Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03
Approves Recommendations of Interior Department in Mes
sage on Conservation and Labor-Alse Advocates Leas-
of Water Power Sites and Favors international Commits
sion on the High Cost of Living

WHICH nave HSflculIufdl rs wen as
great mineral possibilities.
The Alaska Central road has been
constructed some seventy one miles of
! the distance from, Seward north to
| the Matannska coal5field but the con
structien beyond this has been dis
/ couraEed. first. by the fact that there
has been no policy adopted Of opening
! UP the coal lands upon which investors
! could depend and, second, because
J there seems to be lack of financial
! backing of those engaged In the enter
I prise. The secretary of the interior
has ascertained TINT the bariholders,
! who are the real owners of the road,
| are willing to sell TO the government.
| and he recommends the purchase Of
4 the existing road. such reconstruction
as may be necessary its continuance
| to the MataRuska coal fields and thence
into the valleys Of the Yukon and the
Tanana. II would be great trunk
( line and would be an opening up of
/ Alaska by government capital.
I am not in favor Of government
. ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency Of service can be had
/ by private enterprise, but I think the
conditions presented In AlAska are of
/ such q character as to warrant the
1 government, for the purpose Of en-
couraging the development Of that
I vast and remarkable territory. to build
J uDhfah
/ It can lease on terms which may be
| varied and changed to meet the grow
ing prosperity and development Of the
territory.
There is nothing in the history Of the
| United States which affords such just
reason for criticism as the failure Of
the federal government to extend the
benefit Of its fostering care to the ter
ritory of Alaska. There was a time,
! of course. when Alaska was regarded
as so far removed into the Arctic
ocean as to make any development Of
| it practically impossible, but for years
the facts have been known to those
| who have been responsible for its gov
eminent, and every one who has given
the subject the slightest consideration
has been aware Of the wonderful pos
sibilities in its growth and develop
ment If only capital were invested
there andsa good government put over
1t. / think the United States owes it.
therefore, to Alaska and to the peo-
| pie who have gone there to take an
exceptional step and to build a rail
! road that shall open the treasures Of
Alaska to the Pacific and to the people
who live along that ocean on our west
ern coast The construction of rail-
road and ownership of the fee do not
necessitate government operation. Pur-
! suant, however, to the recomMenda-
ton OF the secretary of the interior,
suggest to congress the wisdom Of pro-
viding that the president may appoint
commission of competent persons, in
Guiding two army engineers, to exam
| inc and report upon the available
routes for railroad from Seward to
the Matanuska coal fields and into the
L
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
This 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 Ma
tanuska and the problem of furnish
ing coal from that source for mercan-
tile purposes after reserying for gov
ernment mining a sufficient quantity
for tie navy.
I have already recommended to con
gress the establishment Of form of
commission government for Alaska
The territory is too extended, its needs
are too varied and its distance from
Washington too remote to enable con-
gress TO keep up with its necessities in
the matter Of legislation Of a local
character
The governor Of Alaska in his report,
which accompanies that of the secre-
tary Of the interior. points out certain
laws that ought TO be adopted and EN-
phasiZes what I have said as TO the
immediate need for a government of
much wider powers than now exists
there if it can be said to have any
government at all.
/ do not stop to dwell upon the lack
Of provision for the health of the in
habitants and the absence or made
quacy OF laws, the mere statement of
which shows their crying need. only
press upon congress the imperative ne
eessity for taking action not only to
permit The beginning of the develop
ment Of Alaska and the opening of
her resources, bat 10 provide laws
which shall give 20 those who come
:Snder their jurisdiction decent protec-
ton.
Lower Colorado River.
There is transmitted herewith a let
ter from the secretary of the interior
setting out the work done RndeF joint
resolution approved June %, 1910, au-
thorizing the expenditure of $l,000!00O
or so much thereof as might be ueees-
sary. 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 protective works erected. but
the disturbances in Mexico SO delayed
the work and the floods in the ColOra
do river were so extensive that part
of the works have been carried away
and the need for further action and ex