Evening star., 1914-02-22
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

| II the government builds an operates q
railroad in Alaska and makes provision
| for the federal operation
! Government Of the territory's coal
] mines, it will not be
na11IoAos. breaking into a new field
Of governmental activities In the oniteo
States, as many people might suppose.
government-built and operated railroad
is already doing business In the continent
tai United States every day. and. as to
coal mining, the government has also
entered this industry, and for six years
has operated mine in North Dakota
with an output Of 100 tons day.
The railroad which the government
now runs Is located In southern Idaho on
the Boise river, five miles east of the city
of Boise, the capital Of the state. Every
detail of construction was planned and
executed by government employees ana
every train which is run over the nine
teen miles Of track Is operated ny men On
the federal pay roll. The governmense
coal mine is located at Williston, N. Dr.
where coal has been mined for more
than six years to supply fuel for power
plant on an irrigation project.
When government engineers enUereo
upon their stupendous task Of construct
ing the famous Arrow Rock dam, IN
southern Idaho, they faced a most Sc
rious transportation problem. me cost
of hauling supplies by wagons from tne
terminus of the nearest raiiroao es oraicn' tcr
nineteen miles away, was ~ per ton.
This cost was SO excessive that the gov
ernment's engineers Immediately began
to plan for better transportation facih-
ties.
and thousands Of pounds Of other ma,
terials, many tons Of machinery ana
large quantities Of supplies will be de-
manded during the construction OF sne
immense dam. which will require nVe
reclamation service railroad was Inn
mediately approved as a solution OF the
TRANSPORTATION problem. This road De-
gins at little place called baroerton' on
the Boise river, and runs to the site OF
Arrow Rock dam. nineteen miles away.
In one place the road crosses the Boise
river and at another point a spur OF !he
line recrosses the river on deck orloee
to Arrow Rock camp.
The government has constructed tnis
single-track, standard-guaSe railroad WIN
a minimum of cost and maximum OF
efficiency. Sixty-pound rails are used on
steel tie-plates resting on good grade OF
chestnut ties. The cost OF nuiIoins the
road was approximately $4,000 per mlle.
which is considered by engineers to be a
record in economy in railroad construc-
ton in a rough. western country. Ac
cortling to statistics, the original cost OF
construction of railroads in the Unlteo
States today runs from $4,000 to as nigh
as $6OO 600 per mile, so it can be seen that
the government has practiced consider
able economy in the building of this
southern Idaho line.
While the equipment of the reclamation
service line is small. 1t Is enlcient. ana
Is entirely government owned and gov
ernment operated. In fact. most of the
engines and cars were built on specffica-
tions and plans prepared by service ensi-
neers who wished to have an equipment
which was both economical and suitable
for the kind of service which the road
would be called upon to give. On this Ut
tie government line the rolling stock con-
sists Of two locomotives. two passenger
cars, three box cars and four nat cars,
all costing about $4,000. The road is ex
pected to save the government not only
many thousands Of dollars in the cost Of
transporting supplies to the Arrow Rock
dam, but is expected to help the engi-
neers to quicken the work and complete
the project before the end Of the next
five years.
The government owned and operated
coal mine is also under the direction of
the reclamation service. which has
power plant a little less than a mie north
of Williston. N. d Here coal is mined to
supply fuel for the power house In which
station on a nearby irrigation project.
The coal workings lie comparatively near
the surface, being at an average depth OF
about 100 feet. The main entrance to the
tunnel is about 1000 feet in length. and
approximately six feet high and the same
width.
The government has worked to make
conditions for the miners just as perfect
as possible. Good air is forced through
the mine by ventilating shafts. and the
{c f,,11x nd
Only a small force is needed to run the
mine and the usual number of men en-
ployed runs from twelve to fifteen. One
hundred tons Of coal a day is the output
ton. depending upon the location of the
coal mined. Six to ten tons a day are
mined by each man and the average
net earnings, after expense Tor explosives
and supplies is deducted are $3.oo TO $a.Oo
per day of eight hours.
Teamsters and laborers on track work are
paid $500 per day when working under
ground and $2.75 per day when working
on the surface. The government not only
has established this mine and continued
the mining Of coal for six years on this
land, but it has also provided in every
way for the men who do the mining. AT
a mess a miner may obtain an excellent
meal for Is cents and sleeping quarters
are furnished free Hot and cold shower
baths may be obtained in the bathroom.
with individual lockers.
Everything possible is done to protect
the lives Of men working in the mines,
and evidence Of the care taken In this
respect Is shown by the fact that not
q single fatal accident has occurred
during the six years the mine has been
in operation by the government engineers;
The government has secured the coal
which is mined at a very reasonable price
and the cost per ton has been approxi-
mately Sits, including all maintenance
charges.
ing coal. the government has gwen AT
tention to the management OF other pup
lie utilities for a number of years. AS
is generally known, the telegraph lines OF
Alaska are operated by the Signal CORPS
~ the army, and the forest service OF
the department of Agriculture. number
of years ago. entered the telephone ousl,
ness by beginning the construction ana
nneration Of more than 15o0o miles OF
lines in a network over the lo0,UVo'oVV
acres of national forests.
Recent investigations made by the gov
ernment Indicate that the 100000 ,OOO,o0o
tons of easily accessible
Utilization Ignite. or brown COAL
. may be used satisfac-
of Ignite. torily as fuel to insure
the industrial supremacy OF the United