(From the Alaska Railroad Record)
EXPERIMENT STATION AT MATANUSKA.
An agricultural experiment station will shortly be es
tablished in the Matanuska Valley. The land to be uti
lized for this purpose embraces all of Section 14 and the
E. % NW. *4 and NE. % of Section 15, T. 17 N., R. 1 E.,
S. M., and is located about one mile from the town of
Matanuska.
Congress has appropriated $10,000 for the establish
ment and maintenance of the station, and these funds are
now available. Mr. Frederick A. Rader, of the U. S. Ex
periment Station Service, is on his way to Anchorage with
i consignment of building material and equipment, and
work will be commenced as soon as the shipment arrives.
CAMP SANITARY REGULATIONS.
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission
Anchorage, Alaska, April 1, 1017
Circular No. 193:
Effective April 1, 1017, the following regulations gov
erning sanitation of camps along the right-of-way of An
chorage Division will be followed:
Reg. No. 1—Location:
Construction camps shall be located on the best site ob
tainable. from the standpoint of water supply, drainage and
sewage disposal, consistent with convenient-e to work.
Reg. No. 2—Water Supply:
When water supply is to be taken from a stream, the
point of intake shall be above the camp site, and a sanitary
survey of such stream above such intake shall be made to
ascertain if there be any source of pollution. If there be
a source of pollution of such stream, such fact with all
available data must be reported at once to the sanitary of
ficer of the Division, by the district engineer, and a well
tug to conform to the following regulations:
No well may be located less than one hundred feet from
any cesspool, toilet or stable, and must not be on ground
’■eceiving drainage from any such place.
All wells supplied with pump must be curbed up to a
point one foot above the surface of the ground and tightly
covered.
All wells supplied with rope and bucket must be curbed
up to a point thirty inches above the surface of the ground,
and fitted with a good cover.
All wells must be backfilled with earth or gravel around j
the curb to a depth of one foot at the curb, sloping to the :
.-urface of the ground six feet away from such curb, in
order that surface water cannot get into the well.
Reg. No. 3—Toilets:
No toilet shall be located within 300 feet of any .stream :
unless separated therefrom by a rise of ground that pro- i
duces surface drainage away from such stream, and in j
all cases such topographical site should be selected if pos
sible. Such toilet shall conform to the following rules and
specifications:
The pit shall be at least six feet deep, four teet long j
and two feet wide, and shall be covered by a tight floor j
banked around the edges so that it will exclude flies.
Fitted to an opening in the floor shall be a fly-proof box
fitted with a board cover over the seat hole which shall
also be fly-proof. Such box should be easily detachable
from the floor. The seat cover shall be hinged at the back
and made to be self-closing. A vent shaft, 4 by 4 inches,
shall extend from below the floor to a point 12 inches
above the roof of the structure on the outside. The super
structure for view shelter may be of canvas or wood, pro
vided there are no openings in the floor, seat box, or cover
where flies may enter. Such structure may be of take
down type. Whenever such structure is moved or camp
discontinued, such pit shall be filled with earth flush with
the surface of the ground.
Reg. No. 4—Stables:
Buildings or tents to be used for the purpose of stab
ling horses shall be located on ground freed from moss
and sloping away from any well from which water is taken
to be used for camp purposes, and not less than 200 feet
from such well or 200 feet from mess, cook, or sleeping
tents. All solid excreta from such stable shall be de
posited daily in fly-proof box and removed once a week, or
in a pit dug for the purpose and covered daily with earth or
gravel in such manner that flies cannot reach it; or it may
be destroyed by burning. Any method of disposal must
first be approved by the sanitary officer. Throwing or
dumping any excreta in any stream will not be permitted,
nor shall it be permitted to accumulate about such stable
where flies may breed in such accumulation. Since flies
develop from eggs to maturity within ten days, it is neces
sary that manure be removed at intervals of one week
to prevent their breeding therein. Wet or sloppy places in
floors of such stables will not be permitted, but must be
kept filled with gravel; likewise, the entrance to and
ground around such stable must be kept in a clean and
sanitary condition.
