The Alaska daily empire., 1923-03-12
PORTAGE SURV EYI
 RECOMMENDED BY HOUSE MEMORIAL
Daly Introduces Memorial Asking for Survey of
 Lower River Routes.


 A survey of the Yukon-Kuskokwim portage to determine the practicable ity of connecting the two rivers by means of a barge or steamer canal, is the aim of House Joint Memorial No. 2, which was introduced this morning by Representative Daly. It is asked that such survey be made by the District Rivers and Harbors Board without the formality of an additional hearing which is now de- sired by the Board of Engineers in Washington.
 Linking of the Kuskokwim to the Yukon, it was pointed out, means connecting the entire Kuskokwim re- gion with the Alaska Railroad and would benefit both the district and the railroad itself by giving it ad- ditsonal tonnage.
 The situation is fully covered by the memorial which declares:
 "T'hat the Act of Congress approved September 22, 1922, authorized pre- liminary examination and survey of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Portage, AL dSkd, WILL fltW tO itS iiipiof CiiChe' l "That the Yukon River, which is nayigabe for over 2,5OO miles, and the Kuskokwim River. which is nav igable for over 800 miles. though they discharge into Boring Sea at points separated by about 400 miles, are separated about 200 miles from their mouths by a distance of about 30 miles
 l 'That there are two routes across 1 this intervening portage regularly used by canoes and polling boats. but that no survey has ever been made nor is sufficient data available from which to estimate the cost of inn proving either one of these routes so as to accommodate small power ! launches and barges;
 I Conditions Are Changed I "That the completion of the Gov ernment Railroad and the establish ment by the government of a steam I ship and barge service on the Yukon and Panama Rivers have completely changed the transportation situation in the Territory and have rendered this portage of immense importance in providing access to the Great Kuskokwim Valley by means of the railroad route, thereby greatly ex tending the short summer working season;
 l That the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors has notified in terested parties thst the report of ths preliminary examination by the dis trict engineer in Juneau. Alaska, Is favorable to the extent of recon mending a survey to determine the cost and advisability of the improve Imont, but that the Board itself is noi convinced of the advisability of the United States undertaking any i'm lprovement at this locality, though il is willing to arrange for hearing;
 "That a hearing is impracticable duo to the remoteness of the region and the inadequacy of existing trans lportation facilities;
 Survey Is Necessary
 That survey is necessary to SC lcure date from which thorough going study may be made to deter mine the cost and practicability ol the best of several possible routes the existing and prospective traffic in view of the changes and develop lment resulting from the recent com pletion of the Government Railroad and the extent to which cooperation upon the part of the Territory of Al aska or the Alaska Road Commission may be possible;
 ''In view of those facts, we re lspectfully request that the local dis trict engineer be directed to make the survey and complete the report tauthorized by Congress"
 Session Is Short The House began the second week of the term without any great amount of legislation being present ed. The Daly memorial was the only new business presented. Several committee meetings were called for the day in order to work on bills already introduced or to whip into 1 Shapo m a c,1roc fo ba ad 1rte or