Douglas Island news., 1915-04-07
Talks to Commercial Club

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says;
 Delegate James Wickersham, of Alas ka, was a guest of the Seattle Com mercial Club at a dinner last night, which was attended by 200 members.
 President Robert S. Boyns in intro- ducing Judge Wickersham said that he had long been an untiring worker for Alaska,Sa that it was a delight to have him address the members of the club.
 Judge Wickersham said he had no. ticed that wherever he went in Seattle the members of the club were either talking or eating, two occupations which, he said, he had himself found delightful. He then said that the bus iness men of Seattle had proved whole hearted friends of Alaska, and that they were not to be blamed, because Alaska is now and always will be one of Seattle's best customers, and that Seattle and Alaska must ever be part ners in the development of that great territory. Judge Wickersham's speech, in part, follows:
 We have been getting some legisla- tioa through congress for the develop ment of this great territory. Thirty.five million dollars has been appropriated for the purpose of building govern ment railroad in Alaska.
 Secretary Lane has charge, as you 1 all know, of the construction and oper ation of the Alaskan railroad. The whole matter has been left with him. He is a business man who understands railroads; he is great, broad minded statesman, the biggest man in the pres ident's cabinet, and it is greatly to the advantage of Seattle and greatly to the advantage of Alaska that the opening of the territory is under his super vision.
 "Tbere are two roads going out of the interior of Alaska, the Alaska Northern and the Copper River roads. Mir. Lane thinks it would not be we'll to build another line along tbe side of either of them. He thinks he ought to buy one or the other of these roads, but has not signed a contract with either.
 "Among other legislation passed at the recent session is an item in the rivers and harbors bill, providing for the survey of Nome harbor hope this club will take an interest in this item. Another item of great impor- tauce is that providing for the opening up of the Dry straits, which will save 1 the ocean steamers a great many miles on the way to Skagway.
 "I have asked the assistance of the cauneries in the matter of Alaska's fisheries, but they have refused to give it. Why they do not take reasonable and proper steps 10 prevent the de struction of these fisheries is beyond ne. There is no law now for the pro teclion of the fish of Alaska. This club should look at this from a busi- ness standpoint. It is not a small proposition. More than 5l7000,OOO worth of fish were canned Iiu Alaska last year. The provisions were brought here, the men hired and paid here in 1 Seattle. Nearly all that business comes to this city, and it is your business to see that these fisheries in Alaska are protected and not destroyed l want to tell you that am going 10 see to it that the fisheries in Alaska are not destroyed, and l will be glad to work with your club along that line, and if you do not do it l am going to do it. myself"
 Judge Wickersham said that he con- sidered the recent report on the Alaska fisheries, made by Dr. E. Lester Jones, a very weak document.