The Wrangell sentinel., 1939-08-11

Harper Reed, Indian agent Tor
the vast expanse Of northern Bri-
fish Columbia and adjacent terri
tory, while in Wrange1 last week
was requested by a special commit
tee from the Chamber of Commerce,
to write out fer their consideration
an account Of the various routes sUg-
gested for an International Highway
to connect the states with Alaska
through western Canada.
IN the brief time at his disposal
Mr.. Reed outlined the possible routes
noting the advantages and disad-
vantages of each This will be
thoroughly studied by the chamber
and decision made as TO which route
Wrangell shall sponsor.
Two important Gov er mental
Commissions. with also much news
paper comment, and untold private
opinions have been engaged recent
~. in an effort to establish the rea-
son for, and the correct route Of, the
above proposed Pacific Coast High
way.
Looking back over the mass Of
data that has been published, and
spoken, it is clearly seen that the or
binary man-in-the-street. although
aware of the project, does not really
understand, this most important
matter of allowing civilization to
reach northwards in the western
part of this continent.
To-day we no longer think of
civilization as being "baek-easta but
rather that it of late years become
a matter of north and south, espe-
cially here on the pacific slope. Also
today it might be added that civil
nzation can be seen at its very best
up and down our seaborders and
that in the very near future 1t will
be even more so. Nowhere in the
rest of the world can such a set
ting be found-Fair waters with in
land passages, great cities growing
up, a continental shelf upon which
game repose with unlimited miner
ais in the mountain ranges at their
back doors
"Such civilization has to move
north, and indeed has, and to con-
meet all this, roads must be created
to assist and help develop our pre-
sent coast-wise waterways. The
south is civilized; the north has just
started, and is calling for inland
transportation and settlement, but
in between is a huge virgin country,
which now needs attention and
through this district the Pacific
Highway will run.
1T is no matter as to who owns,
or inhabits this in-between country,
nor today does it matter how much
it will cost, for progress is moving
north rapidly, and progress must be
served. If such a highway is con-
sidered beneficial for the north and
south ends, then of necessity it must
be beneficial all through its length.
And so we stand today with the
idea of a Northern Roadway as a
desired idea to achieve, and have adj
vanced so far that the question of
the best right-of-way, is now the
most important matter of the whole
affair. and is calling for immediate
settlement. Therefore let US look IN
to this question from a broad point
of view, and perhaps we might find
some facts and data that are of in
terest.
ITO link up the civilized areas of
Alaska proper, with that of ciyili-
cation in the south, the highway
must of necessity pass through the
Canadian territory of the Yukon and
British Columbia, and therefore the
topography of such districts looms
up as a most important factor IN
connection with such efforts.
IN this district there are but
two huge ranges of mountains, both
running north and south, and about
ESQ miles apart, the coastal range
on the west and the Rocky Noun
tains ON the east; and in between
We have a huge valley, billy in
places but with a definite trough or
lower valley lying against the
Rocky Mountains proper Both these
ranges collect their yearly load of
SHOWS, and, therefore, in their i'm
mediate vicinity, much snow is
found with celebrations Indeed on
the western range there still exists
an Ice Cap, extending from Mount
st. Elias southwark to the town of
Wrangell on the southeastern Alas
kan Coast line.
such a natural state of affairs
produces serious handicaps to the
construction of roads, and even to-
day prevents the Anyways using
their full capabilities for the ad-
vancement of civilization east and
westwards
Therefore, it will be seen that
the only route possible will be to &c
north through the so-called Rocky