COMMERCIAL CLUB OFFERS
PLAN TO SPEED REFORM !N
DEVELOPING OUR RESOURCES
The Nenana Commercial Club has
evolved a plan for the betterment uf
Alaskan representation at Washing
ton. the proposal being ably set
forth in a written statement of con
ditions and suggested icmedtal ac
re.. through which it mar be possi
ble to secure a larger measure of
attention at the national capital.
The club will submit a plan to other
commercial bodies throughout the
T^jrjitory and endeavor to secure co
operation in putting the proposed re
form across. The plan is as follows:
If the assumption is warranted
that Alaska is enormously rich in
its possession of great stores of pre
cious and the more useful metals, of
immense tracts of timber, coal, and
oil lands, of forests plentifully
stocked with game and fur-bearing
animals, and waters containing what
under a system of reasonably sane
conservation, would constitute an in
exhaustible supply of the finest fish,
why is it that its population is de
creasing and its prosperity as steadi
ly waning?
What has happened to make Alaska
the unfortunate exception from that
progressiveness which has character
ised, during the past twenty years,
ej^ery other portion of the United
States?
Why has it not received from the
United States Government more of
that intelligent and efficient paternal
ism such as, reclaiming immense
tracts of prolific orchards and grain
fields from waste acreage, has re
turned big dividends in national
wealth and the well-being of millions
of its citizens? Such paternalism as,
if it were as intelligently bestowed
in Alaska as it has been in the des
erts, would vastly increase the an
nual output of the Territory.
Possibly the answers to these ques
tions may indicate a remedy for the
unfortunate condition they imply.
To those in touch with the Alas
kan situation the richness of the
Territory will be admitted without
mental reservation, and they are
equally sure that it is being depopu
lated. Others interested in the truth
of the hypothesis are referred to
Government reports as to the poten
tialities of the timber, coal, and oil
lands, the development of which has
hf,rdly commenced, and to the cus
toms reports as to the exports of
metals, fish, and fur. From these
latter they will learn that the value
of the gold, silver, copper and fish
from Alaska during the past twenty
years was more than one hundred
times the $7,200,000 paid Russia for
the Territory. On the other hand, the
census reports will inform them that
the white population of Alaska in
1910 was approximately 40,000, while
the most reliable figures available to
day indicate it is now less than
20,000.
Before essaying answers to these
questions it would be well to con
sider what would be the procedure
of a big corporation handling Alaska
as a development project.
It may be assumed that its first
#tep would be, by investigation, to
estimate the prospective financial
returns—immediate and ’ continuing.
Tl^jgn would be determined the cost
necessary to insure these returns.
If the investigations indicated that
there would be certain profits, and
that these profits warranted a large
preliminary expenditure, there would
be no hesitancy on the part of the
corporation in making the outlay.
The work would then be initiated
under the most capable management
available. But, and herein the cor
poration's policy would differ from
that of the Government, that man
agement would be conducted on the
ground instead of at long range—
by interested workers conversant
with local conditions and problems
rather than, 5,000 miles away, by bu
reau officials handicapped by lack of
technical knowledge.
And it is this difference in the
system of management, spelling for
^Alaska stagnation instead of progress,
that largely accounts for the decrease
i*' population and prosperity and the
small measure of intelligent help that
has been bestowed by the Govern
ment. For, unless we have little or
no faith in our system of government
through representatives elected by the
people, we must and should assume
that Congress is conscientiously de
sirous of helping and, if the way had
been clearly pointed, would have
taken in the past such steps as would
have helped rather than hindered the
Territory. The way to help has not
been clearly defined, however, nor has
there yet been evolved and pursued
any method whereby Congress could
be given that complete understanding
of its task that is essential to suc
cessful accomplishment.
The fault, as usual in such cases,
may confidentialy be ascribed to lack
of proper representation of the gov
erned at the seat of government.
Alaska’s delegate, with no vote in
the house, is only very occassionally
given, under suffrance, the oppor
tunity of making himself heard.
Frequently he is opposed in com
mittees by lobbyists for private in
terests, and if these be sufficiently
numerous, the fact that the delegate
is the elected spokesman of the peo
ple of the Territory is apt to be over
looked. Certain it is that he is not
given opportunity to take up all of
even the more important issues.
