Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-19

from civil life shall be under the su-
pervision, in the work of construction.
of the engineers taken from the army.
The appointment of any engineer from
civil life whose salary exceeds $4,000
n wear must be confirmed by the Sem
ate.
The President Is authorized, and the
Alaskan railroad commission recommends
that 1t be done, to utilize In Alaska all the
machinery and equipment used In the con-
structon OF the Panama canal as rapidly
as 1t is not needed in Panama and can be
used in Alaska, the President to fix the
price to be paid for Il to the isthmian
canal commission.
The intcrutate commerce commission,
subject to the approval Of the President,
f. empowered to regulate passenger and
freight rates on the now railroad and the
rates are to be Uniform, with no dscrimi-
nation in favor Of agents of the govern
ment except the usual provision for en-
ploycs and their families.
II the railroad line connects with a
steamship line for the joint transportation
OF freight and passengers. or with any
other railroad now or hereafter construct
ed in Alaska, the lines so connected must
be operated as a through route with
through rates on fair and reasonable ap-
portionment OF revenue and expense.
ALASKA STILL UNKNOWN.
The debates in Congress on this bill
have developed the fact that until re-
Gently Alaska has been unappreciated as
was the great northwest country when
acquisition by the United States was con-
sidered 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 relatively little
commercial Importance The discussions
have developed that in the interior there
are immense agricultural resources capa-
bic of sustaining the population of
sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia and
Siberia. This has only been known
within the last few years. As result Of
railroad construction this fertile land is
expected to be taken up at once by
hordes of homosteaders, for Alacka has
what are admitted to he good homestead
laws.
As to coal Alaska is rich 1t has
two notable coal fields larger than any
in the United States or possibly in the
world. The Bchring river field covers
75 square miles and the Matanuska
field So. They are practically virgin,
only one title having been perfected.
The rest belongs to the government
and it is the expectation that this land
Will be opened. The government is
willing and transportation facilities
are expected to bring it about. The
railroad development VIII open the coal
lands and the coal will furnish the
power to operate the railroads and
bring about other development Under
present conditions it costs 5000 "A ton
now to ship mining machinery 10
points along the Yukon river and StOO
Il ton for each mile to transport il
into the interior on sleds and by Other
means.
The opening of mines in Alaska, to-
gether with the building of a railroad
and the opening of the Panama canal, IT
is estimated, will save the government
from three to five dollars a ton on it.
coal burned in the Pacific. Alaska Itself
now buys coal from British Columbia
One statistician figures that Alaska has
as much coal as Pennsylvania and Wes
Virginia together and that II is as goot
in quality.
Senator Chambcrla.n. meeting tht
opposition to the proposal that the gov
ernment go into the railroad business tC
the extent Of s35, ,Go0o0o, admitted that thi!
would he the first time the government
had ever owned a railroad but he argued
that the sum involved was small com
pared to what the government has spen