The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-09-13
RICHARDSON TO
URGE NEED FOR
MORE ROADWORK
Says Will Support Efforts to
Get More Funds-Leaves
for Washington.

Concluding two-month trip to the
Territory, which extended as far as
Fairbanks, Gen Wilds w. Richard
son left this morning on the Alameda
for Seattle en- route to Washington
d. c. AS War DepaI tment repre-
sentative on the lo:crd pa- mental
Alaska COMMITTEES and head Of the
Department of Interiors Alaska
clearing house he will suj.Lit a re-
port to Secretary Fall covert ing The
sections of Alaska he visited
Before leaving he expressed his
appreciation of tn, warmth G MS
welcome back to Alaska. aid his
pleasure in being bile TO get back to
the North, and affirmed his inter.-
ton of lending his support &c every
undertaking for ne develo .;D.cnt of
the Territory and especially to aid
in getting funds for road building.
Impressed With Needs
General Richardson said: 81 am
more impressed than ever before
with the need for the establishment
and improvement of wagon road
system in the Territory. and intend
to work to that end. giving support.
however, to the railroad development
as well, and particularly to the need
OF the early completion to standard
condition, in the way of surfacing,
widening, etc, of the road from Fair
banks to the coast"
This road which links Fairbanks
and Valdez with a branch line from
Willow Creek to Chitina. is official
ly known to the Alaska Road Com
mission and to all Alaskans as the
Richardson Highway. The name was
bestowed by common consent as a
tribute to General Richardson, who
was mainly responsible for its orig
inal construction during his tenure
Of office on the Commission
Gives Cost Of Road
The General gave some history of
the development of the road, saying:
From its beginning as a pioneer
trail in 1906, representing some 16
years of maintenance and continu-
Gus improvement from year to year
as the limited funds were available,
it Is a marvel of economy in con-
struction and reflects particular
credit upon the Engineer Officers of
the board who were concerned with
and responsible for the engineer
work in the field.
"A total throughout all these years
Of about $500 per mile has been
expended upon the road, of which
1920 represents actual construction
and the remainder repair and main
tenance from year to year, 1t is now
estimated that with an addition OF
approximately $500 per mile, or
total of less than $1,000 per mile,
the road can be placed in excellent
condition with graveled surfacing
throughout. When one considers the
conditions under which this road
was built and the fact that in the
States as high as 100000 to $4,000
per mile are expended on highly i'm
proved paved roads, the economy and
care with which the money has been
expended can be appreciated"
General Richardson praised highly
the officers detailed for service on
the Alaska Road Commission by the
Board of Engineers All of them
have the very highest standings in
heir grades in the Engineer Corps
md represent the very pick of the
Corps, he said. And all Of them
have proven their fitness for the task
Vt road building, he added General
Richardson is the only Infantry Of
eicer ever assigned to the Commits
sion and was its president for many
years