The Nome nugget., 1902-10-11
RAMCHING- To Be Tried in the Great Tanana Valley. Feasible Route EeIrd From the Panama 10 Head of
 Alaska Range

Seattle, Sept. 25.-W. C. Atwood. chief engineer and toposrapher of the Alaska Central Railway Company. ar lived from the North yesterday, and in a rnhort nl:tde to'tlfe local representa- i've of tke' cdu nauy stat < that fea~i- ble route has been fonid from thc ranana river to the summit of tn" Alaskan range. Other reports received from partie, in the field are that tLc 'h'mey propose q rou from Rosmrcc- sibn bay to the Panama has been slightly changed and the line will now extend due north.
 Engineer Atwood also reports big coal find. He states that on the Cat well river, about 30 miles south of the Panama. there is d coal field fully POO miles aquare. Along the banks of tEe river the veins extend to q depth of 1000 feet, II" reports deposits of fire clay between the veins. Copper sul- phate was also found, the waters of the river containing so much tlat fish can not live. In carrying on their eNPlora tons along the Tanana the party came aoross gravel banks from J3p to J.OuG feet high, which, are go'd heHring. Fncineer Atwood says that while there are many millions of dollars to be had bv hydraulc proces, no prospoctor could work to any advantage in the country. Regarding the coal deposits, he says the quality is equal to the pest found in this state and will coke.
 One of the most important statements made by Engineer Atwood i, that the country along the Tanana iF. well tlln- bered and has fine agricultural lossl- bilitieS. He reports that the section he visited is alive with moose. caribou, mountain sheeo., be1r and other large game.
 A great number of the old-timers, Engineer Atwood says, have had their eyes on the Tanana country for some lime past and state that they will go into stock raising there.
 During th' trip government tel"- graph men were met arranging for the opening of the .,iarcOni system be- tween r'ort Gibbon and the head Of the Tanana. Atwood and his party trav- eled more than 200 miles up the Tanana md .latar braSlched off aud followed tine Catwell riyer, which leads over to the headwaters of the Susitna river.
 It has been claimed for some years that it would not b2 possible to find 9 pass through the mountains. The enc selected is the same as recommended by the official topo2raphcr Of Captan Glenn's government party. it ia be- tween the Catwell and Su>itna rivers. and is about 12 miles long aud' miles wide. Engineer Atwood says that for Il greater part of the distance it will be only necessary to lay rails and ties.
 IL was announced yesterday that the mountain terminus would be on the Tanana and the coast terminus on Resurrection bay. The government postotfice inspector has established an office at Nistuska, which will be the headauarters of the railroad. ,AccoHd- inc to the reports the entire distance from the coast -oi the mountain ter minus will be about 300 miles. The Valdes trail is about 400 miles long, The line follows the valley tor greater part of thG distance, and the Warm winds from 'thl. Pacific blowing rom Cook inlet give the Panama valley it's fine climate.
 Exclusive of the time spent in travel ing from this city to Rampant, En- gineer Atwood was in the field about two months. He left here last May
 Timber of all dimensions at Tanner X Clark's lumber yard.