The Alaska daily empire., 1918-07-03

ment Railway in Alaska IS
 finding it's way to members of
 Congress. There is, of course,
 no secret about anything con-
 nected with the construction
 of the railway, and the reports
 of the Secretary of the Inter-
 for are full and frank. l have
 followed the matter myself as
 closely as it was possible for
 me to do so amidst so many
 matters that demand my at
 tention, and have upon each
 inquiry been satisfied that the
 matters were going as well as
 could have been expected. If
 there is any particular way in
 which 1 can help clear up mis-
 understandings, will be very
 much obliged if you would
 suggest it.
 Cordially and sincerely yours,
 WOODROW WILSON"
 q am grateful that the committee have placed in this bill the amount of $5,250,000; that they did not see fit to let this work stop; and when 1 offer this amendment to increase this item I do not wish to be under stood as criticising the committee in any manner. I feel that they have done what they thought was wise, and that they believed that in reducing the estimate to the extent of $2,100000 they would not ser iously handicap the work which is going on toward completion of the Alaskan railway.
 "Mr. Chairman, I regret that l cannot agree with the committee in this respect I have devoted great deal of thought and study to this work and this project. I have talked the matter over very carefully with members of the commission and with officials of the Interior Department who are responsible for this work. They all advise me that this reduc tion will have very serious effect upon their organization. The amount of the original estimate which was renedered last Fall by the officials of the Interior Department after very careful consideration was minimum figure, every possible item being reduced or eliminated by the Secretary of the Interior in seeking to cut out every expense that could be avoided under the circumstances and conditions existing at this time If the departmental estimate is re duced we all feel that it will handi cap this work to a great extent al this time, and that it will be a ser ious detriment, financially and other wise, to the completion of the rail road.
 Last year the Alaskan Engineer ing Commission obtained $14,00O,0Ot for the work. We all realize that we are in a great war, and that not dollar should be spent by the Government unless it is a matter O absolute necessity; and the Score estimates 50 per cent-cut them ir half-so that this year the Alaskan Engineering Commission request on ly $7,350,000. In reducing the esti mates to this amount it is believed that they have been cut down tC the very limit consistent with econo mical prosecution of the project, and that less amount would not en able the commission to hold togeth CT through the coming fiscal year it's organization, which has been built up through the course of sey eral years, and is now at its per lection. To break up and scatter this splendid organization will bring about irreparable injury and greatly delay completion of the project.
 The reduction made by the com mittee cuts out two items which were in the estimates; one extend ing from the Susitna River to Hurri cane Gulch, or, in other words, the extension proposed on the North end of the Anchorage division; the oth CT item that has been cut out O the estimates is the extension from Lignite Creek to Riley Creek, or the South extension of the Interior division. In other words, the com mittee have seen fit to allow the work to continue on both ends. but not to extend it toward completion from both ends in order to close the gap and connect the great Interior mineral and agricultural lands with the coast, as you see here on the maI which l have placed before you. know the committee feel no harm is being done by delaying work on these extensions, but l cannot sec the logic of cutting down the approp riation at this time and thus delay ing the connection of the Coast and Interior divisions, when it is of sucl vital necessity that this connection be made at the earliest time.
 If the increase asked for is not allowed it is most probable that next Fall the commission will be out of funds, and while it has beer suggested that they may then aSl