Kodiak
                                     28 November 1945


to the Ft. Greely purchasing and contracting officer, and 

approximately 30 villagers were hired in October 1942 and 

started ditching for cable in the wooded area between the 

village and Miller Point and Spruce Cape. The weather was 

ideal for working, cold and clear, and good progress was 

made during the rest of 1942.  Also, late in 1942, work 

was started in the Chiniak area between Isthmus Cove and

the batteries at St. Peter's head.  This section of line 

was located half in the woods and half in the open. 

Progress was very slow due to the frozen ground. The work 

in this area was done by Coast Artillery personnel super-

vised by ACS men.

     Wherever possible the ground was broken ahead of the 

ditching crew by a tractor-drawn ripper plow. The ripper 

tooth was built out on each side forming a share which 

left quite a ditch whenever the frozen ground could be 

broken.  It was necessary to use large quantities of dyna-

mite to break the frozen ground where the ripper was 

unable to do so. Points were driven into the ground at 

intervals of two feet along the ditch line and the six to 

twelve inches of frozen earth blasted off.  It required 

approximately 30 men five months to bury 35,000 feet of 

cable that could have been placed by the same crew in 

three weeks with a cable plow and warm weather. However, 

it was not known when a plow would be available or that 

priorities would allow the delay.


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