The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-15
PUBLIC RAILROADS FOR ALASKA

Mr., Benz. B. Hampton, editor OF
Hampton Is Magazine. has an article in
the forthcoming April issue Of that
magazine. in favor of government con-
struction Of railroads in Alaska, and
advocating form of leasing of the
vast resources of that Territory. He
claims that Alaska is now under con
troll of the an-Guggenheim combi-
nation.
MIR. Hampton urges the well-known
fact that the great trouble with Alaska
is the lack of transportation, If the
various combina tions which have
formed or are forming TO utilize the
rich national resources of that Terri
tory are allowed their way, they Will
freeze out every one else, Their rail
roads will lead to and develop in every
case one particular region. Anything
Of value in that region will 90 to the
combination which puts In the rail
road, and no matter what anyone else
might have found. occupied, or devel-
oped within the sphere of the combi-
nation IS influence, that person might
as well turn over what he has to the
combination, for he will never get any
benefit out of 1T.
1t is understood. generally, among
geological experts that there is very
little frst-class coal in Alaska; the
most of the coal there is III the form
Of lignites of various degrees of COM
bustibiity and in immense layers or
ledges. There are. it is conceded by
them, a number of smaller layers dis
tributed through these hguites of good
coal; and the theory is that the com.
binations are formed to exploit the
country and dig out and exhaust these
rich veins, leaving the lower grade Goals
or the lignites, valueless in place.
What is wanted most is a thorough
understanding of what ought to be
done for the advancement of Alaska.
The trouble is that Alaska being an
immense region. and so different from
other parts of the country, it is not
clear Just what to do. The suggestion
made by Mr.. Hampton is one that is
not liable TO he considered favorably
by Congress. AS an initial proposition,
il would mean the expenditure of vast
amounts of money, with very little
prospect of much immediate return. 1T
would be in different sort of way,
something like the venture Of the dig
ging of the canal across the Isthmus
of Panama. The pride of the country
once engaged in the enterprise. should
tho building of railroads in Alaska be
would be sufficient to sus-
tain operations until it is completed;
and eventually it is very likely that the
system of procedure suggested by Mr..
Hampton might eventually be a good
one for the Government a generation
or two henceforward; but at present it
is open to the same old objection so
often found in the proposition of East
ern capitalists, financial men. bankers,
and operators, that is, that when it is
a matter of doubtful venture, or as
sured loss, then the Government is put
to the front to do the work, solve the
problem or suffer the loss, as the case
may be- But when gain is In sight,
the Government must keep its hands
Of. This, as rule. has been the sort of
that comes from the speeu-
lative moneyed centers. Congress as
a rule has been quite ready to respond
to that method, and doubtless Congress
will continue in the same line as here
tofore. We do not consider that there
is the least likelihood Of any serious at
tentiou being given by Congress to Mr..
Hampton s proposition, meritorious
though it may be as speculative idea
for the benefit of ages to come.