The frontiersman., 1952-07-24
Bartlett ExpIoinS-
Continued from paf

bA4C VI 4S414C1 o0IiIO1 1LdIlOII lIlS dp- propriation was subsequently, ap- proved and included in the In- terior Department bill signed early this month by President Truman. Approval of the addi- tional authorization was deferred pending decision from the Depart ment of Justice and the Comptrol- Ter General of the legality of Bureau action in proceeding with a project beyond the authorization set by Congress.
 Bartlett said that the Congress men's fight was not with Alaskans nor with the Eklutna Project; their quarrel was with the Bureau of Reclamation. They wanted to put a stop to an overcoming Bureau practice of getting a pro- ject okayed under a low estimate and then returning for additional funds under a revised estimate when Congress was faced with the alternatives of junking a pro- ject already begun or complying meekly with the request for ad- ditional funds.
 Another question raised by the request for additional money, Bartlett said, had to do with re- vised estimates on cost of Eklutna power. Higher construction costs meant higher unit power costs in order to have the cost of the pro- ject amortized over the planned 50-year period. Congressmen were not certain that Alaskans ir the area wanted Eklutna power at the revised cost. The inquiries they sent out on this question re- assured them. The Eklutna Pro- ject, they learned, is absolutely essential to the Anchorage-M Matan- uska Valley area.
 Asked if the Eklutna investiga- -tion would hold up approval on other power projects in the Ter ritory, Bartlett said he feared that proposed Ketchikan and Susitna projects might be slowed. How ever, he asserted, the evidence pinpoints clearly that Alaska'S development will come during the next 50 years with the develop ment of hydro-electric plants throughout the Territory. They are running out of power in the continental states" he said, while in Alaska there are almost unlimited power potentialities."
 During the question and answer period Bartlett touched on other legislation and trends that would affect Alaska. He mentioned the Alaska Native Service trend of getting out of the school business and permitting the Territory to take over more of the responsibl- ities. The Alaska Mental Health bill, even though shorn of its hos pital provisions, lost out in the last days of the session when 1t was objected to by Congressmen Homer Angell of Portland, Ore gon. Alaskan mental patients are hospitalized at a private institu- ton near Portland.
 "The transition from federal to Territorial control (when Alaska becomes a state) will be rude Bartlett warned as he reported the failure of two of his bills which would have given the Ter ritorv control of committing Its insane (through the Alaska De- partment of Health) and control of it's fisheries. In addition to these departments the new state would have to set up its own judi cial system. it's own law enforce ment. and many other functions now controlled by the federal government.
 Pat Carter of WaSilla brought LID the question of road develop nent in the Valley, claiming that needed Valley developments and improvements were being neglect ed while the Alaska Road Com mission builds roads Ito mo- where" Other opinions were voic- ed regarding the paltry appro- priations in the Valley area. The work of Oliver Onkka, ARC foreman in the Valley was prals- ed. but it was agreed that he was handicapped by insufficient funds even for maintenance.