Arizona republican., 1903-07-01
PHOENIX. ARIZONA. JULY I. 19O
For Our Friends In Alaska.

The dispatches tell us that Senators Beveridge, Dillingham;, Burnham and Patterson of the senate committee on territories are to depart shortly for Alaska for the purpose of making an investigation of the affairs of that ter ritory and reporting thereon to the sen ate. Doubtless our esteemed fellow citizens in the great northwest are looking forward with much pleasure to the forthcoming visit from these states men. and of course there is not littla curiosity to know what they will report concerning the things which interest them.
 It happens that We are in a position to be of service to our friends in Alaska. We can tell now with very close accuracy what the majority re- port to be made next December by Burnham will be, and we hasten to perform what is really a pleasant duty. The senators will not be able to cover Alaska in three nights of travel in Pullman cars, as they covered Arizona in that celebrated tour of investigation which was made for the purpose of de- termining the fitness of this territory for statehood: they will find Alaska a country of even more magnificent dis tances than Arizona, and with poorer railroad facilities, and so will have to put in more time than they did in their flight by night through our territory. But during the days of their stay they will be able, as they were in Arizona to find remote points whereat to spend the weary hours in instructive COZ verse with the untutored but noble red man of the forest. and where they will not be molested by inquisitive Amer cans, don't you know.
 But the report will not be materially different from the report on Arizona. In the entourage there will be, as nera. a corps of stenographers and gentle men in waiting to take testimony A report without a bulky appendix of testimony would be a very incomplete affair. It will not be possible. of course. to exclude Americans from the witness stand. but they will not be encouraged to tell what they know of the country especially if it is seen that they are truthful, substantial citizens and pos sessing a favorable opinion of the coun- try and its people Such Americans will be brusquely told that the senators are not on a pleasure excursion but are bent on bringing to light the mass of
 
 to exist; that the people of substance and citizens of long residence are nat urally biased in favor of Alaska, and SO their testimony would be worth lit- tie at best. But every piece of hu- manity's fiotsam and jetsam having a tale of woe to tell will be welcomed to the witness stand Especially welcomr will be Indians and ignorant foreigners who cannot speak the English lan- guage To convince the populace that the statesmen are industrious. night sessions of the committee will be held at Sitka Juneau and Nome and at 3ev- eral points in British territory. And while his brother senators are hearing testimony derogatory to the country, Senator Beveridge will do a stunt of personal exploration through the gas- light district in order to confirm his worst suspicious that there are saloons and gambling houses, and that they are open at all hours.
 The report itself will be a peach. It will recite that. whereas the people of Alaska are raising a great clamor for a measure of self-government and are asking to have the privilege of elect ing a delegate to congress, the com mittee felt impelled to undergo the rigors of Alaska's summer climate in order to make an investigation, all though the chairman was suffering from the fatigue of presiding at a city convention at Indianapolis. The sen- ate will be advised that the committee found Alaska in a deplorable condition; that the principal resource is mining, and while the annual production of gold is steadily increasing, and while enthusiastic citizens predicted that the mining industry would continue to ex- , be remembered that favorable opinions came uniformly from men who had in- vestments in the country and were open to the suspicion of trying to boom the same. It will be the verdict of the com mittee that mining in Alaska will play out in few years. In support of this judgment the senate will be invited to look at the accompanying photographs of Sage Canyon, Nevada, and Dead Mans Valley. Arizona, both deserted mining camps. The report will then explain that the senators are fair above