The Nome Nugget

Alaska Gets “Green Light" On Public Utilities

JUNEAU (AP)—Governor Gruening's office said today Alaska has been given the green light from the General Services Administration in Washington, D. C., to proceed with its public works act.

The act, passed by the last legislature, is designed for improvement and construction of public utilities. It will be put into effect immediately, with establishment of headquarters here.

The act furnishes an appropriation of $70,000,000 for a long range program, with $1,000,000 in cash available at once, and $4,000,000 in contractual authorization.

Four GSA representatives from Washington will arrive here Nov. 20, open an office and begin talks with Juneau officials. This group will be replaced soon afterward with a permanent staff.

Public works applications will be received by the Juneau office, the work processed and—when approved by the Governor as desirable—will be sent to Washington for final approval.

The act provides for a setup of funds to 25, 50 or 75 percent of the cost of a public works project. Juneau will ask for 50 per cent funds for sewage, city hall, jail, library and school building improvements.

All communities will be permitted to submit applications for funds for public utilities.

WASHINGTON. (AP)—The General Services Administration will open offices in Juneau, Alaska, next week in a move to get the Territory's $70,000,000 public works program under way early next spring.

The last session of Congress authorized a general public works and community facility program in Alaska. It appropriated $1,000,000 with a contract authorization of $4,000,000 to get the program started.

Col. A. D. Morrell, deputy commissioner of community facilities, will head a group which will leave Seattle next Sunday, arriving at Juneau that afternoon. He will be accompanied by district engineer John Argetsinger, who will establish offices in the Territory, and Lester Marx, an assistant.

Morrell told a reporter he plans to set up an office in Juneau which will employ 25 or 30 persons and to accept applications for the entire five-year program.

The program is based on the Territory, cities, and local groups repaying the government 50 per cent of the total cost while the United States will contribute the other half of $35,000,000.

Morrell said applications for the various projects must have the concurrence of Alaskan governor Ernest Gruening and of the interior department.

"We hope to get the applications for the entire program listed and work started in the current fiscal year," Morrell said. "With the $1,000,000 cash and $4,000,000 contract authority Congress gave us we expect to get actual work under way in late April or in May of 1950."

"We plan to have follow us as quickly as possible a staff of financial and legal experts to process the applications. We also will recruit the force for our permanent office which will be set up."