The Alaska citizen., 1916-12-18
R. R. PREDICTIONS
 ARE MADE BY RIGGS

"We'l have the coal in Fairbanks next fall if some body will mine 1t, for the railroad will certainly be ope ration by that time unless unforeseen conditions make its continuance along Godstream impoSSibity'
 The foregoing the made to represen- tauve ot Inc Citizen over the telephone from Nenana last night by Thomas Riggs Jr, member of the Alaskan En- Sleerlg commission III charge Of all Alaska railroad con Strlctlon work in the interior. Continuing Mr. Riggs said that the appropriation which congress has been asked to make II It IS made will all of the expense of con structng the railroad from Fairbanks Nenana coal ledS With the exception O the the bridge across the Ianana river at Nenana And if get the railroad bul 1t doesn't make any difference about the bridge tor we'll ferry the coal the the mer and put across the ice in the wnter Mr. Riggs sad, concluding that part of his statement.
 Mr. Riggs expressed doubt whatever that the amount requested congress fo- continuance of the construction work III the interior during the coming will be granted Tor this he is confident that he will have the railroad in operation before fall The only doubt he expresses IS the possible inability of the railroad
 uctors and contractors get the roabed in shape along Godstream The possibility of encounterng frost which will not thaW in time for construction work before fa the only drawback, in Mr. Riggs opinion.
 WORK AT A STANDSTIL
 Practically all railroad work is a standsti, cordng to MT. Riggs However, considerable rock work being done the Panama river from Nenana and 1t will be in progress all winter The office force of the commission also being kept pretty busy, engaged III making out acquisitions for all of the material which will be needed in construction work during the coming season Ii the appropriation is granted The acquisitions being made out early in order give the purchasing agent of the commission III Seattle the material and supplies necessary the docks hee that they be shipped north on the first boats spring.
 $975,OOO SPENT
 The commissions accountants Nenana have just fin lshed the compilation of the various amounts of money spent during the past summer The figures show that ap proXnatey OOO spent for construction work and material the interior end of the railroad according to Mr. Riggs. This covers all of the contracts sup plies purchased i'll the interior supplies and material pur chased the Outside and the liabilities of the comission money due for contract work which yet completed
 This leaves the treasury, as far this end of the line concerned in very depleted condition according Mr. Riggs For, although the amount which approprat cd for construction work the interior made public, it is known that the expenditure of S97OOO leaves the commission with but few dollars for emergencies which might arise on this end of the line
 Therefore is altogether probable that construction work the interior end of the Alaska railroad will be in full blast just appropriation is made and Com missioner Riggs Is informed the which he expect He hopes that will be the full three and half millions requested.