Above: A worker uses a bulldozer and scraper on the Alaska Highway, 1942. Equipment from the Civilian Conservation Corps was used to construct the Alaska Highway, for example, "300 tractors equipped with scrapers" ("The Saga of the Alcan Highway," The Gustine Standard (Gustine, California), December 10, 1942, p. 3). Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
New Deal ties to the Alaska Highway
New Deal ties to the Alaska Highway
The 1,300+ mile Alaska Highway was constructed from 1942 to 1943, and was built to provide an alternate supply line to Alaska during World War II. Today, the road is somewhat altered from its original route and is used for routine public travel.
The Alaska Highway was a joint effort of the U.S. Army, the Public Roads Administration (PRA, a sub-agency of the New Deal's Federal Works Agency), and many PRA-contracted businesses. Three new regiments of black soldiers assisted in the construction efforts, which took place in "rough terrain that included sub-arctic tundra, rugged mountains, and virgin forests"; and the highway "stands today as one of the boldest homeland security initiatives ever undertaken" ("Alaska Highway, 1942, 1943," Federal Highway Administration, accessed May 25, 2020).
To construct the Alaska Highway, "A great quantity of equipment was transferred from the [recently terminated] civilian conservation corps to supplement the equipment owned by contractors. Among the major items were 300 tractors equipped with scrapers, bulldozers, or trailbuilders, 1,000 trucks, 125 air compressors with drilling accessories, 55 power shovels, 200 electric plants, 65 portable repair shops. Mixers, rollers, pumps and trailers were also supplied... Equipment for kitchens and living quarters came from civilian conservation corps supplies... workers are housed in buildings from over 40 civilian conservation corps camps that have been dismantled, transported to the job and reassembled" ("The Saga of the Alcan Highway," The Gustine Standard (Gustine, California), December 10, 1942, p. 3).
To construct the Alaska Highway, "A great quantity of equipment was transferred from the [recently terminated] civilian conservation corps to supplement the equipment owned by contractors. Among the major items were 300 tractors equipped with scrapers, bulldozers, or trailbuilders, 1,000 trucks, 125 air compressors with drilling accessories, 55 power shovels, 200 electric plants, 65 portable repair shops. Mixers, rollers, pumps and trailers were also supplied... Equipment for kitchens and living quarters came from civilian conservation corps supplies... workers are housed in buildings from over 40 civilian conservation corps camps that have been dismantled, transported to the job and reassembled" ("The Saga of the Alcan Highway," The Gustine Standard (Gustine, California), December 10, 1942, p. 3).
The Alaska Highway is just one of many examples of how the New Deal contributed to national defense and war efforts.
Above: A Federal Works Agency / Public Roads Administration camp on the Alaska Highway, ca. 1942-1943. These are most likely camps from the Civilian Conservation Corps, now assembled in Canada and contributing to the war effort. This image is from a Canadian post card, photographer unknown, used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Above: A closer view of the buildings.
Above: Another Canadian post card image, explaining planned work by the New Deal's Federal Works Agency / Public Roads Administration, ca. 1942-1943. Photographer unknown, image used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Above: An image showing the route of the Alaska Highway. Image from The Milepost, used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.
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