Douglas Island news., 1914-06-24
Plans of Railroad Cotnmission

Plans of Railroad Commission The Alaska railroad engineering com mission, which remained some time in Seattle during the latter part of May . and the irst of June, is now at it's work in the North and the entire coast ill
 await with much interest it's reports on the different preliminary surveys for the government railroad in Alaska.
 Thos. Biggs, Jr, Lieut. Frederick
 Nears, U. $. A., and w. c. E1es are in charge of the work.
 While in Seattle Mir. Riggs estab- Iished business offices in the Alaska building and secured many Seattle men
 Go help make up the survey parties,
 among whom were a number of old time Alaskans who have had much eX.
 perieuce in the North.
 ! When called upon by tbe Alaska and Northwest Mining Journal representa-
 tive, Mr. Riqgs was just about as busy ! as it was possible for any man to be,
 there being dozens of men waiting to 5 see him. employees and important com
 municatious needing his attention, but on receiving our card, be waived all
 business aside for the moment and , with a very pleasing smile said:
 "I am very glad at any time to meet representatives of the press, for through ] it we all realize most Of the credit is
 due for tho work now being undertaken ] in Alaska. However, l can only give
 you what I've already given other pub 5 lications concerning the proposed i route. Our instructions arc Co take ! note of the routes already suggested
 and to survey tho country of which
 little is known. There will be eleven I parties in tho field. Twill have charge s oftho work from Fairbauks to Broad
 pass. Lieut. Mears will handle the
 district from Broad pass Co the Su itna
 river, and from Susitua river to Seward
 the work will be superiutended by Mr..
 Edes. An all Alaskan party will also
 loo sent out from Chitiua in charge of
 Henry Dcyo. We expect to be in the i feld doing location work until October
 and when finished will possibly meet
 somewhere on Prince William sound
 where we will prepare data on harbor
 facilities along the coast which should
 keep us busy until December. Our
 next work after this will be to prepare
 estimates on the cost of construction,
 and Chen submit all data and informa ton gathered to President Wilson, who
 will then determine tho route to be
 selected. All estimates on cost of con
 struction and nual reports should be
 in Washington by April l, 1915. have
 been on Che Alaska boundary survey
 work for years, and of course have
 often been asked as to where l thought
 would be the most practicable and best route for a railroad from the coast to . tho interior should be constructed but 7 I can frankly say that do not know,
 and until the different surveys will
 have been made, and all data placed in
 the hands oj Washington powers, no
 one will know until they have made
 their decision. 4 probable northern , terminal is Fairbanks, with the coast ' terminal at Portage bay, or Cordoya
 and Valdez, which are better known, 5 are also possible coast terminals. "Iti is proposed to extend the survey 2 up the broad valley of the Susitna and
 cross into Cholitua, thence up that river to head over into Broad pass, and
 down the Neuaua to the Tanana river E The survey may hen follow the Tanana ! river to Fairbanks or may leave the 2 Neuara river at Uealy crossing, going 7 through tho Neuaua coal fields and BouniGeld country into Fairbanks. . Should the road be extended to the
 Yukon, the main line may cross at 5 Neuaua, or by going from Healy cross 2 iug, would cross the Tanaua ct Fair
 bauks."-Alaska aud Northwest Min . ing Journal