The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-19
and it also runs thru rich gold, copper
onH oOo1 folds


and coal fields. = - -; .lz5~ "a
"Stin west Of the Alaska Central
there is another project, but about
this have very little; information: In
fact, about all know is that some of
those who appeared before this com
mittee mentioned it. This proposed
line, as I understand it, is to run from
some point 100 or 200 miles west of
Resurrection Bay northwestward to
the Yukon river. Who is behind the
project or how seriously it is contem-
plated do not know.
East and West Route.
"Then, in addition to all these en-
terprises, the government has in mind
still another, and that is an east and
west route to run from the Cape Nome
country eastward to connect with some
or all of the lines that may be built
from the southern coast toward the
north. 1t is proposed to appropriate a
sum sufficient, at this session, to make
survey of this line, not with a view
Of building it at, government expense,
but for the information Of all, in order
that anyone who may desire to build
it may have at least that much encour-
agement, since it is not known that
the line would be- worth building, and
consequently it might take many years
for private. enterprise to look into it.
This line, if ever constructed, would
be the one. that would connect the
Canadian: roadsaWith any, Russian road
that might come tSnB ehring straits for
| an all-rail route Hn+Gro1n America to
Europe across Asia. This line would
! also connect with the Council City &
Solomon River railroad, which is de.
signed to Fun from Council City, near
Nome, north and east into the Seward
peninsula. 1t already has about
eighteen miles laid, but like the Alaska
Central, asks government aid to float
It's bonds SO that it may proceed with
its construction into the interior. -,
! Government Aid.
IL 90 not, Of course, know what con.
gress will do about aiding the railroads
OF Alaska. / do not know what this
committee will do. The subject has not
yet been carefully considered. The
railroads want the government te
guarantee their bonds at per cent
that is, the interest on them-fo1
thirty years, claiming that if this i.
done they can at once sell the bonds
and proceed with their road building
and that the profits from the opera
ton of the roads will be SO great thai
the government will not have to pay
any Of the interest it guarantees
They also assert that the prevailing
Ignorance in this country about Alasks
is the only thing that makes govern
ment aid necessary, as, if the bank
knew the facts about the territory
they would be only. too glad to bu,
Alaskan bonds. =: ...- ,.s 30
'fOne thing we do know. : We know
that Alaska is big, and promising an
ought to be developed. Whether thi
can best be done by government aid o
by private enterprise do not know
Personally I believe the railroads will
be built without government guaran
tee of the interest on their bonds, an
would not be in favor Of having tn
d government go into the business o
making such guarantee except in case
! where great public benefit would re
suit and where those benefits could no
be secured in any other way. -,
"a. AS to Private Capital. 81. a.
HProbably railroads would; be bull
) more: speedily with government back
; ing, but my present view is that til
immense mineral possibilities of Alasks
, as well as its agricultural possibilities
{. will stimulate capital so that enoug
railroads will be constructed to ope
the internal resources. To accomplis
: this it seems to me that for the presen
two roads will be suffcient-one fro1
, Seward to Fairbanks and thence
Rampant, and the other from somewher
near the mouth of the Copper rive
northward to the Yukon. In fact,
think that either Of these lines woul
/ so open the country and stimulate Ell
! terprise that other roads, where needed
9 would be constructed. .->
To interpret the chairman IS r.
marks and frankly throw into them til
D meaning at which he only hints, it
, tie apparent intention not to aid an
9 Alaskan railroad this session. But
! events shall prove ira year or two, {
!. three, or four that without governme1
8 help the roads will not be built, the
/, Mr.. Hamilton Is committee stands read
& to do something. - :