The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-09-22


will assume AUCTIONS that apparently touch praC-
tcally every department.
Too much government Well, Alaska does get
a pretty large dose. And, what's more, it's most
ly government at long range Bear In mind that
nearly all of Alaskas resources are directly or In
directly controlled by the federal government
About 80 per cent Of the land is still in govern
ment ownership. The development Of coal ana
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 Alaska's resources, is
vested in a 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 longdistance administration has been a 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 sit
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 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
To be sure it would take Philadelphia 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-
siton Of the public lands, In the national forests
(TOngass and ChugaCh, embracing 2OOOOOOO
acres) he executes all laws relating to the
surveying, prospecting, locating and paentng of
public lands and granting of rights Of way Not
withstandng this, the forest service, a 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 no personnel. Any investigation ia
done by the geological survey and the forest
service.
The department Of agriculture has now control
over land fur-bearing animals; up to last veor
both the department Of agriculture and the denort
ment Of commerce functloned Yet the bureau Of
fisheries department Of commerce. Is extenslve,.
raising blue foxes on the prbiloff islands Tho
game laws are enforced by the governor Of Alaska
aud the departments Of agriculture and commerce
The department of commerce has charge of
the fisheries; it has Jurisdiction over merchant
vessels it takes the census; It has a bureau IN
charge of lighthouses; its coast and geodetlc sur
yey makes the charts
The department Of the treasury has charge Of
The construction and maintenance Of public bniId.
ings; It's coast guard protects game ana the sem
and the fisheries It has a public health service
The war department has charge of river ana
harbor improvements II has extensive military
cable, telegraph and radio systems In Alaska
which everybody uses, inasmuch as the postofice
department can hardly be said to function there
The board Of rOad commissioners for Alaska
was created in 1905 by congress. The work Is