ALASKA PUZZLE
(Continued from Pape One)
car would tend to Induce settle
ment along the highway more than
at present; also, easy access by
private cars to Fairbanks or Anch
orage from farms along this route,
(in a few hours, any day), would
also be attractive. Numerous fill
ing stations and road houses, would
be established, and each of these
would have its little garden, dem
onstrating to travelers the agricul
tural possibilities of adjacent land.
They would also make neighbors
closer.
By the time the conversion was
complete, and in good working
order, the international! highway
would probably be well along in
construction, soon bringing large
numbers of autos from the states
into Anchorage. It is in order here
to voice the opinion that cars
reaching Fairbanks over the In
TIIE AMERICAN LEGION
SEWARD POST No. 5. .
Meeting on the first andljfe^a
third Wednesdays of each-4y
month. James Campbell,
Post Commander,
Charles A. Sheldon, Adjutant
Seward Chapter No. 10. Order
tasiern »iar
Meete the second
and fourth Monday’s
of each month in
Odd Fellows’ Hall, at
8 p. m. Visiting mem
_ bers always welcome.
Mrs. Emma Banbury, W. M., Mrs.
Martlne Johansen, Secretary.
PIONEERS OF ALASKA—IGLOO
NO. 9.
Cal M. Brosius, Secretary and
Treasurer.
Seward Lodge No. 1425. L. O. O.
M. Meets every „ . *
m. Meeis every ■
first and third Wfvvf' il
Fridays of each SL V^r™
month nr. 8 v
month at. 8 p.
m. at I. O. O.
F. Hall. All wel- //Jj&'V
come. Peter N.
Anderson, Di- ' ‘ ' ’ V
rector. M. A. Horner, Secretary.
SEWARD REBEKAH LODGE NO.
6-A I. O. O. F.
Meets the first
and third Mon
d a y s of e a c h
month in I. O. O.
F. Hall at 8 p. m.
Visiting members
are always welcome. Margarete
G.. Ludvig Larsson,
Lechner, N
Secretary
Ressurcction Lodge No. A-7, I. O.
O. F.
Meets every Thursday at
8 p. m. in Odd Fellows’*
Hall. Visiting brothers welcome.
Gerhard Johnsen, N. G., Ludvig
Larsson, Secretary.
Seward Lodge No. 219, F. and
A. M.
x Stated communications
first and third Tuesdays
each month. Visi11 ng
brethern welcome. Elwyn Swet
mann, W. M., Harold Painter, Sec.
ternational highway would NOT be
shipped by train from there to
Seward. A 470 mile train Jilt would
not look attractive to the average
auto tourist. He would either re
trace his course, to the states, or go
down over the Richardson highway
to Valdez and take the boat there.
It is improbable that the railroad
at its present length would gain
any travel from the completion of
the international highway—more
likely to lose. The closer the tour
ist can drive to Anchorage, the
surer he will take the train and
boat south.
I believe the above plan to be the
best solution to the puzzle this
railroad has been to Congress. It
is the only way to divorce the Gov
ernment from a project that was
never necessary, and has never ac
complished it’s objects- IT IS THE
ONLY WAY TO QUICKLY, AND
TVHOT LY STOP THE DRAIN ON
THE UNITED STATES TREASURY.
It is the only way those Results can
be obtained, and at the same time
start and stimulate real central
Alaskan development. As a rail
road it will go on being a failure
and a Treasury leak for an indel\
inite term of years. Converted in
to an auto- highway, it will bring
immediate prosperity to this Terri
tiry, and save $1,000,000 a year.
If the above scheme asa whole, or
in part, is unacceptable, I herewith
suggest changes in policy, and rad
ical remedies, in the operation of
the railroad that I believe would
alter the present negative influence
the railroad has on_the develop
ment of this part of Alaska, to
a strong positive one.
GENERAL MANAGER
The failure of the railroad to
bring Prosperity and Develop
ment to this part of Alaska; the
H no n r)f ii f i
year; the lack of new industries;
in fact the decline of everything
in the Railroad Belt rests whol
y and squarely on the shoulders
jf the General Manager.
