Valdez daily prospector., 1912-06-18
A BREAD AND BUTTER VIEW.

\ most interesting roininunl- cation was read at the council meeting last evening from Col Wills P. Richardson, in which the president of inc Alaska road com mission shows Delegate Wirkrr- sham'S attitude towards both the commission and the road work now being carried un in the ter ritory. Col. Richardson gives his rcaSunS for sending the letter and states that it was written as a defrnS" of the commissions work and in support of the continu- ancr of road work in Alaska. which our delegate i0 Congress is trying so hard to defeat.
 Il appears Io inc ProspccInr That Alaska has reached that point Tn it's development when its citizens must choose brtween the blind following of the man who now represents this ter tory in the halls of Congress and inc continued development of our nOrthland. Mr. WickcrSham must bc fully aware that his attacks on the road commission, is direct blow at inc most important scheme of development under taken in the territory. He knows that Alaska'S greatest want at the present time is transportation, and yet, in his keen desire tO in jure a fancied enemy, he delib- eratrly attacks and is using his best efforts to kill a system of internal improvements, so much desired throughout the land and of such vital interest to Us all, and especially to Valdez and Fairbanks.
 II is high time our people be- gan to reflect; We are fast ap- preaching the parting of the ways when We will have to choose be- tween Judge Wickcrsham, and what he has accomplished for Valdez, and the road commission, should they leave Valdez, for want of appropriations with which to continue their work.
 If the overland trail is aban- dOnrd there can be no question but that the troops al Fort Lis cum will bc transferred tO more strategic point. This, in turn, will npcrSsiiate the removal of the cable headquarters io the center of government activities. Valdez. thus isolated, will be in position to witness the rcmov- al of our court and it's train of officials, to the point where cOm- mcrcial as well as official activi- ties have concentrated.
 IL is well known to our citizens that continued efforts have been made. and at times with show ing of success, to have these gov Prnncnt departments removed from our midst. The schemes of other ambitious towns were only thwarted by inc exercise of the utmost activity and hard work on the part of those interested and friendly to Valdez.
 A careful pcrusal of the com- municatiOn of Col. Richardson, appearing in the council proceed ings, published in this issue, to- gcther with extracts from @ let ter written by James Wickersham 10 the Secretary of War, will con- vince even those most friendly to- our representative in Congress, that he, in his burning desire to cripple Colonel Richardson, is wantonly injuring every resident of Valdez who owns a foot of property in the town. IL is di- rcctly up 10 the people to choose between the two.
 If James Wickersham has aC- complishcd moro for Valdez than has the road commission, and if it. lies within the power of our delegate to do moro for Inc com munity in the future than the road commission has been doing and will do, then from a selfish