The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-01-24
Great CeIebration ON
Completion OF Railroad

Anchorage, Alaska, Jan. 2l.-So
rapidly has the work of bringing to-
gether the ends of steel on Alaska's
467-mile government railroad from
seward on the seacoast. to Fair
banks, in the heart of the Yukon
country, progressed, that definite
Piahs are being made for great eel
ebratlon throughout the territory To
mark the driving of the golden
spike some time in mid-February.
The ceremony, which will be nj;
tended by Governor Scott c. Bone. Of
Alaska, ard other high territorial
and feedral officials, will take place
at the Riley Greek bridge. l2O miles
| south of Fairbanks Thousands are
expected to attend the Nercmony.
The Riley Greek bridge is in itself
triumph of engineering. Late il!
November, 1921, 800 tons Of steel for
the bridge were shipped from Scat
! tie to Seward. Today the bridge :.
9OO-foot Struct turc, is practically COM
pietcd. With the exception of the /.
"4O-foot steel bridge across the Tan
ana river at Ncnana, which will not
! he placed in service until late this
year or early in 1923, it is the last
unit of the road to be COMPLETED.
Pending completion of work on the
bridge at Nenana trains will be sent
over the Tanana on ferries in the
summer and over tracks laid on the
ice during the winter months.
The government railroad cost ap-
proNimately $56,OO0,OOO and has been
under construction since 1914. The
main line between Seward and Fair
banks is 4G7 miles in length, but, with
branches, the completed system will
have total trackage of 539 miles.
For some months past luxurious
trains, with pullman coaches and buff
fet dining cars have been operated
over the main line on a once-a-week
schedule. Freight was carried be-
tween the ends of steel by dog sled.
Alaskans hail the coming of ~
railroad as the key that will NJ 9
one of the richest territories 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 md no longer
will the freezing OF the Yukon in
winter mean that the great interior
country must hibernate until re-
sumption 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 di-
rect connection with Seward sea-
port with harbor free of ice for II
months in the year. The road passes
through important coal fields, one of
which is expected to furnish supplies
of stearing fuel for naval vessels 1t
traverses what government geologists
describe as rich potential oil district
in the Cook Inlet region contiguous
to Anchorage.
Before the advent of the railroad,
according to federal reports, it cost
$40 to ship one ton of hay, corn, pota-
toes or other necessities to Fairbanks.
The freight went by boat to st.
Michacls, at the mouth of the Yukon,
was then reshipped up the Yukon and
Tanana rivers to Fairbanks, q total
distance of $500 miles Sometimes it
was shipped through Skagway, over
the White Pass and Yukon railroad to
White Horse, thence down the Yukon
and Tanana rivers at cost of SOC
Today the same bulk Of freight
can be shipped by the railroad a.
Fairbanks in three weeks less time
than by either of the older routes.
travcrsing a total distance Of 1895
miles at a cost of about $50. Since
the road began handlin traffic few
months ago, the cost of oats in Fair
banks dropped from $l40 to $7C
ton. the pric" of beef dropped p
cents pound. Wood costing $i30
cord was replaced by Ignite coal de.
livcrcd at Sc a ton.
An increase in tourist traffic is eN-
rected. Mount Mckinley, 20,3u0 feet
in altitude and the loftiest peak on
the North American continent is Nut
short distance from the line amt
Mount McKinlek National PAN WiN
hecnme apcaasihle