The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1940-03-31

ritCry from the Canadian
moves the commerce of In
the Commission had been in Seat
tie for some weeks preparing pro-
pCsals for supplies to be shipped to
whichever point in Alaska would be
selected as a construction base. Ar
rangements were made for the pur-
chase and shipment of equipment
material and supplies necessary for
starting the work of construction
and the QUILTING of location par
ties. Commissioner Mears left Sc
attic on April Is and arrived in
Anchorage on April 26, 1915, with
engineering and office forces and
limited n'-.lloer Of pile driver oper-
ators, carpenters and other skilled
laborerS. A deck was constructed
On the north bank Of Ship Greek
rear the mouth. In front of the
deck was constructed a "gridiron"
over which barges were floated at
high tide and on which they safely
rested at low tide, thus avoiding any
difficulty in unloading. Marine
equipment including launches and
barges were purchased and leased
and then material, supplies. and
equipment were taken ashore from
the steamers anchored in the stream
Warehouses and dormitories were
constructed and yard tracks con-
Meeting the dock with the warehouse.
Anchorage Boom
AS soon as it became known that
Anchorage was 10 be the starting
point of the construction work many
persons seeking employment gath
cred and it was but a few weeks
before Anchorage became town Of
1000 people living in tents and log
/ houses. 1t was necessary 10 start
some work as soon as possible in
order to find employment for at
least a portion of this population,
A number were employed in hand
ling the supplies and construction
/ equipment that arrived on each in
coming steamer. A number of men
were also employed in building wa
! gon roads and at various other tasks
and by the end Of May about 100
men were employed. During the
summer this number was increased
to about 600
1t had been decided that the best
1 method to pursue in the actual con-
struction of the Railroad where the
work could be classified and con-
tracted for at unit prices, was by
the use of station men" Under
this method a number Of men as
sociate themselves together as part
ners, taking short pieces of work at
certain price per cubic yard for
grading, or per acre for clearing or
grubbing Each man signed the con-
tract for doing the work and be-
came equally interested in it as a
copartner or small contractor. Each
man received his separate check
for doing his portion of the work,
the amount received depending up
on the amount of work done. Most
of the clearing and grading through
out the entire line was handled in
this manner
War Interferes
Track laying was pushed forward
primarily from Anchorage working
both ways but work was also done
from the north end and the Alaska
Northern Railroad was rehabilitat-
ed from the Seward end. The work
of construction was carried forward
as rapidly as possible hampered in
part by the departure of the younger
men for service in the Army and
Navy during the World War. Even
Commissioner Mears left for over
seas service in the army. 1t was
not until July Is, 1923 that the for
NAL completion of the line was sig
l nified by the driving of a golden
spike by the President at North
Nenana.
H Although track laying for the
main line was completed in 1923
much additional work remained to
be done to place the road bed and
structures in condition for econo-
mical operation. For this purpose,
appropriations have been made by
\ Congress each year. Many miles of
track have been ballasted. and steel
bridges or earthern fills have been
substituted for miles of wooden
bridges and trestles The saving in
maintenance expenses, and a sub
stantial increase in earnings, with
other favorable conditions, have re-
duced the operating loss of the
railroad, river boat line and mis-
II cellaneous operations from $1,813, 900
in the fiscal year 1924 to an oper-
ating deficit of $l9,83O.35 in 1885,
Up to June 80, 1885, the Govern
ment had expended for the purpose
of the Railroad about $73 900 600,