Seward daily gateway., 1924-05-03
RAILWAY OFFICIAL
AND COUNCIL MEET
TALK OVER PLANS


creek. Messrs. Horn, Pollock and
Van Gundy were present as repre-
tatives Of Manager Lands.
Mayor Ray, after explaining to the
visiting gentlemen, the plans of the
council and what had been done in
the past, asked if any one of the
members had any suggestions or
questions to be placed before the
meeting.
Councilman Ellsworth as a mem
Der of the glacier stream committee,
stated that he did not think the coun-
Gil had been fair to themselves by
not adopting more concrete basis
before this, and suggested that some
such contracting firm as Sims-Carl-
son be asked to submit plans and fig
ures on controlling the stream and
then try to get Congress to allow
an appropriation.
Mayor Ray stated that they real
lied that the present bill before Con-
gress must have the support of the
Alaska Railroad. Mr.. Horn stated
that a temporary channel at the
foot OF the stream would be waste
of time and money, and that more
protection could be had by driving
wing dams, which would be less ex-
4 pense and afford temporary relief.
Mr.. Pollock, chief engineer for the
Alaska railroad, stated that he had
made one complete survey of the
stream and that his idea would be to
move the hospital to a safe location,
make a series of bulkheads where the
present one is, and let the stream
take that course and that Railroad
would take care of itself. He esti-
mated the cost at $4,000, using 25-
foot piling, and probably $4,000 for
moving the hospital on to concrete
foundation. This would be tempo
rary, but would be money we'll spent,
and while he would not suggest that
the council undertake to make tenn
porary channel, if the same should be
done it would be much cheaper to
put in sluice box and eXcavate same
by hydraulic but that there is enough
gravel forming from slides and in
streams above that the next high wa
ter would likely leave Is or 80 feet
of gravel at this end of the stream
Mr.. Pollock also explained that their
estimates were always high, as it was
great deal easier to explain how
they could have money, than it was
to explain why they needed more
and that if an appropriation of two
hundred thousand dollars could be
gotten the stream could be made safe
for the next SO or 100 years.
: Mr. Ray stated that while it cost
the Railroad $4,000 or less to remove
gravel and repair damages by the
flood, it had not been interesting to
them to expend 100000 for chan.
mel or other means of controlling
streams, but since Col Lands has
been in charge the attitude has seem
ed to have changed and the conclu
sion reached that if the town is help
ed companies could be more readily
induced to build if assured protection
from the stream, thereby increasing
tonnage for the railroad.
Mayor Ray also stated that move
ment was on foot to remove the hos
. pital and that several citizens had al
ready offered donations.
Being asked by Mayor Ray if any
appropriation was available at pres
ent that could be used, Mr.. Van Gun
| dy stated that they had had appro
priations for such cases but they had
J was now causing a serious situa
been spent for other purposes, and
| ton.
t Mayor Ray asked if the Railroad
could do this work and bill the town
for it's share Mr.. Van Gundy stated
, that while they could do this, there
by saving the town money, the draw
back would be meeting the payroll
and standing good for the bill, as
they would have an authorization
from Washington to do this.
Mr.. Van Gunde asked that they
be furnished with copy of all re
ports, as they were interested and
were going to help see the improve
; ment through, and that they appre
t ciated the cooperative spirit which
) they had met here and that Col. Ian
dis had shown his interest by sending
! his party over.
Mayor Ray stated that the railroad
was here, whether we wanted it OF
mot, and that it had ceased to be a
Christmas tree to some communities
but that Seward was willing to help
the road in all ways possible and
asked that they thank Col. Lands in
behalf of the Town of Seward, and
the Council for his interest in the
. matter.
McGRATH ROArHOUSE SOLD
The popular McGrath roadhouse
, has changed hands, Miss Heller
Jahnke and Louis Halverson selling
out to Miss Grace Anderson. The
Z new owner gave a dance which was
; attended by parties from Takotna
:. and Ophir.