The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-06-11

the records show that for the last years we have not reached peak of O00000 cases The peak in 1886 was about BE- million cases and with one or two exceptions since that time it has been gradually going down each year that this resource IS not Key to be able to produce taxable wealth n the future than in the immediate past to produce more under statehood than it does
 "The several other varieties of edible food fish known exist in Alaska waters cannot be developed on a large commercial scale because of the adverse labor and transportation costs.
 Gold mining has dropped to less than half of what it was in prewar. Formerly it one of our chief sources of Territorial tax It is impos- sible say how long time will be required to reopen mining full scale to attain the state ot productoh which had been attained prior to 1922 This may qure several years and it may never result for 1t is impossible to say at the present time just what the future of gold will be in relation to it's purchasing power"
 MT. Shattuck also objects to the claim that state hood will bring a larger population to Alaska. He says:
 "As for statehood status increasing population, there have also been advanced spurious contentious Permanent population increase will take place when there is industry to support it and not until then unable to visualize what would do with 10 or 10 thousand people right The flow of people to the Western and Pacific Coast States has no relation my opinion the political status of those States People change residence and capital moves from place to place for many but for the reason that State preferable to Territory. The early west ern settlers made a dime go far go with a dollar"
 In his statement MT. Shattuck has taken up other of the claims in favor of statehood now among them that without statehood, Alaska would be undefended in case of and that people will not remain in Alaska if they are to be deprived of their rights citizens To this he and backs it with the know edge of 52 years of living in Alaska T have yet to find anyone who has heard of anyone being willing to remain in Alaska because he could not vote for Congresmsen, anyone refusing to to Alaska for the same reason"
 MT Shattuck quotes MT. Sundborg, T feel that we could a State without imparing business tivity or growth, raise three four times much raising in the Territory or 30 or 40 million dollars for the biennium"
 Forty million dollars" MT. Shattuck says, would be around s2oO annual per capita tax for State services alone and would exodus from Alaska instead of a rush it. and would, cause the elinina tion of our major industries
 This statement which is longer than have indi- cated here was presented by MT. Shattuck to the statehood committee his "own responsibility with out suggestion pressure from the so-called inter ests anyone else"
 One thing person challenge: MT Shattuck knows whereof he speaks He has lived in Alaska 53 years served in six sessions of the legislature He is business and his interest is in the Terri tory.
 His statement should refute the contention of statehood that the only arguments against statehood now are those "of the vested interests"
 the hearings who knows Alaska and Aaskans can check the names after another of those who made the joy ride to Washington with the Alaska Statehood committee, and list the honors the statehood proponents have received from Alaskas pro-statehood executive.
 At least 20 of those who appeared before the Senate Committee in favor of statehood who pre- sented letters in favor of statehood then are now members of territorial boards holding jobs or receiving political favors through the terri torial government.
 Maybe, in spite of political debts, these witnesses were sincere proponents of statehood for Alaska.
 But of MT. Shattucks sincerity there can be no doubt.
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