It was with a realization of the
fact that Congress had but little time
to devote to the delegate that home
rule was asked for, in the hope that
the Territory could then adequately
manage its own affairs; but when
the enabling act was passed it was
|found that the legislature was so
hedged around with restrictions that
little change in the system of man
agement had been effected. The pre
rogatives of chief importance to a
state (or territory) were proscribed
and only through memorials to Con
gress, which might or might not
sometime be accorded attention,
could Alaska’s real needs be voiced.
Laws passed by the legislature must
remain in a state of incertitude as to
their constitutionality for an indefin
ite time, awaiting the sanction of
Congress, and the doubt and indeci
sion there engendered has caused the
legislature to be regarded with scant
deference.
To this handicap of a lack of op
portunity to properly represent, its
needs where help should be forth
coming must be added the burden that
continuously is being imposed on the
Territory through the misrepresenta
tions of irresponsible writers. For
in spite of the educational efforts of
commercial organizations throughout
the Territory, it seems to be quite
[ impossible to eradicate the idea, pre
\ alent. in the States, that, a year’s
residence in Alaska should entitle one
to a Carnegie medal for bravery.
While it is the simple truth that life
in any one of the towns of Alaska is
no more exciting than that in towns
' of similar size in the States, differing
| only in the fact that the Alaskan
I town probably affords more of the
| comforts achieved through modern
I conveniences, many newspaper and
! magazine writers appear obsessed
: wittl the idea that to be believed they
imust so represent the daily life as
j to make each hour furnish material
j for an episode in the most thrilling
j movie serial. While this may be ex
, disable in a fiction novel it is poor
j propaganda for the inducement of im
migration, and it also furnishes at
least some slight excuse for the
neglect of the country by the Govern
ment.
Assuming, then, that Congress is
just as willing to embark in a good
business venture for the United
States as a private corporation would
he for its own benefit, the induce
ment for a more extended invest
ment in Alaska lies in the fact that
the Territory’s exports have totaled
nearly a billion dollars, in spite of the
fact that the money spent on its de
velopment has been, by comparison,
negligible. Should investigation prove
this inducement sufficient, there
Avould then arise the question of the
form of management, that might be
depended on to insure success, and it
is in this particular that change of
method is suggested.
It has been proven by the infallible
test of experience that the Territory
cannot be adequately served through
the delegate and the legislature alone,
as each is too heavily handicapped
by the enforced restriction of activity.
N°t to displace the delegate or leg
islature, but to act in conjunction with
both, it is now suggested that there be
appointed a commission of twelve
men, three appointed from each judi
cial division of the Territory, and that
this commission meet in Washington
during a session of Congress, with
the House Committee on Territories,
or a committee especially appointed
the purpose. Provided arrange
ments were made for frequent joint
meetings, it is believed that Congress
could be enlightened at one session
as to the best method of adequately
developing Alaska more thoroughly
than is possible by the present system
if continued indefinitely.
The expense of the experiment
would be nominal if compared to the
beneficial results that might be con
fidently expected. It would put an
! end to haphazerd administration and
substitute sane business management,
thereby eliminating the wast of
money occassioned in the past
through unintelligent bureau adminis
| tration. If Congress can be prevailed
.upon to grant the expense of sending
the commission—provided however,
that this was well selected. Politics
should, of course, have no part in this
selection, and the method suggested
at this time is that the commissioners
should be appointed on the nomina
tion of the commercial bodies of the
Territory. By this method there would
be reasonable certainty that only men
who had the real interests of the
Territory at heart would be chosen.
STRENGTHEN
YOUR MORAL
CONVICTIONS
Never was' it more difficult to live
a straight, clean life than today.
Temptations lure everywhere. The
man or woman who fails is the one
who sins. Take care of little wrongs
and the big ones will take care of
themselves. The church has the only
cure for social ills; Gospel. Keep
close to the church influence for
strength. Start Sunday by coming to
11 a. m. services at the
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
“The Church with a Message”
11 a. m. 8 p. m.
GEORGE
ANDERSON
PIANO EXPERT
And Factory Representative
High-Grade Pianos
Will be in ordova in the near
future
If you change your address, do not
notify the carrier boy—report your
new address to the office.
Fresh Ever-Ready Flashlight Bat
teries, all sizes. Blum-O’Neill Co. 3-tf
| r* ' Mil Hill) mjllll UimiimiiiWU>miUMa»ii—»»uiHmiuiiunimtnmimHuivuimjLmmjiniimjuu
Scarborough Pictures that please at
prioes that are right. Over Cordova
drug store. Phone 140—3 rings.
