The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-11-07

States and is only at the beginning
of its development. Some of these facts are mere
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
$7,2O0,0O0, 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 $40, 10000 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 S4OO,OOO,OOO 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
Il 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 S35,OOO,OO0 for that purpose. The presi-
QeDt plaCeu the CONSTRUCTION OF Tie TOdu unueT 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 $50, O 600 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 147 per cent. Under those circumstances the
$35, O00,0 600 is not sufficient to complete the work.
1t is, therefore, absolutely necessary, unless we
wish to sacrifice the $35, 600 600 already invested,
that this $17.OO0,OO0 authorization be allowed.
The road, when completed, will be Col miles in
length. The main line. from Seward to Fairbanks,
will lie 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 II
miles from Seward north and a gap Of 100 miles
and another small gap Of 20 miles. Most Of the
1OO-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 of
that rOad-1 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 are
n~avigable for 1000 miles. The Alaskan railroad
commission commenced building from the south
en 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 Inv
the coast and geOdetic survey, the geological SIR.
vey and by the Alaskan engineering commission
That is all on the line of this road. 1t is estimated
that there are 10000, 0OO, 1000 tons of coal thar will
he opened to commerce by this road, and $1,000.
100000 tons of 1t will 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 that kind. In Alaska 1t has been estimated
that there are 10000. O0O, 600 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, iron, anthony. tungsten and platinum
In large quantities. In addition, there has been
discovered large fields Of oil. 1t has splendid agri.
, cultural advantages. 1t is estimated that It has
over 10000 square miles Of tillable land. It has
n growing season of 100 days. and because Of the