Seward daily gateway., 1932-09-14
DELEGATE URGES
 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
 ALASKA RESOURCES
WICKERSHAM ADDRESSES MEM BERS CHAMBER OF CON-
 MERGE, TUESDAY

Necessity for coordination and concentration upon development and utilization of Alaska's natur- al resources, especially gold min ing, and the. realization that the Territory was signally fortunate in having escaped the depths of de- pression affecting the continental United States, were outstanding high lights of an intensely inter esting and instructive impromptu address delivered by Delegate James WickerSham at the monday session of the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
 Judge Wickersham explained the difficulty in awakening Congress men in general to the value and importance of Alaska as a contri- butor to the wealth of the nation by the single word Ignorance" but he pointed out, where facts and figures had been presented, such as were shown in his compendium setting forth the trade balance in favor of Alaska, along with the steady stream of golden wealth which has been pouring into the nation since 1876, it has had the effect of revising the viewpoint held by many that Alaska was an un- couth, wild country having little effect upon the remainder of the nation.
 Stating at the outset that he did not propose making a political speech, Delegate Wickersh m stressed the necessity for those who would hasten Alaska growth and development to organize and put forth a program calculated to accomplish this purpose.
 Dwelling upon what Alaska had done for the United States, MT. Wickersham pointed out how the fisheries had made millions for residents of San Francsico. Port land and Seattle, and depreciated the fact that more of this wealth had not remained in the Territory
 However, be saw no occasion for the people to feel that things were not going ahead. He had visited Willow Creek and other mining regions and vouchsafed the predic- tlon that they would become i'm mensely rich gold producing cen- ters, and that there were many other regions equally as prolific and promising.
 "The question is how best to tap the wealth of Alaska. Norway and Sweden support a population of 10 or 12 millions of people on an area less than Alaska. We can do the same thing here Doubtless we are nervous and fretful, and complain and do not do what we should to develop our resources.
 With respect to climatic condi- tions, I prefer that of many por- tionS of Alaska to that of Wash ington, D. C., and there is no req son why there should not be a big population in the Territory.
 There are hundred thousand square miles of land suitable to agriculture and other great re- sources capable of supporting a large population.
 Thus there is no occasion for us to feel that things are not going well with us. The history of all new countries is being repeated here. Possibly it is we'll that our wealth does not come too suddenly and in too large quantities. Our growth is steady and safe.
 With regard to the depression in the United States one may feel thankful he is in Alaska. We may not have much money in our DOC kets, but we have security, and are suffering nothing as compared to those in the United States. The de- pression has not hurt us one bit, for we are going along better than