Evening star., 1915-04-11

from tdEe.'
to have the road constructed as Who'll.
or in parts by contract 1t is expected
that the commission will erlploy very
small force. chiefly composed of en-
gineers, to supervise the construction. The
President has directed the commission
that the few places which are to be filled
shall be filed exclusively upon the
ground of merit and experience.
L have received word of a threatened
stampede to Alaska this season. The
work to be undertaken by the govern
ment does not justify any such rush.
The government itself will employ but
few men, and these men of a high order
of railroad engineering experience.
Little Employment Opportunity.
II desire to advise those contemplate
ing going to Alaska that there is little
opportunity for employment in that
country at this time, and they must be
prepared in advance for their return
in the fall. We have withdrawn town
sites along this route at Ship creek.
Matanuska Junction, in Susitna valley.
one in the vicinity of Broad pass, an
other in Nenana river.
THE route adopted by the President
will open up a territory not now
served by any railroad line. and two or
Matanuska field. which contains high
grade bituminous coal acceptable to the
navy, and, second, the Nenana coal.
near the Tanana river. which is
great body Of high-grade Ignite and
will serve the interior of Alaska"
Description of Route.
The description of the route. as ap-
proved by the President, is as follows:
For a main line of railroad.
Commencing at the town of Seward
on the westerly shore of Resurrection
bay, Alaska: thence following along
said westerly shore in northerly di-
rection to the head of said bay; thence
following up the drainage of Salmon
creek to a summit between said drain
age and the drainage of Snow river:
thence following the drainage of Snow
river to Kenai lake; thence continuing
northerly along the easterly shore or
Kenai lake, along Falls creek. along
the shores of Lower and Upper Trail
lake. and up Trail creek to summit
in the kenai mountains near mile 40
from Seward; thence descending along
the drainage of Placer river to the
head Of Turnagain arm of Cook inlet:
thence following the northeasterly
shore Of said Turna again arm and
crossing Portage creek and Twenty
mile river to the mouth of Kern creek
near mile II from seward. thence IN n
northwesterly direction along the shore
of Turnagain arm to near the mouth
of Big Rabbit creek: thence leaving
Turnafain arm and running northerlN
to a summit in section IS. township -
north, range ) west. Seward meridian
thence running northeasterly to near
the head Of knik arm of Cook inlet
thence running northerly across the
flats at the head of said arm and
crossing knik and MatanuSka rivers
to a point about two miles north of the
Matanuska river: thence running in
westerly and northwesterly direction
crossing the little Susitna river and
following along the southwestern
slopes of Bald mountain to Willow
creek. a tributary of the Susitna river.
thence in IA northerly direction follow
ing the drainage of the Susitna ard
Chulitna rivers TO Broad pass. situated
in the main Alaska range of noun
tains: thence crossing Broad pass and
entering the drainage of the Nenana
river; thence continuing northwari
following the drainage of the Nenana
river to the Tanana river the total dis
tance from Seward being il6 miles
more or less.
Also starting from point on III.
more or less northerly from where sais
line crosses the Matanuska river, ano
thence running in easterly direction
following the drainage of said Mata-
nuska river and its tributaries a dis
tance of thirty-etght miles more or les.
to the Matanuska coal fields"