The Alaska daily empire., 1922-10-31
EXTENSIVE ROAD SYSTEM PLANNED.

~ Good roads advocates and organizato are plan ming to launch systematic campaign of education fer comprehensive national good roads building pro- gram entailng the expenditure of $60O0,O0ooQ0 and that will put in condition a total of 1Soooo miles of highway or sixty times the distance across the continent It is proposed to extend the program over a period of from , to 20 years.
 The Highway Education Board, an organization centering national capital, is of the most active proponents of the national highway system In order provide funds for creating the highway, the Federal Government is expected to provide 50 per cent. the funds, State governments cooperat- ing to the extent of the remaining 50 per cent. The Bureau of Public Reads has advised the Board that
 the present Federal program will be extended for a period of about 20 years.
 The coming session of Congress will have to deal with road appropriation bills aggregating approXi- mately $1O0 O0O, ,O00 Authority continuation of Federal road aid included in legislation by the last session but funds not then made available
 Under the present system of Federal aid, Alaska generally does not share in the undertakings It is included in the special Forest Fund provisions but the general provisions of the bill excludes all Terri tories. The greatest need of this Territory today, transcending reform of Government, reduction of transportation costs, regulation of fishing gear and ether things extensively discussed, is roads and trails. Yet there is less effort made get fer them, in proportion their importance than there is have freak fisheries legislation enacted This is net said in erogatory to the AlaskH Read Commission which has adopted comprehensive road construction program and annually furnishes de- tailed estimates Congress asking for liberal road appropriations. But there seems to be general failure recognize the futility of attempting to se- adequate road funds through special legislation that applies to Alaska alone The history of the past decade proves inability get this kind of ap- propIiation bills through Congress if it proves noth- ing olse When the question of appropri,ting momey arises, Congress has at best stepfaherly interest in "f~
 Whatever support special Alaska measures obtain in Congress, when money is at stake is limited to q few friends of the Territory who are willing to do what they can if it doesn't njuIe their causes Such measures lack the essential clement required enactment into law-and that is common interest arising from general application the entire try This IS particularly true regards road approv pration measures Had the Forest Service presehted estimates to Congress asking for $1 900 900 for Alaska alone without including other national forest states it would not have been able get the bill out of committee. That the Alaska Road Commission is able set about 50 per cent. of the funds it an- nually requests speaks strongly for it's standing and the influence of it's members and their friends.
 The time has come to tie roads onto omnibus road bill The Federal Government should have paramount interest in road construction here since il owns outright in of 9S per of the land and resources It recognizes its responsibility for building roads in the public land Its duty to Alaska is not less the contrary, is propor- tonately greater, than to states having -unappro- prated public lands Little real effort has been made 10 bring home to Washington that duty. Only re- gently have Alaskans to understand the situa- tion. New that the facts known, it would be ahort.sighted and foolishly determined pnlicy that would neglect every effort and all pos sible influences to bring about Aaskas particpat in the general Federal aid road program. This is matter that demands the urgent attention of Alasas delegate