WEEKLY PROGRESS DEPORT ON RIIMD PROJECT
(From the Alaska Railroad Record)
WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
Anchorage Division.
Following are the progress reports of tire various de
partments of Anchorage Division for the week ending
April 7, 1917:
MAINTENANCE OF WAY
Water Service and Plumbing.
Work continues on the alterations of the piping in the
cold storage plant. A radiator was placed in the wireless
room in the power house. Tire usual repairs were made
on the water and steam lines.
Bridge and BuildJog.
t The extension to Dock No. 2 was completed, except for
the placing of a floor between the tracks. The extension
to the platform at the east end of the city passenger depot
was finished. Work was starter! on a walk along the rail
road embankment at Anchorage to connect with the C
Street sidewalk. Flooring was placed in the loft of the
dock warehouse and a door cut in at the west end of the
building.
A piledriver commenced driving piling for a passenger
landing south of the dock warehouse. The two outfit cars
under construction for the Telegraph and Telephone De
partment are 75 per cent complete. The changing of the
track piledriver to a derrick car was completed. Bridge
tang No. 1 placed the sills for the temporary trestle at the
3Uth approach to the Granite Creek bridge, and work was
started on framing the bent* A gang of laborers began
excavation for the piers and bents of this structure.
Eska Creek Coal Spur.
Grading for the Eska Creek branch is practically com
pleted and only 3600 feet of track remain to be laid. After
the laying of this track the gang will be moved to Mata
nuska Junction to commence tracklaying on the main line.
Grading and Ballasting.
The steamshovel at Mile 11 moved 3500 yards during
the week, 2800 yards of which material were placed in the
fill at the south end of the Moose Creek bridge, and the
remainder was used to widen the bank.
Mechanical Department.
'The spring furnace was fitted up in the shop during the
period. Light repairs were made to four locomotives and
to Browning crane No. 1. The boom of Browning cranp
No. 2 was repaired. The usual amount of miscellaneous
jobs was performed.
At the power plant an engineer, fireman and one laborer
now comprise the day shift; the other two shifts include
one engineer and one laborer each. Two boilers are in
continuous operation, and a third is used as an auxiliary.
The fourth boiler of the battery has not yet been placed
in service.
MATANUSKA DISTRICT.
Matanuska Branch.
The ice hat nut gone out of the Matanuska as .vet, con
sequently hauling over the river is still possible. The re
cent warm weather will cause a break-up in tlve very near
future, however.
* Within 10 days communication should be open between
Kings River and Camp 32 via the wagon road now under
construction.
The construction of temporary cribs at the two river
crossings of the Chickaloon will be commenced next week.
Main Line.
All bridges oil the main line as far ninth as the Tittle
Susstna flat have been decked, and the piledriver crew is
making good progress with the Little Susitna bridge. I his
should be completed within four weeks.
Eleven station gangs have been established north of the
Little Susitna River and four more gangs will be placed
on their work next week. With one exception, these gangs
are engaged as Commission force laborers on wagon road
work.
The camp at Mile 201 will probably be completed by
the end of the month.
'The freight teams, now that the hauling of supplies is
completed, are at work taking ties from the Little Susitna
River and distributing them along the grade. Approxi
mately 10,000 ties have been distributed to date.
The use of sleds has been discontinued between Mata
nuska Junction and Camp 166, and the road north of the
latter place is breaking up fast. It is probable that the ice
in Browne's Lake will go out within a few days.
TURNAGAIN ARM DISTRICT.
• Clearing Right-of-Way.
P. R. Strong & Co. finished their contract north of In
dian Creek, and Sutherland & Brooks completed their work,
with the exception of a small strip of extra-width clearing
between Indian Creek and Bird Creek. The other contract
ors are making good progress.
Grading.
Adrian & Co., between Potter and Sheep Creeks, put off
a very successful shot during the week, moving 30,000
cubic yards of rock with 27,000 pounds of black powder.
The cut at Station 2633, 1 Vi miles south of Potter Creek,
^ ready for powder and will be shot as soon as explosives
are received. There will be approximately 60.000 pounds
of powder in this shot.
Miscellaneous.
South of Sheep Creek the snow has disappeared to such
extent that sledding is impossible. Some hauling by sled
is still possible between Potter and Sheep Creeks, but will
have to be abandoned very soon.
The tug Eklutna and the barge Knik were landed in a
channel about one-half mile off Potter Creek last week,
and supplies will be hauled over the ice and transferred to
the boat until such time as navigation conditions are bet
ter at this point.
