The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1945-11-08
ARNOLD TAKING
ALASKAN VIEWS
BACK WITH HIM

Much Accomplished To-
| ward Trip 0bjeetives
Back in Juneau enroute to Wash
ington, after spending all the time
he could possibly scrape together
for an educational trip to the
Westward and into Interior Alaska
Edwin G. Arnold, Director of the
Division of Territories and Island
Possessions, Department of the IN
terror, feels that he has accom-
plished the main objective Of his
visit TO the Territory.
/ He described interviews with lit
orally hundreds of AlaskanS," as
individuals and in groups-talks
with those representing all points
of view, holders Of all the political
! tenets-not just those friendly to
/ the present administration of the
Territory, he stressed He denied
/ implications that his has been any
escorted tour" He has been 'on
his own" a good part of the time,
the Director pointed out, and, he
added, Il believe I have seen just
about everyone that wanted to see
me, in the time I had"
On-The- Ground Views
From the ground Alaskan
views he has gathered on his trip,
Mr.. Arnold lists the following as
most stressed, each with varying
relative Importance according to
district: Statehood, highways, the
Alaska Railroad and its freight
rates, land Withdrawals, housing
and tourist preparations.
Statehood is everywhere a fore
most issue, Mr. Arnold declared,
and, more lf-government for AL
aska is one Of the matters on which
his division had been working even
before his coming to the Territory
Now, he has the views of Alaskans
themselves to be considered in con-
nection with actions to be taken.
Mr.. Arnold declared himself not
yet prepared to state his own posi-
ton on any of the issues put be-
fore him while here Not only is
his trip not yet completed, but he
has not been able to weigh the
different views he has heard ex-
pressed and, too, there are factors
not evolving from within the Terri
tory which must influence any yes
or no stands he will take.
Railroad Policies
The Territories Director declared
his belief that the time is at hand
for a complete renewal Of Alaska
Railroad policies The Railroad he
is sure, could be the trunk for a
strong growth of Interior Alaska.
A new competent man is soon to
take charge of the railroad, offer
ing an excellent opportunity to go
back to its roots and re-examine
what has been done. Though the
present policy that "the railroad
must pay for itself has been set
by Congress, Mr.. Arnold thinks that
policy does not line up with the
original intent of the railroads
sponsors. He looks for new atti-
tude on the part of the people OF
the United States that will be re-
Elected in Congress, new realiza-
ton OF the importance Of this
country's territorial possessions.
The director also stated that
before leaving Washington he had
heard some expressions of approval
of extending the Federal Highway
Act to Alaska Now ne has new
insight as to it's potential for the
Territory, but their are many
facets, some of them inter-depart-
mental, that will have to be worked
out. The tour of the Roads Com
mittee of the House of Representa-
tives should also have considerable
effect, he feels.
Highway Problems
One phase Of the highway prob
lem he plans to look into much
deeper is that of withdrawn strips
along both sides of the Alaska
Highway. which have been force
fully pointed out to him as bars to
development. However, he said, the
entire Alaska Highway question
who will maintain it, and hcw-is
still very much undecided.
A trip to Sitka was scheduled by
Arnold for today, following which
he is to be in Juneau, leaving to-
morrow evening. He has meeting
called in Ketchikan for Sunday
evening, and on the way to the
First City will stop at Petersburg
and Wrangell.
The director declared he very
much wants to make similar trip
to this territory at least once each
year. to see and hear what's going
on. However, he pointed to Hawaii
to Puerto Rico and the several
other possessions under the juris-
diction of his division, with their
demands on his time.
alaska comes first with me-" he
said, pointing out that this was his
first trip since taking over his new