The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-09-13
MEARS ISSUES STATEMENT AS TO FUTURE COMMISSION POLICY: NO
 CESSATI0N OF WORK IN INTERIOR
{ By Andy ItOey)

\ this morning for the Colonel Frederick Mears handed to The Citizen correspondent regarding the con sruclon policy oI the Alaskan Engineering commission as it affects the northern division From this it is apparent la the comm>oon only does contemplate any cessation of work the interior end o the Alaskan railroad but rath will increase that work if the supplies available and those which will be landed before the close of navigation will per init such action.
 And just d word about those supplies. It is known that it planned rush hundred of steel rails the interior the last boats DaWson These rails, is have been diverted from a shipment originally destined to Anchorage, and N also possible that other sup plies may be diverted Colonel Mears statement follows tvo-day conference which he has just concluded with En gncer Charge Browne, and based the present con tions related to him by Mr. Browne It follows:
 "In response q request from the Commercial Clubs of Nena1a and Fairbanks and in compliance with the similar request made by the editors o1 the newspapers of Fairbanks and Nenana taking this opportunity to make public the following statement outlining the proposed program oI operation for continuing the construction of the railroad in the northern division during the present year and succced ing calendar year:
 "Based the suppositon that the appropriation for continuing the construction the Alaska railroad will be made available by congress before the first of January, will be the policy of the Alaskan Engineering commission complete the tHbOrurv gauge track mow being laid the standard gauge roadbeI from the north bank of the Tanana Mile 4l5) up Nodstrcam to form connection with the Panama alley Railroad Happy Station Mile 4o5) This junction will add about SO mles to the present aca9e north of the Panama and furnish rail communication between the north bank of the anana rvcr opposite Neraua, Fairbanks Cinema and Cha tanika The total trackagc there will be % miles (narroW 9augc).
 "Upon the completion of the permanent bridge over the Panama river opposite Ncrana, later date the roW gauge track being laid in the Gostrcam valley will be Widccd o standard gauge and including the IyUIid at Fairbanks
 "Nth the reservation regarding the availability o the appropriation abovt 1t will be the purpose o the Alaskan Engineering commission to extend the standard gauge track southWard from the present end of steel Mile 300 point the north end of the Ncnana canyon (nIe 5OO) opposite ea fork This extension of main line track to Mile 300 will make possible establish active stuction camp at the foot o the Nclana canyon which will Joe in rail communication with the material and dcpol at Nelana during the winter months.
 Supplies due incoming river boats will be de- Ivered this camp and they will be available taCking the heavy work the Ncnana cayon when the new camp established and supplies landed there avail able for Mr. BrOWne cngineerin-charge has been thOrlzed to work many experienced rock work and rock and tunnels available in this section of the country and it will be also the policy of the Alaskan En- gneerng commission to extend Mir. BroWne division far southward and into Broad Pass available and sup, plies make such extension wise and eXpeCltn
 "Wth respect the coal situation in the Ne1a1a coal fields and available coal supplies In order the quiremens of the commission and the oW1lspcope of Nena ma and Fairbanks Mr. Browne advises that he will have the standard gauge track re-esabseo the Nenana brdge sometime i'll the present month which will permit rail deliveries of coal direct from Burns mine Mile 300 to Nenana. It is also Mr. BroWnes intention this winter provided that coal is mined at the Burns mnl in Sufficient quantity that will be available for ship ment into Fairbanks and provided further that there enough demand for this coal in the Fairbanks district to war the expense of the undertaking.
 (Sie1ed) 'F MI[ARS, Chairman and Chief Engineer.