Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-19
ALASKAN R, R, BILL
PASSES THE HOUSE
Authorizes the Building of a
s35,OOO,OOO Line 1000
Miles Long.
PRESIDENT INTENDS TO SIGN
Vote Stands 23O to 87-Pro.
posed Road Would Open Up
a Territory of Vast
Resources.
PRESIDENT INTENDS TO SIGN

, Washington. Feb. 1S-Tne administra-
! tion Alaskan railroad bill, authorizing the
| President to construct n $685. 900 rail-
| road from Alaskas coast to its great
| coal fields was passed by the House late
| to-day by a vote of 230 to 81.
similar measure already has passed
(the Senate and the bill will be taken
| UP at once in conference between the
| two Houses with view to sending II
| quickly to the President who has sig
nifed his intention of signing It.
/ At the eleventh hour, after n sharp par
liamentary skirmish, the House eleminat-
ed from the bill as reported by the terri
tories COMMITTEES a provision authorizing
n bond issue OF s35,oopoo to finance the
fJ iroa ana to be paid off 10y the proceeds
cf government land sales in Alaska. The
senate hi provided for a Si0,000000 bond
issue. Representative 1TitzEerald Of Ncwl
Yorl, led fight which resulted In striking
out the entire bond provision from the bill.
Under the amended measure the project
would he financed out of the current funds
in the treasury, the President being limit
ed to 900, and Sl,0OoG0 being appro-
prat"d for immediate expenses Con-
Grcss would appropriate each year the
amount estimated to be necessary for the
construction Of the road.
TO AID DEVELOPMENT
The bin provides for the construc-
tion of n road mot to exceed 1000 miles
to be located so as to connect one or
more of the open Pacific ocean har-
bors on the southern coast of Alaska
with the navigable waters in the in
terror of Alaska. and with coal field
tot !
quantity for naval use. so rs to best
aid in the development of the agri-
cultural and mineral or other re-
sources of Alaska"
An effort was made by the oppon-
ents of the bill. led by Representative
Davenport of Oklahoma, to postpone
the final vote on the measure until
next Wednesday, but it was defeated.
That Alaska is to have railroad.
built maintained and operated by the
/ government, and thai as result the
vast resources of that comparatively
unknown county are to he 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 $4,000 go
proposed would ordinarily create. Com
ing soon after the completion of the
Panama canal il is attracting attention
as another great engineering project un-
der the direction of the American govern
ment In sense. too it compares with
the governments undertaking in the G0 5
to push the Pacific railways across the
unbroken prairies and mountains of the
West and thus link together the West
and the East. Moreover, the new pro-
, jcct is to be the first test in this coun-
I try OF government ownership of a pub
lie utility; it is expected to open TO the
commerce of the world great and rich
resources that until now have been for
the most part lying idle; 1t will afford
employment to IA large army of men both
in its construction and in its mante-
nance; it will develop Alaska agricul-
turallY as well in other ways by attract
l ing homesteaders, and it will cheaper
1 greatly various commodities of COM
merce, notably coal. At least these are
S all things which the friends of the
} measure claim for it.
PRESIDENT HAS GREAT POWER.
{ The bill places great power in the
I hands of the President and was opposed
] by some on this ground, not that they
( expressed any fear in regard to Presi-
. dent Wilson's Judgment and integrity,
p but that they thought it was too much
! power to put in the hands of any one
man
B, II directs him to locate and acquire
, by purchase or construction or by both
, means a line or lines of railroads from
tidewater into the interior Of Alaska
a and to navigation on the Yukon Tanna,
, or * kuskokwim rivers. In choosing the
route he Is to use his judgment as to
what Will best promote the settlement
of Alaska develop its resources and pro-
vide adequate transportation for coal for
the army and navy, for troops and NUM-
tions of war. and for the mails The limi-
taton as to price in case of purchase
= there being a few miles of railroad al
ready constructed, is that It must not ex-
- ceed the physical value of the railroad
; property
. The total of all railroads bought or
y constructed Is not to exceed one thou
, sand miles and the appropriation for the
purpose is s35,OOOOo0, SO that he is limited
{ to an expense Of $35 600 a mile.
:, The President is authorized, If he
. sees fit, to permit the government
. railroad to be operated by contract
!, | or lease or it may be operated by the
n Panama Railroad company. This lat
:. ter company has been referred to in
Z | the debates on the Alaskan railroad bill
= as an example of successful govern
n rnent ownership. but it has been point
4 ed out in reply that 1t is not an eX-
:. u.nple OF government ownership in the
sense the phrase Is generally used
because II is not a commercial rail-
IS road, it's purpose being to transport
l. men and supplies being used up and
+ down the routes OF the Panama canal
= In constructing and operating the
n Alaskan railroad the President is au-
o thorized to employ in it's construction
n and operation any number OF men he
% may think necessary, choosing them
as he pleases, only that those chosen