Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-06-03
ARCTIC AIRLINE TO
SPAN ASIA, ALASKA
Routes Outlined Now Await
Official Approval.

San Francisco, Calif.-As the re-
suit of soviet Russia's development
of arctic aviation, Alaska and the
Aleutian islands r destined again
to become the bridge between Asia
and the United States, the Institute
of Pacific Relations believes.
In something of the same man.
ner in which this route in prehistoric
times permitted the peoples of Asia
to find entrance to the American
continent, the institute is convinced
that the same route, only this time
by air, is to become the bridge be-
tween the two continents.
According to an institute survey,
the soviet already has in view two
alternative routes for it's aerial serv-
ices to the United States. One of
these is from the most eastern tip
of the soviet north, Cape Chukhotsk,
across the Boring strait to Nome.
The second follows a more southern
course, leaving soviet soil in Kam-
chatka and following the course of
the Commander of the Aleutian is
lands to Steward, Alaska.
U. S. Permission Not Obtained
From these points it is assumed
that permission can be obtained
from the United States for extension
of lines to Seattle, although it is be-
lieved no negotiations have been
started to date relative to terminal
and landing facilities in the United
States.
In the meantime, however, the in
stitute has ascertained that the So
Wet has been pushing the develop
ment of arctic aviation to a point
where it is certain that Alaska cas-
lily can be made the "drawbridge to
Asia"
Reports which the institute have
received from the soviet's northern
sea route administration show that
during 1886 planes engaged in polar
flying during the navigation season
travelled 1898, $50 miles with $4,000
flying hours.
The number of passengers carried
was 5,4OO and the freight transport
ed weighed $780, 900 pounds.
Regular Service Established.
In February of this year the So
Wet took one more advanced step in
the development of arctic aviation
by establishing regular mail deliv-
cries between Khabarovsk and Cape
Wellen during the winter months
when otherwise the inhabitants of
that arctic spot would be deprived
of contact with the outside world.
Trial trips were made early in
February and regular flights were
begun February Is.
The institute survey points out
that Alaska already has a well de-
veloped aviation service. During the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1886, the
seventy-nine planes in Alaska COW
cred 2,130, 929 miles, carried 1882
passengers and 2,418,616 pounds of
freight.
Linking of this service with a serv-
ice by the soviets would, the insti-
tute believes, contribute immense
ly to the development of the far
north and the arctic regions.
The soviet, with flights last sum-
mer to Alaska, the survey finds, al
ready demonstrated the feasibility
of such a service.
AS yet, the institute is informed,
the soviet has not decided whether
the northern or the southern route
would be better. The more northern
route is shorter, but Slightly mor
expensive to survey and construct.
However, the nsens in soviet
Russia is that the northern route is
preferable, although not ideal, and
some sections of it as now flown
should be changed.