BIG PROJECT
(Alaska Railroad Record.)
Anchorage Division.
Following are the progress reports
of the various departments of Anchor
age division for the week ending De
cember 9:
MAINTENANCE OF WAY
Buildings.
The extension to the east end of
warehouse No. 2 is 50 per cent com
plete; the repairs to the terminal wat
er tank 75 per cent. Fixtures were in
stalled in the Army mess hall, and
this building is now occupied. A small
force was engaged in making tool
houses for the section gangs. Work
on the elevator at hospital No. 2 pro
gressed satisfactorily; as did the in
stallation of the refrigerating plant.
The plastering of the Commission
er’s residence is 75 per cent complete.
The chief surgepn’s residence is plas
tered and a force of carpenters is now
at work on the interior finishing. The
five-room cottages are all plastered
and the carpenter work finished, ex
cept at cottages Nos. 17 and 31.
Painting.
The painting m hospital No. 2 is
complete excepting the fixtures and
the operating and serilizing rooms.
rvtages Nos. 15 and 34 are painted.
small force of painters was em
ployed at Matanuska all week on the
cottages at that place.
Water Service and Plumbng.
The usual amount of trouble was
encountered during the week with fro
zen pipes and fixtures. Three men
were engaged exclusively on this
work. The plumbing in the three
room and five-room cottages has been
completed, with the exception of Nos.
17, 18, 19 and 31. Work was started
on a drain from the hospital cesspool.
This was necessary in order to pre
vent the overflow from glaziering the
roadway at the rear of the building.
Satisfactory progress was made
during the period on the installation
of steam heat at school house No. 2,
the machine shop and cottages Nos.
18 and 29. T‘ • 7
Mechanical Department.
The 30-ton wheel press was set up
during the week and is now ready for
operation, and progress was made on
the line shafting at the blacksmoth
shop. Running repairs were made on
engines Nos. 221, 265 and 280. En
gine No. 225 received extensive over
hauling. A force of seven men was
engaged all week fitting up the ma
chinery for the new power plant. The
usual amount of commercial shop
work was done during the period.
Electrical Department.
Satisfactory progress was made on
the installation of switchboards and
machinery in the power plant, and
light and power will be /urnished the
machine shop by the first of next
week.
aURNAGAIN ARM DISTRICT.
Clearing Right-Of-Way.
Satisfactory progress is being made
by the contractors engaged in clear
ing the section between Indian creek
and Glacier creek.
The steam shovel at Big Rabbit
creek has been closed down for the
winter because of extreme cold weath
er, and Camp 103, which was main
tained for the work, has been aban
doned. Arrangements have been made
to haul supplies by narrow gauge
train from Rabbit, the end of steel, to
Potter creek. It will be about two
weeks before the narrow gauge can
be placed in operation, owing to the
unfinished grading.
During the last three weeks thirty
contracts were let in this district.
Twenty-six of these contractors have
their winter quarters completed, and
about twenty have started grading.
Four new grading contracts were let
during the week to the following:
Jim Kucil & Co., Angelo Chrissagis
& Co., Nels Nicholson & Co., M. Ras
munson & Co.
The officers’ quarters at Potter
creek are about 80 per cent completed.
The building is a substantial structure
containing six rooms, bath and toilet
on the first floor, and six rooms, show
er and toilet on the second floor. Four
gasoline drum stoves will furnish heat
for the quarters.
Camp 91, Falls creek, is about 70
, per cent completed. The walls of the
buildings are being constructed of logs
and chinked with oakum, and the roofs
covered with one-inch sheathing and
roofing paper.
^ /The total number of employees of
the district during the past week was
813, classified as follows:
Commission employees, 235; station
men, 538; stationmen’s laborers, 40.
MATANUSKA DISTRICT.
Matanuska Branch.
General construction conditions on
Grading.
Miscellaneous.
Force Report.
the Matanuska branch line remain
practically unchanged from last week.
The various station gangs are build
ing their.camps, preparatory to com
mencing grading operations. The
work will be under way as soon as the
river freezes sufficiently to permit
the freighting of supplies, rails, cars
and other equipment over the ice. The
grading of the first five miles above
Kings river may be started before the
river is frozen over, by hauling the
■supplies by team over the recently
completed wagon road.
The camps at miles,24, 27 and 36
are now practically completed, and
most of the camp-biulding force has
been laid off. The force will be further
reduced during the coming week.
