REPORT OF THE ENGINEER OFFICER.

Owing to the continued dry weather throughout the interior of Alaska the season of 1908 has been very favorable for road construction. The soil being drier was much easier to work, and transportation, always a very expensive factor in this district, has been cheapened by the better condition of the roads.

The lack of water interfered greatly with the washing out of gold at the mines, and thus threw a large number of men out of employment. While the wages paid last year were generally maintained, it was much easier on this account to obtain at all times a plentiful supply of labor.

On July 26, 1908, the undersigned relieved Capt. G. B. Pillsbury, Corps of Engineers, as engineer officer of the board. This change, taking place in the middle of the short working season, was very unfortunate, as, on account of the vast extent of territory and conditions so very different from anything known within the interior of the United States, considerable time is necessary for an officer to become thoroughly acquainted with road work in Alaska. However, the work had been thoroughly organized for the year, so that the minimum. amount of injury was done by the change. A very satisfactory amount of road construction was done during the year at a very reasonable cost. The method of work and general conditions have been described in previous reports.

The roads constructed by the board are, as a rule, good earth roads except where the soil is too soft, when corduroy or plank is used. These roads are apt to become soft and badly cut up during longcontinued wet weather if the traffic is heavy. But with the present amount of traffic and the number of localities without any roads at all, the board has not felt justified in more expensive construction. In some localities gravel has been found cheaper and better than corduroy. These roads are, of course, in good condition at all times with a small amount of maintenance. Every effort has been made to keep the cost down to the minimum on account of the great demand and necessity for new roads throughout the Territory.

The cost of surveys, as heretofore, has been very expensive on account of the difficult nature of the country. They were, however, necessary and of great benefit in the prosecution of the work.

Where the soil was favorable, horses and road machines have been used and considerable economy effected thereby.

Road work is still going on in many parts of the Territory and for this reason it is impossible to give a complete report of the season's work.

A description of the road work undertaken by the board this year, so far as completed, is as follows:

SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA.

Portage road, Prince of Wales Island (No. 1). This road extends from the head of Chomly Sound, on the east side of Prince of Wales Island, to the head of Hetta Inlet, on the west side of the island, a distance of 3.96 miles. It affords a safe and easy line of communication between the town of Ketchikan and the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, thus avoiding the dangerous sea trip around Cape Chacon at the southern end of the island. There is a weekly mail service over this road.