Fresh Ever-Ready Flashlight Bat
teries, all sizes. Blum O’Neill Co. 3-tf
ML
SERLEO TIGHT
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Ml|1E!ll!!j!!!PIMMIIIMIIIII™M™MBWBM^^ iMiimBiiiiiwwMiMiwim.^ .—a
jj | j
II Your Money ||
11 Will Reach the Bank ||
] ( Ultimately ||
| [ But you will not get the benefit of it unless 11
11 the money is deposited to your credit. 11
11 Spending all your income enriches the 11
11 other fellow. J |l
11 Resolve to save a certain sum each month, S g
11 no matter how small, thereby enriching 11
11 yourself. §j
11 “MIGHTY OAKS FROM LITTLE 11
11 ACORNS GROW” ||
|| The First Bank of ||
II Cordova 11
J jj UNITED STATES DEPOSITARY FOR POSTAL SAVINGS FUNDS.
1 1 RESOURCES OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS jj j
j
CHAS. GOLDSTEIN & COMPANY
JUNEAU, ALASKA
"ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD—PAYING THE TOP OF THE MARKET”
In presenting the following quotations we want you to understand wo
what we quote. If the market advances after the issuance of Ss circular
we give the shipper the benefit of the increase. Upon request we shall £
pleased to keep you advised of market changes. Bear in mind that becauM
of our policy of dealing directly with the trader and trapper we can afford
Black ^ear—Na^l X “T PWCBS F°R FDRS ™
Coyotes—Extra large No. 1.. ? «« «? 5 f'™
Fox. cross—large dark. . " '
Fox; while .. !° °°t0 60.00
Fox, blue—Prices vary according to color and quality
FoxnC«dfvparVewSer,fr0m'""K.-. 75.00 t0 200.00
Fox, silver We have a big outlet for silver fox, and guar
antee top prices for same. Be sure to ship us your silver
foxes and we will show you we are there with the
goods. Prices range from. umontn sen nn
Marten, dark and extra large No. 1. 75'00 t inn oo
Fisher, large dark. . 11Z ,l° E ^
Mink, extia large No. 1 dark. 12 00 tn iooa
Muskrat, fall Alaskan, large No. 1.”ZZIZZ”Z 1 50 to o'cl
Lynx, extra large No 1. 40.00 to 60.00
Earu 0 er Interior) . 30.00 to 40.00
Land ottei (Coast) . 20.00 to 27.50
W hite weasel, large No. 1. L25 to 2.00
Wolf, large No. 1, cased . 25.00 to 30.00
Wo f, large No. 1 open. 18.00 to 25.00
Wolverine, large dark . 20.00 to 25.00
Prices above quoted are all for No. 1 best grade furs. Lower grades, in
cluding pale skins, priced in proportion.
DEALERS IN RAW AND MANUFACTURED
FURS IN THE NORTHWEST, and all we ask of you, Mr. Shipper, is to give
us the chance of a trial shipment and we will convince you that we pay more
J?rr ^rs aia‘ ma^e Quicker returns than you can get anywhere in the country
e a\e men in business in Alaska for 36 years and have built up a very
extensive trade. We sell manufactured furs in all parts of the United States
Canada, and m a great many European cities.
By shipping to us you are not only helping an Alaska industry but you are
helping yourself to build up a business that belongs to Alaska.
We eliminate the middleman entirely, as we buy direct from the trapper and
ra er and sell direct to the consumer; thus we are able to pay you a better
SurnZZZ’Z Can Set eIsewhere. WE MAKE RETURNS THE SAME DAY
SHIPMENT IS RECEIVED.
If so desired, when your shipment amounts to $100 or more, we will wire our
Did, and if not entirely satisfactory you may wire at our expense and we wiPi
ship to any place you designate.
ARZ? a? °f ZU S t0 be fair with yourseIf as well as with us, and make us
a tria* shipment, the result will make you a steady shipper
References: Any bank in Alaska, the B. M. Behrends Bank, Juneau; National
Bank of Tacoma, Tacoma, Wash.; Dexter Horton National Bank of Seattle.
FIELD GLASSES
Binoculars, Barometers, Pocket Compasses,
Ships’ Clocks and Snow Glasses
We also fit glasses for reading. If you are particular about having
e correct time, have your watch repaired by
PAUL BLOEDHORN
PHONE 2—2—3
Good Printing
A Specialty at The Daily Times Office