El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-15

, separated from eacn oIner ana lle
mainlanN by a network of rocky
straits. and much Of southwestern and
southeastern Alaska is made up OF
mountainous islands that have rocks Of
all shapes and sizes. The Islands are
really the tops Of mountains half lost
in the waters. They rise in spires and
cathedrals. some Of which are thou
sands of feet above the water and 9TH
ers hidden beneath il. lying there con
sealed and ready to rip open the hulls
of ships as the iceberg ripped the IT,
tanic
The extent OF the Alaska coast, with
its Windings surpasses that Of the
United States proper It is greater
than that Of all our states on the Pa
cific from Puget sound to the bound
airy Of Mexico, added to that OF our
states on the Atlantic, including the
gulf All told. il is more than $4,000
miles long. or longer than the distance
around the world at the equa tor and
in proportion to its length it has per
haps more dangers than any other
coast line on earth
Nevertheless. not ,one-half OF it has
set been sounded by the coast survey
vessels. and more than half Of the
general coast line is not marked by
lights or by any aids to navigation. As
10 the rivers. there is not a light or
mark on the great winding Yukon eX-
cept at its mouth. and it is the same of
its many navigable tributaries
It was only last year that the de-
navigable channel Of the Kuskokwim.
That river is the second IN size Of the
rivers of Alaska II is nine miles wide
at the mouth. and is now navigable for
500 miles inland The coast surveyors
have spent the past five open seasons
KuskokWim valley has now been
opened by them TO navigation Insur-
veying the delta within an area OF 100
square miles something like $4,000
soundings were taken.
Lighthouse Service Inadequate.
The lighthouse service of Alaska
leaves a great deal to be desired The
first buoy was nOated in 1884 and the
first light erected 10 years later.
There are now on the whole Alaskan !
coast line only 329 aids to navigation.
and these include about 40 lights, Of Z
which % were established in 1915 I
There are but few lighthouses. and {
only three on the main travel route I
from Icy Strait to Nome. a distance as I
far as from New York to London
At the present time the government !
is awake to the dangers Of Alaskan /
navigation. It was only last year that I
president Wilson called attention to .
the necessity OF exploring the waters I
and erecting lighthouses, ana today ,
Redfield OF the department 4
Of commerce has a number Of new !
to that effect under way 3
De is constructing a first class coast 4
light on Cape St Elias This light /
house is being erected on the south 1
md of the island of Kayak. one Of the I
most important points on the Gulf of 4
Alaska It is where the boats. after
eaving the Inside Passage, pass on I
heir way into Prince William sound 4
ind Seward. the terminus OF our new
abroad. The lighthouse is TO cost I
III. 900 II will rise 90 feet above the
evel and will be equipped with a
amp of 10000 candle power. which (
an be seen more than IS miles away
he light is a double flash which bursts
Orth every 20 seconds
Building Vessel at Long Beach
The government is building several
lew vessels for the Improvement OF
he Alaskan waters One OF these is
o be for the lighthouse service, and
/ will be ready for work in May. 1916
[ is being constructed at Long Beach.
'alif tt is to be called the Cedar.
he boat will be a double-bottOmed
chooner-rigged vessel 200 feet long. Z
s feet wide, and with a displacement
f 1850 tons It will draw Is feet of
rater. and have a speed Of u knots an
our. II viii be constructed OF steel
II will be lighted by cleo
ricitv. and will have a radio outfit OF
he most modern type
Secretary Redfield is having q new
cast survey vessel built on the Great
axes especially for the Alaskan wa
srS. The boat viii be taken down the
akes. out into the Atlantic ocean. and
= way of the Panama canal TO Alaska
will be called the surveyor. and will
Ike the place OF some Of the old tubs.
nown as the coast survey vessels.
ow in the service.
Another government ship which will
9 in Alaska next season viii be de
oted to the protection of the fishing
ather than of navigation. This is the
Roosevelt the vessel made famous by
cary in his north polar explorations.
But Half OF Coast Ckarted.
So far. the coast survey has charted
My about half OF the waters OF
laska. The area to be surveyed is
igger than the state Of Texas and
be amount already sounded is only a
tile larger than the state Of Missouri
had no idea Of the work required TO
xpIore and mark the waters of the
cean until I came to Ketchikan. This
the headquarters OF the coast sur
sy service for Alaska, and there ara
sveral ships now engaged in work in
le waters near here. I went out yes
srday on the Macarthur which has
cen making surveys in the Tongass
arrows. and in and about Prince Of
Tales Island The Macarthur is one I