The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1923
ALASKA ROAD MONEY

Late in December Dan Sutherland, Delegate from Alaska, introduced in Congress Dill for an amendment to the Federal hlghWay bill whereby, it is estimated that Alaska would receive several million dollars for rcao construction. This measure should De sup DOrtcd bv everyone in Alaska, for It would mean great deal in the development of tue Territory if it should become law
 It is of more importance even than the first appropriation, for it would mean that Alaska would probably be recognized then for all time in the Federal road aid bill, which, it appears will annually have larger approp1l- ations It is true that if such an appropr'- ation should be granted Alaska that the money, or the greater part of It would go to the great mainland to the North, to ion1s along the railroad and along the Richardson hichwav But even so, Southeastern Alaska would be directly benefited, and II It were not, the people of the Panhandle should sup port it for the general good of the Territory.
 Al the present time, Southeastern Alaska in the matter of roads is provided for better than the rest of the Territory, through Its national forest funds. An attempt has been made. and is being made, to divert some ol these funds to points along the GoVermneh railroad-a thing that would be an outrage on the First Judicial Divsion-but neVerthe- less thing that is being attempted and hay mo some strong backing which must be com batted.
 If the Sutherland amendment to the Fed- eral highway bill should be enacted and bo- como mart of the original measure it would mean that the great mainland to the north
 4o1,o of neither if nor it's proponents would then care to take anything away from the First Division.
 The Government has spent upwards ol $56,000,000 for a railroad from tdeWater to the Interior, the interest on winch, at pei cent, is approximately two and one-quartei million dollars year. It IS probable that the railroad, for considerable period of tme will require additional appropriations of at least a million dollars a year to take care o1 the deficiency in the cost of operation, making total annual expense of three and one-quartel million dollars to the people of the United States It would appear that the people, pay ing this amount, would want to get rid of thai burden just as soon as possible, and the only way that ever can be done will be by building feeders of wagon roads and trails and aiding in the development of the adjacent country.
 The passage of this Federal road bill tc apply to Alaska would mean that in few years the Territory would be so built up mining and agriculture would be so stimu lated that the railroad, instead of being 1T the red would be ready to pay Uncle San a dividend, and Southeastern Alaska would be free from the attempts to rob it of the fruits of it's national forest.
 Of course, there are those who think that this meausre will not pass. They may be right, but if it is introduced every year, and year after year, concurrently with the Fedora road aid bill it will ultimately be given favor able consideration by some Congress- Once il is inserted in the bill, it will stay there an nually.
 An illustration of what persistence will dc in the way of securing desired legislation was the experience of the man who is now head of the consular service of the United States in the State Department. Every year, fol