The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-03-21
No Fraud or Corruption Is
 Found in Construction ot
 A|tan Highway;;ReporiMa Made

Dawson Creek (B.C) Canada, tC Alaska, was construced as "economi- cally as could be expected" and without evidence of fraud or cor ruption, the House Roads Commit tee reports.
 Chairman Robinson D-Uta.D whose committee investigated con- struction of the roadway, known as Alcan Highway. told the House that examination of reports and records and original investigations showed no evidence of irregularities.
 The committee made a four month investigation of the l,422- mile road construction and said that considering it was a military project undertaken when his na- tion was straining every effort to get materials and war munitions to the Territory. the Army and the Public Roads Administration had done a splendid job
 If Japan had taken advantage of the situation during 1922 it is the opinion of high military leaders ! it could have fully occupied the Territory" the committee report ed
 i The road is to be turned over to Canada April l, after which it will be maintained by that gov- ernment.
 Eperything OK. 1 "Rumors of abandoned equip ment, wild extravaganza, fraud and corruption was not borne out by the committees detailed studies, . Robinson said
 There was some evidence of overbuying of certain supplies. However, this should not be too severely criticized because there was no precedent in road construc- tion in remote and virtually un- explored wilderness
 i He said less than two percent of the machinery and supplies used on the highway were unaccounted for and construction costs were comparable with those in the Uni ted States.
 Did Fine Job The committee said that because Col. Theodore Wyman. Jr., had been severely criticized for his handling of the roads construction before another House committee (Robinson's group made detail- ed investigation into his activities as engineer in charge.
 The committee can report no trace of negligence or failure to perform his assigned duty" the report said.
 The committee recommended es- tablishment of a joint United States Canadian highway commisl sion to exercise jurisdiction over the highway and it's connecting links. It also recommended an immediate study to determine the cost of realigning, improving and hardsurfacing the road.
 Change In Construction The report said that the commit tee was not at all satisfied with the work of the read commission of Alaska and recommended that Alaskan highways be brought un- der the jurisdiction of the public reads administration under the federal aid highway program.
 It added, however, the Territory should be assured that it would be asked to pay only It's fair share Of the construction. pointing out that more than 90 percent of the land in the Territory is owned by the government.
 Haines Highi0dy Okayed 4 "A cereful survey of the work be- ing done by the Alaska Commission the report continued, "in maintain ing, repairing and new construction on the Richardson Highway Gin Alaska) left the committee with the impression the Government is not receiving adequate value for funds appropriated for the work
 The committee recommended that the Haines lateral road connecting with the highway be maintained and said that the links in Canada connecting the road with the United States at Great Falls, Mont, anc Bismarck and Minot, N D., should be improved It pointed out there is no connection with the West Coast through British Colunbia.