The frontiersman., 1952-08-07

Ing to establish continued need. He said the Secretary of Interior had opposed his bill because it would compel all agencies, even those having installations of a permanent nature, to submit to hearing every five years. Bart lett opined that this would be a healthy innovation.
 Power to Dwarf Eklutna
 Testimony from Joseph Mor- gan of the Bureau Of Reclama- tion brought out details of the proposed Susitna power project, notably the development of Devils Canyon The 100000 kw capacity at this site would dwarf Eklutna, he said, and would make possible the development of 100,O0O-2O0,0O0 acres of the most fertile farm land in Alaska. It would also furnish power for huge industrial developments in the area.
 Is the proposed dam within the withdrawal area? the military asked. No, but the transmission line cuts across it, and it would cost s million to bypass it.
 Has Congress appropriated money for this project? (No, but money has been appropriated for surveys.) What is the estimated cost of the entire Devils Canyon project? ($240 million) What is the earliest possible date that the transmission line could be in operation? Q958D That's all the Army wanted to know from MT. Morgan.
 Mrs. Justine Parks, when she talked against withdrawal for the Matanuska Electric Assn, added pertinent poipt to Morgan's testimony. That S240 million would not be a gift; it would be a loan, and every penny would be paid with interest by the cleo tric co-operatives of Alaska. Mrs. Parks testimony lent credence to the proposition that settlement ot the proposed withdrawal area was imminent. Already MEA has eX- tended it's lines to Knik, she said, and experience has shown that as soon as power lines approach an area, people flock in to settle. area as the natural extension ot She described the withdrawal the rich Matanuska Valley agrl- cultural area.
 Cheap Freight 10 New Site
 Testimony for the Anchorage Chambers case was continued by Elroy Hinman, of the Alaska Railroad. He admitted the feasi- blity of railroad crossing across Knik Arm with a savings of time and mileage on the direct An chorage-Fai fairbanks run. Building 1 LID the Chambers alternate pro- posal, he quoted S75 per car as the one-Way railroad price of transporting the anti-aircraft guns from Elmendorf AFB to a siding near the gravel pit, the proposed Turnagain Arm firing site. The Army pricked up its ears; earlier the Army had been told 1t would cost S25,O00 for tWo-way trans portation of the equipment on six cars. The new quotation amount ed to only $900.
 Bridge Across Knik Arm
 E. J. White, district engineer of the Alaska Road Commission conceded that a bridge across Knik Arm was feasible, although no such project was included within the broad six-year plan for ARC. He tossed off $35 mil lion guess on cost of the proposed structure when queried by the Army. He also admitted that a three-mile road to the gravel site would not be difficult, that lti could be done in three weeks ex- cept that there were no funds for such a road. Yes, he told Atwood, ARC could build the road if somebody else provided the funds.
 Rich Croplands. wild hay
 Vast areas of rich farm land in the withdrawal area and be- | yond it were described by Ed Baldwin and Max Shellabarger,