The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-02-20
THE FIRST TEST Of GOVERNMENT
Ownership Of APuBl|c U1|L|TY
IS The ALASKAN RAILROAD

the Panama Railroad com atiy This
latter company has been referred 10
in the debates on the Alaska rain
road bill as an example oftsucSSess.
full government ownership; but II
has been pointed out in reply that
II is not an example Of government
ownership in the sense tho phrase
is generally used, because st is not
a commercial railroad. its purpose
being to transport men and sup
plies being used up and down the
routesof the Panama canal.
In constructing and operating tile
Alaskan railroad the president is
authorized to employ in its construcs
tion and operation any number Of
men he may think necessary. choos-
ing them as lie pleases. only that
those chosen from civil life shall be
under the supervision in the work
of construction, of the engineers
taken from the army. The appoint
ment of any engineer from civil
life whose salary exceeds $4,000 "a
year must be confirmed by the Sem
ate.
The president is gauthorized, and
the Alaskan Railroad commission
recommends that 1t be done, to
utilize in Alaska all the, machinery
and equipment used in the con-
straction of the Panama Cana, as
rapidly as it. is not needed in
Panama and can be used in Alaska,
the president to fixsthe price to be
paid for It to the Isthmian Canal
commission. s
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, subject to the approval OF the
president, is empowered to regulate
passenger and freight rates on the
new railroad, and the rates are to
be uniform, with no discrimination
Iin favor Of agents Of the govern
nent except the usual provision for
employees and their families
II the railroad line connects with
n steamship line for the Joint trans
&c freight and passengers,
or with any other railroad now. or
hereafter Constructed in Alaska,
the lines SO connected must be OPP
Grated ass a thorough route with
through rates ons,a fair and reason
liable apportionment oflrevenue and
expense. q ss'fias 3tEgcs F.
The bonds from stile sale of which
tile $4O,O00.0e07iisf to be obtained
are to be- so, sold that any citizen
may have opportunity to subscribe.
The bin creates 4 the Alaska
Railways Redemption Fund into
which is tofb paid 75fp cent. OF
ali money received from the sale
ar lease of public lands in Alaska:
rom thessale OF coal or; mineral or
timber on public lands: and from
che net earnings Of the railroad
sboye maintenance charges and
operating expenses. The redemp-
lion find is to be. drawn on by or,
Ter of the president to- pay inter-
st on the bonds or to retire them.
trhe hope of the friends Of the bill
rs that the bondswill be successful
" retired so that the government,
SO to speak, will simply have made
q loan to Alaska.
y The debates in congress on this
Sfl have, developed the fact that
Until, recently Alaska has been UNI
appreciated as was the great north
west country when acquisition by
the United States was /. considered.
Even people who do business along
the west coast of Alaska are said TO
be ignorant in great measure of its
interior. But the coast, except for
the fishing industry, is of relative
ly little commercial Importance. The
discussions have developed that in
the interior there are immense
agricultural resources capable OF
sustaining the population Of
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia
and Siberia. This has only been
known within the last few years.
As a result of railroad construction
this fertile land is expected to be
taken up at once by boards of home
steaders. for: Alaska has what are
admitted to be good homestead laws
AS to coal, Alaska is rich. 1t has
notable coal fields larger than any
in the United States or possibly in
the world. The Behring River
field covers seventy-ftye square
miles and. the Matanuska field eighS
ty-fve. They are practically virgin,
only one title having been perfect