The Alaska daily empire., 1922-11-15


 together likely that something $300O0Oo,0oo will he exnepded in the United States Federal aid roads That is the goal by those formulating the Federal Aid Highway program which calls for the cen etructon of 1S0,000 miles of roads II Is the purpose of the good roads advocates to have ln the United highway facilities surpassing that of any other nation, past present. Even the famed hiehways of ancient Rome, it is claimed, will pale by comparison
 Alaska ae whole has not yet benefited directly from this class of Federal aid. It has received special Federal assistance and recognition from two sources by direct appropriation through the War Department for the Alaska Road Commission. The other from allotments from the Forest Fund section of the Federal Highway Act, which is just now the national good roads law. Money obtained through the first channel can be and is expended in any part of Alaska at the discretion of the Alaska Road Commission but the funds allotted through the Forest Service expenditure by the Bureau of Public Roads can only be expended, and rightly so, in the national forest districts of the Territory on roads within the forests directly adjacent to them for the development either of the forests themselves or of communities dependent in whole or in part on forest development for prosperity.
 There is third source from which Federal aid csn and should be made available. although it might result though not necessarily so, in the first sonrce being dscon nued, and that is through extension of the general provisions and principles o the Federal Aid Act the Territory. It is fully extended to all and special recognition is given 10 States in which there unapprcpriated public lands, extra allotments being given them in proportion to the ratio of the area unappropriated public lands to the total area the State Despite the hundreds of thousands of similar land in Alaska no recognition is given. Yet unless roads first con- struccd there is little chance Cf most of this land being opened up for settlement development.
 Almost everyone who has given time and study to the Alaska situation comedies the need for roads trails be paramount. It surpasses every other material consideration and is more important just now than the need for governmental reform But go along wasting time and energy in efforts to get special legislation enacted for appropriations for roadwork that of it's weight cannot hope to be successful. As long the Territory is to be the sole beneficiary of such legislation it cannot be ex- pcced that any deep interest will be taken by the average member of Congress. at least not enough to justify continuation the policy. It is manifest that the Territory will stand better chances for by making common with all of the States than by standing alone and that the wise procedure is get in the omnibus bill rather than to go it alone'
 Delegate Sutherland recently stated to a repre- sentative of The Empire that he will make de- termned effort get the Federal Aid Highway Act amended to include Alaska in all of it's pro- visions For about 20 months The Empire has urged that this be done. called attention the fact on several occasions before the bill became law that Alaska included and since it's enactment, when the matter of the extension of it's provisions came several months ago, urged amendment that time. The Delegate may have difficulty in getting hearing but all the facts in his favor; logically there is why the extension should be approved by Congress He deserves should have the undivided support of every Alaskan com Eercia and civic organization and of all individuals regardless of politics in this undertaking.