The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-12-09
NEW ERA OPENS
IN HISTORY OF
OURNORTHLAND

Little wonder that the town made
holiday; that Mayor Grant welcomed
the tliers that Gov. Riggs and the
mayor of juneau and others sent tele-
grams. Little wonder the fiers were
Toasted and feted. The occasion war
ranted it. Here were eight men who
had travelled across the continent to
Sergief island where, In the days of
the Cassiar gold stampede, hundreds
of argonauts had camped waiting for
the ice to open and clear the way to
Stikine river: where hundreds, too, had
taken breath in that breathless and
historic Klondlke rush. when many had
persisted.
The story Of Alaska would have been
another story had aviation been a
working proposition in 1897; the his
tory of Alaska will he Il different his
tory dating from August II, 1920. The
fight to Alaska has a much wider sig
niticance than a mere spectacular one.
The war department, through its air
service, has not lent itself TO the
shoWman'S game. Excessive speed or
sensational performances have not
been covered, notably i'm the London
Australia fight. in the New York
Nome tour, at no time was there a
jump Of more than 800 miles nor an
altitude higher than 10000 feet At the
same time it must be borne in mind
that the flight was not without hazard.
There are plcasanter places to be
stranded with a wrecked airplane than
the Canadian Rockies or the mchartcd
wilds of Alaska A flight in almost
any other direction on United States
territory offers more friendly harbors
and happier landing fields.
Significance of the Fight.
But, back of it ALL the Alaskan
fight had a deep significance. 1t was
undertaken by the war department for
a three-fold purpose and with the cor
dial cooperation of the Candiana gov
eminent, and the aid of the weather
bureaus Of both countries. The first
great purpose in view Is the photo
graphing and preliminary surveying
for the opening Of a route to Alaska.
The second Is the establishing Of
relay mail and commercial air route
which will cut the time from Alaska
to the states from weeks to days The
third Is the mapping Of some $500
square miles Of uueXplOrcd countrS
about the flats Of the upper Yukon
rivera three days task for the four
flying photographers, but a labor of
three years and many men for a
ground surveying party.
With these three purposes IN view,
therefore, 1t needs no prophetic vision
TO see what changes are TO be wrought
in Alaska's future ny the coming Of
the four alrplanes to Alaskan soil on
August il last, Little wonder, MS we
have said, that their advent was hailed
with rejoicing by the far distant and
far-sceing AlaSkans who had hazardcd
their lives and their fortunes uphold
Ing the upbuldiug of AIaska's future
According 10 the "Wrangcl ScntI-
mel" which gave It's whole front PAGE
Of August 10 to story Of the arrival
Of the nirmen Capt, Street who had
bought at Edmonton waterproof
coat with a fur collar and lined with
unclpped lamb skin. nud. at Wrangell,
pair OF locgcrs rubber packs and a
pair Of socks that would weigh qs
much as an ordinary puir Of shoes. IS
reported 10 have said: "Wbcn | was
flying over the continuous chain OF
glaciers ana snow fields between here
and IIazeIton little dreamed that on
reaching Wraugoll IL would be my
privilege to feast on Lone grown bcr-
ries and cream. The lEyuriant growth
Of vegetables and the beautiful flow
crs here 0re u great surprise to me"
Incidents Of the Flight.
In its story Of this dramatic moment
In AluSka's history the Sentinel notes
the following interesting item. In the
flight from IIazclton TO WmngcIl the
aviators flew over much virgin coun-
try, which, on account Of it's nacccs-
sibiIity had never been hchcld hy mn-
man eye Much Of the time after
leaving Saskatoon. the nlcrs had 10
rely for hearings upon their compassrg.
thus proving their ability as acrIal
nargotOrs. The greater part Of the
flying since leaving New York was