Drawing by Daniel Libby shows natives with seal skins. The picture is drawn on an envelope and shows Port Clarence buildings and the telegraph line in the background. Courtesy: Alaska State Library Digital Archives.


     Daniel Libby and 39 telegraph line construction men at Port Clarence.


Besides


food, supplies and building materials, 3000 telegraph poles were left as the area is barren tundra. The men had to quickly construct several headquarters buildings and distribute the telegraph poles, rafting some of them to the head of Grantley  


 Captain Libby congratulated the men for the quick construction of their winter quarters and for 15 miles of telegraph line erected to the head of Grantley Harbor.


Some of the poles were used to build a telegraph station at that point which they called ‘Yankee Jims’. Not only did they have instant communications with headquarters at Port Clarence but a building to take shelter in during blizzards. Work continued on the line but only 8 more miles were added because of bad weather.


Work was discontinued and attempts at  the winter. By spring all work ceased as the food supplies were gone. The men had to  re-supply.


September 2018


19


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