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Show FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA. That Alaska is a land of wonders is the statement of Congressman Sd ney Anderson, w ho say6 that most people think of the territory as a bleak barren, frozen land, a niys terious country of little known na ural wonders; a place peopled largely by Eskimo and polar bears In reality re-ality it is a vast empire, rich in possibilities pos-sibilities beyond the wildest Imagln Ing of mankind Alaska Is 1,100 miles long. 800 miles wide, with an area of 590,000 square mlle6. !t Is a third larger than Norway, Sweden and Fin-Land Fin-Land combined, and nearly twice as large as the area now embraced by the thirteen original states. In the forty six years it has been in the possession of the United States it has added to the world's wealth more' than $200 000.000 in minerals. $70 000,000 in fur and sea products, and $160,000,000 in fishery products, more than $400,000,000 altogether She produces annually more than $700 In "value for each inhabitant man, worn an, and child white, Indian and Es klmo. In the broad valleys of the Susitana Koskokwim, and Tanana rlver6 there are 60,000 square miles of fertile agricultural land while on the plateaus aboe are 40,000 square miles of grazing land "The climate Is very much like that of Norway and Sweden." declares Congressman Anderson. "All of the hardy grains and vegetables have been and can be grown there with success. While the growing season is short. It will be remembered that Alaska has Just as much sunshine as southern California. Three-fourths of this s in-shine in-shine comes during the growing sen j son between the 22nd of March audi the 22nd of September, and in the ' middle of this season the days arc ' twenty hours long. "Alaska has 5.000 miles of naviga-i naviga-i ble rivers centering almost in the I j middle of the territory near the Junr- Uon of the Tanana with the Yukoti These rivers furnish a steamboat high j way In the summer, and their frozen surfaces made admirable roids in ths ' winter ' Yst the surface of the possibilities of Alaska has been barely scratched There are vast deposits of coal, copper, cop-per, gold, and other mlnera.s unmlt.p. indeed, undiscovered Great for csts of fir and hemlock, untoucnet' by the ax, Immense areas of agricul tural lands waking for settlement and homes. Obviously, what Alaska needa is development Not the mere exploitation ex-ploitation of her mines and fisheries, but the development of ail her resour ees; the settlement of her farm lands; in brief, a symmetrical civilization that will make her self-sustaining We w ish to m?.'-e Alaska not only a goon place t make riony in, but, as well, a good place to live In." |