The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-28
Substantial Growth
 In Alaska Predicted
 During Present Year
FOSTER L. M'GOVERN

the Seattle Chamber of Commerce is receiving concerning the advan- tages and opportunities of Alaska is an index of what the future holds for the Territory, then I should say tha a substantial growth is in sight. The higher price of gold is giving the urge to many people to go to the Territory and prospect, or to buy a proper ty and develop it. During the past few montha there has been a conn stant demand for facts relative to mineral areas. In this regard we hope that the United States Blu reau of Mines will re-establish it's basis, for in the next year or two there is going to be greater need than ever for facts about mining possibilities in Alaska The Seattle Chambers Board of Trustees re- -cenCly approved the resolution of the Alaska Committee, pledging our aid to the Territorial Chamber of Commerce in securing adequate ap- 'propriations for this office.
 The depression has influenced many people to seek new homes, and Alaska is bound to attract it's share of these new settlers.
 International Highway Support
 During the past year the Cham ber's Alaska Committee has been active in many ways helping to ac- complish projects approved in Alas ka. One important effort made was to solidify support for the Pacific International Highway in the three Pacific Coast states, California, Oregon and Washington. Every Senator and Representative of the State of Washington is pledged to do everything possible to advance this project, and the Chambers of Commerce in the other two Coast states are obtaining the support of their Congressional delegations. This Chamber, for years has spent an average of $75,000 annually in attracting tourists and new settlers to the Northwest and Alaska. As many as 45,000 inquiries have come in a year as result of these cam paigns. Visualize the tremendous growth in the number of tourists if it were possible to go to Alaska by a highway. Great benefit would come to Alaska, to Seattle, and the territory adjacent to the high way.
 AldSkd Appreciated
 We know that Alaska is Seattle's best customer, and that this city actually began to grow when gold was discovered in the North. We appreciate that prosperous Alas ka means a prosperous Seattle, and to that end the Chambers Alaska Committee is ready and willing to help at all times in every way to bring about logical devel- opment of the Territory's resources. And our efforts are particularly effective because the Chamber maintains an office in Washing ton, D. c. in charge of MT. J. J. Underwood, who has spent many years in Alaska, and is very fa- n1iIiar with the Territory. He works in close cooperation and harmony with the Delegate from Alaska
 For the past two and one-half years MT Underwood headed up the national campaign to remedy the depreciated currency situation, which has caused many of our in dustries to practically cease oper- ations. Important among these were the pulp and paper indus tries. The remedy was finally se- cured through the embargo clause in the National Recovery Act. Inn mediately upon the passage of this bill our pulp mills began to oper- ate again and now many of them are working three shifts daily to take care of their orders. Ii the embargo clause is made effective and foreign pulp is kept out, there will be greater need for the manu- facture of domestic pulp. Doesn't that offer a hope for the develop ment of the vast timber resources of Alaska in the near future?
 To promote closer relationships between Alaska and Seattle, 130 of our business leaders and their friends took part in the Chambers Goodwill visit to Alaska last June. Those who participated in this tour are still talking enthusiasti- cally about the wonderful time tfiey had. They deeply appreciated the cordial hospitality extended to them by Alaskans in every town which they visited. If tour was scheduled for this year I am sure we would have double the number of last year. Our next trip will be in 1885.
 The Alaska Committee holds it's regular m tings on Thursday moons in the Chambers dining rooms. All Alaskans are welcome and are urged to meet with us We are happy to hear from the Chambers of Commerce of Alaska, functioning both for their local communities and for the Territory as a whole, as to projects or prob