Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-11-13

~ W veritable treasure trove to the United
States and is only at the beginning
OF Its development. Some of these facts are here
given, with credit to the various representatives.
Mr.. Curry of California.-Mr Chairman, in 1867
when Alaska was purchased through the efforts
OF Secretary Of State Seward from Russia for
$7,2Oo,000, 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 1t is the richest undeveloped mineral section
on the face of the earth.
lime has justified Stewards purchase of Alaska
for the United States. Since 1869 Alaska has pro-
duced over $840,000,0OO worth of wealth; $500,
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 $4OO,O0OIOOO 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
a law authorizing the president to construct a rail.
"oo "a IN III <1idShu, uUl u exceed 1OUU
miles in length, and authorized the expenditure
by him of S35,000,000 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 $35, OOO,O 900 would
have constructed this road under ordinary condi-
lions and circumstances, but the war came along.
wages increased 81 per cent, the cost of material
increased up to 161 per cent and transportation nm
to l47 per cent. Under those circumstances the
$35.000,OO0 is not sufficient to complete the work.
1t is. therefore, absolutely necessary, unless we
wish to sacrifice the $35,OO0,0OO already invested.
that this $17OOO,0O0 authorization be allowed.
The road, when completed, will be COL miles in
length. The main line, from Seward to Fairbanks.
will be All miles in length. The spurs and branches
and side lines will make up the COL miles. All of
the road has been completed, with the exception
Of some work to be done to complete the 6rst n
miles from Seward north and a gap of 100 miles
and another small gap Of % miles. Most of the
1OO-mfle 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-1 miles-had been constructed Fror,
Anchorage over to the northern terminal of tho
road, Fairbanks is located on the Tanana river
Inc lanana river is q branch of the Yukon rivor
and the Yukon river and the Tanana river orc
~navigable for 1000 miles. The Alaskan railroad
commission commenced building from the sontb.
ern point north. They brought the material -
Seward and Anchorage, and they commeneed 70
build from the northern terminal south. so tbot
they could save time and save money.
The road already reaches to the coal Ae,ds
There the 1902 square miles of coal fields IN
Alaska that have been explored and experted INV
the coast and geodetic survey, the gcolopcoI go
vey and by the Alaskan engineering commission
That is al. on the line of this road. II is estimotaa
that there are 30,OO0.0OO,OOO tons Of coal IN, Nm
be opened to commerce by this road. and Il ooo
100000 tons of It will be high-grade coal which
could be used for cooking and smelling ora ana
such purposes, and the rest Of It for fuel and MAJ.
tiers of that kind. In Alaska 1t has been est,ma+aa
that there are 5 .0O0.O 00.O0 tons Of coal NJ
person knows how much there Is.
Mr.. Strong of Kansas.-There has been discor-
cred In Alaska not only gold, but silver. conner
coal. lead, iron, anthony. tungsten and platinum
In large quantities. In addition. there has haan
discovered large fields Of oil. 1t hns splendid aprI.
cultural advantages. 1t is estimated that # bas
over 100000 square miles Of tillabIe land. n has
a growing season Of 100 days. and because Of the