The Washington times., 1915-04-11
THE ALASKA RAILROAD

President Wilson has taken the
last step preliminary to beginning
construction of the Government
railroad system in Alaska. He de-
cides that the first line built shall be
from Seward to Fairbanks, through
the Susitna valley, the route which
most readily renders accessible the
Matanuska coal field, in which a
fine grade of steam coal calculated
for naval uses has been found. 1t is
reasonably to be presumed that the
superiority of the coal in this field
had an important influence in de-
termining the Government in favor
Of this route.
There were two competing routes
to Fairbanks under consideration,
one by way Of the Alaska Northern
road, the other by way of the Cop
per River road. Of the former, sew
enty-one miles is already in opera
ton and will be bought by the Gov
ernment, at price less than the
physical valuation placed on it by
the Government engineers. Of the
Copper River road 1876 miles are, in
operation and will be left just as it
stands, owned and managed by the
Morgan-Guggenheim syndicate. Thus
Alaska will secure maximum
mileage Of new road by reason of
the Government expenditures there.
Secretary Lane, in announcing the
Presidents approval of the plan to
take over the Alaska Northern and
extend it to Fairbanks, advises
against rush" to the Northwest
this year. There will be, he says,
few opportunities for employment by
reason of the railroad building. The
Government is going to divide the
route into sections and let a con-
tract for each, so that the contrac-
tors will have control of hiring
labor; and it is very we'll understood
that the prospective contractors have
their forces .of labor very well in
hand, ready for quick transportation
to the North and beginning of oper-
ations.
The Alaska engineering commits
sion is to have charge of the build
ing of the railroad. 1t has done ex-
cellent work in the preliminary
stages of surveying and preparation,
and has demonstrated a facility in
pushing work in the North that is
especially reassuring. The con-
struction season at best is short, and
it is necessary that every hour while
the frost is out of the ground be
utilized. 1t will require several years
at best to build the road, even if
Congress shall furnish the money as
fast as it can be effectively used.
There is no doubt that the inaug-
uration of this great project for de-
veloping Alaska will incite an inter-
est in the Territory deeper than has
been felt in recent years. Where
fore emphasis should be- laid on the
advice of Secretary Lane not to
hurry to Alaska in the hope of find
ing bonanza opportunities. Oppor-
tunities will come with the opening
of the country; no very great ones
in the era of construction. There
will, of course, be a disposition
among argonauts to hurry away to
the North and seek treasures along
the line of the road. But people who
go without ample means to sustain
themselves for a considerable per-
lod will make great mistake.
Alaska is going to be put on the
map as one of the great opportunity
regions of the world, but it will not
be done by the signing Of an execu-
tive order. 1t will come gradually.
Nothing could be more unfortunate
for Alaska than to have a boom this
year and "bust" next, and unless
the advice of the Secretary is seri-
ously pondered there is danger that
just this may happen.