Reg. No. 5—Cook Tent:
The cook tent must be located on sloping ground or that
which can be easily drained. The floor of such cook tent
shall be of dressed lumber, preferably tongue and grooved
flooring, water-tight; if not water-tight, such floor shall be
raised twelve (12) inches above the surface of the ground
so as to permit free circulation of air underneath; must
be scrubbed daily and kept in a clean and sanitary condi
tion at all times.
AH fixtures and utensils must be so arranged as to per
mit of free access for cleaning purposes.
AH work tables and other utensils must be kept free
from accumulations, such as flour, dough, grease, etc.
All canned goods, excepting milk, must be emptied as
soon as opened, and not permitted to stand in original tin
cans.
All garbage should be burned in cook stove as com
pletely as possible.
Suitable fly-proof and water-tight cans must be pro
vided into which all scraps, empty cans, and waste ma
terial shall be placed, which cans shall be removed to a
point remote from camp, and the contents either buried
or burned. Such removal should be made every second
day from May to September inclusive, and once a week
during other months. Throwing such garbage in streams
will not be permitted.
A well ventilated, properly screened fly-proof meat
house shall be provided adjacent to the cook tent, for stor
ing small quantities of fresh meat. On receipt of any
fresh meat in bad condition, from any cause whatever, such
fact, with full data, must be reported at once to the dis
trict engineer, who will report same to sanitary officer at
Audio rage.
Reg. No. 6—Mess or Dining Tent: '
The mess or dining tent shall be separated from the
cook tent or kitchen by a door or fly that may be closed.
T:'b'°" shall he provided with cotton fly-screen, which
fly-screen shall be kept spread over tables except when
tables are being used to serve meals. Mess tents shall be
kept as free from flies as is possible, and suitable measures
must be taken to secure such results.
Reg. No. 7—Hunk or Sleeping Tents:
Hunk or sleeping tents shall be located not less than two
hundred (200) feet from stables or 100 feet from toilets,
and on ground with natural drainage, or ground that can
be readily drained.
The floor of such bunk tent or house shall be kept in
a clean and sanitary condition at all times.
Each bunk tent or house shall be provided with
an opening, 16 inches by 24 inches, in each gable,
ORGAN IZ AT ION C H A N G ES.
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission
Anchorage, Alaska, April 20, 1017
Circular No. 196:
TO ALL CONCERNED:
1. Effective May 1, 1017, the jurisdiction of Train
master, this Division, is extended to include the dispatcher’s
office.
2. The position of Chief Dispatcher will be abolished
May 1. and thereafter trick dispatchers will handle all busi
ness, reporting directly to Trainmaster Watson.
3. Effective same date, the dispatcher’s office will be
moved to the building at present occupied by the train
master's office, so that all branches of the trainmaster's '
department will be under one head. All persons having
business with the Transportation Department, (includ
ing the dispatcher’s office) will deal directly with the of- j
flee of the trainmaster.
E. MEARS, Commissioner.
WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
Anchorage Division.
Following are the progress reports of the various de
partments of Anchorage Division for the week ending;
April 14. 1917:
MAINTENANCE OF WAY.
Water Service and Plumbing.
Alterations were made during the week to the water I
stations at Birchwood, Matanuska and Moose Creek. The ;
changing of piping at the cold storage plant was com
pleted.
Bridge and Building.
The extension to Dock No. 2 was finished, and the
construction of a passenger landing south of Dock No. 1
was begun. Two outfit cars for the use of the Telegraph
and Telephone Department were completed. Work was
started on a house for section men at Campbell Creek
Siding. A bridge gang was moved to the Eklutna River
and started on the driving of piers for the 56-foot spans
to be placed at that point. A bridge gang at Granite
Creek completed the placing of 17 temporary bents and
began excavation for the permanent bents.
Eska Creek Coal Spur.
Tracklaying on this branch was completed, and the ex
tra gang moved to Matanuska Junction, where the laying
of steel on the main line was begun on April 14.
Grading and Ballasting.
During the week 1400 yards of material were moved
by the steam shovel at Mile 11. The shovel was idle
three and one-half days on account of a broken cylinder.
