The Alaska daily empire., 1923-08-21

Phenomenal expansion In the dc tivities of the Alaska Road Com. mission and the scope of Jurisdiction of members of the board is shown in a review of it's work in the Ter ritory since 1920 made public today by Col James C. Steese. President. The Commission expended directly during the fiscal year ending June 30th, last a total of S761, ,227.61, supervised the expenditure of an ad- ditional $1,641,153.57, as compared to the direct expenditure of $358,- 6O1.25 in 1920.
 During the latter year the Con- mission was reorganized and steps were at once initiated looking to an increase in Federal appropria- tions and a consolidation of en- gineering activities in Alaska The success of these steps is revealed in the figures quoted by Col Steese' s statement. A further indication of 1t Is shown by the fact that the members of the Commission now control the activities of six differ cnt bureaus operating in the Terri tory under the direction of four executive departments
 Record of Growth.
 The rate of growth is indicated by figures for each of the four years in the period mentioned. In 1920, the Commission expended $257,416.69 of Federal funds and $101,1S4.56 of Territorial funds The following year it disbursed $569,117.10 in Federal allotments and $97,611.98 of Territorial money In 1922 it expended Federal fund: aggrog gating $604, 4,15S.62, Territorial funds totaling SIT, 7,205.29 and $1,- S3377 contributed by the National Park Service, the towns of Wrangell Sitka end Valdez and the Alpine Club of Skagway. In the fiscal year jlft elcsed 1t disbursed $6l8.869.62 Federal money, $119,s33.33 Terri torial allntments and S1,379.54 con tributed funds from Juneau and Val drz All of this money went into the construction, maintenance or re- pair of roads, bridges and trails.
 Collateral Expenditures.
 In 1920 the duties and expendi- tIres of the Commission were con fined entirely to road building ac- tivities. In the other three years of the period it disbursed directly a teal Of S70,251.0S on various Riy- CTS and Harbors projects, including $51, 1,954.26 on the Nome harbor im- proyement, the remainder of the to- tai being divided on surveys of port facilities investigations, pre- liminary examinations of the Tolo- vana River, Yukon-Kuskokwim portage, English Bay, and Gas tineau Channel and adjacent waters.
 In 1920 the Commission super vised the expenditure of no addi- tional money and only $750 in 1921 which was expended on a bridge over the Kuskulana River from Ter ritorial funds. In 1922, the expen- allure of $29,177.19 Territorial money was supervised in the Third and Fourth Divisions and to the end of the last fiscal year had sup ervised the expenditure of $50,- 583.d8 from the same source. It had also assumed control of expen- ditures made for engineering work by the Quartermaster's Department of the Army and reconstructed the water supply system of the army post at Haines.
 Takes Over Railroad.
 Ira al pf Ia aelya Railroad under the Jurisdiction of the mem bcrs of the Commission last March brought with it control of the expen- allure Of millions of dollars. Since that time in handling the Federal government railway in Alaska it has expended a total to $1,590,- 570.09 for the following purposes; construction and operations, $113,- 210.48; construction and equipment, $850. .008.35; maintenance and op- eration. s543,945.49 and special de- posit revenue account, $83,396.77. This brought the total of direct ex- ponditures and supervised funds ex- pended since the present board was organied to s4,192.55436.
 Analyzes Road Program.
 In his statement Col. Steese an- alyzed the Commissions road build ing program and activities of the last fiscal year. showing expendi- lures by Division. Total expendi- lures for roads and trails ending June 30th. last. were s740.0S2.49 of which the Territory contributed s119,s33.33, including s20,000 for