Seward daily gateway., 1925-03-16
SMITH PROPOSES
 PLAN OPERATION
 ANCHORAGE DOCK
INDIVIDUALS USING ANCHORAGE DOCK MUST PROVIDE OWN
 OPERATIVES
LOWERS COMMODITY RATES
Railroad Will Maintain Physical quipment-companie or Individ- uais Required to Pay Dockage, Warehouse and all Switching Charges.
Anchorage Daily Times,)

Anchorage Daily Times)
 The long mooted question of the operation of the Anchorage dock dur ing the open season has come to a head. Noel w Smith, general man. ager of the Alaska railroad, states that the Alaska railroad will only maintain the physical equipment of the dock, but will not maintain cleri- cal or other forces, and itself will not operate the local dock.
 Smith has proposed a plan of op- eration for the dock whereby indi- viduals or companies, by using their own dock agents and forces may have access to the docking facilities. Smith states as his reasons for the evolution of the plan; the appropria- tion for the Alaska railroad is for maintenance and operation of the line, and is not to be expended for competitive facilities. Furthermore, money paid to steamship companies is expended outside of Alaska but money paid to the Alaska railroad accrues to the benefit of Alaska, and particularly Anchorage
 The entire plan of opera ton was explained to the transportation con- mittee of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce in a communication from Smith. The transportation commit tee has been conferring with Smith in regard to the dock question.
 The complete plan of dock opera ton follows:
 Transportation Committee,
 Chamber of Commerce,
 Anchorage, Alaska.
 Gentlemen:
 The question of the opera ton of the dock at Anchorage by the Alas ka railroad has had very careful consideration and we submit here with plan of operation in connec- tion with this dock for the season of 1925.
 We realize there are features in this plan to which objections may be raised but we are asking that the plan be considered in the nature of an experimental one, and that we receive the cooperation of the people of Anchorage by giving the plan thorough trial, and if it is demon strated that changes or alterations are necessary to make the plan more desirable, or a return to the present method, that the necessity for such changes or return be fully demon strated
 The basis on which this plan is developed is that the appropriation given by congress to the Alaska railroad is for the maintenance and operation of the railroad and should not be expended for the operation of facilities in competition with the railroad. The right of the people of Anchorage to have water com petition with the Alaska railroad is recognized, but the total cost of such competitive transportation should be borne by the competitor, or those who profit by the compe- tition. Further, that while the Alaska railroad should offer some inducement to the shippers if they wish to compete with this water transportation, either by way of service or rates, or both, they also have the right to expect a reason able support from the people of Anchorage because of the mutual interests existing between the com munity and the railroad
 Any monies paid to the steamship be performed by the Alaska rail- road passes into the earnings of the steamship companies and is not spent in Alaska while the monies paid to the Alaska railroad are to a very large extent again paid out in Alaska-largely at Anchorage in the payment of wages and purchases of supplies, thereby adding to the prosperity of Anchorage and Alas ka
 It is also recognized that the An chorage dock should be retained for the present, at least, by the Alaska