The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-08-24
WEATHER HURTS ROAD PROGRAM,
 SAYS ELLIOTT
Extreme w e ath er Does Material Damage to h.
 terior Road Projects

All lOduS III liibtIlOT hldSkd nave suffered from extreme weather con ditions during the past year, ac- cording to Maj. Malcolm Elliott President of the Alaska Road Com mission, who returned on the Ala- meda from an inspection trip in that section. Not in a great many years have conditions been so ad- verse to road building and mainte- nance, he said. The snowfall last winter was un- usually heavy and blanketed the roads at some points to a depth of more than 30 feet. The mels- ing snow followed by extraordinar- fly heavy rains caused considerable damage in the way of washing off surface material and the destruc- tion of bridges, Mai Elliott said. Keeps Traffic Moving
 II However except for turning back one small party of tourists early in June, traffic has been main- tained all season without serious delay. Tourist traffic over Richard son Highway has been about nor- nal, but improved facilities in the shape of auto stages and better roadhouse accommodations made it more comfortable. than in previous years and is expected to stimulate business for future seasons
 In Mt. Mckinley National Park tourist traffic was at least 25 per cent in excess of last year The program for the park roads, Maj. Elliott said, following the visit and recommendations of Ernest E. Saw yer, has been greatly advanced, and it is expected passable road to Copper Mountain, at the base of Mt. Mckinley. will be in service by the end of the working season of 1881.
 The Alaska Railroad has under reconsideration the erection of a tour ist hotel at Mckinley Park Sta tion, and the Mckinley Park Trans lportation Company is considering knowing it's base camp from Savage River to Sable Pass and the even- tual construction of a modern hotel at Copper Mountain
 Park Trip Enjoyed
 'The Mckinley Park trip is one tthat has been enjoyed by prac- Etically everyone who made it this year. All the tourists with whom I have conversed were enthusiastic about it." said Maj. Elliott. "The open country, beautiful scenery and the abundance of wild game pre- sent in the park are features which have a great attraction to the visitors. E
 There has been a very large in- crease in tourist traffic over Steese Highway connecting Fairbanks and Circle. It is expected that this will become an important tourist route during next season as it will obviate many days of travel on the Yukon and Panama Rivers, Mai. Elliott said After reaching Circle by river steamer from Whitehorse, enough of this mode of travel has been had by the majority of tour ists. The highway is now in good shape and even during the wet weather prevailing this month, Mai. Elliott had no difficulty in covering the 160 miles by auto comfortably in eight and one-half hours.
 Richardson Highway suffered also from winter snow and heavy rains. But it has been travelled comfort ably by a large number of persons this summer.
 Boosting International Road
 Interest in the proposed Inter- national Highway is very keen in the interior" declared Maj. Elliott. So far as Alaska is concerned there are no extraordinary en- gineering or financial difficulties in the way of this project. During my forthcoming trip to Washing ton next month, I expect to stop off at Victoria for consultation with Canadian officials with re- spect to the road.
 'The Alaska Road Commission is building new road from Gulkana on the Richardson Highway east erly to reach the important Chis- | ltochena- -Chisana country which is known to contain valuable mineral resources. A good start has been made on this project in the re- mobilization of the existing road to Chistochena and the advance work Ibeyond that point. Location has [been carried considerably beyond Chistochena by party under the direction of Engineer Donald Mc- | Donald
 Unit of Highway &
 This, when completed, may be- come part of the International Highway But it's use for that pur- pose probably will be only tempor- ary for the reason that it passes over a summit which will only be open two 'or three months every year. The eventual permanent To- cation of the highway will be up the Tanana River from Grundler where it will connect with Rich orIcn,, TTirIuyoxy