The Wrangell sentinel., 1940-11-22

The following account on
 the airport development ~-o-
 gram in Alaska has been pre-
 pared by Delegate Anthony J.
 Dimond and concludes with
 the tentative setup as outlined
 by the Civil Aeronautics Ad-
 ministfafion The concise re-
 port tends to clarity some of
 the misunderstanding relative
 to the airport program in the
 north.
 By ANTHONY J. DIMOND
 Several of the newspapers of AL aska have heretofore carried dis patches about the Airport Develop ment Program for Alaska. It Is evi- dent that there has been some mis- understanding concerning it. Per haps 1t would be well to give a brief history of the subject.
 The Civil Aeronautics Authority, in pursuance of its duties, made a nationwide survey of all existing landing facilities in the country, supplemented in each case by plan of the additions and improve ments needed to meet present day aviation traffic requirements, and such requirements in the near fu- ture. That survey and plan was submitted in confidence to the House Appropriations Committee. It was not given to the press orI given publicity elsewhere, The whole program, which embraced the territories, Puerto Rico, theI south Pacific islands, and the Phil ippine Islands, indicated that a to- tai expenditure of $558,335, ,662.00I would be required to meet airI transport needs as to airfields, air ports and facilities Of this total amount 1t was estimated that $21,- 104.769.00 would be required for such development In Alaska. A list of the fields and of the proposed fields and of the expenditure re- quired to complete each of them as set out in this report of the Civil Aeronautics Authority Isl hereto attached, with symbols in- dieating the justification for the proposed expenditures.
 Pressing For Airfields
 The Army and Navy authorities have been pressing for improvement of airfields in the United States and the territories and possessions and for the construction of new fields to accommodate the expanding needs of those services.
 When the supplemental appropri- ation bill mentioned was before theI House Committee on Appropriations discussion was had of this long range program and reference was made to it in the hearings. The re- vigilant newspaper reporters who asked to see the complete report. The House Appropriations Commit tee deemed it improper to secrete or suppress the report and so gave the press access to it. Of course, itl was never contemplated that any such development could take place. in one or two years and, in fact. it was only the recommendation byl the Civil Aeronautics Authority tol the Congress as to what the Auth ority thought ought to be done and might properly be done for the development of air transport and, especially, for national defense, in the construction of airfields, air ports and facilities.
 The House Appropriation Com mittee, after consideration of the entire matter. reported out the bill carrying $30,00O, 100000 for the i'm mediate construction of airfields needed for national defense and an authorization to contract for S50,- 000,0OO.00 additional for the same purpose. When the bill went to the Senate the whole paragraph carry ing the appropriation of funds for this purpose was stricken out. In conference a new section was agreed upon authorizing an expenditure of $40, 0,00O,O00.00, which is now the law, reading as follows:
 TUT lue SohSlIuctiou, lmpIofe- ment, and repair Of not to exceed 250 public airports and other pub lie landing areas in the United States and it's territories and pos sessions, determined by the Admin istrator with the approval of a board composed of the Secretary of War. Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of Commerce to be nec- essary for national defense, incIud- ing areas essential for safe ap- breaches and including the acquis- ition of land, $40,OO0, ,O00.00, of