The Cordova daily times., 1917-03-24
FUTURE WORK LIN GOVERNMENT
 RAILWAY

To what extent railroad work in Alaska, and particularly this division, would be curtailed as the result of the failure of congress to approve the sundry civil bill before adjournment has been a question of deep concern to the people of Nenana, and in order that there might be a clear under standing of the situation, Thomas Riggs, Jr, was asked yesterday to make statement regarding the plans of the Alaskan engineering commis- sion.
 MT. Riggs regrets exceedingly that ample funds are not available to rush the work at top speed,- as it is his desire, and the desire of the other members of the commission, to com plete the railroad at the earliest pos sible date But they will do the best they can under the circumstances, stretching the funds to the uttermost limit, and while construction work during the early part of the season will necessarily be limited, there is the promise that the summer will close with the work progressing on
 - - ----~'Antious scale. Mir Riggs statement follows, fsss-S
 'The failure of congress to pass the sundry act, containing the appro. priation for the construction of rail roads in Alaska, may result in seri ous inconvenience to the commission. At the last moment a joint resolution was agreed upon, carrying an emer- geney appropriation of $3,00,00O. This sum must be made to last until the general act, carrying the balance of the appropriation becomes law. The ' new congress when convened will take some time to organize and reconstruct the various held-up appropriation bills, so I hardly expect that the major part of the appropriation will become avail. able before August.
 Besides the $3,0O0,0OO in the emer- gency appropriation, the commission has but little money available to carry on the work. Unfortunately the greatest liabilities are incurred at the commencement of the season, when the whole years supplies for both the Anchorage and Fairbanks divisions are purchased. MT. Bailey and l have been slashing acquisitions right and left, so that we may keep the force at work. We will not be able to carry the former ambitious plans for rail road building out, but in all probabi- ity construction as contemplated will be pushed to the Nenana coal fields. Construction in the Goldstream and Fairbanks districts will not start un- til after more money is in sight. The report that the railroad will not go beyond Nenana is absolutely unfound- ed. Fairbanks will be reached just as soon as money and labor will per. nit
 "The chairman, MT. Edes, is now getting in reports from the various divisions as to their absolute necessi- ties, and as soon as this information | Is in his hands he will make the allot- ments of funds. have no idea what this division will receive, but it stands to reason that the south end of the work will receive prime consideration. i Mfr Mfr Edes, however, will giue-Ms every possible cent he can spare, of this l am sure.
 "The people of the town need feel no alarm regarding the value of their holdings. for while we may make a rather lame start this year, we are bound to have the money sooner or later and will then endeavor to make up for lost time.
 Until we can see what progress congress is making toward the final passage of the act 1t would be most unwise to branch out to too great an extent."-Nenana News.