The Washington herald., 1908-03-04


In few days to end as sensational a
fight. and one which has spread over
all the great North country. as was ever
depicted by the trenchant pen OF Jack
London. Mob only have men and blood
she'd fortunes or poverty figured in this
battle for the control OF part OF Alas
ka's undeveloped wealth. but even the
element Of time. last 10 be relied upon
by the dramatist, has latterly played a
most conspicuous. part in this affair, in
which the United States Senator Cr men
said to be within his control. has taken
no insignificant part.
Years ago. when Senator Simon Gug-
genheim, OF Colorado, multimillionaire,
smelter king and mine owner, bought up
a great part OF the copper properties
OF the North, Alaska possessed but one
railroad. In the fertile mind OF the man
who has made millions from the ground.
sprang up the picture of great trans
portation line from the harbor-the only
one-in all Southern Alaska. to these vast
copper fields in The interior
Not only was this line TO penetrate to
the Copper River country. rich in the
mineral from which its name was taken.
but It was to touch in that going. a
great coal field. some gold-produclng
country, and after reaching the copper
country. was 10 shoot of to the north
70 reach the Yukon and the great IN
scratched interior Of our Northern pos
session.
Started TO Build Road.
day-or the men who are said 20 repre-
sent hin-alI over the Pacific Coast this
line is known as the Guggenheim line
started IN to build from Katalla, Just on
the mainland OF Alaska, from Whale ISL
and. in Controller Bay. his bit Of North
err railroad The difficulties were many
but the Senator was determined. and he
went ahead.
But before he had gone far. the builder
of this line. which had been named the
Copper River and Northwestern Railway,
found that another man. with equally as
great foresight. had himself risen TO
grasp the potential wealth that would be-
long to the man who opened Up this road
Last summer the news flashed down 70
Seattle, the gateway to the North. that
clash between armed men representing
the Guggenheim and the Bruner the
other road forces had taken place. and
that one man. a foreman for the latter.
had been killed. Part OF that story was
afterward denied. and the ground taken
that this man had been slain by his own
men. and not in a battle
The fact remains that between the en-
ployes oS the Guggenheim road and those
employed by the Bruner company there
was no good feeling. The race to COM
plete the road became more than a race.
Day after day, night after night. the two
roads forged ahead. and no one knew
which would win
Clause Not Forgotten.
But there is a little clause in one OF
the laws of the United States regulating
the rights OF way OF railroad companies
and the building of lines in Alaska, which
was not forgotten by the Guggenheim
road. By this clause the other road,
known officially as the 'Alaska-Pacific
Railway and Terminal Company. must
have completed a tYenty-mfle section of
its road before the 18th day of March.
1908.
Time came upon the boards of the
drama that has millions for its climax,
and the Guggenheim people looked to
win upon technicaIity. But the mem
bers Of the House Committee on Terri
tories. TO whose attention the matter was
brought, through a bill introduced and
passed by the Senate. think that there IS
a good chance that the Pacific
company viii have the time OF IT'S first
section extended one year.
When the House committee began the
consideration OF this bill. which proposes
such an extension os time. the fight had
stopped in the far north-cold coming
down out OF the mountain stops even rail-
road builders in the North. In the COM
mittee room in the House ONCE building,
II began again. This time It was in
yelled terms. quite polite. and was car
ried on by legal gentlemen. who called
upon the written law. and not upon the
strength OF arm or the ability OF fast con-
struction 10 win out.
An Attorney Appears.
Attorney for the Copper River and
Northwestern Company appeared before
the committee during the progress Of the
hearings on the bin and asked that moth
ing prejudieial to the interests of his
road be done through this measure.
From the report OF the committee. which
was made yesterday. the fact is made
plain that the Guggenheim road asserted
n prior right to the harbor rights OF way
from that harbor. and. therefore sought
10 be protected from any so-caIled preju-
dicial action in favor OF its rival. The
committee became convinced, however.
that instead OF a prior right, vesting in
the Copper River Road. there was. indeed.
a prior right in the Alaska-Pacifc Com
pany.
In the report Of the committee, II IS
stated that there is a disposition on its
part to do everything possible to facilitate
the opening of the great territory OF in
terror Alaska, which now lies dormant
waiting for the magic Of the white man S
railroad 10 waken Into life.
The committee also states that Il does
not want the North country to become
the stamping ground OF any particular
railroad, but that it prefers, wherever
possible. 20 have more than one road
reaching any certain point.
Makes Strong Plea,
In closing the report, which makes a
strong plea that Congress pass the bill.
II is stated that unless the Alaska-Pacifc
Company is granted the right 10 this ex-
tension Of time. the Copper River and
Northwestern Company will be left in
sole control of the transportation from
the one harbor In southern Alaska.
TO get the bill through the House be-
fore March Is, as Is necessary. may re-
quire some quick action upon the part of
its hackers, but IL Is likely that It will
be considered in time.