Seward daily gateway., 1925-07-24
ary Jagged trail.

formed were the Haines-Pleasant Camp, Mccarthy -Ninziza, Chatanika Circle, Mt Mckinley, National Park, Talkeetna- Cache Creek, Long-Poor- man and Ophir- Tokotna. The exten- sive bridge program inaugurated the previous year was continued. The more important structures upon which the new construction or extensive re- pairs were performed included bridges across Big Boulder above Haines, Mi gina, Tazlina, and Gulkana rivers, Gun Creek in Isabella Pass, Millers at Mile 223, Cinema Slough, Bull River, and Iron and Charette creeks on the Nome-Shelton Tramway.
 The important Richardson Highway which was reopened in 1921, was main tained open during the entire season. There was an increased tourist travel during the 1924 season. Traffic re- ports show the following movement over the Richardson Highway during the calendar year 1924; 2603 persons, 1907 motor driven vehicles, B wagons, 50 double enders, 20 pack horses and 800 tons of freight. During the 1925 season tourist travel had already be- gun in June, nearly month earlier than had been possible heretofore.
 Construction work progressed unu- sually we'll during the 1924 season on account of the very dry weather.
 The total expenditures during the fiscal year amounted to $1,138, 8,347.64, of which SIPS, ,O4O.04 was for construc- tion and $410,30760 was for mainte- nance.
 Condition of Prospects
 The work of maintenance and reha- bilitation has been pushed and the roads and trails under jurisdiction of the Board are in better shape than be- fore. The total mileage of roads and trails constructed or maintained by the Board aggregate 9763 miles, con- sisting of 1472 miles of wagon roads, 10S6 miles of sled road, 6465 miles of permanent trail and 712 miles of tenn porary Jagged trail. Work was per- formed upon 6789 miles of the system during the fiscal year.
 The 410-mile Valdez Chitina- Fair banks road received splendid atten- tion. Two more seasons should see this important overland route com pleted to a uniform standard and giv- en gravel surface throughout. Over 100 miles of the 16O miles extension from Fairbanks to Circle are now pas sable for wagons and the entire route is utilized for winter travel by dou- ble bobsled.
 The total expenditures to the end of the fiscal year June 30, 1925, were S8,911,714.97 not including outstand- ing liabilities or contributed funds, of which $5,196,O97.56 was expended for new construction and S3,715,61741 for maintenance.
 Plans for Future.
 The 10-year program adopted by the Commission and formally approved, proposed the appropriation of S1,4O0,- 900 for the prosecution of the work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926. Only $900,000 was provided by the Act of February 12, 1925. These funds will be expended on rehabilita- ton of the existing system. Unless much greater annual appropriations are made little can be done to meet the pressing need for improvements and extensions of the system, espe- cially in providing the urgently need ed highway and trail feeders to the Government Railroad now completed. For the fiscal year 1925 Congress has provided for a maintenance and oper- ations deficit on the railroad of $1,- 605, 1000.
 The annual maintenance of the road and trail system after completion, as nearly as can be estimated at this time, will cost about $550,000. An appropriation in accordance with the 1924 program of $1,750,000 can be profitably expended on the work dur ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927.
 Work Is Endorsed. At the recent session of the Legis- lature a memorial was unanimously passed indorsing the work done by the Commission and is evidence of the harmony existing between it and the Territorial government. The me- morial cited the years of service ren- dered by the Commission under the War Department and bore testimony 1 as to the value of that service. l In conclusion, the Legislature asked that the Commission be permitted to continue it's work, it's powers broad ened and it's road and trail eonstrue- tion speeded up. It also requested that the proposal made in the gov e1snmental reorganization program 1 e.