Seward daily gateway. [volume] (Seward, Alaska) 1923-1933, 1924-04-28
RAILWAY OFFICIAL
AND COUNCIL MEET
TALK OVER PLANS

A special meeting of the council
of the town of Seward and number
of railroad officials was held yester-
day afternoon at 2 o'clock for the
purpose of discussing ways and means
of controlling the waters of Lowell
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 Lad 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 mem
Der Of the glacier stream committee,
stated that he did not think the coun-
Gil had been fair to themselves by
not adopting a 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 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
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 tC
make a series Of Dulkheads 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 rs
foot piling, and probably $4,000 fol
moving the hospital on to concrete
| foundation. This would be tempo
rary, but would be money well spent
and while he would not suggest tha1
the council undertake to make TEN
porary channel, if the same should be
done it would be much cheaper Il
put in sluice box and excavate same
by hydraulic, but that there is enough
gravel forming from slides and il
streams above that the next high wa
ter would likely leave 25 or 80 fee
of gravel at this end Of the stream
Mr.. Pollock also explained that theil
estimates were always high, as it wa!
a great deal easier to explain how
they could have money, than it wa!
to explain why they needed more
and that if an appropriation of two
hundred thousand dollars could b.
gotten the stream could be made SAT,
for the next SO or 100 years.
Mr.. Ray stated that while it cos
the Railroad $4,000 or less to remov,
gravel and repair damages by tn,
flood, it had not been interesting Il
them to eXpend 100000 for chan
mel or other means of controlling
streams, but since Col Lands ha
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 readil,
induced to build if assured protection
from the stream, thereby increasing
tonnage for the railroad.
Mayor Ray also stated that a 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 an,
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 hat
was now causing a serious situa
been spent for other purposes, anc
ton.
Mayor Ray asked if the Railroad
could do this work and bill the tow
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, al
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 anC
were going to help see the improve
ment through, and that they appre
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
not, and that it had ceased to be {
Christmas tree to some communities
but that Seward was willing to hell
the road in all ways possible and
asked that they thank Col. Lands II