The Alaska daily empire., 1922-01-14
COLONEL MEARS SAYS RAILROAD
 ABOUT FINISHED
Be Completed in Permanent Shape Early Next Month
 Celebration Plans.

The Government Alaska Railroad will be completed in permanent shape between Seward and Nenana early next month, according to a statement made today by Colonel Frederick Mears, chairman of the Alaskan En- gineering Commission. The bridge across Riley Creek, the last link necessary, is now being erected, and will be completed about February 10, he said.
 Colonel Mears is en route to Wash ington to report to Secretary Fall on the railroad project and to give whatever data is required in connec. tion with the request which has been made on Congress for an apprOpria tion of $3O00,000 for railroad work this year. Of this sum, $2,000,000 will be used for the great steel bridge across the Panama River. If the money becomes available this spring. it will be possible, said Col onel Mears, for Che structural bridge to be purchased and delivered on the ground by next winter. The probable date of the completion of the big bridge, after that will de pend largely upon the bridge con tractors attitude as regards winter work. If they are willing to go right ahead the structure can be put in next winter. If, however, they ob- ject, it is possible that not until the | 1f ,,.i1l hn linked directly to Fairbanks.
 Celebration Plans Not Complete No definite plans have been made for celebration in connection with linking of Interior Alaska waterways with the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. said Colonel Mears. When the bridge across Riley Creek is com pleted next month. an excursion will be made by Fairbanks business men that time some plans will be perfect ed for a joint celebration in which all the towns along the railroad will take part It is suggested from sev eral quarters, and the suggestion has the endorsement of Governor Bone, that the driving of the golden spike be delayed until the proposed visit of President Harding. Secretary Fall and other members of the administra- tion. That plan, Colonel Mears ad- mitted, would be entirely in accord with the views of the Commission ip1u lyn bo na1n- bration very noteworthy. The time of the celebration would, of course, depend upon the date of the proposed visit of the President and others. probably in July or August.
 Surfacing to Be Done
 This delay would fit in nicely with the work of the Commission. this season. In rushing the rails north ward across Broad Pass, steel was laid in places on the grade without any attempt being made to surface and ballast. This work will be done after the breakup this spring and by | the middle of the summer the track will be in good shape. At the present time, although no such schedule is
 
 maintained by the regular operating department, it is possible to run trains from Anchorage to Ne mana in 15 hours, the distance being 300 miles. indicating the ex- | cellect condition of the track
 Developing Coal Deposits
 That the prospecting being done by the Sullivan Machinery Company on Coal Creek for the Navy Coal Commission is producing very satis factory results. is indicated by Col onel Mears. This work is being done with diamond drills. The prospecting thus far has uncovered a supply of coal which at the present is estimat ed to contain at least 100000 tons The coal is high grade bituminous ol fine steaming qualities. The Navy Commission is exploring and inyesti gating the entire Chickaloon area the operations being carried out un