Valdez daily prospector., 1912-02-10
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 ACTIVE ORGANIZATION
(Continucd from page T.


 Secretary Stamm reported pro gross in collecting dues and would continue the work.
 Paul dIIicry stated that the Se- aLtlc chamber of commerce had taken favorable action on the railroad and dyke memorials sent from Valdez within i2 hours af- ter receipt of same. He moved Inc secretary br instructed 10 write extending the thanks of inc Valdez chamber and asking clos or relations br established. Mr. Flynn thought il was the duty of d committee and Mir. d'lIirry SO amended his motion. The mo- ton prevailed and Inc chair ap- pointed McsSrS. d'lTirry. Temple and Rilchic.
 Mr.. Fred Cameron was present and was asked if there were any developments in connection with the proposed steamship line from Portland. He said there were not but he believed the Portland line was assured.
 Mr. Fish moved that the rail |way committee be instructed to draft q set of resolutions urging the appointment of a board to determine the most practical route for the government railroad to interior Alaska. He also be- linI-nI Lo r. mass meeting to gain an express sion of the entire community. Mir. Frame said Valdez was the shortest and most practical route and should be chosen. He be- lirvcd it would be if the route was determined by such a board.
 Mr.. Temple approved the idea of a mass meeting and thought Inc meeting could bc held in the court house. Mr. George Nelson offered Moose hall for the meet ing on behalf of the Moose. He thought the resolutions should be changed to read board of engi- nrrrS. He did not believe men "llll were competent to judge of the superiority of any particular route.
 Mr.. Temple moved thaI the railroad legislation committee be instructed t0 call q mass meet ing of citizens. Mr.. McNipcr sec nndcd the motion and moved that the meeting bc held next Monday evening. The motion was adopt cd.
 The letter which was sent to Delegate Wickersham is exhauS- tive and urges the appointment of a board to determine the route of the proposed trunk line. Follow ing arc extracts from the letter:
 Your committee, appointed by the Chamber of Commerce of this city, insists that the government is not giving full justice to the wants and needs of Alaska, when it arbitrarily selects route, without further knowledge of it's practicabilily or it's ultimate cost of construction and maintenance, save that vOuchcd them by those road. The Valdez Chamber of Commerce assumes the position that congress in it's present at- tempt tO relieve inc present stag nation in development by build ing trunk line into the heart of Alaska, should, before commit ting itself t0 any particular route, provide for the appointment of competent board of engineers to study all tho routes to the ob- Jeotive points, with the view of selecting the one offering the least cost of operation and main- icnance, and certainly the one costing the less for construction. Harbor facilities--both as to road stead, wharf and bunker facili- ties, with the probable cost of de- fcnsc should all be taken into consideration when determining definitely the most available route to be chosen, for as we understand the intent of the government, the future road, will have a military and naval significance, not sec ond to it's commercial needs and benefits.
 In conclusion we would say that we are of tho belief that in urg- ing the appointment of a board of engineers to select the most favorable route, no just imputa-