The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-12-13

600 was appropriated for the coHpe-
\ ] !
rsNA ton of the road by December 81. 49,.
fGEESSNN The debate was presumably more OF
MI S3N less tinged with partisan polltics.
CM Nh Leaving out the politics many inter-
TsE ~GHI esting facts Of value were brought
EzNNfX out concerning Alaska-Land OF the
AHHSYA Midnight Sun-which has proved
~ w veritabie treasure trove to the United
States and Is only at the beginning
90 #H develop. ment. Some of these facts are mere
sTfvan with credit to the various representatives
lEr Curry of California-Mr. Chairman, in 1867
~fAaa Alaska was purchased through the efforts
s8 Secretary Of State Seward from Russia for
E.1OOOO0 which was less than cents an acre.
Ire European nations poked fun at the United
SstAtes. and the papers of the United States ridi-
~xdsed Secretary Seward and referred to Alaska as
%eward's iceberg"
The climate of the most of Alaska is better than
Asat OF Scandinavia and New Foundland. Vege-
N1o4ea and cereals be and are raised there,
ssA II Is the richest undevelOped mineral section
~a the face Of the earth.
Vine has justified Stewards purchase Of Alaska
nsr the United States. Since 1869 Alaska has pro-
dksred over $840OO0,OOO worth Of wealth; $780,
~se0Oo OF that from her fisheries, most Of the
aest from her mines and from her furs. In the
anne time Alaska has bought from the United
4eates $4O0OOOOO0 worth of property. 1t has done
sak under existing law that practically ties up the
resources Of Alaska and prohibits them from being
developed.
In 1914 under these conditions, knowing that
Alaska should be developed and that railroad
ecaId not and would not be built by private enter
arise, the congress of the United States enacted
Jaw authorizing the president to construct rail-
ssad or railroads in Alaska, not to exceed 1000
uases In length and authorized the expenditure
W him Of $35. 600 for that purpose. The presi
sWt placed the construction of the road under the
c.rol Of the secretary of the interior. and he in
Ea organized what Is known as the Alaskan
0xineering commission to take practical charge OF
d. work.
Tie original authorization Of $35.OOOOOO would
I've constructed this road under ordinary condi-
ezeas and circumstances. but the war came along,
NHx1 Increased 30 per cent the cost Of material
acreased " to l6l per cent and transportation up
- fH per cent Under those circumstances the
N3NO0,OOO Is not sufficient to complete the work.
q g. therefore. absolutely necessary unless we
49, 70 sacrifice the $35.0OOO0O already invested.
uAaf this $17.000OOO authorization be allowed
The road when completed. will be COL miles in
tngth The main line, from Seward to Fairbanks
vn he All miles in length. The spurs and branches
,ssA side lines will make up the COL miles. All OF
mar@ I'd has been completed, with the exception
= ~nrae FORK to be done to complete the first u
nsy,s- frmn $ Seward north and gap Of 100 miles
I'd subSher IN. all gap Of Is miles. Most Of the
: leOnNe gap shns d cen surveyed ana some OF the
csSaAehfNd has been fAaA
The road started from Seward on the southern
psant Of Alaska. and went Il, Anchorage. Part Of
Hsnt rund-71 miles-had been constructed. From
Adnrhornge over to the northern terminal of the
aend Fairbanks II located on the Tanana river.
1he Tanana river is a branch Of the Yukon river.
nnd the Yukon river and the Tanana river
1viEsble for 1000 miles. The Alaskan railroad
Suumfeslon commenced building from the south
ssu point norlh. They brought the material to
8ewasa and Anchorage. and they commenced to
Nuisd FROM the northern terminal SOUTH so that
1ney could save time and money.
The road already reaches to the coal fields.
TAese the i.202 square miles Of coal fields in
ASasia that have been explored and exported by
he coast md geodetc survey. the geological sur
vey and by tie Alaskan engineering commission.
That Is all tNe tine Of this road 1t Is estimated
dat there are 3OOOOOOOOO0 tons Of coal that will
- opened to commerce by this road. and 15OOO-
AeneO0O tons Of It will be high-grade coal which
.ouuad be used for cooking and smelling ore. and
n purposes. and the rest of 1t for fuel and mat
ers q that kind. In Alaska 1t has been estimated
at rAere are 15OOOOO0OOOO tons Of coal. No
~ers0u knows how much there Is.
-1Er Strong Of Kansas.-There has been discoy-
go = Alaska not only gold but silver. copper
- Nd iron. anthony. tungsten and platinum
Z 20 sarrxe ouaatifies. In addition. there has been
large fields Of OIL 1t has splendid agr
---al.vxl -sAypntageA II b estimated that II has
10000 SQUARE miles Of tillable land. II has
= - sssasde n 100 aays. and hecause Of the