The CHAIRMAN. That is how you are here now?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir. At the beginning of my work, the first year, I reported to the Secretary of War that the fund accruing from the Alaska tax, under which we were working, was so small that it would be a long time before any appreciable results could be accomplished; and I stated that the available money was so inadequate that I would be glad to come to Washington, at my own expense, to lay the facts before the Secretary of War and before the proper committees of Congress.

The CHAIRMAN. Respecting the matter of transportation?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir. The answer to that was a telegraphic order to come to Washington. Each year since then I have been ordered by the Secretary to report to Washington in order to go before the committees and represent the needs of Alaska in respect to my work. I have been appearing before the Military Committees of the House and Senate.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you, Major Richardson, in any way, directly or indirectly, represented or worked for any interest except the interests of the United States Government?

Major RICHARDSON. I have not, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever had (and in your answer state it as fully as you like; I am putting the questions so as to bring the matter more clearly to your attention) any connection or relation of any kind whatever, directly or indirectly, with either what are known as the "Guggenheim interests," or any other commercial interests, or any other interests whatever?

Major RICHARDSON. None whatever, sir; except personal acquaintanceship with some of the personnel.

The CHAIRMAN. What do you mean by that? The people representing those interests who are in Alaska and whom you met during your service there?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir. I should like to state

The CHAIRMAN. I will ask you just one question further, and then, if you have anything more to say, or if the committee has anything to ask, go ahead. Has any person connected with any interest of any kind, directly or indirectly, made any suggestions to you respecting their interests or the advancement of them?

Major RICHARDSON. Oh, yes, sir. Some interests up there have asked me to aid them; and where I could, I have not hesitated to do so.

The CHAIRMAN. Aid them in what way?

Major RICHARDSON. In recommendations-as, for instance, in regard to the transportation of supplies up the Yukon River from St. Michael by boat. It is a very dangerous passage around the outside of the island of St. Michael. There is a little canal that passes behind the island, which needs some improvement to make the passage of that route safe. I think the Senators are familiar with that.

Senator DILLINGHAM. We made a special report on that project, recommending it.

Major RICHARDSON. And the commercial transportation interests have asked me to go before the board of engineers on the subject to state the condition, and I shall be glad to do it.

The CHAIRMAN. That is, the steamboat companies on the Yukon? Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. I did not have any reference to that, but more especially to interests asking you or suggesting to you in any way, shape, or form that you (I have forgotten the words used here yesterday) should represent them or help them in any way?

Major RICHARDSON. No, sir; none whatever-in no way outside of my official capacity, as an officer representing the Government there. I have not been asked or approached by anyone in that way. By no corporation or other interest in that country have I ever been approached or asked to aid them in any way except in the matter of official recommendations relating to things which were of apparent benefit to the Territory. Naturally, Senator, having been in that country for many years, a great many people come to me and discuss things pertaining to Alaska and ask me what I think about them, and ask me if I can aid them or recommend something or other. If I think I can, consistently with my duty, I do so. If I do not, of course, say I can not. But so far as engaging in any personal way is concerned, I never have had any relation of that kind, nor has anyone ever approached me in that way. I think my character is well enough known in that country to prevent such a suggestion ever being made to me.

I

The CHAIRMAN. You may make any further statement you wish; or if any other member of the committee has any questions, I should be glad to have him ask them.

Senator NELSON. If Major Richardson will allow me to interrupt him there, I want to say that he has been of great assistance in getting special appropriations from the Military Committee for this road fund. How much have we gotten in all since we took up that work, Major?

Major RICHARDSON. A million dollars, Senator.

Senator NELSON. I mean outside of this Alaska fund?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir; a million dollars.

Senator NELSON. We have gotten a million dollars in direct appropriations?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir.

Senator NELSON. And that has been done largely because Major Richardson has been down here and explained the conditions to the War Department, and has himself appeared before the committees of both Houses. Since that act was passed, in 1905, the Alaska fund would have been but a trifle-it was passed in 1905, was it not? Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir.

