The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-08-25
HIGH RAILROAD RATES DEFLECT
 ITS BUSINESS
Freight Goes by Truck and
 Travellers by Plane to Valdez
Especial Correspondencel

Special Correspondence) WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 10.-l It is reported to the Delegate from Interior Alaska that the recent in- lcrease of freight and passenger rates on the Alaska Railroad has not had the desired effect of in- creasing the revenue of the rail- road It is said that much of the freight for the interior is ordered consigned to Valdez, from whence i it is transported by truck to Fair banks and other points. Airplanes also meet the steamers at Valdez and fly with passengers to Fair banks in less than four hours, thus saving about three days time. The increased passenger rates has also had the effect of reducing the number of tourists who might oth- erwise have taken the trip to Fair banks. It is expected that these facts will have an effect on Com mittees and the Interior Depart ment when the matter of freight and passenger rates are under dis cussion this winter.
 | Indians wno clam to have right of possession and occupancy in Aux village, about 12 miles north of Juneau, have sent in a petition to the General Land Office request ing that their rights be protected and that leases for these lands not be given to white applicants. Although this old village is in cluded in the boundaries of the Tongass Forest Reservation it is claimed that the rights of the Na- tives are reserved by an Act of Congress entitled, "An Act pro-
 viding Civil Government for Alaska, which Act was approved by the President on May IT. 1884, and which provides: That the Indians or other persons in said district shall not be disturbed in the possession of any lands actual ly in their use or occupation or now claimed by them, but the terms under which such persons may acquire title to such land is reserved for future legislation by Congress" The status of these In- dians is now under consideration by Secretary of Agriculture Hyde and Secretary of the Interior Will bur.
 The Acting Chief, Alaska Div ision of Indian Affairs, writes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that hereafter when school build ings for the natives are to be erect ed he will endeavor to have speci- fications prepared early enough to permit bids for finished lumber, frame work. castings, etc, to be furnished by dealers in Alaska. Lo- cal mills complained that recent ly the material for nine school buildings was furnished from Se- attle, while Alaska dealers were not given opportunity to submit bids.
 Mrs. Mary Lee Davis, who lived in Fairbanks several years but is now a resident of Washington, D. C., has just issued another new book that treats of the real folks of the North. It is entitled We Are Alaskans,' and is full of inti- mate personal close-ups from near ly one hundred living people in Alaska.
 The request was made some time ago that Lake Minchumina be em- braced on the winter mail route be- tween Nenana and Flat. The Post master General has just notified the Delegate that the Department had issued an order that this sta- ton be embraced on the route from November 1, 1881. The post master at Quinhagak has removed his place of residence and the va cancy will likely be filled by the appointment of Charles B. Michael. A petition has been filed with the Department asking for the reestab- lishment of the post office at AL atna and the naming of Carl Gus taf Frank as the postmaster. The reason given for the closing of the foundry in the Alaska Rail- road shops at Anchorage is be- cause of economy and a higher quality of supplies that are secured