The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-11-08

tors in the past to the Departments efforts uness-as set forth bv the Secretary in letters to the Committee char man. after the present appropriation had been oSJ upon a point of order on the floor of the HOuSe,-COngfeSS should enact some more specific Iaw authorizing the SUD- mission of proper estimates which would not be Suec to the point of order'
 The Secretary gave support and approval to the eH
 ting aDpropiaton of S5OOOOO for the fiscal year 1918 and this with the numerous and urgent representations from commercial bodies and residents of the Territory as to the need for the appropriation and with the assistance of Deegate Suzer who arrived in Washington before the final action procured the remseron of the item m the Army Bill by the Senate Commttee and its subsequent passage by Congress- The appropriation was made avail able for two years and it understood that the same
 was to be used for the compcton far as possible o work under construction and for the maintenance ot roads already built
 Approximately SI50OOO of this sum will be carried over for field work next season. and an additional eStl- mate of S0OOOO all that could be asked for under the en- cstances has been submitted for the next fiscal year to meet the increased cost of labor and supplies Thus with the Federal appropriation and the amount expected from the Alaska Fund together with the Forestry and Ter rtomal funds there will be available for the season o 19l8-f not as much as could be desired for expenditure to meet the many needs-yet fairly good working fund.- and the work will go forward as usual
 Recent changes in the organization of the Board en- brace the appointment as Engineer Officer of Captain Wm H. Waugh Engineer Officer Reserve Corps, formerly Senior Highway Engineer of the Bureau ot Public Roads, Department of Agrcuture and the appointment as Sec retarv and Dsbursng Officer of Capt. John Zug, Engl- neer Officers Reserve COs long associated with the Com- mission in different capacities The work will fall into competent hands, and the distribution of the funds expect ed to be available has already been agreed upon as far as practicable and following out the previous policy of the Board ot deal eQutably with all sections.
 1t is hoped that certain amendments may be made at the next session of the Legislature to the existing Terri Cora Act for Road Construction to make the same more eectve and it will be fortunate if the sentiment of the Territory and of the Legislature shall early recognize the advantage of cooperation with Federal agencies concern ed in this work or else the Territory may find itself in the position of having all Federal aid withdrawn 1t has al ready fallen ome on more than occasion to defend the Territory before committee of Congress for its past titude in this respect.
 In case the local roads should pass generally under control of the Territorial organization they must in de time that organization should seek the cooperation and support of the Forestry Bureau and of the Bureau Of Public Roads, Agricultural Department, and should uu lize as far as practicable any existing organzaCon or trained men in the Territory.
 In takng leave fths work-to which may not re. turn by reason of the need of my services esewhere-and of Alaska at this tme after twenty years of close asSo ation with its people, with aectionate sentiment on my part wish to say in spirit of malice or resentment that the Board of Road Commissioners and myself per sonalIy have unfortunately, not always receVed the limited support that should have been given us in this york; in order to have produced the maximum of benefit to the Territory largely on account of wfu misrepresentation and lack of understanding on the part of many people, of the difficulties that confronted the Board in the matter of obtaining funds as well as the cost of construction and maintenance of roads in Alaska.