The Wrangell sentinel., 1948-05-28
-ECRETARY KRUG URGES
 STATEHOOD FOR ALASKA


 Alaskan resources under statehood than at present.
 krug made the statement be- lore the Appropriations Subcom- mittee considering the Depart ment's I949 appropriation bill. The testimony was made public Wednesday when the bill was ln- roduced in the House.
 Rep. Jensen lR-IowaI asked Krug fl 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 because Il think the interest of the people of Alaska will be far more effective than any supervision from Wash ingtOn."
 Krug asid the Federal Govern ment should exercise control of the fisheries and natural resources from the standpoint of conserya- ton and said the Department would continue control of the Pribilof Island seal herd and the National Parks and the Govern ment would continue control of national forests.
 Urgent Needs of Alaska
 He listed the urgent needs of Alaska as:
 Alaska should be granted state hood without delay
 Improved land and water trans portation for development of the Territory and national defense.
 Extension of civil aviation, which will play a major part in the development and defense of the Territory.
 Development of agriculture and industrial settlement
 Private development of the pulp and paper industry.
 Intensive exploration and deyel-I opment to make possible the great est utilization possible of Alaskas mineral resources.
 A comprehensive program of eon- struction of municipal publicI 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 Wi liam F. Warne told the committee that the security of. Alaska is and will continue to be vital 10 the defense of the Territory.
 If We are te remain strong. All aska must be made and kept strong" he said.
 Warne said military works alone are not enough and that Alaska must have more people, more rail road, more roads. more farms and more industries.
 Warne said an interdepartmentI committee study of the Alaskan situation indicated that with ade- quate support "a population in-I crease within the next five years of 100,O to 2QO,OO has been as- sumed as a possibility.
 He said Alaska's timber will support. on a continuing basis, six large paper mills and urged that an adequate health program be a. dopted.
 Rehabilitate Railroad
 It. General Howard Craig urgedI the committee to approve fundaI for the rehabilitation of the All aska Railroad. Committee members said privately they would apprOveI appropriation of $15,000,000 for that purpose.
 Tn addition to the necessity for the rehabilitation of the Alaska Railroad" General Craig said, "We feel that the construction of a pipeline for the movement of pe- troleum products from tidewater to the area north of the Alaska range is also essential"
 from Juneau to Anchorage. It said it had not been informed of such a plan and told the Department not to take such action until the committee has approved it.
 The committee disallowed $4,- 500 for painting the Governors Mansion and said it would be bet ter to remove the present stucco finish and replace it with wood.
 Road Work
 It said the road improvement program included the asphalt sur facing of portions of the Richard son Highway and the Glenn High way; continuation of construction of the Kenai Lake-Homer road, the Eagle-Forty Mile road, the An chorage-Potter road and several farm roads.