The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-03
SEATTLE, THURSDAY. MAYs.
Alaskan Telegraph Line.

An amendment to the army appro-
priation bill was adopted in the senate
Tuesday by which $780, is allowed for
establishing military telegraph and ca
bic lines in Alaska. The amount Is
identical with that recommended by the
house committee. which was stricken
from the bill. The proposed telegraph
line has been favored by army officers
as a military necessity. but recent de-
velopments in Alaska. especially In
those sections through which the line
would run. indicate that It would also
be used extensively for private COM
mercial business.
The war department has had under
consideration for long time the mat
ter of easier and quicker communica-
ton with interior Alaskan points, and
q careful investigation has been made
az to where the line should run and
how II should be constructed 1t has
been proposed that the land wires
should be strung from some point on
Prince William sound through the Cop
per river country. across the head
waters OF the Tanana and down to
Eagle City on tho Yukon a few miles
west OF the international boundary.
Thence the line would follow the Yu-
kon river. giving Communication with
Circle City. Fort Yukon. Fort Ham
lin. Rampant City. Fort Gibbon, near
the mouth OF the Tanana, and Nulato.
AT this last named point 1t would be
carried across the country from tho
Yukon to Unalaklik. ST. Michael and
Cape Nome.
In making estimates for the proposed
line the war department met with many
unusual difficulties, owing to the condi-
tons which exist IN the country to be
traversed. Methods OF travel In the in
terror and the impracticability OF trans
porting and erecting poles over large
portion OF the line make 1t necessary TO
use In large measure especially adapted
rectiy on the ground. The most care
ful estimates have had to be somewhat
tentative IN character. but army off,
GERS believe that those made represent
the lowest cost OF the work. done as IL
will be by troops under the direction OF
the signal corps.
The Alaska telegraph line IL regarded
as an absolute military necessity IL
there Is TO be a proper control and an
economical administration Of the new
military department OF the far North.
With proper communication between
isolated posts. a great expanse OF terri
tory can be looked after by much
smaller military force and the efficiency
VI the service will be much higher. ex-
peelally during the critical winter pc
Rod. Hitherto the country has been
cut of for mouths from eommunica-
ton with the outside world. and for the
transmission Of messages between In
terror points 1t has been necessary 70
resort to the use 81 runners or dog
teams. with the increase in the num-
Der OF mining camps and the establish
ment Of military posts at points where
they are needed. the necessity for a
better system OF communication Is
clearly manifest
Apart from its Importance as a mill
tary requirement. the line is omethins
demanded by the growing commercial
prestige OF Alaska and its prospective
future. Thousands OF people have gone
into the country and hourishing settle
ments have sprung up. The amount OF
prospecting already done is compare
lively insignificant. however. and pas,
developments are only an indication o.
nnEf~ds to- sslIeN tn taeSsusss of The