The Daily Alaska Empire

Facing Hard Work.
(Tacoma Ledger.)
Don Irwin, Manager of the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation, says that the "pioneers" of the Matanuska Valley are facing, and will face, much hard work during the next three years, for it will take that long for the land to be completely cleared as only about 15 per cent of the area will be ready for planting next season. Just what else other than hard work and a degree of privation could be expected of "pioneers" it is difficult to understand.

The pioneers who made America, turning a wilderness into a land of prosperous and populous States, cities and farmsteads, not only experienced hard work and hardships, but they expected such to meet them at the end of their journey. They had land to clear, houses to build, food and clothing to be supplied and they knew that nothing but work and that of the hardest description could be their lot. Government could not be relied upon to aid in colonization work, for in fact all it could, or did, do was to grant land out of which farms and cities and States must be carved.

The so-called pioneers going to Alaska are transported on Government ships and Government railroads and are fed and cared for on the journey.

At the scene of their future activities they find men sent by Government to clear land and build houses. During the period of waiting they will be fed by Government, all their legitimate expenses cared for until such time as out of their labor they can repay the money Government has advanced.

Hard work? Surely nothing else can avail in clearing the wilderness and establishing homes. It was hard work not unmixed with positive hardship that made America what it is. The real pioneers expected nothing else. It has been hard work that changed the wilderness into a nation of great power and wealth. It was work, hard work, that brought riches to so many of our people, for after all there is nothing on this, or any other continent, that may be hoped for in the way of progress unless there shall be hard work and unless the people have been prepared to work for the things they hoped to possess.

Of course those colonists up there in Alaska will build homes and found a model community and they are to be congratulated upon the fact that a Government has smoothed their way, but after all the success of that community will depend upon the industry and thrift of its people.