The Alaska daily empire., 1920-11-20
NEW BRIDGE IS THROWN ACROSS
 CHILKAT RIVER
Twenty Four Miles of Road Completed Rainy Hollow
 Open to Wagon Traffic.

"On my first trip to Haines last Spring. I promised the people there rebuilt road to the Chflkat River and new bridge across that stream" said Col. J. C. Gotwal5, Engineer officer of the Alaska Road Commission returning here last night from Haines and Skagway. "It has been done" he completed
 Col. Gotwals, during his trip, made an inspection of the road work done on the Haines- Rainy Hollow project. He reports first class road has been completed from Haines, a dis tance of 24 miles to Wells where the new bridge has been constructed. The latter is wooden structure | 51O feet in length and replaced the old which was condemned two years since by the Commission as being un- safe for traffic.
 Good Road Available
 The completion of the bridge, ac cording to Col Gotwals, makes avail |; able a fairly good mining road into the Rainy Hollow mining district, making it possible for those inter- ested in the development of that dis trict to transport any heavy material i needed in their exploration work. From Wells to the International Boundary, a distance of 12 miles, the route lies through the Klehina | River Valley along the North side of the stream. Ii connects with the | old Dalton trail, which is still in fairly good shape, and furnishes q road to the mineral belt. It is the purpose of the Commission, he said, [ | to make this route to the border the main highway, work to be carried | out as occasion demands in order to meet development needs of the district.
 Keep Open Porcupine The road into the Porcupine will not be abandoned, according to Col. Gotwals. The next work to be done on the Haines Rainy Hollow project, will be the construction of two miles of permanent roadway along the north bank of the Klehina river and bridge across that stream to con meet with the Porcupine trail, which he said is in good condition until the upper waters are reached. This rail, he said, must be kept open for he miners along that stream and the homesteaders in the district.
 Needs Development
 Big opportunities are seen by him in the Haines district which includes the upper Chilkat and Klehina val leys Both of these are uneXcellel . in the Territory for farming lands. | rich soil being in abundance and the climate mild without having the great amount of rainfall common to the coastal regions. In both valleys. he said, there are large quantities of timber the equal of any in Alaska
 The road now being built offers fine opening for Haines to develop I T tourist trade. he declared It runs l back along and into the mountains and the scenery is not surpassed by any in the country. Game also abounds and the route leads into the greatest paradise for hunters coming North in search of big game.
 Praises Workmen
 He praised the work done by foreman Mckenzie. and his crew of 60 men during the past season. They have built one of Alaskas best roads. | Col. Gotwals made the trip to Wells in Ford making the distance of 24 miles in one and one half hours.
 considerable increase, he said is to be made in the strength of the ] detachment of soldiers now stationed at Fort William H. Seward. which now numbers ITO men. Sixty ad- ditional soldiers are expected to ar rive in the near future. An electric light plant is to be installed as soon as machinery can be secured from the States. Iva 25-kilowatt gasoline 1 electric generator units have been 1 ordered for the power source.
 I Col Gotwals had intended to go from Skagway to Seattle, on the l Princess Mary, being ordered to re- ! port before an examining board at Camp Lewis. Wash, but he failed 10 make connections with the boat : md returned here last night on the : Peterson. He will go South on the GnnlruDa