Valdez daily prospector., 1914-04-09
PICTURES SHIPPED
 TO SEC|'Y. LANE
Valdez Commercial Association Sends Typographical Maps to Secretary
 Lane at Washington.

ed by Mir. Sidney Lawrence for the Valdez Commercial Association show ing the topography of Central Alas ka and outlining the proposed lines of railroad that will be built under the recent act of congress, have been shipped by express to the Secretary of the Interior at Washington.
 Before the pictures were shipped they were photographed by P. s. Hunt and the plates will be used for advertising purposes.
 The following is copy of the let ter that accompanied the shipment:
 Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of
 the Interior, Washington, D. c.
 Dear Sir: We are shipping today. by Wells Fargo x Co.'S Express, box containing two pictures. show ing the topography of Central Alas ka. which we feel sure will interest you. They are both compiled from
 the maps accompanying the Alaska Railroad Commissions report, and will bear scrutiny, as it is not our purpose to misrepresent, feeling, as we do, that the facts are good enough for us.
 The colored picture shows in de
 tail the natural obstacles of the Cop per River and Northwestern Railway,
 and we invite your attention to the Alaska Railroad Commissions report
 on this route, commencing at the bot
 tom of page 60 and ending on page GA. If you will compare this with
 their description of the route from Valdez, found on page 76 and page 1 77, you will notice that none of the physical difficulties of the Copper River route are encountered on this 1 line.
 The great storm belt of Alaska is
 the coastal side of the Chugach, or 1 coast range of mountains. This sef-
 tion of Alaska is subject to deep snow fall and terrific wind storms that find ! their way through the canyons of the
 Copper River and center at the point
 where this river finds an outlet into l the Pacific ocean. It is this condition that has completely blocked all traffic
 on the Copper River and Northwest
 ern Railroad at regular intervals ev-
 cry winter since operation began. Sev-
 eral rotary blows are used in the eff
 fort to keep the tracks open. and al
 though this has been an enormous ex--
 pense that must be added to operation costs, the company has so far failed to keep the road continuously in op- ! eration.
 The Valdez route is not exposed to
 the same terrific winds, and crosses
 the summit of the divide of the Gnu zach range in a distance of from 20
 to 30 miles from Valdez, while the Copper River route traverses the storm belt till mile 102 from Cordova
 is reached. The region of the storm belt is clearly defined in the colored picture.
 The larger picture shows all the routes to the interior and is self-ex- planatory. It is not our intention to overburden you with description of all the advantages the Valdez route offers, for we fully rely upon your making a full and impartial inde-- pendent investigation (and we hope
 personal inspection) before definite
 ly deciding upon any route or routes.
 There is one thing. however, that must impress you when you look at these pictures, and that is, the distinct ad- yantages of Valdez's harbor. It will
 be readily seen how easily it can be
 made absolutely impregnable against naval attack. hInuy dChio"ieuSC AoSSAp1' "" when the pictures have served their purpose, if you will kindly. notify us we will attend to having the pictures returned; It Imay interest you to know that the work on both pictures was done by a local artist. We would particularly like to have the president see these pictures, and we trust you will arrange to have him look at them. We appreciate very much the deep personal interest he is taking in the success Of the under taking. which we believe will make famous the name of every man who has been instrumental in bringing ahn,,t IeSisIatfon that will result in