There can be no valid ex
'uses offered; each was given
plenty of money and time to
rring results, but from the time
he Government took over the
Rairoad to the present time, the
MANAGERS HAVE NOT BEEN
rilE MEN FOR THE PLACE,
in making that statement
here is no intention of be
etling their ability; they are no
oubt high class railroad executives
it h great experience and success
ul records. They have received
heir appointment on that reputa
lon, and if placed in a situation
'here such talent and experience
ould be used, they would no doubt
ring forth good results. BUT.
hose recommending the man, and
ae President in appointing him.
nd the man himself, fail to see
lat this Alaska Railroad has noth
\g in common writh the railroads
i the states, except the rails, the
ailing stock, and the crews. The
oorest man to be in control of
•ansportation up here is a 100 per
Gay Melodies and Dancing Hits for You
tiw*»pin’ the Cloud* Away (Up On Top of a Rainbow J (from Paramount
picture, " Paramount On Parade")
All I Want ia Just On* (from Paramount picture. "Paramount On Parade”)
No. 22378, 10-incb Maurice Chrrallet
A Cottage for Sal*
The Woman in the Shoe (from Metro-Goldwyn-Msyer picture, "l ord
byron of Broadway") .. The Revelers
No. 22382, 10-iurh
I Don’t Need Atmosphere—Fox Trot (To Fall ia Lor*) (front Faramnual
picture, " Jtoney")
Home is Heaven—Heaven is Home—Fox Trot (from William Fox picture.
Cameo Kirby ) George Olsen and His Muaie
No. 22381, 10-inch
Dancing the Devil Away—Fox Trot (from RADIO picture, "The Cuckoo*")
1 Dove Yon So Much—Fox Trot (from RADIO picture, "7 he Cuckoos")
Victor Arden Phil Oilman and Their Orchestra
No. 22383, 10-inch
Dancing to Save Your 6«jc—Fox Trot (from Paramount picture,
*’ Paramount On Parade*")
All I Want is Just One—Fox Trot (from Pararaouut picture, "Paramount
/*Wgd* J Gus Arnbeim and His Orchestra
No. 22384. 10-incb
Seward Drug Co.
cent railroader. The more efficient
j executive he has been at the heart
'of a big railroad system below, THE
;less he is qualified for this
POSITION. To take a man, we
will say, who has been superin
tendent of a busy division of the
Great Northern, and put him in
charge (ff this road, is a mistake,
isure to be unproductive of desired
l results The longer and more in
tense his railroad experience, the
more foolish. This is no discredit
to the man; he is just a HIGH
CLASS PEG IN THE WRONG
HOLE. A railroad man of that type
|sees everything, and judges every
thing, from a schedule standpoint.
His one guiding thought for years
has been. “Keep the trains moving
|on time", and the more rapid th»
movement of freight and passen
gers, the greater efficiency. These
principals are so engrained that
every thing lie does is influenced
by them. TO GUIDE THE OPERA -
TION OF THIS RAILWAY BY
THOSE PRINCIPALS. IS NOW,
AND WILL BE FOR MANY
YEARS, ADVERSE TO IT’S ECO
NOMICAL OPERATION, AND WILL
RETARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ALASKA'S RESOURCES.
The qualities most desirable in a
General Manager are: a strong
aversion to waste, (even of Gov
ernment funds); a deafness to the
many hogish demands for unneces
sary service; a keen eye to detect
the multitude of small leaks;
originality, balance with good
business judgement. In short, a
man who sees the need and value
ofv reducing the service, and upkeep
expense, to the point of absolute
necessity, giving service only on the
showing that it would directly help
develop the country and encourage
land settlement. A man who would]
not let the steamship companies
uegune mm into tourist chasing. A
man level headed enough to realize
that the New York Central’s sched
ule ideals are wholly out of place
on the Alaska Railroad.
