The Daily Alaska empire., 1942-05-05
GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT HIS TRIP TO
 WASh|N6T0k,1e.
Says Juneau May Receive Recreation Center
 Funds


 turned from a trip to Washington, D. C., looked none the worse to- day for his three month tussle with priorities, rate hearings, confabs with army and navy officials, civilian defense authorities, rationing direc- tors and other big-wigs in the na- tfons capital.
 The Governor brought news of Juneaus request for an army recre- atiCn center under the Community Facilities Act. He said that he had been informed that officials in Washington will consider an ap- propriation for this city on 50- 50 basis. The total amount for such a project, he said, will depend upon how much the city can con- tribute.
 Get Defense Equipment
 Gov Gruening said that arrange ments have been made to furnish Alaskan communities with equip ment vital to civilian defense ac- tivities.. Such equipment, he said would consist mainly of auxiliary fire fighting apparatus. The Gov ernor said that forms with which cities may apply for civilian de- fense equipment now have reached the Territory and are available to city officials.
 Alaskas chief executive said that Alaska definitely will be affected by the rationing program brought about by the war. He said, how ever, that during his stay in Wash 1 ington he had attempted to impress on rationing officials that condi- tions are special in Alaska and call for different treatment than the | States
 He said that after observing the tremendous demands being made in Washington for priority ratings from all sources of industry, he would advise Alaska miners to de- velop the production Of strategic minerals and mot to put all of their mining eggs into the gold bas- ket" He said that he sought to in- terest the government in the po- tentialities of Alaska as a land wealthy in strategic minerals which could be used in the war effort. The Governor said that he had been successful in impressing on Washington officials the conse- quences of any wholesale closing down of the gold mining industry here, unless the miners and mine operators could be shifted to the mining of ores that are more irn- portant to the war industry. He said that the gold mining industry is bound to suffer
 Gets Priority Ratings
 The Governor said that he was successful in securing priority rat ings for cold storage companies in the Territory, and said that he be- lieved the storing Of food supplies is an especially important enter prise in Alaska now.
 Gov Grueriing said that he also conferred with military officials and that these authorities consider the Territory vitally important now. Although the Governor could not comment on these interviews, he intimated that military activi- ties in Alaska are being carried out on a much larger scale than Alaskans. themselves, realize.
 Railroad Considered Asked about the possibility of an Alaska railroad being constructed in conjunction with the new inter- national highway, the Governor said that a railroad definitely is being considered and that survey is be- ing made
 During his visit in Washington, Coy. Gruening visited twice with President Roosevelt. Mrs. Gruening remained in Washington, but is ex- pected to return to Juneau in sev- eral weeks The Governor arrived Cy.~X