WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALASKA 



201 



the gold strike is still on the land. The feeling that 

 "something is going to happen" is common, some in- 

 dustrial revolution, some new law that will work magic. 

 The Territory is often called the "land of surprises." Her 

 history is filled with the spirit of adventure, of large 

 risks for big stakes. Men either went broke or made 

 their fortunes. This state of mind is too restless and im- 

 patient to wait willingly for gradual economic develop- 

 ment or to recognize the factors in world-wide commerce 

 which determine its progress. Something must be 

 wrong ; something must be blocking the tracks. And 

 that something is found in the way Alaska is governed 

 from Washington. Hence the demand to "free" Alaska 



necessary to prevent the early exhaustion of this great 

 resource. Fortune-making from gold placers worked in 

 the old one-man fashion must be given a very uncertain 

 place in the future development of Alaska. There may 

 still be undiscovered Klondikes, but at best they will con- 

 tribute little to the enduring prosperity of the Territory. 

 Alaska has reached bedrock and must build up with 

 stable and permanent industries. In this she must have 

 the intelligent help of the nation. But both Alaska and 

 the nation must get down to bedrock in their conception 

 of the factors which control the development of the Ter- 

 ritory. "Votes are not bread," in the words of President 

 Taft ; and empires are not built by passing a law or two. 



DORR LAKE, REVILLAGIGEDO ISLAND, ALASKA 



Note the well-timbered slopes which are common along the streams and lakes of Alaska, and which are so convenient in lumbering operations 



as the logs can be taken out by water. 



from long-range regulation and restraint. Give Alaska 

 local self-government. Give her the public resources 

 within her own domains. "Permit Alaska to develop." 



This point of view is fostered by the unending dis- 

 cussion of Alaskan affairs, by the reiterated public state- 

 ments that Alaska is fettered, and by the frequent pro- 

 posal of legislative panaceas which will bring prosperity 

 over night. It is heightened by the slump through which 

 Alaska is now passing. 



By and large, much of the cream has been skimmed 

 from Alaska. The days of quick and enormous profits 

 from a small investment in a salmon cannery are prob j 

 ably over and restrictions upon the salmon catch are 



The development of Alaska is bound to be a gradual 

 process controlled by fundamental economic facts. The 

 Territory has the resources. For the rest, hard work, 

 patience, co-operation, and an enlightened and localized 

 administration of Federal affairs are essential. 



To what extent is Federal administration in Alaska 

 muddled ? 



Not through the locking up of resources. This was 

 true of coal and oil during the periods before it was pos- 

 sible to get leasing laws through Congress. It is true of 

 no resource today. 



Not through mere multiplicity of Federal bureaus, al- 

 though certain of them having corresponding functions, 



