Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-03-20
ALASKA HIGHWAY
ROUTE PLEASES
GOVERNOR FORD
SAYS IT'S WHAT HE AND VARIOUS
STATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
BEEN WORKING FOR

The selection Of the prairie route for
the Alaskan highway pleases Gov. Sam
c. Ford Informed Of the selection. the
governor said, That's as good a piece
Of news as we've heard in long time"
He added:
"of course. that's what we've been
working toward for a long time. not
OF commerce and other organizations"
Under the plan. the most direct land
route from the United States would
be to cross the boundary at point
such as Coutts. Alta, across the line
from Sweetgrass, and connect with ex-
isting highways to Edmonton.
Asked whether the Montana leg OF
such route was in condition, Ford
said. 1.-THE Montana road to Edmonton
is In good shape for what 1t Is de-
signed to carry, but 1t quite probably
would be improved-that is. widened
and some Of the existing curves re-
moved"
More than $50 United States army
engineers are in Alberta for prelim-
mary work on the highway
Homer P. Keith, former deputy min
lister of public works at Edmonton, is
at Dawson Creek with an advance
guard of American engineers.
Thousands of cars of freight carry
ing United States construction equip
ment will pass through Alberta during
the next few weeks.
At Ottawa. Prime Minister w. L.
Mackenzie King announced that the
Canadian cabinet had approved rec
concentrations of the United States
Canadian joint board for completion
of a protected overland route from
the United States to Alaska. Construc-
ton will start at once, he added.
The route, he said, would follow ap-
proximately the new air route from
Fort st. John, B. c., to Alaska. The
highway from Fort st. John to Fair
banks will connect with existing Ca
madam and United States highways.
The new section, King said, will fol-
low the general line of airports which
Canada has constructed at Fort Mel
son, Watson lake. Whitehorse, Boun-
Diary and Big Delta, thence to Fair
banks
Cost of the road is estimated at
from s25 100000 to $4,000. 900. Con-
struction and wartime maintenance
will be paid for by the United States.
George Black, Yukon conservative,
told the house of commons the route
proposed in the recommendation in
volved 1900 miles of 1.-The most diff
cult terrain"
The bones of many gold miners of
1898 lie along the 12OO-mile route
chosen for the highway 1t follows one
of the trails used by men who ven
tured into the Yukon gold fields at
the turn of the century.
Through tundra and Swampland,
over prairieS and mountain passes, the
highway will provide a protected route
to the American door to Asia. For de-
tense or for offense 1t will provide
powerful weapon in the hands OF the
United States and Canada.
Airmen who have flown the remote
route say there would be no very high
places to cross on the highway be-
cause river courses could be followed
most of the way.
From Fort St. John, they said, the
highway might pass down the Beatton
river valley to the head of Fort Mel
son river, along that river to the DeaSe
river near Watson lake. From there to
Whitehorse in the Yukon will be the
most difficult section, they said, be-
cause it is utterly remote country.
Under the proposed plan the most
direct land route from the United
States would be to cross the boundary
at some prairie point such as Coutts,
Alta, (across the border from Sweet
grass, Month. and travel existing
highways to Edmonton, via Calgary and
Red Deer.
The road then curves northwestward
to the Peace river country and Grade
prairie and then to Pouce Coupe, B. c.,
nearest railway point to Fort st. John.
From there to its destination, the
road will bring new life and new out
looks to countless trading posts and
Indian settlements.
Informed that western Canada could
use large number of workers on the
new highway, o. c. Lamport. Montana
director of the United States employ
ment service, said Montana Is in po-
sition to supply from 400 to 500 labor
ers Immediately"
Lamport said, however, he had not
yet been asked to furnish any work.
men, but suggested that should Mon
tana be called on, clearance orders
from his Denver headquarters might
now be on the way.