The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02

~ the United States Government
\ sent to Alaska a commission
to direct the survey for a Gov
eminent railroad reaching inland
and generally north from Resur-
rection Bay to fairbanks, n distance of
something over 400 miles. One Of the
men chosen for this momentous task
was Thomas Riggs, Jr., Of the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Mr. Riggs was selected because OF his
familiarity with the region and on ac-
count Of the part he took in running
the Alaskan Canadian boundary line.
finished but two years ago.
Associated with Mr.. Riggs in the
railroad survey were Lieut.. Frederick
Mears Of the United states army and
William c. Edes. As a result Of the
work done last summer and data pre-
vious,y gathered in the same territory
BY other expeditions Of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey, the route nov
60 be followed Is to run in part along
the S,Mitna and the Cantwell rivers
and through the foothills of tower ng
Mount Mckinley. The experts predict
rr-at prosperity for the whole terri
tory and declare that the ultimate cost
Of s26. 500 900 for the system complete
xill be amply compensated for by rea-
SON ~ tho resulting he N, fits
Whatever may be the ultimate eco
nomic significance of this Government
owled railroad in Alaska, there
should be no question about our pres
tnt interest IN the work done in run
ming the preliminary survey and that
which will later follow as the steel
rails are led further and further north
ward in that rugged region.
From past experience, it har been
amply established that surveying in
Alaska is apt to be fun of thrills.
First. the open season is a short one
and a great deal of action has to be
crowded into a brief period by the sur
ttyOr. Ills Is not tne TASK merely ol
the explorer who pushes ahead by the
shortest route to hk objective but in
stead is that Of choosing the easiest
gradients for the intrusive locomotive,
spanning the shortest valleys and
bridging the rivers or torrental
streams where the foundations or the
approaches can be built for the least
amount of money compat BILE with
present strength and durability.
Some of the most towering peaks in
North America are in southern Alaska
and from their snowclad shoulders in
the spring and summer the waters
now seward in great volume and
with much violence, Then the
stricken timber j. washed down into
the flooded channels, and this wealth
of logs rushes onward like veritable
avalanche when the way is clear, or,
what is even more menacing, these
mill ms of mighty sticks jam in some
narrow pass, penning up the waters
and themselves until ruptured by the
titanic forces they have halted for
the while. Then as the jam is broken
onward tears the roaring stream and
the whirlng timber until the broad
reach Of some wide channel robs the
torrent Of its turbulent fury.
The surveyors have not only to
avoid these dangers in planning the
right of way and the points for bridg-
ing, but their work will demand that
they actually cross some of these
streams when blazing the way for the
line. The waters are icy and the cur
rents swift. while means of rescue are
apt to be wofully scant.
Mr.. Riggs has given US some spec
tacular instances Of the hazards con-
fronting the civil engineer in that part
of the world, and what has been cx-
perienced in the past up there Is a
pretty good index Of the difficulties
to be faced in running the line inland
from the rail head Of the existing
road. seventy-one miles long. which
Government undertaking.
But torrential rivers loaded with