The Nome nugget., 1939-10-06
U. Calls On Pioneers To Build Alaska
LAST FRONTIER PICTURED AS RICH FIELD FOR IDLE CAPITAL, INDUSTRY, LABOR
By Joseph Driscoll


 WSHINGTON, Aug. Is - EX- tensive settlement and develop ment of Alaska to strengthen Americas defense against inva- sion, to relieve unemployment and to accord a haven for ref ugees from the persecution areas of Europe was recommended in a detailed survey published to- day by the Department of In terior.
 The ninety-four-page docu- ment was signed by Harry Stat tey. Under Secretary of the In terior, who stated that it did not represent new research into the resources of Alaska, but rather an attempt to bring together the results of research by many gov ernmental agencies and individ- ual scientists. The report would serve its purpose, MT. Slattery said if it directed attention to elementary facts too often over looked by those who talk of the passing of the American frontier For the detailed information con tained in the report MT. Slat- tery gave credit to a long list of experts notably Vilhjalmur Stef- anssan, Arctic explorer.
 Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior, in making public the report, indorsed il as a ''dem onstration of the possibility and the importance of Alaska and an invitation to private capital to cooperate in the development of otv last frontier The study was undertaken after the Interior De apartment, which has jurisdiction over Alaska, had received many requests for information concern ing settlement and development possibilities in the territory.
 Basis for Future Planning l. The development of Alaska in accordance with sound conserva ton principles is a policy to which this department and this government are already dedicat- ed" Mir. Ickes said, My visit to "A -.A.il.csna i.sa last summer convinced me that the development of Al aska gan be as proporliGaately important to our present econ- onny as the building of the West was in the 18th century. There has been much discussion of the method of such development and because there seemed to be a lack of factual information and a tremendous public interest the Slattery report was drawn to pro v.de a factual basis upon which those interested in the problem might proceed.
 . "i1{t6fe is an intelligent frame work upon which plans might be developed Prospects for Al -r,aan development are particul- arly favorable today because of the possibility of transplanting to Alaska for the benefit of the United States industries which were developed in Europe but which have been broken up or diverted by current waves of in tolerance.
 IuvOkes Aid of Pioneers
 The Slattery report shows that Alaska has the resources of water power, timber, minerals fish and fur upon which a sound Alaskan economy can be based. Such development would offer many employment opportunities to American citizens and also to artisans now fleeing Europe, who with their specialized skills could play key role in creating in Al aska various industries which un til now have not been developed in the United States. These might include production of such things as various types of fur. leather, paper and wood pro- ducts which we now import from European and Asiatic sources. The industrial development of this territory, particularly south ern and southeastern Alaska, where climatic conditions and shipping facilities are favorable, would mean tremendous boom for west-coast shipping, for