Fifth volume of five volume set of diaries kept by Walter Todd, railroad surveyor for Alaskan Engineering Commission in southcentral Alaska. Jan. 1-Sept. 5, 1918. [191] pages ; 15 cm.
(2:57 min) (10 of 19) Driving the Richardson Road #2 Thompson Pass too steep; had to be pulled; didn't have fuel pumps back then. 7 days to Fairbanks. Stopped at the News Miner offices and Pete Steele's Grocery.
(3:09 min.) (27 of 28) 27. Pilot for Governor Egan George used to fly Gov. Egan back and forth to Juneau. Egan liked George's harmonica version of "Springtime in the Rockies". George then flew the Seattle run, which he had always wanted to...
(3:15 min) (05 of 17) Back to teaching
Bad fire season too many people crashing. Took job flying for Trans-ocean airways, then flew Korean air lift for military. After war too much competition from Wien Airways so went back to teaching. ...
(3:32 min.) (03 of 28) 3. Mid-air fire On a shake-down flight over Manhattan, the engine caught fire. George's father turned the controls over to his mother and climbed out of the plane. He sprayed the flames with a fire extinguisher. ...
(3:36 min.) (09 of 28) 9. WWII in North Africa
George worked his way across North Africa. He describes air raids in Cairo, how Rommel was pushed back, how war was declared while he was on the ship to Africa. Bombers ferried across the...
(3:57 min.) (04 of 24) 04 After the war. Worked the passenger ships for years. Moved ashore into receiving ship stores. Did receiving for Korea and Vietnam wars. Moved up to the main office. Got to make deals for a million dollars. ...
(4:02 min) (07 of 17) Being a live coward
Single engine planes are dangerous, no back-up. Coastal Geodetic Survey Tigvariak Island. Had to get them to Barter Island--white out cloud cover turned around and went back passenger complained.
(4:03 min) (03 of 19) Young adult #2 Traveled north. Shucked corn and by the end he was averaging 95 bushels a day. Went back home and got a job with his brother-in-law on a dairy farm. Took a class to become a railroad fireman. Train...
(4:10 min.) (08 of 08) Living on a ship and coming back to port steam vessels -- engineer on tug boat; steam -- not as economical; life on a freighter; diesel -- machine shops; Alaska Steam -- shorter trips; more days off; repair and clean-up --...
(4:16 min) (13 of 17) Flying for DGGS pt. 2
As a pilot for Division of Geology and Geodetic Surveys had emergency call to fly in whiteout conditions to get a badly burned man at another station. Flying under 200 ft. elevation so not to miss...
(4:26 min) (05 of 19) Illinois Central Railroad Met a man working for the Illinois Central Railroad. Next job was painting for the Illinois Central Railroad. While he was there he put in for the steel gang building and repairing railroad...
(4:40 min) (12 of 17) Flying for DGGS pt.1
As a pilot for Division of Geology and Geodetic Surveys had emergency call to fly in whiteout conditions to get a badly burned man at another station. Flying under 200 ft. elevation so not to miss...
(4:40 min.) (12 of 12) Occupation Shemya runway washed away--Took a few days to get back to Anchorage--wrote history of Alaska construction--lots of people wrote it Bush edited--Left over the Alaska Highway--short time in states--then to south...
(4:46 min.) (11 of 28) 11. Back to the U.S.
Military wanted them to stay and offered George a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He wanted to get back home for at least a visit, so he flew back with a cargo of latex rubber. Engine problems...
(4:57 min.) (05 of 28) 5. Parents flying His father got out of the weekend flying business and flying for the Naval Reserve. He died in a flight during the 1930's. His mother could fly but wasn't licensed. George took awhile to get back...
(5:12 min.) (05 of 08) Repairs on the Alaska Run for the Alaska Steam Ship Captain Brastad; lost propeller at sea; Stitt, James -- chief engineer; secure the propeller; steam ship -- towed ship back to Seattle; repair -- cylinder head; stop the...
(5:24 min.) (05 of 24) 05 Move West Moved west at about age 19 or 20. Started with the Alaska Steamship Co. as a summer hire -- back then the company wanted you to start at the bottom and work your way up. Started as utility man doing...