The Alaska daily empire., 1919-10-22
(By ISABEL AMBLER GlLMAN.)

we SlOOu at SeCOnu ana leSlel waiting for a street car. What k this Alaska Bureau?' asked my friend upon hearing that I was tc
 substitute there for a few weeks
 while Miss Lena White, the librarian in charge in the absence of Secrc tary-Manager J. L. McPherson, Wis ited her parents in Juneau.
 Its a group of Seattle promoters spoke up man from the far north "Sourdoughs of the easy chair type who take unto themselves credit sGl everything that's accomplished ir Alaska while cornering the margins.
 Dear mel" quoth Juneauite, alsc waiting for the same car, "and ] thought it was a collection of authen tic data, maps, minerals, and things for the benefit of tourists"
 For the benefit of the men who finance it, you mean," corrected the northerner. That bureaus a part of the Seattle Chamber of Com merce, and haven't they got McPher. son back east conducting a congress ional class in the policy of carving the Alaskan melon for the benefit of Seattle? Mac is 'nutty' on that railroad project, but, take it from me, the bill will never pass"
 I'm not quite clear yet" con- fessed my friend as the car came along. Write me after you've found out just what the bureau really is ''
 Write us all!" cried the northern CT as he stepped aboard the car. Enjoy your soft snap and then tell us about it in the Empire-will you?"
 It was Fleet Week in Seattle. The windows of the Alaska bureau com manded fine view of the bay where mighty dreadnoughts and swift sub marine chasers had assembled Wis itors streamed in and out of the rooms and crowded about the win dows. The President of the United States was to honor Seattle with a visit. People were excited, eager and questioning. The telephone kept ringing. There was a file of letters to be answered and some packages of press clippings to be tabulated In the midst of it all a fair girl touched me on the arm.
 '1m going to Anchorage" sha whispered. Have you any pictures of the placer"
 I offered her a chair and placed a large album of Anchorage views on the table.
 Mother, mother, come here!" she cried excitedly, beckoning to a lad" at the window Here's the hotc' where we are to stay, and the thea tre where Pm going to play Look, look!"
 I'm interested in fox farming in Alaska. What can you tell me about it?" A spectacled gentleman stood at my elbow, hat in hand. Were from New York, you know. My wife's an invalid and will spend the winters in California. No, we've never been north but I'm tired of city life and fox raising appeals to me-"
 told him what I had learned from personal observation of raising silvers on the Yukon and blue foxes in Cook Inlet; gave him a short lesson with the aid Of shc relief map on the library wall, tneH referred him to scientific data and turned to telephone.
 twill you tell me who Is lien;cH ant governor of Alaska?" Inquired a woman's voice.
 There's no such official" said l.
 Well! if you don't know anything, connect me with somebody who does," snapped the voice.
 Have you any good prairie land for homesteading?" asked another man who had been studying the map of the government railroad. "ls this land along the railway surveyed! Where do you file holnestea1 loca- tions? Can fellow sell all he raises in Anchorage?"
 "We are teachers from Pennsyl- vania. just back from Sitka aud Ju- neau." announced a smiling woman as the prospective homcsteader set tied down. to the study of agricul- tural reports. She indicated other smiling tourists who were eagerly examining the scene v;aws on The library walls. Wed Ike to know of the Alaska schools. How long are the terms! What do they teach there? Are the salaries good? How do living expenses com pare with the states?"
 Three boys in khaki came cut of the exhibit room. Where was that orain raised?" demanded one l nointed to Rampart on the map. "Whv that's c,osc to the Arctic Cir cle. What yer giving us ne ex- claimed in disgust.
 'rll be. that barley never saw Rampant" laughed another T was raised on a farm; been three months in France: can't stand this riot Of city life. Du you suplc,e fellow like mo ,ou,t da scms farming in Alaska?"
 whats the good of 'supposing' anything if you don't believe what
 ah