On April 14 an additional material train was assigned to
this work. On and after April 18 it is planned to work
the shovel double shift.
Mechanical Department.
Light repairs were made to engines Nos. 1, 225 and
280. Browning crane No. 2 was in the shop for repair.
Marion steam shovel No. 3 is being assembled.
Tl BN AGAIN ARM DISTRICT.
Clearing Right-of-Way.
Clearing is completed from Anchorage to Bird Point
Between Bird Point and one mile north of Glacier Creek
there remains 2:;t miles to be cleared. The two contract
ors on this section, Collins & Co. and Backstrom & Co.,
are making good progress.
Grading.
All grading contracts have been let from Potter Creek
south to Mile 89, north of Indian Creek. The following
contracts were recently awarded: John Lander & Co.,
Station 2159 to 2170; Mike Fedall & Co., 2170 to 2181; F.
F. Anthony <Sc Co., 2181 to 2187 plus 50; Chas. Skoglund
& Co., 2187 plus 50 to 2195; M. F. Malone & Co.,#2195
to 2206.
N. Christofferson & Co. and Tom Wenchall & Co. fin
ished their contracts during the week.
A few small coyote shots were put off during the pe
riod with good results.
A boiler and hoist engine have been installed at Sheep
Creek, and as soon as the air compressor is set up jack
hammers will be started in the large cut at that point.
ANCHORAGE HARBOR NOTES.
The Northwestern arrived from Seattle on Tuesday,
April 17, at 10:30 p. m., with 133 passengers and five tons
of freight for the Commission; sailing for Seattle on Wed
nesday, April 18, at 4:25 a. m. with 17 passengers.
The A. E. C. tug Anne W. arrived from Seldovia on
Wednesday, April 18, at 12:15 a. m., with one 200-ton
barge, barges Nos. 104 and 106 and the barge Cache Creek
in tow.
The Admiral Watson arrived from Seattle on Wednes
day, April 18, at 2:50 p. m., with 6.34 tons of Commission
freight and 89 passengers. On Thursday the vessel went
to Goose Bay to discharge cannery supplies, returning to
Anchorage the same day. At 2:35 p. m. the Watson left
for Seattle with 12 passengers.
The A. E. C. tug Anne W., with a barge loaded with
camp supplies and horses, sailed for Point Possession on
Sunday, April 22, at 6 a. m. The tug returned from Point
Possession at 5:35 p. m. the same day, and left for Seldovia
at 7:40 p. m.
The steamship Skagway arrived from Seattle on Mon
day, April 23, at 8:20 a. m., with 187 tons of explosives for
the Commission.
John W. Smith, formerly a barn boss at Camp 174, An
chorage Division, was bound over to the grand jury last
week by Commissioner David to answer a charge of grand
larceny preferred by Guy P. Kearns, who alleges that
Smith stole four Government checks and a sum of money
from him on December last while the complainant was
asleep in a Commission camp. Bail was fixed at $2000.
| Walter B. Rathbun, wireless operator for Anchorage,
' is a passenger on the steamship Alameda.
(Nome Nugget.)
The first Marathon dog race for the
Borden cup took place this morning
and was won by Fred Ayer driving
his own dogs in time that puts up a
new record. There were five entries,
Ayer, Riley, Webb, Downing and De!
zene, all of the teams being driven by j
the owner except Downing’s which
had Percy Blatchford on the handle
bars and Riley’s with a native driver.
Promptly at 10 o’clock Ayer’s dogs
crossed the stalling line under the
eyes of Judges Perrine, McCloy and 1
Mish. At ten minute inttervals came
Downing, Bowen and Delzene, Webb
and Riley.
The high strung, highly trained!
dogs, yelped and whined under thej
nervous strain of being surrounded j
by the crowd at the starting point j
as they waited the signal to go. (1 j
required two men to hold each pairl
of dogs while they underwent this
ordeal. At the signal each string of;
dogs dashed away as a unit.
Telephone, reports were sent in as
each team passed Fort Davis, Hast
ngs and the turning point at Cape
Nome.
