SECOND PERIOD
ON ALASKA RY.
NOW UNDER WAY
THREE IMPORTANT PERIODS IN
LIFE EVERY ROAD—CRITICS
SHOULD NOT FORGET
THIRD PERIOD IS SUCCESS
No Direct Returns from Wagon Road
Construction Expected—Not
So with Railroad.
By NOEL W. SMITH
Geu. Mgr., A. R. R.
Every railroad built Into a new
country has three important periods
in its history. First, the period of
construction in which the promoters
of the enterprise are enthusiastic be
cause of their hopes of the future
success,# and money for the expendi
tures for construction can be obtain
ed.
Second, the period after construc
tion, and before the country has de
veloped to the extent that the rev
enue received for the transportation
furnished is sufficient to pay the
expenses of operation. This is the pe
riod of discouragement. The faith
and hope of those who were instru
mental in providing the funds for the
construction is severely tried and
tested.
Third, is the period when due to
the development of the country large
ly brought about by reason of the
construction of the railroad, suffi
cient revenue is earned to make the
railroad self-supporting.
The Alaska Railroad is now in this
second period. The road was offi
cially completed in July 23, but much
of the construction was necessarily of
a temporary nature to the end, that
the end of steel be pushed ahead as
rapidly as possible. The cost of
maintenance, due to this reason is
high. The fact that the territory,
which the railroad serves, has not
yet produced sufficient traffic to
meet the cost of maintenance and
operation, and congress is being ask
ed to meet the deficit, as well as to
appropriate money for completion,
has placed upon those who have faith
in the future development of the ter
ritory who have invested their money
or taken up their residence here, the
task of defending the railroad proj
ect against the attack of others who
may from the first conception of the
undertaking been opposed to it or
who do not now have faith in its
ability to ultimately pay its way.
The transcontinental railroads ex
perienced difficulties in reaching the
end of the second period and probably
would not have survived it, if the
government had not donated certain!
public lands to those companies. The
government by land grants carried |
those railroads over the second per- i
iod, just as they are now carrying j
their own railroad thru its dark j
days, by direct appropriation of
money from the public treasury.
The critics of the Alaska railroad
should not lose sight of this fact.
There appears to be a tendency
to view the appropriations made for j
the railroad in a different light, on
on hand than those made for oth
er government activities.
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lor instance, appropriations for the
public roads are made with the know
ledge that no direct return in money
earned by the roads will come back
to the treasury, and that each addi
tional mile of road built means that
its cost of maintenance in the future
must be paid from money raised by
taxation. It is hoped and expected
that the building of the roads will
result in the developmnet of the ter
ritory and the government will get
its return by reason of the increased
prosperity resulting, and the appro
priation is justified and necessary.
In the case of the railroad, the re
turns to the government in the de
velopment of the country and increas
ing its prosperity seem to be given
no consideration, but the question
is being asked when will the rail
road be able to support itself and
cease to be a drain on the treasury.
It is suggested that if this is not to
occur in the near future, that. it be
torn up and made a public highway,
which would for all time have to be
maintained at public expenses, which
it would appear is all right for a
highway but all wrong for a railroad.
The other .viewpoint referred to is
that appropriation made for many
government activities of the depart
ment can he increased or decreased
and what is spent one year has, but
a slight relation to what should or
must be spent the following year.
With the railroad, there is an irre
ducible minimum that must be spent
now for completing the line and pro
perly equipping it will result in the
decrease of appropriations necessary
in future years by decreasing the fu
ture cost of maintenance and opera
tion; thus shortening the length of
the dark days of the second period
of its history. As expenses are1 de
creased the amount of the traffic to
produce revenue to meet these ••ex
penses is also decreased.
No one can believe that our gov
ernment could or would abandon the
railroad and thereby cause a total
loss to those who have invested cap
ital and labor in the railroad belt,
such investment being made in the
belief that the railrad once con
structed would be continued, but
there is some uncertainty as to the
kind of a railroad and character of
its service that will be produced and
when the third period, that of pros
perity, should be reached.
