The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
ARMY BUILDS
 NEW STATION
 ATFAIRBANkS
Work on Cold Weather Ex- perimenfaI Field Goes
 on All Winter

Beginning of actual construction on cold weather experiment sta tion at Fairbanks last fall marked the first definite step in the U. $. Army Air Corps unit installations in the Territory.
 It is expected that, as appropria- tions are available, more units will be built until Alaska can be defens- ively and offensively adequate.
 The Fairbanks installation, Ladd Field, got under way early last fall under the direction of Major E. M. George, Quartermaster Corps, who was ordered to Washington, D. C., in September and relieved by First Lieutenant J. B. Rankin, who has been in charge of the project during the winter and will continue as assistant. Major George opened purchasing and contracting office at Fort Mason, Calf in January to expedite procurement of supplies. First Lieutenant c. M. Clifford Is Major Georges assistant at Fort Mason and will continue to run that office when the Major leaves for Alaska ir April. c. L. Coray of Ogden is Superintendent of Con- struction on the project.
 Work All Winter
 Weather or no weather, prelimin- ary work has continued throughout the winter, leaving a trail of &C., complishment greater than either the Army or local kibitzers expected. Sourdoughs gathered to watch huge tractors and l6-yard carryall 'doze up grades, strip overburden of frozen moss and conceded that "these Army fellows are doin' some unheard of things and began immediately to calculate how they could apply the successful experiment to all-winter mining operations.
 Approaching spring finds the area surveyed and mapped; 5.2 miles of railroad spur constructed to the site, three miles ready for traffic and 2.2 miles awaiting arrival of rail. The spur was constructed by the Alaska Railroad, with the Con- structing Quartermasters office fur nishing the engineering supervision. Over 500 acres of land were cleared for building area and runways. A 45-acre building site has been stripped of overburden and strip ping of runways is going forward. A connecting road to the Richard son Highway is ready. Two miles of this road were gravelled during January, an unheard of thing in the North.
 Water Supply
 Eighty feet of frost was pene- trated in drilling a first well for water supply before small flow was encountered. Then PIT feet were drilled without more water. The drill was moved 200 feet, drilled 60 feet of frost and hit good water table Either well is capable of sup plying the needs of the post, it is estimated.
 It is anticipated that all will be in readiness for the arrival of ma terials in mid-April and footings for buildings will be poured as soon as the weather permits.
 A preliminary layout plan of buildings received indicates com- bined barracks and hospital, com- bined officers and recreation facili- ties. an apartment building for of ficers' quarters, commissioned off, cers' quarters. two non-commis- stoned officers apartment build- ings, quartermaster waterhouse. power house, garage and mainten- ance shop and hangar.
 Reports indicate that approxi- mately 356 men and officers will be stationed at Ladd Field
 Equipment
 Work during the winter has been carried on with two crawler type tractors of 95 horsepower; one 16- yard carryall; two combination stake and panel IF ton trucks; one cargo IF ton truck; one sl ton pick up and one sedan. Alaska Road Commission tractors were used in railroad grading.
 The Quartermaster' Holabird de- pot. Baltimore. Maryland, has been directed to deliver 36 IF ton trucks and six pickups to the Ft. Mason office for shipment to Alaska. These are expected early in April.
 Approximately 100 men were em- ployed at the peak of winter opera tions and the minimum was B men. At the present time about 1000 men are registered with the personnel of the QMC office in Fairbanks
 Lieut.. Rankin pointed out that the office was fortunate in securing good workmen, that necessary land for the reservation was obtained