One of the untold dramas of the Alaska Gold Rush was the building of the Alaska Railroad. In today’s dollars, it cost $7.5 billion but only benefitted 3,663 people.
That’s ridiculous! So what’s the true story?
The United States Navy needed coal for its ships in the Pacific Ocean. Before the construction of the Alaska Railroad, that coal had to be shipped by rail across the United States to seaports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. But with the Alaska Railroad, the coal was less than 236 miles from a Pacific Ocean port.
And the next time you think about coming to Alaska during the summer and going camping, keep in mind the mosquitoes are so thick you will have to wear netting like these men.
THE HUMAN FACE OF THE ALASKA GOLD RUSH