Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-09-22

ations by congress through military committees
The bureau of public roads of the agricultural
department constructs public roads in national
forests. There is also territorial road COM
mission. There actually four federal bu-
reaus which have funds for the construction of
wagon roads in Alaska.
The 1920 report of John Barton Payne. secre-)
tary of the interior, contains many pages devoted
to a consideration of Alaskan conditions by him.
In addition, it contains in full the report of the
Alaskan advisory committee appointed by him in
April OF 1920 to advise what immediate steps could
be taken to better conditions what industries
could be developed and what resources could be
exploited to give employment to resident popC-
laton which in turn would give home market
for Alaska products. This committee made up
of Alfred H. Brooks (chairman), interior depart
ment; 81. Y. Saint, shipping board; Otto Praeger,
second assistant postmaster general; E. A. Sher-
man, agricultural department.
1t was the judgment of the advisory committee
that the wise course was to coordinate the differ
ent departments Of the government having to do
with Alaska through committee consisting of a
representative from each department. Such a
committee named by Secretary Payne.
In Secretary Payne's personal comments and
the report of the advisory committee many inter-
esting and curious facts are found. Here are
some of them:
The work of construction of the government
railroad is getting along slowly.
Mail to Alaska is shipped express or freight.
There has been a shortage of labor.
The leases offered by the forest service to max
ers of pulp and paper offer unacceptable terms
There is resident district forester.
There are 347 Withdrawals and reservations Of
public lands; many serve no useful purpose
Only about per cent of Alaskas ocean water
ways have been charted.
Lighthouses and fog horns needed; some
projects, authorized by congress- lack appropria
tons.
There was one naval patrol in 1920; there should
be 20 boats.
territorial police force is needed.
The salmon fishing industry is menaced from
lack of protection and propagation Of the fish.
The territorial government wants full territoria
powers of legislation jurisdiction fish, gam
and land fur-bearng animals; transfer of tn
Alaska fund from the federal to the territoria
treasury.
Alaskas coal output in 1919 under the leasin
law was only $4,000 TONS she is importing annual
ly 100000 tons.
With oil of her own, Alaska draws on California
for 100000 barrels of petroleum and its products
There has been little investigation in tn
water-power resources.
Extension to Alaska of the farmers loan aC
and the stock-raising homestead act are needed
Ocean transportation is inadequate and rate
are so high to cripple all Alaskan industris
expansion. Indeed, the problem of getting Alaska
products to market seems to be the biggest proI
lem of all. 1t has many ramfcations. The Ii
tie fishing companies, without vessels of their owl
have TO trust to the chance visit of independer
huyers The catch of these little companie
amounts to millions. The big companies, of cours
have their own vessels. There also certai
shipping regulations that must be altered. Pro
ably government shipping line will have to /
established under the jurisdiction of the intersta
commerce commission to break the private mono
DIV In water transportation.
Secretary Fall does not purpose, it is stated,
take over investigation activities of a scientii
nature now being done by various bureaus. B.
he does plan to take over the functions and De
sonnel of the other departments and bureaus fun
tioning in Alaska's longdistance government.