Valdez daily prospector., 1913-04-18
OPPOSITION TO. 1.-THE '%:rA. 0U0GENHEfM ROAD
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 ment of short railroads already built by private capital. The Gug- genheims now own and operate the Copper River & Northwestern railroad, running inland from Cordova. The Alaska Northern, heading at Seward. forms part of the second proposed trunk line. Oppose Purchase of Road.
 Certain interests, however, are now at work bitterly opposing the purchase by the government of of the GuggenheiIn road, and it's extension, saying, first, that it would be unWise for the govern mtnt to take over the Guggen- helm road, and, secondly, that the CordOva route would be imprac- ticable, in that it would, for the most part, penetrate a section of Alaska not particularly in need of transportation facilities. It is represented that the Guggcn- helms would be only too glad tU sell their railroad to the 2OVern- ment. because it is extremely eX- pensive of operation and main tenance, and frequently out of commission, by reason of snow slides, floods, etc. If it could be turned over to the government, the cost of maintaining the road would be shifted to the govern ment, and the Guggenheims would still have the use of the line for getting their ore from the copper mines to their Smelters. Count ing upon the unpopularity of the Guggenheims, these interests are hopeful of defeating the prOpOs- al to build a trunk line inland from Cordova.
 Favor Taking Alaska Northern.
 There is. however, strong sen- timent in favor of the govern menl purchase of the Alaska Nor thern railroad from Seward, and the statement is made that this property can be taken over by the government at it's own figure, the owners believing they will get a fair price in case the government decides to buy. Those favoring the Seward railroad maintain that this trunk line, penetrating to the Yukon, Panama, and kuskokwim lvalleys, would open up the great agricultural region of Alaska, and with a 38-mile feeder, would tap the Matanuska coal field, rich in high grade coals, while the more extensive Nenana fields in he Panama valley, covering i65 square miles of area. would be itraversed by the extension of the main trunk road.
 From present indications. strong efforts will be made to block the construction of a trunk line railroad from Cordova to the upper Yukon. and those fighting this proposition will concentrate their efforts on the road from Seward. Not only will they urge the construction of a road from Seward as extensive as that pro- posed by the railroad commission, but extensions of this road to the more important mining districts. and ultimately an extension to the international boundary, to connect with the Grand Trunk Pacific, with a view of giving that transcOntinental line an outlet al Seward, and incidentally provid- ing Canadian markets for the Matanuska and Nenana coals. 1 Feeders May be Built.
 The bills which will be intro duced. or some of them, will au- thorize private interests to build feeders to the government trunk lines, bringing mining districts OF other freight producing areas in tO connection with the great transportation system. but with a proviso that any feeder con- meeting with the government road shall grant equal rates to all per- sons desiring to ship over such 1 feeders. $ l If inc CouStrlIrti ion of a ir,Ink