Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-06-11

fairs-WouId Replace Many Offices
and Bureaus and Control All Features
of Development In Territory.
Washington. ~ In Il report sent to
Senator Key Pittman and Representa-
tive William c. Houston, chairmcn Of
the senate and house committees on
territories respectively, Secretary Lane
Of the interior department urges the
creation Of Il development board to
have complete control Of the natural
resources of Alaska.
Bills for the creation of boards or
commissions to administer the govern
mcnt Of Alaska have been Introduced
in the senate by Senator Chamberlain
Of oregon and in the house by Delegate
WickcrSham of Alaska. These bills
differ only in detail, and the general
purpose of both Is in accord with the
recommendation of Secretary Lane.
The development plan urged by the
secretary provides for Il board of three
members, appointed by the president
and confirmed by the senate, which is
to have headquarters in Alaska and
is to be charged with the general
conduct of all governmental affairs
connected with the natural resources
ana development of the territory.
at is proposed and urged" says Mr.
Lame, that the board shall take over
such authority now exercised by va
riouS departments and bureaus as may
be necessary to give it supervision over
practically the entire public domain
and all the natural resources of Alaska
and control Of such activities as are
closely related and essential to the de
vclOpmcnt of the physical resources Of
the country
"rhe board would do the work now
done in Alaska by the general land of
iicc the forest service, the road com
mission, the bureau of mines, the bu-
reau OF education and the secretary of
the interior. 1t should take over Il part
of the work and authority of the bu-
rcau of fisheries. Beginning at the
shore line, the development board
should have complete control OF al
governmental activities and interests
connected with the development of in.
duStrics and transportation ana the
settling of the country.
This should include the control of
water powers, building and mainte-
nance of roads and trails and operation
and rates of the railroads and tele-
graph lines 1t should include pTotec
ton and control of game, fur bearing
animals. public lands, mineral depos
its, coal, oil, gas, hot springs, timber
lands and timber"
Secretary Lane also urges that this
board should take over tn" supervi-
sion of educational work among the
Indians and natives, the reindeer in
dustry. control of the surveyor gcner-
ais Office and the supervision in coop
GRAFTON with the department of agri-
culture of agricultural experiments and
demonstration work in the territory.
1t is pointed out in the report that ut
present each of ut least Il score of Gov
eminent bureaus in Washington divid
ed among the various departments has
something to do with the government
OF Alaska and that there is vast
amount OF red tape and decentralization
In the administration of public affairs
under this system
Instances are given in the report of
delays of several years in the handling
of uncomplirated land and other mat
tcrs which should have been promptly
disposed of
"Thcre must be now and simple ma
Chincry," says Mr., Lane The new
policy Is not to invite Il few men to OK
plot the cream of AlaSkN's riches, but
to develop all the resources and pos
sibilitics of the territory tremendously
for the best interests of both the PEG
pie who go To Alaska and the people
OF the United States who own this
great public domain"
MIR. Lane points out that there are
now only S62 miles of wagon roads,
GU miles of sled roads and =, lG6 miles
of trails in the whole of Alaska. for
the construction and maintenance of
which about $4,000 has been spent,
lie urges that roads and trails are
as essential to the opening of Alaska
to settlement rs railroads, and that
these roads for several years to come
must bc built 10y the government.
The reindeer industry, now monopo-
lizcd 10y the natives, Mr. Lame looks
upon rs the beginning Of Il great in
duStry which may have something to
do with solving the meat supply prob
lem of the United States.
The secretary discusses at consider
able length the cable and telegraph
system in Alaska now operated 10y the
signal corps of the war department and
proposes that this should probably be
managed 10y the development board
Coffin Ready, Kills Himself.
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