The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1914-03-23
'OF INTEREST
| TO ALASkANS
ALASKA BOOM EXPECTED.

ALASKA BOOM EXPECTED.
SEATTLE, March Il. - That the
building of government railroad
in Alaska will result In big boom
in the territory Is the opinion of
Colin NJ. Ingersoll, member of
the Alaska railroad commission
which was appointed by ex-President
Taft to conduct an examination into
the transportation question in the
territory. Mr.. Ingersoll, who is a
consulting engineer. is now in Lon
don, from which city he wired his
congratulations to Seattle on the
passage of he railroad bill.
TO BE ALASKA ATTORNEY.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. March Il.
William E. Specie of Georgia
has been nominated for the position
of United States attorney for the
Third judicial division Of Alaska,
to succeed George f. Walker, whose
resignation recently was requested
by Acknowledgement McReynolds.
The name of Specie was sent to
the senate this morning for confirm
alton.
WILL EXPLORE ARCTIC.
OTTAWA, March lin a letter
dated in January, which has just
been received here, Stefansson, the
Arctic explorer, states that it is
his intention to explore the un-
known regions of the Arctic with
sleds and dogs. He was preparing
to start on a long mush when the
le ter was written.
PORTLAND CELEBRATES, TOO
PORTLAND. Ore, March IS
Confident that the construction of a
government railroad from tidewater
to the Interior of Alaska means
increased business for this city and
chants of Portland have arranged an
elaborate celebration in honor OF
the passage of the Alaska railroad
bill The jollification will take place
tonight.
DAWSON TO HAVE UTILITIES
DAWSON, March 10. - Prepare
tons are under way here for the
telephone system and city water
light and power plant. The Civic
league, comprising leading citizens
and members Of all political parties
has circulated pc .ition for presen
tation to the Yukon council, which is
now in annual session, asking for
the necessary authority to issue mu
nicipal bonds to the value of 5000,
900. bearing s per cent interest.
A careful estimate of the cost
of the proposed plants places the
amour, at $165. 900. but it is desired
to raise more than that amount, so
As to have ample funds available in
Ease of need.
Subscription lists will be circulat-
ed here this week and it is ex-
pected that Dawsonites will take the
entire bond issue, unless Outsiders
put in an early application.
The bonds will be redeemable in
en- years, but the committee is con-
fident that the plant will enable the
city to pay off the Indebtedness in
half that time.
RODEN EXPLAINS.
JUNEAU, March 19-At the be-
ginning of the first session of the
territorial legislature, the two hous-
es endorsed the report of the Alaska
railroad commission.
The Alaska Northern proposed to
build line to Fairbanks and con-
vince the President that sufficient
funds were available, provided the
coal would be mined by the gov
eminent or opened to development
by others and the road given the
hauling of the coal for the navy on
contract as was approved by the
former secretary of the interior
The Seward proposition was regard
ed as satisfactory if it was accept
able to the administration, subject to
he interstate commerce regulations
In the event that the fear of estab-
ownership should have caused the
'efeat of the bill, there still would
have remained a chance for a rail
road from Seward.
If the principle of government
ownership had been considered as
involved. the bill would have been
defeated, as Is indicated by the
many speeches which were made
during the consideration of the bill
and which appear in the Congress
sional Record.
The letter which was written to
Secretary Lane says that transpor-
tation is the key to the situation
in Alaska, AT almost any cost, give
It any way you see fit" was the
way the question was put to the
cabinet member.
But l give it as my opinion that
the construction of the lines as now
suggested will prove strong ar
gument against government owner
ship, .as the road beyond the coal
fields and mountains will never prove
success.
l advocate the construction Of two
short lines to the coal fields direct,
and a trunkline from the southern
most port at Haines, inside of Mt.
ST. Elias and the Alaska range. to
Fairbanks That route is paralleled
by promising mineral ranges. 1t does
not merely cut across country as
It is planned to do.
Wick. Josln. Ballaine and Dan
iel Guggenheim all advocate gov
eminent ownership. Why?
RoDEN.
SEATTLE CELEBRATES.
SEATTLE, March 19.-Seattleites
will celebrate the passage of the
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