The Washington herald., 1912-02-03

the Pacific and to the people who live
along that ocean on our western coast
The construction Of q railroad and own
ership OF the fee DO not necessitate gov
ernment operation. Pursuant, however
to the recommendation OF the Secretary
of the Interior, suggest TO Congress
the wisdom Of providing that the Presi'
dent may appoint commission or COM
petent persons, including two army en-
Rineers, to examine and report upon the
available routes for q railroad from Sew
ard to the Matanuska coal fields, and
into the Tanana and Yukon valleys, with
an estimate OF the value Of the existing
partially constructed railroad and OF the
cost of continuing the railroad TO the
proper points In the valleys named Thss
proposal is further justified by the need
that the navy Of the United States has
for a secure coaling base In the North
Pacific. The commission ought TO make
full report also as to the character OF
the coal fields at Matanuska. and the
problem Of furnishing coal from that
source for mercantile purposes after re-
serving for government mining q sum-
cient quantity for the navy.
Il have already recommended to Con-
gress the establishment of a form OF
commission government for Alaska The
Territory is too extended, its needs are
too varied. and its distance from Wash.
ington too remote to enable Congress to
keep up with its necessities IN the mat
ter OF legislation OF local character.
The governor Of Alaska. In his re-
port. which accompanies that Of the
Secretary Of the Interior. points out GER
tain laws that ought to be adopted. and
emphasizes what have said as to the
immediate need for government oi
much wider powers than now exists
10 - a.
eminent at all
II do not stop TO dwell upon the lack
Of provision for the health Of the In
habitants and the absence or inadequacy
OF laws. the mere statement Of which
shows their crying need. only press
upon Congress the imperative necessity
for taking action not only to permit the
beginning Of the development Of Alaska
and the opening of her resources, but TO
provide laws which shall give to those
who come under their jurisdiction decent
protection.
Lower Colorado River.
There is transmitted herewith letter
from the Secretary Of the Interior, set
ting out the work done under joint reso-
luton approved June Is, 1910. authoriz-
ing the expenditure Of S1,0Oo,0OO. or so
much thereof as might be necessary, to
be expended by the President for the
purpose Of protecting lands and property
in the Imperial Valley and elsewhere
along the Colorado River in Arizona
The money was expended and the pro-
tective works erected, but the disturb
ances in Mexico so delayed the work
and the floods in the Colorado River
were so extensive that q part Of the
works have been carried away, and the
need for further action and expenditure
of money exists. I do not make a
definite recommendation at present, for
the reason that the plan to be adopted
for the betterment of conditions near
the mouth of the Colorado River proves
to be so dependent on a free and full
agreement between the government Of
Mexico and the government Of the
United States as to joint expenditure
and Joint use that IL is unwise to move
until we can obtain some agreement with
that government which will enable US to
submit to Congress a larger plan, better
adapted to the edgencies presented than
the one adopted. II Is essential that we
act promptly, and through the State De-
partment the matter Is being pressed
upon the attention OF the Mexican gov
ernment.
The previous communications to Con-
gress have pointed out two methods by
which the water-power sites on nonnavi-
gable streams may be controlled as be-