The Washington times., 1907-02-17
Construction VIII Give
Northwest Territory Big
lmpetusin Development
Canadian Interests JoinCop-
pei MagnateS in Strenu-
Gus Opposition.
Advent of Steam Cars Will
Open Up Large Mineral
Resources.

According TO a report made by the
Senate Committee on Territories, recon-
mending q bill for the construction Of
a railroad ia Alaska. 10 be built by the
Alaska Railroad Company. that Terri
tory viii receive great impetus 20 its
developmcpt il the proposed line is con-
structed
Senator Piles Of WashinS.oB who sub
mitted 10 The Senate the report of the
Committee on Territories. has accom-
panied the report with an interesting
statement as TO the advantages to be
derived by the construction of the pro-
posed line. These advantages include
great increase in the production of gold
and copper. and the opening up of large
fields containing vast mineral resources
of various kinds A great coal field
would be opened up by the new road
Strenuous Objections Made.
Settlement i'm the Territory and its
development generally. according to the
report. would be facilitated. as would
also the transportation Of troops, the
carrying of mails and the like. The cost
OF carrying the mails row is heavy. and
II the proposed railroad is constructed.
the Senators who reported the bill be-
Heve. that cost will be much Iessened
Strenuous objection has been made
10 the bill and though the Committee
on Territories has favorably reported ii.
Il is doubtful whether il can get through
before next secession. The line proposed
Will be a trunk line Of a standard-gauge
railroad from a point on the Pacific
ocean. known as the head of Cordova
Bay, to the town of Eagle on the Yukon
river. a distance of so miles. All of the
Zine will be in American territory.
Testimony was offered before the com
mittee that a syndicate Of capitalists in
terested I'm the copper region, which
the proposed road will tap. was oppos-
ing the bill. Senator-elect Guggenheim
Of Colorado was named as one Of these
capitalists
Opposition also proceeded from the
president of the White Pass and Yukon
Railroad Company, the only railroad in
existence that connects the Pacific ocean
with the navigabIe waters Of the Yukon
river. This road is a. Canadian institu-
lion and the company back of il Cana
d7n- Other opposition proceeds from
fhe Copper River Railway Company.
which proposes to build line from tho
f'NAs D~'fAiA dbthL Ole-snlrQ of the
way 20 the Yukon. to valuable copDer
mines owned by the same company.
Government Aid Not Asked.
Government aid is not given by the
bill, and nc land grant except certain
small tracts. No guarantee Of the
roads securities is imposed on the Gov
eminent by the pending bill Attention
is called by the committee to the re-
markable railroad activity in Canada.
and it is strongly minated the Cana
dams are making strong effort 10 get
control Of Alaskan trade
The committee urges that if America
Is 70 hold this trade something must
be done to aid ic the speedy construc-
ton OF railroads in that territory. II
is minated the White Pass and Yukon
Interests are trying to get the very
route sought by the Alaska Railroad
Company. either to construct a road or
70 obstrucJ the building Of one