To the end that a good road with
adequate service be provided and
for thehastening fo the day when
the railroad will be self-supporting,
the cooperation and assistance of
all persons interested in the devel
opment of Alaska is solicited, for,
no country can be truly prosperous i
until it can bear its own transporta
tion costs.
Dr. J. J. Jensen, one of the best |
informed citizens of conditions in !
the Cook Inlet region, returned to
Seward last night from Valdez where *
he has been attending the recent j
court term. Mr. Jensen leaves on j
the Admiral Watson for his Inlet |
home and office. While in town he
is a guest at the Hotel Seward.
C. R. Stahl of Valdez was a round
tripper on the Victoria. While in
Seward Mr. Stahl, who is well known
here, met many of his friends.
J. L. Ratliff, resident of Seward,
who recently returned North from a
quick business trip to Oklahoma, ar- j
rived in town yesterday from Cor- I
dova on the Victoria. Mr. Ratliff has ;
been visiting in the Copper City dur- j
ing the past week.
Xmas cards, Alaska Shop. tf
The freighter Latouche of the Alas- ;
iaa Steamship Co., arrived at Cor- I
iova yesterday from the South. The
Lmtouch is expected to arrive in Se
ward within the next two days.
Xmas cards, Alaska Shop. tf
Physician and Surgeon
To Practice At Kodial
Dr. and Mrs. L. C. Smith, resident
of Anchorage for the past two yean
w^ere among the local arrivals Satui
day. Dr. Smith has closed his An
chorage office and is moving to Ko
diak where he expects to locate per
manently. While awaiting the arriv
al of the Admiral Watson, Dr am
Mrs. Smith are guests at the hote
Overland.
The week before last the grad<
school enjoyed another moving pic
ture entitled “Sno'w White and tin
Seven Dwarfs.” The higher grade:
had the opportunity to see the pic
ture first while the lower grades sav
the picture the following day. I
was greatly enjoyed by everyone.
All the students had their second
month’s examination last week, be
fore Thanksgiving holidays. The re
port cards will probably be given out
today.
McGrath Dredge Manager
Outbound for the Winter
C. E. Kimball, son of John Kim
ball, well known former steamship
owner, mercantile and mining man,
of the early Nome days arrived in
Seward from McGrath in which
district he manages the two big
dredges of the Flume Dredging Com
pany. Mr. Kimball has followed the
dredging game for years, a business
of which he has made a decided suc
cess at. He is one of the most pop
ular mining men in the North and,
especially among the rank and file,
stands high in esteem of his em
ployes. Mr. Kimball 'left this morn
ing on the SjS. Victoria for Seattle
en route to the company’s headquar
ters at San Francisco, which city is
also his home town.
Bean’s Products, Urbach’s. tf
When you have any work in
Plumbing or Steam
Fitting
NEW OR REPAIRS, AND
SHEET METAL WORK
R. F. TILLMAN.
Back of Brown & Hawkins
PHONE ADAMS '80
WUVWYWWVJW.V-WJWW.
Piping and Fittings for
Power Plant Construction
5000 feet 2 1-2 double extra strong steel pipe, in random
lengths, 12 to 30 feet each; each length fitted with
square machined, four-bolt flanges. One end of run
grooved, opposite end and outlet tongued with steel
machined bolts, hexigon heads and nuts.
3000 feet 1 1-2 double extra strong steel pipe in lengths
12 to 30 feet each; each length fitted with square ma
chined four bolt flanges. One end of run groved, op
posite end and outlet tongued, with steel machined
bolts, hexagon heads and nuts.
500 assorted 1 1-2 and 2 1-2 steel four bolt flanges, elbows,
tees, crosses, return bends, divided return bends, re
ducing companion flanges, flange unions, globe and
angle valves, etc.
