davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21
ALASKA'S RAILROAD
A Description of the Route, Taken From the Report of the Alaska Rail
 road Commission

The Alaska Northern Railway has it's terminus in Resurrection Bay at the town of Seward. The bay is a large ice free harbor having sufficient shore line in the vicinity of the present town to enable development in terminal port, the most serious objection to which is the great depth of water, making anchorage difficult. The town is we'll hid out, we'll developed, and has been recently incorporated. 1t is we'll provided with municipal improve. ments for a town of it's size. It has a bank, a telephone system, daily news paper, hotels, and good stores, and cable communication with the outside. There is enough opace for the develop ment of the necessary terminal struc lures and about half a square mile immediately adjacent for the accom- pauyiug town, with plenty of room for commefcial growth to the northward.
 The Alaska Northern Railway Com pany has provided only temporary structures for sheds, storehouse and shops, but has a good office building It also owns a'dock at Seward, which ex tends out to 9 feet of water a low tide From this dock the railroad starts, aud runs through the town near the shore, until the bay is reached, where it enters a heavily timbered flat stretching northward.
 The railroad is single track, standard gauge, and has been constructed for a distance of TIC miles noIthward from the town of Seward, where it reaches Kern creek on tbe north shore of Turuagain Arm, branch of Cook lu- let. There are two summits, the lower one at mile Hand the higher at mile 45. The ruling grade against south bound traffic (22 per cent is on the approach from the north eastward near mile 45; the maximum curvature is l4 degrees.
 Starting at Seward the line runs ap. proximately at level grade for a dis tauce of miles through the bottom lands previously mentioned. Con. struction work in this stretch was light, there being one long trestle over salt sloughs and meadows. At about mile the climb begins, and there is no difficult construction to the sum. init at mile II. The grade, however, is heavy, the maximum being 9 per cent, and there are numerous curves of !. IS degrees with some 12 degrees. The elevation at this summit is 700 feet. Near the summit is a four story trestle on a sharp curve.
 At mile IA, Snow river, a glacial stream, is crossed by a goo foot trestle about 30 feet high, part of which is on 10 degree curve. Trouble at this point occurs frequently; recently six bepts were taken out by drift; steel bridge will ultimately be required: From this crossing the road follows tbe valley bottom on a slightly falling grade for about miles, and occasion tally the track is inundated. From
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21

character oE the traffic anticipated Some of the sidB hill cuts have not sufficient width for good. support, ana some of the timber structures woulc- doubtless require early and uansider' able repair if subjected to. traffic 8ith full equipment. Tbe company now seldom operates except with tight gasoline car carrying passengers. high class freight aud express business, and. this only in summer. The heavy equipment is only used occasionally when required 10 carry iu heavy piece of machinery for some nine de-. velopment
 Kern Creek Fairbanks eXtension- Starting from Kern Creek in a gasoline launch, the Commission examined the north shore of Turnagain Arm to g point where the proposed extension of tho Alaska Northern leaves this arm and turns to the uorthward. This shore is bold, and the road would be held at the foot of the hills on prac tically level grade with a series of cuts and fills. Several small valleys are crossed. The right of way has been cleared for a considerable distance beyond Kern Creek, and possibly 8s much as miles of grading has been almost completed; these ? miles, h0T ever, not being in a continuous stretch but extending along tbe arm as far 3s Rainbow creek. Construction through. out this stretch of about thitty miles would present no difficulty except the prepouderauce of heavy rock eXcay8. ton in the work ofgraiiuR Consider. able protection in the way of spo& sheds would also be required. Work on rhi, section would be facilitated, as tbe location is parallel 10 aud h9gs closely a water transportation roqi6 open To tbe sea for half the year
 lt has been suggested that Turrag8ib Arm might be crossed by bridgs between Suiper and Bird points, with a view Q locating line across the kep8j mountains by Moose pass, Johnson creek, or Quar'z creek At the poinf suggested for this bridge TurnagaiR arm is about miles wide aud the water is shoal. This arm, however has an enormous tide, and for half the year is filled with ice foes, which it is be. lieyed make this suggested crossing impracticabe. If aay of these alternate routes oyer the Kenai mountains were selected Sunrise creek would have tc be reached by a circuit around the east end of the arm. The routes may pre-. sent advantage as to southbound grades over the present location of the Alaska Northern, but the mileage would be greater, and the principal difficulty ae to grades in the existing line it is believed can be removed at much less expense by the relocation suggested.
 Another suggestion has been made to carry the road over the Kenai noun. tains to Port Welles in Portage bay, on the west side of Prince William sound. This is a shorter ronte to tide water but the difficulties of construction through the pass occupied by Portage glacier probably remove it from con. eidaratioo and information aft hand indicates that Port Wells is an inferior harbor.
 The projected location leaves Turua- gain arm at about mile 30 (from Kern creek turns northwardly and proceeds
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21

