The Alaska daily empire., 1917-01-31
NET WORK OF ROADS AND TRAILS
 GRADUALLY BEING ACCOMPLISHED
 IN ALASKA BY TIE COMMISSION

TOT NSlduGe, HI' NASSb4'' """AN VI three supervisors for each district or commissioners precinct and al- though in the annual report of the following year it was stated that the developments of the year had Inot given further encouragement tO| the adoption of that idea, 1t is be- Ilieved that he subject might now be taken up with advantage by the l Legislature.
 There exists already an elective commissioner provided for by the Legislature for each judicial divis- lion. cmpowrcd to eXpend certain money derived from sales of tim lber in the forest reserves, but it would be expecting far too much of those commissioners Co properly su. peryisc local road work throughout Itheir divisions. Such an organiza- ton as first mentioned, Of Supcryis. ors. elective. for each precinct. who would receive and account for the moneys allotted Co their precincts ! and supervise the expenditures there. in would aid very greatly in work ling out the problem as it now eX. ists.
 In last years report it was stated that while the board did not class any of the roads constructed as
 "automobUc roads" nor did thc iboard feel justified in encouraging
 the use O. automobiles on them, there were. however, over 100 motor trucks and passenger cars so used. There are now more than 25O motor trucks and passenger cars used on roads constructed, and a regular autOmO- | bile mail and passenger service was maintained between Valdez and Fair banks during the present summer. ! As the roads improve, the traffic , increases and it is expected that there will be a large increase nI automobile traffic in the coming year.
 Much damage has been done toI the roads by the use of heavy, mar row.ticrd trucks, the operation of which, due to the absence of ap propriate laws, the board is power?. less to regulate. Roads recently graded, which would prove satisfac- tory for light traffic, are plowed up by heavy trucks before suriacing is completed, and expensive repairs became necessary.
 The Legislature was appealed to through the governor for some suit able law to protect the roads of the Territory, but so far no action has been taken Roads constructed and maintained by the board should be protected by a law similar Co that passed by Congress for the protection of telegraph lines. (Scc. 60, act ap-. DroCved Mar. 4, 1909, and published in G. o. %. War Department, 19l0J A single instance will show the necessity for some protective meas ure. On September 14, 1916, the superintendent at Nome reported, in regard to completed road that:
 This road for 800 feet was de- stroyed by being worked out by'
 Mining & DTedgc Co. The dis trict attorney would not give us pro. lection and | had the piece of road rebuilt. Inside of two weeks after 1t was constructed it was destroyed again"
 It is hoped some action may be taken to protect roads and bridges etc, built by Federal appropriations A good deal of undcseryed criticism and even abuse has been hcaped upon the board in the past and es- pecially upon its presiding officer some of which. at least, was due 10 this condition One source of this criticism is well known to the War Department.
 It may be remarked that Alaska Gbounds in mineral wealth. fish, and road.commission critics. There are also other varieties of this last named product. most Of whom ap. pear to be endowed with a degree of captiOusness unusual even in this pestiIerOuS breed.
 This is not intended in any sense to apply to the very large number of people in the Territory who are earnestly endeavoring to aid in up building the country, who give all possible support and encouragement to the work, and whose recommen- datiCns and criticisms fairly made are welcomed by the board, but rather to a class aptly described byI the distinguished author of a recent publication aS "* more or less irresponsible individuals whose hands were filled with mud and who were actuated by a fixed de- sire to throw it at something. q"
 That something" is usually a pub lie officer.
 A detailed description of the work in the several districts follows. The total amounts expended on tho diff rcrent routes will be found in the detniled statement of expenditures on a later page. Any differences be- tween the amounts there stated and those given in the description of the work arise from the wide distribu. ton of routes and the slow mail service by reason Of which reports of indebtedness and disbursements