The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-06-12

fairs-WouId Replace Many Offices
and Bureaus and Control All Features
of Development In Territory.
Washington. - In a report sent to
Senator Key Pittman and Representa-
tive William G. Houston, chairmen OF
the senate and house committees on
territories respectively, Secretary Lane
of the interior department urges the
creation of a development board to
have complete control of the natural
resources of Alaska.
Bills for the creation of boards or
commissions to administer the govern
ment of Alaska have been introduced
in the senate by Senator Chamberlain
of Oregon and in the house by Delegate
Wickersham 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 a 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
and development of the territory.
ut is proposed and urged" says Mr..
Lane, that the board shall take over
such authority now exercised by va
rious departments and bureaus as may
be necessary to give il 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
velopment Of the physical resources of
the country.
'"rhe board would do the work now
done in Alaska by the general land of
flee. the forest service. the road com
mission, the bureau of mines. the bu-
reau Of education and the secretary of
the interior Ii should take over part
Of the work and authority nf the bn-
reau of fisheries beginning mt the
shore line. the development board
shpnld have comp etc control of all
governmental activities and interests
connected with the DEVELOPMENT Of in
dustties and transportation and the
settling of the country.
This should include the control Of
water powers building and mainte-
nance of roads and trai $ and operation
and rates Of the railroads and tele-
graph lines II should include prOtec-
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 the supervi-
sion of educational work among the
Indians and natives. the reindeer in
dustry. control Of the surveyor gener-
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 I'm the report that at
present each OF at least score OF Gov
ernment bureaus I'm 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 circnmlocution
I'm the administration Of public affairs
under this system.
Instances are given in the report OF
delays of several years in the handling
of uncomplicated land and other mat
ters which should have been promptly
disposed Of
There must be new and simple ma
chinery." says Mr.. Lane The new
policy is not to invite few men to ex
ploit the cream of Alaska's riches, bu
to develop all the resources and pos
sibilities Of the territory HARMONIOUS!
for the best interests of both the peo
pie who go to Alaska and the peopi
Of the United States who own TIM
great public domain.
Mr. Lane points out that there ar
now only S,j2 miles of wagon roads
GIT miles Of sled roads and 2.166 mile
Of trails In the whole OF Alaska 70