The Wrangell sentinel., 1939-10-27
REFUGEE IMMIGRATION TO ALASKA

The Juneau Empire in a recent
issue published an article by A. ".
Fox. Juneau attorney on the subject
Of Refugee immigration to Alaska"
the question having been precipitat-
ed late this summer BY Secretary Of
the Interior Harold Ickes. Mr.. Fox S
article follows.
At a time when it is seriously
proposed to bring to Alaska for
settlement a large number of alien
/ refugees. relaxing the general immi-
grafton laws so far as Alaska is con-
cerned, it would seem proper to
make a few remarks on the subject.
The proposed settlement, of course,
is an attempt to force a population
into Alaska which it is not yet
ready to receive.
Alaska like Australia and other
isolated countries. lacks population
because, among other reasons peeu-
liar to itself, it is far removed from
inhabited areas. Comparison has
frequently been drawn between it
and the Scandinavian countries. At
the close of the Ice Age, climatic
conditions at last allowed man to
enter Scandinavia from adjacent
territory; but authorities differ as
to when this occurred, suggestions
varying from 10000 years B. c. to
5000 years r. c. There were fish
ermen and farmers in those lands
when the Baltic was a freshWater
lake. 1t Will be seen from this that
the situation in Scandinavian coun-
tries as to development and the slow
progress of Alaska are not cOmpar-
able. It takes time to build up a
natural population as distinguished
/ from a regimented one. Then too,
the Scandinavian areas are mostly
adjacent to salt water the great res
erYoir Of warmth the world over.
It is unfortunate that, except as to
the coastline, the great bulk of AL
aska is remote from lnIs influence.
Keen Competition
Today, as a rule, countries, in
Guiding the United States, are max
ing every effort to keep out immi-
grafton instead of encouraging it.
Competition in every line is too keen
even in distant and under-populated
Alaska. There has simply been no
demand for what Alaska has to Of
/ fer. The possibilities are here but
they have not yet become possible.
When the time comes to exploit its
timber, mining resources, farm
+ 10 do Or ha pnu
of other lands become exhausted
population and industry will come
without the application of force. I'm
til then, Alaska is a great reserve
for the United States and it is so
written.
1t is proposed to settle this alien
refugee population ON farms in Al
aska This does not appear to be
such a brilliant idea when it is re-
membered that every national bud
get includes hundreds of millions
OF dollars for the relief of the pow
erty-stricken farmer. Agriculture,
largely ON account of its compete
tive character, it at low ebb every
where, SO why initiate a number of
non-English speaking unfortunates
] into fresh misfortune in Alaska?
They have been pretty well doused
already.
Not By Decree
Population, like business, is built
up by a sort of natural aceretion
and not by decree. If the farmer
down below cannot make a go of it
with the worlds markets at hand,
how can a farmer make a success
Of it in Alaska, where there is small
population and less transportation,
and that only of sorts.
There can be little doubt that
most of these proposed settlers would
soon drift into the towns as they
are not racially or otherwise suited
to agriculture. This would be I'M
/