I ^ 1 - • - ; __ : ^Eain—
A PORTION OF THE LOBBY, CURRY HOTEL
The Alaska Railroad Belt
By G. C. DICKENS
Courtesy of the Pathfinder of Alaska
STEAMING through a narrow neck
of ocean blue—the Harding En
trance to glorious inland sea—a
great ship enters mountain-inclosed
Resurrection Bay and docks at the pic
turesque and prosperous Alaskan port
of Seward. Profoundly impressed by
the trip from Seattle, a journey that
has offered innumerable pleasant sur
prises—each succeeding one thing
even more agreeable than those be
fore; and being equally favorably im
pressed by the timber and flora cov
ered mountains and hills that still
greet them on every hand, travelers
from all sections line the rails and
pace the deck while the ship’s Master
in vibrant voice, rings out his orders
from “the bridge” as the ship nestles
closer and closer to the wharf. Soon
the final signal is whistled, the gang
plank is heaved out, and a seemingly
endless stream of eager and enthusi
astic humanity disembarks, swarms
the wharf, and apparently takes pos
session of all surroundings. The larg
er portion is on pleasure and amuse
ment bent; and their lively and spon
taneous exclamations indicate that
their desires and expectations are rap
* idly being realized.
But the Alaskan visit is in reality
only begun, for far away to the north
ward—inland to Fairbanks, “Heart of
the Golden North,” and en route to
that thriving interior city—lie scenes,
activities, camps and resorts that will
serve as a further pleasant awakening
to all who visit and view them; they
will demonstrate that Alaska rightful
ly should be the Mecca of all travelers,
especially Americans; and that Alas
ka’s possibilities for genuine and
worthwhile development and happy
home-making are unlimited.
To reach Interior Alaska from Sew
ard the traveler proceeds over The
Alaska Railroad—built by the United
States Government to assist in devel
oping the vast resources of a posses
sion that had already brought meas
ureless w'ealth to America—a posses
sion whose mountains, valleys, fields
and streams were and are ambitious
to thrust upon the world a still great
er bounty So, beginning at Seward,
the traveler enters upon a journey
that will, because of its entire com
fort and ever-changing panorama of
scenes, linger in his memory long af
ter he has returned to the States and
to his own friends and fireside. In
deed, Seward itself one of »the most
beautifully situated cities in Alaska,
invariably creates in the minds of vis
itors a keen and insatiable desire to
see more of Alaska Days spent in
the locality may stretch into weeks
and still there will be, in the hearts
of visitors, a great longing to remain
awhile—to drink in even more of the
rugged and virgin grandeur and to
partake of further contentment.
Proceeding northward, and at jVlile
23, the traveler comes upon Kenai
Lake, a placid and tortuous lake set
jewel-like midst the
Northward vast recesses of far
flung and towering
mountain ridges. A ride on this fas
cinating lake of blue takes the visitor
to gamey hunting grounds and fishing
locations that are certain to satisfy
the ambitions of the most zealous
sportsman. At Lawing, Mile 23, a
comfortable resort is maintained by
one of Alaska’s pioneer Indies; and a
vacation may there be spent without
the vacationist experiencing a dull
moment, for the things to see and do
are many and varied, and all are in
tensely interesting.
Between Miles 48 and 51 the famous
“Loop District” is traversed; and here
in a great oval-shaped depression the
traveler is allowed an opportunity to
compare the marvelous and mysteri
ous workings of Nature with the re
doubtable courage, ingenuity and de
termination of man, for in this yawn
ing valley an intricate engineering ac
complishment enables the visitor to
ride to the rugged side of a precipi
tous mountain—there to carry on un
til the train swings away through
canyons and ravines 'til it comes upon
massive, silent and ever-moving Spen
cer Glacier. At this point visitors
view with wonder the intriguing gla
cial carvings of centuries past, and
contemplate upon the future activities
of this mighty mass of ice and snow.
The snout of Spencer Glacier is not
far from the right-of-way; and the
sparkling and multi-colored walls of
inner ice caves are clearly visible.
Soon, too, the train comes upon
GirdwTood—a remnant of the “Early
Days”; and varied are the thoughts
that wander through the mind of the
visitor as he inspects from car win
dows the many deserted buildings and
shacks. A few nearby mining claims
are still being profitably operated;
but in this particular camp the glam
or and excitement of the “rush” is
tw> -to..
HURRICANE GULCH BRIDGE ON THE ALASKA RAILROAD
come and go with its mighty ebb and
flo. “Turnagain” Arm is indeed a glor
ious body of water, high mountain
walled on either side; and those trav
elers who are fortunate enough to fol
low along its rugged shore line, view
a picture of unusual and constant
charm.
