The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-13
BUILD 40 MILES THIS YEAR
Construction To Be Done Un-
der Contract; Alaskan Engi-
neering Commission In
structed To Guard Health of
Men; Secretary Lane Cau-
tionS Against Stampede

Washington. d. c., Apr. 10.-The
Seward Fairbanks route has been Sc
lected for the government railway in
Alaska. Secretary Lane announced to-
day. The property of the Alaskan
Seward over the first stage of the
journey has been purchased for ST.
10000.
The government system, the state
ment adds, will include a 38-mile
branch to tap the Matanuska coal
fields. w. c. Edes is designated as
chairman of the Alaskan Engineer
ing Commission which will build the
road by the Presidents order. The
estimated cost of the entire system
is given at $26,800,00O. Congress
provided not to exceed $35,00O.000.
Secretary Lane said construction
work would begin at once and that
probably forty miles of the extension
of the Alaska Northern from Ship
Creek would be completed this year
Construction will be carried on under
contract, individual contractors build
ing separate sections.
Protect Health of Men.
In one of the orders signed by the
President, the Alaskan Commission
was instructed to guard particularly
the health of the men at work and to
adopt a system of compensation for
accidents similar to that in force on
the Panama canal
The Interior Department in a state
ment said in part:
"The route adopted is known as the
Susiitna route and extends from Sc
ward on Resurrection Bay to Fair
banks on the Tanana river, dis.
tance of All miles. This route in.
cludes the existing Alaska Northern
Railroad, which runs from Seward
through the Kenai Peninsula, for dis
tance of II miles to Turnagain arm
1t is to be a standard gauge road.
THE Alaska Northern has beel
purchased for price less than it
physical valuation, as estimated b.
the Alaskan Engineering Commissio1
and by the engineers of the InterStat
Commerce Commission.
Personnel of Commission.
1.-The President has made an Orde
by the Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion. The members Of the commits
sion. which consists of William
Edes, chairman; Lieutenant Frederi
Mears. late superintendent Of tn
Panama Railway, and Thomas Rigg
Jr., are directed to proceed to Alask
at once. The chairman is to max
his headquarters at Seward. LieuteI
ant Mears is already on his way
Alaska. Chairman Edes and M
Riggs will soon follow.
"The first work will be the bull,
ing of a wharf at Ship Creek ar
the dredging of a more adeQua
channel. From this point the raj
road will be constructed northwal
to the Matanuska Field. The pro
ability is that not more than for
miles of road can be constructed tn
year. owing to the fact that our a
preparation is but $2,000,000."
Cautious Against Stampede.
Secretary Lanes statement in pa
says:
"T have received word of a thres
ened stampede to Alaska this sease
The work to be undertaken by t
government does not justify any Su
rush. | desire to advise those CO
templating going to Alaska that the
Is little opportunity for employme
in that country at this time.
THE route adopted by the Pre-
dent will open up a territory not n
served by any railroad line and t
of the great coal fields in Alaska.
the Matanuska field, which conta
high grade bituminous coal acce
able to the navy, and the second,
Nenana coal fields, near the Tans
river, which is a great body of h
grade Ignite and will serve the
terror of Alaska"
Puts in Motion Huge Project.
Washington. ID. c.. April 1c.-Pr
ident Wilson's decision on the 70
of the proposed government raily
through Alaska puts in motion
most extensive governmental rally
project since the linking of the T
and the Pacific coast by the ira
continental railway system. Like
latter the new project has the t
fold aim of opening the way for
Nd c1ff1 tv0 III