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Skagway (135.308W
59.456N) is a tiny port
in Alaska that became famous
as the gateway to the gold
fields of the Yukon. Chilikoot Barracks was the only U.S. Army installation in
Alaska prior to 1940, and it had accommodations for a garrison of
just 400 men.
Some thought was given to developing Skagway as the
primary port supplying Alaska (via a road to Whitehorse and Fairbanks) in the event of a
Japanese attack on the
territory, but this was rejected from fears that the sea
communications to Skagway would be vulnerable to interdiction.
Instead, the decision was made to construct the Alaska-Canada Highway.
However, a fuel pipeline
was eventually laid along this route.
References
Conn, Engleman, and Fairchild (1961; accessed 2011-7-1)
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