RAILWAY ROUTES. 
15 
glacier covered and lias an altitude of probably 5,000 feet. The resources of this disi rid 
have already been referred to. 
Valdez Inlet, a western arm of Prince William Sound, affords a good coastal terminal 
about 1,400 statute miles (1,250 nautical miles) distant from Puget Sound. The valleys 
of the coastward-flowing streams are well timbered and there is some excellent water power. 
There are not data enough at hand to discuss the relative merits of the Valdez Inlet and 
Cordova Bay routes. Each has its advocates, between which there is great rivalry. The 
distance to Eagle from Valdez is about 20 miles less than from Cordova Bay, but on the 
other hand the former route involves the crossing of Marshall Pass 30 miles from the coast, 
while the latter follows a water grade. The Cordova Bay route taps the Bering coal field, 
but is at a disadvantage in comparison with the other route in that it has to build two 
expensive bridges across the Copper. 
In this connection mention should be made of an alternate plan (see map, PI. XII) for 
tapping the coal field (see pp. 65-77), which involves the utilization of the shelter afforded 
by the Fox Islands, together with a breakwater to form a harbor near the coal field. 
It has been proposed to build a railway inland up Copper River from this terminal. Such 
a road would follow the same route as that already described from Cordova Bay. The 
success of the plan is dependent on the possibility of constructing a harbor at a cost not 
prohibitive. 
RESURRECTION BAY-SUSHITNA VALLEY-FAIRBANKS ROUTE.a 
The Alaska Central Railway is now building from Seward, on Resurrection Bay, to the 
head of Knik Arm, and it is proposed to continue the line inland along the Sushitna 
Valley (PI. IX, A and B) and through the Alaska Range to the Tanana at Fairbanks. 
In December, 1905, about 47 miles of track are said to have been laid and considerable 
grading done beyond. 
This line leaves the Pacific seaboard at Resurrection Bay, and after crossing a pass less 
than 400 feet in height descends to tide water again at the head of Turnagain Arm. 
After swinging around the head of the arm it turns northward and crosses Matanuska 
River near its mouth. A branch is to be built up the Matanuska (PI. XI, A) to the coal 
field, and it has been proposed to extend this into the Copper River basin. 
The main line will probably follow the Sushitna (PI. IX, B) and its western fork (PI. X), 
the Chulitna, to Broad Pass, only about 2,000 feet in height and about 165 miles from 
tide water. Beyond the pass Cantwell River will be followed to the Tanana, along which 
the line can be continued to Fairbanks. Some further details in regard to this route arc 
presented in the following table, in which the distances and altitudes are only approximate: 
Elevations and distances , railway route from Resurrection Bay to Fairbanks by way of 
Sushitna River.. 
Point. 
Resurrection Bay (Seward) 
Kenai Lake 
Turnagain Arm 
Mouth of Matanuska River 
Talkeet River 
Broad Pass 
Tanana at month of Cantwell River. 
Fairhanks 
Elevation. 
Distance 
between 
points. 
Feet. 
Miles. 


336 
20 

CO 

75 
4. r >() 
90 
2, 000 
105 
450 
110 
490 
50 
Distance 
from 
Seward. 
Hies. 
o 
2(1 
7(1 
145 
235 
340 
150 
500 
a This route is described in the following reports: Mendenhall, W. C, A reconnaissance from Resur- 
rection Bay to Tanana River, Alaska: Twentieth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 7, 1900, pp. I 29. 
Eldridge, G. H., A reconnaissance into the Sushitna basin, Alaska: Twentieth Ann. Rept. U. >S. Ueol. 
Survcv, pt. 7, 1900, pp. 265-340. Brooks, A. H., A reconnaissance in the White and 1 anana River basins 
Alaska: Twentieth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 2, 1899, pp. 125 496. Moffit, F . H., rhe gold 
placers on Turnagain Arm: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 259, 1905, pp. 88-99. Moffit, !• . II ., and Stone, 
R. W., The mineral resources of the Kenai Peninsula: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey .No. 277 (in press). 
