Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-16
Each Spike Driven In U. 5.
R. R. There Brings New
Garden Of Eden Closer
| Mine AND COAL LAND
OPEN TO SETTLERS
Moss Covered Land Capable
Of Growing Wonderful
Celery and Potatoes

San Francisco, April l6,--With every
spike that is driven in the United
States government railroad from
Seward into the Alaskan interior, al
new empire, bigger and more produc-
tive than the state Of California, comes
closer to the grasp of the American
people.
This was the statement here today
of Harry Lane, United States senator
from Oregon, who has been in close
touch with the Alaskan situation for
many years.
"Americans do not realize Alaska
said Senator Lane, "AlOst of us i'm.
agine it to be frozen waste contain.
ing gold mines. This is wrong i'm.
preston.
"Tue, parts of Alaska are frozen
wastes, There are gold mines there,
and coal and copper likewise But in
the interior there is also rich agri.
cultural country which is destined
eventually to support millions of pros.
porous people, The government rail
road will make is wealthy land
easily available II every American.
"Slow progress is being made on the
railroad ut present, but the work will
20 faster soon, The road is to be at
least 800 miles long. 1t will bring the
government coal fields to tdewater,
ana that means cheap coal for the
whole Pacific coast. But the greatest
thing this railroad will do will be to
bring the interior Of Alaska close to
the people.
"rhe Tanana valley is 400 miles
long and 100 miles wide. ! am merely
citing it as an instance. There are
many more similar valleys as big as
the Tanama. It is carpeted with soft,
yeyety moss. Great herds of moose
and caribou Craze there. The moss can
be rolled back like rug. Under the
sod there are layers Of ice which have
kept the soil constantly in state Of
subirrigatiou In summer the sun
shines for 90 hours day. That land
will produce the biggest cabbagcs and
potatoes in the world.
"Thcn there are the vast Matanuska
coal fields Part Of them have been
reserved by the government but there
are thousands Of acres of coal land
there open for settlement. Every
American; who wishes to, may own his
own coal mine.
"If | described the kind Of celery
they raise in Alaska, you would not
believe me. The same holds good for
many other kinds Of fruit and vepe.
tables, There are more fish there than
anywhere else except Norway. At.
present, without the rairoad. wages
are high in Alaska, and If you can 4
get work you can live on the country.
Nobody goes hungry there"
As Senator Lane talked begpar
approached and begged dime. Lane
used him as an example.
''If that man would 20 TO Alaska he
could live Ike princeu he said.
"llere he begs There are no beppars
In Alnska. II Us the nearest thing 10
the Garden Of Eden that has bean dis
covered
at would NOT be safe for settlers 10
20 into the interior at present In ex.
pectation Of The railroad coming 10
them Immediately, because Il will not
be there for several years But nnv
able bodied man could live there In
luxury without the railroad.
"A number Of years ago Uoroce
dreely said, GO west, young man. and
grow up with The country.p Some did
Today they are wealthy, and Others
envy them and klck themselves because
they ignored Grecly's advice If.
Greedy were alive today he would say
: Go TO Aluska Young man, and thai
advice would be- every bit as valuable
as hls advice TO go west was wears
ago.