The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1919-02-20
MUST COMPLETE THE R.
??MR. RYAN ??0IL BILL

NewSpapermen encounter strange subjects while on assignment work, encounter men of all classes and con ditions. men of all kinds of promn- ence. but the newSpaperman must get the facts. When, however, a newspap- erman goes against another newSpap- ernan. especially when the latter Is on a mission, and both know what tho other wants, the usual tactics are thrown away and it is blunt talk.
 W. A. Ryan. who is in Alaska "to make a report to Secretary Lane, anJ that report will be made to him, be- fore any publicity is given, and you can use your own conclusions m the words of Mir Ryan, arrived in Sew ard last night to remain here until the Alameda leaves for the south and ,S at the Seward Hotel with his wife.
 It was newspaperman to newSpap' erman last night when the Editor met Dir. Ryan. Mir. Ryan was city editor of the Tacoma News when the Edito' of the Gateway was "the original off co boy of the Seattle PoSt-lntelligenc- CT" and that was years ago. Mir. Ryan and the Editor chatted about the "Old boys" both knowing the same old bunch and then the interviewer and the interviewed began to parry.
 "Mr. Ryan, is it true that you are an investigator of the governmen; railroad project in Alaska"
 What do you mean, by investigat- orr" said MT. Ryan.
 "An investigator in the true sense Of the word. prober, a man who lS going to ascertain where the $3l,Ooo- 900 of government money has been spent, how so little, regarding the real object, seems to be realized, and when these facts have been secured, what will you report?
 It was then that Mir. Ryan stated tha, he was on a mission for Secretary Lane and would make his report, first to him, but added: "You can draw your own conclusions and go as lar a. you like"
 Mir. Ryan, is an elderly man. short and what might be termed chunky. He is smooth shaven, grey haired. MT. Ryan is an alert individual. No matter what opinion others may have, he Is active, body and mind, also Suave.
 And the Editor will take it that you are an investigator, Mir. Ryan and ask YOU to bear in mind few things.
 You have made the trip out over the government railroad and the proposed right-of-way. You were in the west when the Northern Pacific was con structed, when the Great Northern was constructed. You have seen what real railroad construction is and what can be accomplished by practical con structors and not those who have been foisted upon commissions who knew nothing of railroad constructions, or elaborate scale, as is the governmen; project.
 Why is it then, MT. Ryan that tho Seward division is not completed! Eleven years ago, MT. Ryan, trains were being operated over this rail- road, at q speed of 45 miles an hour Practically the same trestles, in many places are still in use, dangerous con trivances. so dangerous to human life that train crews will not haul only certain loads over them. Seward is tho the terminus of this government pro feet. But it is not even connected with the point where it was II years age
 Why?
 It is a matter of common knowledge that certain officials became piqreC because certain property in Sewarc xas held to be of too high a value. But they were government official and as such should have been broad minded. Therc are many miles norts sf the city of Seward where another