The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-19
.BELATED FEDERAL
AID FOR ALASKA
Important Legislation for the
Wonderful North Now Elk
pected from Congress.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Sept. l9.-The trip of a
congressional party of twenty three to
Alaska last summer, headed by Speaker
legislation for that district at the next
session. For one thing, the speaker
himself is now friendly to this legisla-
tion,, whereas heretofore he has OPP
posed it.
The question of Alaskan representa-
ton in congress will come up again,
but instead of providing for a dele
committee on the district Of Alaska
composed of seventeen members, anala-
gous to the committee on the District
of Columbia. Such committee would,
it is asserted, give Alaska more prom
inence in congress than it could pos.
sibly secure thru single delegate.
There is no more reason, it is urged,
why Alaskan legislation should be re-
ferred to the territories committee than
that District Of Columbia legislation
should be so referred. Neither is q ter
ritory in it's form of government, and
both are so nearly alike in their politi-
| cal status as to require similar legisla-
| tive machinery.
Why Delegate Fails.
Besides, it is said no single dele
gate could adequately represent the di-
versifed and widely separated interests
of the country. A delegate living in
southeastern Alaska, for example, would
be no more fitted to represent the great
| interior of the country and the north
Alabama would be fitted to sit for the
northwestern states. Three delegates
coming from different localities, re-
spectively, would be needed if the ter
ritory were to be properly represented.
I A standing committee OF seventeen,
it is declared, would get around all
owing to the largely increased repub-
lican representation in the next house,
will not have enough places, to 20
around, the "practical'' argument for
the creation of another large commit
tee of the first class is emphasized. The
attention of the speaker will be called
/ to this matter at an early date, and 1t
} titude toward Alaska will prompt him
II to consider it without prejudice.
I Need of Railroad. 1922
! The congressman who visited Alaska
last summer are impressed with the
i need for railroad running from Val
dez thru the Copper river country t.
Il gold camp on the Tanana river. Such
a line, probably six hundred miles long
would tap mineral country Of the great
est value. ,.....
Major Richardson, who is in charge
Of the government road and trailmak
ing in Alaska, submitted data to Speak
er Cannon and his colleagues last sum
mer showing that such road would bf
of immensely more value to the govern
ment than any one of the transcon
tinental lines to which direct fedora
! subsidy was given.
) The plan is to have the governmen
guarantee 8 per cent on sufficient bonds
I to build such a line, as has been dom
for railways in the Philippines.
I More Attention to Alaska.
It is said that Alaska will receiv
more serious attention in congress mex
session than at any previous time:
The senate committee on terr1tor1e
is already familiar with Alaskan condl
lions, and what the house members hav
learned will give Alaska staunch sup
porters in both houses.
Among other things which strongl:
impressed the visiting congressman
; the fact that Alaska, altho PLENTIFUL
; provided with rich forests, and cor
sumer of 50,000,000 feet OF lumber an
nually, manufactures only 100000
feet of what it consumes, the res
s at a cost of more than s.
thousand feet. The railroad spoken Q
| would open up vast forest tracts an
= give Alaska its own lumber supply a
J prices much below those demanded III
der present conditions.