The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1936-04-23
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE
PROSPECTOR AND CAPITAL

ANOhD' N~N~
appointment OF a field engineer by the Territorial
Department of Mines to make actual survey of
of the various potential mineral properties of the
Territory this summer comes welcome bit of news
to the mining fraternity we'll Alaskans in other
lines of industry for means important step to-
ward further development of the north's mineral
The appeal has been constant to the mining de-
partment its creation by the last Legislature
to put in the field but due to the limited APP
preparation made by the lawmakers for the depart
ment it has been impossible to do until this summer;
and is possible only because care has been used
in handling the s228Oo allowed for two years and
little piled up from it with this step in mind
Throughout the Territory there properties
which show excellent possibilities The catch is that
those who hold them in most instances without
adequate funds to attempt to carry development
themselves. They attempt to interest capital in the
property and the first demand is for report on the
holdings by a competent engineer Capital is inter-
ested naturally only in concrete facts Commissioner
B D. Stewart of the mining department cites the case
of good prospect the west coast of Prince OF Wales
Island So promising it that large has
offered to send of its engineers to look it
if it can first but get primary report from an auhori-
tative The owners in no position to hire
a mining engineer to provide ouch survey and must
look some government agency the property will
lie dormant probably for years If, for example, the
mining departments field engineer make survey
of that property compile report to be furnished the
interested company, it may mean spanning the gap
between gold in the ground and gold being taken from
the ground adding to the Territory's industry.
This is but one example of the value field engn-
from the mining department be to Alaska.
There scores Of similar instances Hundreds of
claim holders with something that might be developed
if they could only supply the necessary data to inter-
est capital
Various plans, some of them sound, have been ad-
vanced for mining development in the north The Rex
Beach plan of Federal aid through teup with the
Youth Administration is which has met favor
but far has failed to become impressive enough
allow for the government to set up the necessary
funds 1t, or something like it may but in the
meantime the Territory can itself, do a great deal
more than it is dong in promoting mineral develop
ment mining department has been created. Mr..
Stewart, competent man. has been placed in charge.
Now the crying need is for engineers in the field
under the direction of that department who pro-
vide concrete facts on what Alaska has to offer
We talk of our great undeveoped mineral re-
sources, but interest the capital which will
to the Territory and develop these resources
have to offer something beside magic words Capital
in mining in any other business, must have the
partment submits to it an honest report piece OF
mining property it then take its steps toward
development rejection, but with nothing to go on,
no individual or company representing capital is likely
TO venture forth on exploration trips. Mining is a
speculative business and the who follow it want
as many facts as it is possible to obtain before spend
ing their money 1t is perfectly logical that they
should, or their capital might be exhausted.
Thus it is readily the inestmabe value the
Territorial mining department be TO development
of Alaska by bridging the gap between the pros
pector and the man who has capital to develop the
property if it is worthwhile While this summers
work is only step in that direction it may be hoped
that it will be productive enough of results
vince the next Legislature of the merit of the pro-
gram that it might set aside for the next biennium
sufficient funds to conduct the work on a broader
scale.
AS pointed out in yesterdays Empire, the important
thing is to select candidates in the respective parties
at Tuesdays primary who will have the capacity to
consider in broad light problems of this nature II
is something to consider seriously when going to the
polls. The future of Alaska is at stake If the Ter
ritory does not show the way can't expect the Fed
eral government to find it.