WEEKLY PROGRESSREPORTON RAILROAD PROJECT
(From the Alaska Railroad Record)
PROCLAMATION.
T nit* uu^rruui.
Whereas a state of war exists between the United
States and the Imperial Governments of Germany and
Austria, and a situation has thus been created unparalleled
in the history of our international relations, the duty de
volves upon me, as Governor, to remind the people of the
Territory that we have within our borders many men,
subjects of those countries with which the United States
is at war. The present crisis, therefore, calls for the ex
ercise of sound judgment and forbearance, and no word or
deed on the part of American citizens should operate to:
incite racial feeling or create prejudice against those who;
have come to the Territory for the purpose of betteringj
their condition and enjoying the inalienable right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States. As strangers in a
strange land they are entitled to the utmost consideration,!
always provided that they comport themselves in accord
ance with our laws and with due respect for our institu- j
tions.
This is a time when upon every earnest, fair-minded
patriotic citizen of our common country rest grave duties
and important responsibilities. Few of us appreciate how
serious are the conditions that confront us or how fraught
with good or ill may be the course of the American people
•luring the present year.
We are called upon to render real sender to our coun
try, and this includes a renewal of our pledges in support
of those institutions that have been the outgrowth of the
application of democratic principles to government. I
have, therefore, to urge upon all the people of Alaska that
the course they shall pursue during the continuance of this
war be marked by the exercise of the best judgment they
can summon to their aid in all circumstances; law and
order must be preserved, and careless, seditious or treas
onable speech on the part of any person or persons will be
at their peril. There will be no trouble, and no serious
situation is likely to be created, if each and all will re
member the duty they owe our country and flag, whether
they be citizens of America or sojourners owing allegiance
to the countries with which a state of war now exists.
GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Territory of
Alaska, in Juneau, the Capital, this twelfth
day of April, in the year of our Lord one,
[SEAL] thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and of
the independence of the United States the one
hundred and forty-first.
By the Governor: J. F. A. STRONG.
CHARLES E. DAVIDSON.
Ex-officio Secretary of Alaska.
f ' PATENTS TO SEWARD LOTS.
On April 6, 1917, the Commissioner of the General Land
Office advised the Register and Receiver at Juneau, Alaska,
that patents will issue to lots which have been sold by the
Government in the Federal and Cliff Additions to the town
site of Seward, when the purchase price has been paid in
full, and when no objection appears. This will enable all
purchasers of lots within said additions to make final pay
ment upon their lots at any time and secure patent from
the Government.
Mr. Josiah A. Moore, special agent of the Generali
Land Office, formerly in charge of the Anchorage townsite,
was recently transferred from Juneau to Jackson, Miss
issippi, where he was employed for a short time in con
nection with the court cases pertaining to that Field Divi
sion. Mr. Moore is now stationed at Portland, Oregon.
WEEKLY FORCE REPORT.
Anchorage Division.
The number of employees of the Anchorage Division
as shown by the payrolls on Saturday, April 14, 1917, was
as follow's;
Commissioner’s Office 39
Shops and Yards . 135!
Transportation Service .... . 42,
Store and Dock Departments 305 I
Steward’s Department. 14 j
Accounting Department. 19
* Disbursing Office . 3.
Townsite Department 22
Hospital Department . 24 '
Telegraph and Telephone Department 54
Track, Bridge and Ballast—Main Line 334
Turnagain Arm District.189
Matanuska District ..... 409
Talkeetna District . 149 |
17431
Stationmen and Laborers—All Districts .1303
Grand total all employees Anchorage Division 3046
DEPOSIT OF CALCIUM CARBONATE.
A large deposit of calcium carbonate recently discov
ered at Otter Creek, near Mile 122, Anchorage Division, is
believed to possess the essential properties of a valuable
soil fertilizer. With a view of encouraging the shipment
of the deposit, and its use experimentally by the farmers
residing along the Government railway, the Commission
has established the exceptionally low freight rate of 10
cents per 100 pounds for this commodity, and the same
rate for the return shipment of empty containers.
