The Nome Nugget

We're On the Road
In Nation's Affairs.
Says Sen. Bartlett
WASHINGTON, (P) - Alaska
is meeting the challenge of statehood
enthusiastically, Senator
Bob Bartlett said last night on the
eve of the 49th state's official entry into the union.

"We're on the road," he said.
"Now we feel we're full partners,
although we've always felt
we were part of the U. S."

Asked in a radio interview if
Alaskans are interested in national
and international matters
as well as state problems, Bartlett
said people of his state are
well-read and well-grounded in
non-state matters.

"With Russia just a short 50
miles across the Bering Strait
from us, we are especially interested
in defense," he said.

Bartlett was asked about homesteaders
and their mineral rights.
"Homestead laws were made
when the West was being settled.
There have been many changes
and we need new ones to take
care of the changes," Bartlett said.

Asked if he would run for re-election
in the Alaska primary
in August 1960, Bartlett said he
has every intention of continuing
as Senator from Alaska.

One immediate effect of statehood
will be an increase in road
mileage in Alaska, Bartlett said.
"In the past we got along with
just a pittance for roads but now
we will receive some 36 million
dollars in construction funds from
the government." Bartlett added
that currently Alaska has about
4,000 miles of roads of all kinds.

The state, he said, is keenly
interested in economic association
with Japan. He mentioned a 55
million dollar pulp mill built by
American and Japanese capital
and said investigations are under
way in oil and other fields.