The Seward gateway., 1915-03-11
General Asked to Give Opin- ion as to Whether Administration Can Take Enough Money From Treasury to Buy Railroad Without Asking Congress---President and Lane in Conference.

WASHINGTON, March 11--Secretary Lane an nOunced today that negotiations are now actually undef way for the purchase of either the Alaska Northern ra road or the Copper River and Northwestern railroad This was stated positively by the secretary hSe1 ana finally puts an end to the reports sent out to the effect that the negotiations for the purchase or the Alaska Northern railroad had been suspended. Coming after the statement attributed to the attorney for the AaSKa Northern bOndhoders and the further statement that Secretary Lane too much taken up With questonS arising connection with western oil lands O pay atCeI
 on to Alaska railroad matters the statement 0t Mr. Lane today is regarded most pleasant by the AaSkanS ere and as clearing away the doubts that have recently arisen It is furthermore fact that immediately preceding the issuance of the statement by the secretary he ana PreS dent Wilson held conference matters connected with the coming government railroad and at that conference was probably decided to make the announcement hefe referred to- Another most important utterance of Mr.
 ane today was that only of the railroads m question will be purchased. Following the announcement MT.
 Lane went to say that the question as to Whether the road would trend to the eastward or westward north o Prince William Sound will hinge the decision as to what part of the coal fields IS best and which should hSt be developed 1t will also, he says depend at least to some extent on the estimate of the cost Ot cOnStrucOn man. tenance and operation There Is still much doubt here as to which of the northern railroads will be purchased Neither the secretary the president has given any n timatOn that could lead to clue and indeed they seem to be particularly careful about giving expression to any words that might lead people astray However the con Scensus of opinion Is apparently overwhelmingly inclined to the likelihood of the purchase Of the Alaska Norhef
 
 1t is stated that certain offered for the Alaska Northern and that the smaness of this offer is regarded as the cause of the interview in the New York paper by Attorney BOand Several amounts have been mentioned but they are small that they not credited unless might be that the offers were entaveS ones intended to form basis for future negotiations and to let the owners of the railroad understand that the government is very far from being inclined to give them what they ask The very statement that the negotiations are still proceeding is taken as sufficient proof that there is still room for an agreement It is pointed out by some Of those interested
 that if any offer had been made at all for the Alaskan Northern it would be sufficient indication ot the bee1 of the administration that the Alaska Northern would be the most acceptable route. 1t is pretty generally well
 known that President Wilson is opposed to the purchase of the Cordova line as the purchase Of 1t might very well
 serve as grounds for political attacks and might interfere disastrOusly with the securing of future appropriations It has been noted also that the people n control ot the Alaska Northern have made yelled threats to operate their line in opposition to the government line to the Matanuska coal fields but this may be for obvious pur- poses 1 The engineering commission, at President wilson's direct request is now preparing more figures and thls supplement to their report will have to be ready oe1ore the final decision can be arrived at 1t Wll however means only few days Another important fact IS that Secretary Lane has asked the attorney general to inform him the authority exists to spend more than the amount appropriated in order to buy of the existing railroads
 The answer has not yet been given and the attorney gen. era probably looking up the matter Legal opinion or