The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-13

the Winnipeg-Juneau line is no longer than
the Winnipeg Pacific and gains az much
farther TO the westward as ths latter does
over the Canadian Paclic;' while from an
acquaintance with the two districts l feel
confident that the Mas or Skeena will give
a more expensive construction. There are
about twenty miles on the Takou river
probably equal to the average construction
through ths heart of the ~Alleghaniss and
the remainder below the average of United
States roads.
Anyway. I am only discussing the north
ernmost possible and probable road from an
engineering and commercial sense and not
from a political basis. although the latter
often makes or unmakes a line that would
other wise have been differently decided.
Ever if the Winnipeg Pacific 10 the first
constructed it oannot be long before the
plan / indicate will bs materiaiized as q
shorter and moro available ono in many
ways. It ia reported the English govern
ment is now experimenting IN the Cana
dian Pacific as a military railway and is
transporting to and fro Il Hong Kong garri-
son by that road. Great Britain is the
financial 'bscker'' of all Canadian railways
and may more s~trsnuously oppose the
Alaskan line than even the Dominion
government.
Everyone familiar with trans Pacific
transportation knows that the Canadian
Pacific reduced the time to Japan over San
Francisco about ons-half when they estab-
lished the "Empress' line to Hong Kong
via Yokohama, but much of this gain was
due to the American steamers calling at
Honolulu (sse map) and can be remedied BY
dropping Honolulu. but the more northerly
stu alton of the Canadian Pacific terminus
is the great permanent advantage of its
steamship route with equally swift steamers
over San Francisco.
Now, Juneau is not only az much farther
north over Vancouver, but decidedly far
Their westward, and, were it not for the
Alaekan peninsula reaching to Ounalaska,
and thus interfering with great circle sail
ing, its preponderance over the Canadian
city would be out Of all proportion. Even
this does not greatly detract from this pre-
pondsranee, while by calling at Ounalaska,
the great distributing point for Boring sea,
more would be built up. A very large trade
now passes Ounalaska from lower Pacific
ports that would be permanently located
there by such service.
Bat it is when the Russian railway across
Siberia ia completed that the Alaskan rail
road and attendant steamship lines will
have the greatest advantage. It HAS been
asserted that this will be Ions in twelve
years. and that intsr-riparian roads will be
finished long before that, 80 as to Justify
trans-Slberian summer freight. If a spur
is thrown up The Amoor to Nieol@vsk, Us
contemplated, the saving is even yet
creator, by rounding Cape Lopatka. But
Okhotsk sea is not navigable all winter, il
is reported. and Vladivosteck would have
to be made, calling ct Hakodate, which
las rail communications with all Japan.
hi Germanic or any other atlantic 'tgrsy-
hound" would make this in about the usual
Atlantic time. which ia a decided gain
over any time now being made. | have
spoken casually of this Alaskan Pacific as a
competitor to the Canadian Pacific. but
this would only be 80 in the limited senses
stated, and in the aggregate would be q
very desirable feeder to that great line and
most likely would DO built and controlled
by it.
In it's Alask An and local traffic this rail
way would not only have much that nov
feeds " ports. but would open up
great undsveloped country. From Winni
peg to the Mackenzie the country ia az pro
ductiye as Manitoba and Asginiboia. whii
beyond it would cut through the Cassia
gold fields. which. like all extensive mimi,
districts, are of low percentage profits an
require cheap transportation for full devel
opnent.
There is no more popular polar fallac
and more desply-rooted than that the sno,
increases in depth as the pole is attaine
and that the Arctic region is buried dsepe
undo this mantle than any other region be
low 1t. When the Hudson railway was dis
cusssd the universal objection WAS the prof.
III snow hlosksdes. The real fact ia tn
Alaskan Pacific would be less smbarrasse
J by snow than the Canadian Pacific. viii,
) - much less obstructsd by it than Nh
Northern Pacific. The line of maximum
: snow obstruction in North America liz