There were 953 employees at work in the District during
the period, classified as follows: Commission force 191,
stationmen 655, stationmen’s laborers 107.
‘VeLEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE DEPARTMENT.
A small force was at work at the Anchorage townsite
stringing messenger wire and aerial cable. Another small
force extended the temporary telephone line from Dead
Horse Hill to Indian River.
The telephones at Miles 18 and 25, on the old Sewant
trail, have been discontinued. This line is practically aban
doned between Whitney’s ranch and Indian Creek, a dis
tance of about 30 miles.
The total disbursements of the office at Anchorage for
the period April 1 to April 7, 1917, were $73,268.84. The
payment of salaries and wages amounted to $65,027.66;
for local purchases, $155.29; to contractors, $5,814.44;
other expenditures, $2,263.95; dock claims, $7.50.
*
ANCHOR AUK TOWNSITE I.AM» Ml.fc
There will be a sale of lots and acre tracts within the
Anchorage Townsite, commencing at 2 p. m., April 23, 191V.
The following lots and acre tracts will be offered for sale:
Original Townsite.
Block 1, lots 1 to 4, 9 and 10; block 2, lot 2; block 58, lots
3, 5 and 6; block 62, lots 1 to 6; block 63, lots 1, 2, 4 and 5;
block 87, lots 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12; block 88, lots 3, 4, 6, 7;
block 92, lots 1, 2, 7 to 12; block 95. lot 9; block 100, lot 7;
block 106, lot 12; block 109, lot 10.
Acre Tracts, South Addition.
Block 13, lot 8; block 15, lot 5; block 16, lots 3, 4, 5;
block 19, lots 1, 2 and 4; block 22, lot 2; block 24, lots 1 and
2; block 25, lots 1 and 2; block 26, lots 1 and 2; block 27,
lots 1 and 2; block 34. lots 1 and 2; block 35, lots 1 and 2;
block 37, lots 1 and 2; block 38, lots 1 and 2; block 39, lots
1 and 2: blocks 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.
Acre Tracts. Hast Addition.
Blocks 1, 2, 3; block 4, lots 1 to 5; block 5, lots 1 to 5;
block 6, lots 1 to 2; block 7, lots 1 to 2; block 8, lots 1 to 2;
block 9, lots 1 to 2; blocks 10 and 11; block 12. lots 1 to 2;
block 13, lots 1 to 2; block 14, lots 1 to 2; block 15, lots 1
to 2; block 16, lots 1 to 5; block 17, lots 1 to 3; block 25
North, lots 1 to 3; block 25 South, lots 1 to 2.
Lots, Hast Addition.
Block 18, lots 1 to 12; block 19, lots 1 to 3, 7 to 12;
block 20, lots 3, 7 to 12; block 21, lot 10; block 22, lots 5,
7; block 24. lots 7, 9 to 12.
On April 4, 1917, the I'resident, by Executive Order,
amended the Alaskan Railroad Townsite regulations so as
to prohibit the subdivision of tracts containing two acres or
more. The following proviso was added to the regulations:
“Provided, That no lot or tract containing an
area of two or more acres shall be sold, leased,
mortgaged, or otherwise encumbered, directly or
indirectly, during the period of five years from the
date of the register’s certificate of sale, other than
in its entirety, as shown by the official plat of sur
vey and as described in the application to purchase,
and any sale or encumbrance contrary to this pro
I vision shall constitute a violation of the terms of the
sale, and the lot or tract and the money paid there
| for will be forfeited."
In the application to purchase, the following provision
i will be inserted, which the purchaser agrees to when he
I signs his application:
“or if I, or my successors in interest, shall during
.■slid period sell or otherwise encumber directly or
indirectly the lot or tract herein described other
than in its entirety, as shown by the official plat of
i survey; provided the same contains two or more
acres.”
It must, therefore, be distinctly understood by all per
! sons who desire to purchase tracts of two or more acres
! that they cannot be subdivided into lots and sold. The only
j way such tracts can be disposed of before patent issues is
: by selling the entire tract as a whole. This provision was
inserted so as to prevent speculation in these acre tracts,
' which it is intended shall be used for some agricultural or
• other industrial purpose.
! Deferred assessments on any of the above property
| shall be paid at time of sale, such assessments being shown
' on a list posted at the Townsite Office.