The new tariff is authorized by Supplement No. 5 to
Local Freight Tariff No. 5, effective April 19, 1917, which j
names the commodity rates on fertilizer, land plaster and ]
phosphate of lime in bags, barrels, boxes or cans, loose and i
in carloads and less than carloads, and also on empty tin '
containers in any quantity, between Kuney or Whitney and \
Anchorage, Matanuska and Palmer. Copies of this sup
plement may be obtained by addressing the Commission.
Should the deposit prove commercially valuable and
the demand justify the expenditure, a spur track will prob
ably be constructed to the field.
FREIGHT RATE ON FARM UTILITIES.
The Alaskan Engineering Commission has issued Local
Tariff No. 11, naming commodity rates on agricultural im
plements, household goods, nursery stock, seeds and ve
hicles from Anchorage to Matanuska and Palmer, Alaska.
This revised schedule will enable the farmers in that sec
tion of the country to ship agricultural implements at $5.80
p*-r ton between Anchorage and Matanuska, and $6.60 be- \
tween Anchorage and Palmer. The rate on household j
goods is $4.60 to Matanuska anil $5.20 to Palmer. On nur
sery stock it is $5.80 to Matanuska and $6.60 to Palmer.
The rate on seeds, seed potatoes, etc., is $4.60 to Mata
nuska and $5.20 to Palmer. The rate on vehicles, farm
wagons, trucks, bob sleds, etc., is $5.80 to Matanuska and
$6.60 to ralmer.
This tariff was established especially for the bcnefii
of the farmers so that they may be enabled to secure their
fanning implements, seeds, etc., at the cheapest possible
rate.
WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
Anchorage Division.
Following are the progress reports of the various de
partments of Anchorage Division for the week ending April
21, 1917:
MAINTENANCE OF WAY.
Water Service and Plumbing.
Repairs were made to the heating system in the ma
chine shop. The sewers of the cottages in blocks 16, 17 and !
21 were cleaned out. A steam pump was installed at Kings:
River to provide a temporary water supply for the work i
trains.
Bridge and Building.
The passenger landing opposite the dock warehouse was
finished, except for the placing of pontoons and gangways.
The construction of a portable passenger depot for Moose
Creek was begun. Work was started on the conversion of
four flat cars into gondolas for coal service.
A gang was engaged on the framing of a 121-foot Howe
truss span for the Little Susitna River. Satisfactory pro
gress was made by the bridge gang at the Kklutna River,
one span being 50 per cent completed. The piling for the
piers and abutments will be placed within a week. The ex
cavation for the foundations of the Granite Creek struc
ture was finished; and the erection of bents for the perma
nent bridge was 50 per cent completed at the end of the
period.
Grading and Ballasting.
The steam shovel at Mile 11 moved 9300 yards of
gravel, all of which material was placed in the fill south
of Moose Creek. This fill is 80 per cent complete.
A small extra gang was placed on the Tumagain Arm
line putting in culverts, opening ditches and fixing bad
spots in the track.
Tracklaying.
Track was laid during the week from Station 5282 plus
21 to Station 5427 plus 30. Tangents were half-tied and
curves full-tied. ,
Mechanical Department.
A belt-driven power hacksaw was installed. Light re
pairs were made to engines Nos. 225 and 280. The boom
of Browning crane No. 2 was repaired. Work was con
tinued on the repair of No. 3 steam shovel. A consider
able volume of private shop work was done.
M AT A N USK A DISTRICT.
Matanuska Branch.
It is planned to let three additional contracts for light
grading in the vicinity of Camp 27. When this is done the
entire Matanuska Branch above Kings River will be cov
ered by station contracts.
The road between Hole-in-the-Wall and Camp 32 was
nearly completed at the end of the week.
A small bridge force was engaged on crib building at
the two Chickaloon River crossings. The cribs will be
used as temporary supports for the track.
Main Line.
Every effort is being made to have the new road north
of the Little Susitna River ready for freighting by May t.
The camp at Mile 201 was about completed at the end of
the period.
The wagon bridge across the Little Susitna was finished,
except for hand railings. The railroad bridge should be
completed about May 15.
Poropat & Co., graders south of the Little Susitna,
should finish their work within a week.
