The daily Alaska citizen., 1920-01-15
ROADS A NECESSITY

kan Chronicles:
 "DurIug the last legislative session, al tho 1t was generally recognized that the First division paid more taxes than any other division, it was given less money for road building than any of the other three The reason was that legIsla- tors from the Interior, Seward Peninsula, and other parts of the Third division wiIed 1t so. The same men, or others that might follow them from the same sections, are not likely to be especially qualified to handle the fisheries question. Nor are they likely to have any greater sympathy with the First diyision the fishing center, than was displayed ill the road appropriations.
 Apparently the Chronicle writer has not taken the time to read the cooperative road law that was passed by the last Alas ka legislature. If he had he would never have made such assertions regarding the division of road funds. Under the old road law, which provides for territorial road work to be carried out under divisional commissions, the funds were divided equal Iy between the four judicial divisions of Alaska Under the new road law, which Was partially ill operation last year thru the insisteuce of Juneau officials, not only Is this equal division continued but | First and Third divisions are made the rc cipieuts oI substantial sums accruing frou forest reserve funds already in the tleaou1 and which are added to each year. A ill addition to this, recent coast papers cor tam statements that Governor Riggs ha. secured approximately $l30,OOO for ucz years road work in the First and Third divisions from the department of agricuI- ture. This latter amount is more than the combined totaI of the other two divisions funds for next season s road operations
 The Chronicle clIticises the legislators for something they did not do, but which they should have done had they been guid- ed by the actual needs of the territory rath- CT than the political eXigencies of the stua- tion. While visiting Fairbanks last sum mer, Ill discussion of the cooperative road law with the writer of this article, Senator J. k. Hickman, of Ketchikan, made this assertion, My trip thru the interior of Alaska has convinced me that roads and trails to you people are a neces- slty. To us on the coast they are a luxury. '' He'alSo ntlmated that had he been aware of the urgency of trail construction in th; interior he would have thrown his support to a measure more favorable to this sec tion as being for the best interests of the whole territory.
 It is shOrt-sighted policy that denies more adequate road funds to the interior and Seward Peninsula sections It is lock Ing the door on vast mineral deposits, the development of which makes for the pros perlty of the entire territory No sane man, with knowledge of conditions, can say that proportiOnately the interior is getting more than It's needs warrant and its prom ises of reward justify. Sane men will ad- init as did MT. Hickman, that the money dOled out to us for road work is expended for vital necessities, while equal or larger amounts are expended in the First division for road work, a 'luxury" to use Mr. Heck mans phrasing, because politically the ter rltorlal legislature can't get away from it..
 In the Geological Survey report for 1919, which appeared in yesterday morn ing's issue of The Citizen, it is declared:
 ''The best aid that can be given the miner and prospector is good transporta- tion service by water and land and reason able freight rates. Of first importance is