Only fifteen minutes after Riley’s
team started the word came that Ayer!
had turned at Cape Nome. He made
the distance of 13 miles and 12*2 yards
in exactly 55 minutes, which is a rec
orn. The telephone reports kept dog
enthusiasts busy figuring the progress
of the race until suddenly the word
came that Ayer had passed Fort Davis
on the return and would finish in 15
or 20 minutes. It then appeared
that Ayer was the winner and a great
crowd lined Front street below Bar
racks square to see him finish. His
dogs came galloping along at a fast
rate to the cheering of the spectators, j
The other teams came along in swift
succession and were hailed by the
crowd as it was not yet known for
certain who the winner was.
Timers McGuire, Burger and E. E.
Perce at once got busy with their
time sheets and soon announced Ayer
to be the winner. The time of each
team follows: Ayer, 1:54:46; Riley
1:55:54 2-5; Webb, 1:57:29 1-5; Down-j
ing, 1:57:1 1-5; Delzene, 2:07:25 2-5.
The full Marathon course of 26
miles and 385 yards had been covered
in less than two hours. This is near
ly half an hour better than men have
run this distance, the so-called Mara
thon record by T. Longboat at Boston
for 26 miles having been made in 2:
24:20 4-5.
Downing made the best time to Fort
Davis, 12:40, and the best return in
15:57. Everybody beat Ayer’s time in
from the fort.
There were only a couple of de
lays. Delzene had a mix-up with a
stray dog which cost him a few min
utes. Riley stopped to change lead
ers this side of Fort Davis and there- j
by lost 1:25. Webb was obliged to
pack in his black leader from Has-j
tings because the animal was all in .
The trail was tine all the way ex
cept the stretch from the fort to
Hastings. The weather was all that
could be desired, being clear, bracing
and with only a moderate wind.
Messrs. Ash, Willis and Newhouse.
the judges at the turn, wigwagged the
news from the post out on the ice
to the roadhouse, where the telephone
is. All arrangements for the race
were perfectly made.
LEFTOVER SANDWICHES.
Sometimes after a party there are
sandwiches left over. Here is an ex
cellent way of using them up: Make
batter exactly like you use for pan
cakes and add to it either sugar or
salt, according to whether the sand
wiches are sweet or savory. Then
each sandwich is dipped in the batter
and fried till a golden brown in fat
from which a faint bluish smoke is
rising. No matter how dry they are
they are delicious done in this way.
Stop at Peterson’s Hotel. 399
(Cordova Times)
Those who closely follow the devel
opment of Alaska will be interested in*
the announcement that W. H. Sea
grave and W. E. Dunkel have lately
formed a firm to be known as W. H.
Seagrave company, consulting engi
neers. Offices have been established
in the Smith building, Seattle. Both
these gentlemen are well known
throughout the entire west, having
been associated with various proper
ties. More recently they have devot
ed their particular attention to Alas
ka, Mr. Seagrave having been thi*
manager of the Kennecott mine,
which is the world’s greatest produc
er of high grade copper ore.
Mr. Dunkle was recently the field
geologist and traveling representa
tive in the northwest and Alaska of
the Alaska Syndicate, and is particu
larly well equipped for this class of
expert work in the northwest, British
Columbia, Yukon and Alaska.
The new firm already has several
important properties to examine and
while planning to give special atten
tion to Alaska, much attention will
be devoted to the mineral develop
ment of other portions of the north
. «
west.
Wood and coar delivered to any
part of the city. Phone 43-Y. tJni
versal Taxi and Transfer. 125
Most popular and best patronized.
North Pole Bakery. 881
Peterson’s Billiard Parlor for latest
war bulletins. 400
Best music at Peterson's. 444
MOUNT M’KINLEY ’
is still opposite Robarts. 870
Base all Dance
OPENING GAME OF SEASON
- - f
Saturday Night!
ROBARTS’ HALL
April 28
NO COUNTER ATTRACTION
Biggest and Best affair in history of Anchorage. Given in sup
port of the National Game.
Proceeds go to pay off indebtedness on Grand Stand.
Five-Piece Orchestra
AND
Splendid Dance Floor
PLAY BALL AND SUPPORT THE ISSUE.
BUY A TICKET - $1.00 EACH.