The Cordova daily times., 1918-12-28

ernmcnt really intends to give some . much-needed attention to Alaska. If | the proposed appropriations go through many long-felt wants will be | filled and the territory improved just | that much. An increased expendt- ! ture is expected that will take in all the executive departments of Alaska, with the exception of the railroad and forestry departments This proposed appropriation is based on estimates as to the amounts needed by the vari- ous depa.l ncnts, and should 1t go through it will mean much for the development of the territory.
 The lighthouse department comes first on the bill. with requests for the largest sum of money. Prominence has been given to this department by the accidents that happened during
 October, attended as they were by great loss of life and property This department wants $75,000 for the es tablshment of twenty-three acetylene lights and five gas burners. There is no doubt but that the need for lights along the coast of Alaska is urgent and is one that should be promptly met. Included in the estimate for lighthouses is $145,000 for the estab- | lshment of a lighthouse at Cape Spen- cer and $7O,O0O for repairis at various | ir hn along the coast Eight hundred and thirty thousand
 dollarh is asked by the coast survey
 for new boats for charting Alaskan
 waters. a need that has been demon
 strated beyond all question.
 The department of agriculture asks
 for S75000 for repairs and improve
 ments at the Kodiak stock experiment
 tai station. This item surely will not
 meet with any disapproval, for there is almost nothing that will do more
 for the development of the country than continued and additional experi- menting along this line. Valuable
 work is being done by the experiment
 tai stations all over the territory, but
 the work with stock that has been
 done at this particular station is
 something that can be duplicated mo-
 where else; and is invaluable for the
 future of the country.
 The fisheries bureau asks for $l25.-
 900 for the protection of the seals of
 the territory Everyone familiar
 with the situation knows that the fur
 seals were in danger of being wiped
 out of existence by the market hunt. CTS These valuable furbearers are
 so easy to hunt and kill that there was no natural reason to keep the greedy hunters from actually eXter . minating a future resource of the ter , ritory. The money asked for will doubtless be used in further protec ton of these fur-bearers. and will
 ultimately add to the wealth of the . country.
 One hundred and eleven thousand dollars is asked for the care of those , unfortunate people who are unable tC , cope with the rigors of life in Alaska
 and go down before them, sometimes l ruined for life, namely, the insane pa tients of the territory. There has been dissatisfaction expressed witt . the treatment accorded these people l and indeed there has been reason fol ' grat part of it. Better provision . should he made for them. and doubt 7 less this money would be used fo /. that purpose.
 Take it all in all. this proposed ap S propriation means much to the terri Q tory. but it is only a small part o l. what should be done for the country r. It promises well for the future. ho" /. ever, and is a hopeful sign, one tha n should bring encouragement to al l. who are interested in the future an II the development of this wonderful tel s ritory. EX.