The Alaska citizen., 1912-02-12

leo. next lowest, authorized eleven
times as much road work per unit
area as was authorized for Alaska.
And though Alaska is notably def
cient in railroad transportation. Wy
oming. the poorest state in this re
spect. has twice as many miles of
roads in proportion to its railroads
as Alaska"
The board of road commissioners
for Alaska has been petitioned and
importuned for aid in this respect
far beyond its ability to meet with
the funds available, and in some in
stances has been harshly criticized
for not performing the impossible,
In the annual report of the board
for 1911 il is stated that.
- the board now has on
record petitions for road construction
in various parts of Alaska, which, to
gether with work already in pro
SitSS, NobIt IL OlHBiltu Win. It
quire an expenditure. based upon the
most conservative estimates of cost.
of apprc ximately s1,600000 Also,
there is no doubt as to the need OF
the work petitioned for. nor as to
the benefit such work would be in
developing the resources of the ter
ritory; nor. further mere. do these
petitions include certain very i'm
portant roads which it will be nee
essary to construct before any con
siderable agricultural development
can be expected. Our board is
aware of more or less concerted
movement now en- foot for the pur-
pose of procuring increased appro-
priationS for road construction in
Alaska, and, while in no way re
sponsible fer the organization of
such q movement, our board. never
theless, feels fully justified, in view
of the facts given above, in recon-
the subject, and in giving such
support as may be consistent with
its limitations under the war de
partment."
The board recognizes that the de
mands referred to above, as well
as the construction Ct an automo-
bile road from Fairbanks to Chitina.
go beyond the intent and purpose of
the appropriations which have been
made in the past few years by the
military committees of the house
and senate for the construction and
maintenance of military and post"
reads. For this reason estimates
have been submitted in the past
two years for the repair and main
tenance only of such roads. The
estimate for this repair and mainten-
ance. however. is not included in the
army appropriation bill for the ffs-
cal year OF 1913 for the reason. it is
understood, that the department
desires to have such appropriations
transferred to some other committee.
and not made a charge against the
support of the army.
The present time would seem to
be suitable one for transfer, con
sidering the growing demand for
increased appropriations to aid in
commercial development together with
the fact that the strictly pioneer
conditions which We're held to JUS
tify these appropriations through
the military committees in previous
years are rapidly passing.
1t is proper to remark. however
that the road here considered from
the coast to Fairbanks, connecting
there with the navigable waters of
the interior, is post route, fol
lowing closely the line of the mill
tary telegraph, and one which. I'M
der certain contingencies, might be-
come of considerable military value.
approximately two thousand dol
lars per mile has been expended en-
its construction and maintenance
to date, and it is recommended that
in any event, sufficient appropria-
ton be made to repair and maintain
it to meet the increasing needs of
ordinary wheeled traffic, and pre-
vent loss of work already performed.
Respectfully submitted,
w. p. RICHARDSON.
lieut.-Co of Infantry, U.
S. A, President, Board of
Road Commissioners for
Alaska