The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-12-19
L0NCSH0RE CONTRACT AGAIN COMES LII
Holiday Message Is Sent
 To A|askans by Sec. krug

Secretary of Interior Julius A. Krug has sent the following holi- day message to Alaskans.
 The ememory of my altogether too brief visit to Alaska this summer is still most vivid in my mind. All of you in Alaska were most gen. e.ous with your hospitality. You were also generous in your discus sion of critical problems in the solution of which you felt the De- partment has a distinct share. Therefore, upon my return to Washington, each of the Bureaus of the Department was assigned certain of these problems with in structions for most expeditions handling.
 of course, many of the problems involved are of long range na- ture and are complicated by years of accumulation. Yet I can indi- cate to you that definite progress is being made toward solution, and that I am in the process of report ing to the mayors of each of your cities the specific items which we have been able to resolve. The agencies of the Department are tackling the jobs on hand with en- ergy and enthusiasm.
 As I review my visit to Alaska and reflect upon the many things I saw and heard, am more con- vinced than ever of the wonderful opportunities for the development of the Territory in terms of the benefits to be derived by you in Alaska and by the people of the United States. I confess I had many misconceptions about the Territory which my visit dispelled completely That is why I hope that the Department, in close col- laboration with Governor Gruening, Delegate Bartlett, your Territorial agencies, your chambers of com merce, and with you as individuals, can make it increasingly easier for people of the United States main land to spend time in Alaska. The I breath-taking vistas of your moun- tains, forests and rivers, together with the very real evidence of your strides in agriculture, industry, and selft development, must be seen by a greater number of our fellow citizens. This will greatly help in developing a better under standing of the opportunities of the Territory as wei as aome of the ob- stacles it faces.
 : "Developr ent lS hard. Wise de- velopment is harder. Only through the exercise of the best judgment based on sound facts and assump- tions can we make real advances. Alaska as well as the Department must select these items of develop ment on which most rapid success can be secured. Surely there must be avenues of opportunity which can be followed with promise of early fruition. Therefore, I hope to be able to supplement the De- partment's attack on vexing prob lems with programs of specific de- velopment. I shall send to Alaska on frequently scheduled trips few people who have had some success in the development of opportun- ities. Their experience may be of value to you in your own appraisal of things you want to do, and in the carrying forward of imagina- tive ideas.
 T can assure you that during the coming holidays my thoughts will frequently wander to the places I visited in August. To all of you, then, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year New Year during which I feel confident our joint programs will continue to move from milestone to milestone in satisfactory progress