Seward seaport record., 1953-10-09
Juneou
 NeWs-Le++er opNCD DAAE FAD AT NcDH
PROGRAM FOR ALASKA

for Washington, DC, where he will meet with Douglas Mckay, Secretary of the Interior, Me Rays assistants in the Interior Department, and other high level government officials to discuss Alaska's needs, both long range and immediate.
 In Washington the Governor will present long range develop ment plans he has been working on since he took office in April.
 Included in his proposals are the use of Forest Survey funds to develop use of timber in the Interior, economic and engineer ing studies of power develop ment at a number of sites, revi- sion of land laws and procedures to make it easier for individuals and business firms to secure Alaska land for development, and an increased road program for both main highways and mining and farm access roads.
 The Governor will also urge measures to increase mining ac- tivity in the Territory, including more intensified minerals ex- ploration, revision of leasing laws and regulations to make oil and gas exploration more at tractive, a study of broader tax incentives and means for attract ing widespread prospecting by individuals.
 AlaSka's immediate need, win ter work for fishermen who may suffer because of the poor fish ing season, will also receive a major share of the Governor attention in Washington.
 Tt has been. frequently stated by the people most concerned that they are not looking for dole" the Governor said in Ju- neau. T think we can arrange for work programs which will also assist in the future develop ment of the Territory"
 The Governors office, through Federal and Territorial agencies, has been gathering information on actual economic conditions in the various communities along Alaskas coast and this in formation will be presented in Washington.
 The Governor said that while he will explore the possibilities of securing relief funds from Washington, he does not have great hope of assistance from that source.
 While we know that a good many Alaskans will be in need of work this winter, it is going to be hard to convince Washing ton that we have had disaster compared with [ he Texas drought, mid-Western floods and other such occurrences, the Governor said.
 He pointed out that Alaska'S tax collections have reached record high, that the Employ ment Security Commission re- ports a new high level of em- ployment during the summer, and the salmon pack, while it reached the lowest level in many years, was less than 20 per cent below those of 1852 and 1851. These facts, the Governor said, make it difficult to convince Washington that we have had an economic disaster.
 The Governor said he believes sufficient funds can be provided through regular channels to in sure opportunities for work where it is needed this winter
 The Governors Office, the Alaska Development Board and the United States Forest Service have worked out a program to enable Southeastern Alaska fish ermen to engage in hand-logging during the fall, winter and spring. This opportunity, it is hoped, will provide income for some of the areas fishing com munities this winter.
 The Forest Service will set up the special timber sale areas where hand-loggers may oper- ate. The Ketchikan Pulp Com pany will buy hemlock logs for S25 per M board feet, delivered at the mill at Ward Cove.
 The Governors Office n d Development Board has asked the Alaska Native Service to take over administration of local logging programs in the com munities where the ANS is oper- ating cooperative canneries or has other representation, It is anticipated that the ANS will be able to help provide tools and
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