Evening star., 1915-04-11

y
branch to tap the Matanuska coal fields.
W. c. Edes is designated as chairman
of the Alaskan engineering commission
which will build the road by the Presi-
dents order The estimated cost of the
entire system is given at s26,S0O.0 900.
Congress provided not to exceed s35,O00,-
900.
Secretary Lane said construction work
probably forty miles of the extension of
the Alaska Northern from Ship creek
would be completed this year Construc-
tion will be carried on under contract,
individual contractors building separate
units of roadway.
To Guard Health of Men.
In one of the orders signed by the
President the Alaskan commission was
intrusted to guard particularly the health
OF the men at work, and to adopt a sys-
tenn of compensation for accidents similar
to that in force on the Panama canal
The Interior Department statement
said. in part:
The route adopted is known as the
Susitna route and extends from Seward
on resurrection bay. to Fairbanks on
the Tanana river, distince of Al
miles. This route includes the existing
Alaska Northern railroad, which runs
from Seward through the Kenai pen
insula for distance of seventy one
miles to Turnagain arm. This route
is to be bought from it's present
owners by the government for $1,150.-
600, s500.000 of which will be paid on
the lst of July. 1915. and the remain
der. July /. 1915. The contract for the
purchase of this road was signed by
Secretary Lane and today approved by
the President. subject to approval of
title. From Turnagain arm the route
Is to be extended through the Sustina
valley, and across Broad Pass to the Ia
mana river. and from there on to Fair
banks. 1t is. to be a standard gauge
road. A side line is to run from
Matanuska junction into the Matanuska
coal field. a distance of thirty -ei ght
miles. The, road is to be built with
the present base at Ships Creek, on
Cooks inlet. and from this point it is
expected that the Matanuska coal will
oe shipped during the greater por-
tion Of the year. The grade from the
Matanuska held to Ship Creek is four
tents of per cent.
Alaska Northern Purchase.
The Alaska Northern has been pur-
chased for a price less than its phys
tcal valuation, as estimated by the
Alaskan engineering commission and
by the engineers of the interstate com
merce commission. 1t is to be put into
operative condition and will be used
as base for extending the line along
Turnagain Arm. Under the contract
approved by the President the road is
taken over free from all debt or obli-
cation of any kind.
The estimated cost of construction
of this line from Seward to Fairbanks,
including the Matanuska branch. is
$26,SOO.OOO.
The President has made an order
directing that the work be carried on
by the Alaskan engineering commits
sion. which Is to have the general
duty Of preparing and adopting plans
for construction, the employment of
the force and the making Of contracts
for the purchase of supplies for the
work. The Secretary Of the Interior
is authorized to designate one of the
chairman. who shall be in immediate
charge Of the work and have power
of approval or disapproval of all ad-
ministratfve matters connected with it.
In accordance with this authorization,
Secretary Lane has designated W. c.
Edes. the present chairman of the
commission. The members of the com
mission, which consists of William e.
Edes, chairman: Lieut.. Frederic Mears,
late superintendent of the Panama
railroad and Thomas Riggs. jr., are
directed to proceed to Alaska at once.
The chairman is to make his head
quarters at Seward; Lieut.. Mears is to
be stationed at Ship Creek. and Mr..
Riggs is to conduct surveys in the
Broad pass region.
Compensation for Accidents.
IN one Of the orders signed by the
President he says:
~ charge the commission particu
larly with the preparation and main
tenance of such arrangements as may
be required for the health of the men
engaged in the work Of construction,
and instruct you to prepare and adopt
proper system of compensation for
accidents which may occur on the
work, In general on the lines of the
system now in force in the construc-
tion of the isthmian canal. but such
system shall be so framed that its
benefits will be applicable not only to
those who are directly in the service
OF the commission upon salary. but
with the commission, be actually en-
gagged in the work of construction in
Secretary Lane. in making public
the Presidents orders. said:
''The work on the railroad Is to begin
at once Lieut. Mears is already on his
way to Alaska. Chairman Edes and Mr.
Riggs will soon follow. The first work
Will Do tne DuliOluS Vi d WILdEI oiAp
creek and the dredging of a more ade-
quate channel. From this point the rail-
road will be constructed northward to
the Matanuska field. The probabili is
that not more than forty miles Of road
can be constructed this year. owing to
the fact that our appropriation is but
100000. We have something over
S500.o00 remaining from the 100000
last year authorized, and this will be
used as the first payment on the Alaska
Northern road.
To Build in Units.
1.-THE work will be done in large part
by station men, who will make direct con-
tracts with. the commission for building.
distinct units of the road. This method
has been recommended to the President
by some Of the most prominent railroad
constructors. and Is adopted very gener-
ally in railroad construction in the west.
At tho end Of this season the work done
In this way will form a basis from which
1t may be determined whether 1t is wise
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