The Chitina leader., 1914-01-20


road bill in the senate this morning. He favors
the construction of two roads as recommended
bv Seth Mann, who visited Alaska as special
representative of President Wilson
WASHINGTON, d. c., JAM To- Senator
Norris. of Nebraska, has proposed an amend
ment TO the Alaska railroad bill. He not only
wants the government to construct and operate
the railroads but his amendment provides for
a government owned and operated fleet OF
steamers from Alaska along the Pacific coast
and to South America He believes the govern
ment will find it necessary to operate a fleet
of steamers to carry the Alaskan coal to
market The golfers could be used to trans
port coal along the coast in times OF peace and
would be ready for service for the navy in case
of on the Pacific.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Representative
Mandell, of Wyoming, has introduced a bill in
the House providing for leasing the coal lands
of Alaska His bill is similar to the measure
introduced in the Senate by Senator Pittman,
providing for the surveying of the coal lands
into section tracts and leasing for term of
years on royalty basis of the coal mined
after the expense of mining and transportation
to tidewater has been deducted
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 15.-The sup
porters Of the Alaska railroad bill are pleased
with the progress the measure is making IN
both houses. The most optimistic believe that
the bill will come to a vote and pass next week.
There has been no opposition to the measure so
far and the debates in both houses atten-
tatively listened to. Alaskans in the city are
tireess in their efforts in winning support of
their friends in the Senate and congress for the
measure.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Ex-senator
Walsh, of Montana in continuing his debate on
the Alaska railroad bill declared that 'to keep
the resources of Alaska locked up any longer
approaches the gravity of a national crime. .
He said he did not question the wisdom of those
who had withdrawn the coal lands from entry
if it had appeared necessary to prevent mon
opoly, but he believed the time had come when
relief should be afforded the people who were
trying to develop the territory. The government
could put plan into execution which would
prevent any monopoly and protect the people of
the north.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 15.-Delegate
Wickersham, of Alaska, occupied considerable
dime in the House this morning in defense of
his railroad bill. He told the House that the
Guggenheims and other railroad interests in
Alaska had been maintaining lobbyists in
Washington to fight the bill When the bill
was still in the hands Of the committee on ter
ritories, agents of the Alaskan roads had
appeared before the committee and tried to
show that to construct trunk line through
interior Alaska would be waste of public
money The White Pass, although operating
only 20 miles of railroad in Alaska, had claimed
that freight could be delivered to interior
Alaska cheaper via the Yukon river than by
the proposed railroad. The delegate declared
that lobbyists were still working in opposition
to the measure.
Delegate Wickersham quoted statistics
showing the mineral output of the territory as
well as,its agricultural possibilities. Ha stated
y that the population Of the tefritorythaI faaen'
<aDff during the past few years while thezcountfy
was tied up through conservation. He believed
some such action had been necessary to pre-
vent monopoly of the coal but necessity de-
manded that the resurces of the country be
developed. He prophesied that the population
of Alaska would more than double during the
first year afted the government began the
construction of trunk line to the interior.
KAGOSHIMA, Japan, Jan. 15.-Thirty-
three persons have been rescued from the island
of Sakira. When the Sakurapima volcano blew
iAnnthey took refuge in cave at the foot Of the
mountain. Not another living being on the
island escaped from death. The ashes and
stones thrown up by the volcano covered the
island to depth of several feet Hundreds Of
persons persisted in their homes when the build
&lgs collapsed under the weight of the ashes.