Valdez daily prospector., 1914-03-19
CORDOvA ROAD |S
 OUT 0F BUSINESS
Wind Fills the Big Open Cuts and Not a Train Has Moved
 for Ten Days.

1 Tuesday, March 10, according 10 Wofd
 brought here today by passengers on the steamer Northwestern. The wind 1 has been blowing and filling up all the open cuts made by the big TO- tary snow blow and in consequence the road is out of commission. Supt. Corser is making almost sup erhuman efforts to relieve the block ade, as 100 passengers, who arrived in Cordova on the steamer Evans and the Northwestern, are waiting for an opportunity to reach the interior, be- sides which all the mail since the tenth is stalled along the track and many passengers are at Chitina, hop ing for an opportunity to reach the coast.
 The officials hope to clear the tracks in a few days and have every available man, engine and rotary at
 work.
 The railroad men hope to clear the were determined this winter to keep the line open and last fall spent $32O, 900 in Improvements to the line and were convinced that no matter how bad the wind the track would be kept clear
 In speaking of the preparations
 made the Cordova Alaskan of No vember 25, said:
 we have repeatedly assured our
 readers that the Copper River and Northwestern Railway will be oper- ated throughout the winter practl- cally on schedule time. Trains will
 run three times week both ways be- tween Cordova Chitina, Mccarthy and Kennecott. Our confidence in this matter has been based upon knowl- edge of the preparations that have been made under the direction Of Supt. Corser. When Vice-president Baxter inspected the line last sum- mer he decided upon the expenditure of such money as might be necessary to guard against wash-outs, snow slides and accidents such as would nave a tendency to delay traffic. "As a result of this decision Supt
 ~orser expended $320,0O0 and has made such improvements and addi- tions that warrant him in expressing the belief that other than an occa- sional snow slide that would not cause more than 8 days delay, the railroad is in such splendid condition that pas
 exceed in regularity that furnished by the transcontinental railroads in the states Every precaution has been taken and preparation made to pre- vent snow blockades. Immense snow rotaries will work in both directions from Cordova and Tiekel. An engine house has been constructed at Tiekel to accommodate the rotary fleet on its lay-over there. The locomotives to be used in the rotary service have
 been changed from oil to coal burn CTS, as it has been found difficult to keep the oil from freezing and have l it at available locations.
 "In addition to the regular coal
 bunkers seven emergency coslins sta tions have been erected at convent
 ent points between Cordova and Tiekel, a distance of 1O1 miles and
 covering the locality where trouble
 has heretofore been experienced. In
 addition emergency supplies for the workmen have been placed in all permanent camps south of Chitina, | which will be great advantage ill ex- pediting any track clearing that may be necessary. Permanent frame sec tion and bunk houses have replaced all tent camps as far north as Mile
 114.
 "A strict lookout will be maintain 1 ed at all times along the track, and for the accommodation of the track | walkers patrol houses have been built l dI llllStl fdlS Ol to liAitSo s'ouS' w
 Tiekel. An important precaution to
 prevent the slide of snow has been
 the building of several hundred addi-
 tional feet of snowsheds in Abercrom-
 bic canyon, at points where trouble
 has heretofore been experienced.
 Such slides as may now come down will be gotten out of the way in a
 few hours. The track has been raised
 in many places, while ditches have
 ben opened all along the line so that
 surface water will not form ice on the
 track. The addition of two water tanks
 will be ample to supply water wher-
 ever needed"