Evening star., 1914-04-19

making an overland trip of 700 miles
to Fairbanks. the commission unani-
mously came to the conclusion that
railway development in Alaska should
be undertaken at once and prosecuted
with vigor. In a detailed report it
recommended the construction of T33
miles of railway to connect tidewateT
on the Pacific ocean with the two
great inland waterways, the Yukon
and Kuskokwim rivers.
The report was transmitted to Con-
gress by President Taft with an out
right recommendation for construction
of the roads in accordance with the
commissions findings.
Friends of Alaska found an equally
good friend in President Wilson who
2. 1913. declared that the duty of this
country with respect to developing
Alaska had become pressing and i'm
perative one.
Jones and Chamberlain appeared to
champion the cause, while Representa-
tlFes Houston and Wickersham were
among among 1T Its active supporters in the
mouse The project grew more popular
as II became better understood, and
,,nauy received congressional sanction
march 10. 1914. by a safe majority in
ooth branches of Congress.
Under the terms of the bill passed
resident wilson is authorized to
Hame commission to have charge of
me me building of the roads. to designate
Ihe routes to be followed and to lease
the roads after they are built to pri-
Nate interests or arrange for their
operation by the government in the
e'ent IL IS found impossible to make
satisfactory leases.
10 De able to appreciate the difficulties
that must be surmounted in the building
OF great railway system in Alaska and
tne oenehts that should accrue to that
country. the United States and the world
at large through the carrying out Of this
engineering enterprise it is necessary to
Know something of the topography, eli
mate resources, population and COM
merce of Alaska
This dominion of the northwest Is NOT
all bleak and frozen. as popular magina-
uon has pictured it. Only about one
fourth OF its territory lying north of the
Endicott range is arctic. The remainder
comprises an area larger than that of all
the states east of the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio river. which is as ca
pable Of extensive industrial development
as many thickly populated and rich coun-
tries. The total area of Alaska is about
one-ffth the size of the United States
Dividing central Alaska from southern
Alaska is the Pacific mountain system.
Extending in a. great arc and failing out
ranges stands barrier between the
small costal valleys and the two inland
valleys of the Yukon and kuskokwim
rivers.
These two waterways have difficult en-
frances. but with their tributaries are
navtgable for total distance of about
300 miles. On account of the latitude at
which the former enters Bering sea. its
usages in connection with ocean-borne
commerce are limited to three summer
Op fhn
kokwim, with the exception that over
sea commerce may reach its mouth for an
additional month. There are smaller val
leys of navigabie waters. and of these
the Copper and SuSitna rivers are prob
ably the most important.
Alaska offers a variety of climates. In
the costal province the weather is COM
parable with that of Scotland and the
Scandinavian peninsula, though some
what warmer. In the inland region 1t
resembles the climate of Alberta, Sas-
katchewan and Manitoba. in Canada.
Arctic conditions are found only in the
northern province. which borders the
polar sea.
Climatic records show that the mean
temperatures for the three summer
months in southeastern Alaska vary from
ABOUT 30 degrees to about 30 degrees and
~
Srees. The highest recorded summer tenn
perature IN this section is given at 91
degrees and the lowest winter tempera-
lure at 4 degrees below zero Maximum
ana minimum temperatures recorded in
the costal region. stretching from Katalla
to Seward, are given at 81 degrees above
and IA degrees below zero.
The effect of climate on railway rom
strucuon and maintenance will reuutre
careful study in connection with the
building of the proposed TRANSFORMATION
system in Alaska The snowfall of the
seaward slope of the costal mountains
the glaciers of the Pacific mountain sys
TEN and the frozen condition of the
ground, which prevails in much of the
inland region, are all factors that will
have to be reckoned with Some OF the
mountain passes. otherwise available for
railways. are covered with glacial ice and
cannot be utilized. but it is reported by
the commission that most of the Alaska
glaciers are retreating.
y study OF the resources of Alaska
quickly brings to light the reasons why
Uncle Sam is willing to spend millions
of dollars building railroads in this coun-
try.
Briefly summarized. the territory's
principal natural assets in addition to
its mineral wealth. which is its chief
resource, are extensive tracts of farm
ing and grazing lands. water powers
timber tracts and fisheries. Included