Imperial Valley press., 1922-01-28
By L. 3. DOBYNS
written for the United Press

SEATTLE, Jan. 2S-The ''iron
traiP' will supplant that of the dog
sled in Alaska in February when the
golden spike" is driven that marks
completion of the government rail-
road connecting Seward, on the south
crn coast, with Fairbanks. interior
metropolis of the northern possession
of the United States.
1t is hoped by those Immediately
concerned with the completion OF TINS
immense engineering feat that it will
do much to dissipate popular associa-
tion of the name Alaska with icy
wastes and outlawry opening up as it
will large agricultural and mining
section, as we'll as scenic beauties of
the great territory.
Appropriate ceremonies at Riley
Greek Bridge, 120 miles south of Fair
banks, when the last rail is laid and
! the last spike driven into the last tie,
will mark an epoch in American his
tory in which Uncle Sans army en-
| gineers have added further glamour
to their already great fame, Seattle,
the "port OF Alaska" will celebrate
simultaneously with Alaskan cities
| this material realization Of pioneers
|
est hopes.
The building of this railroad was
attended by hardships seldom expert
onced even in the most stupendous OF
pioneering projects. There were no
nearby towns or even settlements on
which to call for supplies. Model
towns were built, construction houses
and machine shops erected, and homes
for the workers grew where not even
an Indians igloo had been seen. Riv-
ers which were either raging torrents
flushed with huge cakes of ice or 1roZ-
en- into glaciers, were spanned win
steel: mountains with their precipl-
tous sides, rocky ledgs and deep can
yons were crossed; swamps were made
to accommodate a modern railroad bed
and open plains, whose silences were
only broken by the howl of the wind
and wolf or the "mush" of the sled
over it's puny trails, came to know the
whistle of the construction train as II
pushed forward over modern path
of civilization.
Preliminary surveys were made IN
1914 and actual construction began IN
1915. when gangs started at each ter
minal, working toward each other. The
first ia miles completed between Sc
ward and anchorage has been in Gp-
Grafton for some Is months and has
been a source of nearly 81 100000 rev.
enue to the road.
Two small lines already in Alaska
were bought by the government-the
Alaska Northern, from Seward to
Cooks Inlet, at a cost of 81, ,l57 ,o39
and the Nenana Valley, operating be-
tween Fairbanks and Chatanika, which
cost 100000. :,
The main line of the Alaska rail
road, from Seward to Fairbanks, Is
ACT miles long-the completed roao
Built by United States Army
engineers.
Cost $56,O00,O00.
Main line, Seward, on coast, to
Fairbanks, interior metropolis,
ACT 1-2 miles.
Branch lines bring total mile
age to 539.93.
Preliminary surveys made in
1914
Construction beoan in 1915.
Completed in February, 1922.
Last unit to be built, Riley
Creek Bridge.
Opens up fertile agricultural
lands, four wealthy mining dis
tricts, Mount Mckinley National
Park and prospective oil fields.
Saving of transportation costs,
estimated at $40 per top.
Taps famous Chickalo6n coal
mines now operated by govern
ment.
Governor Scott c. Bone OF
Alaska says: This government
railroad will pay-not in immed-
late or earl yfinancial returns, or
even interest on the investment,
but surely and substantially in
the ultimate benefits which will
be derived both by the territory
and the nation"