The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
M0T0Rrz1NG FAR OFF ALASKA
nv ". W. RAMSEY,
General sales Ma mayer J. I. Case 4

nerau SuhSU NJ SuSC SOs
CTARTING out as the most exclusive
hobby of the rich man the automo-
u bile has passed through many in
terestinG stages of development I'M
til 1t has finally landed on the Sahara
desert and penetrated the wilds Of Alaska.
Its first stage OF existence was purely
that Of pleasure producing and its con
venience as means OF travelling from
place to place or for transporting mer-
chandise was scarcely dreamed of In the
beginning.
But despite the revolutionary sentiment
the auto faced at the start the evolution
has taken place and now the automobile Is
more universally used by the middle
classes as pleasure vehicle than by the
rich, and Its future as a means for trans
porting merchandise can scarcely be real
lied First, the big commercial centres
Of the country began substituting tho
auto truck for the horse, then the smaller
cities and towns. and now there IL scarcely
civilized spot on the face Of the earth
where the auto Ia some form cannot be
seen.
The last Of the beasts OF burden to feel
the effects Of the auto In its progress
toward q monopoly Of the transportation
business Is the malumute, the wonderful
little shaggy haired member of the dog
NAMED the principal means OF transporta-
ton In Alaska ever since the prospecting
miner, the forerunner OF civilization, drove
his pick through the snow manacled sur
face OF the gold bearing mountains of dis
tant Alaska
The sand laden plains of the Sahara
were introduced to the automobile before
the faithful malumute felt its competition.
hut because of the destructive effect of
10 nd ~, -;, ni....
parts of the engine the auto does not bid
strongly entirely TO supplant the thirstless
camel until civilization plants the good
ROADS standards ON the baked deserts Of
central Africa and the interior OF India,
but In far off Alaska. where the roads
in the shape Of passable trails have al
ready been hewed out OF tn. hitherto
impenetrable forests. the auto has re-
ceived q heartier welcome than anywhere
else on the face of the earth.
The railroad builders, who formerly
followed the prospector through tho out
skirts OF civilization into the wlds Of the
Forest and over the haDitless pla ms are
now taking n back seat for the chauffeur
and his tfusty gasol,ne propelled We
hicie.
Already plans are being made TO es-
tablish regular automobile service be-
tween Naldes. on the coast, to Fairbanks
in the Interior OF Alaska, $50 miles dis
tan. And by the way when the autos
make this trip regularly next summer
this journey will be generally rega rde,i
and 80 advertised as the longest stage
line IN the world. winding through
rugged primitive and undeveloped coun-
try. the storehouse OF probably more
gold. than has Yet been mined in Alaska =
rich fields.
My interest in Alaska az prospective
field for the sale of autos started when
| heard that a Case car was to be shipped
into the interior OF Alaska ] wanted to
know at once how the machine would be
transported from the coast UP through
the mountainous district across two
chains Of what ! had thought were in
surmountable ranges. | was informed
that autos had already made the trip
from Chitina to Fairbanks. n stretch Of 81 /
miles. and that the Case car would make
| the entire trip with its own power and