The Alaska citizen., 1912-10-14

AlaSkauS last night who gathered at the Auditorium 10 pay their re. spe,ts 10 those men in whom the hopes Of the great Tanana valley for development is centered The Home Product Banquet" was a success in more ways than one. Firstly, it demonstrates that regard less of what their other differences of opinion may he. regardless of hat they may say about other things, Alaskaus throughout the in tcrior of this great territory are agreed on one subject. that of the absolute necessity of a government built government owned. railway from the coast to the interior
 Secondly it was clearly demon, strated that in the personnel of the railway commission there is not a single man who does not feel keen. ly the great responsibility that is his. and whose every thought and every action is not primarily and solely directed on the solution of this great question of development.
 Thirdly il gave those of us who feared that the commission might not look with favor on the project. that they might he inclined 10 cast aside the tremendous importance of their commission. that they might he s"eryed in the great work they are performing by some Outside in fluence, il gave to those of Us who felt any doubt as to the sincerity and competency a fneling of deep confidence and of a' .olute faith in the men who comprise the Alaska railway commission
 Major | !. Morrow. Dr. Alfred II. Brooks Iinutonant-C Commander Leo nard N. Cox. T.. s. \. and Colin II. Ingorsoll, the man nho constructed the great Maahattan and Queensboro bridges in New York. have instilled in Alaskaus feeling of relief thar in the hands of such competent men as themselves liss the future de velopment of the te ritory in SO far as transportation is concerned and there was not man present last night who did not feel that in abid- ing by the decision of these worthy gentlemen, and placing in them un- limited trust they will come into their own speedily. and that this great territory will receive from the mother government that support which is essential to her complete success.
 After the excellent dinner had been finished, and cigars had been distributed Tom McGowan. who. as toastmaster of the evening was a big success. arose and after few preliminary remarks introduced "Rin McPhee's old friend Our Jim" Del egate Wickersham spoke all too briefly to satisfy the listeners Speaking of Alaska as only Delegate Wickersham can speak, he was stop ped many times by liberal applause Tt is a great pleasure for me as your representative to welcome into the garden spot of this great terri, tory the commission appointed by congress to give aid and assistance in the development of the territory. He then spoke on the work the com mission would do. and of the report they will make to congress- He expressed his absolute confidence ir the commissioners. and his firm he. lief that no Outside influence would sWerve them in any way. For my part" continued the delegate. q have such faith in the commission that l pledge myself to support it's re port in congress-" Going into the figures Cn the territory Mir. Wicker. sham said that including the purchase price the United States has expended on the territory of Alaska in the for ty-fiye years she has owned it thr ty-five million, eight hundred and sixteen thousand dollars. and showed how the people have paid back il customs fees, revenues and the like seventeen million dollars. leaving Alaska with but small item of sev, enteen million dollars as the ex pense bill for forty-five years held against her by the IT other country And Alaska has produced with thin ty-five thousand men over six hun dred and ten millions of dollars il forty-five years. That is the balance In her favor from her products. Nc equal number of white men have ever produced so much wealth in SC short a time as this. He referred to the decline of the placer. but we are now going to the mother lode with it's unlimited possibilities. "Mer like Louis Rhoads are entitled tc the greatest credit for the golc quartz in this territory" said the delegate amid the heartiest applause at the mention of tho name of the owner tht largest quartz mine in the Tanan5 valley. He then explained tha the territory of Alaska was larger