The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-05
CABLE 70 SEATTLE URGED.
GEN. RANDALL RECOMMENDS IT IN
HIS REPORT.
Also suGgests This City ~ Head
quarters for the Department of
Ainska-MiIftary Reservation mt
Dutch Harbor, with Fortiaeaticns

Special Dispatch 70 the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Nov. THE laying OF
an ocean telegraph cable from Seattle to
Juneau and skagway, and thence TO VAL
des Il one of the important recommends
lions made by Gen. George NJ. Randall.
commanding the Department OF Alaska,
In his report TO the secretary Of war. This
cable would connect with the Telegraph
line now being built over the all-Ameri-
can route from valdes TO Fort Egbert and
down the Yukon river 10 st. Michael,
which. with the cable just opened be-
tween the latter point and Nome. VIII
give continuous communication between
III Important ports and Alaska and the
states
Work on the projected telegraph line
from yaldes." Gen. Randall said, is Wen
under way, and II Is hoped that commu-
nication will be established throughout
Inc entire length Of the line Within year
from this date"
THE report on Mai Frank Green, signal
nficer under date Of September 49, Is APP
t,cnded. IL shows that the line had peen
eonpleted on July Is 10 AVIAN port, ana
10 a point fhrty-four miles north OF Port
valdes on August IS, and that TIE work
was well in hand, The available mate
RAILS for continuing this line We're iosoen
m the transport Lawton. at Seattle. on
Ju,v "a and arrived at 4t. Michael August
: detailed report follows. giving the
,rorresq OF the work at various times.
Mai Green saws that many seafarins
men assert that II viii be Impossible 70
maintain the cable or any othe. capie IN
the Arctic on account OF GROUND ice, pu.
10 expresses the opinion that WIN propei
caution the project VIII pc s".e
Ma Green commends In strong terms
he proposition TO lay a cable from VAL
Az. by way Of Juneau and skagway
..ither 10 Seattle or Port Angeles, wash
change of Headquarters.
Another important recommendation
nads 81 Ger. Randall Is that the mead
quarters OF the department OF Alaska pc
sornoved from st Michael to some point
~ puget sound, preferably Seattle.
"The headquarters should De iochteu,
he saws, cat some port where communica-
,,o,, NAV be had with the markets OF the
so,,,,trv ali The wear round and recon-
mend the transfer, accordingly, as soon
NJ telegraph communication shall be es-
fabiished from such open port 70 tne
various posts OF the department
Gen. Randall also recommends that q
military reservation be declared at Dutch
harbor, with view OF establishing there
coaiing station for government vessels
plying in Alaskan waters In the develop
rnsnt work in this country
He says: with our possession In the
Far East, Dutch harbor occupies an Inn
portant geographical position, and the
need may arise, at some future time, for
the erection OF fortihcntions for Its pro.
lection. I am not possessed Of necessary
data upon which 10 base the order for
reservation, but will submit such data
10 the war department in the fall"
This plan proposed by Gen. Randall was
much talked Of among army officers In
Alaska this season, and the step II re-
eardsd AZ not only feasible but neces-
mry.
The general recommends that all coal,
forage and building material intended for
posts In Northern Alaska be started from
Seattle not later than June next year,
20 that there may be ample time for dis
tributi0n. and ~ matter OF economy that
they be sent In sailing vessels He asks
that two stsrnwhcel steamers he pur-
chased for transport service on the Yu-
kon.
Gen. Randall describes in great detail
tho conditions ne found at Nome this
summer, but remains from going into
summer. ba& refrains from going pros
poets because OF lack. ms he says. OF
definite information on tho subject.