The Alaska citizen., 1914-02-16
.OF INTEREST . ID ALASKANS
ERWIN IS BOOSTER.

ERWIN IS BOOSTER. l SEATTLE. Feb. 9.-Marshal l.. T 1 Erwin, of Fairbanks. is boos ing the Panama valley as a producer of veg 2tahles. ln a long interview in the l ines. appearing this afternoon. the Northern official describes a length i the wonderful possibilities of the re ! zion in which he lives. He tells of the things he has seen grow | there and of the pr missed rapid de Nelopment of the country under the helpful influence of government railroad.
 Marshal Erwin has just arrived from the North with a number of 1 prisoners and insane patients.
 FISH BUREAU EXPLAINED. ! WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. g. In response 10 the request of the i fisheries bureau. the department f commerce will establish a branch Of 1 lice at Seattle for the closer super, vision of the fur seal and fishing l industry in Alaska waters. Seattle i'll be the base of supplies for inc Nor-h, with chartered vessel 1 plying regularly between Puget i sound and Alaska
 The announcement also has been
 made that the fisheries bureau is to 1 De allowed additi nal men. and more i Joa will be added to the service as soon as the necessary funds are | available
 Another improvement planned by | he department is a detailed survey i 2f Alaska waters for the purpose 2arkins more accurately the points i f danger t- vessels.
 MAY LEASE COAL BEDS. WASHINGTON, D. C.. Feb. 10.-
 he Alaska coal land leasing bil 1 which Nas introduced by Represent 1 ltive Ferris of Oklahoma and re i lefred to the house public lands
 committee, will be taken up for
 consideration by the committee dur-
 the coming week. The hearing 1 ill begin on Tuesday and will Il | tnue until the question has beer
 one into thoroughly.
 When the matter is taken up or ! Tuesday, Secretary of the Interior -ane will be on hand to explain the Jin in detail and it is expected | hat a number of Northerners also
 ill be present totake part in the iiscussi0n.
 The measure has the aproval of thc administration, and it is under stool that efforts will he made 10
 e1ure is passage immea aiateIy afte~
 he final disuosal of the railroad bill. WHITE RIVER ACTIVE.
 
 .ocal headquarters of the Roya V rhaest Mounted police is in re ripr oI ivices from the four posts Ehich were established last fall on the upper Wh.e river. indicating fat there is considerable actiVitv n that region, but nothing in the
 ay of finds to stimulate travel
 hat direction.
 Fairly good prospects are report-
 i 0 have been found on Frying ''an creek, but the stream is short md if q paystreak should be found it would not support a very largo population. Quite number ot orOspectors are working on the Don iek and several holes have beer
 unk during the winter on O'Brier
 ItNN tO tt utpliI LII Ii Ill ~ to I'' Get, bus without finding encourag ing prospects.
 Reports received from the Chis ana indicate that prospects have 9een found in one or two new spots but nothing Cf a startling nature Water is giving considerable trou lie in that region
 Tho populati n of the several poin n the upper White, as reporte' 10 the police, are as follows: Snae ereek, 100; D nick, 9; O'Brien creek, &; head of White, 15.
 ACTION POSTPONED.
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb H. The Alaska railroad bill was take up for detailed consideration unde' the fve-minute rule in the lowe house of congress this afternoon and considerable progress was mad, mined effort on the part Of the ma iority leaders to reach a vote on the question, but when the session ar burned no definite action had bee taken regarding the vote on the bill t may be possible to terminate the consideration next Wednesday, bu there are so many who have express cd a desire to discuss the bill that final action may be delayed still an other week.
 Congressman Oscar W. Underwood
 f Alabama, floor leader of the Dem ocrats, made a strong appeal fr the passage of the bill this afternoon He said that his chief reason for fayorng the construction of the }roposed railroad was because of the fact that he realized government 2il to be essential to the success of l railroad in Alaska at this time.
 Serene F. Payne, Republican, re lrcSentative from New York. and author of the Payne tariff bill, or p"sed the passage of the Alask9 railroad bill on the grounds that saVorei too much of s cialsm. He de scribed the measure as the most ~adical socialistic doctrine which ha' 'hus far been adopted by the Demo crats.
 At the conclusion of today's ses sion it was conceded on all sides that the bill would pass. There is a desire on the part of some of the members, however, to amend the measure. in which event it will be come necessary to send 1t back to .bo cooota for ratification