Post by Retrovision on Jan 25, 2011 20:55:18 GMT -8
This from
From starting on page 35:
Alaska Geographic - Southeast Alaska
Quarterly / For members of the Alaska Geographic Society / Volume 20, Number 2 / 1993
Editor - Penny Rennick
Production Director - Kathy Doogan
Business & Circulation Manager - Kevin Kerns
Customer Service Representative -Patty Bliss
ISBN: 1-6661-010-9
Quarterly / For members of the Alaska Geographic Society / Volume 20, Number 2 / 1993
Editor - Penny Rennick
Production Director - Kathy Doogan
Business & Circulation Manager - Kevin Kerns
Customer Service Representative -Patty Bliss
ISBN: 1-6661-010-9
From starting on page 35:
In 1993, the Alaska Marine Highway celebrates its 30th birthday. But the idea behind it is even older.
In Southeast, the most developed and settled region of Alaska until World War II, the idea of a government-operated ferry system was a perennial subject of public discussion during the early part of this century.
During territorial days, passengers and freight traveled to Alaska mostly by Canadian cruise ships operating between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Skagway. Or they were carried out of Seattle by a motley fleet of American vessels salvaged from other uses. The primary air link was provided by Pan American Airways between Seattle, Ketchikan and Juneau. Not until 1937 did the first once-a-week air mail service begin from Juneau to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and on to Fairbanks.
The first comprehensive study of a coastal marine highway for Southeast came in 1944 from the North Pacific Commission. It suggested linking coastal communities by ferry, to extend the boarder Alaska and continental highway system, and to promote tourism by tapping into the motoring public of North America. But the report concluded that a privately operated system could not support itself year-round.
World War II changed transportation in Alaska considerably. It brought a road system and spurred development of aviation in the territory. Post-war Alaska grew in population. Tourism picked up. Those two factors and the discontinuation of marine-based carriers from Seattle renewed interest in a marine highway for Southeast. A regular highway would have taken miles of bridges. The marine highway was a unique alternative to extending roads to this large, sparsely populated region of formidable topography.
The first step in the Southeast ferry system was taken in 1949 when Haines businessman Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte launched service between Haines, Skagway and Tee Harbor near Juneau. They converted a war surplus navy landing craft into the Chilkoot that could carry 13 vehicles and 20 passengers. Although the Chilkoot stayed busy, it was too small to be profitable. By 1951, the service was in the hands of the The Territorial Board of Road Commissioners. In 1957, the Cilkoot was retired and replaced with the larger Chilkat.
Four studies from 1949 through 1959 recommended expanding the ferry system. In 1960, voters approved an $18 million bond issue for three ships and seven docks in Southeast with service to Prince Rupert, and for one ship and docks in the Southwest Alaska area. The new system started in 1963.
During its first full year of operation, the system carried 84,000 people and 16,000 vehicles, far more than planners had anticipated. In 1964, the Tustumena began serving Southwest Alaska. In 1967, service was extended to Seattle, and the next year the Wickersham was added to the fleet. During the following decade, the system continued developing, adding several new vessels, including the Aurora, the LeConte and the Columbia to replace the Wickersham In 1989, Bellingham replaced Seattle as the southernmost port. In 1992 design work began on a new vessel, the first since the Aurora came on line in 1977. The new ship is expected in service by summer 1996, to replace the Malaspina.
In Southeast, the most developed and settled region of Alaska until World War II, the idea of a government-operated ferry system was a perennial subject of public discussion during the early part of this century.
During territorial days, passengers and freight traveled to Alaska mostly by Canadian cruise ships operating between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Skagway. Or they were carried out of Seattle by a motley fleet of American vessels salvaged from other uses. The primary air link was provided by Pan American Airways between Seattle, Ketchikan and Juneau. Not until 1937 did the first once-a-week air mail service begin from Juneau to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and on to Fairbanks.
The first comprehensive study of a coastal marine highway for Southeast came in 1944 from the North Pacific Commission. It suggested linking coastal communities by ferry, to extend the boarder Alaska and continental highway system, and to promote tourism by tapping into the motoring public of North America. But the report concluded that a privately operated system could not support itself year-round.
World War II changed transportation in Alaska considerably. It brought a road system and spurred development of aviation in the territory. Post-war Alaska grew in population. Tourism picked up. Those two factors and the discontinuation of marine-based carriers from Seattle renewed interest in a marine highway for Southeast. A regular highway would have taken miles of bridges. The marine highway was a unique alternative to extending roads to this large, sparsely populated region of formidable topography.
The first step in the Southeast ferry system was taken in 1949 when Haines businessman Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte launched service between Haines, Skagway and Tee Harbor near Juneau. They converted a war surplus navy landing craft into the Chilkoot that could carry 13 vehicles and 20 passengers. Although the Chilkoot stayed busy, it was too small to be profitable. By 1951, the service was in the hands of the The Territorial Board of Road Commissioners. In 1957, the Cilkoot was retired and replaced with the larger Chilkat.
Four studies from 1949 through 1959 recommended expanding the ferry system. In 1960, voters approved an $18 million bond issue for three ships and seven docks in Southeast with service to Prince Rupert, and for one ship and docks in the Southwest Alaska area. The new system started in 1963.
During its first full year of operation, the system carried 84,000 people and 16,000 vehicles, far more than planners had anticipated. In 1964, the Tustumena began serving Southwest Alaska. In 1967, service was extended to Seattle, and the next year the Wickersham was added to the fleet. During the following decade, the system continued developing, adding several new vessels, including the Aurora, the LeConte and the Columbia to replace the Wickersham In 1989, Bellingham replaced Seattle as the southernmost port. In 1992 design work began on a new vessel, the first since the Aurora came on line in 1977. The new ship is expected in service by summer 1996, to replace the Malaspina.
.
