The Cordova daily times., 1921-06-16
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ialization and direct personel respon. sibility which would have so largely contributed to our national prosperity and success. Such an arrangement would deprive the administrative of. ficers of the territory of he services the great scientific organizations which the federal government main ta,ns. It would disrupt the we'll laid plans for cound development. Because of it's remotness from the seat of government the administra- tion of government activities in Al. |aska should be upon a somewhat diff |ferent basis than the administration in the states. This can be accom- plished under congressional permis- sion and through whole hearted CO., operation. The way has been opened through the interdepartmental Alaska committee which was organized in De- ember, 1920. If similar organiza- tion should be established in the ter ritory by bringing together the rep. presentatives of the various depart ments, many of the difficulties of ad- ministration could be removed.
 There is real need for congression- al legislation along certain lines. For example, the department of agricul- ture has asked of congress authority to make sale of timber in Alaska up to a maximum of $1,0OO in value with out the formality of thirty days ad- vertisement. Such authority is need- ed to avoid exasperating delays and inconvenience.
 The department also has asked con- gress for permission to turn over to the road and school funds 50 per cent of the receipts of the national forests instead of but 25 per cent as at the present time. This additional reven- ue would be most helpful to the peo- pie of Alaska during the poineer per iod
 More work should be done in prop erly mapping and estimating the tim Der in the national forests of Alaska, and more data should be compiled with regard to the water power trib- utary and available for the utilization of such timber The department has asked fo- additional funds to be us- ed for this purpose. They are much needed
 The homestead law should be amended as it now applies to Alaska so that surface rights may be segregat- led mineral rights. There are light areas in Alaska underlaid by Ignite, come of them the best agricultural land in the territory If these areas were located in any Of the states the homesteaders wc,lld be allowed to file and secure surface patent, the coal bodies being reserved by the fed eral government. This provision has not been extended to Alaska, but it should be-
 1 am told that at the present time there is in Alaska land seeker who claims to represent about one hun dred residents of the Dakotas who wish to settle in Alaska if he reports favorably. Much of the available az ricultural land in Alaska is underlain with coal and is classified as coal land The one thing which is most likely to prevent favorable report is the fact that until the law with ref erence to homestead entries for, land and classified as coal land is changed, title to the surface of the land cannot be obtained. This proposed measure does not provide for a change in the law, and yet that is one change which would do much to stimulate perman- ent settlement in Alaska.
 The forest service and biological
 
 mits for fox farms within the national forests and upon certain specific is- lands. Uniform regulations have been worked out to secure full harmony of action, but I understand that the de- partment of the interior is without authority in law to issue comparable permits for the use of islands under its jurisdiction. Congress should grant such authority.
 Because of the distance it is inn portant that representative of the federal government on the ground in Alaska should have the greatest pos sible authority consistent with the sound administration of government affairs. The department of agricul- ture has recognized this and had granted such authority to it's repre- sentatives in Alaska to the full prac-