The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-04-16

20 Turnaualn Arm.
Built by Chicago Men
The Alaska Northern railroad
was built by A. G Frost OF Chi
cage. and some others, with the
intention OF getting coal TO
Seward from the Matanuska
fields.
As the government held title 70
their coal lands. however. they
were prevented from taking out
coal and so were forced 10 stop
building the railroad
When they stopped building the
railroad, officials figured passen.
ger and freight traffic would pay
for It's upkeep.
However, they did not figure on
the federal railroad tax. and when
this was demanded the road was
forced TO shut down.
Operated Without Tar
Rather than so broke. owners
OF mines depending on the road
for transportation conferred with
tho people OF Seward and a plan
was arranged by which they were
allowed TO operate II without be-
ing taxed In return.
Thus. for time. the road en-.
ioyed the distinction OF being the
only one In Alaska operated by
the public.
From Turnagain Arm the route
Ia 10 be extended through Sussina
valley and across Broad pass 20
the Tanana over. and from there
on to Fairbanks
VIII Tao Masanusss Field
II In TO be a standard gauge
road. ard from Matanuska June
ton a side line will be run into
the vas, MatanuskA coal field.
Seward. the point at which the
government railroad viii start. 10
located on Resurrection bay. and
one OF the best.prutected harbors
In Alaska.
The town was founded In
1902 by q white man named
Lowell ard his indian wife.
Lowell 10 said "a be q direct
descendant Of the family Of
that name that founded Low
ell. Mass.
He did not think the land was
worth anything. and did not file
claim to Il. but when the Alaska
Central railroad engineers came
through. some little time later,
Mrs. Lowell filed instead.
Seward a Heslshful Town
Later she vas persuaded To re.
llnquish her claims to two broth.
ers who were endcayoring TO open
np the country hack OF Seward
They paid her $4,000 In cash and
gave her town lots amounting 10
10000.
Seward, fronted by the bay
and backed by towering hills.
10 In an attractive situation.
ard because the town 10 built
on gradually rising ground
with slate bottom, the drain
age. and consequently the
| sanitation. 10 perfect.
SO perfect. In fact. that II
| has been said that an under.
tsker cannot make . living
there.
The government has esiab
ilshed n naval coaiing station
there and once the railroad has
tapped the Matanuska coal fields
n IL likely that the station VIII
| be kept busy supplying our war
ships In the Pacific.
Ideal for coaIlnp etation
Seward Is practically 1906
miles nearer the Philippine island
bases than the Mare Island nava
station. nj San Francisco.
Since the boom days have pass
ed. Seward has settled down into
a substantial town. with CONNER.
cial club, churches and Y. NJ. G
A. II ls busy QUILTING point
for hunters seeking game. which
IA found in abundance on the Re
nal peninsula.
From Seward ships run TO Sci
dovia. Sand Point. Unga, Kodiak
and points on the Alaskan PENN
sula.
Leaving Seward. the govern
ment railroad will run All miles
north TO Fairbanks, on the Tane'
ma river.
This route takes II through the
Susitna valley. which Is one oil
the most fertile in Alaska
through dense fir and birch for
ests, and gold. copper and coal
regions.
Farms at Fairbanks
From Seward 10 TurnagaIn
Arm. a distance OF II miles. a
raIlrosd--the Alaska Northern
which the United States has tab,
en- over--already ia built.
Fairbanks. on the Tanana riv
err, the far north end OF the rail-
road.to-be. In one OF the most
prosperous cities In Alaska and
Is located In one OF the richest
valleys.
on the land around about
bumper crops Of rye. barley. oats
etc. are raised. samples OF which
took prizes at the agricultural
fair held in Minneapolis in 1911.
Although the gold rush IN 1909
10 at Iditarod and Ruby City de-
creased The population of Fair
banks. stIll the town IL on q sound
basis, with "A city council and
school board.
Town Has Great Future
At present It's great need 10
TRANSPORTATION, for IL 10 estj-