The residence survey parties on the
Matanuska branch are engaged in re
tracing the located line and cross-sec
tioning. A number of line changes
have been deemed advisable.
Main Line.
The grading of the main line south
of the Little Susitna is rapidly near
ing completion. Eight contracts re
main uncompleted, and three of these
will be finished within a week.
North of the Little Susitna river,
camps are under construction at Mile
180 and at Willow creek. Freight
ing will commence as soon as there is
another fall of snow.
The located line between Little Wil
low creek and Kashwitna has not yet
been definitely determined, but within
ten days sufficient soundings in the
swamps over this section will have
been made to permit the selection of
the proper route. Shortly after this
is done a clearing contract will be let
from the end of the present cleared
right-of-way near Willow creek to the
end of the Matanuska district at Sheep
creek.
The piledriver crew has completed
work at Wassilla creek and moved the
outfit to Cottonwood creek to drive
the trestle at that point.
Matanuska Townsite.
The cottages for married employees
are now finished, with the exception
of a few days’ work to be done by the
painters, and next week all families
will move to their new quarters.
The temporary structures at Mata
nuska have been torn down, and the
force at that point reduced to a mini
mum.
TEL. & TEL. DEPARTMENT.
Seward Division.
The new pair of copper-clad wires
recently hung between Seward and
Mile 52 have been simplexed and the
quality of both telegraph and tele
phone service greatly improved in
consequence. Practically all work ex
cept maintenance has been suspended
on this division. The maintenance has
been suspended on this division. The
maintenance charges will be somewhat
heavier than they would be normally
on a completed railroad, owing to the
activity in railroad construction.
Matanuska Branch.
Work on the construction wire to
Chickaloon has been temporarily sus
pended owing to the urgent need of
the crew in the Anchorage terminal
yards.
Main Line.
Material for closing the gap in the
telephone line to the Talkeetna dis
trict is being placed on the ground as
rapidly as possible.
Turnagain Arm Line.
Work on the temporary exchange at
Potter Creek has also been suspended
temporarily on account of the force
being needed on electric light and
'power work in the terminal yards, An
chorage.
Anchorage Townsite Exchange.
But little work is in progress on the
telephone plant, owing to the rush of
work on electric light and power.
Electric Light and Power.
The aerial work is being rushed as
much as possible. Lighting in the fire
hall near general office building No.
1 and at the Army mess hall has been
installed.
Radio.
The timbers for the radio masts
have been rolled together and pro
tected with a covering of cross-arms
for the winter.
MASONS.
Notice is hereby given that a spe
cial meeting of the members of the
Anchorage Masonic club will be held
in the new Masonic Teifiple at 8
o’clock p. m., December 28, 1916. All
members are urged to be present. Im
portant. G. C. HAMMOND,
21-28 Secretary.
Collar Boxes at Loussac’s.
New Furnished Rooms at Peter
son’s Hotel. 46
Second-hand harnesses bought and
sold by Bartholf, between 6th and 6tb.
near C St. 20
Grand Masquerade Carnival, New
Labor Temple, Saturday Evening, De
cember 30. Elegant prizes. 165
Phone 43-Y for car, day or night.
Wood and coal a specialty. Universal
Taxi and Transfer. 126
Grand Masquerade Carnival, New
Labor Temple, Saturday Evening, De
cember 30. Elegant prizes. 165
NEW YORK, N. Y.—Various inquir
ies into the causes of the high prices
of food and fuel are being made in
this city. The federal government is
represented by special agents whose
report is expected to be submitted in
Washington this week. The state gov
ernment is represented by the Wicks
legislative committee, which has de
cided to include all farm products in
its investigation of the milk problem,
and by Commissioner of Foods and
Markets John J. Dillon. For the city
government the mayor’s food commis
sioner, Commissioner of Accounts
Wallstein, Assistant District Attor
neys Markewich and Eder, the district
attorneys of Manhattan, Kings and
Queens counties, and a commission
appointed by Borough President Con
nolly of Queens, are searching out the
reasons for the advance in prices.
Police Commissioner Woods has inves
tigated storage coal conditions, and
Joseph Harrigan, commissioner of
weights and measures, is conducting
a campaign against food and coal
speculation.
Publicity is beginning to be felt. Al
ready bread prices have dropped back
to normal in a number of—instances.
Eight poultry dealers were summoned
before the grand jury in one day.
