Valdez daily prospector., 1912-01-30

night was fairly well attended and indicates an awakening interest in matters pertaining to the towns welfare on the part of that body.
 The message from Washington stating that President Taft would ask congress to take favorable ac- tiOn on Secretary Fishers report advising the government to build a railrOad from Seward was dis cussed at some length. Several of the members expressed their views on the subject. A petition was unanimously passed urging upon congress the advisability of making d careful survey of the ldIilrrrnl routes iO the interior. Tn" great advantages poSSrSSrd by tn" Nal'i"Z route over any nIh- rr was urged. The railroad if conSlrurlrd would hr for the brn- eft "f all Alaska, but more rSprc- lally tn" interior portion. II was I shortest and best route should be chosen in order that freight rate, might be reduced to a minimum.
 The chamber appointed Grurs.. w. Nelson, who iS going out on the neXi boat, in represent the Valdez chamber before Ihr com mrrrial bodies of the coast ciIics to urge the necessity of th.. ap- pnintmcnl of a commission to Sp- l"ci the most feasible route 10 the interior.
 The chamber also endorsed a petition urging upon congress the necessity of larger appropriation for the construction of roads and trails i'll Alaska. The petition had already received the endorse mcnt of the Valdez town council and the Valdez miners union. Similar resolutions have been adopted by all the organized bod ies in other Alaska towns and for |warded to the members of con- gress.
 MT. l.. R. Bedford. of the Alas ika-fukon Magazine, was present and stated the object of his visit to Alaska. He was cOnferrtng with the different commercial or- ganizations of the north with a view of having them furnish a series of articles for the maga- zine. He stated the magazine was lprrparrd to give publicity tO any subject which would advance the idIstrici provided the article hat, the endorsement of the chamber. IFhr offer of the magazine was ac- ccptrd and the president author IZrd in appoint d committee io aci as ccnSOrS on articles from this district. No article of po- lIiical nature iS tn receive the en- idnrSrmrnt of the chamber through the committee.
 Mr. Cameron, who has laIrz ly returned from the states. told the chaiiilrr of commerce. of his efforts Io boost for Alaska. He assured the members that the business men of Portland were in earnest about gaining the trade Iof the north. He stated he had attended luncheon al which i5O members of the Portland Pro- grcssive Business Mons Club had discusscd the subject and had de- n I I,, EfrI, divert a portion of the northern trade to their city. The Portland Journal had subscribed S5,OOO to advertise throughout states that a steamship line was being cstab- lished between Portland and Alas. kan ports. MT. nDOdgc, the mill ionaire steamship owner, had Of-I fPrcd to put On line of boats if the merchants of Portland would guarantee 200 tons of freight for each trip. MT. Cam eron said the first steamer would make the trip in April, but in the meantime Ave representatives of 50 of the leading business houses lwouId NlSlt Inc north tO interview the business men and commercial organizaiions of Alaska. L..
 MT. Cameron asked that Ihc Valdez chamber take some action expressing it's sentiment on Inc proposition. He believed the chamber should take steps to show that tho enterprise on ,thc part of Poruand would meet with approval anhs fair treatment on the part of, focaf. business men