The daily Alaskan., 1921-04-02
Major GotWalS Has Developed Into
 Good Booster
Says ROadhOuSes on the Trails Are One of the Great Blessings of Interior
 

Among the stauuchest champions of the road house and it's proprietor is Col. J. c. Gotwals, who, be- sides being one of the most emerge tic of the Alaska road commission. is rapidly developing into q sour dough"
 Colonel Gotwals is. among other things, an observer. Literally he is from Missowi" when it comes to road and trail problems. hence he hies himself over Rainy Pass when the mercury IS 50 below where it ought to be and when every man in the outfit should do his part of the trail breaking. Coming out with Leonard Sepbala. Colonel Gotwals broke trail all day. helped navigate the sled in dangerous places, and ate his share of beans when he fin ally stepped into the cosy roadhOusc. But let the colonel tell how tine "cheechaco" feels toward Bonhom- me rosdhouse keepers.
 Ali is not snow and ice and ad- venture on the inland trail,' said Colonel Gotwals, and | wish to say right here that if there is one wing of society for whom I have warm spot it is the roadhouse keeper. And I feel that something should be done to assist them in every way possible for they are very necessary essen tials to the development of Alaska.
 Imagine four days on the lower Yukon with the temperature never above 40 degrees of frost, accom- panied by brisk gales. always in ones face. occasional OyerhOws on the rivers that are dangerous to cross. At the close ui the fourth day in the early winter sunset sighting a little cabin set among the spruce trees at Ruby hot springs, Getting into the house. parko and mukluks are stripped of. Wet clothes are hung up to dry. warm house slippers supplied, and then a plunge into a bath taken in water almost too hot to enter. obtained from the hot springs just beside the cabin. Then q splendid dinner prepared by Mrs. Horuer. the proprietress, then after a smoke and a chat with the few "sourdoughs" winteriug there. 10 turn into clean. neat bed for a slumber that money could not buy Can one forget Ruby Hot Springs and the devoted, patient lady of the north. Mrs. Uorucr. w1o makes this such a cheerful little spot on the Yukon.
 History will never fully recom- pense these splendid pioneer women who are out ahead of civilization.
 For winter travel in Alaska the roadhouse is necessity. These must be spaced not over twenty miles apart on the trail and must be provided with good dog houses. The services rendered by these road house keepers in the development of Alaska and The suSrpnauce of inter for life is enormous. la them tine traveller finds his food waiting. al- ways well prepared. and comfortable and warm beds, cen if there are rot brass bcds;eads and Ostermoor mattresses.
 Along the lines Of travel upon which business has decreased dur ing the war depression many road house keepers have bravely and per sistently chung to their posts of duty even though their incomes were very slight. The service rend- cred by these men and women can only be recognized by the weary traveller who arrives after twenty or thirty miles of trail-breaking and heart-breaking travel al nightfall to find his shelter ready. prepared by the interior roadhOuse keeper who so perfectly understands his wants and needs.
 Tt is the policy of the Alaska road commission to erect operating camps along tthe lines being builded with a view to supplying stations that will serve as roadhouses when the lines of travel are open to the public. For this reason large sub stantial cabins are erected that may readily be converted into comfort able dwellings with a few added im- provements.
 The entire question governing the development of Alaska must be embraced in every step taken and it is the policy of the commission to take cognizance of these facts in it's progress of road building"
 Colonel Gotwals is now in the