The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-08-20


 the assured stage are railroad car ferries to be operated by Floss Tug and Barge Company between Prince Rupert and Kstchikan to carry out the First City's fish pro- duction. That service could be eX- tended further north.
 TIMBER UsE FOREMOST
 Of Alaska Development Board Manager Henry Clerk, the Interior Secretary aske> ;lat agency's Vew of Alaska's best industrial pros poets. Clark replied that concen- tration so far has been upon tim Der usage because the need in the States is most acute for forest pro- ducts. He cited that all that's now needed to assure a wood treating plant in Southeast Alaska is Alaska Railroad tie contracts.
 Clark generally agreed with a prior witness, Alaska Salmon h. dustry Manager w. c. Arnold, that there are big obstacles to extend- i ing the operating seasons of can- neries, but he was more optimistic regarding the possibilities of quick freezing fish and development of small cold storage plants. The shellfish industry already is pro- gressing, he said, though prejudice against otter trawling is bar to developing usage of ground fish,
 Tourists, Clark placed next to the fisheries in future rank of inn portance of Alaska industries l ABORIGINAL CLAIMS
 Considerable testimony throughout the afternoon regarding aboriginal claims as the number one deter rent to industrial development in Southeast Alaska was climaXed by William L. Paul Jr.'s reply to Assis- tant Secretary of the Interior Gard ner. Gardner had asked the Sec retary of the Alaska Native Broth erhood which the natives desire title to the lands involved in their claims or compensation for them. We want money" was Paul's un- equivocal answer.
 Earlier, Paul had stated the chief 1 Indian need is wider scope for in- come-getting, to bring better liy- ! ing conditions to the w-earning groups in the smaller communities. He suggested expansion of govern ment credit facilities, to permit In- dian towns to establish cold storage plants, small saw mills or boat shops.
 First to testify at the afternoon hearing was John Wiese, Regional Representative International Fish ermen and Allied Workers (CIO) :. He listed seven factors he charged with spelling trouble for Alaska s fishing industry Novel among them was point number four. wherein he compared the competi- tive positions of fish foods and farm prcducts-the latter actually subsidized He asked no limitation of Federal aid to farmers, but did declare that Alaska's fisheries will be behind the eight ball without equal assistance"
 Dealing exc. Lsively with tine topic of aboriginal claims was Juneau attorney R. E. Robertson, who held for immediate Congressional ac- tion to extinguish all native claims to lands and waters, with a court specified to which their claims could be presented for compensa- ton. He asked the Interior De- partments support for such nlea- sure.
 Attorney H. L. Faulkner criticiz- sd administration of land laws as a barrier, specifically to mines de- velopment. He declared the sit uation is particularly acute with regard to the National Forest areas, where Interior Department action is secondary to the Forest Services making return of lands to the public domain. He advised a law change to make Forest Service elimination from the National For ests conclusive action for patent
 As a major obstacle to develop ment such as pulp mills - which require enormous capital out