The Nome nugget., 1927-04-23


 (Continued from last week).
 COL. sTEEsE. It would not carry oi, my plans. sir It world merely maintain the status
 SEN. JONES. In other words. you could put in any new construction?
 COL. STEEsE. No. sir. If had $1,oOo- 900 would not start single project. would merely carry out the program of last year.
 SEN JONES. If you had what you estimating for. s2,ooo,ooo. would you start any thing new?
 COL sTEEsE. would take up several new projects. have my ave-year program, in three different groups. projects of the first importance. second importance. and third importance. All of it is considered essential within the construction period, and have not been able to touch them at all. The last two years I have had S900.ooo year. and I have organization that could spend twice that much money. only with the ad- dition of a few
 SEN. JONES. Out of that ssoO ,ooO how much of that went to maintenance?
 COL. STEESE. Over $6OO,OOO and that did do all the maintenance
 SEN. JONES. So that you have only had $2oo, 900 or s30o,OoO available for new or addi- tional work!
 COL. sTEESE. Yes sir; and witt. that might a little of my program in different tions, equally worthy, but all of lesser magnitude I sacrifice all of the territory these two projects So, next year, I have go back and pick up that slack that dropped last year.
 SEN JONES. With your s7Oo,O0o you not even maintain what you have?
 COL. STEEsE. No, sir.
 SEM FLETCHER The Richardson High. way from Valdez to Fairbanks is open to use:
 COL. sTEEsE. It has been for years yes, sir: but they have washouts. There will be in terruptions and 1t is expensive to rebuild. Se have only few sections have to rebuild each year, but, that six eight hundred dollars . mile. instead of s250 mile after the investment has been made.
 SEN FLETCHER. Can you not put that in that?
 COL STEESE. That is my plan. If can finish that 2-year program and get 1t hnishei 50 that it has gravel surface from end to eni and bridges, it will not cost much. Some of the bridges there were built of native timber to start with, and they have been there for 10 or r. years. I just received cable that big bridge washed out last week which will cost me z to replace. have known that have to replace that bridge for two or three years but every year I could stall 1t off, 1t left little more mo"- f'r some place else But this year, I will have to re- place that bridge. with timber structure adequate for the trafhc and will be good for 20 years morr
 SEN. JONES. Tell us the importance of the Richardson Highway and the beneht 1t will bring to Alaska.
 COL sTEESE The Richardson Highway is an essential link in main transportation system of the Territory. We have the Alaska Ratlroad built by the Government for sso.0oo.ooo. starting from an open coast port, running ;n'" with certain branches coal and gold developments We have the Copper River Railroad from Cordoya Eup to the Kennecott Mines Connecting tho two, and connecting third open coast port we have this 4l0-miie Richardson Highway The upper third of the important feeder. except the Chat anika Circle Road. to the Alaska Railroad. The lower half feeder to the Copper River Railroad and : connecton to Valdez. It ts the only ioll- free means Of communication in the Interior of the Territory. The Alaska Railroad is trying to build up its tourist business. The best trip for them s over the railfoad and out over highway. 2g