Cook Inlet Pioneer
and Knik News
Published by
Cook Inlet Publishing Co.
Anchorage, Alaska
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915
Fine Success of Sale
The sale of lots in the town
site of Anchorage, which has
been in progress this week, un
der the auspices of the United
States government, points very
strongly to the fact that the peo
ple have faith in the town’s future
and are willing to back their
faith by their dollars. For the
first time, the government, speak
ing through the superintendent
of sales,told of the plans in view
for this town, and this plain
statement of fact undoubtedly
contributed to the eager demand
for locations at prices that ex
ceeded all expectations. The sup
erintendent, speaking with auth
ority, said that Anchorage would
be the coal terminal of the Mata
nuska coalfields and would like
wise be the terminus of interior
traffic for at least seven or eight
months in the year. Machine and
car repair shops, vast yardage
facilities, docking facilities, harb
or improvements, etc., which the
superintendent mentioned in de
tail, foretells something of the
big possibilities for Anchorage.
While perhaps local residents
did not anticipate the fancy
prices that were paid for lots, it
is better that there should have
been an eager demand than a lack
of interest and consequent cheap
prices. The one means faith and
optimism; the other doubt and
pessimism. And confidence is
the large contributing factor that
builds a center of population.
A good price for business loca
tions and a low price for resi
dence property is what makes a
center of population. It is a
matter for congratulation that
residence lots in the new town
site sold for a minimum figure.
They were within the reach of
everybody. Some towns that we
could mention, owned chiefly by
private individuals, hold resi
dence lots at prohibitive figures,
compelling residents to rent,
rather than own their own homes.
Superintendent of Sales Christ
ensen won praises for the fair,
square manner in which he con
ducted the sale of lots in the
townsite.
The sale at public outcry of
lots in the Anchorage townsite
broke all former records in the
matter of sale of lots in govern
ment townsites.
Now that Anchorage is defi
nitely placed on the map of Alas
ka, it becomes the duty of all res
idents to pull together for those
things that make for permanence
and prosperity. The town is lo
cated in the very center of the
most resourceful part of Alaska.
It has water transportation; it
will soon have rail transportation.
No town in the vast northland
ever started out under such aus
picious circumstances. The great
government of the United States
acting through its accredited rep
resentatives, namely, the Alas
kan Engineering Commission, has
chosen Anchorage as the chief
base of its operations. The peo
ple of Anchorage, as demonstrat
ed by the big demand for loca
tions both for business and resi
dence purposes, have loyally
backed the Commission’s choice.
The first thing we should do
when we remove to the new town
site is to form a progressive com
mercial organization. There is
nothing like concerted action in
upbuilding a city. It is the peo
ple of a community that make it.
We have the progressive element
from other towns and there is no
reason whatever why we should
not evolve into Alaska’s foremost
center of population.
As Secretary of State Lane says
in his note to the editor of the
Pioneer, Anchorage is in truth on
the map. And further, it will oc
cupy a very prominent position
on the map from this time on.
It is splendid to see the nu
merous lodge members forming
local clubs for their respective
organizations.
When you wish to rest, go to
the Pioneer hotel, Knik. Frank
Cannon, proprietor. x
Most Reasonable
Contractor & Builder
Bids and Plans Gladly Furnished
E . W I K S
Office next to Supt, of Sales of
Anchorage Townsite
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JOHN A. NOBLE, Vice President
HENRY B. WESSELMAN, Vice President
Seward
| GASION HAROY, Vice President
S ERICH LUCAS, Cashier
SIDNEY B. CONGDON, Assistant Cashier
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H. J. Emard, Manager