Iditarod pioneer., 1917-08-18
NEW GOVERNMENT RAILROAD TO BE IMPORTANT FACTOR
 SOLVING WAR PROBLEMS

The Official Bulletin issued by the gov 'crnment, contained the following interesting statement relative to the Alaska railway in the issue of July l0
 The importance of the early completion of the government railroad in Alaska Tn helping the United States to meet the bur dens of war is set forth in statement au- thorized by the secretary of the interior. This railroad, it is pointed out, will hasten the development of Alaska's vast resources; will encourage the production of foodstuffs, thus reducing the terrltory's dependence upon the United States for supplies Will furnish coal in unlimited quantity for the navy, obviating the necessity for the trans continental shipment to the Pacific of fuel for government vessels, and at the same time release thousands of cars for the trans | portation of war materials and foodstuffs. The statement fellows
 "On March 12, 1914, the Alaskan railroad act was approved by the President This act authorized and directed the President to locate a railroad in the territory of Alaska not to exceed in the aggregate l,OOO miles, The purposes of the road as set forth in that act, were as follows: "l To connect one or more of the open Pacific ocean harbors on the southern coast of Alaska with the navigable waters in the Interior.
 "2. To connect with the coal fields so as best to aid in the development of the agri- cultural and mineral or other resources.
 "3. To provide transportation of coal for the army and navy, transportation ot troops munitions of war, the mails and for other government and public uses, including the transportation of passengers and freight.
 "The primary purpose of the railroad sys- tenn authorized in the act was to develop the mineral resources of Alaska, particularly its coal
 Parts Under Construction
 "The main line of the road is now under construction from Seward, on the Paclhc coast, inland tor 470 miles to Fairbanks, on the Panama river, a large and navigable tributary of the Yukon. There Is now in operation 15O miles.
 The road taps two large coal fields, the Matanuska and the Nenana. The coal in the Matanuska field has been tested by the navy and found to be excellent for steamng purposes. The Nenana coal was recently tested by the bureau of mines and found to be fair grade of Ignite. It IS estimated that the supply in both of these fields IS practically inexhaustible. By September of this year the branch line will be completed to the heart of the Matanuska coal field Dredging Is under way at Anchorage, the nearest tidewater port to the coal fields, in order that deep p-draft ocean vessels may be loaded at the docks When the gap, about twenty-five miles in length, along Turnagain arm, between Anchorage and Seward, is completed, coal can be shipped from the latter port It is planned to close this gap early in 1918
 Now Using Matanuska Coal
 "The commission in charge of the rail road work is now using coal mined from the Matanuska field in the construction of the line. Construction work IS being done as rapidly as possible, and 1t Is estimated that at the present rate Matanuska coal can be delivered for the needs of the navy and for general use on the Pacific coast in the early summer of 1918.
 "The railroad is also being constructed southward from Fairbanks to tap the Ne mana field, making the coal here available for the development of such mineral de posits as copper, antmony and gold in this part of the country. Mining here Is prac- ticaIly at a standstill owing to the lack of suitable fuel The Nenana coal will also be made available fer Use on the railroad loco motives and on the river steamers of the Interior
 Rich Valleys Traversed
 "The railroad traverses several rich az ricultural valleys the development of which will add to the increase of our food supply, in that it will supply Alaslla's needs and obviate the necessity of making shipments of food products from the States. Along the many streams adjacent to the railroad is found a plentiful supply of cottonwood and spruce, from which large quantities of pulp for paper making can be derived.
 "The importance of immediately complet- ing this railroad can more readily be ap- preciated when it is seen that the navy could then be supplied with fuel on the Pacific coast, without having it shipped across the continent by rail, thus releasing thousands of cars for the transportation of war materials and food; and would also release the ocean tonnage which IS now re- quired to carry from the States practically all of the coal consumed by the mining fl ichino and other industries in A]aska VI