The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1919-05-19
bALLA|NE TELLS
SECRETARY LANE
HOW TO PROCEED

about the Government railroad and
advice to offer to the Alaskan En-
cheering Commission, recently
called on Secretary Lane, at Wash
ington, for the purpose of present
ing details of alleged waste and
Encouragement in connection with
the big government enterprise in
Alaska.
''As a result of that interview"
Ballaine later explained TO repre-
sentative Of the Seattle P.-I., Il
left with the secretary a written
statement giving a program of con-
structive suggestions. And for the
information of the public, as q
possible help in shaping a course
of action" the unsuccessful pro-
moter of the old Alaska Central
railroad. induced the Seattle paper
TO publish the suggested program
in its entirely, of which the follow
ing are the nine principal points" ::
y. Immediate steps should be
taken TO develop traffic for the AL
aska railroad on a comprehensive
scale, in the same practical way
that all new railroads have done in
pioneer countries, in charge of men
of broad vision and proved capaci-
", rather than under the care of
land Office clerk This should in
clude the building Of central
hydro-electric power plant at a cost
Of about 100000, with feed
wires along the railroad to furnish
power and light for the railroad
and the tributary towns and mines,
making possible all-year mining OPP
erations at low cost, which in turn
would provide markets for an ag-
ricultural population and open the
way for rapid and substantial
growth.
80 The Matanuska coal fields
should be developed in good faith
under the present coal-leasing law,
if not by private companies, then
by The government direct through
the railroad management or othe~
agency. Put a big sized coal min
ing man on the job. Don't blame
the coal-leasing Law for failure 10
produce results when you place It's
execution in the hands Of 4 land
Office clerk who has no knowledge
Of coal mining or any othe~ bust
ness.
-. All transportation charges
on the Alaska railroad should be
reduced TO the sane basis as in
Oregon and Washington.
~. The railroad from Seward
to the Interior should be complet-
ed and put into operation and not
longer held back by deliberate neg
lect to complete some sections
IS. No railroad money should be
spent for any purpose north of the
Tanana river until the main line is
completed from the coast to the
Tanana river
'.6. The s967,295 a year listed
for salaries to officers and other
upernumeraries should be reduced
to not more than $685. 900, and the
dierence Of s817,295 should be
added 10 the s305,455 listed for
wages to laborers, making possible
the employment Of largely in
creased labor force.
~. Congress this session should
be asked for s5,000,00O more than
the S4,002, $50 that has been requi-
sitioned, as productive and use
full means Of absorbing the fast
increasing supply of surplus labor.
1t would hasten the completion of
the railroad and theerby the open
ing of Alaska as a field of oppor-
tunity for otherwise idle men.
"s. Immediate preparations
should be begun for appropriations
by the next Congress, not only to
complete the main line now under
construction, but to build needed
branches and feeders, including the
Kuskokwim branch.
''9. There should be an immedi-
ate cleaning out Of incompetents
and supernumeraries and a radical
reorganization under capable man
agement such as will make the
Alaska railroad a benefit to Alaska,
credit to the principle of gov
eminent building of railroads IN
Alaska, and an agency of real ser
vica RI Tho naa,la a% tho JTn;+aJ