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A Postdated Article Reprint
A Postdated Article Reprint
This is a reprint of the December 1915 National Geographic article “Alaska’s New Railway”. The article has no byline and includes twenty black-and-white photographs, seven of which are full-page in size. While this article is well over one hundred years old, it was reprinted in August, 1961 by the Alaska Publishing Company with permission of the National Geographic Society.
The booklet measures 9.5” by 6.5”, slightly smaller than the original. The front and back covers are stiff cardboard with plastic binding.
The article has been scanned and reduced just a bit. One thing about this item that is not standard is that all page numbers have been removed. In all other respects, the article is exactly the same as the original.
At the bottom of the last page of the article is an acknowledgement which reads: Our thanks to the National Geographic Society for giving us permission to reprint this article. It is Signed D. J. Smith, General Manager, The Alaska Railroad.
The letter received from the Society is included as part of the reprint, presumably to prove authenticity. It is signed by Frederick G. Vosburgh, Vice President and Associate Editor and dated July, 18, 1961. It was written in response to a request by D. J. Smith, General Manager, Alaska Railroad. The red cover of the article reprint, together with the name of the person making the request, bring up memories of Don Smith and his red-covered collectors guide; but I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.
A black-and-white image of the December 1915 National Geographic Magazine cover is included to fill the page before the article proper.
The article is about the first year of the massive (for the time) federal infrastructure project to build a railroad system in Alaska linking the interior coal, gold, and other mineral fields to a free-water port on the coast. It also is to be use for public transportation for existing and future towns in the territory. While there is no map embedded in this article, it does suggest one reference the February 1914 Alaska map supplement in four colors while reading the article.
Tom Wilson
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