Iditarod pioneer., 1915-08-21
RUMORED PLANS OF MORGAN
 FUR ALASKA DEVELOPMENT
(New York Journal of Commerce.

1 Wall street believes that J. P. Morgan < Co.,, the Guggenheims and other capitalists are considering comprehensive plans for de veIopment work in Alaska.
 What has prompted steps to this end 1t is said are conditions brought about by the European war. According to rumor, these plans cal for an increased output ot copper and other metals, railroad development to be worked in conjunction with the construc- tion of the United States government hnes, and additional steamship facilities from the tidewater terminals of those railroads to the metal smelters of Tacoma and the great metal consuming districts of the Atlantic coast of the United States and Europe through the Panama canal.
 '"These interests have already taken over large copper properties, including the Beat son Copper Company, and are expected to acquire others. The purchase of the cop per properties is being effected through the kennecott Copper Corporation, controlled by the Morgan Guggenhelm interests. The kennecott mines are among the largest properties in the world, their output alone, it is said, having more than sup ported the Copper River & Northwestern railway which was built some years ago from Cordova to Chltina, with a branch line from there to kenneCott, at total cost of about S14,000,000. From Chitina there is a military wagon road to Falr- banks, 300 miles away, the metropolis ot Interior Alaska, and 1t IS known that tor years the Copper River & Northwestern rail way considered the extension of its railroad along that road, but was halted by the at tacks made on Alaska railway promoters in connection with the political fight for the national conservation of coal resources.
 Meantime the United States government plans for greater railroad development in Alaska are moving fast to successful con cluson It Is the intention of the American capitalists who are entering the Alaska field on such large scale to work their plans in entire harmony with the plans of the government, doing everything possible to prevent any recurrence of the friction be- tween governmental and private interests, which have held back the growth of Alaska to this date.
 With the building of these railroads those familiar with Alaska conditions pre- dict that the interior of the vast Northern territory will be transformed into a region in which smelters, manufacturing compa- nies and various industries will abound, and in which there will be cities similar to those in the United States with houses and schools, instead of the mining camps ex- lsting at present, and in which agricultural resources will be developed on great scale. 1 Unlike the coast region, the Interior of | Alaska instead of being bleak and dismal, is a great agricultural stretch similar to the agricultural districts of Norway and Sweden, which are inhabited by so large popula- ton.
 To meet this great development, steam ship lines from the tidewater terminals of the railroads will be necessary. It Is these steamship facilities which are provided for in the Morgan line running between Alaska and the Pacific coast states This IS the Alaska steamship line, and from the Pacific coast states the Morgan interests have re- gently established the Panama X Pacific line through the Panama canal to New York, while the Morgan lines across the Atlantic are too well known to need de scr, lotion.
 | It is thus seen that the Morgan interests already have steamship lines in operation | affording practically through connections from Alaska to Europe. In recent weeks steamship owners and certain shipyards have received inquiries regarding vessels suitable for the Pacific states Alaska coast routes.
 President Eccles of the Alaska steamship line says that his line has not put out such inquiries, despite the reports crediting the inquiries to his company. That the in quiries are being made in behalf of the Nor gan interests is the belief of steamship of fcals who have followed the Alaska de vellopment.
 ot was suggested that possibly this may mean a line for the Morgan interests, which will be additional to the Alaska steamship line The vessels wanted are of a type adaptable to the carrying of tonnage of ore It is interesting to note in connection with the Alaska Steamship Company that its management is virtually the same as that of the Kennecott Copper Corporation, as well as the management of the Copper River