The Alaska daily empire., 1919-08-18
MEARS EXPECTS RAILROAD WILL
 BE COMPLETED
President of Commission Says This Season is Lost But Hopes Work Will
 Start Next Spring

That the present season has been
 lost as far as practical headway in
 construction on the Alaska railroad is concerned, but that he hopes to be able to resume the construction work early next spring and prosecute the
 work to final completion, was the de claration of Col Frederick Mears, President of the Alaska Engineering Commission and the only member of that commission at the present time, who was in Juneau yesterday
 Col. Mears believes that Congress will make the necessary appropria tion to complete the railroad, and hopes it will be made available at one time so that when it begins the work may be carried on to the best advantage to the conclusion.
 Assistant Secretary of the Inte- rior John w. Halowell, Col George T. Slade, formerly vice president of the Northern Pacific Railway, Col Alfred H. Brooks, formerly of hte United States geological survey, and George H. Gamble, financial expert, were in the party that was here OH the Alameda yesterday, as well as Col. Mears. Col Mears was accom- panied by Mrs. Mears and their four children, and Mrs Hallowell accom-. panied Assistant Secretary Hallowell.
 The entire party were dinner guests at the Governors House yes -erday evening. Gov. and Mrs. Thomas Riggs, Jr, joined the party at Juneau and sailed on the Alameda for Anchorage. Accompanying them were MT. and Mrs Frederic R. Cou- dert, who had been guests at the Governors House for the last four weeks
 Mrs. Riggs and MT and Mrs. Cou- dert will return on the Alameda, Mrs. Riggs to Juneau and Mir and Mrs. Coudert on to Seattle and thence to New York. Gov Riggs will re- main with Assistant Secretary Hal lowell and party until the arrival of the Admiral Watson at Anchorage. when he will return on that vessel, coming via Kodiak. The other mem- bers of the party. will proceed over the railroad and via horseback to Nenana, thence to Fairbanks and re- turn to the coast over the Richard son road. Col Mears will return to Anchorage from Cordova, where his home will be established and where he expects to spend the winter The others in the party will return to the States from Cordova.
 Slade Is Practical Man.
 Col. Slade, who is accompanying Assistant Secretary Hallowell on the Alaskan trip, is practical railroad man. He was vice-president of the Great Northern Railroad for many years, and was general manager of the American railroads in Franco from the time of the landing of the American troops there until ordered home when the armistice was signed. At that time, Col Mears, who had been his chief assistant, succeeded him as general manager of American railroads in France.
 Col Brooks had charge of Ameri- can geological work in France dur ing the war. and before that earned fame as chief of the Geological sur vey work in Alaska, which he sue cessfully prosecuted for many years.
 MT Gamble was in Alaska last year with w. A. Ryan, when they made a special examination and re- port for the Interior department on the railroad.
 Assistant Secretary Hallowell was chief assistant to Food Administrator Herbert C. Hoover during the war, and went to the Interior department where he has special charge of Alas ka matters under Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane.