The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-04-19

IA transportation. ana RldShd
"a has problems Of vital interest
n "a TO every man in the United
States who hopes for develop.
ment of the country and for a square
deal. People may fuss about the coal
lands. may dispute about government
al action, may shiver at the thought
of lonI and severe winters, but still
the real problem before the great
country OF Alaska Is transportation
not graft.
1t is not every man who has taken
time TO consider Alaska as a part OF
the United States. II Is not every
man who has taken the trouble to
learn that every Alaskan harbor south
Of Cooks inlet, on 60 degrees north
latitude, is ice-free and open to navi-
cation the year round At the same
time II Is well known fact that the
ports of Montreal, Quebec. st. John,
Albany and Buffalo are closed abso-
lutely to navigation during the winter
months. And the commerce Of these
Atlantic and lake ports is tremen.
dous when considered with the ship
ping of the country year in and year
out. writes A. H. Harris In the Los
Angeles Times. AS a matter Of fact,
the only important ports OF Alaska
that are closed by the severe weather
Of winter are Nome St MiChaels and
Fairbanks. Ketchikan. juneau. Skag,
way, Cordova. Valdez and Seward en-.
Joy at least a weekly mail service
from the United States by steamer.
Alaska. a country rich I'm minerals,
In timber and in agricultural posi-.
bilities, 12 times the area OF Ohio, has
about 500 miles of railroad, operated
by eight companies, Five Of these
roads are purely local. catering to the
traffic of the mines in their respective
territory. The other three, the Cop
per River and Northwestern. the
White Pass and Yukon. and the Alas
ka Northern, are barely entitled &c
the title Of railroads when considered
on the basis Of railroads In the United
States proper The White Pass and
Yukon alone furnishes transportation
facilities 20 the interior of Alaska by
way Of the Yukon river. partly through
Canadian territory, with only II.
miles Of track al told
As the Yukon river freezes during
a long period in winter, the Whit,
Pass road can only be used advantage
ly during the summer months AnC
It may be worth mentioning In pass
Ing that this railroad was built will
London capital I'm an effort 20 develol
that part Of the great north countr,
under the rule of the crown. I'm dc
Ing so IL was necessary to pas
through American territory 10 reacl
n port on the Pacific ocean Eve
with the handicap Of partial or CON
plete idleness during the sever
weather OF winter the road was
financial success from the bcginnin
of operation.
Use Electric Cars.
At Seward a standard gauge roa
has been constructed for 70 miles an
surveyed for 700 miles incudn
branch lines through the very heart {
Alaska This road, the Alaska Nortl
ern. gives very good service wit
PieClIlt cars Odligs anu Win StcHl
freight trains as demand require
The company does not attempt I
operate in winter Along the right
way of this road is the dog trail b
tween Seward and the Iditarod mi
ing district used In winter as the on
means of transportation.
At Valdez there is but little traC
laid, but the beginning OF road
the Fairbanks district has been mad
The government trail TO Fairbanks
one of the best in the country. and I
building resulted in the opening OF ;
immensely rich country tributary
Fairbanks and the Tanana river. al
in developing a great goldproducii
district The TanaDa River railroa
which is I'm s. degrees north la
tude. is enabled to operate trains I
the year round.
Cordova. Valdez and Seward are al
will be the real ports of Alaska. Ska