The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-21
alaska RAILWAY BILL PASSES
ALREADY A( TED On BY SEN ATE
GOVERNMENT LINE Is Az.
SCRED.
VIII Gross Country to Great Coal
Fiesds-Prcsident Will Have Charge
az Details OF Construction--Total
Gust. as Adopted by House. IL to
he Not Over $4,000, 900.


100000 railroad from Alaska's coast
To its great coal fields, was passed
by the house late today by a vote of
ESQ to 81.
A similar measure already has
passed tho senate and the bill will
De taken up ut once in conference
between the two houses. with view
Tn sending IL quickly To the presi-
dent. who has signifed his intention
OF signing IL.
At the eleventh hour. after sharp
parliamentary skirmish. the house
eliminated from the bill. rs reported
by the territories committee, n pro-
vision authorizing a bond issue of
sJ5,000,00O to finance the railroad
and to he paid off by the proceeds OF
government land sales i'm Alaska. The
senate bill provides for a $40. 900. 900
bond issue. Representative Fitzgerald
OF New York led fight which re-
suited In striking out the entire bond
provision from the bill.
Under the amended measure the
project would be financed out of cur
rent funds in the treasury. the prcsi-
dent being limited to s35.o00.O 900 and
N,oOO.oO0 being appropriated for inn
mediate expense. Congress would ap~
propriate each year the amount es-
umated as necessary for the construc-
tion OF the road.
The bill provides FOR tho construc-
tion OF road mot To exceed 1000
miles. 10 be so located as to connect
one or more Of the open Pacific ocean
haroors on the southern coast OF
Alaska with the navigable waters In
the interior of Alaska and with a coal
field or fields yielding coal sufficient
In quality and quantity for naval use
so as To best all in the development
or the agricultural and mining or
other resources OF Alaska.
An effort was made by opponents
OF the bill led by Representative
Davenport OF Oklahoma to postpone
the final vote Until Wednesday. but
II was defeated.
The project is OF more interest than
even the expenditure OF the S35 5,O00,-
900 proposed would ordinarily create
Coming SO soon after the completion
or the Panama canal il is attracting
attention as another great engineering
project under the direction OF the
American government. In q sense,
too. IL compares with the govern
ments undertaking in the COS TO push
the Pacific railways across the un-
broken praries and mountains Of the
West and thus link together the West
and the East. Moreover. the new
project Is TO he the frs. test in this
country OF government ownership OF
public utility: IL is expected to open
To tho commerce of the world great
and rich resources that until now have
been for the most part lying idle; II
Will AFFORD employment to large
army OF men both I'm its construc-
tion and I'm It's maintenance: IL will
develop Alaska agriculturally as well
az In other ways by attracting home
steaders; and IL will cheaper greatly
various commodities of commerce,
notably coal. AT least these are all
things which the friends OF measure
claim for II.
The bill places great power in the
hands OF the president and was op-
posed by some on this ground not that
they expressed any fear in regard to
President Wilson's judgment and in
tegrity but that they thought IL was
TOO much power to put in the hands Of
any one man and directs him to To-
cate and acquire by purchase or con-
structiOn. or by both means a line
or lines OF railroads fiom tidewater
into the interior of Alaska and to
navigation ON the Yukon. Tsnana. or
kuskokwim rivers. In choosing tho
route ne ~ To- use his mdemcn, NO N
what will best promote the settlement
OF Alaska. develop it's resources. and
provide adequate transportation for
coal for the army and navy, for troons
and munitions OF war ana for the
mails. The limitations as 20 price i'm
case OF purchase, there being q few
miles of railroad already constructed.
Is that IL must not exceed the physi-
cal value Of the railroad property.
The total of all railroads bought or
constructed Is not 10 exceed 1000
miles and tho appropriation for the
purchase is $4,000 900, so that no is
limited to an expense of s35 900
mile.
The president Is authorized. IL he
sees ht' To- permit the government rail-
road to be operated bv contract or