The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1920-03-26
ALASKA TO GET
 MORE CASH FOR
 WORK ON ROADS

CopleS ol the plii aPproPIiaS'hS Sl0O,OO0,0OO per annum for the next four years to aid in the construc- ton of rural post roads under the act of July II, 1916, received show that for the first time Alaska, is in. cluded for her share of the money and aid. The bill was introduced by Sem ator Chamberlain, and Alaska was in- cluded in the measure at the instance of Delegate George B. Grigsby and Gov. Thomas Riggs, Jr., Gov Riggs has appeared before the committee in behalf of Alaska's right to be includ- ed in the measure.
 While the Chamberlain bill ap- proprates $1OO,O0O,000 annually for four years each years approp- riation shall be available for two years after the end of that year, which would allow until June ?0,' 1927 in which to expend the total sum of S4O0,OO0,00O. 2.
 The amount allowed to Alaska for roads is s750OOO a year. While the law under which the appropria- ton is made contemplates State and Territorial aid, Senator Chamber lain provides that in those States and Territories are unpatented lands. owned by the United States, and without the boundaries of forest re- serves, the Secretary of Agriculture may make regulations that will re. ouire less of State and Territorial aid that the laws now require.
 This appropriation of $75o,ooe for Alaska roads is in addition to the road funds derived from the proceeds of National Forests, those expended under the Alaska Board of Road Commissioners and other Al aSka road funds.
 Gov. Riggs Speaks for Alaska.
 This bill was introduced Feb'n- ary 27. On February 14, Gov. Riggs appeared before the Committee on Post Office and Post Boards, and offered the following statement in behalf of consideration of Alaska in connection with appropriations for these roads: ..'....
 MT. Riggs MT. Chairman, 1 think our time has expired.
 The Chairman. That is all right Go ahead.
 Mir. Riggs. I am merely asking consideration. MT. Chairman, for Alaska, of the enactment of public roads acts, and if possible to ex- tend the present acts to us, pand- ing the enactment of others. Tn" way the laws are now, Alaska ean not participate in the appropria. ton made by Congress for Federal aid and on roads. We desire to cooperate; we are not asking that you give us roads, but let us CO., operate so we can have roads. We need them for the development of a country which is of vast value to the United States. We are cooper ating to a certain extent in the various roads under Section 8 of the Federal Roads Act. Otherwise, we have no opportunity althougr we are desirious of doing so in our limited capacity. We have but lit- tie taxing power. There is very little property vested in private ownership. Ninety-nine and five tenths is government-owned. 34,o00 square miles in forest reservations, and so we feel that we are not asking too much. MT. Chairman, in ask ing you to allow the Territory 10 stand as a State does. We are not even asking that the Government shall pay in proportion to lands own ed. but to merely give us the same consideration. so we can build roads and develope our country.
 It may possibly be of interest to- YOU to know that Alaska is now pay ing a greater proportion per capita than any other State or Territory 'cf the United States into the Treas urv of the United States and if the whole United States were to pay ar
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