At Anchorage, headquarters of The
Alaska Railroad and distributing cen
ter for the Jonesville,
Anchorage Cache Creek and Wil
low Creek mining dis
tricts, and market for the many prod
ucts raised in the Matanuska Valley,
visitors are allowed another oppor
tunity to witness the scenic glory of
the Northland and to learn further of
the progress that has been wrought in
the Territory. Anchorage, with a sur
rounding landscape of incomparable
beauty, is a modern and well planned
which, summer after summer contin
ues to give up gold in paying quanti
ties.
The one night between Seward and
Fairbanks is spent at Curry, where
The Alaska Railroad main
Curry tains the attractive, com
fortable and modern Curry
Hotel—a hostelry that offers the high
j est class resort hotel accommodations.
There are rooms with and without
'baths; the dining room service and
cuisine are of high order; and the
spacious lobby affords an ideal place
! for dancing.
Then too. for those who wish to
hike or saddle-horse ride and be out
of doors, there is the “Meadow-Lake
Trail’’ that may be followed over the
hills and across the meadows beyond
the hotel to a great mountain ridge
overlooking a yawning and green car
AN ALASKAN TROUT STREAM IN THE WILLOW CREEK DISTRICT
long past, although there hovers over
the settlement an atmosphere that is
fetchingly reminiscent of old mining
and railroad construction days.
From Mile 72 the Railroad follows
the winding shore of “Turnagain”
Arm the remainder of the distance to
Anchorage. This twisting arm of wa
ter—the tide of which is the second
greatest in the world—was first navi
gated by Captain Cook of the British
Navy; and it was given its name by
him because, as the tide went to and
fro, so also was his ship obliged to
city resting above the waters of Cool
Inlet. It has many miles of roadwaj
suitable for automobiling, and motoi
highways from the city lead to. amonf
other interesting places, Lakes Ottei
and Spenard—the latter being an idea:
resort where excellent bathing facili
ties are provided. Anchorage is alsc
the possessor of splendid tennis
courts, a model aviation field, and the
only golf course in Alaska.
From Anchorage the visitor con
tinues northward and soon comes upor
the Matanuska Valley
Northward The fruits, grains and
Still vegetables grown in
this region are the
pride of the producers, and they offer
additional proof that the soil of Alas
ka is indeed prolific. Near Matanuska
Station the Government maintains a
modern experimental farm; and along
the branch line running northeast
from Matanuska are situated the
Moose Creek, Jonesville, Eska and
Chickaloon coal mines.
Ten miles northward, on the main
line, the traveler comes upon Lake
Wasilla, a favorite outing resort where
excellent fishing may be indulged in.
Not a great distance from the village
the Willow Creek gold mines are sit
uated. A few miles farther north the
traveler comes upon Willow Creek,
another ideal fishing location where
grayling, trout and whitefish are plen
tiful
Within view of the train, at Mon
tana, the traveler is given an insight
into still another Alaskan industry—
that of fox farming—for at this point
i s situated a rather extensive
fox farm. From Talkeetna, another
substantial settlement, a trail leads
off to the Cache Creek mining regioi
i peted valley at the base of which
flows a silvery mountain stream filled
with grayling and scrappy trout. A
summer camp, providing comfortable
sleeping accommodations and good
meals, is maintained at this point;
and from the camp may be obtained
a magnificent view of Mt. McKinley—
j 25 miles distant in a straight line.
Proceeding northward the second
! day travelers cross Hurricane Gulch—
which is spanned by
Mt. McKinley a bridge 384 feet
National Park long, resting 3 0 0
and Nenana feet above Hurri
cane Creek. The
mountainous Broad Pass country is
then traversed, and soon the visitor
comes upon McKinley Park Station,
gateway to one of America’s most
wondrous playgrounds—Mt. McKinley
National Park.
Several well located and comforta
ble camps are maintained during the
summer season in Mt. McKinley Na
tional Park, the base camp being situ
ated at Savage River, 14 miles from
the station. All side trips within the
Park are initiated from this camp.
For those whose time will permit them
to spend from one to several days in"
the Park, competent guide service,
safe saddle-horses, and first-class camp
accommodations are available. Besides
its innumerable scenic attractions, Mt.
McKinley National Park abounds in
large and small game of every kind
and nature, and a visit to this great
playground is tremendously worth
while.
Still continuing northward the trav
eler goes through the scenic Nenana
River Canyon and comes upon Healy
where are situated the large Healy
(Continued on Page Twenty)