The Alaska daily empire., 1916-05-31
COL. RICHARDSON
 MAKES REPLY TO
 "NEARLY" CRITICS

The Nations Business, a magazine conducted by the Chamber of Com merce of the United States, recently contained an article. based on a let ter received from Skagway. criti- cislng the Alaska board of road com missIoners for the manner in which 1t conducts business and does It's work in Alaska. The article had par ticular reference to the Skagway bridge and the proposed road from Skagway to the interior. It brought forth quick response from Col. w. P. Richardson. president of the Alas ka board of road commissioners.
 The article in the Nations Busi- ness and Col. Richardson's reply follow:
 The Nation's 5ussiness Article
 The building of roads and bridges is something in which most com munities are interested. but they are subjects more or less under the con- trol of the community itself If they are not built or poorly built, the fault lies somewhere within the com munity. It would seem to be other wise in Alaska, according to a letter received from one of our members there. It's request for relief would seem 10 be the best first aid' so we quote few paragraphs.
 What the people of Alaska are vitally interested in is good roads and laws to govern themselves e. Alaska Is governed so much that it is burden on the people. Take for instance tho road commission. For fifteen years we have been try ing to get road built to the boun- diary line: also a bridge across the skagway river. Through the kind ness of Governor Strong and the good will of our honored Secretary of the Interior, and Hon. Franklin K. Lane. the road was at last, after all these suffering years, surveyed in the summer of 1914.
 Last fall we finally got Q bridge. Just think of 1t. It cost $1,70O to build and about $500 for blue prints. IT the bridge stands up at the next high water then miss my guess. The Improvement of Alaska is what the people want. and good roads can be built without the aid of the mill tary, by any sourdough without the aid of blue prints and lots of super nouous office force. I am bold tol say that 40 per cent is used for making blue prints.
 'T will just give you an illustra' ton of how this measly bridge was built after scrapping over 1t to get 1t: First, @ surveyor was sent. A year afterwards the forman came up to see what the surveyor was doing. Then lieutenant came here to see what the two were doing Finally to cap the climax, fellow came all the way to skagway from Fairbanks to see what an the others were do- Ing. Then, about six months after wards, we got the bridge built with all due respect and friendship to all of them. Now. if you can help us to get that road built to the summit at the boundary line, where we will have a chance to get out of the country save and except by water, this association will be under last. Ing obligations"
 Col. Rlehardson's Reply
 Washington. D. C., May 2, 1916 To the Editor "The Nations Busi'
 ness." Chamber of Commerce, U.
 S. A. Riggs Building Washing
 ton. D. C.;
 Dear Sir:
 My attention has been called to an article in your April issue, page 24, entitled Alaska Wants Quicker Ac- ton" Reference Is made therein to the road commission" by which is intended the Board of Road Com missioners for Alaska. created by act of Congress approved January 27, 1905, and working under the d. rection of the War Department
 The article states in part:
 For fifteen years we have been trying to get road built to the (canadian) boundary line; also a bridge across the Skagway river. Last fall we finally got a bridge. | Just think of 1t. It cost s1,70O to biuld and about $500 for bule prints"
 In the last few years there has been some agitation for the construc- ton of wagon road to the canad- Ian boundary from skagway, the value of which is exceedingly doubt full. except for the first few miles, which would open up Q portion of the valley of slSagway for home gteading and settlement The re- nainder ofsuch road would be use less unless continued beyond the boundary line into Canadian territory A railroad already runs from Skag way to the boundary. which the pro- posed wagon road would parallel, SO