The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-11-25
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE


 gram. set up by the S1st Congress through enactment of Public Law 264 which carries an appropriation of 70 million dollars for public projects in Alaska during the next five years, centered the interest of Alaskans this week.
 Representatives of the General Services Administration which, through it's Community Facilities Service, is charged with admins tation of the act, arrived in the Territory the first of the week to establish headquarters in Juneau The group included Arthur D. Mor- rell, deputy commissioner of the Community Facilities Service, Les ter Marx, special assistant, and John Argetsinger, who will be dis tict engineer in charge of the pro- gram in Alaska
 To acquaint each community with the provisions of the public works measure and to determine what the various communities want and need, the three men started out today on a visit to the incor- pOrated towns. Marx was taking Southeast Alaska, accompanied by Comdr Edward Chester Jr., naval aide to the governor; Morrell was going to Cordoya, Anchorage, Sew ard, Kodiak and Westward points, accompanied by Burke Riley, ad- ministratiye assistant to the gov ernor, and Argetsinger was en route to Fairbanks and the Inte- rior, accompanied by Joe Flakne, chief of the Alaska branch in the Division of Territories, who had accompanied the group north. Re tuning to Juneau, Engineer Arget- singer will remain in charge of the Alaska office with Morrell and Marx going back to Washington.
 Of the 70 million dollars called for in the law, Congress appropriat- ed for the fiscal year ending June 80, l million in cash and 4 mill lion in contract authority to get the program under way. It is an- ticipated applications will far ex- ceed the funds available for the present fiscal year but it is desir- able that communities make their needs known to the agency as soon as possible so that plans and en- gineering may be considered in the overall fiye-year program.
 Marx will visit Wrangell this coming week with complete infor- nation, application forms, etc. Ex- act time of arrival will be wired ahead so that conferences may be had with city officials. Like ar- engagements will pertain to other communities. The law provides that each application must have a sup porting statement from the gover- nor as to the need for the public work and ability to defray cost. Range of participation is from 25 70 75 per cent, but the law pro- Yides that the government recover approximately 50 per cent of all expenditures under the act. In oth- ert words, if a project was under taken at a cost of S100,00O, the government would expect to get half the actual cost back from the applicant for the project. Only pub lie agencies such as the territory, city councils, school boards, etc., can apply. Federal agencies are excluded from participating in the program.
 First upbeat in the 1850 elec- ton campaign was heard this week as Rep. G. E. Almquist of Juneau filed his declaration of candidacy with the Clerk of Court for a seat in the Territorial Senate on the Democratic ticket. Although it's called an off-year election because there is no presidential campaign, Alaska in 1850 will elect all mem bers of the House, half the senate, a Commissioner of Labor and a Territorial Treasurer. Primary cleo ton day is next April 26.
 By filing on Monday of this week. Almquist became the first official candidate in the First Df- vision. A 40-year resident of Alas ka. Almquist served two terms il the House where he made an en- yiable record as a legislator with broad vision of Territorial prob. lems. It was largely though Rep resentatiye Almquist's efforts tha old-age allowances were raised al last from $6O to $50 per month He has long been active in behalf of the territory's senior citizens.