The Holly chieftain., 1904-01-22
Report on Alaska.

Senator Dillingham;, from the COM
mittee on territories, introduced in the
Senate the report of a subcommittee
consisting of Senators Dillingham;,
Burnham. Nelson and Patterson, which
visited Alaska during the last summer
and made thorough investigation OF
existing conditions, resources and leg
islatiye needs of the territory.
statement of receipts and expendi-
lures of the general government since
Alaska became part OF the United
States shows profit to the govern
ment of nearly million dollars. The
report says that in 1902 the output of
canned salmon from Alaska was 2,631,-
800 cases, valued at about $S,O00,000,
from which the government derived a
revenue of $105,225. The committee
recommends that some provision be
made for propagating salmon in suffi-
cient quantities to insure the perma-
nency of the supply.
The report says that the great
wealth to be derived in the cod, her
ring and halibut fisheries of Alaskan
coast is little comprehended because
few have sought it. The committee
predicts that the annual catch of cod
can be made to exceed that of New.
foundland or any other part of the
world. Whether the climatic condi.
tons of the region, which initiate
against successful curing of fish can
be overcome has not been fully deter
mined.
The most unfortunate of all the ex-
isting faulty conditions in Alaska, the
report says, is the poor transportation
facilities.
The committee calls attention to the
fact that Congress has provided good
government for the district of Alaska.
but substantial legislation calculated
to aid the people in the development
OF great areas of gold and copper pro-
duction territory is needed.
The House elections committee No.
2 decided to employ an expert in hand
writing to aid in the examination OF
ballots in the Bonynge-Shafroth con-
test. The work of examination pro-
ceeds slowly and the subcommittee en-
gagged in the work probably will not
conclude its labors for several weeks.
The bill making appropriations for
the legislative, executive and judicial
departments of the government has
been completed by the House commit.
tee on appropriations, and reported to
the House. The bill carries total OF
S2S.25s,S85, which is an increase OF
$94,6SO over the appropriation for the
present fiscal year.
Representative Shafroth will be CIV
en- hearing before the House public
buildings and grounds committee upon
his bill appropriating $2,250.000 for a
new public building for Denver. Mr..
Shafroth will present statistics now be-
ing prepared in Denver and hopes to
make such showing that favorable
report will be made upon his bill.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa, in
indorsing the International arbitration
group, stated that fully one-half of the
Federal taxation had been expended
for war. Over 100000 of the youth
of the United States had died in sin.
gle war. This war cost in treasure
Sc 900 100000 and since that time 49,.
500v000,000 had been paid in pensions.
Senator Bacon of Georgia has intro
duced a resolution favoring negotia-
tions with Colombia looking to the
adoption of satisfactory treaty which
shall amicably dispose of all questions
growing out of the recent revolution in
Panama. and submitting to the perma-
nent Court of Arbitration at The Hague
or to some other tribunal to be agreed
upon. for impartial arbitrament and
peaceful determination, all questions
between the United States and the Re-
public of Colombia.