Place a man with these quali
ties in control of the railroad,
and the whole situation would
change for the better in a very
short time. Inside of a year the
road would be self-supnorting:
t: lie re would be renewed interest
in farming and mining; in meat
industries and wood products; a
restored confidence of the peo
ple in Alaska.
To assist the Manager in deter- |
mining policies, and to make it
difficult for one town to exert more |
influence than another, I suggest !
that a Railroad Advisory Board be
created; to meet with the General j
Manager to consider and pass on j
policies he may wish to inaugurate
If a majority of the Board was op
pised to the Manager, the subject!
would be submitted to the Secre- !
tary of the Interior for decision, j
rhe membership could be compos
ed of the Mayor of each of the 1
three large towns, and the Terri-’
:orial Representatives of the Third j
md Fourth Division.
COMMUTERS
mne-ienms or tne people ol Al- |
aska do not regard themselves as
permanent residents. (This is a sad j
state of affairs, but true.) They j*
constantly hope to make a clean
up and go back to the states. All j
have a strong desire to spend each !
winter below. Yes, they own homes
here, and business property; but
careful inquiry will prove the cor
rectness of the statement. There
fore, ANY INFLUENCE MAKING
IT QUICKER, OR EASIER, OR
CHEAPER, FOR ALASKANS TO
GET TO THE STATES IS ADVERSE
TO BUILDING UP A PERMANENT
POPULATION. The heavy travel
south in the winter, and the ex
pressed washes of those remaining
North shows the strong tendency
of Alaskans to be commuters. The
rigors of Alaska winters stimulate
the desire. Frequent train service,
luxurious cars, cheap milage, quick
connection between train and boat,
fine quick boat service, all coax Al- j
askans to go outside for the winter, j
and if they do it once, they want ’
to do it again, forming the habit
Those who go outside, always
spend all the money they have
earned up here during the summer, j
CAN ONE SAY THAT PROCEED
ING IS A BENEFIT TO THE
NORTHLAND? No, and anything j
hfloing to nrevent it, is desirable. J
I contend that fewer trains, less
jluxuries, and a higher milage rate,
i is better for alaska now, and for
years to come.
j Immediately comes the thought
ithat to reduce railroad service
would make the deficit greater, but
THAT IC NOT TRUE, for the great
saving in operation cost, and added
mileage revenue, would far exceed
; the loss in traffic. One through
j train a week, and one mid-week
j gas car local to Anchorage is all
ithat the travel .justifies, and that
{schedule would benefit every inter
jest in this part of Alaska. I recog
nize, of course, that if that were
adopted, there would be an immed
iate howl of protest, but a careful
study of the proposition will con
I vince. Freight train service should
j also be reduced to the minimum.
{Considering ONLY the cost of mov
ing, and NOT the demand for
speed.
; PRESENT TRAIN SCHEDULES
AND POLICIES
i The present movement of trains
is the least conducive to real Alas
ka development than any so far
I tried. That will be contradicted by
j thoughtless people, no doubt, as
i from the service standpoint alone,
it is now the best, moving freight
and passengers more often and
faster, BUT, I declare that very ef
ficiency subtracts rather than adds
to Alaska's wealth and business
activity. At present a train is
|waiting when the boat lands at
Seward, and whisks the passengers
jaway as quickly as possible. The
! trains from the Interior arrive here
'just long enough before the boats
depart to enable passengers to
make connection. This quick trans
fer between train and boat saves
Jthe traveler money to spend IN
THE STATES—also true even to
the north bound traveler who has
spent the winter in the states, for
he would reserve more to use on
his trip north if he were compelled
ito stop at one or two places in Al
aska before reaching his destina
tion- I have NOT HEARD ANY
GOOD ARGUMENTS, showing that
|the saving to the traveler of a day
or two in time, and $25 or $50 in
money, (which he would spend in
the states), is a benefit to the Com
mercial Activities of the Rairload
Belt. The only reason advanced is
entirely selfish, coming from the
traveler, and no other attitude
could be expected of him, as I have
never met the man who pays per
sonal taxes, (which this would be),
without irritation.
