The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1938-01-11

1873 miles of road in Alaska it only natural to sup
pose that the Canadian Governments will consider
length every angle of the situation Then too there
has been the feeling that for such an expenditure
Canada would not benefit greatly
Now however, with of prosperity dawning
in Canada prospects for the highway Frightening
Those who the potential value of tourist traffic
point to the unquestioned success of the new road
from the north to Mexico City Mexico. Aviation in
terests, which are developing rapidly in Alaska and
the Yukon contemplate regular line between Seat
tie and Alaska extending perhaps to the ORIENT they
would welcome ground communications that would
facilitate the establishment of arports Aaskans re-
membering the recent strike which paralyzed coast
wise shipping especially eager for auxiliary
contact with the United States.
There as many opinions about the settler
capacity of the land to be opened on the probable
success of the Matanuska Valley experiment Alaska
A California legislator declares the territory tapped
by the road will support million people. His figure
may be somewhat exaggerated but conservative
estimate is one million.
Premier Pattulo, of British Columbia, however
has assured both the Canadian Dominion and the
United States Governments that his Government will
cooperate fully in the construction OF the Alaska
Highway. This willingness found action when the
British Columbia Government in 1886 instructed its
chief engineer to conduct an extensive aerial and
ground survey to seek the best possible route In
British Columbia the highway will open esti-
mated to contain 30 million dollars in god reserves
and millions of feet of standing timber alone.
Thousands of men will be given work on the high
way for at least five years. Every piece of road
building equipment idle will be utilized. The
products of British Columbias north now suffering
the want of markets because of high freight rates, will
IND ready consumers. At time when Government
business and industrial leaders of Canada advo-
eating increased immigration, when the founders of
the Matanuska Valley project pray for its success
the highway will open wide vast empire for
exploitation. The comparative handful of trappers
prospectors. and traders who populate these
millions of acres will give way to the modern pioneer
in his covered wagon of the goth Century trail
From Vancouver to Hazelton, the route will for
$3.50 miles follow the historic Cariboo Highway built
during the Fraser River and Carboo gold rush of the
00s At the typical frontier and trading post
OF Hazelton only the prospector and trapper with their
pack trains now venture into the country beyond"
a section of Canada larger than California-joined
by the Alaska that ne-fth the size of its mother
country
From Hazelton in the days of the Klondike gold
rush, many made their way by trails into the gold
fields A ow-abandoned telegraph line built by the
Canadian Government and originally intended to
contact Europe via the Boring Strait and Siberia fol-
lows an easy route through the Yukon. Numerous
railway surveys also made of the country during
Canadas railway expansion era of pre-War days
government engineers, aided by these previous
VeyS and experiences and with modern methods OF
aerial typographical photography, have proved that
TALL IN the whole varies from one to eight feet
Under such conditions the highway be kept open
the year round Engineers point out that much worse
conditions are experienced in many sections of the
Western States and Canada yearly yet roads are
nearly always paSsable.
But back to the money question: At the outset
Canadians felt their share some II million of the
l4-mllllon dollar highway unjust The road was
TO be IAN American highway to an American colony"
That feeling is now almost gone Canada realizing
the roads economic possibilities favors the project
President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordel
Hull have had conversations" with Canadian authori-
ties. They did report some progress" That was in
July. 1886 Canadian representatives were reluctant
TO saddle their taxpayers with the burden of additional
debt and were reported proceeding cautiously"
Business in Canada as result of general i'm
proved conditions and Empire trade agreements is
now on the upgrade. Government financial state
mentS While not exceptionally cheerful reflect the
erect OF increased trade Furthermore highway en-
huslaStS reerate that aside from the general advan
tageS OF the proposed highway, the completed road
VIII greatly benefit one of the Dominions greatest
tourist trade Money from tourists
they say would in time pay for Canadas share of the
highway
Certain it is that the Canadian section of the
road and Alaska offer virgin paradise for the travel
Ter Mountain scenery that leaves one gasping for
words, rivers that have scarcely known casting rod
romantic evidences of the gold seeker and trapper-
for what more could ask within the reach of his
Yet there are those who think most significant of
all advantages of the will be the guaranty it will
give of friendly handcasp of two great
peace-loving peoples