| Summary: | And To Think That Uncle Sam Came Within One Of Giving Up Hope Of Settling Anchorage. AND TO THINK THAT UNCLE SAM CAME WITHIN ONE OF GIVING UP HOPE OF SETTLING ANCHORAGE ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 25. -- (By Mail.) -- Only a few years ago Anchorage was non-existent. The government's Alaska railroad was a fanciful project. At the cloast of the last regular session of congress, when the railroad appropriation failed along with other items, things again took on a dingy hue in what is now a thriving town. The slender ribbons of steel that have boldly dared to pierce a vast wildrness of ice and snow appeared doomed to a life of rust. Now, with the money necessary to carry on the work all but actually authorized. Anchorage asks the United States at large to view aspects of the great work already accomplished. Less than three years ago the first train was run over the Anchorage division. Since then nearly 100,000 passengers and 250,000 tons of freight have been handled over the rails. The division comprises 280 miles of railroad, beginning near the north end of the Alaska Northern railway and extending to the summit of the Alaska range. Track has been laid and operated over 154 miles of main line as far north as Talkeetna, and 38 miles of branch line. Six miles of wooden bridges have been built and 2400 acres of right-of-way cleared and grubbed. Over 3,000,000 cubic yards of solid rock and nearly 6,000,000 cubic yeards of other material have been moved Over 200 buildings were erected just for railroad employs and supplies. Townsites Laid Out. In these three years, three townsites have been laid out along this division. In Anchorage alone -- all a result of the railraod -- there are some 890 privately owned stores and residences, besides government buildings, churches, a school, fire station and the like. Freight that formerly cost more than 25 cents a pound to move by pack train from tidewater at Anchorage to Chicaloon, costs at present less than one-half cent a pound by railroad.
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