The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-08-21
MISSION HEAD AR RlvES HERE
 FROM WESTWARD
Dr. Torbet, Connected with Methodist Episcopal
 Church, Visits

The Mission boards of the yarl- ous Protestant churches spend m Alaska every year more than S5oo,- 900 of missionary money, when makes it the most expensive mis- sionary field in the world. rms makes the sum per capita for men, women and children in the Terri tory five dollars" said Dr. Walter Torbet, Western Representative ot the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church. who arrived on the Yukon from an extended trip to the westward, where he has been in- vestigating the progress of mission ary work on the Alaskan peninsula.
 Dr. Torbet has visited during the past month at every Methodist mis- sionary institution on the Renal Pe- ninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Bris- tol Bay He has assisted in the or ganization of string of Sunday Schools from Seldovia to Unalas- ka, and the establishment of sail, ing route between those points which will assure the visitation of missionary settlements by outside workers at least once year.
 He reported a gratifying progress in all lines of missionary endeavor "Methodism in Alaska supports two hospitals, eight schools and the Jesse Lee Home for orphans at Sew ard,' he declared. our work stretches from Ketchikan to Nome We have been in the field since 1870"
 Hopes for Matanuska
 Dr. Torbet's itinerary included the much discussed Matanuska coloni- zation project, for which he has high hopes. "Matanuska has fine climate and deep, rich soil" he said The top soil is two to six feet in depth. So far as raising crops is concerned, they can raise wheat oats, barley, timothy, clover all kinds of vegetables and berries There is no question about the fer tility of the valley. There are ap- proximately 5000 people along the railroad from Seward to Fairbanks which assures consumption for the Matanuska crops.
 There has been a good deal of criticism about the colony, and many prophecies of failure. Some people who came here were not fitted for this place nor for any other. But ninety per cent will re- main and be successful. Those who remain will see the development of the prettiest. farming section in American territory. Don Irwin, in charge of the agricultural project, visualizes a magnificent success"
 Dr. Torbet reported that there were under construction in Mata- nuska three churche s-Catholic, Presbyterian, and Lutheran with the poss b ility of a Pentacostal church to follow. He said, however, that because of the presence of oth- CT Protestant enterprises, his church would not enter the project. Five of the most important Protestant churches signed an agreement last year that after 1885 no church would enter a field in which any one of the others was operating" he said.
 Visits Kendall
 Dr. Torbet is guest of Rev. O. l.. Kendall, with whom he will remain for a few days. q am in Juneau to work with Brother Kendall in placing the Methodist Church in Ju- neau on an adequate foundation to plan for the cooperation of the Board of Home Missions and the people of Juneau to beautify our home church so that it will be a credit to our denomination and an institution which the people of Ju- neau will be proud of" said Dr. Torbet. He proposes, he said, to secure a contribution from the home board in Philadelphia, this to be matched by as large as possible