There is no one in either of the
three towns on this railroad but
will have to admit that if all trav
elers entering his city were com
pelled to stay there a day or two, it
would be of commercial advantage
to every business interest of that
place.
At present Fairbanks cries for
quick, close connecting service to
enable them to travel outside with
the least possible intermeriate de
lay, but in a few years, when the
international highway is complet
ed, they would be the loudest in
protestation if a daily train service
were inaugurated to enable the
traveler to pass thru there with
only an hour or so stop. Anchorage
would most certainly approve of
holding through trains there a
longer period than the hour given
them now, and yet she complains
vigorously if Seward asks if the
traveler be given a few more hours
time here. The fact of the matter
is, that at this time, and for years
to come, it would have a BETTER
AFFECT COMMERCIALLY, AND
‘BE BENEFICIAL TO DEVELOP
MENT, IF THE TRAIN SCHEDULE
! WERE FIXED SO THAI TRAVEL
LERS WOULD HAVE 1’U STAY A
DAY IN SEWARD, a DAY IN AN
CHORAGE, A DAY IN FAIRBANKS
;ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM
THE STATES. Points m favor of
| such a schedule are the easier
|service ior train crews, more agree
able hours of arrival and departure*
for both tourists and towns-peopi
better time of day to view the
icountry, less train fatigue, and
MOST IMPORTANT, THE ECONO
MY IN OPERATION.
| The practice inaugurated by the
present manager, of making the
closest possible connection between
boat and train; providing special
trains to meet special boats: giv
iug the traveler only an hour’s
time in the largest towns, and no
ieasure here, IS HARMFUL IN
EVERY WAY. Now the trains leave
here at 7:30 in the morning neces
sitating the traveler getting up at
6 o’clock, with a consequent sleepy
and irritated condition which lasts
.thruout the tiresome journey of II
hours or so to Curry where he must
spend the night- There is nothing
J there but the hotel, built at
i at great cost by a short-sighted
manager, for no other purpose
than to provide a night’s lodging
(under an inconvenient train soiled
[ule. The close surroundings and
; views are uninteresting, and you
icannot enter the Park or other sec
tions from there. (To put the hotel
there was a blunder,'it costs more
to run than it returns, and the
'sooner abandoned, or moved to Mr
McKinley Park entrance, the bet
ter. )
j By far the most beautiful scenic
stretch is that between Seward and
Anchorage, and it should be cov
ered at a reasonable time, when the
. traveler was less fatigued.
1 To stop at Anchorage over-night
rather than Curry would be of fin
ancial benefit to everyone, even,
jthe traveler and the railroad.
.There is nothing to see between
Anchorage and Fairbanks, texcept
the infrequent view of Mt. Mc
Kinley*. and to make the lone
!train run over that section is far
preferable even though it would
;last longer. It would be still bet
ter to spend another night at Md
McKinley Park sation, which is the
logical place for a hotel.
For the best interests of the rail
road belt, all passenger carryhn;
trains should leave Sew'ard not
earlier than 10 o’cvlock a. m. the
DAY FOLLOWING the arrival of
the passenger steamer, stopping at
!Anchorage over-night, and proce'
ing the next day to Fairbanks.
Southbound, leaving Fairbanks in
the morning, stopping over-night
at Anchorage, leaving there at 1 p.
m- or so, arriving in Seward in the
EVENING BEFORE BOAT DAT
(So soon as the Curry hotel :
moved to Mt. McKinley Park sta
tion, or a new one built, it wouic
be good to stop there over-nigh:
also.) That would give leisure in
Anchorage and Seward, adding
(Please turn to Pag-e Three)
Co a 1
Alaska-Transfer
—Telephone MAin 81, Arcade Building—
By the sack or carload
—NANIMO—
Nut or mine run
Range coal in sack or bulk
—EVAN JONES—
Lump or mine run
—PREMIER—
and mine run coal—Try it
-HEALY LUMP—
WOOD—ICE—HAY—GRAIN
— H. V. Hoben
A. F. Davis—