The Alaska citizen., 1914-11-23
Phone 262 Phone
NEW ROAD PLAN SUGGeS eO.

tance of congress, can provide an easy method for getting funds for improving wagon roads in Alaska was pointed out few days ago by a local attorney who has given the matter much thought. The sugges- tion is so good that all residents of the Territory. and especially those of the Interior, should petition the legislature and congress to act upon il without any unnecessary delay.
 In short, the method suggested for getting local road money is to permit the miners 10 pay their as sessment dues on mines into a road fund, to be used for the bene- fit of the localities where the mines are located.
 The attorney explains that the present method of requiring $loo worth of work on a claim each year is usually of little value to the claim, as the assessment holes are nearly filled up from one season to the next, unless active operation is carried on. On the other hand, it is pointed out every mine in district is benefited by good roads which reduce the cost of transpor- tation Thus he argues that in many cases the mine owners would prefer to pay their assessment dues in cash into a local road fund than 10 lose it on claim.
 The plan provides for a local road superintendent, whose duties and authority will be separate from those of the Alaska Road commission. It will be his duty to see that the money paid in for assessment work is expended for the benefit of the district where the mine. for which the assessment is paid is located and he will be required to make out reports showing where the funds are expended.
 For instance, suppose man stakes a claim in the new Tolovana camp. Unless the ground is good he will not be able to work it until transportation facilities are provid- ed. It would pay that man to give the $100 year required for his assessment work to fund that would be applied in making road to his district. In most cases it would be cheaper, too for him to make a payment in such way than to hire men to do the assessment work, and pay them wages for travel ing to and from the claim.
 This scheme has been explained to several leading miners, who be- lieve that prompt action should be taken to get the law passed making the change in assessment work pos sible.
 A local representative for an Out side concern which owns extensive interests In this district, declared that his people had expended on their claims total of $7000O, and that the work accomplished was worth to them at the present time less than $700. This was largely due to the fact that the claims are far from good wagon roads, and the owners would have profited far more if the money spent on assessment work had been expended in the con struction of good wagon roads to them from Fairbanks.
 The Citizen has determined to get behind this plan and do everything in its power to promote it. The success of a newspaper is dependent upon the success of the community in which 1t is published, and in h. terior Alaska. the success of every community is hindered or aided by transportation facilities.
 But the newspapers are not the only factors in a community that should boost public improvements. Every business concern should do its share in creating public sentiment in favor of a needed improvement. and every individual property owner can help matters along also.
 What must be done first is to lay the plan properly before the mem bers of the legislature, who must take the initiative in a legal way. It is probable that the legislature will not have the sole right, unless congress grants it to the members. to pass law providing that assess ment funds can be used for road improvements. but the legislature can have a wonderful influence in getting congress to act in regard to the matter
 The new railroad will not be a sue cess unless there are better wagon roads to be used as feeders to it. In many cases under present condi- tions it costs as much to get freight transported from Fairbanks to the mines as 1t does to bring it here from Seattle. and this is due to the condition of the roads.