The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-07-12

One of Two Men i'm Charge of 4O-Milt
Section of WashingtOn-AIaska Military
Cable and Telegraph System - Win
ter from October to May.
i Ned c. Marsh, who enlisted from Brat
tleboro with the Goth United States In
fantry about 20 years ago and who is re-
lmembered by many Brattleboro persons,
is now in the signal corps, L. S. army,
stationed at Kokrines, Alaska. In a re-
cent letter to his sister, Mrs. I. p. Davis
of Springfield. Mass, he wrote:
My dear Sister:
You asked for few facts regarding
this land of snow, ice, swamps and for
ests. On account of the vast area of
! this daughter of Uncle Sam its climate
as such cannot be described in very
/ few words. but / will do the best l can.
The territory of Alaska was bought
! by the United States from Russia in 1867
/ for $1,200.O00. The territory has an
area of 800 S4 square miles. a population
! of $4,000, and a coast line of $4,000
miles.
! In the interior the elevation averages
! from 1000 to 1000 feet, sloping west
ward from Canada to the Boring sea, also
nOrthward to the Arctic ocean. The high
est point in Alaska is Mount Mckinley
$4,000 feet, which also is the highest in
North America. The interior is drained
by the Yukon river. which has its source
in Summit lake 20 miles from the Pacific
ocean, and flows north and west 200
miles to the Boring sea. This river. being
navigable. is the main source of transpor
tatIOn during the summer months. 1t Is
Travelled by steamers which land the vast
amount of supplies for the long winter.
On account of the vast area of this
country its climate cannot be told in a
few words On the southeastern coast
there Is only two months of snow. While
the interior has very warm summer. the
first snow is seen in the first weeks of
October and it generally stays on the
ground until the middle of May. The
Yukon opens during this month and navi-
cation is open until the first week of Oc-
tober. The soil of certain parts of
Alaska, mainly the Tanana and Susitina
valleys, are capable of intensive agricul-
ture. and one may not be surprised within
- or 20 years to see these valleys covered
with thOuSand-acre farms raising buck
wheat, barley. oats, wheat. rye and pota-
toes. The valleys also are covered with
rich luXuriant grass capable of feeding
enormous herds of cattle. but which is now
supporting about 10000 reindeer The
reindeer are used for their meat, and this.
is a growing industry since a market for
it was opened in the United States.
The governments railway, constructed
from Seward to Fairbanks. will open up
this land to hOmeSteaderS and make avail
able thefields of oil and coal which abound
IN this country aswell as copper zine. tim
lead, anthony and other minerals
These fields are yet to be DEVELOPED. when
transportation is available. The Nenana
coal field Is estimated to contain 100
OOOOOO,O0O tons. Other rich deposits are
H.,
uskya valley districts
Stretching along the Tanana river from
Fairbanks to its mouth then down the
ukon to NulatO is located the second
section OF the Washington-Alaska military
cable and telegraph system. with head
quarters at Fort Gibson. which is located
at the mouth of the Tanana river, which
flows into the Yukon. This section is
composed of several stations known As
the land line. Beginning with Fairbanks
and going thence down the Tanana they
are IN order Cinema. Nenana TOloyaua
Hot Springs. then down the Yukon. Fort
Gibson, BlrcheS, Kokrines. Melozi, Gal |
ems, koyukuk and Nulato, being about 40 |
miles apart. thus making total of abo1,t |
10 miles of Morse circuit and II radio !
stations, which are operated by the men |
OF the second service company, totaling !
just 81 men
The majority of these stations are two |
men stations. and when ! say that bur So !
men handle the entire section carrviv. on |
Doth the operation and maintenance of |
the entire section, you will realize that
the second service company is n hmncb If
busy fellows. The mail from home and
SWeethearts can be received not oftener
than once a week and in some neriods of
the year not oftener than once each fort
night: During the freezing and breaking
up OF the river there are months when
I 1G tYo.-
handllng OF the mail impossible. The
routine of the two men who are detailed
ior the up-keep of these stations. while II
Is very simple, | must admit that il some
times become mOnOtOnOuS during the long
winter which lasts from October to Nav,
Inc station force, which consists of an
operator and lineman. divide evenly no
tween themselves the small duties around I
the mousse, namely cooking their meals and L
DONG such work as mother used To nor
form: The operator takes care of the teIe
graph work and the routine duties ar II
tached to such offices, while the Iinaman
takeS care OF the station dog team and Il
Watches tne section of line so as to keen II
IL IN good working order. The station II
where L am at present located. Kokrines II
consists of three buildings, the station H
tour home), StOrerOOm, and the dog corral Ii
ne station where we live is a four-roon "A
building divided into a kitchen. dining
loohi' oedfoom and the Office, making n H
NICE place for living. In the storeroom is Il
nance of section of line and tbe faasd
Tor the dog In the dog corral Is tba
station team, which is the means of travel
during the winter, while in the summer
We have boat for the river.
The team consists of seven dogs and
u capaDIe OF hauling load of about 700
pounds at an average speed of six nil
an hour, which is exceptional. The snort
winch IS attached to dog-driving or mpeb'
ing IS very interesting. especially when
the driver Is equipped with a 2o.foot
whip and good supply of profape Emo.
1 lEd or slwash During line trouble in
! ne winter months, which usually honna,.S
IN the worst of weather. with ia tspat
AZURE 80 to 30 degrees below zero if
there Is fresh SHOW it is necessary for one
man TO travel on snowshoes ahead of the
Team 70 break the trail. The other stars