The Nome nugget., 1930-10-04

Committee composed of Senator R. B. Howell, of Nebraska, John B. Hendricks of Wyoming. and John Thomas of Idaho, convened recently at Anchorage for the purpose Of in- veStigating the 'operation, economic situation, and prospects of the Alas ka Railroad. Mr. Thomas Gaffney of Nome resident of Alaska for the pas thirty years ana several times member of the Alaska Territorial Legislature. who was a visitor nt Anchorage. was the first witness called
 After having been sworn in by lhdirman Howell. the oldtimer was asked: What suggestions have you to make to eliminate the deficit of the Alasya railroado"
 Mir. Gaffney explained to the com mittee that he is here as a citizen of Nome. and that his observance had been that very considerable part of the Second division, along the Yukon River, is materially bene fitted by the operation of the gov ernments transportation system the railroad, extending from Seward to the interior. and by the river steamers which form the connecting link between the railroad at Nenana and the lower Yukon river terminus of operations at ar.hall. The rail road and it's connecting boats, he pointed out. enable residents of that remote section Of Alaska to receive supplies approximately month earlier in the spring and much later il the fall than they can by the all water route from Seattle via St Michael.
 The witness was questioned at some length by Senators Howell and kendrick' re egarding the operation of boats n the river and between Mar shall and St. Michael and Nome They asked about distances, the number Of people served. the rates charged and the time required to travel between given points. MT Gaffnev. having only recently made the trip up the Yukon from St. Mich ael, was able to answer all the questions promptly and in an en- tightening manner He said he had paid S2O to travel from Nome to St Lomen company. S25.00 from St. Michael to Marshall on the river craft operated by the Northern Com mercial Company, and S61 from Marshall to Nenana. on d steamer operated by the government in con nection with the Alaska Railroad. Approximately F days had been re- quired for the entire trip to Nenana and seven of the day5 being require" to go from Marshall to Nenaua.
 In answer to a question by Sena- tor kendrick, the Nome man admit ted that he did not have any sug- gestions to offer relative to the elim- nation of the railroad deficit, but he declared his belief that the con rinued operation of the transporta- ton system is all important t the we'll being and development of the lower Yukon country and those other mining districts which are being served. He mentioned the koyukuk, Ruby and Marshall dis tricts, all three of which have been greatly aided by the railroad. and expressed his conviction that mining is the backbone of Alaska and de- serving of every encoura cement. In his opinion, the territory at present in in a period of transition, with the older Alaskans carrying On until
 heir work of development can be taken over by younger men who are increas sing steadily in numbers and who soon will be ready to assume full responsibility for territorial progress. It was explained that the war had taken all of the young men rut of the country, as well as the many older men who had answered
 h4 call for workers to keep the wheels of industry going. Alaska, he said, has never fully recovered from the loss in maupower drawn to
 he service of the flag, but the belief was expressed that there is now a favorable turn. And he assured the