No more contracts will be let north of the Little Su
sitna River until the wagon road is completed, at which
time it is planned to cover the remainder of the work with
station gangs.
TURNAGAIN ARM DISTRICT.
Clearing Right-of-Way.
A small force of Commission employees worked on
extra width clearing just south of Rainbow. The con
tractors from Bird Creek south are making satisfactory
progress.
Grading
Because of the difficulty of drilling and springing rock,
the grade work in the vicinity of Bird Point is progressing
slowly. Considering the shortage of powder, station con
tractors in general are getting along well. Several small
coyote shots were fired during the week, with good results.
A Commission force will be placed in the hard rock
cut at Sheep Creek and the drilling will be done by power.
The formation is so hard that contractors would not be
able to take out the material by hand within a year. A
boiler and hoist have been hauled to the cut and the com
pressor for this work will be at Sheep Creek and installed
within a week. Lack of snow and a soft trail made the
moving of the compressor difficult. Twelve horses were
required for the hauling.
A small force was at work during the week getting
the steam shovel, track, cars and dinkeys at Big Rabbit
ready for the season.
Miscellaneous.
The landing at Potter Creek is clear of ice, and nearly all
ice has disappeared from Tumagain Arm.
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE DEPARTMENT.
Telegraph and Telephone.
The composite feature of the Anchorage-Seward tele
graph line, which has heretofore been available for the gen
eral offices only, is now equipped to handle telephone con
versations between any telephone at either Anchorage or
Seward while the telegraph is being worked. This greatly
increases the capacity of the circuit.
A small crew with two outfit cars is being equipped for
hanging another wire between Matanuska and Kings River
for the purpose of providing a much needed telegraph and
an additional telephone circuit between these points.
Work on the Broad Pass extension has been practically
suspended during the spring break-up. Material is being
lined up for delivery on the upper Susitna after the open
ing of navigation, for pushing this wire to the point where
the Anchorage and Fairbanks Divisions will meet.
A small consignment of telephones has been received
.and was put in operation immediately. There are still 27
orders unfilled because of the lack of instruments. Local
connections to the Anchorage switchboard now number
over 200.
Radio.
On account of certain restrictions imposed by the Navy
since war has been declared, communication cannot be had
with commercial boats in the harbor.
Arrangements are being made to install a smalt radio
set on the steamer Omincca, which will bring that boat
into communication while plying between Anchorage and
Kroto.
Klectric Light and Power.
In addition to thawing frozen water pipes and the usual
miscellaneous maintenance work, a small force was en
gaged in wiring the docks during the week.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPUTING TIME.
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission.
Anchorage, Alaska, April 1, 1917.
Circular No. 184-A:
TO ALL CONCERNED:
The following instructions, effective April 1, are issued
for the information and guidance of all concerned:
Hourly Men.
1. In computing time a calendar day begins at 12
midnight and ends at 12 midnight.
2. An employee who is required to work in excess of
eight hours during a calendar day shall be paid for such
overtime at the rate of one and one-half times the rate
applicable to the position he holds, except as otherwise
provided herein.
Examples applying the foregoing rules:
Longshoreman starting work at 4 p. m., April 1, and
working until 7 a. m., April 2, lays off until 4 p. m. and
again starts work on his regular shift, working until 7
a. m. April 3. The time earned would be stated as fol
lows:
April 1. 4 p. m. to midnight, less half hour luncheon:
7% hours @ 70c.
April 2. Midnight to 7 a. m., 7 hours @ 70c.
April 2. 4 p. m. to 5 p. m., 1 hour (S> 70c
April 2. 5 p. m. to midnight, 7 hours @ $1.05.
April 3. Midnight to 7 a. m., 7 hours (fi) 70c.
Xhe time roll would give the following information:
John Johnson, Longsh: 1-3—22% hours @ 70c $15.75
2-2—7 hours @ $1.05 7.3->
Amount Earned . $23.10
3. Department heads shall see that foremen or others
in actual charge of work do not permit any employees on
an hourly basis to work two separate shifts aggregating
more than eight hours in any one calendar day, unless it
is clearly for the good of the service that this should be
done.
