The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1914-03-10

The Fairbanks Times issued a
two-color paper on Sunday which
presented a very attractive appear
ance. The whole town had been
preparing for the event for weeks
and when the fun began with a
minstrel parade there were few
citizens who were not in line. For
the evening two big dance halls
were engaged, with a line of autos
running between, and everything
free as the air. Special trains
brought the miners from the creeks
to help celebrate in manner which
will not be eclipsed until the first
train from Chitina reaches the in
terror metropolis. Terminal grounds
have already been the subject of
discussion among the business men.
The Seattle Times of February 81
contains a lengthy telegram from
Washington, written by w. w. Jer-
name, the we'll known correspond
ent at the national capital, contain
ing much information in reference
to the Alaska railroad bill, which
is of interest to our readers. Among
other things he says:
First Road from Chitina
If the president does not decide
to purchase existing lines by the
time the government lines are COM
menced, freight and passengers will
be carried to and from the ocean
terminals over the existing privately
owned roads at rates to be pre-
scribed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Those who have studied the ques-
hol
start construction from the present
terminus of the Copper River &
Northwestern on it's road to Fair
banks. A short branch line will
tap the Boring river coal field.
Route of Second Line
The second line, it is believed,
will start from the present terminus
of the Alaska Northern and will
extend to the Matanuska coal field.
There is also a possibility, it is
stated, that the government engi-
neers will decide to establish an
ocean terminus of this line on
Prince William Sound, instead OF
going all the way to Seward.
Recent reports received in Wash
ington are to the effect that prac-
ticable route from Prince William
Sound to the Matanuska field has
been discovered that is 125 miles
shorter than the route determined
upon by the promoters of the Alaska
Northern. 1t is said that branch
of this Prince William Sound
Matanuska line may be extended
westward through the valley of the
Kuskokwim. This valley, it is said,
grows practically unlimited quanti2'
ties of reindeer moss and thousands
of reindeer could be herded there.
The meat supply fthe entire terri
tory, as well as some or the states
could be raised there, according to
the experts.
A short road connecting with the
Matanuska line would afford means
of getting this meat supply to con-
sumers and would also open up this
rich valley to settlers.
No Time to Be Lost
Congress has appropriated ST.
100000 for making surveys, and it
is expected that the surveying par
ties will be put in the field as early
in the spring as is practicable, so
that no part of the short working
season will be lost.
The first duty devolving on the
y president is the selection of another
GOGC0dIS
Alaska railroad construction work.
Although the task is not so great
as the construction of the Panama
Canal, the responsibility resting on
the chief officer will be just as
heavy as it has been on the Panama
Canal builder.
Around this Office the president
and the secretary of war will
endeavor to gather as competent
corps of assistants as those who
have worked on the isthmus. 1t is
expected that army officers will be
placed at the head of all important
departments of the Alaska railroad
construction service, so that this
great work, when completed, will
stand as a monument to the eff
cheney of our army engineers
corps.
Canal Equipment Coming North
1t is believed that practically all
surveys of trunk lines will be COM
pleted this year and contracts let
for materials and supplies next
winter. Much of tae preliminary
work in connection with the laying
out of the routes has already been
done, partly by parties sent into
Alaska by the geological survey and
partly by the Alaska Railroad Com
mission, whose report was the basis
for the present legislative action.
A part of the construction equip
ment used on the Panama Canal
will be transferred to Alaska during
the coming season. Many of the
employees on the canal zone will go
north with this equipment. They
will form the nucleus of the railroad
construction force while surveying
and collection of equipment is going
on in the field.
George Foss, who was sentenced
by Judge Frederic E. Fuller, of
Fairbanks, to serve IL years in the
penitentiary at McNeiPs Island,
died at the penitentiary few days
after his arrival there of tubercu-
losis. He was included among the
prisoners recently taken outside by
United States Marshal l.. 4. Erwin.
The worst storm experienced in
rUo,ona For wears ragged during the