New-York tribune., 1906-07-14
RAILROADS IN ALASKA.
Territory Soon To Be GndirOned
Scith Steel Highzcays.
From The Tribune Rureau.l

washington July 1S.-Railway construction in
Alaska is going forward with giant strides The
fertile valleys and the lonely wastes Of that
great territorya are being awakened by the
snriek OF the construction locomotive and the
subdued roar Of the steam shovel Within a
few years the. great district Of Alaska will he
covered with network of railroads and the
days Of the explorer and his dog team will have
passed into the dream Of things that were
along with the buffalo hunt and the ''schooners"
OF the "forty-niners."
Congress- although every day of the last ses-
sion was its busy day." found time to pass some
important legislation TO encourage and make
smooth the way of the railroads in Alaska. and
the national legislature has contributes its na ri
toward making bright the future development of
the territory through railway construction
Alaska is still land of trails, but the day when
one can buy round trip ticket with dining car
and tourist sleeper attachments to the most re-
mote passes is not far distant
AT present practically the only steam road in
operation in Alaska is a fifty-mile road at
White Pass. Many others projected and it
is for the benefit of these that Congress legis-
lated. The most important road commercially
now under construction is the Alaska Central
which has its southern terminus at Resurrection
Bay and its proposed northern terminus at the
head of navigation the Tanana River the two
points being approximately 463 miles apart This
road. when completed, will connect the Gulf of
Alaska with the waters of the Yukon and the
waters Of the interior by an all American route
A railroad of this character has long been
looked upon as Alaska's greatest commercial
need. President Roosevelt, in two of his mes
sages to Congress, urged the Importance of the
construction of a railroad connecting these
points, and recommended that government aid
should be given to build il. According to re-
ports made to Congress, fOrty-six miles of the
railroad have now been constructed. and about
two million five hundred thousand dollars has
already been expended by the capitalists inter-
eSted. branch of the MatanuSka coal fields
about thirty miles long, constitutes part of the
proposed line. The road is intended to be the
commercial highway of Alaska. 1t will give
access to the interior at all seasons of the year
and make possible immediate development of the
agricultural. timber and mining resources of the
territory. The possibility of prompt and efficient
military control of the Yukon Valley afforded
by rapid transportation for men and supplies
will be one of the benefits of the line. 1t will
bring to tideWater the high grade Goals Of the
Matanuska Valley, suitable for naval purposes
and as post route II will save weeks in the
transmission of mails. A large part of Alaska
will be brought into easy communication with
Seattle and other ports OF the United States at
all seasons of the year when the line is COM
pleted. Congress granted to the Alaska Central
Railroad an extension of time within which 10
complete the final surveys. and allowed six years
instead OF FIVE for the completion of construc-
tion.
Another great railroad under construction is
that known the Alaska Short Line. 10 run
from lliamna, on the west of Cook Inlet and the
head Of the Alaska peninsula, across the Kus-
kokwin to Anvik, on the Yukon. This railroad
obtained extension of time from Congress
within which to file the plat of surveys and
hve-year limit to finish construction
An act was approved allowing the Alaska
Pacific Railroad and Terminal Company to con-
struct a railroad trestle across the tide and
shore lands in Controller Bay from the main
land to Whale Island and also across Copper
River at Childs Glacier.
another railroad line projected Is the Valdez
Yukon, backed by New York capital II is pro-
posed TO open rich country by this route.
That capital in large quantities is seeking in
vestment in railroad properties In Alaska is
evidenced by the number of applications to the
Interior Department for permission 10 make sur
veys. This permission is always granted pro-
vided the proper requirements are complied
with but the officials who have the interests of
the territory at heart realize that there is need
for concerted action to systematic railroad
building In Alaska that il may afford the
best advantages TO the territory. There are
many who believe that the recommendations Of
the Governor Of Alaska with reference to the
building OF railroads should be carried out He
recommended that the government should as
sist In the construction of the railroads by guar
anteeing the interest on bonds at a certain rate
of interest 10 run for a term of thirty years In
return. the government could demand certain
things OF the railroads so constructed if desired
The railroads would be helped and the public
assured that they would be conducted under
proper restrictions.