The Cordova daily times., 1916-01-22
W AN I RAILROAD TO FAIRBANKS
 IN 1917

Unless Secretary FranHiIn K Lane can be induced to change his present. plans, according to Fairbanks citizens, 1t will be absolutely impossible to complete the construction of the g1v- ernment railroad from the coast to Fairbanks, the interior metropolis of the territory, within five years.
 A change of plans, it is contended would enable the Alaska engineerins commission, in charge of the construc- tion, to complete the project by 1917 in the summer of which the fiftieth anniversary of the acquisition of tho territory by the United States will be celebrated.
 The Fairbanks Commercial Club has wired Secretary Lane, President Wilson and Senators Key Pittman, George Chamberlin and others re sponsible for the passage of the bill, urging them to try to induce the gov ernment to begin the construction from both ends of the line next year. Similar requests were sent to the Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Cham Der of Commerce. the Portland Cham Der of Commerce and other organi- cations on the Pacific coast.
 The Fairbanks people contend that if construction is not completed from the Fairbanks end next summer the road will be delayed two years by reason of the fact that the Panama river must be spanned by a bridge, and that it will take two years to build it.
 They contend that 1t would be foolish to carry the construction to the bank of the riven and then lay off the track crews until the bridge is completed, then reassemble the track crew to finish the last 100 miles of track to Fairbanks.
 "The allotment of s8.OO0,OOO for the coast end of the railroad" said Fal- con Joslin, and only $2S5.OOO for the interior end, as contemplated in the estimate made by Secretary Lane, seems altogether out of proportion. It was expected at Fairbanks that at least $2,OOO,OOO would be allotted for the work at the interior end"
 Joslin, who wrote the original rail road bill, and was largely instrument tai in gaining the passage of the mea- sure in it's final form, says that the building of a small piece of track from the Panama river to the Nenana coal fields, as contemplated by the gov ernment, will seriously hurt Fair banks instead of helping it, as 1t will drain the population of the interior city.
 Indeed" he said, "it will kill Fair banks as effectively as any town ever was killed in the past by deliberate discrimination of private railroad ex- ploiters."
 He says the Fairbanks end of the | line is easier to build than the Sew ard end, as the ground is level and there is no rock work and no tunnels. He says further that a road from Fairbanks to the Nenana coal fields will give the Fairbanks people a sup ply of coal, something which is vital | ly needed. The coast cities of Alaska can get their coal by water from the | United States.
 Joslin figures that the difference in cost would be insignificant when com pared to the saving in time. He says the freight can be landed at Fairbanks for $50 per ton, and it will cost near | ly that much to land it by rail after the road is completed to the river bank.
 The slight decrease in cost and labor" said Joslin, would be com pensated for many times over by the 1 increase of population and traffic which the construction work would bring to the interior. The money paid out in wages would be expended in building new homes, clearing new farms and opening new mines"
 "This is the great object in build Il ing the railroad. The whole expendi- ture is for that purpose. Thus the population of Fairbanks would be Ju fhraa yaaru Tbia rnaanS