The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-10-11
YUKON PORTAGE ROUTE OPENED,
 SAYS GILLETTE
Cooperative Project Con meeting Yukon and Kus-
 kokwim Is Completed

Improvements to the Yukon -Kus-
 kokwim portage are virtually com
 pletod, only loading and unloading
 facilities remaining to be installed
 at the terminals, it was made
 known by Maj. Douglas H. Gillette
 Engineer Officer of the Alaska
 Road Commission. He and Mrs
 Gillette returned early this week
 from a three months trip in inter
 for Alaska on which he inspected
 various road and other projects
 being carried on by the Commis- sion.
 The work there consisted of a canal about one-half mile long, six to eight feet wide and three to six feet deep, and two tramways equip ped with winches over which cars are operated. Loading facilities will be added next spring, the season being too far advanced to complete them this fall.
 Cuts Travel Time
 Three men, using dynamite, cut the canal through muskeg in three weeks. The work was done by the Commission forces, the Territory cooperating in financing the pro- ject.
 Maj. Gillette made the trip through the portage with 35-foot boat heavily loaded. It required by IA hours to make the trip. In the past, under normal conditions it has required three full days, and several portages had to be made Now boats are lifted from the water, loaded, placed on tram cars and hauled over the portages with out difficulty.
 Surveys Iditarod River
 From the lower Yukon river Maj. Gillette went to Iditarod to sur vey the proposed diversion of the Iditarod River to it's former chan nel. He took necessary measure ments and took a number of photo graphs showing the nature of the country and character of work that would have to be done. He then returned to Fairbanks
 He spent two weeks there initiat- ing work on the Zeppelin landing field. Latest advices from there said the clearing of the field is almost completed. The service road to the field has been graded and graveled the roundway also has been graded. Gravel for ce- ment for the mast foundation has ] been landed on the site and exca- vation for the mast base and an- chorages are two-thirds finished.
 The mast will be constructed of wood and 60 feet high. The will be 1,200 feet in diameter.
 Visits Nizina Glacier
 Returning to the coast, Maj. Gill lette visited Nizina Glacier and 5kolai Lake to study natural con- iitions with view of lessening Hood hazards in the Nizina River Last spring one of the worst floods n years did considerable damage to She big bridge over the stream He discovered some very interesting The lake, which is formed by glacial action, had evil dently been unusually large last Spring, and had raised large section of the glacier. When the barriers went out and the water 'eceded, the raised section was shat cred when it settled back into position. It is possible, owing to his condition, Maj. Gillette said, hat there will be no lake formed next year, although the glacial may bridge the gap and form body of water as usual.
 Visits Copper Property
 Maj. Gillette visited Glacier Creek and went over the copper prospect now being developed there y the Kennecott Copper Company He went into the drifts and was 'hown some of the ore. Joe Meloy s in charge of the development york and has made splendid pro- gress. It is said he has found luite large body of copper and ,ovallite.
 This property is located about 8 niles from Mccarthy. Everyone n the Mccarthy district is en- husiastic over the prospects for arge developments there and op- omistic about the future possibili- ies of the region.
 Mrs. Gillette accompanied her husband into all the districts visit d. She was the first woman to -isit the Glacier Creek development amp. m