THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13426, 27 August 1941, Page 3

THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY

I.FVK WITH !’ A !Ti;i) STATES An international highway authority Is need to bring the proposed A 1 aska-Yu kon internat iona 1 hig 1 \ \vay out from the realm of discussion and make it an immediate fact. That is the opinion of the International Highway Commission as expressed by Representative Warren G. Magnuson. of Washington, following a recent meeting of the Commission. The present Commission is only advisory and the project has long since gotten beyond any need of convincing either Canada or the United States of its entire practicality and advantages, both as a defence and all-time commercial enterprise. The ability to cut red tape and go ahead as vested in an “Authority” is the necessity which will take the form of a recommendation to both Governments. Obvious Defence Need As stated by Mr Magnuson, the highway is of immediate value as a defence measure and of all-time value in the development of the Territory. It ranks with the Panama Canal and the international highway leading to the Canal in hemispherical importance and as in the case of these projects is of value not only for defence but for unity within the western hemisphere.

“Alaska,” Mr Magnuson said, “is dangerously isolated. It is dependent altogether upon outside sources for all the means of peace or war.” In this connection he quoted Brig.Gen. S. B. Buckner, in charge of all military affairs in the Territory: “The internafional highway will give us an all-land route for the movement of supplies, equipment and reinforcements. It will make us independent of the control of the sea, temporarily or otherwise; it would not throw us out of Alaska.” “We have our plane service to Alaska,” Mr Magnuson observed, “but our big problem in case of any interference with shipping would be that of getting supplies in. With a constructed highway and a good supply of trucks this would not work a desperate hardship. Any shortage of ships affects the Territory and even now we are facing a shortage of bottoms which might seriously retard defence.”

Mr Magnuson pointed out that the highway, as planned, closely parallels the line of flight of the western airlines. “Therefore,” he continued, “the highway will greatly facilitate the construction of airports along the road and when the terrain Conditions are favourable emergency fields can be constructed. Also, the highway will render possible the supply and maintenance of these fields, and will furnish a ribbon for the fliers to follow.” “The Commission feels,” he added “that the matter of supply to Alaska is a transportation problem of air, land and water which should be correlated as a single unit.” Nearness of Alaska to Russia was seen as an urgent need for an all-out defence of the Territory by land, sea, and

“The Commission,” Mr Magnuson concluded, “is of the opinion that the highway should be started immediately. We .assume no risks in building it. Its very existence, as an efficient alternate, would deter an enemy from attempting to cut the Territory off by sea. The only risk is involA r ed in unduly delaying the construction. Constructed, its value as.a powerful instrument of defence is only equalled by its utility as an instrument for developing an almost continental area. Lastly, and moie convincing, is the fact that not only there exists this military aspect, but the Indisputable fact that its value and benefits are continuing over many years, peace or Avar.