The frontiersman., 1955-03-17
Anchorage
(Continued from page n


 ritory must become alert to the need to create interest in the tourist industry in Alaska. This year we have particular prob lem, he said. Without the pas senger ships coming to the terri tory selling Alaska to the tour ist will be a different story We no longer have the inside passage to sell. Now they will see Alas ka. Last year Palmer was out standing in it's efforts to solve the tourist problem. We told Palmer we needed help in promoting the Matanuska Valley to the tour ists. We got immediate help and now the Matanuska Valley tour is a bowling success. Each conn munity must work in the same direction. Int tourist industry is basic industry, feeding off no other industry. "The tourist sea- son is but SO days away and we can do something about it'', he added. Tn pointing out the impor- tance of the tourist industry Phil lips mectioned the successful pro- gram in progress in Hawaii, Switzerland and other countries where they have made concen- trated efforts to build up the tourist trade.
 Forrest Rohan, convention chairman, spoke on the impor- tacce of cities opening their doors to conventions. Last year Palmer had three territorial conventions, and I'm sure, he said, that every one here recognizes the impor- tance of holding conventions in Alaskan cities. Valdez promotes itself to the tourist other sec tions of Alaska should do the same. We Alaskans like to travel ourselves Let's get the Alaskans to see Alaska.
 John Croul, manager of the | Anchorage chamber, offered his congratulations to Palmer on its good basketball team, referring to the tournament games played in | Anchorage. He pointed out that Palmer and the Matanuska Valley are in position to reach all Alas ka as a market for locally grown and produced food items. He spoke of the cooperation Anch- orage has shown to the valley in promoting it's produce, and spoke I specifically of the potato promo ton the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce undertook last year. Homer has it's seafoods, he said. We believe this feature can be worked into full time industry for those people. The Anchorage market has grown to where we now count between 90 and 95 thousand people in 50 mile ra- dius of Anchorage, This is your potential market, he pointed out.
 Dr. Gordon Gould, of the Meth odist College, spoke to the group on what the building of the col lege will mean, not only to the people of Anchorage and Palmer, but of the entire territory. Your boys, and girls will be able to get their higher learning right here in the territory, he pointed out. It is with great personal sat- isfaction that we see the college program taking hold. It's been seven years in planning, lots of the necessary work was not very exciting, but row it is taking hold. Parents will be able to think in terms of an enduring home businesses can be formed with a permanent business in mind lit will create a heritage for Alaska's youth.
 pr. H. z. Johns, also of the Col lege, spoke to the group on the immediate response the public has given to the drive to collect | S5OOOO0. We have $4O,0O0, with | the drive only a few days along, :, he pointed out pr. Alex Stewart also of the Alaska Methodist Col Iege spoke of the importance of keeping the young people of All aska in Alaska. Unfortunately, he said, statistics show that for the past 25 years, 95 percent of the youth going Stateside for their education never return to Alaska. We have lost these potential i leaders who are necessary to the | growth of Alaska. '
 The college representatives stressed that the funds for the | college are being raised by pledge and donations. There will be no house-to-house canvass for cash donations" pr. Gould said We are doing this with cards and are asking for pledges. Pr. Stew