The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-02-15


 mail and passenger service was main tained between Valdez and Fairbanks during the present summer, AS the roads improve, the traffic increases and it is expected that there will be a large increase in automobile traffic in the coming year.
 Much damage has been done to the roads by the use of heavy, mar row-tired trucks, the operation of which, due to the absence of appropri- ate laws, the board is powerless to regulate. Roads recently graded, which would prove satisfactory for light traffic, are plowed up by heavy trucks before Surfacing is completed, and expensive repairs became .,eces- sary.
 The legislature was appealed to through the governor for some suit able law to protect the roads of the territory, but so far no action has been taken. Roads constructed and maintained by the board should be protected by a law similar to that passed by Congress for the protection of telegraph lines. (Sec. 60, approv- ed Mar. 4, 1909, and published in G. O. p, War Department, 1910.)
 A single instance will show the necessity for some protective meas ure. On September IA, 1916, the superintendent at Nome reported, in regard to completed road that:
 "This road for 800 feet was destroyed by being worked out by Mining & Dredge Go. The dis trict attorney would not give us pro tection and 1 had the piece of road re- built. Inside of two weeks after it was constructed it was destroyed again"
 It is hoped some action may be taken to protect roads and bridges, etc, built by federal appropriations. A good deal of undeServed criticism and even abuse has been heaped up on the board in the past and especial ly upon it's presiding officer, some of which, at least, was due to this con dition. One source O; this criticism is we'll known to the War Depart ment.
 in the several districts follow.
 Work accomplished in this district ! is included in these paragraphs:
 Southwestern District
 NIr. Anton Eide, Superintendent
 Route lO-Seward-Kenai Lake road 1 GA miles Maintenance work by the board on this route was confined to the early part of the year, and in- cluded minor repairs to bridges, re- moving driftwoOd from bridges, and 1 repairing corduroy.
 During October and November , 1915, S3,4OO was expended on this route by the Territorial road commits sioner for the third judicial division under the mediate supervision of Mir Eide. The work was done by con tract, and embraced relocating on the right of way of the government rail, road, approximately Is miles of the road between milero2tS 1 and 8, anc strengthening, widening, and repair ing the old road between mileposts and ,.
 In May of this year the work ot reconstructing the pile bridge over Resurrection river was commenced Three 75-foot truss spans were erect ed over the main stream, and th' south pile trestle approach was ex tended 200 feet. The cost of thi' work to June 30 was S2,616.1O. The bridge was completed in August at total cost of approximately $4,7OO. Route 12-Mile 34 A. N. R. R.-Hop' ' Road (31 miles road, 9 miles slet road-The years work on this rout' was entirely maintenance, and com prised the removal of fallen trees, re pairing eulverts and corduroy, an' cleaning out cuts.