Evening star., 1923-06-24

in the future when branches and spurs
of public highways are built in the in.
terror OF the Territory to feed the rail-
road with additional traffic.
Parts of the line, therefore have been
in practical operation for seven years.
For this period the operating expenses
up to December 81. 1922, amounted to
1885, .294.14, and the total operating
revenues were s2,4s1 ,O6s.66, making a
deficit of $7.055.224.4S.
A hotel containing thirty four rooms
has been erected by the government at
the Alaska railroad to permit travellers
upon the road to stop overnight in
making the 467-mile trip which takes
two days. An experienced hotel and
commissary man has been given the
concession. Total capacity Of the Curry
hotel is sixty-four guests with q bunk
house that will hold many more visi-
tors. Sleeping cars may also be utilized
In an emergency so that 125 people may
be accommodated in an emergency such
as the arrival of President Hardings 8
party. The hotel contains only one
private bath. which, of course, will be
turned over to the President.
New Steamer Service.
President Harding's party will also
try out other recent transportation ad-
vances. For the first time In the history
OF Alaska the government inaugurated
steamer service on the Tanana river
and the lower Yukon River with the
sailing of the steamer General Jacobs
on May %, from Nenana, a station on
the Alaska Railroad, for Holy Cross and
ST. Michaels.
The side-wheeler carried % pas
sengers's 400 tons of miscellaneous
cargo, Is tons Of mail-the first that
the people in western Alaska will re.
ceiye for months-and a small amount
Of express. Sailing OF the government
operated river steamer gives the lower
Yukon river inhabitants passenger and
freight service. including delivery OF
mall month earlier than at any time
on reord in the past.
This has been made possible by
through transportation service on the
Alaska Railroad from Seward on to the
coast to Nenana in the interior where
mail and freight have been stored until
the spring breakup Of the ice on the
Tanana and Yukon rivers. The steamer
General Davis, the other river boat op-
Grated by the government, makes trips
down the Yukon, thus establishing serv-
ice that combined with the government
railroads facilities furnishes transporta-
ton throughout Alaska during the
summer.
Pack Train Service.
Pack-train service into Mount Nc
Kinley National Park, Alaska, will also
be available after Juy l., from McKin-
ey Park Station on the Alaska Railroad.
This service will include tourist accom-
modations in tent camps at Savage
river, Igloo Creek and Toklat river and
distances OF IL, 80 and so miles, respec-
lively, from the railroad.
The trip to the Savage river camp
will be made by four-horse stage over a
rough wagon road, but beyond Savage
river the visitor must travel the main
park trail on saddle horses In regular
pack trains, The trip from the railroad
to Tokalat river and return constitutes
q six-day trip Of about 100 miles. The
Mckinley. rising 2o.7oo feet, which
towers higher above its surrounding
base. altitude 5000 feet, than any other
mountain IN the world, and the immense
herds Of caribou and bands OF mountain
Shesp roam the park