The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-07


mercc; In fact. no
will assume AUCTIONS that apparently touch prac-
tcnlly every department.
Too much government Well, Alaska does get
q pretty large dose. And. what's more, It's most
ly government mt long range. Rear In mind that
nearly all OF Alaska's resources directly or In
directly controlled by the federal government
About % per cent Of the land is stili In govern.
ment ownership. The development Of coal and
oil deposits In under government leases. Water
powers and fisheries under federal control
and nearly all Alaska timber II In government
ownership.
The federal control OF Aiaskas resources IL
vested In a number Of departments and bureaus
Rules and regulations relating to Alaska AFFAIRS
under the existing statutes. must BIO made by
Washington authorities. who also In large
measure directly charged with their execution
This long distance administration has been seri
Gus handicap to the development OF Alaska. In
many Instances regulations have been made which
did not meet the local requirements. and unjust
decisions rendered because those making them
were not familiar with local conditions. This silt
uation has worked a particular hardship on the
operator with small capital. who could not AFFORD
to make the long Journey to present his argument
In person to tho Washington authorities. Owing
to the divided authority and tho Limitations placed
by statutes and appropriations there has also been
u lack Of coordination between various Alaska fed
erai activities.
To be SURF. II would take Philadelphia lawyer
US the old saying goes--to figure out all the
ways In which Alaska Is governed. but here are
seme Of them.
The interior department has a large part OF
Aiaska's government The secretary has general
supervision over the work Of constructing the
government railroad from Seward to Fairbanks
by the Alaskan engineering commission.
The commissioner VI the general land once Is
charged with tho survey. management and dispo-
siion Of the public lands. In the national forests
(1angass and Chugach. embracing 2000O,O0O
actes) he executes all laws relating to the
surveying. prospecting, locating and patenting Of
public lands and grantin. Of rights Of way Not
withdrawing this the forest service. Z bureau OF
the agricultural department. has charge Of the
national forests,
The secretary Of the interior 10 q member, with
the secretaries Of war and agriculture Of the
water power commission The commission has
no funds and personnel. Any investigation is
done BY tho geological survey and the forest
service
The department of agriculture has now contro,
over land fur'bearing animals: up to last year
both the department OF agriculture and the depart.
n,.nt Of commerce functioned Yet the bureau of
fisheries department OF conmercel Is extensively
raising blue foxes the rribllor islands, The
game laws arc enforced by the governor OF Alaska
aud the departments OF agriculture and commerce.
The department OF commerce has charge OF
the fisheries; IL has jurisdiction merchant
vessels. Il takes the census: Il has a bureau In
charge OF lighthouses: Its coast and geodetic sur.
We. makes the charts
The department of the treasury has charge of
IN. construction and maintenance Of public build.
ings. its coast guard protects game and the seal
an,l the fisheries: II has . public health service.
The war department has charge OF river and
harl.or improvements. II has extensive military
eulle. telegraph and radio systems In Alaska
ieh everybody uses. inasmuch as the postofiic,
a artment can hardly he said TO function there
he hoard of Rad commissioners for Alaska
created In lax by congress. The work Is