The Alaska prospector., 1906-05-03
The Latest Railroad

of NJ. J. Heney. with men and material for building a railroad from Orca Inlet to the coal mines back of Catalla, and possibly up l, Copper River to the mines in the Chittvna country.
 The company which is doing the work is known as the Copper River Railway Co.,, and it is gener. ally understood that it is financed by White Pass capital. Since the arrival of Mir Heney on the Port land number of survey parties have been put in the field, some between Eyak and the Copper and others up the river as far as the rapids. At the terminal ground 6n Orca Inlet, opposite Spike is- land construction camp has been pitched and men are now at work on the grade at that point and on the Eyak bay side. There are about 200 lab' rers in camp there now, but only eighty are working, as there is scarcity of tools, a shipment of which has gone astray. Mir. Iienev. states that it Is the l intention to rush construction as rapidly as men and money can do Lit In regard to the final destina- i ton of the road he is non-com- mltal, excepting that they are go- i ing 10 the CataIia coal fields. The company has had men iuvestigat- ing the. Copper river route and making surveys since last fall, but has made nothing public regarding the feasibility of railroad eonstruc- ion Hp the river.
 The terminal grounds are located on a toWnsite which covers the water front on Orca Inlet from Fleming i spit past the old Copper River Citv house. This townsite was To- cated last spring bv Valdez people, who have sold haii interest in the property to the railroad peo- pie. There is still some doubt in the minds of the engineers whether they wiikhay the wharf extend out from near Fleming spit, or from the lower end oi spike island
 w:tli a tlestlc work across the mud
 fiat from there to he mainland.
 The canuery ground and buildings al Eyak have been purchased by the company and he buildings are being used for offices and ware I houses.
 The present town is at Eyak be- tween the canncrY and Eyak lake, on the site of the old Indian town. A portion of the ground is em- braced in the cannery land, and t Is said that the balance was i taken up by the railroad people i last fall, but lots are being stakcd by new corners and buildings are going up on the chance that they can acquire some title.
 All business is in the primitive stage as yet. there being two saloons in operation, q store, res taurant and bakery. Most of these are operating in tents until frame buildings can ho constructed. Sev- eral other saloons and stores are about to be started, some moving from Catalla and some from Sew |afd. At present there is no one in the camp 10 patronIze these busi- ness places bat an influx of people is confidently expected as soon as 1 il is positively known in the States 1 that construction is under way. Buildings now in the course of construction are a saloon, Johnston & Jensen. 20x30; store, Walter 1 Story, 20x50: store. John Moore, 20x40; saloon, Jim Smith, 20x30; bakery, Vim Kinney; restaurant, | Ii. Gill; number of others are 1 planned. and soon as luIhber can 1 3e secured here will be quite a building boom.
 The si of the town is a very poor one, being in a swampy fiat which k 70 soft that a horse can not travel over ic. The main street of the town ia now the corduroy roadway of the tram which con meets the lake with Eyak bay.
 The road runs from near Copper l River City across the pointio Eyak i bay, which il crosses about 100 l yards from the caunery wharf and keeps 10 the hillside south of Evak, 7. down 'Ao south side of Eyak lake and thence across the Copper river flats 10 Martin river, which empties in.o Copper from the east. The routa from there is up Martin river anl across shepard pass to the coal fields near Boring lake.
 Il l Honey, who has the con- tract for tue construction of the
 road is well known in Alaska as the one who put the White Pass road through in such short time
 He has with him as superintendents and foremen several of the men who worked with him at Skagway