Vernon Parish Democrat., 1919-11-15


Of its development. Some Of these facts are here
given, with credit to the various representatives.
Mr. Curry of California.-Mr. Chairman, in 1857
when Alaska was purchased through the efforts
Of Secretary of State Seward from Russia for
$7,2O0O00 which was less than 2 cents an acre,
the European nations pOked fun at the United
States and the papers of the United States ridi-
culed Secretary Seward and referred to Alaska as
Stewards Iceberg"
The climate OF the most of Alaska is better than
that Of Scandinavia and New Foundland. Vege-
tables and cereals can be and are raised there
and it is the richest undeveloped mineral section
on the face of the earth.
Time has justified Stewards purchase Of Alaska
for the United States. Since 1869 Alaska has pro-
duced over $840,0000O0 worth of wealth $780,
100000 of that from her fisheries, most of the
rest from her mines and from her furs In the
same time Alaska has bought from the United
States $400OOOO00 worth of property. 1t has done
that 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 a railroad
could not and would not be built by private enter
prise, the congress of the United States enacted
law authorizing the president to construct rail-
road or railroads in Alaska, not to exceed 1000
miles in length, and authorized the expenditure
by him of $35,O00,000 for that purpose The presi-
dent placed the construction of the road under the
control of the secretary Of the interior and he in
turn organized what is known as the Alaskan
engineering commission to take practical charge Of
the work.
The original authorization of $s5,OOOOOO would
have constructed this road under ordinary condi-
lions and circumstances, but the war came along,
wages increased SO per cent, the cost Of material
increased up to 161 per cent and transportation up
to lat per cent. Under those circumstances the
$35 100000 is not sufficient to complete the work
&c OH luAo
wish to sacrifice the $95,O00OOO already invested,
that this $17OO0OO0 authorization be allowed.
The road, when completed, will be 601 miles in
length. The main line, from Seward to Fairbanks
will be All miles in length The spurs and branches
and side lines win make up the COL miles. All Of
the road has been completed, with the exception
Of some work to be done to complete the first II
miles from Seward north and a gap of 100 miles
and another small gap Of 25 miles, Most of the
100-me gap has been surveyed and some Of the
roadbed has been made.
The road started from Seward on the southern
point of Alaska, and went to Anchorage. Part of
that rOad-71 miles-had been constructed. From
Anchorage over to the northern terminal of the
road, Fairbanks is located on the Tanana' river.
The Tanana river is branch of the Yukon river
and the Yukon river and the Tanana river are
navgable for 1000 miles The Alaskan railroad
commission commenced building from the south
ern point north. They brought the material to
Seward and Anchorage and they commenced to
build from the northern terminal SOUTH so that
they could save time and save money.
The road already reaches to the coal fields
There the 1902 square miles of coal fields in
Alaska that have been explored and exported bv
the coast and geodetc survey, the geological sur.
vey and by the Alaskan engineering commission.
That is all the line of this road It is estimated
that there are 30000O00O00 tons Of coal thar will
be opened to commerce by this road and $4,000.
100000 tons Of it win be high-grade coal which
could be used for coking and smelling ore. and
such purposes and the rest of It for fuel and mat
ters Of thai kind In Alaska 1t has been estimated
that there are 150OOOOOOOOO tons of coal No
person knows how much there is.
Mr.. Strong Of Kansas.-There has been discoy-
cred in Alaska not only gold, but silver, copper
coal, lead, rOn antimony. tungsten and platinum
in large quantities In addition, there has been
discovered large fields Of OIL It has splendid agri
cultural advantages. 1t is estimated that it has
over 100000 square miles Of tillabe land. It has
q growing season OF 100 days. and because Of the