Northwest History. Alaska, Highways & Bridges. United States.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1935
• Subjects: Alaska; congress; highway project; survey; Seattle; international highway; British Columbia; the Yukon territory; commercial transportation; the United States; Blaine; Wash.; Fairbanks; North American continent; Pan-American highway; Mexico; Fraser river; Indian village; Yukon river; Dawson; Hazleton; Canadian province; Kispiox; Vancouver; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Fraser River; Indian; Pacific; Yukon; Whitehorse; midnight sun
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/92483

Road To Alaska Is Step Nearer: Congress Approves Survey Of Big Highway Project/Vision Five Year Ago/Would Cost $14,000,000 But Open New Summer Playground For Thousands Of Auto Tourists. ROAD TO ALASKA IS STEP NEARER Congress Approves Survey Of Big Highway Project VISION FIVE YEARS AGO Would Cost $14,000,000 but Open New Summer Playground for Thouands of Auto Tourists. Seattle, Aug. 24 —(/P)—Five years ago just a vision, an international highway linking the Pacific northwest with the upper reaches of British Columbia and the Yukon territory and Alaska, was brought a step nearer realization this week. Action of congress in approving a bill authorizing a survey and construction of the highway gave momentum to tfhe project that has been fostered in the north country by good road boosters. The highway, which it has been estimated would cost from $12,000,000 to $14,000,000, would open a new summer's playground for thousands of tourists, provide a new means of commercial transportation between the United States and Alaska and bring closer together the people of two nations and two territories. Extend 2,200 Miles The road would extend approximately 2,200 miles from the border of the United States at Blaine, Wash., to Fairbanks, Alaska. It would pass through some of the grandest and now inaccessible scenery on the North American continent. It would take the motorist through great valleys and across high mountain ranges. The route would be part of the proposed Pan-American highway that eventually will reach 7,000 miles from the far north to interior Mexico. More than 1,073 miles of the highway have already been completed. About 850 miles of new construction would make automobile traffic over this route possible. British Columbia is doing its part and has constructed 125 miles of road up the Fraser river canyon north of Blaine. Estimated Distances Various estimates have been made of the distance to be covered by new construction for this road of the midnight sun. One estimate is that 440 miles would have to be built in British Columbia, 200 miles in the Yukon territory and 210 miles in Alaska. New work would start at the picturesque Indian village of Kispiox above Hazleton, far north from the British Columbia metropolis of Vancouver. A recent survey placed the the Alaska section at $2,000,000 and the British Columbia section at $12,000,000 The tentative route would be up the Fraser river in British Columbia to Hazleton, thence north to the headwater of the Yukon river near the boundary of this Canadian province, thence down the valley of the Yukon river through Whitehorse and Dawson, Yukon territory, and thence westward to Fairbanks.