The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-18
Railroad Now Being Constructed Will
Release Fabulous Wealth of Alaska
Will Render Accessible the Matanuska Nna the Interior
Lane Interested Fastening Development Land Through
of Much Of Existing Governmental Red Tape.

7 The Alaska Northern has been purChas
i ed for price less than its physical val
| uation. as estimated by the Alaskan en-
| 9ineering commission and ny the enCi
| neers of the Interstate Commerce Com
| mission. 1t is to he put into operativ,
| condition and will he used az a base TO
| extending the line along Turnagain Arm
| The road is being taken over free from
| all debt or obligation Of any kind TIL,
| estimated cost of construction Of the en-
! tire line from Seward to Fairbanks in
| GLIDING the Matanuska branch. is So
SOGGG
| The work Of constructing the railroad
| Is in the hands of the Alaskan engineer
| ing commission. which has charge o.
preparing and adopting plans for con
struction. the employment of the neces
sary force. and the making of contract.
| for the purchase of supplies. William C
Edes is chairman of the commission
| having been appointed by Secretary
Lane. He has charge Of the assignment
! of duties to the heads of departments
who report to him.
The other members of the commission
are Lieut.. Frederic Mears former super
intendent of the Panama Railroad and
Thomas RIGGS. jr.. of this city. The
members of the commission left in April
for Alaska Tho chairman has estab-
! lished headquarters at Seward Lieut..
Mears is at Anchorage and Mr.. Riggs is
conducting surveys in the Broad Pass re-
gion.
The first step toward the construction
of the road is the building of a wharf at
Anchorage and the dredging of an ade-
quate channel. From this point the rail-
road will he constructed northward to
the Matanuska field The proba bility is
that not more than forty miles of road
will he constructed this year. owing to
the fact that the appropriation is only
s2."l0.Go The balance of Approximately
s'0oo0n remaining from the $1,000 au-
thorized last year is being used as the
first payment on the Alaskan Northern
road.
The work is to be done in large part by
station men. who will make direct con-
tracts with the commission for building
distinct units Of the road. This method
has been recommended by some Of the
most prominent railroad constructors
and is adopted very generally in railroad
construction in the West At the end OF
this season the work done in this way
will form the basis from which it may
be determined whether II is wise to have
the road constructed as a whole or in
parts by contract. The commission Is
employing comparatively small force
CnleHN composed OF engineers, 10 super
wise the construction.
THE President has directed that the
few appointments necessary shall he
based exclusively on merit and expert
ence." says Secretary Lane. Il have re-
ceived word of a threatened stampede to
Alaska this summer. The work to be
undertaken by the government does not
justify any such rush. The government
itself will employ but few men and those
of high order Of railroad engineering ex-
perience. I desire to advise those con-
templating 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 the route at Anchorage. at
Junction. In Sustina Valley.
In the vicinity OF Broad Pass, and in the
Nenana River
Dock Built ON ship Creek.
The preliminary base of operations is |
At Ship Creek. or Anchorage, on Cooks
Inlet Lieut. Mears arrived there April
Is with force Of engineers and assist
ants and Immediately commenced the
work Of landing materials and supplies |
for the project. He took with him COM |
plete pile-driving outfit. A dock already |
has been practically completed on the |,
right hank Of Ship Creek near the mouth, |
Thl~ ArA1r a. ~ns,Svs,~A ~,seh