The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-06-04
CHAMBER ASKS LINDBERCH TO
 HOP OFF HERE
Suggests Juneau as Point of Departure on trans
 Pacific Flight

The Chamber of Commcrce here 'oday wired Col. Charles A. Lind oergh suggesting he make Juneau 5he base for his projected trans Pacific flight and offering him any in making arrangements 1t this end if he accepted. This action was taken immediately after he Chamber was informed of the plans for the flight.
 If Col Lindbergh hops off from Seattle or some other northwestern point, the Chamber will cndeavor % get him to include Juneau as l stop on his route.
 Should Abrogate Rule
 The new age-limit rule adopted y the Alaska Railroad with 50 years as the maximum age for new
 mployees and 60 years for any 'mployee should be abrogated, de- Jared Attorney General John Rust rard, who told the Chamber that .he effect of the ruling is serious. Most of the oldtimers in the rail district are more than 50 years
 Id, he said. If they are shut out
 f employment solely on account If age, it will react unfavorably lpon the Territory. They are not in position to live without work and must be supported by some body if no work is available for them.
 He declared age was an added qualification rather than a handi- cap on pick and shovel or axe jobs; that men 50 to 60 years old and even older could do more and bet ter work of this kind than those between l8 and 30 years. The rule that shuts them out of such jobs lis undoubtedly unfair" he assert ed.
 Something should be done to have the rule relaxed, since it has produced serious situation. I font know what the Chamber can 10, if anything. but some move nent should be started he added, md expressed hope that the AL lska Road Commission would not adopt similar ruling.
 Elliott Says No Danger
 Maj. Malcolm Elliott, President of hat organization, who spoke brief y following the Attorney General, 'aid he had no criticism to offer ,f any policy followed by any gov- 'rnment agency in the Territory. He had no knowledge of the AL aska Railroads labor problems or why the new rule was adopted.
 To allay any uneasiness anyone night have, however, I can say he Alaska Road Commission will ldopt no age deadline on. em- ,loyes." he said. The Commission" ,e continued, has no general rule elative to employment. It hires ach man on the basis of his gen. ral capacity to perform the work or which he is employed.
 We have found it to our ad- 'antage to employ older men in land labor. As Judge Rustgard las said they are experts at pick md shovel work. They have learn- d economy of effort and how to nake motion count" he said.
 The Federal road program for his season, he pointed out, is bout the same in volume as in 930. Owing to a decrease in ap- Territorial cooperation will not be as large.
 Develop Local Markets
 A field for usefulness for the all- Alaska Chamber of Commerce, Maj. Elliott suggested, could be found in he development of domestic mar ct for local products. Except for ertain high-grade commodities uch as furs. at present there is 10 chance for export markets to 'e developed, but prosperous little communities and profitable indus ries could be created by local mar cts.
 He cited the livestock industry f Kodiak Island as an instance. line beef and mutton produced here goes to waste because 1t can't ind any local sale. Towns on the Alaska Railroad, now consume nough imported beef and mutton, osting more than the Kodiak prod tets, to make the industry there worthwhile to it and to the Ter itory.
 Farmers Are Affected
 Like conditions prevail in the communities of the Panama and Matanuska valleys, al hough the former makes better lse of it's products than anywhere 'lse. This is largely possible be- 'ause of the road system which inks the ranchers to Fairbanks.
 Matanuska Valley has no road o Anchorage and a market there True, 1t is connected by rail, .but here is no channel for marketing agricultural products and it is al- most necessary for the growers to each shipment from
 Continued on Page Eight)