Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-06
EVENING EDITION.

s--7A~oSpR AAOo@0 T00s Vs|(xV0s
ing of tho last gap between ends OF
steel on: the Alaska government rail-
road marks practical completion Of
one Of the most difficult engineering
projects undertaken by the United
states government. With tho placing
IN service Of the Riley Creek bridge,
last unit. with: the exception Of the
Nonana,, through train service win be
possible between Seward, It the head
Of Resurrection Bay, to Fairbanks.
Starting late in 1914, swamps,
frozen tundra. huge rock barriers and
diflcult mountain passes were met
and conquered. AS q preliminary n
gineers who pioneered the work even
Duilt their W ocean docks. They
mad not even wagon roads to help
4 them. Everything used in construc-
ton had to be shipped from Seattle,
ne nearest point in the continental
United States 1,776 miles to the
southwark.
Worked From Three Bases.
The railroad was constructed from,
Resurrection Bay, the southern term
linus Of the line; Anchorage, the main
operating base at the head Of naviga-
ton on Cook Inlet, ia miles north
q Seward. and Fairbanks, the north
|. ern. terminus. A spur runs from
Fairbanks to Chatanika. 80 miles to
the north. Construction Of the road
was delegated to the war department,
the actual details being turned over
to- the Alaska Engineering commits
sion. The approximate cost of the
line totaled about $56. 900, 900.
Two old railroads, The Alaska
Northern. from Seward to Cook Inlet,
and the Nenana railroad, running be-
tween Fairbanks and Chatanika, were
n = ,ro1ipoin orHr o$ono cn,yo-
miles Of the latter road, which cost
! the government 100000 were used.
The Alaska Northern was purchased
at a.cost of $~1,157,839.
Only q section Of the Alaska North
ern right of way could be Used. After
the Spencer Summit, So miles north
of Seward, was reached it became
grade and construct the road anew.
From the point where the road en-
tered Anchorage Valley, 81 miles
from; the town of Anchorage, the right
!, OF way was blasted out of almost
solid rock. To advance the work 1t
was necessary to swing suspension
bridges across deep chasms, build
cliffs. Deep SHOWS were battled and
rock fills were constructed along
rushing. streams. In winter ma
terials were hauled across the ice on
sleds. When the ice broke up ferries
took their chances with the swift
currents and breaking ice.
Many Dificulties.
Typical of difficulties encountered
was the construction OF the Susitna
River bridge, 1922 feet in length, $50
miles north Of Anchorage. During the
preliminary examinations engineers
found white marks and scars high UP
on the trunks OF trees, indicating that
the Ice reached great heights during
the spring breakup. Timber or con-
crete piers would not be able to
Withstand the heavy crush of ice and
food waters. These conditions led
engineers to decide upon a 5O4 foot
. without supporting piers. Build
ing It was another thing. but finally
It WAC completed after almost In.
met with and CONQUERED.
The Alaska engineering commits
sion eftnlated the system Of the
builders Of the Panama canal, estab.
lished snug h~abitations for the 1000
to 5000 men constantly employed. In
stalled modern sanitary arrangements
commissaries for food and clothing
usually failing to the lot Of camps and
towns that follow private railroad
construction. To do this the com
mission assumed the responsibilities
Of civil government. At Anchorage
townsite was laid out, streets and
sidewalks constructed. and electric
lighting plants and. ,waterworks were
installed and a hospital was built
Later these facilities were duplicated
At other points on a smaller scale.
Branched Ont.
! From the railroad building ths
commission branched into coal min
Ing. tapping the 'Chikaloon fields -
vi1ns from and the Goa