mile IS to mile 235 the road skirts the east shore of Kenai lake, which forms an important transportation route for several mining properties to the vest ward. The level of this lake is subject to a variation of several feet during seasonal changes. Construction in this section was easy, but there are uumer- ous 10 and 12 degree curves. From mile 26 to mile 34 the road skirts the shores of Trail lake, the crossing from the western to the eastern shore being effected at mile 295 by 300 feet of trestle.
 Al mile 3l the climb begins to the second summit, the road following Trail creek. Troubles frequently oc- cur from floods at points in this stretch, and it will be necessary to elevate the track from 9 to 4 feet throughout this bottom for a distance of several miles; at mile 40 particu larly there have been several trouble some washouts during rains or pro- louged hot spells. At about mile 40 there is a wye, aud at this point begins the steep climb to the main Kenai summit the ruling praie to this sp proach being about per cent The heavy rock work begins at about mile 43 and at about this sam9 point the section is entered where suows give the most trouble. The railroad has not been operating in the winter sea sons, but it is stated that the snow here never exceeds about feet, except in slides and drifts. Winds are high, however, in winter, but the snowfall is comparatively light and would not give serious trouble.
 At mile 45 the main divide of the Kenai mountains is reached at at ele. vation of 1,OG5 feet, and the descent begins with a grade of per cent; at mile IS the first tunnel is reached. At the southern end of this tunnel a snow shed of at least 300 feet in length would be required for winter opera ton.
 After passing through this tunnel the descent into the valley of Placer river begins, and in this descent about 9 miles of track are constructed along two reverse horseshoe curves and one complete loop. One of these is on a four-deck trestle 1850 feet long, and there are three other trestles contain. ing Howe truss timber spans. The highest trestle is built on a IA degree curve and at the steepest grade l23 per cent.
 Just before reaching mile g the gorge of the Placer river is entered, and the road encounters the heaviest of it's construction work. There are six tunnels of a total length of oyer 5000 feet within a distance of 4,500 feet
 This reach of 4 miles IS the stretch of the road that limits the southbouud traffic. It contains the heaviest grades the stifest curves, aud several struc lures which would be most difficult aud expensive to replace in case of accident. This location seems to have been ill advised. It appears to the commission from what was seen during it's brief inspection that the location should have been carried from some point near the tunnel at mile 48, along the west wall of the valley with side- hill support, instead of being thrown Icpt into the valley and developed
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21

