The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-08-16

came to learn what he could about it's resources, it's development and 1 possibilities for future develop ments. Since I have been here l have not only been astonished and pleased, I have been amazed at what l have seen. The scenery is unequalled and we have sailed over and alongside unlimited resources, 2 he declared. T know of no section where there are so many evidences of resources to be found"
 He said in closing that the voyage so far has given me the thrill of a lifetime"
 Admiral Coontz Speaks
 Admiral Coontz, who spent many years in Southeast Alaska as a young naval officer, recalled many incidents of his service here. He pointed to the striking development l in traffic conditions now and then. ] Forty-three years ago, when he was assigned to duty at Sitka, it required 54 days for him to travel from Washington to that post. Last , Sunday morning Senator Howell 1 left Omaha and was in Juneau at midnight Friday.
 He pointed out how Alaska had been given a serious setback by the war which drained the Territory of its youth and middleaged, and cur tailed development.
 Tt always gives me pleasure to come back here. Forty years aga was married in Alaska, and one of my sons was born here" he said. Last year he had planned a trip through the interior with Gen. Wilds P Richardson, and a shoit time afterward, the latter died
 Needs Broad View
 Gov. Parks, welcoming the party in the name of the Territory, urged that broad viewpoint be taken ny the committee in it's investiga- tions. He pointed to material de- yelopments, to the prospective de- yelopment of the paper manufact uring industry on substantial basis, the great reindeer herds that would some day be factor il! the meat packing industry of the ration, to the tremendous growth Of the seal herds of the Pribilofs, and to other resources.
 He welcomed the Committee visit nere as an opportunity for it to learn at. first hand of these mat ters and see for themselves the possibilities of development of other resources now latent.
 Roden Defends Railroad
 If the Government will continue it's operations of the railroad for another ten years, it will have a paying property, possibly before that" declared Henry Roden, who presented the Chambers defense of the project, and voiced its re- quest that there be no abandon ment of it. He pleaded for a resi- dent management with it's hands united with absolute authority over the road without being hampered by political or other considerations.
 MT. Roden, while never opposing the building of the road, frankly admitted that he had not, when the project was under consideration, agreed with the view supported by Judge Wickersham and others that it would immediately become paying proposition.
 T doubted at that time if it ever would pay, and said so, and it cost me dearly" he declared. Within the last few years I haze changed my opinion on this mat- ter, and I am confident that it can be made paying proposition, he added.
 Suggests Some Remedies
 MT. Roden suggested some meth { ods of bringing more revenue to the road. Greater tourist develop n,ent, a resident management in full control, fostering of the rein | deer in du stry, improvement of methods of marketing agricultural projects, etc. He declared the cost of the Alaska Railroad to the na ton did not begin to compare | with that of the Union Pacific and l Northern Pacific railroads, both of [ which were aided by the Govern ment.
 Both cost the nation millions in 1 actual money out of the treasury ' and more millions in land grant Yet the Northern Pacific went into | the hands of receiver before is construction was completed, and l the Union Pacific after comple- ton. The Government need feel TO Encouragement over the show ing of the Alaska Railroad which | today is earning over $1,00O,0)9 | il. gross revenues.
 "Strengthen the hands of the J