Seward daily gateway., 1924-03-05
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 R'l'as nA' oO'' lO'On[O'

At the CnamDer or COmmerce luncIl- con yesterday, which was attended by large number of members and visit ped his furniture from Seward to the states in crates made from lumber pur chased from the local saw mill he would technically be violating the laws of the interior department which pre- vent lumber made from timber cut from the public domain being shipped out of Alaska. This was the opinion given to the chamber by George w. Parks, of the U. s.. Land Office, who was present at the luncheon and who explained to the members why lumber and tiber products could be shipped from Southeastern Alaska, and not from this section. Mr. Parks stated that the law had been changed in re- gardPto timber cut from the Forestry lands, and that it could probably be easily in regard to the public domain, but that it would have to be so chang ed before the local, mill could cut spruce and ship it outside for box shocks. Birch timber for furniture could be cut, in the Anchorage dis trict said Mr. Parks, as a permit had been obtained for doing this. The ques- tion arose over the recent delay in the negotiations for the sale of the Resur- rection Bay Lumber company to a Se- attle party, who had intended to make cargo shipments of spruce to the states but was forced to abandon the plan because of the absurd ruling.
 It appears that away back in 1898, in President McKinley's administra- tion, some one believed that Alaska was being denuded of it's timber, and to safeguard posterity, represented by the present generation, a law was en- acted preventing timber being export ed from Alaska for any purpose what soever, either in raw state of in man. ufactured products.
 Therefore if you desire to send any household goods, pianos, salmon or, any other crated article, you are not within the law unless you turn your back on local products and buy outside lumber. MT. Parks stated that the land office still owned the lands sur rounding the lagoon in front of the Chamberlain ranch, between there and the sawmill, and these had not been placed on sale by the land office be- cause of desire to help intending in dustries. These lots could be sold at low figure provided they were wanted by citizens or others.
 The usual grist of communications were read by Secretary Hannon, rela- tive to jobs wanted, information de- sired and many other queries pertin- ent to Seward and vicinity. A commit nication was received from Senator Wesley L. Jones, defining his position on Section 27 of the Shipping Bill and the White Fisheries Bill. In a previ- ous communication John Rustgard, at torney general had placed stress upon MT. Jones' avowed interest in having this section which he alleged discrimi- mated against Alaska repealed MT. Jones in his letter stated that he de- sired to have the discrimination re- moved, not by repeal of the section as Mr. Rustgard would have the mem bers believe, but by extending it's scope to include all coastwise trade in the States.
 Senator Jones deftly sidestepDed the White Fisheries Bill with few we'll sounding platitudes and the chamber followed suit, the bill upon motion be- ing indefinitely tabled.
 In reply to a communication from the Chamber, the Booth tlsherles' thru it's vice-president in Chicago, express ed its regret at not being able to en- ter the fishing field at this place, oW- ing to it's investments at Sltka, put intimated that the rihgt bait might bring forth nibble, whereupon Presl- dent C. c .Hinde of the chamber in structed the secretary to secure chats of the bay which were to be forwarded to the company, showing available tax free sites.
 
 Wayne Blue and w. E. Root in short talks showed that it was to the inter ests of our citizens to offer every in- ducement possible to prospective in- vestors.
 The "Seeing Things" corporation which handles Where to Go" tours, sent the Chamber list of magazines covered by it's advertising, among which were Scribners', and others.
 The secretary read certain sections of Delegate Sutherland's proposed .pame bill, which has been introduced before congress,-The bill provides that commission of stet bona fide Alaskans of five years residence Tn