Douglas Island news., 1912-02-14

which have agricultural as well as great mineral possibilities.
 The Alaska Central road has been constructed some seventy one 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 seemed to be lack of financial backing of those engaged in the inter- prise.
 The secretary of the interior has as- certained 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 ex- isting road, such reconstruction as may be necessary, it's continuance to the Matanuska coal fields, and thence into the valleys of the Yukon and the Tanaua. It would be great trunk line and would be an opening up of Alaska by government capital.
 1 am not in favor of government ownership where the same certainty and efficiency of service can be had by private enterprise, but think the con. ditions presented in Alaska are of such character as to warrant the govern ment for the purpose of encouraging the development of that vast and re- markable territory, to build and own a trunk line railroad, which it can lease on terms which may be varied and changed to meet the growing prosper ity 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 it's fostering care to the territory of Alaska. There was time, of course, when Alaska was re- ] garded as so far removed into the Arc tic 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 it's government, and every one who has given the subject the slightest consid- ! eration has been aware of the wonder ! fuI possibilities in it's growth and de- l velopment if only. capital were invest ed there aud good government put over it. think the United States owes it, therefore, to Alaska, and to the peo- pie who have gone there, to take an ex- ceptional step and to build a railroad that shall opeu the treasures of Alaska to the Pacific and to the people who
 live along that ocean on our western coast.
 The construction of railroad and ownership of the fee do not necessitate governmeng operation. Pursuant, however, to the recommendation of the secretary of the interior, suggest to congress the wisdom of providing that the president may appoint commis- sion of army engineers, to examine aud report upon the available routes for railroad from Seward to the Matanuska coal fields and into the Tanana and Yukon valleys, with an estimate of the f value of the existing partially con- structed railroad and of the cost of continuing the railroad to the proper points in the valleys banned. This pro- posal 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 l a 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 reserving for government mining sui. ficient quantity for the navy.