The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-01-27

Almost any day now Seattle
may hear from Washington, D.
c., that the choice Of a route
for the Alaska railway has
been made.
Within 30 days from, that time
Seattle Will be seetnIng with
activity az . consequence. and
within so days will be enjoying
an immense new business It has
stimulated.
While Secretary Lane and
President Wilson have not been
publishing their Infections
broadcast, men who nave been
closely In touch with the admin
istraeon. and who also are IA
miIiar with Alaska railroad con-
struction, say the government
will use not fewer than 5000
men on the work this summer.
These men will be going north by
the steamer load the last of March.
Every man OF them will aeed
equipment for his summer IN the
North that will cost him from siuo
to $3.50. A great share of that viii
be bought OF Seattle storekeepers.
and what is bought in the Alaska
cities will add just that much 10 the
volume OF trade OF the Seattle
Wholesale houses,
10000 to Co North
Furthermore, II 5000 mon are em-
ployed in the construction. those
who have had experience In build
ing Alaska railways say. at least
10000 laborers will go North for the
purpose. II has been the history OF
such enterprises that half of the
men hired in any season will Quit
the job as soon as they have accum-
ulated a grubstake. In order TO pros.
pect for themselves.
In fact. the prospecting is esti-
mated by such well informed men
as II. e. Ballaine. who built the
Alaska Northern. as likely IL attracr
twice as many men as VIII the con-
struction itself.
Mr. Ballaine looks for 10000 BROS
pectors to spend the summer in the
territory where the line win run.
The government itself would have
TO buy or ship through Seattle Quan-
titles OF provisions and equipment.
all OF which will add to the general
prosperity.
Urges Development Board
]. l.. Mcpherson of the Alaska
bureau OF the Chamber of Commorce
concurs in all optimistic estimates
of the immediate activity the rail
way construction will bring and OF
the immensely greater benefits 10
be derived from the completion or
the road.
At present. however. he is con-
stituting himself John the Baptist
for Secretary Lanes development
board.
Through that means alone. Nc
Pherson declares. will Alaska ettain
the full measure of prosperity the
road should bring to X, and he is
urging that everything be done 10
bring about such legislation before
the railway shall be completed.
Would Unity Government
This board is designed To place
the government of the territory I'M
der a unified government, resident
in the North, and 10 eliminate lot
OF anomalous conditions that have
been brought about by the present
system of bureau control exercised
from great distance.
II would probably readiust she re-
serves. At present there are vast
untimbered areas included in their
boundaries, and richly timbered
lands lying without.
II would straighten out many pc.
culiarities of the game laws.
In short, such board would bring
the administration of the roads. the
railroad. the schools and the thou.
sand and one other activities of the
territory into working harmony,
according to Mcpherson. and mako
possible a real development
But, however that may be, Sc
attle faces asgreat immediate
prosperity as a result of TIE
railroad construction.
THE CiTY'S UNEMPLOY-
MENT PROBLEM WILL BE
SOLVED AT ONCE FOR THIS
SEASON, and business viii be
brisk ae,n store and IobbIng
house and on the water front.