Valdez daily prospector., 1913-03-31
MONDAY. MARCH 3l. 1913.
LET THE WILSON IDEA PRE-.
 VAIL.

The ulrsti ion of railroad con slructiun in Alaska has been brought within the range of prac- tical politics by President Taft < message to congress last week dealing with he matter, and the selection of routes becomes a subject of vital importance to every resident of the Interior. The proposals submitted by Pres ident Taft include the construc- ton of two trunk limestone starting inland from COrdONa and the other with terminal at Sew ard. On the other hand, we have the counter proposals of WOod- row Wilson, who, if reports are correct, favors the construction of two trunk lines with but one t"rminal-Seward.
 Now while the people of Alas ka, or at least the vast body of them, may have no voice in the ultimate disposition of the mat ter, it is within their province to discuss the various proposals, criticise them if they see fit, and make whatever suggestions they deem advisable to secure recog- milton of the special claims of their respective localities. There fore it is not to be wondered at that when this question of rail- road construction in Alaska looms ahead all districts clamor for a hearing. Especially is this the case in the coast towns, the continued existence of which may depend upon the longed-for rail- roads to the interior.
 But considerations of the ben eft that might accrue to one coast town. or injury that may re- suit to another. should not, and probably will not have any bear ing upon the ultimate IrcisOn-- the sole question to De settled be- ing: What form should railroad construction in Alaska take so khat it may result in the greatest good to the territory as d whole? When an answer is found to that question, he selection of routes and terminals is settled once and for all. regardless of agitation. petitions. meetings uf protest, |, etc., that may pnsue. But that does mol preclude us from looking into Inc proposals submitted. anC judging of their merits and de- merits from our viewpoint. es- ppcialIy as Iditarod is provided for in any case. and we can ap- proach the subject without bias.
 In his message to congress Presid Taft recommended the construction of two trunk lines one having terminal at COrdOva and going inland to Fairbanks !; the other starting from Seward, tapping the Matanuska coal fields, then turning westward and com ing to Iditarod. This scheme has several drawbacks and is sure to meet with much opposition, for reasons which we shall demon- Strate. IL will be remembered that the original proposition was to appeal to congress to appro- priate funds for the construction of one thousand miles of rail- roads in Alaska. In his report on proposed railroad routes in Alas ka, published last year, Dr. X. Il Brooks estimated the average cost of construction at Si0,00O a mile, which would mean an approprla- ton of SlO,OOO. 1000. But Presi- dent Taft's scheme to make Cor dova a terminal would necessitate the purchase of i23 miles of the Copper River railroad. As this road cost $90,0OO mile to build the cost to the government would be over SIi 100000, OF sufficient according to Dr. Brooks. to builC 275 miles of new road in a more favored locality. There are yet other objections to President Taft's proposals. Not only do they include handing an elev- en-milliOn-d dollar melon to the Alaska Syndicate; but they ignore the claims of the rich Susitna valley, the Bonnifield district, and the Nenana coal fields, and would