The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
Government launch Midnight
Sun. the furthest north power
boat in Alaska.

INTERIOR A,dska is the last from
tier of Sourdoughland. Very
gradually the "~Chechaco." hent
OH fortune hunting and lured ny
Nor,hern mysteries and romance. Is
condnerinC Alaska. but in the isolated
Interior the S~nurdough still dominates.
Every pound you eat ar drink or
wear IN Sou~rdoughland which comes
from the great outside pays its av-
ersge toll Of 3La cents. or $40 Il ton,
calculated at Fairbanks. To the ans
lortation companies. Ocean freight
rates, through competition. have he
bone normal to Alaska. but since the
White Pass and Yukon companies alb
sorbed the old Northern Navigation
Company last year. all interior steamer
traffic is controlled by that Comfo!na-
ton. operating from Skagway and st.
Michael as ports ~ entry. During the
closed navigation season shipments
from ChItina on the Copper River
railway on the southern coast have
to come in 300 miles ny snow trails
and roads. and rates range from 1a
10 % cents a pound for the freight
haul.
IT. summer passengers to Fair
banks. which is the inland metropolis,
are from twelve To fourteen days on
the road from seattle. and in winter
generally a little less-!f they do not
get snowbound. The summer passen-
ger rate from Seattle is $3.50. This
winter. owing to a reduction in stage
fare. the trail route fare aggregates
only $3.50, to which. however, must
ne added stopoVer expenses and a
weeks roadhouse hill. in which most
~ the meals cost s. each. l. II my
wonder that there is a loud call for
better means Of transportation in
ALASKA?
The old ~Spurdoueh has not minded
ihesa conditions in the past when goa
flowed freely and easily from tire
BONANZA camps and a mans wages
cqua.lei those of many an Outside
5ank cashier.
The gold is still there. but IL is
becoming increasingly difficult TO get
BONANZA camps are less frequent M
The old ones require more than mere
scratching of the muck off the grave
| and shovelling into a slulceboN.
Mining il, the overshadowins indus
Try Of the interior. the feeder of all
lines of business excepting the lur
trade. which fees before the march
Of civilization and cannot be termed
q permanent industry, Agriculture
Is Of relatively small Importance as
yet and wholly dependent upon min
ing prosperity, since there Is no chance
Of export.
To enable. then. modern and eco
nomical methods at reasonable cost TO
lie used in mining m developing
every known resource in that Isolated,
shut In empire and to break down the
last frontier barriers against settle
ment and regular development the
Government is building "A railway from
Seward 10 Fairbanks. 1t Is to be the
key which will unlock the enormous
resources lying dormant there n
give them to the world. It's cost ~
estimated at $50. 000, 900.
When this railroad has been built
and the present transportation rates
chopped squarely in two IA bright In
dus'rial era may be expected.
Interior Alaska has navigable rivers
IN the lower valleys. it Is true. but
navigation is precarious at all stages
and the season not much over tour
months long. The mines lie back In
'he hills, off the navigable river and
while small boats will always be used
a. freight and passenger aids, h
basic economic problem Of the North
cannot be solved by steamer lines
Operated only a third Of the year via
long. roundabout routes and charging
Inc highest freight rates found any
where in America to-day.
The railway Is not likely to displace
'he river steamer altogether. But In
eead of the isolated interior going
!ho winter quarters with a do-noth-
ing period of eight months, Sour
Aoughland with railway connections
u an open port upon the Pacific will
eay awake, stay active and thrive
y Is IL right.
Thomas Riggs, Jr., Of the Alaskan
engineering Commission named by
.re1dert Wilson, is the commissioners
SctlVe and personal charge Of rail
rsy work in the interior. While
Saalrrnan Edss and Lieut.. Mears are
"ox'ng after the line from Seward
:%sVo the Matanuska coal fields and up
~ sus!tna river to Broad Pass, the
SAru member Is stationed at Fair
y~aks' the proposed inland terminus.
~ year no put through five pre-
-Auafy surveys and during the past
summer h" has been engaged In com
peung '"e final surveys from Fair
Nnhs up Into Broad Pass, whore the
.~'n NHe will cross the summit Of
J." Alaskan range,
ST. must he remembered that no sur
80 "ad ever been made previously
~ we Hlsitna River, over Broad
rs ana down Ncnana River to the
-'N'Aa' The held is virgin with not