Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-07-16

perch. A close estimate Of depth, face
and base OF the ram shows that II vii
l~require about s2,949, 900 perch, for a
dam 40 feet at the base and 40 feet
at the top, and the total cost would
not exceed one billion dollars. Such
a dam. II properly constructed, would
last forever, and the great advant'
ages accruing would almost be past
computation. It would result in
keeping the ice from the North Pa.
cinc. and would thereby greatly re-
duce the danger of t~rans-Pacihc navi-
cation. as well as redusce the dangers
OF disasters among whale and seal
fishing fleets Of the North. Also it
would prevent the flooding Of the
Alaskan coast in the spring.
The ice from the Yukon and Alas
kan rivers would melt as rapidly as it
does from the Columbia river in the
Pacific ocean The warm japanese
current, flowing in a nOrtheasterly di-
restion. would melt the ice and vessels
would be safe in Behring Sea as in
Puget Sound.
THE vital importance Of building
such a dam, however. would be that
II would afford a connecting link be
tween two continents, making easy
and economical the construction of a
railway to Siberia and through from
New York to Paris. A railroad could
and will be built along the Alaskan
coast to the mouth of the Yukon river
thence across Behring Strait, through
Siberia and to a connection with the
Russian trans-Siberian railroad. Such
a line would open up a new avenue
of commerce in a new ami old world,
and would afford an outlet for n of
the richest mineral territories on
earth.
The Isthm!an canal. which will cost
as much. II not more, will pale into
yellow insignlfcance when compared
with the Behring dam, and Alaskan.
Siberian railroad. The gold mines
OF Siberia Of which we in America
hear little. but which are nevertheless
the richest in the world will pay the
Russian government for building half
Of such a proposed read. and the com
merclal expansion which would follow
Americas assistance in its construc.
ton would repay the Federal govern {
for farthering the project. {
"A great northwestern city would
up along the proposed route s
would rival the largest and
wealthiest modern city in the world. c
lust as sOon as we have a railway S
constructed along the Alaskan coast I
IND Siberia. the mines of those two a
countries VII produce more gold and |
than has ever been taken out a
all North America since gold was v
Recovered 4
IAN the trusts and combines in the Il
world would not pay as large a divi. h
as the BehrIng Sea railway. n
Water escapes. can, II necessary
Re put in near the top of the dam, k
the water from the melted I,
&c in the Arctic ocean and prevent.
ne an overflow.
The only way TO connect these two
ontinents is by a dam. A bridge can $
ot be built strong enough to resist ii
he immense pressure Of the icebergs G.
nd trans-Strait water navigation is s.
always will be impossible. The II
cean waves In Behring Sea and the {,
ocean are not so strong as d
hey are along the more central L.
of the Pacific. so that wave Il
ction would not seriously injure the d
am "a
The completion Of such an enter. $,
rise would open up a vast aud unset
ed territory, capable OF sustaining a
opulation Of from fifty to sixty mil
nns OF people Is,
Our commercial conditions must N,
viii change, The majority OF them ca
'e to slow for this age. We want 10 ye
de on electric railways and not on nj
~ow'going vessels. Exports and
lports must come and go more Quick.
and consequently more cheaply. gl
old world, as well as North and At
'uth America, will soon be belted a
.th steel rails and to make the chain IN.
mplete. 10 link two continents. 10 Is
the East and the West TO bring m.
the peoples closer together. Il will -
necessary 20 build a dam across
Q Behrng Sea- \
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iiIAfnefte NNIlaN HhanNa.... A.. Il