The piping and fittings are in first class condition, ready
for immediate delivery F. O. B. mail steamer Starr,
at Portlock, Port Chatham, Alaska.
Our price will be based up Walworth Manufacturing Com
pany’s factory catalog price F. O. B. Boston, Mass.,
thereby allowing the purchaser the cost of the freight
from the Aatlantic Coast to Alaska.
Will sell all or part of above piping and fittings and fur
nish list of quantity of different sizes on hand, upon
request.
Alaska Consolidated Fisheries, Inc.
PORTLOCK, ALASKA
Admiral Watson Due To
Arrive Wed. or Thurs.
Nothing definite was received today
as to the probable time of arrival of
the Admiral Watson but it is expect,
ed the vessel will steam into port
Wednesday. A number of local res
ervations have been made for West
ward points. The majority of these
are witnesses and jurors who have
been attending the Valdez term of
court. A considerable amount of
freight will be discharged locally
with a large cargo also billed for
the Westward.
§1.00 sale, Alaska Shop.
tf
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Glass and
Ophir Glass, all well known mining
folk from the Tocotna district, in the
interior, were among the arrivals in
Seward Saturday evening. They de
parted this morning on the Victoria
for Seattle.
Mrs. John Coffee Returns
From Visit To Anchorage
Mrs. John Coffey, wife of the well
known Kodiak attorney who has been
attending the Valdez court term for
the past month, arrived in Seward
Saturday from Anchorage where she
has been visiting friends. Mrs. Cof
fey expects her husband to arrive
in Seward in a few days on the Ad
miral Watson, on which vessel they
will both return to their island
home. Mrs. Coffey is a guest at the
Van Gilder.
J. H. Langley, engineer on the riv
er steamer Tana, which operates on
the lower rivers in the Interior, pass
ed thru Seward today en route to
the States. Mr. Langley is a brother
to the well known Captain Wallace
Langley, head of the Alaska Naviga
tion company, formerly known as
the Kuskokwim Transportation Co.
§1.00 sale, Alaska Shop. tf
Cal M. Brosius
Nails, fifty varieties, Automobile Glass,
Glass, Locks, Hinges,
Stockholm Tar,
Hyd. Lime,
Plate Glass,
Colors,
Chimney Brick,
Varnish,
Corner Bead,
Mirrors,
Medusa,
White Atlas,
Keens,
Metal Lath,
Cedar, Oak, Maple,
Arch Brick,
Fire Clay,
Plaster Paris,
Hickory, Iron Bark
Beaver Board,
Gal. Cor. Iron,
Pulleys,
Flooring,
Fir, Spruce, Maple,
Ceiling,
Rustic,
Roof Pitch,
BB1. Lime, Paints.
Glass Cutting,
Terps, Oils,
Fibered Plaster,
Stains, putty,
Corner Lath,
Belting, Cement
Doors,
Windows,
Lumber,
Fir Lath,
Fire Brick,
Spruce Finish,
Mouldings,
Z-Lath,
Plaster Board,
Mahogany,
Roof Paper,
Building Paper,
Asbestos Paper,
Shingles,
Sash Rail,
Fir Finish,
LIBBY-OWENS WINDOW GLASS, Single and Double Strength,
Standard Oil Products, Rubber Matting. White Sand,
ASBESTOS STRIP SHINGLES, HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS,
METAL BASEMENT SASH AND FRAMES,
Sidewulk Coal Hole Covers Sidewalk Walk Lights, Etc.
CAL M. BROSIUS
BUILDING SUPPLIES
C.M.B.
CAL M. BROSIUS
Builders’ Supplies
%
WTien things Look
BLACK Phone the
Seward Steam Laundry
Telephone Main 148
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HOTEL ANCHORAGE
F, L REED, Proprietor
Rooms with Bath. Sample Rooms in Connection
Strictly Modern Prices Reasonable
Steam Heat Good Service
HOT AND COLD WATER IN EVERY ROOM
Bus meets all trains and boats
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
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