South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-18
How'd You Like to Live and Grow Crops Where There's Owe
20 Hours of Sunshine Day?


special CorreSp onQenCe.
WASHINGTON. Aug. IS. - Cong
Clement Brumbaugh, who is a mem
Der Of the house committee on terri
tories. is strong for the immediate
development OF Alaska
He says that undoubtedly bill
will be passed which will put the
whole matter OF building government
railroads. opening up coal mines and
establishing collier lines in the hands
OF the president 10 carry through.
We gave $1,000. 900 for Alaska.
-S-ast year We took out Of Alaska n
gold alone about $4,000. 900. IN the
last j Z years we have taken out of
Alaska in gold, silver. copper. coal,
fish and furs about 75.0000 600. on
account Of lack Of shipping and rail-
road facilities. we have hardly begun
10 scratch the surface of Alaska No
one can estimate the billions Of I'M
discovered wealth awaiting US in this
undevel1ped wonderland
Most people are incredulous when
told OF the fine agricultural possibili-
ties in Alaska. because they imagine
that the country lacks sunlight
The shortest day in Alaska is De-
cember p. when IL has not more than
two or three hours OF sunshine on
March p the sun is shining IL hours.
on June p the Tanana valley has
from p TO p hours Of direct vigOr-
Gus sunshine and heat. and such
crops as wheat, rye. barley, oats and
potatoes are grown. matured and Tar-
vested in the four months OF constant
sunshine and heat
During these months the Tanana
valley has three-fOurths Of the years
sunshine-has more sunshine than
any point on the earth's surface south
OF it; more sunshine than California,
Ohio. Georgia or Florida
In answer TO the question Of why
the government should assist in the
development OF Alaska il can be
argued that in fairness we owe this TO
ourselves and 10 Alaska as we'll
If the development of Alaska is
properly safeguarded and the peoples
rights protected. then the citizens Of
the United States, as we'll as the gov
eminent, can hardly fail TO realize
500 for every 81 expended in Alaska.
But congress should be careful 10 see
10 II that in any plan of development
permitted or adopted all mineral and
coal deposits are forever preserved TO
the people Of Alaska and TO the peO-
pie Of the United States.
The cOncensuS of opinion is that "A
railroad should be built from the
South sea Of Alaska up through the
interior, so that by branch lines il
WoulQ open up UIle great coal Uel0S
and gold fields OF the country and
the great river valleys for home
builders, ending at some great river
navigable 10 the western ocean
Such a railroad can be built with
about 400 miles of traCkage. at a cost
Of about $40, 100000 that will give
over 5000 miles Of traffic by railroad
and water. not TO speak of the branch
lines Of the railroad and navigation
tributaries OF the great ocean river,
thus opening up 10 civilization the
valleys that are able 10 house mil
lions OF settlers. support great cities
and give outlet 10 the greatest coal
fields of the world.
such a road, accomplishing such
great results. would cost no more
than three or four battIeships, or less
than one-twentieth of the money
spent on the Panama canal"
Alaska BIG AS THESE II
STATES.
Alaska is bigger than all the
United States east Of the Alleghe-
ny mountains, including the states
in the Allegheny mountains. That
Is, this mighty American empire in
the northwest has a greater area
than the following states cOmbin-
ed: Alabama, Connecticut, Della
ware, Florida, Georgia, Maine,
Maryland. Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire. New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Rhode Island,
Vermont. Virginia and West Vir-
ginia- To equal Alaska, you would
have to Carelessly toss into the
above list-the states Of Ohio and
Indiana and another Massachu-
etts.
There are people who will tell
you that the portion of Alaska that
can be used for farming purposes
is very small. IL is-a small part
Of Alaska But If IL were cOnsid-
cred in comparison with the re-
mainder OF the United States il
would loom large indeed Com
pare IL for instance. with all New
E.1<tand and New York, which
supported the people of this
country for more than two hun
dred years and Alaska's untitled,
unOccupied farm lands will over
top them both