The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-11

There has been great disappoint-
 ment in Alaska over the fact that
 the budget did not contain ar
 appropriation for the continuance Eof the agricultural experimental lstations in Alaska. When the agrf-
 cultural bill was before a subcom-
 mittee of the appropriations com
 nittee Delegate Wickershan1 made
 plea to the small committee to
 include $35.000 for the mainten-
 ance of the Matanuska experi- mental station, and this was rather looked upon with favor by the members of the committee. But these efforts went for naught when the chairman of the appropriations committee made a request of the subcommittee that no item be included in the general bill that was not recommended by the bud get. and that no increase be made K in the bill over the Budget fig ures. AS a consequence the bill was reported to the House without any mention of the $35 GOO for Alaska. When it was under consideration in the House, Delegate Wickersham offered an amendment to include the sum of S35,00O for the Matan- uska station but it was defeated. In making his plea for the amend ment the Delegate ended with these words: T beg the House not to waste this station Do not destroy 1t. It is the last thing that we have in the Territory of Alaska in the way of an agricul- tural experiment station. It is not a saving to strike out the $35 900 appropriation, but it is an economy to insert it. If you take 1t out you will have to go back there in 5 or 10 years and reestablish it. To destroy it is waste and not economy The amendment was urged in vigorous terms by Rep presentative LaGuardia Cotton, Williamson, Simmons, Burtness, Ilesvftt and Carter. It was opposed by Representative Stafford, of Wis consin, andby Representative Blu chanan. of the subcommittee who, however, fairly set forth both sides of the controversy.
 Since the new winter mail con- tracts have gone into effect com- piaints have come to Delegate Wickersham from various sections of Alaska that the service is not so good as formerly and that the residents of small communities are not being satisfactorily served. These various complaints are being in- vestigated by the Post Office offi- cials, and with reference to the Nenana, Panama and Ruby ser vice Assistant Postmaster General Glover states. Our representative who investigated the complaint states that local service to the intermediate points along the routes was provided by dog or horse teams which, with the through trips made by aircraft, provided a reasonably efficient supply. As you are aware, contracts were awarded to airplane companies for service at their low bids on several winter routes This action was in compliance with the re- quests of a large number of com ntercial organizations and individ- uals for this progressive method of transportation. However, it is app aren't there is a small element re- siding along the routes opposed to Service by aircraft and desire continuance of dog teams in order to keep the trails open. The Depart ment is endeavoring to adjust the matter so as to provide reason ably adequate service for all con cerned."
 The Welch Dill, that seeks to regulate the operation of floating carlneries in Alaska, will have a hearing before the House conmi- ttee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries on Thursday, Feb. Il. A. H. Bradford, president of the
 Associated Fishermen of Alaska, wires from Seattle that he will be present to represent his company in opposition to the bill. The In-
 ternational Packing Company has also indicated that they will have a representative present at the hear ing to oppose the bill.
 People of Fairbanks write that they are anxious to have a road
 built from their town to Cinema Hot Springs, a distance of sixty miles. Tt is maintained that this
 would lead through a promising
 mining section to delightful summer resort and into a section
 that abounds with game and fish
 Tks Seward Chamber of Com
 merce has addressed letter to
 Senator Howell, with copies to
 Secretary of the Interior Wilbur
 and Delegate Wickersham, setting
 forth that for ten years past
 Seward merchants have been en-