The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1949-05-26
KAD0W REPORTS
GOOD CHANCE FOR
VITAL LEGISLATION


Committee chairman, back from
almost four months in the States,
had encouraging words to say to-
day concerning vital Alaskan legis-
lation before Congress.
Kadow left in March bound FOL
Washington to testify tefore Con-
gressional committees in behalf OF
Territorial legislation. After five
weeks in Washington he was hos
pitalized at Columbia, SC, but
carried on work from his conva-
lescent quarters. He returned to the
nations capital to spend two weeks
there before coming back to the
Territory.
Congressional action on several
specific pieces of legislation fol
Alaska looks very favorable, Kadow
said.
On the housing front, field il
which Kadow was particularly ac-
tive, Congress has authorized $751;
100000 for use of the Alaska Hous-
ing Authority for construction OF
dwellings or to loan to private OF
public agencies. Legislation for APP
preparations is now before a Sen
ate subcommittee.
The important Land Sale bill
which will make possible the direct
purchase Of land for variety o.
purposes has already passed the
House and has the approval of the
Senate committee.
Passage of this bill, Kadow said
will greatly facilitate the establish
ment of business enterprises or
land now part of the putlit
domain.
Through the e1Icrts Of the Alaska
Field Committee it now appears
likely that extra funds will bs
made available for the Bureau o.
Land Management for an extern
sive Alaskan survey program. Ka-
dow said. Plans are to bring survey
programs, now some eight year,
behind schedule, up to current de-
mands.
This speeded-up survey worh
should be of particular interest tt
homesteaders, Kadow said.
On the housing front, Kadov
said at present specific plans were
completed in the states for con-
struction OF 1876 apartment units al
Anchorage by private construc-
ton company with about 300 more
units to be built by local interests
Plans are now underway to com.
rlete Juneau's housing needs BY
early fall, he said. Two separate
groups are working on their plan.
for FILA approval, with the Fielc
Committee assisting the Mayor o.
Juneau, Harry Lucas of FILA ane
private interests in working w
their projects.
Speaking of the Alaska Housing
Authority act, Kadow said that
contrary to general opinion, the ac1
is primarily an instrument for en-
couraging production Of housing
through private initiative.
For all localities from Anchorage
south, the legislation is aimed a
providing housing by private build.
ers financed directly through FILA
In areas where building cost
are uneconomically high, AHA car
make mortgages to private builders
or can actually build and operat'
projects itself. Unlike the Fedora
Housing Authority, AHA can max,
loans to territorial and fedora
agencies to meet housing needs
AHA does not intend to operate il
areas where housing needs can b'
met by private builders, unless sucf
private groups fail to take up thu
housing challenge, Kadow said.
The really significant part in tn
new housing legislation is the fac
that the Federal National Mort
gage Association can purchase
mortgages which are guaranteed b.
FILA. In the past FNMA could only
purchase SO percent Of a mortgage
and local banks had not sufficien
funds to make up the difference
This provision should be OF grea
value to the builder and the banker
alike in the territory, Kadow ex'
planned adding that it should go :
long wav to meet housing needs.