The Glenwood post., 1923-10-18

A fair sized and very appreciative
audience listened with great deal of
interest to Congressman Edward T.
Taylor account of his recent trip to
Alaska, given at the local grade school
auditorium Monday evening. After a
short period of community singing led
by Superintendent Blaine, Congressman
Taylor was called to the platform
after a few Introductory remarks by
Mr.. Blaine.
Following are the principal Incl
dents of the address given in part:
"For the first time in the history
of the country check has been placed
on the federal monies and budget
appropriation committee appointed ia
fry to keep the expenses of the gov
erument within reasonable means and
appropriate the federal money to the
best advantage.
at was as a member of this budget
appropriation committee, composed Of
congressman and senator's, that I visit
Alaska. Although the party was al.
lowed to travel on the army transport,
VIC could only go the route that the
transport would have ordinarily gone
in carrying its supplies We paid SO
much apiece each day for our board
and in other words took care Of our
own expenses on the trip.
"lhis U. s. possession has been ap-
rcaling to congress and the president
for torty or fifty years to come and
visit them and do something to better
their conditions. Our party was COM
posed of six senators and twenty five
representatives and their wives. Mrs.
Taylor and I spent about a month at
the Colorado river waiting for the gov
ernment army transport on which we
set sail.
"As you know, Alaska was pur-
chased from Russia in October, 1867,
fifty six years ago this month, for the
sum of $7,2OO,ooo, and is about one
fifth the area of the United States.
The name is Indian and means "Great
Country.'
"We sailed direct to Seward, Alas
ka, from Seattle, Washington. Seward
is town of perhaps seven hundred
people. The United States has just
completed a railroad from Seward to
Fairbanks, which has cost the govern
ment $56,00O,OoO, which is good
broad gauge road and which I think is
well built. ~.
"There are 10000 islands along the
5000 miles of coast country. The
coast towns are damp and often foggy.
Seward has n fine harbor, but is not
the most convenient town, so the
railroad shops are at Anchorage, about
1l5 miles inland, and a town of about
two thousand people,"
Mr.. Taylor stated that he went to
Alaska under the same impression that
many people have that it is country
of snow and ice the year round. and
the gentlemen of the party were pre-
pared by having their overcoats and
the ladies' their furs. At Anchorage
they found lovely gardens and nice
weather, and were served fine ban
quet, all of the food being raised in
Alaska.
"From Anchorage we went north
ord visited the Mataniska coal fields
and found there was an enormous
amount and great variety Of coal ir
Alaska. During the last administra
ton Secretary Daniels Of the q. 8
navy opened up large coal fields b
supply the navy with coal.
cat Fairbanks the weather was So
and the men went without coats Q.
hours of the day. Fairbanks is th'
center of the business portion Of cen
trail Alaska and the terminus Of tn
government railroad. The railroad
makes 1t possible for all that great in