The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-02

the construction of branch to those
fields not exceeding fifty or sixty
miles. 1t Is practicable. and II the
coal measures were to be opened up
doubtless the branch would be 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 niue the coal.
The Matanuska coal fields are long
rr distance from the coast. They are
from $50 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 a 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 we'll as
great mineral possibilities.
The Alaska Central road has been
constructed some sevcnty-one miles Of
the distance from Seward north to
the Matanuska coal fields, but the con
structlon 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 a lack OF financial
backing of those engaged in the enter
prise. The secretary of the Interior
has ascertalned 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 I'm favor of government
ownership where tho same certainty
and efficiency of service can be had
by private enterprise, but 1 think the
conditions presented In Alaska are of
such a character as to warrant the
government, for the purpose of en-
couraging the development Of that
vast and remarkable territory, to build
and own a trunk line railroad, which
1t 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 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 its growth and develop
ment If only capital were invested
there and good government put over
It. / think the United States owes 1t,
therefore, to Alaska and TO the peo-
pie who have gone there to take an
exceptional step and TO build n 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 n 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
a commission of competelt persons, in
Guiding two army engineers, TO exam
| inc and report upon the available
routes for n railroad from Seward TO
| 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 to
| the proper points in tho 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 n 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 reserving for gov
ernment mining a sufficient quantity
for the navy.
l 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 It's necessities in
the matter of legislation of Il loca
| character.
The governor Of Alaska in his report
which accompanies that OF the secre
tary OF the interior, points out certaiI
laws that ought to be adopted and EN-
| phasizes what have said as to tn,
immediate need for government o.
much wider powers than now exists
there if 1t can be said to have any
| government at all.
do not stop to dwell upon the lacl
Of provision for the health of the in
habitants and the absence or inade