The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-09
MUCH PROGRESS
IN LAYING ROAD
Steam Railwayin Alaska Being Built
By Governpsent Being Rushed
to Completion.
(By Associated Press)

Seward, Alaska, Nov. 9-Wm. G.
Edes, Chairman Of the Alaskan En-
gineering Commission, who recently
returned from Anchorage, reports ex-
cellent progress on the construction
of the United State railroad.
Fifty-nine mile Of track have been
laid from Anchorage. With the sew
enty-one miles Of the old Alaska
Northern Railway that are now in
operation to Kearn Creek, there have
been completed 1870 miles of the 470
that will connect Seward and Fair
bands. The track so far laid. from
Anchorage consists Of six miles south
toward Seward. thirty-eight miles Of
line northward to Fairbanks, and fif-
ten miles on the Matanuska branch
into the Matannska coal fields.
The right Of way has been cleared
from Potter Greek, on Turnagain
Arm, to Kings River, in the Matan-
lska, coal field, a distance of seventy
seven miles, and on the main line
from Matanuska to the Little Susitna
River. Rail viii be laid this fall
rs far as Kings River, on the Matan-
uska Branch, II distance of sixty-two
miles from Anchorage, an dto Was
silla on themain line, approximately
Is miles from Matanuska. On the
main line in the Susitna Valley, be- !,
tween Montana Creek and Indian Riv-
er, a distance Of IS miles, the right
If way is 70 per cent, cleared and > ;
number Of grading contracts have
oesn4let. Grading of the right at way
will proceed in this section from Tai :,
keetna to Willow Creek, and north to
Broad Pass. At Willow Creek it will
connect wit hthe work under the Mat
anuska district, and at Broad Pass
With the work from the Nenana divi-
lion. ~
Rail will be laid in the near future
IS far as Potter Creek, which is fif- {
en- miles southeast Of Anchorage on
rurnagain Arm, and from which point !
he rock work on Turnagain Arm will
'e attacked during the winter.
For the week lending September 9, !
1868 men were employed on the An =
horage Division, which includes Com ,
mission employees, stationmen and la
orers, the August payroll being
29s, 100000.
The population of Anchorage, which I
, the main construction base on the !
abroad, is between 1000 and 5000. &
It .Matanuska, the junction of the
latanuska branch with the main line,
townsite was recently surveyed by
ne Government and town is now in
purse Of development. There is also q
small town at Moose Creek, about r
fly miles from Anchorage, where q
,e first mine on the railroad is in q
peration. At Wassilla, the name of !,
lie town where the railroad crosses :
le Knik-Willow Creek wagon road, a
'veral people are gathering. Was c,
liza will be the distributing point for g
eight and supplies for the Willow 4
reek mining district. The Govern p
ent is taking immediate steps to F
lrvey small town sites at these f;
aces. O.
The railroad north and south from o
nchorage passes through and de- 81
,lops q large agricultural country. ST
here are now between 500 and 1000 a
,me-seekers along the line Of the n
Iilroad section in this state, and the A
yriculture land is being rapidly de- t.
,loped. The home-seekers are sup o.
ying considerable portion Of the 81
odstuffs for the railroad employees tl