The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-24
ALASKA GETS ROAD
GOVERNMENT DEFINITELY DE.
ciDEs TO BUILD RAILWAY
IN FAR NORTH.
ARMY MEN TO Do THE WORK
Not Expected That Road VIII Pay
From Start, But 1t Will Prove
Big Factor in Development
Work.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

by GEOH0E CEIN ON.
Washington.-It finally has been set
tied by legislative act that the govern
ment shall build railroad in Alaska
Whether or not Uncle Sam is to op-
crate the road is left for future consid-
GRAFTON. 1t is possible that one of
the army engineers who did big work
on the Isthmus of Panama will be sent
to Alaska to undertake the job of rail
road construction. The officer SO or
dered to the North his record will be
proof enough that he will do his new
work well and as quickly as possible
1t is feared by some of the friends
of the plan for government built
construction will not be supported by
appropriations of suff1cie size to en-
able the engineers to complete the
work quickly The money, S35, O0O,-
600, will be forthcoming, it is under
stood, in continuing appropriations"
and if the amount allotted every year
or every two years is small of the
road of necessity will move forward
slowly.
Appropriations for the Panama ca
nal were forthcoming in quick time
and in large amounts The pride of
every American seemed to be aroused
and the national legislators voted the
money in large sums and quickly A
reluctant congress would have meant
protracted operations and the canal
today probably would be nowhere
near completion if the money had not
been voted without delay and with
out much debate. If like action is ia
ken in regard to the Alaska project
the railroad will be built in fairly
short order.
Will Be Hard Job.
Congress never has been unani-
mously in favor of this government
work. In fact some men believe that
at heart the majority of the members
of the present congress are opposed
to the plan. 1t is felt that the unwilI-
ing ones were moved to willingness
only by the apparent desire of the
country that the experiment should be
made. The job of building the Alas
kan road will be big one and hard
one. The engineers know all the diff
ficulties that will be in their way.
They know what they must do and
that they must have money to do it.
1t is definitely known that the corps
of engineers of the army feels that If
some of it's members are to be put at
the work of railroad building, the
credit Of its chosen individual officers
depends upon willingness of the law
makers to do the right thing by pro-
ject which seemingly has the approval
of the people. 1t is limited in Wash
ington that many of the conservative,
not to call them reactionary, members
of congress, would be glad if the gov
eminent construction plan should be a
failure. 1t is within the power of
congress to make it a failure or at
any rate to drag the work out so long
that the people will be led to believe
that it is a failure.
The Panama work has shown that
army engineers can undertake almost
any task of magnitude and push it
through to successful ending. A
railroad. however, cannot be built
without money and the engineer who
goes to Alaska as chief of construc-
ton will be man depressed in spirit
in advance unless he is certain that
congress is to be with him in his en-.
| deavor.
Will Not Pay at Start.
Army men have completed after
many years of hard work a wagon
road from Valdez to Fairbanks. The
distance covered is about 400 miles
| and the work was of kind to dis.
courage any man without the soldier
instinct This road has been built
by Lieutenant Colonel Wilds P. Rich.
ardson of the infantry, Lieutenant
Glenn E. Edgerton of the. engineer
corps with Lieutenant L. A Kunzig
acting as disbursing officer. These
| three officers constitute what is
known as the board of road commits
sioncrs for Alaska
If the people of the United States
railroad in Alaska is to pay from the
start it would be well for them to read
the government reports on the sub
ject, particularly the last report of the
Board of Road Commissioners. There
is no thought that it will pay and the
country ought to remember this il
order that it can discount the charge
which is sure to be made eventual
ly that the road does not pay simply
because 1t is a government PROPOSE
ton.
The government railroad will hell
in the work of the developing and set
thing Alaska, for a considerable par
of the territory, 100000 square mile:
as estimated by the agricultural de
partment, is suitable for farming ant
grazing. The railroad will help make
the country prosperous and eventually
it may declare dividends in favor O
the people. The time for such hap
py issue is far distant, but it shoult
be remembered that it probably woult
be just as far distant if the road wer,
to be constructed and operated b,
private individuals.
Scattering Joy.
There is no beautifier of form o