The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-09-15


atoms by congress through military committees.
The bureau OF public roads of the agricultural
department constructs public roads in national
forests. There is also a territorial road com
mission. There are actually four federal bu-
reaus which have funds for the construction Of
wagon roads in Alaska
The 1920 report of John Barton Payne. score
tary Of the interior, contains many pages devoted
[" consideration Of Alaskan conditions by him.
In addition, 1t contains in fun the report of the
Alaskan advisory committee, appointed by him in
April OF 1870 TO advise what immediate steps could
be taken to better conditions, what Industries
could be developed and what resources could be
explored to give employment to a resident pOpu-
htion which in turn would give home market
for Alaska products. This committee was made up
of Alfred II. Brooks (charman), interior depart
ment; II. Y Saint, shipping board; Otto Praeger
second assistant postmaster general; Il. A. Sher
man, agricultural department
Ii 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 was 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.
The postolice department is not functionng
Mail to Alaska is shipped as 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 no resident district forester.
There are 347 Withdrawals and reservations OF
public lands; many serve no useful purpose
Only about per cent Of Aluskas ocean water
WAYS have been Charted
Lighthouses and fog horns are 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 territorial
powers OF legislation; jurisdiction over fish game
and land fur-bearng animals transfer of the
Alaska fund from the federal to the territorial
treasury
Aaskas coal output in 1919 under the leasing
law was only 10000 tons; she is importing annual.
ly 100000 tons.
With oil of her own Alaska draws on California
for 100000 barrels Of petroleum and It's products.
There has been little or no investigation in tho
water-power resources,
Extension to Alaska Of the farmers loan not
and the stock-raising homestead act are needed
Ocean transportation is inadequate and rates
are so high as to cripple all Alaskan Industrial
expansion. Indeed the problem Of getting Alaska's
products tC market seems TO be the biggest prob.
lem of all. II has many ranihcatlons The III.
tie fishing companies without vessels of their own
have TO trust to the chance visit Of independent
buyers. The catch Of these little companies
amounts to millions. The big companies Of course
have their own vessels There are also certain
shipping regulations that must be altered Prob.
ably government shipping line will have to be
established under the jurisdiction Of the interstate
commerce commission to break the private monop.
oily in water transportation.
Secretary FAN does not purpose II Is stated 10
take over investigation activities Of a scientific
nature now being done by various bureaus But
he does plan to take over the functions and per.
sonnet Of the other departments aud bureaus func.
tionlng in Alaskas ongdistance government