In the early 1970s, prior to the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the Fairbanks economy was unsteady. The "News-Miner" planned to expand its printing plant, but many in the company were unsure if the economy could support the added capacity. Over the objections of the "News-Miner" newsroom, Snedden decided to expand the Aurora Building by adding a second floor at a cost of $2 million. In 1974, as construction of the pipeline got under way, demand for office space in Fairbanks was so great that Alyeska Pipeline Company rented several "News-Miner" offices in the newly expanded building. About this time, the "News-Miner" replaced its Associated Press teletypes with a satellite connection.