The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1915-09-28
ROAD COMMISSIONS ANNUAL REPORT.

ROAD COMMISSIONS ANNUAL REPORT.
The Board of Road Commissioners for Alaska preparing
its usual annual report after approximately years exist
although stated in the report by the
fund available and the need for preliminary examination
and of routes its work proper be said to
have begun in the spring of 1867
The mileage constructed and maintained during this period
given round numbers 900 miles of road 55 miles
OF winter sled roads, and than 2OOO miles of trails The
Board that the total received from the Aaska
Fund.- is $1O86 less than the total of special appropra
tons by Congress- but to state that this difference has
has probably been than made receipts from the local
road tax law (which operative until repealed by the first
Alaska Legature, together with voluntary subscrp
TONS principally from the towns of Fairbanks Cordova and
Nome; thus making the amounts received from Federal and
from Territorial sources practically the same.
After years. experience the Board gave the following
figures the average cost of the different cassifcatons of
roads and trails Wagon roads, $4,000 per mile; winter sled
roads, $3.50 per mile and trail $OO per mile These figures
in round numbers $4,000 for road 1926 for winter
sled road and 800 less for TRAIL ncudes surveys main
enane and all Office and overhead charges he beginning
of the work. few of the expensive bridges detached
ferries and the temporary stalking of winter trails carried
separately The report continues in uart follows:
s'The cost of maintenance of the summer wagon
road has been relatively high might be expected
from the soil and climatic conditions in Alaska and the
type of road previously described what would be
classed as good country road), to which the Board
compelled to adhere account of limited funds.
1t is difficult to separate accurately the expenditures
for construction from those for repair and manten-
ance, ''repair frequently necessitated improve
ment upon the original construction but it is safe to
say that not to exceed of $4,000 per mile has
been spent on construction proper This amount has
been exceeded, naturally, and multiplied three
or four times, in instances, whereas in other
tions where the traffic is light and the soil conditions
favorable relatively smaller amounts have been
CURED
The Board does not class any of the roads constructed
automobile roads, and has not felt justified in encouraging
the of automobiles upon them Nevertheless there in
trucks and passenger The report goes state that
wagon road beteween Fairbanks and Valdez the Coast
and the Willow Creek Chtna branch to the railroad
making the distance out to Valdez occasion in three
oneha days. and to Chtna in less than three The service
would become continuous and regular if the road cond
for the first time showing Fairbanks Valdez $40
miles, Fairbanks to Chitna 1928 miles, The cutoff from Will
low Greek Chna 80 miles, making the mileage in
round numbers 400 miles. 50
This road two ranges, also glacier
streams which, being fed by the melting glaciers and
the summer against which protection is difficult expen
sive During the past summer for six eight weeks the
struggle against this destructive agency has been extremely
costly.
Referring to the of road work it stated that the
ave high scale of wages and of subsistence especially
in the interior make the cost of such work Alaska
than double the cost similar work under conditions generally
prevailing in the States Day aborers receive from $3.50
day with board and the wages other employees
correspondingy high.