The Alaska citizen., 1917-01-22

has been assured by A. F. zipf. traffic manager of the A I. x. Co, tha, all freight for the interior viii be handled and if it is handled as |. is needed. the work is plain sailing.
 When asked if he would move his headquarters back to Fairbanks next summer Mir. Riggs replied: My headquarters next summer will be under my hat" He also stated that he would spend most of the time on the works. and that the commission would have fast launch on the river. so he would spend much time at both Fairbanks and Nenana. Fair banks will be division headquarters for the work done between here and the Ohio roadhouse A large warehouse will be maintained here so that supplies can be distributed to the camps along the line.
 X force Of approximately 20o0 men will be employed on the work be tween Fairbanks and the coal fields. This will be an increase of nearly 1900 men over the number employed at any one time last summer. Ii is. however. not the intention of the commission to import any labor into the interior Mr. Riggs is of the opinion that d large proportion of rhe Iaborers required will come froI the camps throughout the interior. Others will probably come in from the States of their own yolition. as the interior, and the chances for employment here. are being eXten- slyely advertised throughout the States at the present time. For these and other valid reasons, the commission will not bring any labor into this section.
 Commissioner Riggs states that very little work is being done this winter, as the funds available have been almost exhausted The pile driver is driving piles for tresue work in order that some track may be put down as early as weather con G.uous permit in the spring, A crew is engaged in doing rock wol on the north side of the Panama river South of Nenana men are working on the big gravel fills. In fact, all work that will facilitate the actual construction and laying of track next summer is now being done, as far as the limited amount of funds on hand will permit.
 One hundred and fifty men are on the pay rolls of the commission at present. Besides them, a number of contractors are engaged in get ting out ties, strlngers and big tim bers to be used in bridge work. These men are progressing nicely, and by spring will have their con tracts practically completed.
 The necessary equipment for hand ling gravel and all construction ma, terial, has been ordered, consisting of thirty flat cars and ballast cars. Three locomotives have also been ordered as motive power. With this amount of rolling stock, the distribu, tion of materials should be efficiently and quickly accomplished.
 Asked about conditions at Nenana, the commissioner stated that it was as good a little town as he ever saw. That it would undoubtedly be a better one during the next three years. in fact, that, owing to the great number of men that will neces- saTily have to be employed on that division, the next two years will probably be the best years the town will experience.
 Mr. Riggs looks for a development of the entire Panama valley that will surpass the most sanguine eX- pectations of the biggest booster and optimist in the country. Many peo- pie are inquiring about the district which the road will open up. Un- doubtdely many settlers will be at tracted to the country, in view of the great advantages offered.