The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19
ALASKA RAILROAD
MEASURE PASSES
HOUSE, 23O TO 81
Authorizes S35,0O0,000
for Line Not to Exceed
1000 Miles in Length.
BILL GOES AT ONCE
TO CONFERENCE
Desire Is to Rush It to President
for His Signature-Means An
other Great Engineering
Project Under Direc-
ton of Govern
ment.

minlstration Alaska railroad bin au-
thorizing the President to construct a
s35.0o0,0oo railway from Aiaska's coast
TO Its great coal fields. was passed by
tho House late to-day by a voto OF
$50 TO ST.
a similar measure already has
passed the Senate, and the bills Will be
taken up nj once In conference bc-
tween tho two houses. with n view TO
sending It quickly 10 the President.
who has eignificd his intention OF
signing IT.
AT the eleventh hour. after sharp
parliamentary skirmish. the House
eliminated from the bill as reported
by tho Territories Committee. a pro-
vision authorizing bond Issue OF
sS5.00o.oo0 TO finance tho railroad. and
TO be paid off by the proceeds of gov
ernment land sales In Alaska The
Senate bill provided for sio.o000o0
bond Issue.
Representative Fitzgerald OF New
York. led u fight which resulted In
striking out the entire bond provision
from tho bill. Under the amended
measure tho project would be financed
out OF current funds In tho treasury,
the President being limited to $780,
900. and 81 10000 being appropri-
ated for immediate expenses. Com
gross would appropriate each year tho
amount estimated ns necessary FOR the
construction OF the road.
Not TO Exceed 1000 Miles.
The bill provides for tho construc-
ton OF road mot TO exceed 1000
miles. to bc so located to connect
one or more OF tho open Pacific Ocean
harhors on the Southern coast OF Alas
kn with the naviEablc waters in the
interior Of Alaska, and with coal
neld or fields yielding coal sufficient In
quality and quantity for naval use, SO
as to best aid in the development OF
tho agricultural and mineral or other
resources OF Alaska"
An effort was made by opponests OF
the bill. led by Representative Daven-
port, OF Oklahoma, 10 postpone the final
vote until "Wednesday, but ii was de-
feated
President Wilson to-day told Rep
resentative Underwood, Democratic
House leader. that members could be
assured OF his support for the ALASKA
bill Reports have recently been cir
culatcd that the President was OPP
posed TO Il.
Tho Alaskan railway project is OF
more interest than even the eNpendi-
tura OF the $4,000 600 proposed ordi
narily would create. Coming soon
after the completion OF the Panama
Canal, IT is attracting attention as an
other great engineering project under
the direction OF the American govern
rnent. Moreover. the new project is
government ownership of a public util-
ity. IT Is expected to open great re-
sources that until now have been for
the most part lying idle. and Will at
ford employment TO a large army OF
men both in it's construction and In it's
maintenance. II also will develop
Alaska aRriculturaily as we'll as in
other ways by attracting homestead
ers, friends OF the measure claim. and
IL viii cheaper greatly various com
Inodities of commerce, notably coal
Great Power with President.
The bill, which places great power in
the hands OF the President directs him
TO locate and acquire, by purchase or
construction. or by both means, line
or lines OF railroads from tdewater
into the interior of Alaska, and to
navigation on the Yukon, Tanana or
Kuskokwill Rivers.
In choosing the route. he is to use
his Judgment as to what will best
promote the settlement OF Alaska, de-
velop it's resources, and provide ade
Quate transportation for coal for army
and navy, for troops and munitions
OF war. and for the malls.
Tho total OF al railroads bought or
constructed is not to exceed 1000
miles. and the appropriation for the
purpose is s35,000o0o.
The President is authorized, If he
sees ut, to permit the government rail
road TO he operated by contract or
lease, or it may he operated by the
Panama Railroad Company. In con-
structing and operating the Alaskan
railroad, the President is authorized to.
employ In Its construction and opera
ton any number of men he may think
necessary, choosing them as he pleases,
only that those chosen from civil life
shall be under the supervision, in the
work OF construction, of the engineers
taken from the army. The appoint
ment of any engineer from civil life
whose salary exceeds $4,000 a year
must be confirmed by the Senate
The President has authorized, and
tho Alaskan Railroad Commission rec
Alaska all the machinery and equip
ment used in the construction of the
Panama Canal as rapidly as 1t is not
needed in Panama, and can be used in
ALASKA. the President to fix the price
10 be paid for II to tho Isthman Canal
Commission.
RcguintiOn of Rates.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, subject to the approval OF the
President, is empowered to regulate
passenger and freight rates on the new
: railroad, and the rates are to be uni
form, with no discrimination in favor
OF agents of tho government, except
the usual provision for employees and
their families.
The bill creates tho ALASKA Rail
ways redemption fund.- into which is
to he paid 75 per cent of all money re-
ceivcd from the sale or lease Of public
lands In Alaska: from the sale of coal
or mineral or timber on public lands,
and from the not earnings OF tho rail
CONTINUED On Ninth Pago)