largely on trestles with heavy grades and excessive curvature. It would by this suggested location have reached it's present grade at about mile 57 or 5S without excessive curvature, on grade possibly as low as II 10 1.2 per centT and probably would have entirely avoided the expensive tunneling work about 3 miles down the valley, as it's support here would lie above the steep walls of lhe canyon. Some snowshed construction would doubtless have been required, and possibly some steel trestles to span the few draws crossed. 1t is thought that the total expense of construction would probably have been much less than along the lioe actually adopted, and the costs of operation and maintenance greatly less. It is believed that a survey would show an economy in abandon ing the present location along this stretch in favor of the one suggested at some time in the future when traffic has assumed sufficient proportions to warrant it.
 From mile g to the head of Turn again arm at mile 61 the road lies along the valley bottom of Placer river, a glacial stream, the crossing of the river being effected on a high trestIe near mile 53 This valley bottom, from a half mile Co a mile wide in some places, is covered with the usual glacial overwash. The river breaks up into numerous small streams which change tEeir beds continually with re- sultant damage to the track Tbe principal troubles are concentrated in 8 miles, from 24 to 57, where this floor is crossed in front of twJ glaciers. lt should be noted that considerable of this difficulty would also be removed by the relocation previously suggested
 From mile 6l to TIC lthe present ter minus, Kern creek) the line skirts the northern shore of Turnagaiu arm, with side bill support along the foot of the steep mountains which border this shore. The construction presented no unusual difficulties except the expense of steep side hill cuts in rock. In crossing the bottom of TwentymiIo
  river, at the end of Turnagain arm, it was necessary to construct and main tain a system of spur dikes to protect the bank from damage by reason of the excessive tides which carry ice in winter. It is also probable that steel span will be found advisable for this crossing. At Kern creek, the present terminus, connections with the Susitua and Kern creek are now made by launch.
 The track is laid on native ties, which appear to be in very fair condition al though in place oyer seven years, and the company has a great number of these ties at various points along It's present track. For the first 1G miles out of Seward 56 pound rails are used. The remainder of the track has 60 pound rails, and there is email amount of this latter rail not yet placed in the track. In general, the alignment of the road is fair, consider. ing the character of the country and the business anticipated at the time of construction; much of it, however, could be improved at no considerable expense. Generally, with the excep ton of the 10 miles in Placer river valley, the location is gcca for the
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21

Aurora Encampment No. meets at Odd Fellows hall first and third Mondays at & p.m. Brothers Of the Royal Purple are eoeo'a"S invited. D,vrn svy,NsON C. p. ". H. MCBLAINE, Scribe Northern Light Rebekah Lodge No. meets at Odd Fellows hall second and fourth Thursdays.
 Visitorsare cordially invited,
 IRENE GILLAlM, \. G. CHAS. s. SWIHART. Secretary.
Douglas Island news., 1915-04-21

Continued or iisS3t F3gs !.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
MyrOn Reeve Weds

Mr.. Myron Reeve and his
bride arrived in Milbank the
first of the week to spend a few
days at Myron's old home here,
where the couple are receiving
the congratulations of friends.
The bride was Miss Alice
Bennett, a popular young lady
of Newark, S. D., and the we'd.
ding ceremony took place at the
home of the brides father at
that place, on Monday evening
at 600 o'clock. The groom is
we'll known to our Milbank
people, having spent all his early
life in this city, where his
mother, Mrs w. w. Reeve still
resides. The Herald-Advance
voices the congratulations of a
host of friends in wishing these
young people every happiness
and prosperity in their welded
life. They will have their home
at Britton, where Mr.. Reeve is
employed in a drug store.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24

ssFrom School to Position.
Every study we teach is 9 neces-
sity ior successful work in q
bank, store, Office or farming.
No time wasted in useless stud
les. Positively the best school
for farm boys and girls. Let US
save you time and money.
Watertown Business College.
Mr.. and Mrs. ThOs. Fitch re.
turned home last week from q
visit to friends at Minneapolis
While there they called upon the
Henry Schafer family, former
residents OF Milbank, and found
them all getting along nicely, and
also visited with Mrs. AL. Mash
and the Jas. Berry family. who
we're residents Of Milbank il ar
early day, but who are now locat
ed at Hopkins, where Mr.. Berry
is conducting . hotel
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
Broadway Players In ''The Divorce
Cure''

