The weekly Alaska citizen., 1920-01-19
ROADS A NECESSITY

During the last legislative session, al tho it was generally recognized that the First division paid more taxes than any other division, 1t was given less money for road building than any of the other three. The reason was that legisla and other parts of the Third division willed 1t so The same men, or others that might follow them from the same sections, arc not likely to be especially qualified to handle the fisheries question: Nor are they likely to have any greater sympathy with the First division, the fishing center, than was displayed in 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 ly between the four judicial divisions of Alaska. Under the new road law, which was partially in operation last year thru the insistence of Juneau officials, not only is this equal division continued but tr First and Third divisions are made the re cipients of substantial sums accruing iron forest reserve funds already in the treasury and which are added to each year. Al in addition to this, recent coast papers con tain statements that Governor Riggs has secured approximately $l30OO0 for neX, years road work in the First and Third divisions from the department of agricul- ture. This latter amount is more than the combined total of the other two divisions funds for next season s road operations.
 The Chronicle criticises 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 situa- tion. While visiting Fairbanks last sum- mer, in discussion of the cooperative road law with the writer of this article, Senator J. R. Hickman, of Ketchikan, made this assertion, My trip thru the interior of Alaska has convinced me that roads and trails to you people are neces- sity. To us on the coast they are luxury " He also intimated that had he been aware of the urgency of trail construction in tht 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 perity of the entire territory No sane man, with a knowledge of conditions, can say that approximately the interior is getting more than its needs warrant and it's 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 ritorial 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- rtion service by water and land and reason able freight rates. Of first importance is Al. II Ll better and cheaper steamboat service, on