The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-08-26
ALASKA ASSET
 TO THE NATION,
 MYERSASSERTS
Shipping Board Commis- sioner Stresses Economic
 Value of Territory
Continued from Page one)


 Alaskan waters. Even in 1854, there were overtures m d e by President James Buchanan to pur- chase this territory. When the formal transfer was concluded in October 18, 1867, there were many criticisms for the expenditure of $7,20000O for this land which com prises 586,40O square miles. It took the gold discoveries in the Klondike to stimulate public interest. Since then your industries and latent re- sources have been steadily devel- oped and more diversified.
 Alaska Distinctive
 Economically, Alaska is distinc- tive. While the exports and i'm ports of Hawaii and Porto Rica ex- ceed those of thie territory in mon etary value it must be remembered the southern territories have been intensively exploited but the as sets of this vast country have hard- ly been touched The trade bal ance is patiently in your favor ac- cording to the Department of Com merce figures which show the ship ments to the United States for the calendar year of 1928-$67 ,587 POT 00, and the shipments to you for the same year were $32,037 ,335.00 Your imports comprise a long varied list, of foodStuffS and manufactured articles, but I think it is note worthy that over one quarter of the shipments to you are $8,167,000 worth of metals, which includes the tin plate and tin cans for the pro ducts returned to the United States. Your fisheries are your main in- dustry at the present time as $45,-, 548 ,633 in canned salmon was ship ped to the states in 1928; $2,933,611 in cured and preserved fish; $2,- 472,861 in fresh and frozen fish; $359, ,857 in shell fish; $1,755 ,660 in fish products such as fertilizers, meal and oil; all of which total over 53,O0O0OO.
 The other products derived from the sea, such as whale oil, amounted to a quarter of a million dollars in shipments to the United States plus $630,000 of seal skins The fur and skins from other animals not confined to a habitat in the sea, total over $4,000,000
 "The ocean, my friends, is one of your great assets, as you pos sess over 260o0 miles of sea coast on your mainland, islands and in- lets. The enterprise of those em- ployed in the hazards of nautical ventures is commendable as such mploymen is conducive to strength. am reminded of that beautiful psalm:
 "'They that go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters; These men see the works of Jehovah and His won ders of the deep
 Marine Industries
 Perhaps I have put undue en- phasis on your marine industries while I frankly feel that a great part of your future assets will be derived from your soil. Your min erals were the magnet that drew so many thousands in eager pursuit some 30 years ago. Your gold shipments to the United States were about $6,50O,000 last year and your silver exceeded $282,000 in value. Copper is an important item with a valuation of $6,781 ,00O iii shipments for the same period while lead valued at $130,000 and tin at 42,000 seem comparatively small May I refer to the Scrip lures again to quote: Thou shalt not lack anything; a land where stones are iron and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper Mod ern science in extracting the min erals, new explorations of yielding properties and discoveries of new metal and uses therefore are un- doubtedly in store for you.
 "The green velvet of your hills and mountains remain almost in tact, and I quote from the For ester's report from last year:
 ""The extensive forest resources of southeastern Alaska will un- doubtedly be exploited chiefly for the manufacture of newsprint paper because of unusually favorable con- ditions there for the rge-scale operations that now characterize that industry. Conditions are not favorable for other branches of the paper industry or for the extensive manufacture of lumber.
 "'Studies by the Forest Service indicate that the forests of this region, under proper system of management, can produce not less than 100000 cords of pulpwood annually in perpetuity. In other words, this amount of timber can be logged yearly and will be fully renewed through tree growth. Con- verted into newsprint this repre- sents a production of 100000 tons or more than one-fourth of the present yearly consumption in the United States
 "David invoked praise for ,Je-