The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-04-21

facilities offered to Alaskans by transportation companies operating between Puget Sound and Alaskan ports, Governor Riggs recently pre-. scented a plan to the territorial legis- lature for the establishment of line of steamers owned and operated by Alaska to fill the transportation needs of the north. A bill has been in both houses at Juneau which covers the suggestions of the governor and reports from the coast indicate that this measure will be passed.
 The plan of Governor Riggs, and the need for the proposed transpor- tation line, is contained in a mes- sage sent to the legislature by the governor. as follows:
 Territory ot Alaska, Governors of.
 flee. Juneau. March 26, 1919. To the Senate and House of Repre-
 sentatives:
 have viewed with apprehension the recent increase in freight and passenger tariffs by the steamship companies operating between Seattle, Washington, and the various ports in the Territory of Alaska. During the year 1918 rates were increased over and above those obtaining in 1917, the reason set forth being that war conditions had greatly increased operating expenses. Extensive hear. ings were held on the subject of freight rates, In both Alaska and in the States. The contention of the steamship companies was upheld. On March 19 of this year still fur. ther increased tariffs became effec- tive.
 When will these increases cease7 War conditions no longer exist. Slow ly the abnormal prices brought about by abnormal conditions are com mencing to readjust themselves. It would seem that new rates becoming effective should be lowered instead of increased. Small competing lines have been eliminated. The people of the territory have not been advised as to the necessity for further in- crease in tariffs, nor do believe that such necessity exists. Federal agencies are either unable or 10th to exercise restraining influences.
 It is evident to all of us that ter. ritorial development cannot continue when operating under the handicap of almost prohibitive freight and pas senger rates. If press reports are to be believed, already the rates be- tween Seattle and southwestern Alas ka are greater than rates across the Pacific. At Nome the retail price ol coal Is in the neighborhood of $35 per ton. While I was there last sum. mer 1t was rumored that the price of this commodity would advance during the winter to $40 per ton. h. creased cost of coal in Nome means the death of the community as 8 winter camp. Only the rich will be able to afford the common comforts of life.
 In the interior of Alaska the peo- pie are already overburdened with high rates, which are largely respon- sible for a gradual closing down of low.grade placer operations. The population is decreasing and further decrease in population will make 1t difficult for existing river transpor- tation lines to find enough trafdc to warrant further operation.
 In my annual report to the secre- tary of the interior I advocated
 That the United States shall
 take over for the period of the
 war and until such time as condi.
 tions shall have readjusted them
 selves to a pre- war status, all
 transportation by steamships or
 railroad lines. to and in the ter.
 ritory of Alaska. charging such
 freight and passenger tariffs and
 maintaining such schedules as
 will allow and encourage the con.
 tihued development of the terri.
 tory.
 On my recent visit to Washing ton. D. C.. I urged this action. even tho the war was then virtually at an end. but it seems that legislation is lacking to enable the government to establish lines of transportation to Alaska. The secretary of the in- terior agrees with me that the ter ritory cannot come to full develop ment under present conditions and he would have come to our assist ance, particularly in connection with the government railroad, had he been legally able. 1 do not believe we can obtain any assistance from the federal government. If such a thing is humanly possible. we must therefore endeavor, thru territorial