The Alaska daily empire., 1921-08-13
HIGHWAY OPENED
 ID ALL TRAFFIC
 STATES STEESE
A. R. (. President Returns from Extended Trip Over
 Commission Projects.

Completing g journey Of little more than a month through the upper Yu kon section and Interior Alaska and trip into the Government Railroad districts. Colonel James c. Steese, president of the Alaska Road Com mission. returned to his headquarters here on the steamer Alameda last night. The main object of my trip at this time was to formally open the Richardson Highway to traffic be- tween Valdez and Fairbanks" de clared Colonel Steese today.
 This has been done, and it will be kept open from this time on,' he qdded The highway is now in the best condition it has ever been, but it is still below standard in some sections and will require the expendi- ture of much money to bring it up 10 standard it's entire length"
 An All-American Route
 Since the creation of the Alaska Road Commission, said Colonel Steese, it has been the aim of the government to open up an all-Ameri- can route from tidewater on the Al askan coast to the upper Yukon dis trlcts The first effort in this direc- tion was seen in the Valdez, Gull kama. Fort Egbert trail. The event ual route. however, will be from Val deg to Circle. Of this route, which will be 531 miles long, 452 miles have ;ch Highway between Valdez and Fair banks forms the greater portion of the route, being 367 miles. Other sections of the route virtually com pleted are between Fairbanks and Chatanika and between Circle and Miller House. On the uncompleted portion, 79 miles between Miller House and Chatanika, work was in itiated this season. It is expected that 9 miles of permanent location will he made, 10 miles of clearing, grubbing and grading, and perhaps bridge erected across the Chatanika River before operations close this year This all-American route. al. though it will not be completed for a number of years, will eventually be open to all traffic at all times. ac cording to Colonel Steese.
 Wonderful Scenic Trail
 The new part of the highway around Keystone canyon north of Valdez he said, was one of the fin est scenic highways anywhere in the world Few, he said, can compare with it. Tourists who fail to stop off at Cordova and make the two-day trip over the Copper River Railroad to Chitina, out the highway to Will low Creek and south to Valdez, miss the opportunity of their lives, he said.
 Enjoys Visit
 The trip in it's entirety, said Col onel Steese. was very enjoyable and made more so than ordinarily would be the case by the companionship of an old college mate, E. M. Riddle, of Philadelphia, and one of the famous family of that name. MT. Riddle. who was touring the country, joined Colonel Steese at Skagway on July 6 and made the entire trip with him, mushing along heavy trails and fighting mosquitos and apparently enjoying every minute of his trip He was impressed with the country and it's possibilities and delighted with it's scenery Mr Riddle wen South on the Northwestern las. aight.
 At Fairbanks Colonel Steese and his friend were guests of honor at a banquet given by the Commercial Club. He conferred with officials of the Yukon Territory while in Daw- son. He also visited Valdez, Cor dova, Seward and Anchorage. He covered the entire Fairbanks local i Territorial road projects and the same activities in the Anchorae Matanuska section.
 Makes Trip to TaIkeetna
 Colonel Steese also rode out over the Talkeetna-Cache Creek route as far as Mile 9. Work on this road is being vigorously prosecuted. By the end of the season grading will have been completed to Mile 12 clearing and grubbing for grading tC Mile H. all bridges and sdehil grading done to Mile p, and cor duroying to the end of the road. The entire road is now open for bob-slet traffic during the winter months.