Senator DILLINGHAM. That, Senator Nelson, was directly in accordance with the recommendation that we made after you were there. Senator NELSON. Oh, yes; certainly. I appeared once or twice with Major Richardson before the Senate committee, and the Major has looked after the matter before the House committee. But for his efforts we never should have secured that appropriation for the road and bridge and trail fund, which I regard as one of the most vital needs of Alaska.

Senator DILLINGHAM. The committee ought to understand that five years ago there was not a highway in Alaska.

Senator NELSON. That is true.

Senator KEAN. About how many miles of road and trail have been built, Major Richardson?

Major RICHARDSON. We have, Senator, about 720 miles of passable wagon road. Much of it, of course, is of a character that you would call very poor country road in this country; but it is passable for wheels.

Senator KEAN. You mean, we would call it that in New Jersey?

Major RICHARDSON. But we have 200 or 300 miles of good, country wagon road there, over which tonnage can be transported in summer. We also have several hundred miles of what we call trail. It is, of course, simply constructed for use by dog teams or pack animals. Then we have over 400 miles of what we call "winter sled roads," suitable for winter traveling; and of course all of our summer roads are used also for winter travel in addition. Besides that, we stake many hundred miles of the trail every winter for the guidance of travelers through the treeless sections.

Senator NELSON. Before this law was passed, Mr. Chairman, and before this commission was appointed, I do not think there were any roads or trails in Alaska. Perhaps the miners had made little pack trails here and there, but there was no systematic work in any direction.

Senator KEAN. Then you have practically about a thousand miles of road, all told, and how many miles of trail?

Major RICHARDSON. About 720 miles, including all roads passable for wheels.

Senator NELSON. Summer and winter roads?

Major RICHARDSON. Yes; summer and winter roads. In addition we have over 400 miles of what are known as "winter sled roads,' which are not passable in summer. They pass over swampy and low country. Then we have about 200 miles of ordinary trail, which has not been cut wide enough for double sleds.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Did you prepare the bill that is pending before the committee, Major, or were you consulted in its preparation?

Major RICHARDSON. I was consulted in respect to certain features, Senator.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Have you another bill which you prepared, which you have in your charge, which contains a provision that when a railroad builds into a coal field it may select 5,000 acres of each coal field at the price of $10 an acre?

Major RICHARDSON. That bill is here, Senator. I will state that a gentleman by the name of Mr. Falcon Joslin drew up that bill and sent it to me, and asked me if I would look it over and see if I thought it was a workable proposition. I modified it, and made a number of changes and recommendations; and finally it was embodied in the form of a bill.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. It is your purpose to hand that to some Member of Congress to have it introduced, is it?

Major RICHARDSON. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. To whom did you first report that bill? To the department?

Major RICHARDSON. Mr. Joslin had delivered a copy of it to Mr. Wickersham, the Delegate from Alaska, and wanted him to introduce it.

The CHAIRMAN. Was the bill presented also to the President or the War Department or any officers there?

Major RICHARDSON. A copy of it is in the hands of the President, Senator Beveridge.

Senator FRAZIER. Who is this Mr. Joslin of whom you speak? Major RICHARDSON. He is a railroad man in Alaska, who has a small railroad known as the Tanana Valley Railway, near Fairbanks. Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Is that particular railroad, or any other railroad there, in any way related to your official service-the improvement of the ordinary highways, the roads?

Major RICHARDSON. No, sir. I should like to read just

Senator PILES. I know Mr. Joslin very well.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. I want this committee to understand your connection with Mr. Joslin. Why were you given permission; or why did you assume authority, to amend this bill of his, and interest yourself in it otherwise?

Major RICHARDSON. At the request of Mr. Joslin. As I say, pretty nearly everyone who is interested in Alaska or has anything he wants to promote a great many of them, at least-come and talk with me, and consult me, and ask me what I think about their matters.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. And give you authority to recast their bills to suit yourself?

