The Alaska daily empire., 1923-02-08
Alaska Road Money.
ketchikan Chronicle.


 Late in December. Dan Sutherland, Delegate from Alaska introduced in Congress bill for amend nent 10 The Federal highway bill whereby, il is estimated that Alaska would receive several million dollars for road construction This measure should be supported by everyone in Alaska. would mean a great deal in the development of the Territory if it should become law.
 It is of more importance than the first ap propriation. Tor il would mean that Alaska would probably be recognized then for all time in the Fed eral road bill which, ii appears will annually have larger appropriations. It is true that if such an appropriation should be granted Alaska that the money the greater part of it would go the great mainland 10 the North, 10 points along the railroad and along the Richardson highway But so. Southeastern Alaska would be directly benefited, if 1t not. the people Of the Panhandle should support il for the general good of the Territory.
 At the present time, Southeastern Alaska in the matter Of roads is provided for better than the rest of the Territory through it's national forest funds An attempt has been made and is being made, d- some these funds to points along the Govern ment raroad,-a thing that would be outrage on the First Judicial Diyision-but nevertheless thing that is being attempted and having strong back ing which must be coubatted
 If the Sutherland amendment to the Federal high way bill should be enacted and become part of the original measure it would mean that the great main land 10 the north would be well taken care Of that 'neither il nor it's proponents would then care to take anything away from the First Division
 The Government has spent upwards of 56,000, 900 for railroad from tdewater to the Interior the interest on which, at per cent, is approximately two and one-quarter million dollars year. It is probable that the railroad. for considerable period of time will require additional appropriations of at least a million dollars year to take care of the dehelehey ih the cost of operation making total an nual of three one-quarter million dollars to the people of the United States It would appear that the people, paying this amount would want 10 get rid of that burden just as possible and the only way that can be done will be l,y building feeders Of wagon roads and trails and aiding in the development of the adjacent country
 The passage of this Federal road bill to apply Ia Alaska would mean that in a few years the Terri tory would be so built up, mining and agriculture would be so stimulated that the railroad instead of being in the red, would be ready to pay Uncle Sam dividend, and Southeastern Alaska wculd be froa rom the attempts to rob of the fruits of it's national forest ~
 Of course there those who think that tbis measure will not pass. They may be right but if II is introduced every year and year after year con currently With the Federal road aid bill il will ulti mately be given favorable consideration by some Con sress Once it is inserted in the bill il will sfav there annually " "'
 An illustration Of what persistence will do in tue way or securing desired legislation was the nx perlence or the man who is head of the Consnar oefRce or the United States in the State Denartma,t Every year, for fifteen years or thereabonte be bad lneroaueea Ill congress a bill touching the Consular service Each year il was turned down. and again ne next session np it popped again until finally Inc department found Congress which was sunicantI, friendly to pass 1t.
 so II should be with the Federal aid road bin Alaska should have the measure before every Cane1
 anu before every session of Congress until il beconoo part of the measure, and until Alaska reape tbo h vest, whereby the United States in tnrn viii ~ @ . larger harvest later @ e"p d
 Alaska must have roads, and rodds and moro roads othefWise Il will stand it has stood for twentv years, showing little progress ''