The Cordova daily times., 1920-11-25
SYSTEM MINLNG ROADS
 ON PENINSULA

 op noal lode mining prospects in the Sc ard peninsula, according to an an no .ncement by Capt. J. c. Gotwals, engineering officer of the commission. Before leaving Juneau for Camp Lew is to take examination for promotion, Captain Gotwals gave out the follow ing statement on the subject:
 Transportation of Seward Penin- sula depends of course principally upon ocean going transportation but with this remaining as in the past no great future can be had for Sew ard peninsula without an interior net work of communication. At present, travel across the interior of Seward peninsula is surrounded with the greatest difficulties when most need ed, that is within the open mining season. The topography of Seward peninsula, which varies from rolling to rugged, and marked by absence of timber, is especially characterized by an undeveloped tundra area. The tun- dra travel cannot be forgotten by the musher who has made his way over it. Dotted with 'niggerheads' and breaking into soft basins of thaWed ground and silt the difficulty of mushing over the tundra is enormous.
 "The communication demanded must be designed to serve two dis tinct purposes as follows:
 "First-To transport the goods, equipment and supplies which will be brought in in the open season to the nearest point of debarkation to the means that roads must exist from mineral workings of the interior. This network of roads will run from Dime Landing on the Koyukuk river; from Solomon and Nome on Norton sound and from Davidson's landing; also from Deering to Candle on kOt- zebue sound interconnecting and reaching the tribuatry of mineral workings.
 "Second-Nome must be reached by all lines of communication as Nome is the point of debarkation dur ing the Spring and the point of em- barkation during the Fail for a larg- CT seasonable population during the open season. Nome also serves as as redistributing point for supplies. Nome is the first town open to nav igation in the Spring and the last in ception of transportation needs, plans naturally dictated for the future are as follows:
 "First-The S5-mile Nome Council road now in use as a stage road and practically completed, must be main tained At later date it should be extended from Council to Dime land ing and will serve as the summer outlet, with a later extension, to the Yukon river, giving Nome and Sew ard peninsula a long summer commu- nication.
 "Second-The abandonment of the Nome-Shelton railroad, S5 miles long, now in use with dog-drawn cars, termed pup locomobiles" The rail road is privately owned At present it naturally serves as a public high way.
 'Third-Shelto must be connected with Dahl and the Taylor creek work ings on the Kougarok.
 "Fourth-Davidson Landing must be connected with Taylor creek on the Kougarok
 "Fifth-A road must be extended from Taylor through to Inmachuck, connecting with the 26-mile road from Deering, then beyond to the coal regions of the Kougarok to the five mile road extension from Candle. This network of roads takes advan- tage of all existing conditions and with a number of new constructions, in the course of time the coast of Seward peninsula will be connected with the interior
 Besides the above there must be system of winter trails, traversed by dog teams, carrying mail to Nome, Unalakaleet and Kaltag. It is believed that the network of roads proposed will do much to continue the vast production of gold won from these richly mineralized areas. The Sew ard peninsula to date has produced $75, 100000 in gold and only the richest workings have been operated upon"