Evening star., 1934-08-23
BUSINESS SUCCESS.
ASSURED BY ROPER.
Secretary of Commerce
Also Answers Critics in
Radio Address.
Continued From First Page.)

CONTINUED From First Page)
or subtle suggestions that the profit
motive in American life has been or
Is to be abolished"
The text of Secretary Roper's speech
follows.
At the outset I wish to thank the
National Broadcasting Co. and Mr.
Oliver Owen Kuhn, managing editor
of The Washington Star. for the
splendid educational work of the Ma
tional Radio Forum in keeping the
American people informed as to the
progress of events in these very in
teresting times.
1t has been suggested that tonight
my listeners would be interested in
the impressions gained by me this
Summer from my trip of inspection
of Federal activities in Alaska, and
in the manner in which the people of
that Territory are being affected by
the new deal.
This trip, from which 1 returned
a few days ago, served to confirm for
me the belief that it is important for
Federal officials to contact conditions
anu .jtODlG OutSluG VI "dSIllilSbOIl do
frequently as possible Such visits are
invaluable in acquainting such Off
cialS with local problems that cannot
be understood and appreciated except
by personal inspection and observa-
tion. The broadened perspective and
first-hand contact acquired in this
way makes it possible to produce great
er effectiveness in governmental ad-
ministration, just as it is recognized
to accomplish in private business.
Praises Coast Guard.
The Department of Commerce is.
charged with major responsibilities in
the Territory of Alaska. Among these
are jurisdiction over commercial fish
cries. the lighthouses, Coast and
Geodetic Survey, navigation, aviation
and census. Important problems in
relation to many of these activities,
developing in recent months. resulted
in urgent requests that I visit Alaska
personally to inspect existing services
and activities and secure information
upon which a constructive long-term
program for the future can be based
In making this trip I availed myself
of the opportunity of going to and
from Alaska on regularly scheduled
service trips of United States Coast
Guard cutters. In this way was
able to travel to Alaska on the United
States Coast Guard cutter Shoshone
and return on the cutter Toh9e which
the Shoshone relieved in the Bering
Sea patrol 1 wish at this point to
commend the splendid and indispens-
able service which is being rendered
to the Territory by the United States
Coast Guard, a service that is impera-
tive to the welfare and progress of
the people of Alaska.
Before entering with you into
study of the Federal activities in
Alaska inspected by me I will men,
ton a few salient geographical, his
torical and economic facts concerning
Alaska.
Has Paid 100 Fold.
The Territory contains nearly $780,
900 square miles, making that country
twice the size of France and Germany
combined and IA times tie size of
the State of New York. Alaska was
purchased from Russia 81 years ago
for $1,000, 900, or for less than 2 cents
an acre. 1t will be recalled that at
the time of the Territory's purchase
It was popularity labeled Stewards
Folly" or Stewards Icebox." Alaska
has produced in gold and silver and
copper alone more than 400 times its
original purchase price. Alaska has
paid for itself one hundred fold in
money actually collected in Alaska.
1t has the greatest fishing waters in
the world, teeming with more than 80
different kinds of fish.
The timber resources of South
Eastern Alaska are of vast potential
value. To illustrate, it is reliably as
serted that this section can develop
pulp industry which will produce 1000
tons of news print day in perpetuity.
For scenic grandeur and magniflcence
Alaska is unexcelled by any other part
of the world We have been accus-
toned to think of Alaska in terms
of its exciting past, particularly the
dramatic and adventurous gold rush
days. My travels and studies this
Summer convinced me that the future
of Alaska, with proper administra-
ton, offers prospects far greater than
those recorded in its past history.
Arrived in Eetchikan-
Now please join me in briefly re-
tracing the journey we took last
month to and through Alaska. We