4. An employee engaged in an operating capacity
(which includes transportation employees and others per
forming repair work in connection with rolling and float
ing equipment, longshoremen and other dock employees)
is not subject to the eight-hour law as coming under the
act of August 1, 1892 (27 Stat. 1340) nor are these em
ployees to be covered by the usual overtime certificate.
All other employees are subject to the eight-hour law
and must not be required to work in excess of eight hours
in any one calendar day except in cases of emergency as
outlined in Circular No. 12, “Timekeepers’ Instructions.”
5. The rate for longshoremen will only apply at the
Terminal and then only to those employees engaged ypon
the dock or in the stream.
6. No designations nor rates of pay other than those
specifically mentioned in Circular 184 shall be given any
employee unless otherwise authorized in writing by the
Commissioner in charge.
7. Where an hourly employee works an irregular pe
riod of time, as 7 hours and 10 minutes or 6 hours and
50 minutes, his time will be entered as follows:
15 minutes or less will be shown as 14 of an hour.
16 to 30 minutes as Vi hour.
31 to 45 minutes as % hour. i
All over 45 minutes as 1 hour.
train auu Dii^uit trews.
8. Train and engine crews’ time will commence thirty
minutes before time called to leave any given point, re
gardless of actual leaving time.
9. Tie-up time will not be allowed to train crews and
engine crews in work train service in the Maintenance of
Way Department and in yard service. Fifteen minutes'
tie-up time will be allowed all other train and engine crews.
10. No time will be deducted for meals, unless crew«
are relieved from the responsibility of caring for their
trains or engines.
11. All trainmen and enginemen who are regularly as
signed to service by the Commission will be paid on a
monthly basis; 240 hours or less will constitute a month.
All time in excess of 240 hours will be computed as over
time, and paid at schedule rates.
12. If, for any cause, a crew is not called for service
any day except Sunday, during the month, time will not
be allowed, but regularly assigned crews will be allowed
eight hours for each Sunday during the month, whether
service is or is not rendered. If over eight hours are
worked, actual time will be allowed.
13. When train and engine crews are called for duty
and not used, <four hours will be allowed; if duty is per
formed, eight hours will be allowed.
14. Where trainmen and enginemen in any calendar
day are called and perform work and are then relieved
from duty and are later called again, they will be allowed
actual time worked on the second time called.
15. A calendar day begins at 12 o’clock midnight and
ends at 12 o’clock midnight.
16. No overtime is to be computed until a full 240
hours’ service has been rendered. All time in excess of
240 hours in any one month shall be computed as overtime
at the following hourly rates; Engineers 85 cents; con
ductors 80 cents; firemen 65 cents; brakemen 62% cents.
In computing overtime, the following rules will be ob
served:
15 minutes or less will be shown on time slips as % hour.
16 to 30 minutes as % hour.
31 to 45 minutes as % hour.
Over 45 minutes as 1 hour.
17. Where regularly assigned crews serve a fractional
portion of a month, overtime for same shall not be com
puted until a full eight hours per day for the number of
days in service has been rendered. Time in excess of this
amount shall be computed as overtime at the hourly rates
given above.
18. Conductors and enginemen will send in time slips
for their brakemen and firemen respectively.
19. When any change or correction is made on any
time slip, the time slip shall be returned to the conductor
or engineer, together with a statement showing the cause
for making the change or correction.
20. When any regularly assigned engineman or train
man leaves his regular domicile and does not furnish in
formation sufficient to enable him to be found after a reas
onable search so that he may be called for duty, he shall
have time deducted from his regular monthly pay, equal to
the time served by the member of the crew who relieves
him. •
21. Any crew placed in the service temporarily and not
employed for over ten consecutive days, shall be considered
an extra crew and paid on a straight hourly basis at the
rates designated in paragraph 16.
22. When any member of a regularly assigned crew
serves in two different capacities in any one month, he
shall be paid for any intervening time (if entitled to pay
for such time) at the rate applicable for the position in
which he served previous to the change.
Monthly Men Except Trainmen and Enginemen.