A. CHRISTENSEN, Superintendent of Sale.
! -
ANCHORACK PASSENGER LANDING.
Passenger traffic between ship and shore at Anchorage
harbor will be greatly facilitated this season when the
passenger landing now under construction by the Commis
sion is completed. The improvement is l>eing installed
south of the dock office, at the rear of the building now in
use as a waiting room, and should .be completed and read>
for service during the month.
The structure consists of a main landing pontoon, 12'j
by 45feet, connected successively by gangways to two
smaller pontoons and the shore. To prevent excessive
lateral and longitudinal motion, the main pontoon will be
confined by six guide piles, while a level bedding for low
water stages will be provided by a gridiron consisting of
three capped pi)#1 bents, spaced Id feet center to center. A
double gangway, eight feet wide, which will permit lines
of passengers to travel up or down without interference,
will connect this with a smaller pontoon, which when not
floated by the tide, will rest on a gridiron placed at a higher
elevation than the preceding float., and will be restricted
to a vertical movement only by four guide piles placed
similarly to those surrounding the main pontoon. A sec
ond stage of the gangway will connect this pontoon with
a third, resting on a gridiron placed at a still higher eleva
tion and constructed in a similar manner to the other. This
pontoon will be connected to the shore by the third stage
of the gangway.
WEEKLY FORCE REPORT.
was
38
159
35
202
19
Anchorage Division.
The number of employees of the Anchorage Division a
shown by the payrolls on Saturday, March 31, 191
as follows:
Commissioner’s Office.
Shops and Yards
Transportation Service
Store and Dock Departments
Accounting Department
Disbursing Office .
Townsite Department ..*.
Steward’s Department
Hospital Department .
Telegraph and Telephone Department
Track, Bridge and Ballast—Main Line
Turnagain Arm District
Matanuska District
Talkeetna District
15
13
24
57
207
159
294
109
Stationmen and Laborers—All districts
1338
119H
Grand total all employees Anchorage Division
2536
ESKA CREEK COAL SPI’R.
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission
Anchorage, Alaska, April 14, 1917.
Transportation Circular No. 56:
TO ALL CONCERNED:
A spur line from Eska Station on Matanuska Branch,
(5.5 miles north of Moose Creek and 3.7 miles south of
Granite), will be placed in operation April 15, 1917, from
Eska Station to Martin’s coal mine, a distance of 2.7 miles.
The point at end of spur track will be known as Emery,
and the above mileage figures will be used until such time
as Tariff No. 150-A, Table of Distances, is re-issued.
F. MEARS, Commissioner.
T
IT EMPRESS
[ The splendid picture, the “Hattie
, Cry of Peace,” at the Empress last
. night, pave a vivid painting of Ameri
ca’s defensive inadequacy and awoke
, the people to the stern realization that
this country is not prepared for war.
j The truth hurt, but nevertheless it
| was the truth. The scenes were graph
ically produced and showed the de
fenseless condition of the country; the
inadequacy of the navy and the inef
ficiency of the army. The moral was
plain and even the most optimistic and
patriotic citizen in the large audience
last night was forced to admit the
realism of the situation, and the self
evident truth.
The picture was realistic in the ex
treme and showed the richest count >\
i
! in the world absolutely in the power
of and at the mercy of a powerful,
prepared nation. While the foe was
imaginary, as was the picture, taki n
• from Hiram Maxim’s recent book of
“Plea for Preparedness," the result
was disastrous; our small navy was;
beaten and the ships sunk; our undis
ciplined and ill equipped army was
routed. America’s soldiers and xail
, ors faced defeat after defeat ind the
I fallacy that America is invisible on
land and sea was proven.
America suffered in the compari
sons that were odious; the sons of
many generations failed to rise to the
occasion until the final setting when
the spirits of Washington. Lincoln,
Grant. Jackson, Lee, etc., came to the
rescue and the fighting blood respond
ed nobly and aided and abetted by a
I well organized commissary depart
ment, competent war and nav;, strati
getical boards and a united people in
the end America was not without glow
even though the lesson was revere.
The initial scene portrayed a land of
peace and plenty, a country peoph-d
for generations by the best blood of
the known world, a nation whose
pages of history had never been tain
ed by the bitterness of defeat and
whose arrogance was supreme.
