The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-04-14
CHAMBER TAKES STAND AGAINST
 ROAD TRANSFER
Move to Abolish A. R. C.. Seen as Menace to All
 of the Territory
LOCAL ORGANIZATION
 WILL CABLE PROTEST
Probably Would Mean the Abandonment of Inter-
 TOT System of Roads

The Chamber of Commerce today disapproved transfer of acti- Wities of the Alaska Road Com mission to the Interior Depart anent, as proposed in legislation now being prepared by the lat ter, and directed it's Legislative Committee to wire a protest to the Delegate to Congress-, and draft a resolution embodying the local organizations reasons for its opposition.
 It was declared that the trans fer would not result in economy to the Federal government, which was advanced by those interested as one of the reasons for the move, and would cause partial, or total, abandonment of the road system not administered by the Alaska Road Commission.
 An Impossible Burden
 President .Shattuck asserted his belief that the move was designed mainly to eliminate Richardson Highway as a traffic bearer. He pointed out that a short time ago an executive order was issued by President Hoover to transfer the highway from the Alaska Road Commission to the Interior De- parfme mt. and later had to be withdrawn as the President was advised by the Department of Jus- tiee that the transfer could not be made without specific legis- lative authority.
 Transfer of all the activities of the Commission, he said, probably would mean loss of Federal ap- Tropriations fer most if not all of the interior and northern road system This would leave only the Territory to maintain them, and such burden would be far be- y0nd its ability to bear. Not cnly could we not maintain the system, but we couldn't even keep the roads open, and they would soon be reclaimed by the wilderness" he asserted.
 Suggests General Protest
 He favored, in addition to the protest through the Alaska Ter 1itorial Chamber of Commerce, one from each Chamber of Commerce in the Territory and from busi- nc-s men and other individuals throughout the Territory. He de- clared the question was vital to every Alaskan
 It was also pointed out that the abolition of the Alaska Road Commission probably would cause Alaska to lose its identity as a Rivers and Haihors district and re- suit in remerging it with either Seattle or Portland. The local district was created in 1921 and the President of the Commission also ssrves as District Engineer. Less of the former would naturally mean loss of the latter.
 Skagway Needs Road
 Emphasis was placed on Skag- ways road needs by Mayor w. J, Mulvillill of that city, and Lee Gault, Chambers guests today. MT. Gault expressed the commln- ity's appreciation for the new bridge over Skagway River, now almost completed, and added "our road is now almost as long as the bridge"
 Mayor Mulvihill said Skagway ought to have 10 miles of road. It would open up a wonderful scenic district to the 10000 or 1900 o tourists visiting Skagway each season, and mean a great deal to the residents of the town.
 He said he was very favorably impressed with activities in Jl- neau which indicated there is no depression here.
 Aid Curb Idle Thrush
 Aid to Juneau in seeking to pre- vent an thrush of idle men here ln search of employment that doeS not exist was promised by the Pacific Steamship Company and the Seattle Chamber of Com merce. The former said while it could not refuse to Sell tickets to anyone demanding them, fl would be glad to see that correct information on the local employ msnt situation was given out through it's offices to prospective jco-seekers.
 c. D. Garfield, Secretary of the Alaska Department of the Seattle Chamber, wrote his department and Seattle transportation com panies are doing everything ir
 Continued on Page Eight)