23. The time of all monthly men should be shown in
days and not in hours. Monthly men should only be put to
work at the beginning of the day or at the beginning of the
afternoon period as no smaller period of time than one-half
day will be reported for them.
24. Full time must be shown for monthly men for Sun
days and holidays, providing they have worked the day be
fore and the day after. No time will be allowed for Sun
days and holidays, unless the day before and the day after
have been worked.
25. These instructions will serve to cancel all previous
rules in conflict herewith.
F. MEARS, Commissioner.
ORGANIZATION CHANGE.
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission.
Anchorage, Alaska, April 28, 19W.
Circular No. 201:
TO ALL CONCERNED:
Effective May 1, 1917, Mr. D. B. VanDerlip is appointed
Chief Accountant, this Division, vicg Mr. H. B. Wilkinson,
resigned.
F. MEARS, Commissioner.
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, all persons in the United States, citizens as
well as aliens, should be informed of the penalties which
they will incur for any failure to bear true allegiance to
the United States;
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States, hereby issue this proclamation to call espe
cial attention to the following provisions of the Constitu
tion and the laws of the United States:
Section 3 of article III of the Constitution provides in
part: “Treason against the United States shall consist
only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”
The criminal code of the United States provides:
“Section 1. Whoever, owing allegiance to the United
I States, levies war against them or adheres to their ene
mies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States
; or elsewhere is guilty of treason.
“Section 2. Whoever is convicted of treason sha^l suf
[ fer death; or, at the discretion of the court, shall be im
I prisoned not less than five years and fined not less than
$10,000, to be levied on and collected out of any or all of
his property, real and personal, of which he was the owner
’ at the time of committing such treason, any sale or con
i veyance to the contrary notwithstanding, and every person
| so convicted of treason shall, moreover, be incapable of
! holding any office under the United States.
“Section 3. Whoever, owing allegiance to the United
States and having knowledge of the commission of any
treason against them, conceals and does not, as soon as
may be, disclose and make known the same to the Presi
dent or some judge of the United States or the governor or
some judge or a justice of a particular State, is guilty of
misprison of treason and shall be imprisoned not more
than seven years and fined not more than $1,000.
“Section 4. If two or more persons in any State or Ter
I ritory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States conspire to overthrow, put down or destroy
by force the Government of the United States or to levy
war against them, or to oppose by force the authority
thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder or delay the execu
tion of any law of the United States or by force to seize,
take or possess any property of the United States contrary
to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined not more
than $5000, or imprisoned not more than six years, or
both.”
The courts of the United States have stated the follow
ing acts to be treasonable:
The use or attempted use of any force or violence
i against the Government of the United States or its mili
tary or naval forces.
The acquisition, use or disposal of any property with
knowledge that it is to be, or with intent that it shall be
of assistance to the enemy in their hostilities against the
United States.
The performance of any act or the publication of state
ments or information which will give or supply, in any
way, aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States.
The direction, aiding, counseling or countenancing of
any of the foregoing acts.
Such acts are held to be treasonable, whether commit
ted within the United States or elsewhere; whether commit
ted by a citizen of the United States or by an alien domi
ciled, or residing, in the United States, inasmuch as resi
dent aliens, as well as citizens, owe allegiance to the United
States and its laws.
Any such citizen or alien who has knowledge of the
commission of such acts and conceals and does not make
known the facts to the officials named in section 3 of the
penal code is guilty of misprison of treason.
And I hereby proclaim and warn all citizens of the
United States and all aliens owing allegiance to the Gov
ernment of the United States to abstain from committing
any and all acts which would constitute a violathA of any
of the laws therein set forth; and I further proclaim and
warn all persons who may commit such acts that they
will be vigorously prosecuted therefor.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this sixteenth day of
April in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and seventeen, and of the independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and forty-first.
By the President: WOODROW WILSON.
ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State.
The telegraph office in the Anchorage General Office
Building was discontinued on May 1. Cables and tele- '
grams originating at Anchorage Terminal will hereafter
be delivered to the Telegraph and Telephone Building,
Anchorage Townsite, by scheduled messenger service.