The Cordova daily times., 1920-04-08

railway, extending from Seward to Fairbanks, will be completed by the end of 1921 or early the following year. is the news brought from Washington by J. l.. McPherson, manager or tce $ AAlaska bureau of the Seattle Cham Der of Commerce and Commercial Club. MT. McPherson has been Ill Washington for several months at the request of the former secretary or the inferior. Franklin K. Lane, asslstlng in compiling data and presenting the needs of the Alaska railway and other important matters regarding the pest interests of the territory. MT, Mc- Pherson reports that conditions were never more favorable for constructive legislation for Alaska.
 MT, McPherson undertook a cam paign for an additional seventeen mli- lion dollars for the completion of the Alaska railway, in behalf of which ne appeared before four house and sen- ate committees-on appropriations ana territories The committees were ad- yised that unless a constructive policy were immediately adopted that would Vbring about the creation of local ln- dustries and the settlement ot the re- s@n tributary to the railway, the proiect would not be a success-neeo- mo 1arqn annropriations over the earn ings.
 Through the splendid championship of Chairman Curry of the house com mittee the enteen-million-dOllar ap- nropriation asked for was passed py both houses without delay. This WorK was materially aided by the Washlng- +on delegation in congress, led by Sen ator Jones. Through the efforts or Senator Jones an appropriation ot SIX million dollars was made, which Will he available for immediate resumption of work on the railway. It is believed that all necessary funds to carry on inc work will be forthcoming as quickly as needed.
 The facts presented to the house committee on territories conV1nced the members that there can be nc ra- tional development in Alaska as at- fairs are now regulated and admins tered: that the present policy tends to depopulate the country and exhaust the rich natural resources without any return, and the only hope of pros porous territory is the adoption or no1icv that will result in the utlllza- tion of it's resources, creating local 1n- dustries so as to provide stable pop uIation. The committee will give care ful to the Alaska development board measure advocated by Secretary Lane.
 Tn an interview with MT. McPher- son, Chairman Curry of the house com mittee on territories, said:
 'eWe are going to see if we can not provide so that Alaska will become the home of an ever-increasing, stable, prosperous citizenry. 1 am convinced that all that is needed is a strong constructive policy, properly admin fstered in the territory"
 The state of Washington is strongly represented on both the senate and house committees on territories, and will work as a unit for any measure for the benefit of Alaska.
 Resumption of the Siberian-Alaska Arade is predicted by D, Protopapas of Nome, who is visiting in Seattle, his prediction being based on the activity of outftting companies here. He says Nome will have a fleet of twenty-five to thirty gas boats engaged in the trade from Petropovlask as far east as Banksland and Wrangell island. Mer- chants from outside and from other ports of Alaska are planning to en- gage in this trade. MT. ProtOpapas declares that there is nothing to back LID the statement that radicals are at tempting to form a soviet government in Alaska. He declares that Alaskans are loyal, peaceful and patriotic.
 Senator Harry s. New of Indiana, chairman of the senate committee on territories, declares that life is too short for any man to do business with the government if it appertains to any thing in Alaska" Senator New has introduced bill providing for com mission resident in Alaska to transact Agovernment business. He says that under present conditions "it ire quently takes a man four years to ac- complish what should take about two weeks. The present duplication in Alaskan affairs is simply awful"
 A new cannery tender for the South ern Alaska Canning Company has just been launched in this city, making six