Major RICHARDSON. Mr. Joslin asked me to modify this bill in any way I wanted to. I sent it back to him and he modified it himself. It has been rewritten four or five times.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Against what objections did you modify it?

Major RICHARDSON. I can not recall now; mostly as to the phraseology. I remember particularly that in the case of the first clause there was a suggestion as to how it should be handled. The bill provided that it should be handled by a railway commission composed of five members.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Yes.

Major RICHARDSON. I suggested that that ought to be three, because it was going to work under the War Department, and they ought not to have a number of other departments represented.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. That was a matter you undertook personally; but it had no connection with your service as a road commissioner?

Major RICHARDSON. No, sir.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. How many other personal matters, independent of your road service out there, have you had charge of before this Congress?

Major RICHARDSON. I have not had charge of any, Senator..

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. How many have you been consulted in, in an authoritative way?

Major RICHARDSON. I have been consulted in regard to this matter of the navigation of the Yukon. I have also been consulted in regard to the improvement of the coastwise lighting, which is a most important thing for that country; and I have said that if I were ever called upon, or it were brought to me in any proper way, I should be glad to give evidence in favor of some plan to improve the lighting of that coast.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Your connection with them has in no case gone beyond a mere willingness to impart information? Major RICHARDSON. No, sir.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. You have not undertaken to prepare measures and to see to their introduction and enactment into law? Major RICHARDSON. No, sir.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. You have not given anybody a copy of that bill?

Major RICHARDSON. I have given Mr. Wickersham a copy. He already had a copy.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Why did you give it to him? Why did you take enough interest in it to give him a copy of it?

Major RICHARDSON. I am not sure but what he asked me for it. If he did not, Mr. Joslin spoke to him about it; and Mr. Wickersham said to me that he wanted to see it, and assured me that he would like very much to take charge of it and put it through. He said: "I am with you absolutely on that bill, and I think it ought to be done."

The CHAIRMAN. You reported it also to the President, did you? Major RICHARDSON. Yes, sir; I was just going to state that. I am not going to read all of this, but just a clause. I will state that this is a letter I sent to the President:

[Extract.]

I send herewith a draft of bill for aid in railroad construction, which is drawn in its main features along the lines of the Philippines bill, with such modifications as seemed necessary to meet the conditions in Alaska. I have given much study to the subject, and the result is put in the form of a bill, for convenience in presenting.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. But you did not state there that that bill originated with Mr. Joslin, or whatever his name is? Major RICHARDSON. No, sir. He drew the first draft.

Senator PILES. Let me say something here that may enlighten you, Senator Clarke. When President Taft was out at the Alaska-YukonPacific Exposition, in Seattle, in September, he made a speech from which Judge Wickersham has read certain extracts here to-day. In that speech he stated that he was in favor of having the Government extend aid to the construction of railroads in Alaska. He said he thought that would bring about a great development in that country. After he made that remark, a number of the people there who were interested in the development of Alaska took up the proposition of bringing about this aid according to the President's declaration. Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Did they bring you any bills? Senator PILES. No; I have not had any bills at all.

Senator FRAZIER. Did you recommend that feature with respect to the coal lands-giving to the railroads coal lands at the rate of $10 an acre?

Major RICHARDSON. The bill provides for a lease. I saw the word "sold" there, and I marked it "leased," and it is, or should be, "leased" in the bill.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. The bill provides that they shall be entitled to buy it at $10 an acre.

Major RICHARDSON. No; "to lease it."

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. Well, a perpetual lease at $10 is the same thing. The bill does not fix any length of time.

Major RICHARDSON. Senator, I had no expectation of the bill being introduced in that form. I merely drew an outline there.

Senator CLARKE, of Arkansas. It has been a matter of some discussion here, and I thought I would ask you a few questions about it.

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