Valdez daily prospector., 1917-11-01
CIRCULAR: LETTER .,...
 FROM RICHARDSON
Bids All Friends Goodbye and Hopes to Return to AlasSa-Gives
 Personnel of New Board
Juneau, Alaska. Oct. 20, 1917

Juneau, AldShd, OCt. ~, lOl ' To the people of Alaska:
 The close of the season of road work in Alaska for 1917 brings with it a change in conditions and future outlook. and gives propriety to this letter. This is due in a measure to the existing state of war, but aside from this fact, there were already indica- tions of coming change.
 Most notable was the inclination 0f the Secretary of War, during the past winter, to have the work transferred in the near future tO some other De- partment, largely on account of the persistent opposition from certain quarters in the. past to the Depart ment's efforts. unless,-as set forth by the Secretary in letters to the Committee chairman, after the pres ent appropriation had been lost upon a point of order on the floor of the House. should enact some more specific law, authorizing the sub- mission of proper estimates which would not be subject to the point of orded."
 The Secretary gave support and ap- proval to the existing Appropriation of $5OO,OOO. O.OO for the fiscal year 1918. and this. with the numerous and urgent representa,io from commerc- ial bodies and residents of the Terri tory as to the need for the appropria- ton, and with the assistance of Dele gate Sulzer, who arrived in Washing ton before final action, procured the re-insertion of the item in the Army Bill, by the Senate Committee, and it's subsequent passage by Congress. The appropriation was made available for two years and it was understood that the same was to be used for the completion, as far as possible, of work under construction, and for the maintenance of roads already built
 Approximately $150,000.OO will be carried over for field work next sea son, and an additional estimate of $lOO,OOO.OO all that could be asked for under the circumstances. has been submitted for the next fiscal year to meet the increased cost of labor and supplies Thus, with the Federal ap- propriatiOn and the amount expected rom the Alaska Fund.-" together with the Forestry and Territorial funds, there will be available for the season of 191S--if not as much as could be desired for expenditure to meet the many needs-yet, fairly good working funds, and the work will go forward as usual.
 Recent changes in the organization of the Board embrace the appointment as Engineer Officer of Captain Wm. H. Waugh, Engineer Officers Reserve Corps, formerly Senior Highway En- gineer of the Bureau of Public Roads. Department, of Agriculture; and the appointment, as Secretary and Dis bursting Officer, of John Zug, Engineer Officers Reserve Corps. long associat- ed with the Commission in different capacities. The work will fell into competent hands, and the distribp- tion of the funds expected to be avail able has already been agreed upon, as far as practicable, and following out the previous policy of the Board. to deal equitably with. all sections.
 It is hoped that certain amend ments may be mad" at the next ses- sion of the Legislature to the exist ing Territorial Act for Road Construc- ton, to make the same more effective; and it will be fortunate if the senti- ment of the Territory and of the Leg islature shall early recognize the ad- vantage of cooperation with Federal agencies concerned in this work, or else the Territory may find itself in the position of having all Federal aid withdrawn. It has already fallen to me on more than one occasion to de- iend the Territory before a committee of Congress for its past attitude in this respect. r....t
 In case the local roads should pass generally under the control of the Territorial organization, as they must in due time, that organization should seek the cooperation and support or the Forestry Bureau and of the Bu- reau of Public Roads, Agricultural Department, and should utilize as far as practicable any existing organiza- tion men in the Territory.
 In taking leave of this work--to which l may not return by reason of the need of my services elsewhere