'Alcan' holds answer to open border question

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

In 1941 the United States and Canada entered into a joint agreement later called “The Alcan.” Also known as the “Alaska Highway,” the purpose was to build an overland highway across Northwestern Canada to Alaska. The objective: “To supply the Soviet Union with critical military supplies in the three countries joint war against NAZI Germany.

“The Alcan” originates in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and concludes at Fairbanks, AK. The highway runs through the southern part of the Yukon Territory including the Provincial capital, Whitehorse. While visiting Alaska in 1996, I learned about a little-known provision.

A Forgotten Provision

The late Stan McGrorty was sent to Fort Richardson, AK while in service. A member of the Army Corp of Engineers, he was familiar with the original treaty that gave the United States authority to build a rail line on either side of the Alcan, if it did not exceed 250 meters from the highway. In essence, it gave the U.S. permanent Canadian permission to construct a railroad in their territory.

I confirmed this with Canadian officials at a war college event held by the University of Kentucky Paterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, October 2021. The United States CAN build, at any time of it’s choosing, a railroad on either side of the Alaska Highway, in Canadian territory.

An Unexpected Benefit of Global Warming

Thanks to the planet’s warming, the Northwest passage is now ice-free three, four, and sometimes five months of the year. Every country in the world has recognized the passage as Canadian territory. Except America! With U.S. recognition Canadian completion of the railroad to the Montana border would be a given.

Canadians are practical people. They could see the merit of a railroad running through the breadth of Alberta, en route for Alaska via the Yukon territory. But what then? Once in Alaska, where would the destination lie?

The “Jewel” of the North Pacific

Answer: Homer and ice-free Katchmak Bay, roughly 220 southwest of Anchorage. The railroad would take an abrupt, southwestern “dog leg” at Tok en route to Anchorage. From there, it would follow Sterling Highway to Homer. The total length, from start to finish, would be better than 2,000 miles!

Back to the original question: “Purpose.”

Answer: A railroad that connected Montana to Katchmak Bay would allow American and Canadian farmers an affordable route to ship agricultural products to Asian steamers who would line up at Katchmak Bay. It would allow Alaska to circumvent the troublesome “Jones Seaman Act,” which was adopted in 1920, at the behest of the Seattle Stevedores Union. It would allow Alaskans to drastically cut their cost on consumer goods, such as toilet paper and baby diapers, while reducing shipping costs of the state’s raw materials to the lower 48.

Labor Costs-A Key Consideration

That brings us to the most important consideration: “Cost.”

Finding workers who would work in these conditions would be expensive. Participants would expect to be paid a premium. Today’s “roughnecks” at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska are paid upwards of $50 per hour.

There is a saying, “where there is a problem, there is an opportunity.” Most of America has concluded that the open borders policy enacted by the Biden Administration is a severe problem. Many consider these policies an insult to immigrants who came to America legally! It is believed that as many as 10,000,000 illegal aliens will illegally cross into America under Joe Biden’s watch. In most cases, we have no idea who these people are. It amounts to the goal of this policy. It is called “the great replacement theory.”

A Problem Becomes an Opportunity

This is the problem. The opportunity rests with “taking these lawbreakers” and putting them to work building this railroad. Workers who might ordinarily command $50 an hour would be working for room and board, greatly reducing costs. At the end of 36 months, workers would be returned to their native country. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canada would have a magnificent piece of infrastructure that would save their populations tens of millions annually, while affording them an opportunity to affordably experience the great Northwest via passenger rail service. It would be considered payment by those who chose to enter the country without permission.

True, “bleeding hearts” and “milquetoast moderates” would see this initiative as “draconian.” But is it? These “America last” proponents seemed to have forgotten who they are representing! Many of these “guests” have criminal records. Some are even on terrorist watch lists! Over the years, many Americans have died at their hands!

In short, the priority should be to “take care of our citizens first.” When word gets out that uninvited guests will end up working on a subpolar railroad, motivation to illegally cross our borders will be reduced. If not, eliminated.

It amounts to our political leaders having the “will” to put their constituents first. Having both a freight and passenger service to Alaska would link the continent like never before. In the end, it would be a security measure in the highest sense.

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