The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-09-17
MR. SAWYER SUGGESTS A PROGRAM.

R. SAWYER SUGGESTS A PROGRA On his return to Washington from his Ala sit, Secretary Roper of the Department of Co cree asked what he could do to help Alas nest Walker Sawyer, for several years Assist the General Manager of the Alaska Railrt lder the Hoover regime, in an open letter ggested program. It is interesting, and some of ms included have already been accomplished e in the making
 MT. Sawyer said:
 l. The project which today holds first place from every angle is the Alaska High way. It will add 20-50000 more people permanently to the population of the Terri tory and in addition will bring in hundreds of thousands ol dollars annually from the visitors Fairbanks. Anchorage, Seward, val deg and Cordova will benefit directly very materially and the Alaska Railroad will earn a profit Juneau and Ketchikan will also benefit much by reason of the prosperity and the increased Territorial incomes.
 g. There are two other smaller road projects of material merit. I refer to the Anchorage -Matauska road and the Seward missing link The existing appropriations for these projects should be doubled.
 3. Harbor improvements of permanent nature are needed at several places par tcularly for protection of the fishing fleet. Seward needs a major harbor development as well as improvement to her fishing fleet anchorage.
 4 Various laws and regulations should be changed to make them preferential to the residents of Alaska
 (a) Let individuals buy land up to GAO acres at S5 per acre or less. People do not have as much confidence in Government leases, homestead rights, etc, as in a clear title. Every section of Alaska needs more land available with clear salable, transfer able title.
 (b) Lengthen the fishing season and change the regulations still further to en- courage permanent residence of fishermen. Also encourage diversified fishing
 Co Change the game laws and regula- tons as to aid the homesteader and fur farmer. Let them kill l0-20 caribou bulls annually to feed to fur-bearers
 5. The U s. G. s. should have $780, $250,000 per year to use somewhat as they did the recent appropriation of $250O0O along the Alaska Railroad.
 6. In addition to the U. s. G. s. there should be an appropration of $l000OO per year spent by practical mining engineers and prospectors to develop hard rock mines This could be handled either by the Alaska Railroad or the Alaska Road Commission.
 2. Many trails, cabins and roads should be built to proven mineral areas
 8. Additional air beacons, radio service and weather facilities should be given avia- tion. training school should be established for Army and Navy fliers and new landing fields should be built in remote areas to permit mining exploration and development
 g. Fur farming should be .assisted with practical demonstration layout at Fairbanks College and elsewhere under its extension service.
 TO- Wild life should be conserved, devel- oped and harvested on sustained basis Trap routes should be licensed and pro- tected. Animals and birds should be raised and planted and additional types should be introduced MuSkox. buffalo and pheasant introduction should be doubled now. The re- cent program was small compared to what should be done. New types of animals and birds suitable for mink and fox feed should be introduced More pheasants and grouse and rabbits needed Additional fur bearers such as raccoon, skunk and squirrel would also live successfully in the Renal, Chickalcon and Cordova sections Raising frog legs for export and local use should be eiicOuIdgeu mere are millions Of frOgS ln Matanska today but they are very small com pared to the commercial frogs of Louisiana and California, where millions are involved, Tn this very remunerative business.
 II. Reindeer should be spread over more territory and ownership should be further distributed. Production of reindeer products such as sausage beef cubes, cheese and other specialties should be actively encour- aged.
 l2. group of yaks should be introduced for practical purposes
 13 Development of the berry industry Is well worthy of encouragement Various new berries should be introduced as well as medicinal plants where the freight and export costs are a small percentage of the value of the product.
 IA. It should not be permitted to export raw furs or raw ivory. Alaskan furs should be tanned and completely prepared for the wholesale clothing trade in Alaska An expert should help establish small processing and tanning plants at convenient places on Seward Peninsula, in the Kuskokwim and in other outlying sections and at some central location such as Seward there should