The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-10

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it ono OF the great producing sections
OF the country. 7--s
Coal Production. ----
Az regards coal production it was
pointed out that at present residents
Of Alaska are compelled to pay as
much as $26 per ton for coal shipped
from the coal fields OF the ,t Morld 10 Wnsn *1sir
doors ready to be mined.
Mr.. Wickersham, delegate from
Alaska to the Slxty-third congress-
c0ntended that the coal which was
used In a recent test by the navy de-
partment, and reported on adversely.
was all surface coal and that the test
had by the navy department was un-
fair. He charged that the navy de-
partment had purposely used this
grade of coal because there were In.
fluences at work which favored coal
mines in the eastern part or the
United States. He read a letter from
the governor Of Alaska on the SUBJ
ject.
Mr.. Mckenzie took the position that
in the tropics, we had used govern
ment money, to aid a monopoly and
that in Alaska it was proposed to use
government money to "bust up mo-
nopolistic control nov existing. He
said: 1--WE spend the peoples money
in the tropics for the special benefit
Of a monopoly. But you say what has
this to do with the pending bill for the
construction Of railroads in Alaska
Nothing at all. except to make plain
tory position In which congress IL
placed. In the one case we have con-
structed a canal for the benefit OF mo-
nopolists; in the other we are asked to
construct a railroad to overthrow
another set Of monopolists.
Step Toward Socialism.
Mr.. Slayden took the position that
it was a step toward socialism. He
said he believed in the greatest liberty
of action for the individual and the
narrOwest possible field OF activity for
the government. He said this was be-
ginning on a small scale the govern
ment ownership of railroads.
Taggart q Pioneer In Spirit.
Mr.. Taggart of the Second district
of Kansas favors the project. He IL
a pioneer in spirit, and thinks the bill
will pass the house two to one. He
said: who will say that the gov
ernment of the United States should
not take steps to develop region
that comprises more than one-seventh
of it's whole territory? 1t does not
mean that we are committed to the
policy of government ownership OF
railroads any more than the construc-
ton Of the Panama canal means that
we are committed to the policy of
government ownership of canals
Alaska lS du eACSPt1Ou. III It's QACS-
ent status no person or corporation
without enormous wealth could do
anything toward developing its re-
sources. The man OF small means is
absolutely prevented from making a
success of any kind of enterprise in
Alaska. He would have no means of
transportation. Railroads have been
built there not for the profits that
might be derived from carrying
freight or passengers, but simply as
a means of reaching the mineral
wealth Of the interior. Then the
people are prohibited from taking and
developing the mineral claims. and
some of the railroads necessarily
failed. Notwithstanding this, Alaska
ly, nearly all from the coast, and has
up to date produced more than $780,
100000 in wealth. When means OF
transportation are provided for the
use of the people, who can estimate
what will then be the value of the
output of Alaska?
will not the additional revenue de-
rived from the income tax easily pay
the interest on the bonds for $685.
100000 that it is proposed to issue,
and will not the sale of lands pay the
principal? I believe that the develop
ment Of Alaska by building these
railroads will not ultimately cost the
people of the United States a single
dollar. If Alaska is allowed to re-
main, in its present condition., it will
never be of any value to anyone. It
belongs to the American people, and
Let us open it and help to develop it's
resources for the benefit Of the Amer
lean people.
I'VE have now determined that we
are going to build one railroad In
Alaska and own that railroad"
T.. w. TF7 AVIS