Seward daily gateway., 1926-11-29

repbeation published herein
 rights republication
 NEED FOR AN EMPIRE BUILDER
 Gauged by the sporadic pessmistic statements issued by Washington with respect to Alaska and its future there appears to- be clothed with authority who IS capable of than the utterance of occasional pat tudes such have become hackneyed in their repeton: We wish to do something for Alaska"
 The idea of following the economic precedents of all vision of those wrestling with the Alaskan problem. What the Territory needs most is business manager Since Uncle Sam is proprietor of nearly everything worth while in the Territory it would reasonable that the major effort of bringing it's natural to full fui ton should rest with the proprietor Any other business would have proted by the experience of ordinary business and would have succeeded where the present system, to quote high officials in Washington, has failed
 Practically all efforts directed by the Federal gov erent to the problem of Alaska have been of the piece meal order with respect to the Alaska Road Con- misson The work performed by this organization ap- pears pave the way for enlargement of it's powers embrace every coming within the scope of Federal activities Already test of such system has been made with certain limitations, is shown in the multiple duties devovng upon the shoulders of Colonel James Gordon Seese president of the Alaska Road Commission, and the biggest man identified with Alaskan affairs.
 Whenever any department of the government up against snag or some emergency arises where "MOses is required Colonel Steese has been the agency through which results have been accomplished When the Alaska Railroad required an interim manager be- tween the relnQulShment of construction by Colonel Frederick Mears and the appointment of Noel w. Smith civilian manager Colonel Steese called to the helm At the moment he called upon to take finished railroad and the heaviest responsibility placed upon a general managers shoulders-the hand ling of two big tourists parties and the Presidential tour when the late President Harding visited Alaska The perfection with which these duties carried out gave evidence of Colonel Steesee marked ability to grapple with big problems and handle them successfully.
 And during this period Colonel Steese in addition to his duties president of the Alaska Road Commission, carried also the labors of consulting engineer and supe tendent of construction and repair of any aids to on in the sixteenth district including the Territory of Alaska district engineer reporting direct to the chief of engineers; consulting engineer and Tn charge of all Ter rtoral public wOrks served member of the InterDe partmental Alaska Council until 1923; by informal ar engagement with the Department of Interior acted for that department matters relating to the improvement of the Sitka National monument and the development of Mount Mckinley National Park by request of the depart of Lowell creek at Seward represented the Quarter Sitka National cemetery supervised the construction of water supply system for Chilkoot barracks.
 The result of this consolidation of functions has been to expedition without increase of costs and full knowledge of the entire Territory and it's problems.
 Colonel Steeses success is due to the adoption of road program at the outset calling for tenyear period with an average annual appropriation of $1 000O00 While he has not always secured the full amount he has approx imated it very closely
 It IS we'll known that Colonel Steese has practically the last say with respects to all appropriations having do with public works in Alaska and upon his important