Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-09-15

MERGE; in fact he
will assume AUCTIONS that apparently touch prac-
t1caLy every department.
Too much governments Well, Alaska does get
pretty large dose. And, what's more, it's most
~ government at long range. Bear in mind that
nearly all of Alaskas are directly or In
directly controlled by the federal government
About SO per cent of the land is still in govern
ment ownership. The development of coal and
oil deposits is under government leases Water
powers and fisheries are under federal control,
and nearly all Alaska timber is in government
ownership.
The federal control of Aaskas resources Is
vested in number of departments and bureaus
Rules and regulations relating to Alaska affairs
under the existing statutes, must be made by
Washington authorities, who are also in large
measure directly charged with their execution
This long-dstance administration has been a ser-
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
wers not familiar with local conditions. This sit
uaton has worked a particular hardship the
operator with small capital, who could not afford
to make the long Journey to present his argument
in person to the Washington authorities. Owing
to the divided authority and the limitations placed
by statutes and appropriations there has also been
a lack of coordination between various Alaska fed
eral activities.
10 be sure II would take a Pnllauelphla lawyer
as the old saying goes-to figure out all the
ways in which Alaska is governed, but here are
some OF them.
The interior department has a large part OF
Alaska'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 of the general land office is
charged with the survey, management and dispo-
oft q In tho potin
(Tongass and Chugach, embracing 2OOOOOOD
acres) he executes all laws relating to the
surveying, prospecting, locating and patentng of
public lands and granting of rights of way Not
withstanding this, the forest service, bureau Of
the agricultural department, has charge Of the
national forests.
The secretary of the interior is a member, with
the secretaries of war and agriculture of the new
water power commission The commission has
no funds and personnel. Any investigation is
done by the geological survey and the forest
service.
The department of agriculture has now control
over land fuf-bearing animas I'D to last ve,r
both the department of agriculture and the denort.
ment Of commerce functiOned Yet the bureau q,
fisheries department of cOmmerce) is extensivalv
raising blue foxes the PribiloR islands The
game laws are enforced by the governor Of Alaska
and the departments of agriculture and commerce
The department of commerce has charge ~
the fisheries; 1t has Jurisdiction over merchant
vessels; it takes the census it has bureau in
charge of lighthouses; Its coast and geodetic sur
vey makes the charts.
The department of the treasury has charge NJ
the construction and maintenance of public hn;,d
ings; its coast guard protects game and the sen,
and the fisheries; it has a public health service
The war department has charge of river and
harbor improvements. 1t has extensive military
cable, telegraph and radio systems In Alaska
which everybody uses, inasmuch as the posofiice
department can hardly be said to function there
The board of road commissioners for Alaska
was created in 1905 by congress. The work is