OFFICERS FORMERLY STATIONED HERE WRITS:
CAPTAIN RAYMOND F. EDY/ARDS, formerly commanding officer of this post
and, prior to that, of Company E, writes from Fort Leavenworth (where he is
on R.G.i.C. duty)* He says that he is still using the "flivver'1 to capa
city and is knocking wood over huv -...p but two punctures in 3, 500 miles* Gen
feral Farnsworth, General Duncan and General Wells (who visited here Hast sum
mer with the 'Congressional party) are among the distinguished guests expect
ed at Leavenworth March 28 to attend an Infantry banquet. All of Captain
Edwards family are in the best of health and send their regards to their
friends among the Bilkooties and ex-Chilkooties.
CABTAIN WALTER VON GRSMP writes from Fort Logan, Colorado, that it
ha^e been colder there than the worst he ever experienced in Alaska, the
thermometer having dropped to 20 degrees below zero. His friends will be
sorry to learn that the health of Mrs. Von Grenp, who has been undergoing!
treatment for tuberculosis in a Colorado hospital since prio’r to her husband* s
assignment here, is not improving. She is now confined to bed. Fortunately
the hospital is within motoring distance of Fort Logan and the captain is
able to visit her each day.
LT. PAUL R. GOODE, the traditional d^ty of Company E, 7th Inf., which
he formerly commanded, writes stating he*11 never be really happy unless he
can get back to Chilnoot Barracks where the halibut bite and the brown bears
prowl and Company E sends scouts to the borders of the Chilkat Republic—
or words to that effect (he didn't phrase it in those terms.) YJe have a
sneaking suspicion, however, that P.R.G. is getting fairly proud of the Ma
chine gun company he is now commanding, for though it can never equal his
first love (Company E) his friends think any outfit P.R.G. bosses must be
"goode". He sends best regards to all the old timers.
LT. FRANK HAASEY, who is commanding a company at San Antonio, sends
his regards to all his friends here. He has also bought a car and is also
longing to be back where the bears roam the hills. The bear hides he pil
fered at the point of a gun from the ursine denizens of these parts he has
had mounted and are much admired by those toho haven't had the privilege of
drawing a bead on Hootz in the dark trails of the Chilkat and Takine valleys.
THE ALASKA CABLE: Aid ARMY ACHIEVEMENT- 1
That a civilian in Alaska may place an order for merchandise or sup
plies to be shipped from Seattle on a boat leaving Seattle the same dy, that
any of the "hurry up" communications which may arise can pass on the wings
of electricity between the Northern empire and the "States” is entirely due
to the United Stages Army.
Twenty-four years ago, says the Recruiting News, this territory, still
the object of gold-seekers and filled with soldiers of fortune from rj.1 over
the world, was completely isolated from the rest of the continent as far as
rapid communication was concerned, tjdg teams, with Eguiar irregularity,
broke through to settlements with mail; scattered Amy pesos had to be suf
ficient to themselves; each was a lost legion, knowing not what the others
were doing or'what took place in the great world "outside."
In 1900, Congress appropriated nearly a half-mi3.1ion dollars to con
nect Fort St. Mich era! (then nil it ary headquarters for. Alaska) with other mil
itary posts in the Territory, with a proviso that comnergial messages night
be handled over the wires. The Signal Corps was given the job of construc
tion and maintenance, end a preliminary reconna: sauce was made by Briga
dier General A.Yif. Greeley, then Chief of the Signal Corps, whose name
will live long in Alaskan annals, A conference between General Greeley
and Frsmier Y/ilfred Laurier, of Canada, resulted in the Dominion's promise,
promptly fulfilled, to extend the Canadian-Pacific telegraph to the (over)