Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-22
ALASKANS HAIL
. COMING Of THE
NEW RAILROAD
Completion of the u. S.
Government Built Line
viii Be Celebrated Some
Time in Midi february.
By The Associated Prcss.)

Anchorage, Alaska, Jan. al
SO rapidly has the work of bring
ing together the ends Of steel on
Alaska's 4G7-mile government
railroad from Seward, on the
seacoast to Fairbanks, in the
heart of the Yukon country, pro-
crossed, that definite plans are
being made for a great celebra-
ton throughout the territory to
mark. the driving Of the golden
spike" some time in mid-Febru-
airy.
The ceremony, which will be at
tended by Governor Scott G.
Bone. of Alaska, and other high
territorial and federal officials.
will take place at the Riley
Creek bridge, 100 miles south of
Fairbanks. Thousands are expect
ed to attend the ceremony.
The Riley Creek bridge is in
itself a triumph of engineering.
Late in November, 1921, 500 tons
OF steel for the bridge were
shipped from Seattle to Seward,
Today the bridge, a 900-foot struc-
ture, is practically completed with
the exception of the 1,340-foot
steel bridge across the Tanana
river at Nenana, which will not
be placed in service until late
this year or early in 1923, it is the
last unit of the road to be COM
pleted. Pending completion of
al hptlrrA Nnnn1q
trains will be sent over the Ia
mana on ferries in the summer
and cover tracks laid on the ice
during the winter months.
Cost OF Railroad.
The government railroad cost
approximately $56.000,000 and has
been under construction since
1914. The main line between Sc
ward and Fairbanks is ACT miles
in length, but, with branches, the
completed system will have
total trackage of $50 miles. For
some months past luxurious trains,
with Pullman coaches and buff
fet dining cars have been oper-
ated over the main line on
week schedule, Freight was
carried between the ends of steel
by dog sled,
Alaskans hail the coming Of
the railroad as the key that will
unlock one of the richest terri
tories In the world. Mail from
Seattle will reach Fairbanks in
nine days. Heretofore from one
to three months was the usual
time OF transit. The road will be
open the year round and no long
er will the freezing of the Yukon
in winter mean that the great in
terror country must hibernate I'M
til resumption of navigation in the
spring.
Alaska's richest areas are tapped
by the road. The fertile valleys
Of the Tanana and Yukon will be
in direct connection with Seward.
seaport with a harbor free Of
ice for twelve months In the year.
The road passes through import
ant coal fields, one of which is
expected to furnish supplies Of
steaming fuel for naval vessels. 1t
traverses what government geolo-
glsts describe as a rich potential
oil district in the Cook Inlet re-
gion contiguous to Anchorage.
Cost of Shipping.
Before the advent of the rail-
road, according to federal reports,
it cost $40 to ship one ton of
hay, corn, potatoes or other me-
cessities to Fairbanks. The freight
went by boat to st. Michaels. at
the mouth of the Yukon. was
then reshipped up the Yukon and
Tanana rivers to Fairbanks. a
total distance of $500 miles.
Sometimes 1t was shipped through
Skagway, over the White Pass
and Yukon railroad to White
Horse, thence down the Yukon
and Tanana rivers at a cost of
$66.
Today the same bulk of freight
can be shipped by the railroad to
Fairbanks in three weeks less
time than by either OF the older
routes, traversing a total distance
of 1885 miles at a cost of about
$50. Since the road began hand
ling traffic a few months ago, the
cost of oats in Fairbanks dropped
from $40 to $40 a ton, the price
of beef dropped rs cents a
pound. Wood costing $3.50 a cord
was replaced by Ignite coal de-
livered at Sc ton.
An increase in tourist traffic
is expected. Mount Mckinley, 20,-
900 feet in altitude and the Hottest
peak on the North American con-