The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-01-10

per Matanuska branch are the seams
That, it is hoped, will develop into
producers of Pacific coast coal The
center OF this coal district is the new
railroad town of Chickaloon.
100000 AvaiIabls.
Inc main line of the railroad is 40
miles long; with the Matanuska
branch it will cover a distance of a
little more than 500 miles. Acting
within the restrictions of the Alaska
railroad bill. with regard to mileage,
this will leave practically 500 miles
OF railroad that can be built in the
territory without further legislation,
provided that the total expenditure
for the 1000 miles falls within the $685.
100000 appropriation to which the
bill restricts the president. A recon-
Nuisance survey has been made by the
commission, from the point where the
main line turns north in the Susitna
valley, following the Yentna river,
crossing the main Alaskan range,
down into the Kuskowim valley. This
valley is widely known for it's agri-
cultural and mining possibilities. The
original estimate of the cost of the
first 500 miles of the railroad was
about $27,O00,O00, but the war has rails
ed prices so greatly since the esti-
mate was made that it will probably
fall rs per cent short of the mark
This would run the cost of the author
lied railroad now being built up to
the total appropriation of $35000,000
leaving no funds for the branch lines
Passenger and Freight Rates.
The railroad rates now in force are
based on a doubling of the western
states classification; thus passengers
mile over the Copper River & North
western. At the time that the rail-
road was before congress another bill
was introduced to establish a steam
ports to operate in conjunction with
the railroad. This bill was rejected
but it yet may be found that in order
to develop Alaska rapidly the govern
ment will be obliged to go further than
merely to build railroads. The freight
rates at present prevailing from Sc
attic to Anchorage on the average
class Of supplies are about $40 per ton
while the U. S. transport Crook,
which brings up supplies and handles
passengers for the A. E. c., lands the
freight at Anchorage for from So to
50 per ton. Potatoes when sacked.
100 pounds per sack, will average 3
cubic feet in volume. The base rate
for potatoes is $14.50 per ton by vol
ume. 1t being to the advantage of
the steamship companies to charge by
volume rather than by weight, the
$14.50 rate would apply for 1885
pounds of potatoes instead of 1000
pounds. When wharfage is added, the
charges for potatoes laid on the dock
is $50 per ton by weight. The first
class passenger fare on the steamship
lines is $50, while the Crook brings its
people in for $50. If an employee of
the commission works three months
for it, he will be taken outside for SIS;
and should he work two years for the
commission he and his entire family
will be taken outside and brought in
again gratis. Some of the freight for
the A. e. C. is brought from Seattle
in barges towed by tugs and but lit
tie business is given by the commits
sion to either the Alaska Steamship
company or the Pacific Steamship
company, owned respectively by the
American Smelling & Refining COM
pany and the D. c. Jackling interests.
The federal shipping board controls
these freight rates but it seems to be
deaf to the appeals of Alaskans for re-
lief from such exploitation.
Good Wages for Labor.
Wages are good; every employe
works an 8-hour day and receives
time and half for overtime. Ordin-
airy crafts such as machinists, black
smiths and electricians receive IS per
day while their helpers receive $3.50
Trainmen receive from $3.50 to $40
per month. At any place where board
is furnished by the A. e. c. the charge
is $1,25 per day. Civil service rules
do not apply. Authority is passed
from the three members of the COM
mission, who have charge of the three
divisions, respectively, to the heads OF
the departments, thence to the lower
divisions of the departments, and from
these in turn to bosses and to the Ia
borers. Each official handles the men
under his control with absolute au-
thority with regard to hiring, DIS
charging and ordering. There is nc
central point where men are hired OF
discharged, the men being directl!
responsible to their immediate super
ior. An employment office at Anchor
age supplies men to the various out
living points, but this office acts more
az a registration headquarters for Ia
borers than as hiring agency.
Mines Experimental Station.
The II. s. bureau of mines has es
tablished an experimental station a
Fairbanks with Mr.. Davis, formerly O