District Attorney Swann has instruct
ed his assistants to demand prison sen
tences for those dealers found guilty
of selling short weight. Coal is closer
to normal and Frank Burns, vice-pres
ident of Burns Brothers, with a large
city trade, says that normal coal
prices will return shortly. Meanwhile
Commissioner Hartigan’s inspectors
report that the price of coal per pail
in the tenement districts has been
raised until the people who can ill af
ford it are paying sometimes as high
as $30 a ton.
Dealers and railroad men continue
to fix responsibility for the alleged
labor shortable, lack of cars, and west
ern demand. They continue, also, to
insist that the Anthracite Coal Bureau
of Information at Wilkesbarre, Pa., is
the proper place to get a complete
statement of coal shipments into New
York city. Investigators are certain
that these figures when obtained, will
show at a glance how much truth
there is in the claim of a coal short
age.
Meanwhile the women of the cty
are not idle. The National House
wives league is watching the situa
tion closely, especially in connection
with cold-storage and egg conditions.
Many housewives are beginning to
j realize what co-operation might do to
ward alleviating the situation.
Figures given out by the Charity
Organization society show that high
prices are being felt more keenly by
families dependent on low salaries
than by those who call their income
wages. The society had a thousand
fewer cases on its books Nov. 1 than it
had a year ago. The United Hebrew
Charities also reports fewer calls for
relief.
Commissioner Dillon says there is
no justification for the exorbitant
prices now that could not have been
shown as a factor when prices were
lower. The present prices, he says,
are due solely to speculation. He be
lieves the only remedy to avoid piling
up of profits while food passes through
several hands on its way from pro
ducer to consumer is to place a small
percentage of the market, about 20
per cent on the average, in the hands
of the state. This is a remedy he has
proposed also for the milk situation.
Commissioner Hartigan has pre
pared a list of farmers who have goods
to sell and this is at the disposal of
all consumers who wish to deal di
rect with the farmer. He also has a
plan for the use of the subways in the
slack hours of the night for transpor
tation of foodstuffs. Commissioner
Dillon has ordered 68,400 storage eggs
and will sell them at 36 cents a dozen
as against the present price of 60
cents.
Reproductions of famous Paintings
at Loussac’s. 154
Blue-River Diamonds. Walter A.
Lord, jeweler, near Harmony theatre.
163
XMAS GIFTS
For useful Christmas Gifts
See
Dohrmann Herning. 136
Grand Masquerade Carnival, New
Labor Temple, Saturday Evening, De
cember 30. Elegant prizes. 165
Alaska ivory and nugget jewelry.
Walter A. Lord, jeweleh, near Har
mony theatre. 163
Attend the opening dance, Union
Hall, Saturday, December 23rd. 140
FAMILIAR “TOOT” OF OLD
LINE PASSES INTO HISTORY
With the merging of the Pacific
oast Steamship company with the
Admiral line recently, the historic
“toot” of the former company, which
has echoed along the Pacific slope for
ahe past 40 ydars, passed into his
tory. This change attracted consider
able attention along the Anacortes
waterfront when the steamer Queen,
one of the best known of the old P.
C. S. S. boats, came into port and in
stead of sounding the old familiar
signal of two long and one short
blasts, she sounded the toot of the
“Admiral Line” of steamers—one
long ,one short and one long whistle.
For more than a geperation the
Pacific Coast Steamship company’s
“toot” has been known to practically
everyone living in a Pacific coast port
of call from San Diego to the coast
of Alaska. The historic “toot” of the
Pacific Coast Steamship company
dates back to early days on the Pa
cific coast when the Pacific Coast
Steamship company was without rival
in the field and when its house flag
was familiar to everyone who lived
on the coast.
In those days the sound of two long
blasts followed by a short one meant
only one thing—that one of the big
Pacific Coast Steamship vessels was
coming into port and nearly everyone
knew the name of the vessel by the
tone of the whistle.
The passing of the historic “toot”
is viewed with a feeling of regret in
Anacortes. Its sound for years has
been anxiously awaited by longshore
men and those who were expecting
freight from the south and since the
first of the year it has had a joyful
sound for those expecting permit
shipment from California—Anacortes
American.
Electric Lamps at Loussac’s. 154
Union Laundry
and Bath House
Fourth Ave., Between H and I,
Anchorage
OCR WORK IS GUARANTEED
—and—
SANITARY
THE LARGEST AND CLEANEST
BATH TUBS IN ANCHORAGE
HOTEL SEWARD
511 THIRD AVE.
Arctic Club Bldg., SEATTLE, WASH.