From the interest already evi-
denced, the popular Broadway
players will be greeted by a bril-
liant audience when they return
here on Monday evening, Sep
tember 9th, in William Gillette's
delightful comedy 1.-THE Divorce
Cure"
There is no one but is more or
less familiar with William Gill.
ette's many and various artistic
contributions to the English
speaking stage and it is the noted
play.wrights opini IN that 1.-THE
Divorce Cure" is his best effort.
It is certainly . comedy entirely
original and different from any
other play that the stage has yet
Offering. Treating in humorous
and satirical manner the divorce
question, it leaves behind in it's
message of mirth an avenue of
thought which cannot result in
any thing but goodly influence.
The Broadway players may be
depended upon to give the play a
careful and artistic production
and it is safe to say that real
reason for regret will be missing
"The Divorce Cure" at the Bent
ley Grand on Monday evening
next September 9th.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
An Extensive Trip

Miss Agnes Wood, of Sarato-
ga, CAL, who had been the guest
of her uncle G. L. Wood, for
several days the past week,
while visiting friends at the old
home here, resumed her journey
westward last Wednesday after
noon. Miss Wood left San
Francisco the 4th of last June
and has been on an itinerary
from there over the Southern
Pacific through New Mexico to
New Orleans and from there
north to Boston, where she at
tended q reunion of former
students and graduates of
Wellesley college, and visited at
other points in Pennsylvania and
New York, with relatives at
Montreal and Niagara Falls,
and also with IN uncle at MIL
Yankee. On her furtner journey
hone s,sv will ais, visit friends
1t Helena, Mont, and in British
Columbia and o. egon. Her trip
was nearly TO- miles in extent
including side excursions, and
in it she will have gone almost
around the United States, and
during all of it so far the young
lady says she has Jared exceed.
ingly well.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
Quality Bread

Bread is often referred to as
the staff of life, and it is one of
the important features ofa we'll
spread table. as without it or
with bread of poor quality the
meal, though otherwise elaborate
will be sadly deficient and un.
satisfactory. The Regan bread
of Minneapolis has an interstate
reputation, and is generally ack-
nowleged to be the most perfect
bread made. It is appetizing,
healthful, and easily digested,
and there are many people, who
having used it for years refuse
to be satisfied with any other
bread. Regans is always for
sale at Joe's Place.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
Lac Qui Parle County Fair

A large party of Madison,
Mimi, boomers came over last
Wednesday afternoon in autos
and with the blowing of horns
and printed circular advertised
the Lacqua Parle county fair to
be held at Madison October 4 5,
6, Z. The LaQui Parle people al
ways have fine fair, well worth
seeing as an exhibition of the
agricultural products of this
locality, and this they have a
number of amusement attrac
tions, including a flying machine.
A trip over to Madison during
the fair days would be well
worth while.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
METHODIST

Morning service at 1O:45. Organ
prelude. Anthem by the quartet.
Sermon by the pastor. Sunday
school at II m. Attend the business
mems bible class. Junior league
meets at 3 o'clock. Epworth league
I clock. Evening service 8 o'clock.
Sermon by the pastor. Music by the
chorus. Prayer meeting each We'd
nesday evening at 7:3O. Chorus prac-
tice each Thursday evening under the
leadership of Prof. Hopfner. The
Epworth league will meet for social
evening at the home OF Rev. and Mrs.
Morrision on Friday evening of this
week. All the members aud friends
of the league are invited. The w. F..
M. S. will meet Friday Oct. 1st.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24

