The Wrangell sentinel., 1940-06-28

The House and Senate have al greed upon the military apprOprta- ton bill, H. R. 9209 carrying 812,-I 1O4,06O for the Alaska air basel at Anchorage, S630,O00 for gaso- line and bomb storage in Alaska, and SS5,00O for the acquisition of land in the vicinity of Anchorage, Alaska, to be used as part of the air base. The House passed without al single amendment the national de- fense supplemental appropriation bill, H. R. 10O55, which appropri- ates $2.900,00O for a naval air station at Unalaska, and $2.0O0.000I additional for construction of shore facilities at the naval air station near Kodiak which is now being built.
 The same bill embraces an appro- priation for construction and in- stallation of buildings flying fields and appurtenances at military posts, ill the lump sum of $74,321,546. No breakdown is given in the bill or in the report, but it is understood that most of the money will be used for temporary construction where need ed by the Army, and may be used in Alaska for that purpose.
 PORTAGE BAY CUTOFF
 Reports have been current that the War Department, as a part of the national defense program, was urging the construction of the so- called Portage Bay cutoff to con- meet Mile GA of the Alaska Railroad with Portage Bay, which would re- suit in the abandonment of that part of the railroad between Mile 64 and Seward.
 Information now at hand indi cates that, while the War Depart ment would welcome any proper measure leading to reduction of freight rates on the Alaska Rail- road, and while the construction of the cutoff might have it's uses for national defense purposes in the event that the line between Mile 64 and Seward should be temporarily blocked, at the same time the De- partment has no thought of using funds under it's control for the con struction of the cutoff. It is point ed out that, as long as Uncle Sam controls the Pacific Ocean, supplies for the Army defense posts in Alas ka can be carried through Seward just the same as through Portage Bay, and if control of the Pacific ig ward nor Portage Bay would be available for supplying the defense posts in Alaska. It seems clear that the element of national defense which would be promoted through the construction of the Portage Bay cutoff is so slight as to be neglig ible, and that there is no immediate or even remote prospect that funds for the construction of the Portage Bay cutoff can be obtained from or through the War Department.
 HIGHWAY TO ALASKA
 Delegate Dimond has introduced in the House a bill, H. R. 10064, calling for the immediate construc- tion of a highway to Alaska. The bill declares that it is in the public interest and for the promotion of national defense to connect the United States with the Territory of Alaska by a substantial highway usable during the entire year and authorizes the President to expend all or any part of the sum appro- priated in such manner as he may deem expedient for the prompt con- struction of the highway, and that such expenditures, with the con- sent of the government of the Dom inion of Canada, may be made in Canada as we'll as in Alaska. The bill provides that any expenditure made in the Dominion of Canada,