The Washington times., 1915-01-28

routes TO be adopted. 1t IL expected.
however, that the recommendations OF
the engineering commission Will be
adopted In the main.
1t IL less than 4 year since the rail-
road construction law was signed by the
President. and the progress made In
that period is regarded as remarkable
The President was given complete con-
troll, with authority to decide how the
work should be carried on. to name the
agents through whom he would pro-
ceed. and to select routes. He was even
authorised to buy any or all existing
railroads in Alaska II he decided that ne
wanted them; and II he wants them and
the owners don't want to sell. he 10
authorised to condemn and take them.
Members Of the Administration con.
slider 1t important to get the work OF
construction under way as soon a. pos
ports Of an effort In Congress to reverse
the policy In fact Congressman Lang
ley Of Kentucky has introduced Dill 20
repeal the Alaska railroad act. II VIII
have no chance to carry while Wilson
10 President; for the Administration Is
greatly interested in the Alaska devel-
opmsnt. and considers that the provi-
sion Of q railroad SYSTEM for the terri
to the building Of the Panama canal.
But there has been enough antagoniam
to Goyernmeut-owned railroads to cause
concern, and the desire to get the en-
terprtse we'll under way as so0n as pos
When the President found himself
with the sweeping power to do any
thing he wanted In the railroad matter.
he decided to have commission. First
mountain construction: and inquiry
among the big railroads of the West
brought strong Recommendation for
C. Edes who hsd sSr tss
Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe sys-
tens. Mr.. Edes was made head Of the
commission. the other members being
Frank Mears and Thomas RISES; r..
experiences as surveyor Of the Canada
Alaska boundary.
The comm ssion went into the field
wtS 'rg .Sot sS''n'e en last rs prns ss S.reua sna
parties covered a wide territory. 1t
Of about 40 miles OF road on which
contractors could be put at At, work I'm,
it Is now desirable to get the -Presi-
dental determination, on the exact
routes to.be adopted ,,. The .h,ns;nn Sommis- 1or
several weeks. completing their report
People Want New Roads.
I While no official Information has
been authorised as to the commits
sion's recommendations. 1t Is known
that at the outset there will be a big
question over the purchase Of the
Copper River and Northwestern and
the Alaska Northern roads. already
built. The Copper River line is al
4Se goo ss eesh AsSxa syn
dicate. It opens the great Matanuska
copper field, and Is really plant
facility The present ownsrs ne are Tn
being about $1,000. 900: In other
words, II the Goyernmsnt should bpy ,Sy
S35. 100000 for which Congress has
made preliminary provision. would be
used The people in Alaska, are op-
esissa 0dyx sSae nRSoodH going
satrS, ana II Aa tas 60 Gevernment n e' builds new new
tnfEs msass s .ns ss 1s.ss sa Is ~Sa
Beyond this. it is insisted that. the
Copper river road 10 not we'll located
a dangerous one. on which maintenance
and operation are sure to be very costly.
Opinion at this time Is that the Copper
river line will be rejected by President
spend all its money building new roads.
There Is a big copper region In which
many claimants are begging transpor-
tation as a preliminary to development:
and this gives promise Of a large initial
tonnage. One of the lines surveyed
would open this. and also the Matan-
uska coal held. The naval authorities
coal, which has been thoroughly tested
by the navy and found equal to the
Pocahontas coal for steaming purposes.
1t is the only coal on tho Pacific coast
that can be used satisfactorily In this
way.
Everything Is Looking Up.
Il An immediate tonnage Of 100000 tons
of this coal Is promised a market al
soon as the mines can be opened. After
that, the business Is expected to develop
fast The Pacific coast consumption OF
coal Is now about 100000 tons annually
Something like half Of this is sup
piled by the mines in Washington
They produce poor grade Of btu.
minOus, in no way comparable with thai
of the splendid Matanuska field; bu,
It Is so cheap and so easy to transport
that it will hardly lose its market in the
!, Puget sound country The engineering
authorities calculate. however. that the
California market at San Francisco anf
!. all points south will be seized by the
Alaska coal. and that In a short time
there will be demand for 900 tons 8
year, This would insure q very salts
factory traffic for the short stretch OF
road that would be used to bring thu
coal from the mines down to tidewater
r Everything In Alaska Is looking W
r In anticipation of the beginning o
) actual rail- Dad construction. The mere
inauguration of the surveying opera
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