The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-11-12

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
S7,2OO.OOO, which was less than 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 Foundand. Vege-
tables and cereals can be and raised there
and 1t 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 $S4OOOO,OOO worth of wealth $500,
OOOOlO 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 S4OO 100000 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 a rail-
road or railroads in Alaska, not to exceed 1000
miles in length, and authorized the expenditure
by him of $35 100000 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 100000 would
have constructed this road under ordinary condi-
tons 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
1t is. therefore, absolutely necessary, unless we
wish to sacrifice the $35, 100000 already invested.
that this $17OOOOOO 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 first n
miles from Seward north and gap of 100 miles
AID another small gap Of 25 miles. Most of the
.OO-mile 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 NJ
hat 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 a branch Of the Yukon river
and the Yukon river and the Tanana river ero
navigable for 1000 miles. The Alaskan rs,lro.S
commission commenced building from the south.
point north They brought the materisI ~
Seward and Anchorage, and they commenced Ia
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 Luz square miles Of coal fields in
Alaska that have been explored and exported nv
the coast and geodetic survey. the geological snr.
vey and by the Alaskan engineering commission
That is all on the line of this road 1t Is estimated
6ht there are $4,000 100000 tons of coal thar wiz
,. Upened to commerce by this road and $1,000.
10000 tons Of 1t will be high-grade cool which
ould be used for coking and smelling ore and
such purposes. and the rest of for fuel and mat
tiers Of that kind. In Alaska 1t has been estimated
that there are 15OOOO.OOO,OOO tons of coal NJ
person knows how much there is
Mr.. Strong Of kansas-There has been discoy.
cred in Alaska not only gold but silver. conner
COAL lead. iron. antimony. tungsten and platinum
In large quantities. In addition. there has been
discovered large fields of oil. It has splendid arr
cultural advantages. 1t is estimated that II has
over 100000 square miles of tillahle land. 1t has
q growing season Of 100 days. and because of the