The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-20
RESOURCES OF ALASKA ARE NOW
TO BE OPENED TO THE WORLD
PASSAGE OF ALASKAN RAILWAY
BILL BY CONGRESS MAKES
THIS POSSIBLE.
Alaska 10 One 81 country's Richest
Possesslons and Contains Vast
Mineral Wealth.

Alaska Is to- have a railroad, built.
maintained and operated by the gov
eminent. and that as a result the
vast resources OF that comparatively
unknown country are to be opened TO
the world. now seems assured by the
action OF both branches OF congress
/ The project Is OF more interest
than even the expenditure of the
] S4OOOO.O 600 proposed would ordinarily
1 create. Coming as soon after the
completion of the Panama canal II Is
attracting attention as another great
engineering project under the direc-
/ ton OF the American government In
/ a sense. too. IL compares with the
4 governments undertaking In the COS
TO push the Pacific railway across the
unbroken prairies and mountains OF
! the west and thus link together the
west and the east. Moreover, the new
project is TO be the first test In this
country OF government ownership OF
a public utility. IL IL expected to open
TO the commerce OF the world great
have been for the most part lying
idle: IL will AFFORD employment TO a
large army OF men. both in Its con-
, struction and in its maintenance: u
will develop Alaska agriculturally as
well In other ways by attracting
homesteaders: and IL VIII cheaper
greatly various commodities OF COM
merce. notably coal. At least these
are all things which the friends OF
the measure claim for II.
Great Power With President.
The bill places great power In the
hands OF the President. and was op-
posed by some on this ground. not
that they expressed any fear In re-
gard TO President Wilson's Judgment
| and Integrity. but that they thought
II was too much power to put in the
hands OF any one man. and directs
him to locate and acquire by .pur-
chase or construction or by both
means line or lines of railroads
| from tidewater into the interior OF
Alaska and TO navigation on the
Yukon, Tanana or Kuskokwim rivers.
In choosing the route his is TO use
his judgment as TO what will best
| promote the settlement OF Alaska
develop its resources, and provide ad-
equate transportation for coal for the
army and navy. for troops and NUM-
tons OF war. and for the mails. The
limitation as to price in case OF pur-
chase. there being few miles of
railroad already constructed, is that
II must not exceed the physical val
ue OF the railroad property.
The total OF all railroads bought
] or constructed under the bin as II
passed the senate IS not TO exceed one
1 thousand miles and the appropriation
for the purpose il s40.0O0.00 so that
a mile.
The President is authorized. n he
sees nj, TO permit the government
railroad to be operated by contract
or lease. or II may be operated by
the Panama Railroad company. This
latter company has been referred to
IN the debates on the Alaska rail
road bill as an example OF successful
government ownership. but Il has
( been pointed out in reply that Il is
not an example of government own
ership IN the sense that phrase Is
1 generally used. because IL is not a
! commercial railroad, its purpose he
ing 20 transport men and supplies
being used up and down the route OF
the Panama canal
Employ Necessary Help.
IN constructing and operating the
Alaskan railroad the President is al-
thorlzed TO employ I'm its construction
ana operation any number of men he
| may think necessary. choosing them
as ne pleases. only that those chosen
from civil life shall be under the su-
pervision, in the work OF construc-
tlon' OF the engineers taken from the
| army The appointment OF any en-
Sineer from civil life whose salary
exceeds $4,000 a year must be con.
| iirmed by the Senate.
me president is authorized, and The
Alaskan railroad commission recon-
menus that II be done, TO utilize in
Alaska all the machinery and eouiu-
ment used In the construction Of the
fahama canal as rapidly as II Is not
needed In Panama and can be ssed
IN Alaska, the president 10 tx the
price 10 be paid for il TO the 18th
MAN canal commission.
I me Interstate commerce commits
sion subject 10 the approval OF the
president Is empowered 20 regulate
passenger and freight rates On the
] new railroad. and the rates are 10 he
Z UNIFORM. with no discrimination in "a
vor OF agents OF the government ex.
/ ctpt me usual provision for empIoyea
and their families -
I " the railroad line connects with q,
steamship line for the Joint transbor-
3 latlon or freight and passengers or
Z Win any other railroad now or hero-
] dIter constructed in Alaska. the lines
% connected must be operated A. (,
/ lhIough route with through rates on
lalr ana reasonable appOrtionment
Z OF revenue and expense
ne bonds proposed In the sonata
III are 70 be 50 sold that any citizen
may nave opportunity 10 subscribe
| Inc Dill creates the Alaska rail-.
ways redemption FUND" into which H.
f ~ p" palq 20 per cent Of all money
received from the sale or lease -,
| pgDHc lands In Alaska, from the sale
p coai or mineral or timber on pubIic
.an97 ana from the net earninre ~
me railroad above Maintenance
I gug res and operating expenses The
ttnein ptlon hnd f. 10 be drawn On
by order OF the president 10 paw In,