The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-09

the construction of a branch TO those
fields not exceeding fifty or sixty
miles. 1t Is practicable, and II the
coal measures were to he opened UP
doubtless the branch would he built.
In the present condition of things
there is no motive to build the road,
because there is no title or opportunity
| TO open and mine the coal.
The Matanuska coal fields are long
er distance from the coast. They are
from 150 to 200 miles from the harbor
of Seward, on Resurrection bay. This
| is one of the finest harbors in the
world, and reservation has been
made there for the use of the navy of
the United States. A road construct.
ed from Seward to the Matanuska
| coal fields would form part of n system
| reaching from the coast into the heart
of Alaska and open the great interior
| valleys of the Yukon and the Tanana,
! which have agricultural as well as
great mineral possibilities.
The Alaska Central road has been
constructed some seventy miles of
the distance from Seward north to
the Matanuska coal fields. but the con
struction beyond this has been dis
couraged. 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
/ there seems to be n lack of financial
backing of those engaged in the enter
prise. The secretary of the interior
has ascertained that the bondholders,
who are the real owners of the road
are willing to sell to the government,
and he recommends the purchase of
the existing road. such reconstruction
as may be necessary. its continuance
to the Matanuska coal fields and thence
into the valleys of the Yukon and the
Tanana. 1t would be great trunk
line and would be an opening up of
Alaska by government capital.
am not in favor of government
ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency of service can be had
by private enterprise. but ! think the
conditions presented in Alaska are of
such a character as to warrant the
government. for the purpose Of en-
vast and remarkable territory to build
and own n trunk line railroad, which
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
rooeoD for cri+iniSu, nc tho Failure of
the federal government to extend the
benefit of its fostering care to the ter
ritory of Alaska. There was 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
ernment, and every one who has given
the subject the slightest consideration
has been aware of the wonderful pos
sibilities in it's growth and develop
ment if only capital We're invested
there and good government put over
it. l think the United States owes it.
therefore, to Alaska and to the peo-
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 a rail
road and ownership of the fee do not
necessitate government operation. Pur-
suant, however, to the recommends
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 unon the available
. routes for railroad from Seward &c
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 tC
the proper points in the valleys named
, This proposal is further justified by
the need that the navy of the United
, States has for secure coaling base in
the north Pacific. The commission
. ought to make a fun report also as tC
the character of the coal fields at Ma
. tanuska and the problem of furnish
, ing coal from that source for mercan
. tile purposes after reserving for gov
ernment mining a sufficient quantity
for the navy.
, 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
, Washington too remote to enable con
gress to keep up with its necessities il
, the matter of legislation of a loca
, character.
The governor of Alaska in his report
which accompanies that of the sPcre
, tary Of the interior, points out certain
I laws that ought to be adopted and EN-
| phasiZes what | have said as to thu
, immediate need for government o.
, much wider powers than now exists
there If it can be said to have any
, government at all.