The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1919-02-22
PRAISE FOR TIE A.E.C.
 BY RYAN

A courtesy owing to the fact that he is making a personal inyesti- gation or the resources of Alaska foc Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane. and also supposed to be study ing what the Alaskan Engineering Commiss sion hpS accomplished ou tha government railroad project in Alas ka, W. \ Ryan was last night th" guest of the Seward Chamber of Com mercc at a special meeting Nr, Ryan not only made a perfevid attack on the editor of the Gateway also at tackled the expression of A. 4. Shon- beck. of Aulhorare, who was called upon for remarks; but charged tho people of Sewar and Ancholage or me,faith: being peccarcy in the eX- teme and came out unmistakably that the work of the Alaskan Engineering Commission so far was mdisSo'Uble.
 Being a guest, and having been asked to talk, no questions were asked ot Mr. Ryan at the public meeting O: the Chambcr, no responses were made Co his attacks. as this would hay beer showing ls bad judgement. in view Of the occasion, as the charges.
 Nr. Rygu was pancgyric Of Secrc- tary Lane and the reclamation ser vice ot tho United States; also of th' Fairbanks Commercial organization and tho Mining Association of the Tanaua for steps they were taking e secure legislature assisting further exploration of mineral bearing land and accused Seward and Anchorage citizens of being narrow in their view regarding the Alaskan Engineering Commission, and the government pro ject. ana the appropriation. .-~ ,.-.-
 In closing his talk, Mr. Ryan, point ing his finger at the Editor of tho Gateway stated that he would like tC make a few straight remarks and ther directly asserted that as an Ediio' was a mOlder of public opinion, h. should not stir up dissensiOn, shOulf be extremely broad minded towards ar organization like the Alaskan Engir- eering Commission. and not make peo pie question anything that apparertI' is none of their business; must he . SO'opOn, always, no matter if on threw his own community down, an must not give the truth too bluntly
 The meeting was called to order b. President Whittemore who stated tha' the primary object was to listen r.. W. A. Ryan and incidently to visitor, present from other parts of Alaska.
 A. A. Shonbcck, of Anchorage, bo ing called upon to speak, stated tha' Anchorage wanted to witness the com. pletion of the government railro'.i be tween Seward and Anchorage this sea son and would work for such; alSc that aside from funds needed for cer tain harbor improvements, at Anchor age the entire appropriation availabl. $4,000,000, should be used to complet@ the Seward division, if that amount necessary, and even the aslcd-for ap propriatiou of Sl&,SOO.OOO, if tha' amount was required. Mir. Shonhecl only made this point to prove that Al choragn was behind Seward in m at tempt for completion of this division but later on, during Mir. Ryan's talk the letter referred to this as bein" selfish, inconsistent for broad mind cd persons Mr. Shonbeck made no TO ply as he had been called upon tc talk, and Mr. Ryan was also gues' Of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Mir. Shorbeck also made the statH ment that Anchorage Chamber oi Commerce wished to stand shoulder < shoulder with the Seward Charnber of Commerce for the completion of al' work between Seward and Anchorage MT. Shonbeck also stated that the in, tcrior merchants realized at this tin' that owing to inability to get m good they are forced to-carry stoclIs mucF as the merchants do farther to the in terior thereby greatly decreasing thei' annual turn over" This could 'havr been eliminated if the Seward divis ion had been completed as promised.
 John Webster, mining operator or Cleary Creek, Fairbanks district, was called upon, and he stated that he be-