The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-02-27
alaskan ROAD
BILL IS PASSED
s35.OOO,OOO Measure Has APP
prevail Of President.
,ond Provision Cut Out Current
Flu Funds to Be Used Panama
Canal Plan to Govern.

washington, D. C.-The admins
.otion Alaska bill, authorizing the
1 psosident to construct a $35, 900, 600
ailroad from Alaska's coast to its
.re coal fields, was passed by the
sonse Thursday by vote of 230 to 81.
IVA A similar measure already has
ossed the senate, and the bills will be
lp"Lon ND at once in conference be-
. .a the two houses, with a view to
ding the measure to the President,
~ho has signified his intention Of sign
'n A. the eleventh hour, after a sharp
,orliamentary skirmish, the house
Eliminated from the bill, as reported
W. the territories committee, provis-
IN authorizing bond issue of $685.
nOO 200 to finance the railroad, and to
he paid off by the proceeds of govern
mont land sales in Alaska. The SEN
ate bill provided for $4,000, 600
bond issue. Representative Fitz-
rsrsld, of New York, led fight
which resulted in striking out the
bond provision.
Under the amended measure the
INFECT would be financed out of the
current funds in the treasury, the
President being limited to $35, 0O0,-
OOO, and 81, 100000 being appropriat-
ed for immediate expenses. Congress
would appropriate each year the
amount estimated to be necessary for
the construction of the road.
The bill provides for the reconstruc-
ton of road mot to exceed 1000
miles. to be so located as to connect
one or more of the open Pacific Ocean
harbors on the southern coast of Alas
ka with the navigable waters in the
interior of Alaska, and with coal
field or fields yielding coal sufficient in
quality and quantity for naval use, 80
as best to aid in the development of
the agricultural and mineral or other
resources of Alaska"
The project is of more interest than
even the expenditure of the $35, 000,-
900 proposed would ordinarily create.
Coming so soon after the completion
of the Panama canal, it is attracting
attention as another great engineering
project under the direction of the
American government. Moreover, the
project is to be the first test in this
country of government ownership of a
public utility; it is expected to open
to the commerce of the world great
and rich resources that until row have
been for the most part lying idle.
The bill directs the President to ac-
qure, by purchase or construction, a
line or lines Of railroads from tide
water into the interior of Alaska and
to navigation on the Yukon, Tanana or
Kuskokwim rivers. In choosing the
route he is to use his judgment as to
what will best promote the settlement
of Alaska, develop its resources and
provide adequate transportation for
coal for the army and navy, for troops
and for munitions of war and for the
mails.
In conducting and operating the
Alaskan railroad the President is au-
thorized to employ any number of men
he may think necessary, choosing
them as he pleases, only those chosen
from civil life shall be under the SUI
perviSon, in the work of construction,
OF the engineers taken from the army.
Inc appointment of any engineer from
civil life whose salary exceeds $4,000
ayear must be confirmed by the SEN
ate.
The President is authorized to utilize
In Alaska all the machinery and equip
ment used in the construction of the
fanama canal as rapidly as it is not
needed in Panama and can be used in
Alaska.
The opening of mines in Alaska, to-
getner with the building of a railroad
ana the opening of the Panama canal,
" is estimated, will save the govern
nent from So to SIS on it's coal burned
On the Pacific Coast.