The Nome nugget., 1901-10-01
Between St. Michael and
 !!iamna Bay.
MAKE WEEKLY TRIPS
Norman x. Smith, rlanager of the Trans. Alaskan Co.,, Now in Nome En route to S.. Hichael to Build thc Necessary Road Houses.

By December l, next, is is expected that a stage line will be in active oper- ation between St. Michael and Iiismna bay, on Cook inlet.
 The company is known as the Trans Alaskan Co.,, incorporated unitr the laws of California. It is backed by am- pie capital, among the stockhol CTS be- ing such well known San Francisco cap- i,alists as r. Tillmxnn, II. H. Lynch, w. H. Crocker. C. r.. Green, A. Hect- man, Geo. w. Kline, John Mahoney. Alex. Morrison, Geo. W. Mastick, W. C. Van Fleet, w. NJ. Rank.
 There arrived Saturday on the steam- ship Portland, Norman F. Smith, the well known engineer and pathfinder. Mir. Smith is in charge of the Trans Alaska Company's interests in this sec tion. For nearly 6 year past he has been engaged in making surveys of the proposed stage road and railroad which has for its starting point Illiamna bay. The stage line is to be followed by the building oi . railroad, and the latter work will be undertaken by the Trans Alaska Railroad Co.,, Colorado cor poration. In this company are inter- ested the same gentlemen who make up the Trans-Alxska Co.,, and it is said, the Southern Pacific railroad is also in- terested in the project. , MT. Smith brought up on the Port land complete equipment for the es- tablishmeut of the stage line. This in-' cludes the necessary number of horses, Sleds, etc., and supplies for the equip ment Of rUad houses at convenient dis tances between St. Michael and Ilismna bay, not more than thirty miles apart. The company proposes to make weekly trips between the above points. Mir. Smith, who is thoroughly acquainted with the ground, says that the distance from St. Michael to Illialnna bay is only 500 miles; that the route is entirely practicable, and the grades are exceed ingly light.
 It is also expected that the company will secure the mail contract by that route and if it does it will mean that mail will be delivered in Nome in from two or three weeks from Seattle or San Francisco. The company will, in this event, secure 8 line Ot steamers to ply between Illiamna bay and Puget Sound.
 According to present plans the first overland stage will leave St. Michael on Dec. and nlialnna bay on Nov. 25. Already force of men are ut work tn the Illiamna bay end of the route and are pushing the construction of road houses in this direction. The work of building and equipping road houses along the route from this end of the line will be undertaken ut once. Mr. Smith confidently believes that the stage line will be in operation Ut the date scheduled.
 The building of the railroad will fol- low in all probability next year. Ac- cording to the present plans of the com pany the road will run from ill.amna bay to point near Andreafsky or the Yukon, and thence to Nome and Port Clarence. The line will be in position to compete with the White Pass road for a share of the upper Yukon trade.
 Mr. Smith, when asked as to his in tentions in regard to the section between Nome and St. Michael, said that this gap would be covered by his company. provided no local parties wanted to es- tablish . regular stage line between those points.