ALASKA HIGHWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1944, Page 4

ALASKA HIGHWAY

4 VALUE AS TOURIST ROUTE. DOUBTED BY CONSTRUCTOR. The man who managed construction of the Alaskan military highway is sceptical of its possibilities as a tourist road in peace-time, a correspondent wrote recently. Brigadier-General James A. O’Connor, of the North-West Service Command, United States Array, a recent visitor to Vancouver, says that the highway built during the emergency of war will certainly not be abandoned when it has served its war-time use, but he is not convinced that it will prove the lure for automobile travellers that some people imagine. “The average tourist has two or three weeks’ vacation,’’ lhe General pointed out. “In most cases it would take at least half that time for the motorist to reach Dawson Creek, and at that point the highway begins its long' northward route. “Those who have the time and money and the inclination will no doubt have a wonderful experience when they tour the highway, but it is a long road and travel on it will not be a simple matter. Its more important peace time function should! be as-a means of making new mining'and settlement areas accessible.” Nor does General O’Connor agree I with Alexander P. Seversky author of “Victory Through Air Power,” in the latter’s contention that the Alaska highway can be used as the main artery of supply to bases in Alaska from which a bombing offensive against Japan could be launched. “Primarily the Alaska military road was built for insurance,” declared the General. “We wanted the link with Alaska so as to make sure that the line of communication with the north could always be kept open. “It was vitally necessary if Japan gained control of the Pacific. But as long as we control the sea .the bulk of the supplies to Alaska will be shipped by the water routes. Completion of the new Haines cut-off makes the use of the water route even more important. Small, shins and even barges can be used to move men and equipment through the Inside Passage to Haines, Alaska, where they can be transhipped over the road to Fairbanks. In this, way 1,000 miles of highway travel will be eliminated.”