Washington, D. c., Sept. 3O.-Per
sons who are pessimistic about the fu.
ture of this little, old republic OF ours
and think we are headed for the
demnition bow-bows, or words to thai
effect, should read some facts thai
came to light here today and cheer
up. We have so money untouched re-
sources that we only have been touch
ing the high spots. In q United
States government report dug up by
q newspaper correspondent today II
was shown that in four OF the great
states of the mighty Northwest only
10 per cent of the tillable land is be.
ing cultivated. These states are Min
nesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
and Montana. In other words, there
II vast empire up there in the north
west larger than most of the countries
OF Europe that never has felt the
touch of plOw or harrow. So, we
should worry about pOsterity.
To become more specific, there are
some Is, ,000, 900 acres of available land
in that country that is only waiting for
the settler 10 come and get busy.
Think of the millions of people that
are yet to be, who shall come and
live and thrive and build cities on
those bounding plains!
OF course, you'll say, "Well the
land cant be worth much or somebody
would be cultivating it." Wrong.
Well, what's the answer, then?
Inacessibillty-that is what used to
be the answer. But now there is am
pie transportation through this empire
primeval and it is going to come to
the front rapidly from now on, experts
declare. Not until the Chicago, Mil
waukee & Puget Sound Railway was
constructed through those parts did
this untitled province have chance.
It was isolated far from the pathways
of man.
Government reports show that these
lands have no superior anywhere for
the raising of such crops as corn, oats
wheat, barley, rye, fax and hay. That
is Why Montana has just won the
Grand Prize on cerealslat the Panama
Pacific International Exposition.
With only 10 per cent Of their tillable
acreage under cultivation these great
commonwealth line up in the caval
cade OF states about as follows: Four
teenth ia production Of wheat, eight.
eenth in the production of oats, fit.
teenth in barley, twentieth in potatoes
and third in flax. All Of which will
doubtless make it easy for you to un
derstand why there on the great plains
new towns are springing up, new in
avenues OF trade are being laid out
a new nation, strong and mighty a.
the hills, is coming into existence.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
Auto Fur Coat

Andrew Larson will hav e
something new in the fur coat
line on exhibition next week. 1t
is said to be the finest arrange.
ment that has yet been introduc-
ed to keep out the cold and wind
when riding in the winter time,
protecting the legs as well as the
body from the weather. Call at
Larson tailor shop and examine
this new feature in the winter
coat line.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
CONGREGATIONAL

Morning service at 1O:45. Sermon
by the pastor. Sunday school ses-
sion At II N. Attend Prof. SOuder's Q
bible class. Junior C. E. society at
3 p. m. Let US have every member
out. Senior G. E. society at p. M,
leader Alva MCGOWAN. Preaching
service at 8 p. m. Special music by
choral society and orchestra under
direction of Prof. Hopfner. Wednes-
day Sept. 10Th, 1880 p. m. prayer meet
ing. 8:l5 p. m. choral society. 8 p.
m. orchestra practice. Congregation.
al Woman's missionary society, annu-
al thank Offering meeting Thursday
Sept. 3Oth 2::3O p. m. in the church
parlors. The various missionary
costumes will be Represented by
members of society in native costume.
Splendid programs, Refreshments.
All the ladies of the church should be
present.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-24
l. B. Record
Remains Of Early Settler Of Grant
County Brought to Milbank
for Burial

Last Tuesday afternoon the
remains of Israel B. Record
were brought to Milbank for
burial and laid to rest beside his
wife and daughter in the family
plat in the Milbank cemetery.
The deceased man was one OF
the very early settlers in Grant
county, homesteading q govern.
ment claim in Grant Center, and
later with his wife and daughter
lived for some time in Milbank,
and was always most highly
esteemed as q man of fine prin.
ciples and companionable social
character. His many Mil
bank friends remember him
with kindest feelings, and regret
his departure even at the advanc-
ed age of 80 years, he having
passed away on the 10Th inst at
his home in Minneapolis.
Deceased was born in the state
of Vermont August %, 1925, and
was married to Charlotte War
ner at Franklin in that state in
1851. OF three children born to
this union, Arthur Record OF
Minneapolis is the only survivor,
frankie dying in 1880 and Caro-
line in 1904.
Mr.. Record came west and first
settled at Beaver Dam, Wis, in
1854, and in 1871 moved from
there to Appleton in the same
state, living there unit! he
filed on his homestead in
this county in 1873. He enlisted
in the union army in 1864 and
served until the close of the war
He united with the Masonic
brotherhood at Beaver Dam, in
1861, and was q member of the
lodge and chapter at this place
at the time of his decease. The
remains, in charge Of the son,
Arthur Record OF Minneapolis,
were met at the depot and
escorted to the cemetery by the
Milbank lodge and given . Ma.
sonic burial, which Was proceed
ed by q short service ct the
grave by Rev. Harry EE1oSsSf the
Congr egational church.