Seward daily gateway., 1932-12-21
. [ ] | I ! R | AL
ITS AN ILL WIND

employment attendant upon cur tailing Federal appropriations ana readjustment of public works be- cause of this condition, viewed in it's broadest oi2 }, the depression in the United 3-l $ blessing ln disguise to Alaska.
 Astounding ag it nay sound, It would benefit Alaska if she was taken complethely off the Federal list as it applies to other than flXt charges, and told to shift for her self
 Of course this demands eXplana- tion. Here it is:
 It is a notable fact that during the summer of 1882 the viewpoint of the Railroad Zone has under gone a radical change. Communl- ties which have, for the most part, relied solely upon Federal initiative and procedure have swung to re- freshing individualism They have commenced to cast about them for things which will serve to replace revenues lost by curtailment of ap- propriations. In this they have discovered things never dreamed ot, or if dreaming, had left to some one else to consider as regards de- Velopment.
 We find towns like Anchorage, whose chief revenues came from Federal activities, substituting for the losses due to ther curtalment others which give promise. Of over shadowing previous volume and creating even greater prosperity than that enjoyed under the blight of paternalism.
 Coincident with the switching from dependence to personal in itiative has emerged the evidence of the wisdom of this course. No town in the Territory boasts a pret- tier or more substantial aspect than this infant of Alaskan communl- ties. It's shacks have disappeared to be replaced by some of the pret- tiest homes to be found anywhere in or out of Alaska. These homes are owned by the working people who led the world in the work of beau tification, and also have led in civic pride and initiative.
 This proprietary interest has in turn fructified in perfect civic gov ernment due to the fact that the influence of the home builder and owner has made itself felt in every step taken and which affects the interest of the whole.
 It is not unlike the days of Athe- nian glory when every man gave at least one day each week to consld- eration of government and thereby created a democracy not equaled or excelled in these modern times.
 Already the gold mines of Willow Creek and other points contiguous to Anchorage are rapidly creating fields of employment which prom ises to eclipse that lost when dras- tic retrenchments were put into ef- feet on the Alaska Railroad. The outlook is that the 200 odd men now employed in the district will increase to beyond 500 next sum- mer. Less than that number were dropped from railroad payrolls.
 Encouraged by this outlook An chorage is preparing to gather facts on it's varied contiguous re- sources and begin a campaign to invite capital in their eXploita- ton.
 There is an age in the human family when the child must leave the paternal roof to shift for it. self. It is then that he is expected to set aside his ideas of dependence and start carving for himself. That which he wins by this individual ism has the merit of permanency, according strength while whetting the perspective and opening vis- tas for further achievement.
 One of the most baleful effects of Federal paternalism is the nulli- flying of community rivalry save in a general clamor for the lions share of public expenditures.
 Taking time by the forelock An chorage is preparing to issue spe- cial edition of the Times, in which