alaska for the purpose of set ting. These rates will become -ef- fective September IS.
 The Seattle Chamber of Con- merce, through it's Alaska Depart ment and the special committee has undertaken to aid in creating interest in the proposal to get settlers into Alaska and to aid ir placing those who may want to come north.
 While the primary object of Col O. F. Ohlson, head of the Alaska Railroad, is to induce settlers to locate in the railroad zone, where the valleys in the vicinity Of Cook Inlet and the Panama Valley, offer vast areas for settlement, the Se- attle organization is not confininq it's efforts to these regions. It also is interested in inducing settlers tc locate in Southeast Alaska, the Copper River Valley, the islands tc the Westward and elsewhere, said MT. Garfield. It is gathering in- formation and giving it to any that might be interested.
 Urging Reoacupation of Homcstead'
 One of the first things that it is believed may be done in the direc- tion of increasing the population of the Territory, is to induce people to reoccupy the abandoned home steadS in the Matanuska and other | districts. Many of these, MT. Gar field says may be purchased at from $70o to $1 800, depending upon the extent of the improvements upen them. It is not the purpose he said, to flood the country with settlers faster than the country can absorb them, but to get them to come as fast as markets may bc developed for their products.
 Settlers are being informed as to the opportunities to start fur cul- ture in connection with their farm ling operations, MT. Garfield said i The fur animals would consume farm products and furnish a pro- duct that would be so valuable 1 that it's transportation would be an easy matter.
 ] Western Islands Progressing , The agricultural operations on the islands of the Westward, particular ly sheep raising, is already pro gressing rapidly, said MT. Garfield The Aleutian Live Stock Company which occupies Umnak Island ano i the western end of Unalaska Islanc recently notified the Seattle Cham Der of Commerce that it would have i between 3,0G0 and 4,000 lambs anc sheep for disposal this fall Thc Alaska Depar tment put the com pany in touch with Seattle meaI i packers and wholesalers.
 Far farming is also progressing ca the islands and the mainland of the. Westward, and the purpose is to interest more people in stocl raising and fur culture in those sec. tionS.
 l Under no circumstance, MT. Gar
 field said, was it the purpose tt induce people to come to Alaska s; I fast they would not be self-sup
 porting. That there will be largi addition to the population of Alas
 ka through the efforts of the Alas