The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1914-01-20
GOVERNMENT TO BUILD RAILROADS

AS the Alaska railroad bill is before both the Senate
and House, with prospect of its passing both branches
the government within reasonably short time and almost
certainly before the end of the session. the following
from the report of the House committee territories
will prove of interest to readers:
appears that the only way to obtain railroads for the
development for the government to take the
matter hand and furnish aid to do the building that
shall itself construct the roads If there were
reasonable hope that private enterprise would build railroads
development Of Alaska such development would
open country up settlement and population with
American citizens there would exist reason for favong
the passage of the b but there no foundation Tor
hope and this vast country rich in varied
resources will undeveoped unless the government
takes the matter in hand. KS
The purpose and aid be desired in the development
Alaska the opening that country for settlement and
furnishing homes to American citizens to gain foothold
and supply of maintenance for hardy race of
patriotic citizens The conditions there are such as Will be
most favorable propagang and developing Of white
people and the best blood of the world will thrive and find
natural in Alaska. 1t will be strictly white mans
country and all its conditions would foster and
build up pure and noble booded Americans Like the
tries of Northern Europe Norway Sweden, Finland, and
Denmarkt would be fine place to raise human beings and
has natural resources than those countries We
think established fact that farming possibilities very
great in Alaska and that they will maintain immense
population In addition to this there stores Of mineral
wealth which country has in equal to Alaska
The building of railroad in Alaska from the Southern
coast into the INTERIOR where the great agricultural
located is immense undertaking. 1t is the work of tie
pioneer with great additional difficulties account OF
the extreme and the difficulty establishing beginning
getting fO0hod Tor Ii enterprise, sur
rounded with much difficulty to the pioneer private
capital taken in hand by the government and road
built into this great interior valley then that would
furnish such settlers for getting foohod and
establishing homes that they could maintain Themselves and
subsequent developments would become because of the
rich possibilities that lie within that territory With a
beginning of this kind such would furnish transportation
and traffic for the people, the settlers could then forward
in the development of the great of this country
rich many 1t is only in the first stages that help
needed most When American citizens with their natural
courage thrift and enterprise get foohod they will do the
rest and continued government help will not be needed The
imply embarkaon by the government in continued
policy of railroad building railroad ownership, but is
merely the extension of helping hand to those who at
present in great difficulty and to furnish those
who will follow after them Of working out their destiny
The first railroad in country has always been aided
built by governments When the country west of the
Missouri unpopuated its first railroad built by
government aid.