The Cordova daily times., 1922-01-28
NEWSY LETTER
 FROM SEATTLE
 ABOUT ALASKA

is one of the liveliest camps of the l district at present. Prospecting is in progress on Long Creek, one C the old producers, preparatory to summer operations. Dumps are also bein taken out on Birch, Tamaravck and Greensboro creeks. Galena ore is being taken out on the Galena ledge formerly owned by Tom Aitken, for shipment to the smelter as soon as navigation opens. Promising pay is reported on Goldstream on ground opposite the Bartlett wood camp in the Fairbanks district.
 In the Seattle Spirit, official pub lication of the Chamber of Con- merce, are the following interesting facts concerning the Alaska rail- road:
 Completion and driving of golden spike expected in mid-February. Built by United States Army en- gineers at a total cost of $56,000,- OO0
 Connects Seward, on the Coast, with Fairbanks, interior metropolis, distance of 467k milets. Branch lines bring the total mileage to 53993.
 Preliminary surveys were made in 1914, and actual construction began Riley Creek bridge
 Trains have been running be- | tween Seward and Anchorage, IA miles, for 15 months.
 The railroad opens up fertile agri- cultural lands, four wealthy mining districts, Mount Mckinley national park and prospective oil fields. Estimated passenger revenue up to final completion of the road is l $1 100000 Rate of hay, grain and potatoes from Seattle to Fairbanks along the old route via St. Michael and Yukon river, s70 ton; from l Seattle via Government railway, S30 a ton
 Branch lines tap Chickaloon coal mine, now operated by the Navy with the eventual idea of supplying steam ing coal to the battle fleet. l Governor Scott c. Bone of Alas ka says: "This government railroad will pay-not in immediate or early financial returns or even interest on the investment, but surely and sub- stantially in the ultimate benefits which will be derived both by the Territory and the nation"
 Those leasing lots and having i'm provements will be given the first chance to purchase lots in the towns of Terakee, Craig and Hyder, to be eliminated from the Tongass Forest l Reserve, according to information given out by District Forester Charles H. Flory at Juneau. The plan will be to sell the lots at a 1 price to cover the cost Of the surveys made. This will mean maximum price and every person having a lease or improvements will be given the 1 first chance in the lot on which he resides or has improvements. Other 1 lots will be sold to the highest bid l der. It will remain optional with the presidents of the towns affected whether they desire to incorporate after the sales are concluded. 1 Actual completion of the govern ment railway in Alaska will be on l February 15, according to Colonel Mears, chairman of the engineer ing commission who is in Seattle on his way east He said the formal ! celebration of the completion of the line will be some time near sum- mer with Secretry of the Interior Fall, Governor Scott c. Bone, and it
 is hoped President Harding present
 It is hoped to have President Hard
 ing drive the golden spike at tthat time. The celebration will be held at Riley Creek, mile PAY. near the entrance to Mckinley National Park
 Colonel Mears while here conferred
 with officers of the Alaska Steam ship Co.,, and the Pacific Steamship Go. regarding point through passen. ger fares and through bills of lad l ing between Seattle and points on the railway. It is understood the