The Springfield herald., 1912-04-19

~ to every man in the United
States who hopes for develop
ment of the country and for square
deal. People may fuss about the coal
lands. may dispute about government
al action. may shiver at the thought
of long 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. 1t Is not every
man who has taken the trouble to
learn that every Alaskan harbor south
of Cooks inlet, on 60 degrees north
latitude. Ia ice-free and open to navl-
CATION the year round. At the same
time it 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 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. n country rich in minerals,
in timber and in, agricultural possi-
., 81, a.
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 to
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 to the interior of Alaska by
way of the Yukon river. partly through
Canadian territory with only 112
miles of track all told.
AS the Yukon river freezes during
long period In winter, the White
Pass road can only be used advantage
ly during the summer months. And
1t may be worth mentioning in pass
ing that this railroad was built with
London capital In an effort to develop
that part of the great north country
under the rule of the crown. In do
ing SO It was necessary to pass
through American territory to reach
ho por 40
with the handicap of partial or com
plete idleness during the severe
weather of winter, the road was a
financial success from the beginning
of operation.
Use Electric Cars.
At Seward standard gauge road
has been constructed for 72 miles and
surveyed for 700 miles. Including
branch lines, through the very heart of
Alaska. This road. the Alaska North
ern. gives very good service with
electric cars daily. and with steam
freight trains as demand requires.
The company does not attempt to
operate in winter Along the right of
way of this road Is the dog trail be-
tween Seward and the Iditarod> min.
ing district. used In winter as the only
means of transportation.
At Valdez there is but little track
laid, but the beginning of a road to
the Fairbanks district has been made.
The government trail to Fairbanks is
one of the best In the country. and its
building resulted in the opening OF an
immensely rich country tributary to
Fairbanks and the Tanana river, and
in developing great gold-producing
district. The Tanana River railroad.
which is in 65 degrees north lati-
tude is enabled to operate trains all
the year round.
Cordova. Valdez and Seward are and
will he the real ports of Alaska. Ska&-
way is an important port, but Is main
ly used in winter as the starting point
for Dawson, which Is In Canada. and
not in Alaska, as many Americans
seem to think. These three seaports
are the natural termini for railroads
to the Interior and the only places
where the commerce of the country
could be handled cheaply and success
fully. Cordova is easily the railroad
center of all Alaska. having more
than 200 miles of track connected
with the terminals on the coast. The
Morgan-Guggenheim syndicate op
crates the road and gives pretty de
cent service. A man can take his
camp equipment In "a hours to inter
for points that before the advent oi