The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-03-15
THOUSANDS ARE MAR00NED IN HOUSES BY HIGH WATER
Alasko Is Progressing, Is
 Declared by Speakers at
 Banquet Cipen by Chamber

pectorS' bibles, and AlaSkans can go a long way in the popular notion in the States that something's wrong with Alaska" These were among the points emphasized last night by various speakers at the biennial banquet given by the Chamber of Commerce in honor of Gov. George A. Parks and legislators.
 The speakers included Gov. Parks, Speaker Rothenburg, of the House of Representatives, Senator A. J. Dimond, Representative E. R. Tar water and Alfred J. Lomen, and A. J. Fla. H. L. Faulkner, President of the Chamber presided and in his usual graceful manner intro duced the speakers. Between 150 and 200 persons attended the din- ner.
 Alaskans for Appointment
 In opening the ceremonies, MT. pointed out that Juneau has been brought irto closer con tact than otherwise would have been possible through the biennial sessions of the Legislature. Also, other sections were brought more closely together through acquaint- and friendships formed between members.
 In introauclng Gov Parks, he said: We feel we want to govern We want Alaskans to be appointed to Federal positions. Four years ago President Coolidge chose a man who lived in the Ter ritory, who knows it and has it's best interests at heart" At his suggestion the audience rising to it's feet pledged it's friendship and to the Governor.
 Cities Recent Progress
 There's nothing really wrong with Alaska, although that seems to be a general impression to be found in the States, the Governor declar- ed. Alaskans themselves can do a great deal to dispel the idea. We at home may be to certain ex- tent responsible for it, because there is too much of a tendency to say to visitors and others that we are not making any progress, :" he added.
 He then cited the development in transportation. Fifteen or 20 years ago, he said, the steamers operating on the Alaska run were the Bertha, Portland, Dora and similar craft. Today the finest ves- sels ply local waters.
 Roads have been constructed in all parts of the Territory giving means of travel for both pleasure and business. The Alaska Railroad and Copper River & Northwestern Railroad have been built and are operatin. Between the Matanuska coal fileds and Anchorage then there was but one roadhouse where today there are numerous home steads. Similar development has tatken place in the Panama Valley and on Seward Peninsula a great reindeer growing industry is rap- idly developing All of this, he pointed out, makes for progress.
 We are, have and shall continue to make progress. Our responsible ity is to talk about it." he declared. In conclusion he praised the move ment now under way for the for nation of an all-Alaska Chamber of Commerce.
 Urges Local Trade
 If Alaskans would use Alaskan goods, burn Alaska coal, build with local lumber, eat bread made from Alaska flour, and eat Alaska grown meat and vegetables, there would be a greater degree of prosperity than now exists, declared Speaker Rothenburg after a discourse on the evil effects of too much use of "prospectors' bibles"-the interior name for mail order catalogues.
 Individual citizens and merch- ants alike are tarred with this brush, he asserted. The average man has too many misconceptions about local business men, and are prone to regard chambers of com ri1erce as organizations of merch- ants banded together to raise prices on the goods they sell. The average man buys from mail order houses when he has cash, but when he hasn't the money then he goes to the local merchant for credit which the mail order house won't extend. And after he has paid the local merchant, when he IS In funds again, and renews his mail ordering, to the merchant who wants to know why, in the face of the credit extended he sends his cash outside, the customer gives the time -hallowed response: T paid you, didn't I?" In conclusion he urged trade at home policy for business men and private citizens, the development of local trade and Alaskans for Alaskan offices and Alaskan executives. This, he