Then came the dire results of war
and defeat closely followed by pesti
lence anti famine. The boasted de
fense failed to materialize; the pride
city of New York was razed to the
■ ground from a sea attack and no coast
city was safe from the unmerciful
shells of the formidable for. The
awakening lessened th" ting but 'he
lesson went home.
from an artistic standpoint the pi.
i ture was also a merited sutces.s. 'I he
settings were beautiful and at times
really grand; the scenes wee.? graphic
and vividly portrayed the awful hor
rors and consequences of war.
EDISON'S BOARD WILL
LOOK AFTER TWO JOBS
WASHINGTON, April G. The na
val consulting hoard of which Thomas
! Edison is chairman, will hereafter,
serve in a dual capacity. In addition
I to performing the duties for the navy
! department for which it was created j
it will also be known as the board of |
(inventions of the council of rational,
t defense.
New, large stock and very latest in j
1 Stvleplus $17 clothes. !!. & H., "Qual
| ity tirst.” 832
l)r. W. A. Rystrom, dentist, over
I Harmony theatre. Prices reasonable.
810
Fresh fi-uits and vegetables on;
I every boat. Brown & Hawkins, "Qual-i
I tty first.” 832 j
NOTICK.
Effective this date, all meals at for
; mer prices. 821 TONY’S CAFE.
Pioneer Igloo No. 15 will give a
dance on the evening of May 8th in the
Labor Temple. Tickets $1.00; ladies
free. Everybody should attend as the
money is for a good cause. 820
t
444 |
Best music at Peterson’s.
Temple Auditorium
A. L. U.
BIG
DANCE!!
Wednesday Night!!
Admission 50c
Spectators 25c
Six Couples will be chosen to compete for prize to
be given to best couple April 21st, decision to be made by
Show Dansant Company.
RECREATION
Bowling Alleys and Pool Parlors
YOUNG VIKING H HEGSTROM
Next to Harmony Theatre.
The Royal Cafe
Special Arrangements Made for Entertaining Private
Pa rties.
l be place of n*a 1 service. Boxes, Lunch Counter.
Try Some of Our Special Dishes.
flbllAIUno I Hr
I’ETROtl RAD, April The work
of agitators whose efforts an design
ed to hinder the .successful achieve
ment of the revolution is becoming ap
parent with the subsidence of the ac
tivity on the part of the military,
which forced the supporters of the
old regime to keep in hiding during the
early days of the upheaval. The indi
cations of such work in I’etrograd.
which are indetiniti in form, are con
fused with the possible designs of a
horde of criminal prisoners who were
released from the jails with political
offenders. One definite instance has
been recorded, however. Yesterday,
a motor car speeding along the streets
scattered proclamations calling on the
people to undertake wholesale massa
cres of the intelligent classes.
On other occasions during the night
time similar cars have been running
without lights. Their occupants are i
said to have fired on the militia.
Mysterious Symbols on Poors.
The military is thoroughly alive to
the danger of counter manifestations .
and each commandant has issued j
strict commands for vigilance.
Markings on rear doors of apart
ing much uneasiness and in the ab
sence of other explanations they art'
being linked with the general mass of
rumors and reports of efforts being
made for a counter revolution.
From Khrakov. Kiev, and [mints
along the Volgo come reports of ef
forts on the part of the old secret po
lice to stir up opposition to the new
government.
The situation in South Russian cities
has been complicated by the wholesale
escape of desperate criminals who
are assisting in the disorganization
fomented by the enemies of the gov
ernment.
Mutiny of t'omicts.
As an instance, while ,r>0 military
prisoners at Kharkov were being re
leased, 700 convicts made a dash for
liberty.
At Kihitomer the convicts mutinied
and a battle between them and the
guards took place. At the Vmsta
prison, in the Kiev district, 300 des
perate criminals escaped, making
their way toward Kiev, hunted by the
new militia.
Many of the men returned voluntar
ily, however, unwilling to complicate
the task of the new government.
Cameron threw his key away. Open
night and day. 736
latest War News at Peterson’s. 390
Eyes Examined free at B. C. Nich
ols, the Anchorage Jeweler, by A. B.
Magnuson, Optician, holding diploma
from Omaha Optical Institute. Prices
right. 807
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
AT POINT OF BARKEEPER’S GUN
AUBOTNFOKI), Wis., April ’ i.—A German
of five pieces was invited into Mike Fahey’s saloon last
evening;. When requested to play the Star Spangled
banner, they refused. Mike locked the door, procured
his gun, mounted the bar and demanded that the na
tional anthem be played. When the police arrived
Mike had played the band out of breath and was de
manding more.