The Nome daily nugget., 1918-01-02
Juneau, Alaska, Oct. 20 1917. To the People of Alaska:

Juneau, AIasKn, Oct. ~ lSlf.
 To the People of Alaska:
 The close of the season Of ro1dwork in Alaska for 1917 brings with 1t q change of conditions and future out look, and gives propriety to this letter. This Is due to the measure of the ex- isting state of war, but aside from this fact. there were already indications of a coming change.
 Most notable was the inclination of the Secretary of War. during the past in the near future to some other de- partment, largely on account of the quarters in the past to the Depart ments efforts, unless-as set forth by the secretary in his letters to the Con- m1ttee chairInen, after the present ap- propriation had been lost upon Q point of order on the floor of the House, Congress should enact some more spe- cific law, authorizing the submission of proper estimates which would not be subject to the point of order"
 The Secretary gave support and ap proval to the existing appropriation of $500, 900. % for the fiscal year 1918 and this, with the numerous and urgent representations from commercial bod !es and residents of the Territory as to the need for the appropriation, and with the assistance of Delegate Suizer, who arrived in Washington before final action, procured the re-insertion of the item in the Army bill, by the senate committee, and It's subsequence pas. sage 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 tho maintenance or roads al- ready built.
 Approximately $l5o.0o0 of this sum will be carried over for the field work next season, and an additional estimate of $100.Ooo ell thot could be asked for under the circumstances. has been sub the increased cost of labor and SUD- plies. Thus. with the Federal approp- rtatInp ord tho ornn,,pt nxpantaa froy,n the Alaska Fund" together with the Forestry and Territorial funds, there will bo available for the season of l91S-if not as much as could be de- sired for expenditure to meet the many needs-yet. fairly good working fund, and tho work will go forward as usual.
 Recent changes in the organization of the Board embrace tho appointment as Engineer Officer. of Captain Wm. II. Waugh. Engineer Officers Reserve Corps, formerly Senior Highway En- sineer of the Bureau of Public Roads, Department of Agriculture; and the appointment, as Secretary and Disburs- ing Officer, of John Zug, Engineer Ofn- cers Reserve Corps, long associated with the Commission In different ca pacities. The work will fall into com potent hands, and the distribution of the funds expected to be available has ai~eody been agreed upon. as far as practicable, and following out the pre- vious policy of the Board. to deal equitably with all sections
 It is hoped that certain amendments may be made at the next session of the Legislature to the existing Territorial Act for Road Construction, to make tho same more effective: and it will be fortunate if the sentiment of the Territory and of the Legislature shall early recognize the advantage of CO., operation with Federal agencies con- cerned in this work, or else the Ter ritory may find itself in the position of having all Federal aid withdrawn. It has already fallen to mo on moro than