The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1939-11-10

A commentary on the Slattery re-
port for the development of Alaska
has just been released by the De-
partment of Interior, giving a sum-
mary of the detectives hoped for If
the plan should be put into oper-
alton. Labeled a Brief Summary of
Under Secretary slattery's Report
on the Problem of Alaskan Develop
ment". the Interior Department
statement says:
THE problem of Alaskan develop
ment has become increasingly a sub
ject of national interest. At this
time 1t is important to bring to-
gether the results of past studies
On the basis of information supplied
by various Departments of the Gov
eminent and individual scientists, It
is possible to chart the iong-range
potentialities Of Alaskan develop
ment
Scandinavian Analogy
The combined area and resources
VI - WGuGA4f MI " u3 anu II AuAdAuf ali
lying in the same latitude and sub
ject to similar climatic conditions,
are less than those of Alaska, yet
these countries support a total popul-
alton of 12,748,154, as compared
with Alaska's population, according
to the 1890 census, of 59,27S per-
sons.
MANY reaspns for the low popula-
ton of Alaska may be given: the
tradition of get-rich-and-get-o the
World War and the flu epidemic, the
unequal sex distribution and the low
birth rate, the high cost of living,
the immigration laws of 1921 and
1924 which cut down foreign I'm
migration to Alaska by SO percent,
the absentee ownership which siph
ons off Alaska's raw materials, the
seasonal character of 95 percent Of
the employment (rishing and min
ing), the lack of local capital for
investment, the widespread myth
that Alaska is a land of wolves and
icebergs which frightens away po-
tential settlers, the mistaken view
that conservation is equivalent to-
nonuse of resources, the tendency to
postpone positive action pending
further researches and studies, which
always show the need for more.
studies and researches.
Underpopulation Blamed
fundamentally. underpopulation
is not only a result of various econ
omic difficulties but also a cause of
these difficulties. Underpopulation
over a large area leads to excessive
~ high transportation costs. High
transportation costs result in a high
cost of living. High living costs re-
suit in high costs of production.
High costs of production and trans
portation make most industries IN
profitable. Lack of industrial de-
velopment results in seasonal unem-
ployment High living costs and sea-
sonal unemployment discourage i'm
migration and encourage emigra-I
tion. All of which results in under
population.
THE ordinary lone immigrant to
Alaska cannot buck this vicious cy-
Gle Implanted, uncoordinated in
adequately financed immigration is,
therefore, no solution to the econom-
ic problems of Alaska. Indeed, such
immigration may aggrayate those
problems by augmenting the popula-
tion on local relief rolls in winter
months In order to meet the basic
economic problem of Alaska a pro-
gram of settlement must aim stimuli
taneously to increase local popul-
alton, reduce transportation costs,
reduce the high cost of living, re-
duce costs of production without
reducing real wages), establish new
industries, eliminate seasonal unem-
ployment and thus encourage still
further immigration. An adequate
plan of settlement must combine,
agricultural and industrial expan-
sion. Increased agricultural produc-
tion in Alaska will reduce the cost
of food which is now so great fac.
tor in the high cost of living in Al
aska. On the other hand, increased
Industrial activity will increase the
market for local agricultural pro-
duce.
Winter Employment
"a balanced program of industrial
development with special emphasis
upon winter-month employment will