The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-07-02

buted to Coast Guard regulations which required crew of five men on the ferry. The ferry used by the private operator too small to carry payload large enough to meet the operating costs involved in Ia five-nan
 So rather than see the ferry service abandoned the territory has stepped into the picture larger ocean-gong ship has been purchased and will be oper- ated with funds collected under the territorial gasoline tax law The territory will also be required to comply with the Coast Guard regulations that proved too much for private operators. But there is a chance that the larger ship may gross sufficient funds to meet the expenses
 However there be no optimism that public ownership is going to achieve what private enterprise failed to do The record of government is not good when it has engaged in operations that ordinarily are private business.
 Whether the Territory should undertake the ferry service is a question that has at least two sides.
 Without the service the capital city is cut off from the beautiful highway system of interior Alaska This would deprive the interior of the benefits that from the visits of the Juneau motorists It isolaes the capital in undesirable way. It stiles growth of the roadside installations which vital to the full development and use of the highway system
 More than that, it prevents the intermingling of Alaskans perpetuates the undesirable character istic found in too many Alaskan minds-sectonalsm and sectional interests.
 The interminglng of Alaskans is important in bringing about a complete understanding of the thoughts and problems of the various parts of the territory Isolation breeds selfishness and suspicion in the segnens of the population which held apart by the barrier distance and the lack of easy trans portation.
 Thus the ferry is an important service for all of Alaska and might be considered an investment
 Entry of the territory into this operation is not without precedent The state of Washington arranged for the purchase of ferry boats Puget Sound when private enterprise, ased with elimination because of the bridge construction program failed to render the service demanded.
 But the other side of the question is not to be ignored.
 Is the new demand for public funds going to be an investment which pays the dividends desired? Will the operation be sufficiently economical justify its existence?
 The territorial government is not noted for eff ciencv or economy in administration. The axiom that the publcs business is nobodys business runs rampant in territorial affairs too frequently Appoint ments to responsible positions are often handed to men incapable of carrying the responsibilities Jobs are often awarded to political hacks and faithful friends who would not rate consideration for position in private enterprise
 Thus the administration of the ferry service is an important factor the final determination on the feasibility of the ferry operation
 Will the business handled by the new ocean-going ship purchased by the territory warrant the expensive operations required under Coast Guard regulations? Only time will tell Ii the territory is going to operate Queen Mary to do a job that would not overload
 canoe the whole thing will soon appear as ridiculous
 Thus administration and the volume of business will loom large when the record of costs are compiled and the public determines whether the new venture was good or bad.