The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-11-21
Public Works
 Plan Is Begun
 For Alaska

we WdIlJ tO Set at ltdot Ilidt five million to work in the 1850 fiscal year which ends next June, Arthur D. Morrell, Deputy Commis- sioner of Community Facilities, said today.
 Morrell heads the group Of four General Services Administration officials who arrived yesterday and were in conference with Territorial department heads early this morn ing, in the office of Lew M. Will Hams, Acting Governor.
 They me. with City officials this afternoon, and similar con- ferences will be held tomorrow with heads of federal departments.
 We have the authority, we have the funds, we have the application forms" said Morrell this morning.
 "Now, we want to familiarize eli gitle groups with policies and pro cedures, get the applications ap proved and issue invitations to- bids.
 Already" Morrell continued, i've have requested an additional s42,- CoO000 for the fiscal year of 1851.
 "It is clear that the S70,000,0O0 approved by the 81st Congress for the five-year plan of Public Law 264 will not be nearly adequate for Alaska'S needs"
 STAFF WITH MCRRELL
 Coming from the Washington DC, office with Commiss oner Morrell were Lester Marx, Special Assistant to the Commissioner. and Miss Mary Miseczkowski, secretary
 Joining the group was John Argetsinger, District Engineer from St. Paul, who has been designated, with Miss Miseczkowski, to open and establish the headquarters of- flee in Juneau. Argetsigner will be District Engineer for Alaska.
 After conferences here tomorrow, Morrell and Marx will make a quick tour of 12 or IS larger communities in the Territory, returning here to meet two experts who will join the temporary district staff.
 They are Mel Frazier of Seattle, an expert on legal aspects of the Public Works Act, and Joe Patton, financial analyst from the Denver office.
 With these technical experts, Nor rell and Marx will make a second swing to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Ketchikan, hoping to contact off cials of these larger municipalities and of smaller ones in the vicini- ties.
 FLAKNE HERE ALSO
 Joseph T. Flakne, chief of the Alaska Branch, Division of Terri tories and Island Possession De- partment of the Interior, accom- panied the party. He declared that. of the many trips he has made to Alaska, this is the finest.
 This is grand group" said slakne this morning. Besides that, these people have. something the whole Territory has been wishing for They have worked hard to get his federal assistance, and now can help reward you, and all the Terri tory, to get fast-moving progress
 The Alaska headquarters offices of the General Services Admins ration will be in the new Com munity Building, just to the right of the entrance on the first floor
 We do not plan to have large taff,' said Morrell, "but we do plan an efficient one"
 The Alaska Public Works Bill, which recame Public Law 264 after passage by the 81st Congress, was introduced by Alaska Delegate E.. L. Bartlett. The act authorizes "a program of useful public works for the development of the Territory of Alaska"
 APPLICATIONS
 By this measure, applications may be made by Territory, cities towns, districts or other public bodies for needed public works, the Government to be repaid 50 per- cent of the total cost. The United States will contribute the other half, up to $35,000,oO0 in the next five years. Applications for all pro- jects must have the concurrence of Alaska's Governor and of the Interior Department.
 Included as public works unde, the act are public facilities suct as schools. hospitals, sewer, water and other public-utility facilities wharf, dock and other harhor facili- ties; bridges, roads, sidewalks streets, alleys and other puDii, thoroughfares; college and institu. tional buildings and facilities; Ii. Eraries, firehouses and other pub. lie buildings; incinerators and gar. tage-disposal facilities, and othe rubiic and community facilities