News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-09-16
Senator oIIIlnuham at Home.


Sunday morning from Washington
and will remain in Montpelier and
vicinity until Congress opens. He
has just returned from his trip to
Alaska where he went aschairman of
the United States subcommittee to
investigate existing conditions of the
Alaskians, and the prospects of that
country.
During all the time he has been
away, since June Fl, he did not meet
with a single accident and returns in
excellent health. He states he is
very glad to be at home again where,
for a little while, he can secure rest
and get away from the hurry and
hustle of his official duties.
There were numerous delays. as
might be expected on trip 1000
miles long. Mr.. Dillingham;, in talk
ing with a Montpelier Argus re-
porter, gave a number of interesting
facts about the country and its peo-
pie. The purpose of the committee
was not only to investigate the con-
ditions of that country and its peo-
pie but to make report which will
assist Congress in framing better
laws for the government of the ter
ritory.
1t is evident that steps will be
taken for the better protection of the
miners and provision will be made
for building highways there where
larger part of the transportation
now has to be made over rivers and
water courses.
One of the problems to be solved
is that of the reduction of the cost Of
transportation. At present it costs
the miners from Is cents to 20 cents
to "pack" their goods from their
place to one of the cities where better
facilities can be had. There is I'm
bounded wealth of gold in the vi
entity OF Cape Nome and the Yukon
river in the northern part of Alaska,
while in the southern part or in the
vicinityof Valdez the copper mines
are very rich. At present it is de-
sired that some kind of highway
should be constructed from Valdez
north to Eagle City, town on the
Yukon river. Such a road would be
500 miles long and would greatly fa-
cilitate the transportation of articles
from the heart of the Yukon district
to the sea coast. The great need OF
highwaysis evidentin all parts ofthat
country. The towns or villages are
scattered but it thought that with
better facilities for travel more peo-
pie would go to that country.
Mr.. Dillingham; quotes the prices
of hay per ton there as $3.50, while
eggs are sold for $3.50 a dozen. In
addition to investigating the condi-
tions of the miners and the trans
portation facilities the committee had
in mind the possibilities of new har-
bors, lighthouses and also the condi-..
ton of the Indians. Much time was
spent in listening to statements made
by people in various parts of that
great country which in size is nearly
as large as all of the territory COM
prised in the States east of the Miss
issippi, cutting off Florida and that
belt of States to the Mississippi river.
The climate there at this time of the
year is not as severe as many think.
Along the Yukon river valley the
thermometer registers between so
to 60 degrees above zero; near the
coast on the Boring sea the weather
is severe, while along the southern
coast the warm Japanese currents
assist materially in changing the
climate.
Regarding the story about his be-
ing stranded on sand bar, Mr..
Dillingham; said that he was not on
the boat that was delayed, but the
boat that the committee intended to
take passage on was delayed for a
number of days on account ofthis ac-
cldent and they were Obliged to get
another one in order to con- inue their
journey.
John G. Foster, of Derby line, consul gen.
eral at Ottawa, has been elected director