The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-04
Extensive Operations of Nor
gan and Guggenheim Inter
tests in That Region.
ST ECCLES INTERESTED
IN THE PROPOSITION
Railroad Being Constructed
Into One of Richest Mining
Sections in World.

railway In Alaska is now under actual
construction, and it is only question
or few months, says the Wall Street
News Summary, when IT will be in full
operation in what may prove to be
one of the richest mining districts of
the world. The company was incor..
porated under the laws of Nevada, with
nominal capital s. w. Eccles, vice
president of the American Smelling and
Refining company, has recently been
elected president Of the company, and
W. Piersou Hamilton Of the firm Of J.
P, Morgan d Co. vicc-president The
controlling interest in the company is
held by j. p Morgan e. Co. and the
Guggenheims, both of which interests
are understood TO own and control indie.
property interests in Alaska, and espc-
clally in the Copper River district.
President Eccles has long been promi-
mont in The railroad world and has the
reputation of being one Of the most
active, energetic and capable railroad
men. He was one of the most trusted
heuteuants under r.. r. Hartman on
the Union Pacific system until he be
came connected with the American
Smelling and Refining company as vice
president. He had especial charge of
the traffic department, where he has
kept in touch with live railroad inter
ests from the first
The new road is being actively
pushed and upward of $500, 600 has al
ready been expended in the building of
about fifteen miles of road from Cor
dova, on the sea coast, eastward to-
ward the Copper River, and rails are
now laid and construction trains run
ming. Grading and tracklaying is under
way for thirty-hvc miles beyond the
completed section, IL is expected that
the fifty miles of road from tidewater
TO point above the great rapids in
Copper River will be completed and in
operation by autumn. Above the falls
steamers will run for n distance Of l50
miles or more up the river One steam
or has already been put in operation
above this point. II is ITO feet in
length, and was carried III small sections
from Valdez on the coast, point now
touched by the ocean steamers operated
by the American Smelling and Refining
company, by sleds, and the sections
were assembled above the rapids. The
completed steamer is now making regu-
lar trips along the upper stretches of
the river. With the railroad completed
to the points above the rapids, and the
steamer in operation facilities VIII be
afforded which will open up the great
area of new mineral territory, and give
an entrance into a wide district far
beyond, which up to this time has
been inaccessible. 1t is expected that
several more steamers will be put IN
operation before the summer is over,
and these will aid greatly in the further
development Of the country. 1t is un-
derstood that contracts have already
been made not only for these new
steamers, but also for the rails, loco
motives and rolling stock sufficient TO
equip the railway itself from the coast
TO the river and that the material is
now being forwarded 10 Cordova,
In addition to the line from Cor
dova, another line is also under con
struction from Katalla, on the coast,
a considerable distance south of Cor
dova, to the coal regions about thirty
miles easterly. Large numbers of men
are now al work on this division Ultl-
mately this branch, or division, of the
railroad may be extended TO the falls
or rapids on the Copper river, and IT is
not impossible that it may be made
the main line Of the road TO the coast
and that Katalla Will become the prln-
cipal terminus, as engineers have not
vet determined whether Cordova or
KataIla possesses the best harbor. This
question will probably be settled with
in the next few weeks. The coal de-
post which is 10 be tapped by this di
vision. is believed to be one of the
largest in the world. Its present known
area is about twenty miles in width by
thirty miles IN length The coal is
found near the surface and in some
places is forty-6vo feet in thickness.
IT is/a high grade bItumlnous and cox
ing coal, and the supply is so large
that when the railroad is completed,
it can be so readily marketed that 1t
can supply the coast from Cape Nome
TO San Francisco. The tapping of this
coal section will 1T is claimed, be ore
of the greatest factors IN the future
of the entire Northwestern Pacific
coast. 1t is expected that the line from
Cordova to the rapids on Copper river,
and from Katalla TO the coal fields, will
both be in operation before snow flies.
While many details yet remain 10 be
settled, construction has progressed far
enough 10 insure traffic and passenger
transportation for at least 200 miles
into the Alaskan interior before winter
sets in This will enable more active
operations TO be carried on in the cop
per region on the upper river, where
developments are simply awaiting
transportation facilities. Large tracts
of mineral land have already been
taken up in this district by such IN
terests as ]. p. Morgan Il Co, the
,Guggenheims. James Philips. Jr,, and
W. B, Thompson, while others are COM
ipg in rapidly. 1t is the confident be
lief of all parties who have taken up
lands in this part of Alaska. that it
Is the greatest copper district ever
discovered. and all that is necessary 10
prove their belief Is the completion of
the facilities now under way. 1t is
the intention Of the builders of the
Copper River g. Northwestern railroad
TO extend it ultimately not only along
the Copper river valley. but into the !
interior of the country for 800 TO 1000 |
miles further. but future construction
will depend entirely on developments
ahead Of the present prospective ter
minus,