The Alaska prospector., 1908-05-21


 other route, Valdez may we'll lay claim to being the main gateway for Alaska commerce.. ....
 "A main line of railway from Val dez to the Yukon will command a large amount of freight now going by other routes and greatly stimulate the settlement and development of a vast country. Branch lines will later be constructed to accommodate the business resulting from the discovery of copper and gold to this highly mineralized section, Discovery of coal recently at several points will expedite the work of opening up this region. What discoveries will be made the coming season no one can foretell, but it is my belief that a railway constructed immediately over the route as indicated would have paying business as soon as it could be opened for travel and freight. Thousands of miles of profitable rail way have been built in the United States in less promising regions.
 Cost of Lines
 "Thc prices here used are from 25 to 50 per cent higher than is the aver age elsewhere in the United States. Such a line in our western country, built upon 15-foot roadway on fills and 20 feet in cuts, would cost not more than $16,O per mile. A direct line from Valdez to Fort Egbert, on the Yukon river, is BIO miles long. Allowing $50 miles for the length of the railway would afford all the div ersion required from direct line.
 ''Thc cost of the entire line, with equipment ready for business, will not exceed S2O, ,OOO per mile.
 "Mr. Gillette is d competent engin- ger and was with the Abercrombie party. He helped to build the wagon road and ought to know something about it.
 '"The Chairman. How much of that road is a wagon road?
 "Mr. Barring. It is in bad shape generally, although good enough during the winter time when the snow covers the ruts, but otherwise it is not in good shape. 1t is built through swamps, which makes it impossible at times. Our people, who went over it quite recently, had good deal of trouble in getting through.
 "I have something else, now, which desire to read to you. l will read the report of Maj w. P. Richardson. He says: ''rhc length of the routes he described will not be far from 1000 miles.
 '"Thc Chairman. What does it mean when he says "the route he dcscribcd?''
 "Mr. Barring. He describes the route which has been given in Sena- tor Bcvcridgo's committee report. It is the Valdez route.
 "rhc Chairman. State the course and the terminal of the route.
 ''Mr. Barring. He means the pro- jected railroad up to the Yukon and down the Panama, crossing Alaska both ways. It is the general rail road system to which he refers.
 '"rhe Chairman. From Valdez up the Panama, crossing to Fairbanks, and then going westward.
 "Mr. Barring. There is not a re- port on the subject that does not say that Valdez is the best starting point. Major Richardson says;
 "rhe length of the route described, leaving out the coast connections, will not be far from 1000 miles, a!- though the distance cannot be def- nitely given without preliminary sur vey. From my personal knowledge and from such information as I have been able to gather concerning the country, l think it can be safely stat ed that the route presents no serious difficulties of grade or other expensive form of construction. My experience does not enable me to give close estimate of the probable cost of such q road, but from some figures I have OH such work in Alaska l onot think the original cost of construction and equipment should exceed $25, 1000 per mile; possibly net more than $20, ,OOO.
 As q form of aid l would recom- mend q flat bonus per mile with a guaranteed interest for q period of years, or direct interest on a sum per mile for Il specified number of years, and invite capital to bid. It is sug- gested that the initial step be taken in the form of an act of congress de- fning the route in general terms and the character of road to be built and authorizing proposals to be invited !; first, as to the amount of subsidy per mile and the time required for con