The Chitina leader., 1912-02-24
50 ! j aaa

lion OF innings thSlS - ~ AoeA'S "
build the road, because there is no
title or opportunity to open and mine
the coal
1.-THE Matanuska coal fields are a
longer distance from the coast. They
are from $50 to 200 miles from the
harbor at Seward on Resurrection
Bay. This is one of the finest harbors
| in the world, and a reservation has
been made there for the use of the
navy of the United States. A road
constructed from Seward to the Mat
anuska coal fields would form part
of system reaching from the coast
into the heart of Alaska, and open
| the great interior valleys of the Yu-
kon and the Tanana which have
agricultural as well as great miner
al possibilities
Would Be Great Trunk Line
The Alaska Central road has been
constructed some seventy one miles
of the distance from Seward north
to the Matanuska coal fields, but the
construction beyond this has been
discouraged, 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 enterprise.
1.-THE secretary of the interior has
ascertained that the boldholders, who
are the real owners of the road, are
willing to sell to the government
and he recommends the purchase of
the existing road, sucn reconstruc
ton as may be necessary its contin-
uance to the Matanuska coal fields,
| and thence into the valleys of the
| Yukon and the Tanana. 1t would be
a great trunk line and would be an
opening up of Alaska by government
capital. .
ST am not in favor or government
| ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency of service can be had
by private enterprise, but l think
the conditions presented in Alaska
are of such a character as to war
rant the government, for the purpose
| of encouraging the development of
| that vast and remarkable territory,
to built and own a trunk line rail
| road which it can lease on terms
which may be varied and changed to
meet the growing prosperity and de-
veiopment of the territory.
There is nothing in the history OF
the United States which affords such
just reason for criticism as the fail
ure of the federal government to ex.
tend the benefit of it's fostering care
to the territory of Alaska. There was
a time of course, when Alaska was
| regarded as so far removed into the
Arctic ocean as to make any deevlop.
ment practically impossible, but for
years the facts have been known to
those who have been responsible for
ats government, and every one who
has given the subject re slightest
| consideration mas been aware of the
wonderful possibilities in it's growth
and development if only capital were
invested there and a good govern
ment put over it. think the United
States owes it, therefore, to Alaska
and to the people who have gone
there, to take an exceptional step
and to build railroad that shall
open the treasures of Alaska to the
Pacific and to the people who live
along that ocean on our westward.
Government Needn't Operate 1t
THE construction of a railroad
and the ownership of the fee do not
necessitate government operation
Pursuant. however, to the recon
mendation of the secretary of the in
terror. / suggest to Congress the wis
dom of providing that the president
may appoint commission of compe-
tent persons, including two army en-
gineers, to examine and report upon
the available routes for a railroad
from Seward to the Matanuska coal
fields and into .Ae Tanana and Yu-
kon valleys, with an estimate of the
value of the existing partially con
structed 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 secure coaling base
in the North Pacific. The commits
sion ought to make 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 a sufficient
quantity for the navy.
Commission Form of Government
II have already recommended to
Congress the establishment of form
- cou,micsiOn oovo~~.x - 49,,