Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13
An Americus Club Invitation.

Representative DaIzell and B. H. Warner
of this city accompanied delegation to the
White House to present the President with
an invitation to attend the banquet to be
given by the club on the birthday Of Gen.
eral Grant, April a. The President was
compelled to express his regrets. S. ].
Wainwright, president, al George w. Nc
Candless, secretary of the club, headed
the committee from the club
committee of the Union Veterans Le-
gfon, consisting of Col. Thomas T. Shannon
Col. Walter l. Hines and Chaplain Cou-
den of the House of Representatives. gave
TO the PRESIDENT a resolution adopted by
the national organization of the U. V. L.
thanking him for the appointment of Gen.
John c. Black as civil service commissioner,
Ivory G. Kimball and Charles F. Scott as
judges of the Police Court of the District,
James Tanner as register of wills for the
District and John R. King as pension agent
tons adopted by the Department of the
Potomac, G. A. r., were handed to the
PRESIDENT by Judge Kimball commander
OF the Department of the Potomac, who Is
serving his last day as commander of the
District department.
Admiral Taylor, chief of the bureau OF
navigation of the Navy Department, took
up with the President some appointments
to the Naval Academy.
Governor Dockery of Missouri was one
OF the Presidents callers. Il knew the
President we'll when he was civil service
commissioner and Assistant Secretary of
the Navy" said Governor Dockery "and
Travelled with him three DAYS during his
western trip last year. I called to pay my
respects. am here on vacation pure and
simple. I haven't been to Washington in
good many years and desired to renew
my acquaintances." Some of Governor
Dockerys friends have been booming him
for the democratic presidential nomination
Representative Hunter of Kentucky intro
duced e. T. Franks, collector of Internal
revenue at Owensboro
prominently mentioned In connection with
a place on the isthmian canal commission,
was with the President during the day.
Alaska's Most Pressing Need.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota, who visited
Alaska last summer as member of a
subcommittee of the Senate committee on
territories. called on the President and pre-
sented John Rustgard a former Minne-
sotan, who now lives in Alaska. Mr.. Rust
gard Is mayor of Nome a town of 5000
people in winter and an indefinite number
in summer. 1t 10 one of the great mining
regions of Alaska. and will continue to be
a center of that industry for many years
to come, Mr.. Rustgard says.
Senator Nelson is taking deep interest
in Alaskan matters. He has presented a
number Of bills for the improvement of
conditions in the territory and will do all
in lis power to have some of them enacted
at this session. What Alaska needs more
than anything else said Senator Nelson,
rs roads, public roads. There is profitable
placer mining all over Alaska If the places
could be reached without so much cost
Under present conditions 1t costs from 25
to Is cents a pound to have goods Of any
kind packed to points in Alaska. This cost
Is 80 excessive that miners cannot work
proftably.
Public roads are badly needed for the
development of all lines of business in
Alaska and must be the first step in MAX
ing that territory one of the most valuable
portions OF the United States.
The President feels deep concern in
Alaska and much desires some good legfs-
lation for the territory. He has consistent
ly recommended and advocated this. In the
last few months he has talked freely with
people from Alaska and has informed him.
self as to the conditions there. He will
post himself at every opportunity and will
be pleased to see Congress give considerable
time to framing and passing salutary laws
for the big territory to the northwest of
this country.