The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1901-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Was hington, Dec. Is, 1901.
} Congress continues to apply itself
with UNI orecedented energy to the
conside ration of the many import
quesu ons upon which it will be re-
quired to legislate and material pro-
gress has been made. The Senate
has discussed the various phases Of
the Hay Pauncefote treaty and,
while some of the clauses of the
treaty are not as clear as might be
desired vote will be taken OH It's
ratification to-day which 1t is safe.
to say will be taken almost un-
animously affirmative.
The Senate Committee on Is
thmlan Canals has reported favor
ably on Senator Morgan's Nlcaragu
an Canal bill and that gentleman,
as chairman of the committee. has
explained 1t various provisions to
the Senate and has, IN so doing,
condemned the Panama Canal COM
pany's methods unstintedly. Action
on the bill has been deferred for the
present but there is no doubt that it
will be favorable.
| met Professor E. G. Georgeson
Yesterday. He has just returned
from four years residence in Alas
ka where he was sent to make an
agricultural and meteorological
investigation of the territory, the re-
suit of which will be Incorporated IN
Congressional Report in the near
future. Professor Georgeson Is en-
thusiastlc over the agricultural pos.
siblllties OF the territory. He says
that the soil and climate are both
such as to render its agricultural
future promising.
| Professor Georgeson said i have
succeeded IN growing there all the
vegetables In common use IN the
United States with the exception of
what are known as the tropical veg.
etables, such as melons, tomatoes,
etc. Moreover, the favor Of veget-
ables grown during the cool, moist
summers is exceptionally 6ne. One
of my assistants made trip this
summer and on mis- return reported
having seen some two million acres
Of fins agricultural land much Of
which was covered with native
grasses as high as mans waist
j Speaking of the. climate the Pro.
| lessor SAID that .sWhile there Is IN
tense cold IN the winter it is not al
severe on stock as one would sup
pose Ihave come across numerous
linstanee-Hbere horses bv ap pf ur m v lei
tiers, living on the bunch grass. ane
being found in the spring IN better
condition than when abandoned
in the fall
In reply to a question the Pro
lessor said 'sThere ertalnly are Ok
cellent opportunities for the farfael
and stock raiser who can adapt him
self TO new conditions in the terrltor,
II Congress will make an effort to
direct the Finish immigrants whe
are coming to this country in con
siderable numbers, to the settlemen,
of the territory it can be made L
add most gratifyingly to the agri
cultural as we'll as the mineral re
sources of the country. Alaska wll'
feed all the miners within her boaiil.
darles and a people like the Ems,
who are accustomed 70 ssinilaI
climate can devebpe tn 6try
beyond conceptions. 3 Inv then own
country, most Of Which lies farther
north than most Alaska. fheY raise
on $4,000 square mlles suflcien,
foodto feed population Of i, 5000, 90
people and export large quantities
of butter, cheese etc. In Alaska
there are available, / believe At leas,
2oo,O0o square miles OF more fertile
land better situated. [fAlaska were
settled up with Flnnish immigrants
It would become the treasure house
Of the United States.
sThere is one serious dlsadyant.
age to all this but il Is one which
Congress can easily remove. Alaska
needs proDer homestead leue a.