A GREAT PROJECT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 13

A GREAT PROJECT

ROAD TO ALASKA

FINANCIAL POSSIBILITY

A great highway to connect all the Americas, from Alaska to the Horn, was a subject of considerable prominence a few years ago, and has been brought "into the limelight agaiu by tho report of a special commission of the United States regarding tho northern end of it, the long link through British Columbia and tho Yukon territory to Alaska. The report says that this is a feasible project and the road could be built at reasonable cost, a cost not exceeding 2,000,000 dollars for tho Alaska section and 12,000,000 dollars for the Canadian section. Canadian officials co-operated in the investigations on which the report is based, and the report recommends that negotiations with the Canadian Government bo carried forward to work out an agreement under which these great 'countries could jointly proceed with the project in their respective areas. • - The principal existing section of the road is from Vancouver to Hazelton, in North Central British Columbia, a distance of 820 miles. The most feasible point for a connection at the United States end is ' stated to be Blame. The report recommends that tho standard of construction at the outset be no higher than required for the estimated traffic, improvements to higher standard to be made as the required funds become available. Tho ¥nitcd States Government lias made an allocation of 1,000,000 dollars for highways work in Alaska, and it is anticipated that a considerable part of this will be spent on the Alaska section of the proposed international route. Referring to tho proposal, Mr. Anthony J. Dimond, delegate from Alaska to Congress at Washington, recently wrote: —"An expenditure of not more than 14,000,000 dollars will make available a highway 2200 miles, in length, traversing a land of unrivalled scenic splendour and of highly important mineral resources. It is a new! land/ to which transportation facilities are now almost unknown. Construction of this proposed highway would open to . development hundreds of thousands of square miles of land at a cost small in. proportion to the benefits which would be derived." The report itself says:— . . I "The promotion of the Alaska highway connection has an aspect nothing short of continental. in its scope and significance. Its effect in promoting international travel among the people of the Western Hemisphere will be j important and no doubt large because it will 'constitute the initial line of, through overland communication. The project wiil constitute a vital part of the growing movement to cement the solidarity of the ' Americas, improve communications directly • with our neighbour republics by physical con-1 nections, and develop the goodwill of these nations by friendly intercourse! and larger acquaintance."