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Show EXTENDING LINES IN ALASKA Oegree of Development Not Generally Recognized Has Been Steadily Carried Forward. Private enterprise is re-enforcing government enterprise iu the development develop-ment of Alaska transportation. Announcement An-nouncement was recently made of the Intention of the Copper River & Northwestern North-western to extend its Cordova line farther into the interior. Now comes the assurance that private enterprise has financed the proposed immediate construction of a railroad from near Controller bay to the Bering river coal fields, 17 miles away. Thus coal of high quality is to be brought to tidewater hy October next and shipped to Alaska points as well as Seattle and points farther south. Possibly about the same time Mata-nuska Mata-nuska coal will reach Seward and Anchorage and be distributed from these points for naval and commercial needs. The humanizing of Alaska administration adminis-tration and the partial opening of the territory to commercial enterprise have had a stimulating effect. Long dormant coal claims are taking on the form of business ventures. Railroad construction is to bring these in touch with the market, cheapen fuel and make greater gold production possible. The world's demand for copper has further accentuated Alaska's progress by forcing the railroad line from Seward Se-ward to extend into the wilderness be yond the present terminus. The utilities for commerce are being be-ing vastly increased. Coal will soon be reaching Central Alaska from the Nenana fields, and the south coast will be supplied from the Bering and Mata-imska Mata-imska fields, vitalizing every industry that It touches. In another year the northern wilderness will be split In twain by the arteries of commerce. |