Iditarod pioneer., 1917-06-09
AN AFFR0NT TO IDITAROD CITIZENS

attempted action piece of rank presump , ton. and if it could be perpetrated would be gross injustice to the second producing placer camp of Alaska, which certainly de serves at least one square deal by the Ju- neau administration We indorse Rileys telegram of today.
 'IDITAROD COMMERCIAL CLUB"
 What It All Means
 In looking for an explanation of the at tempted action of the acting governor in seeking to remove Commissioner Riley be- fore he had an opportunity to perform the duties for which he was appointed, 1t IS re- markable with what unanlmlty the people of this community generally credit the we'll known attitude of Fairbanks in the matter of road funds with being at the bottom of it.
 No copy of the law creating the divisional road commissions has yet been received here, but it is assumed from Mr Shows telegram and from the title of the act that the object was to create commission which should represent various sections of the division. If this were the object the acting governor attempts to defeat it by naming two com nnssioners from Fairbanks, under the plea that 1t Is necessary to have "a member resi- dent in Fairbanks to act with Ross in letting contracts and approving accounts" In other words, a majority of the commission is 10 be located at that point; and if the actions of the commission so constituted are to be judged by prior experiences, 1t is fair to presume that not only will the "Tolovana require most money this year." and other Fairbanks tributaries some, but that the bulk of the $1OO,O0O fund will be used there
 Shameful Neglect of ldtarod
 The money heretofore devoted to road building in the Iditarod district has been woefully inadequate; so much so, in fact, that, as stated in Mir. Rley's telegram to Mr. Ross, there is not mile of good road between Iditarod and Discovery. Otter, or Discovery and Flat" Yet Idtarod con- tinues to yield in the neighborhood of two millions of dollars annually in gold
 On the other hand, Fairbanks Is known to have many splendid roads, and the i'm mediate vicinity of Fairbanks being well supplied, it Is now proposed to exert the in luence of that community to "hog' the ap propriations for the development of sur rounding tributary camps That is in itself a laudable purpose were it not for the fact
 hat it is to be done at the expense of older camps, which should be entitled to receive aid in building roads.
 What Lack of Roads Costs lditarod
 An illustration of the cost to Iditsrod of lack of roads from the head of navigation to the two adjacent creeks of Flat and Otter is contained in some figures compiled in 1915 for the Alaska road commission by E, A. Austin, formerly resident manager of the Yukon Gold Company here. Mir. Austin figured that, on the basis of 8 ten-year lease of life for this camp from that date, lack
 If fairly good roads would cost the camp more than $S00,000, basing his figures on the prevailing cost per ton of freight from Iditarod to Flat of S20. He pointed out that the expenditure of s35, 900 would build fairly good road from Iditarod to Flat and from Flat up Otter creek to Discovery. While money has been devoted to 1ditarod roads at various times by the Alaska road commission, the sllotments have come in drblets of 5000 or 5000 at time, and as consequence nothing but makeshift repairs could be undertaken.
 Probably no other community in the world has freight rate to equal this-S20 per ton for a haul of 7.6 miles; and yet the roads are in such condition that the cost is considered by no means exorbitant Citizens Are Aroused
 The action of the acting governor in at- tempting to deprive this district of repre- sentation on this important commission is resented bitterly by the people of the com munity It is felt that not only is there a lack of proper consideration of the impor- tance of Idtarod as 8 wealth producer, but also that under the circumstances in which the people here were practically asked to select representative on the board, and having selected one and secured his appoint ment, an attempt was made to remove him on grounds of unexplained expediency. direct and fragrant affront WAS offered to our citizens.
 It is well known that Governor Strong has entertained some grudge against the community, and has lost no opportunity of inficting petty annoyances upon the dis trict and it's people But it had not for moment been thought that he would SO far forget his obligations to deal justly with all sections of the territory as to allow bis personal enmity to overcome any sense of right and justice with which he may have been endowed
 It is needless to say that the citizens of the district have determined to back up MT. Riley in the stand he has taken, and if l necessary to take the matter into the courts. It may be that the law is so worded as to 1 permit such high handed action on the part of the governor; but this IS sincerely | doubted by many
 A sharp frost on Thursday night brought | ax;af to enternrisin1 houseHiYss who had