ZBINDEN BROS., Props.
Rooms $1.00 Special
With Bath $1.50 Weekly Rates
BELL’S PLACE, 831 4th Ave.
Denver Rooming
House
Say, Boys, we keep warm all
night. Rooms, spring beds.
Everything new and clean.
BEDS, 50c.
WILSON’S CARPENTER SHOP
We Make Everything—
—Furniture Hospital —
—Saws Filed
WXX.SON’8 - 5th Between D and B
Pioneer Sheet
Metal Works
YUKON STOVES
— AND —
HEATERS
Corner Fifth and C Sts.
Anchorage • • Alaska
Wood Undertakiii&Co..
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
LICENSED EMBALMER8
Anchorage Matanuskn
PERSONAL SHOPPING BY MAIL
THE items in Women’s and Chil
dren’s Wear, and Men’s Haber
dashery, that cannot be obtained from
your home merchant may be ordered
from us, and will be sent POSTAGE
PAID to any Alaska address reached
by U. S. Mail.
During the Holiday Season, as at all
times, we shall be glad to study your
wishes in the selecting of Gifts, and in
properly packing and mailing them to
your friends. Let us send you the lat
est issue of our Mail Order News.
Address Mail Order Department “A”
FREDERICK&NELSON
SEATTLE
BAXTER’S
MAGAZINES
PERIODICALS
NEWSPAPERS
Panorama Photographs
Anchorage and
Mount McKinley
LADIES
Try Excelsior Cream for the
hands. On sale for 85 cts. at
the Gift Shop, F Street.
THE COOK INLET
TRANSFER CO.
WOOD AND ICE
A SPECIALTY.
MARIUS BENSON
Mgr.
\OAO.o,o,qo.o.o.o.o. \o/ao.o:oTg:oto'q:o"o'o'*o
Central Barber Shop
Modern Equipment Throughout
New Sanitary Bathroom in
Connection.
417 4th Avenue.
Attend the opening dance, Union
| Hall, Saturday, December 23rd. 140
H. W. NAGLEY
General Merchandise
t SUSITNA, ALASKA
Branch Stores:
Me DOUGALL
TALKEETNA
♦ ♦♦■4 44 44"44+44444444 4 4 4 4 4 4 »
STRYE PHOTO STUDIO
(Next to Empress Theatre.)
Your PHOTO makes a nice
Xmas gift, appreciated by all.
Also the latest Photo Frames.
Photos Enlarged to any size.
We Do Kodak Finishing.
Develop, 15c. Prints, 3c up.
®®®asxs®®sx*)(^
Butts’ Parlor
FOURTH, BET. G AND H.
Hot Chocolate,
Hot Malted Milk,
Fox Oyster Cocktails.
Hot Fox Famous Clara
Nectar.
Hot Beef Tea.
BUTTS HAS IT
Anchorage General Hospital
Corner 6th & K Sts.
Private Rooms and Wards, Sani
tary and Thoroughly Equipped.
When you are sick it’s CARE
you want.
ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Of the taking over of the Wilde & St. Clair Stock by
Rov Fairbanks.
Have just opened case of .10 Smart Winter Suits,
which will be sold at a great reduction. Also fine high
grade sweaters and Stag Shirts.
General reduction on all other goods.
Bills payable to the firm of Wible & St. Clair are
now payable to me.
ROY FAIRBANKS, Prop
l*-*~*H
WHEN you come to Seattle, remember the
Hotel Savoy extends you a hearty welcome.
All the Alaskans who have made their headquar
ters with us in the past, and those who are con
templating coming to Seattle in the future will
find the Savoy the right hotel in the right loca
tion and at the right price. It goes without say
ing, if you come once, you will come again.
Our hotel is in the very heart of the city,
most convenient to the shopping district, thea
tres, churches and public buildings, absolutely
fire-proof. Rates: $1.00 per day and up, without
bath; $1.50 per day and up with bath.
Don’t forget the place—the Savoy Hotel.
W. 6. KING, Manager.
Bird Creek Lumber Co.
Robert H. Fleming, Manager
The Fuel Question Solved
Where to get your fire wood, on short notice, in the right lengths, dry,
S ready to bum—has been your problem ever. Now, all you have to do
g is to call up 52-Y and tell us your wants, and we will attend to the rest.
WOOD
WOOD
§ A trial order placed with us will dispel all your aggravation, caused
® by former experiences with the keep-warm question.
Yard Next to R. R. Track in Old Town I
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