The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-01-05
Prosperity in t949 for Alaska
 Is Predicted by inferior Depi.;;
 Report on '4S Progress Made

High lights that mark progress in Alaska during 1948 and forecast still greater achievement in 194e are related in report from Will jam Warne, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, to the people of AL aska.
 MT. Warne's letter, accompanying the report extends to Alaskans, Ion behalf of the Secretary, the heads of the Departments Bureaus and Offices, and on my own behalf kest wishes for Happy and Pros porous New Year"
 The Secretary's report follows;
 Alaska Moves Ahead
 This statement summarizes some Of the accomplishments in Alaska during the calendar year l948, and indicates steady progress in over- coming the obstacles which have hitherto hampered the develop ment of Alaska.
 Transportation
 Skipping: While there have been tie-ups and interruptions in ocean shipping between the States and Alaska. these have not been as ser ious as during the previous year and progress was made in working out emergency measures to re- lieVe the situation in which the people of Alaska are always plac- ed when ocean shipping is inter- rupted Barge service by the AL aska Railroad and by private oper- ators was started, the air carriers were granted authority to expand their services to Alaska during the emergency: it became possible to use Canadian carriers to limit cd extent: and there was increased use of overland transportation via the Alaska Highway.
 Tine Alaska Railr0ad: In order that the Railroad might give ade- quate service to the people of in- terior Alaska, and to the military program in the Territory, Congress approved an extensive rehabilita- tion program which will put the Railroad in first-class operating condition. During the year a to- tai of S21,l92,995 was obligated for such items as improvement o1 the roadbed, new and heavier rail additional rolling stock, terminals at Anchorage and Fairbanks, ano for new buildings and yard i'm provement. Rolling stock having an estimated value of $2,139, ,963 .6t was acquired through surplus prop erty, as follows. Fourteen DieSe locomotives, steam locomotives s railway cars, hospital units, railway car, motor trailer, 149 bo, cars, 24 kitchen cars, 48 refriger. ator cars, 269 gondola cars, 5 firt control cars, 20 ammunition cars l5 flat cars, 1 railway engineer! coach, Is railway maintenance cars, 8 Diesel locomotive cranes and steam locomotive cranes.
 For the current fiscal year Con. gress appropriated $l700O,0o0 tt meet 1948 obligations, plus contrac authorization of $l2,000,000 Witt these funds it is possible to push ahead rapidly with the railroac rehabilitation program. During 194t there were laid 66 miles of new 1l5-pound rail and orders were placed for delivery hy March ol April, 1949, of sufficient 115-poune rail to lay 134 additional miles New terminal facilities at Anchor age and Fairbanks are under con. struction; additional housing is be- ing provided for employees, ant new steel bridges and trestles ar' replacing outworn wooden struc lures.
 Roads: During the year ther was available for the construction Of new roads, and for maintenance of existing roads total of $40, O17 oEo xrtiot, ay,c,,,,t inc1,1daI .