The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-05-26
VIEWS GIVEN ON TERRITORY
 BY SECRETARY
Says Statehood Is urgently Needed Army Wants
 North Made Strong

WASHINGTON, May 26.--RI-- Secretary Krug of the Interior De- partment told House Subcommt- tee he believes there will be less exploitation of Alaskan resources under statehood than at present.
 Krug made his statement before the Appropriations Subcommittee considering the Departments l949 l appropriation bill. The testimony was made public today when the bill was introduced in the House. Rep Jensen tR-Iowa) asked Krug if he is convinced there will be no exploitation of Alaskan re- sources under statehood which the official said he favored. T am quite confident there will not" Krug replied. T feel very strongly there will be less exploita- tion of Alaskan resources if Alas i ka is a state than now, because think the interest of the people of Alaska will he far more effective than any supervision from Wash- | ington"
 Krug said the Federal Govern ment should exercise control of the fisheries and natural resources from the standpoint of conservation and said the Department would continue control of the Pribilof Island seal herd and the National Parks and the Government would continue control of National Forests. !, Urgent Needs of Alaska ! He listed the urgent needs of Alaska as:
 Alaska should De granted state-
 hood without delay. 1 Improved land and water trans portation for development Of 1he Territory and national defense. i Extension of civil aviation, which will play major part in the de- velopment and defense Of the Territory.
 Development of agriculture and industrial settlement
 Private development of the pulp l and paper industry. l Intensive exploration and de- velopment to make possible the greatest utilization possible of Alaska's mineral resources. | A comprehensive program of con- struction of municipal public works. Development of hydro-electric power.
 A comprehensive development of public health, disqualification and a housing program and settlement of native rights.
 Alaska Defense Assistant Secretary William F. l Warne told the committee that the security of Alaska is and will continue to be vital to the de- fense of the Territory. Alaska must be made and kept stong.' he said
 Warne said military works alone are not enough and that Alaska must have more people. more rail- roads, more roads, more farms and more industries.
 ITO fail to meet the challenge of Alaska, and promptly, would be to gamble with our safety" Warne said Tt seems to me the plain duty of the government is to pro- mote the settlement and full de- velopment of Alaska,
 Warne said an interdepartment committee study of the Alaskan situation indicated that with ade- quate support "a population in- crease within the next five years of 100000 to 100000 has been as- sumed as possibility"
 He said that Alaska S timber will support on a continuing basis six large paper mills md urged that an adequate health program be adopted
 Rchabilitate R.R. | u. deneral HOWdru Crdlg urg- ed the committee to approve funds for the rehabilitation of the AL aska Railroad Committee mem- bers said privately they would ap- prove appropriation of sl5,000,000 for that purpose.
 i Speaking for the Armed Services. the General said the rehabilitation program would care for civilian and military requirements. | We consider the rapid accom- plishment of the rehabilitation program and re-equipping of the Alaska Railroad as essential to the progress of the military devel- opment program and as q primary | requisite for the security of AL