Evening star., 1940-08-04
Rich Area Is
Opened by
Clippers
Writer Describes
Pioneer Flight
To NOrthland
By Joseph S. Edeerfon.

Island Saturday afternoon at $50
and fly over the New York Worlds
Fair the following afternoon.
All these until recently fabulous
undertakings now are possible, with
ease and comfort, as a result of
Americas newest piece of aviation
pioneering, the opening of air trans
port service between Seattle and
Juneau, Alaska.
Recent inauguration of Alaskan
service, established primarily for
improvement of communications be-
tween the United States and the
northern territory, but with secon-
diary considerations of military i'm
portance, has brought Alaskan ter
.itory within five hours of the United
States and "a hours of Washington.
Until now, Alaska has been as far
away from the United States in
travel time as has Europe. Because
of this isolation, the territory, de-
spite scenic attractions the equal
of those in any part of the world,
fishing and hunting unsurpassed
anywhere, and other attractions of
an exceedingly varied nature, is
practically unknown to majority
of American citizens.
Although all Americans who have
gone to school at all know that
Alaska is almost unbelievably rich in
resources, most of them only par
TALLY developed, even yet they have
considered it as little more than a
remote wilderness. so unattainable
that they do not even consider the
prospect of bringing it within the
range of personal experience.
Today, however, with the inaugu-
ration by Pan-American Airways of
clipper flying boat service between
Seattle and Juneau, the capital of
the territory, connecting there with
its pioneer Pacific Alaska Airways
service to Fairbanks, Nome and
other points, Alaska no longer is re-
mote at all. Instead of being four
days away, Juneau is only seven
hours from the continental United
States. The southernmoSt town OF
the territory, Ketchikan, worlds
greatest salmon-packing center,
struggling along on a shelf between
towering mountains and the sea, Is
just a little more than five hours
removed.
Fast Time Made.
1t was made possible for the
writer, travelling as passenger
on the inaugural passenger flight
between Seattle and Juneau, to
leave Washington on Sunday and to
. present copy of The Sunday Star
to the Governor of Alaska, DR.. Err
nest Gruening, in his own territory
on Monday.
If pressed for time. DR.. Gruening
can leave the territorial capital in
Juneau Tuesday morning, for ex-
ample. reach Washington Wednes-
day morning, transact days busi-
ness in the National Capital, anc
be back in Juneau Thursday eve-
ming. Juneau to Washington
and return between Tuesday morn
ing and Thursday night-the
thought would have been a fantas.
y tic dream only a decade ago to mer
who counted on four days, at best
for a trip between Seattle anc
Juneau-one way.
A factual, narrative account of g
sample trip between Washington
and Alaska may be the best way
of illustrating just what is happen
ing in this highly important move
ment to bind the vital Alaskan
territory closer to home than were
our own Western States a few years
ago. Such a narrative also may
serve to indicate something of the
new wonders which are brought
within almost overnight reach OF
Americans in all parts of the coun-
try. AS the guest of United Ali
Lines and Pan American AirWays, it
was possible for me to gain at first
hand an experience which undoubt-
edly will come to increasing num-
bers of Americans as the months
go on. Bookings already made indi-
cate that Alaskan travel is at the
opening of the greatest period in its
history.
Since the writer was the guest OF
United Air Lines on the transcon-
tinental trip, the start was made
from the new 100000 La Guardia
Field, New York. BY connecting
air service, the start can be made
by air directly from Washington
with further saving of time.
Take-off from New York was al
4 pm. Sunday, with arrival ir
Juneau scheduled for pm. Mon
day, 25 hours later, with / houl
allowed for the connection ir
Seattle.
The 21-passenger United Main
liner arrived in Cleveland at 6:5z
pm. and there the passenger di-
rectly from Washington would &C
aboard The big plane began "over-
hauling" the clock There was
heavy rain at Cleveland and the
city lights were burning, yet, chasing
the sun westward, we broke into
clear weather, sunlight and magnif1-
cent cloud effects. Even as late as
9 pm, by my watch. which re-
manned on Washington time clear
through to Seattle, it still was light
enough to make out easily details OF
the scenery below. Battling head
winds, we landed at Chicago after
a fight of 5 hours and II minutes
Take Sleeping Plane.
At Chicago there was transfer
to a sleeping plane, with Mr.. ano
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr, as
new passengers coming aboard. The
attractive young stewardess went tc
work at once making up berths. Mrs
Roosevelt turned in soon after Chi
ca5o, but the Presidents son mixed
with his fellow passengers for a
little free-for-all conversation, with
no holds barred, as is the Roosevelt
way. One by one, however, the
party, soothed by the steady drone
of the engines and the easy swing
of flight through smooth, calm skies
disappeared and the last berth light
was out long before the first stop out
Of Chicago, at North Platte, Nebr.