The Cordova daily times., 1917-03-02
WILL CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY
 ALASKA

Elaborate celebrations by citizens and visitors in Alaska cities, in which an official party of tourists, including a special delegation of eighteen Uni ted States senators and fifteen rep will join, a gay water carnival at Seattle, followed by a cruise to northern waters - these are important features in a program now being arranged by the Alaska bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club in observance next summer of the semi-centennial of the purchase of Alaska.
 At the same time veteran Alaskans now living in the Yakima valley, have formed an organization which plans to provide a celebration of the semi in Seattle. Former resi- dents of the northern territory now established in various cities in the Northwest are expected to take part in this demonstration.
 The plan as far as 1t relates to the Alaska tour was decided upon by the Alaska communities when the Alaska bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club sent a representative through the territory to learn the wishes of the Alaskans as to how they desired to celebrate this event, so that Seattle could cooper ate and lend every assistance possible to make it big success. As the ne gotiations for the purchase of Alaska about six months, beginning in March, fifty years ago, and ending in October, it was decided that the plan as outlined would be the most fitting and obtain the best results.
 With this end in view, the Alaska hand the organization of a large rep resentative party that will make a tour of Alaska to participate In these celebrations. Congress is to be represented by large The last resolution to be introduced by Senator Putnam pro vides for delegation of eighteen senators and fifteen representatives. As the Seattle Yacht Club had planned for this summer a water car nival to be followed by cruise of the waters of southeastern Alaska, the bureau co-operated with the Yacht Club in fixing the date of de parture from Seattle on July 2. so that the two parties will leave Seattle to- gether. The water carnival will fur nish a source of entertainment and fitting sendoff for the Alaska party.
 It is probable that the yachts will be able to be with the Alaska bureau party at their stops in the southeast ern Alaska towns, after which the Yacht Club party will return to Seat tie. The Alaska bureau party will continue to the westward along the south coast to Cordova and as far as Anchorage, returning via Skagway, where the bureau party will divide, part returning to Seattle and the re- mainder going into the Yukon inter for and covering all of western Alas ka. It is estimated that the south coast portion of the Alaska bureau tour will require twenty-two days and the entire tour, covering the interior and western Alaska, about forty-eight days. The Alaska bureau party will leave Seattle in two or more vessels that will travel in company through out the southeast and south coasts of Alaska.
 The Alaska bureau was asked by the Alaskan committees to undertake the organization of this party and the arranging of the necessary details This the bureau has now in hand and expects to be able to announce com plete details as to itinerary. The nu- merous celebrations and interesting events that will be staged in the nor thern localities for the benefit of this
 party are being arranged in extensive
 manner. Those plans contemplate
 some thirty odd special celebrations and events.
 The anniversary of the final trans
 fer of Alaska to the United States.
 October IS. will probably be fittingly
 celebrated in Seattle by reunion of
 all northerners under the auspices of
 the Arctic Club and Alaska bureau.