The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-24

trail work; but tho continent oi tae people 10 this matter should be re- spected and. looking to the Ailure. it Is proper that tho beginnines of @ Territorial oreenizotion for roao' bridge and Jrail work should now be made, to tho end that all of this work may in due time be transferred to Territorial control
 Increasing demands ore coming in on the time Go our board for road bridge and trail work-lar in excess, as you know. Of our ability Co meet them with the mnds now available, sr likely to become so In the near future. l enclose the reports oi the Board for 1918 and 1914 stating more
 fully this condition. Please sec pages 1914 In the report for 1913 and the first pege of the l9i4 report
 A general plan was submitted in 1913 and an estimate of appropriation for S75o.00o for the grs, years work. but this never got further than tne executive offices. It passed from the War Department to the Interior De- partment. thence to the Agricultural Department. thence to the War De- oartment. without action The Deie- gate during the last session or the s5rd Congress introduced 2 bin Tor m appropriation Of S750,0oo. for road bridge and trail work in Alaska, and this bnI received favorable action and support by the Secretary of War but nothing was accomplished.
 lt seems likely now that the only money our board will be able to set in the near future will be through the military committees Of Congress, and it Is my intention to try to have this appropriation increased somewhat next year With the developments Of railroads. doubtless there will be some appropriations for the construction of roads. bridges and trails as feeders. but this will leave large portion Of Alaska without attention unless the Legislature makes some provisions to help out To date the moneys de- rived from various Territorial sources have very nearly eQualled the amount appropriated directly by Congress and 1t would be good argument be- fore the committees in asking for an Increased appropriation for Military and post roads. bridges and trails ID Alaska" to point out that the FerFi- toriaI Legislature was doing its share.
 As you know. ] have been engaged now for ten years upon this work and have given careful study to the needs Of the different districts of the Territory. and used every effort per- sonally and officially Go advance the work. but lt Is impossible Co build roads. bridges and trails without suf- ficient money. Our Board Is com. pelied to answer petition after peti- sion with the statement that funds are not available in tho sum required for the desired Improvement and we are unable to give any promise for the near future in many cases.
 There is one other matter that J would like to have called to the at' tention Of the Legislature-the lack of proper protection for roads, bridges and trails through the Territory Con- eress has enacted some provisions looking to the protection Of macadam and plank roads. but the law is not sufficiently comprehensive to meet the situation ID Alaska, and our board has on several occasions found isseh unable to take measures against per sons who have wantonly destroyed or interferred with roads and trails. It seems to me that some provision should be enacted by the Legislature in this respect. and penalty pre- serlhed for such offenses.
 Yours Sincerely.
 (simed) ". p. RICHARDSON