ALASKA EMERGENCY MAIL SERVICE

[Act of February 21, 1925, 43 Stat. 960; as amended by Act of August 24, 1935, 49 Stat. 744; Act of August 20, 1937, 50 Stat. 725; Act of June 23, 1938, (Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938), 52 Stat. 973]

AN ACT

Authorizing the Postmaster General to provide emergency mail service in Alaska

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled [39 U. S. C. 488], That the Postmaster General may provide difficult or emergency mail service in Alaska, at a total annual cost of not exceeding $25,000, including the establishment and equipment of relay stations, in such manner as he may think advisable, without advertising therefor: Provided, That the Postmaster General, in his discretion, may fix the postage for the mails carried, or any part thereof, by aircraft to, from, or within Alaska, at rates not exceeding in any case 30 cents per ounce or 15 cents per half ounce, notwithstanding the domestic airmail rate authorized by the Act of June 12, 1934 (39 U. S. C., 463, 1934 edition). (As amended by section 1107 (d) of the Civil Aeronautics Act.)

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL IN ALASKA

[Act of October 14, 1940, 54 Stat. 1175]

AN ACT

Authorizing special arrangements in the transportation of mail within the Territory of Alaska

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled [39 U. S. C. 488a], That whenever required by the Postmaster General, any air carrier authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Authority under title IV of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 to engage in the transportation of mail in the Territory of Alaska shall, within the limits of such authorization, transport, in addition to mail on which postage shall have been paid at the rate provided by the Act of June 12, 1934 (48 Stat. 933), as amended, any other classes of mail bearing the appropriate postage for its respective class, and the Postmaster General is authorized to require such transportation. The rates of compensation to be paid such carrier for the transportation of all mail shall be fixed by the Civil Aeronautics Authority in accordance with the provisions of the

Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, approved June 23, 1938 (52 Stat. 973). When in the opinion of the Postmaster General the needs of the Postal Service require the transportation of mail by aircraft in the Territory of Alaska, where no transportation of mail by aircraft has been authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Authority under title IV of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, the Postmaster General, notwithstanding any other provision of law, is authorized to contract for the carriage of all classes of mail bearing the appropriate postage for its respective class by aircraft after advertisement in accordance with law. The transportation of mail under contracts entered into under this Act shall not, except for sections 401 (1) and 416 (b) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, be deemed to be "air transportation" as that term is defined in the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, and the rates of compensation for such transportation of mail shall not be fixed under that Act. The Postmaster General shall transmit a copy of each contract made pursuant to this Act to the Civil Aeronautics Authority at the time it is let. Any such contract shall be canceled upon the issuance by the Civil Aeronautics Authority of an authorization under said title IV of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 to any air carrier to engage in the transportation of mail by aircraft between any of the points named in such contract. That the Postmaster General in his discretion, may fix the postage for the mails carried, or any part thereof, by aircraft to, from, or within Alaska, at rates not exceeding in any case 30 cents per ounce or 15 cents per half ounce, notwithstanding any other provision of law.

SEC. 2 [39 U. S. C. 4886] Payment for services pursuant to contracts entered into by the Postmaster General under authority of this Act shall be made from the appropriation for star route service in Alaska.

ALASKAN AIRPORTS

[Act of May 28, 1948, 62 Stat. 277]

AN ACT

To authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of public airports in the Territory of Alaska.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator") is hereby authorized and directed to construct, protect, operate, improve, and maintain within the Territory of Alaska a public airport at or near Anchorage and a public airport at or near Fairbanks (including all buildings and other structures necessary or desirable therefor) adequate for the needs of the air-transportation services and air commerce of the United States serving the Territory of Alaska and foreign countries by way of points within the Territory of Alaska. SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying out this Act the Administrator is authorized to acquire by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies or the Territory of Alaska or any political subdivision thereof), such lands and appurtenances thereto as may be necessary or desirable for the construction, protection, maintenance, improvement, and operation of said airports.

SEC. 3. For the purpose of this Act the Administrator is empowered to acquire by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies or the Territory of Alaska or any political subdivision thereof), rights-ofway or easements for roads, trails, pipe lines, power lines, railroad spurs, and other similar facilities necessary or desirable for the proper operation of the airports.

The Administrator is authorized to construct any public highways or bridges from the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks to whatever airport locations may be selected. Upon completion said highways and bridges shall be transferred to the Territory of Alaska without charge and thereafter be maintained by the Territory.

SEC. 4. The Administrator shall have control over and responsibility for the care, operation, maintenance, improvement, and protection of the airports, together with the power to make and amend such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary to the proper exercise thereof: Provided, That the authority herein contained may be delegated by the Administrator to such official or officials of the Civil Aeronautics Administration within the Territory of Alaska as the Administrator may designate.

SEC. 5. The Administrator is empowered to lease under such conditions as he may deem proper and for such periods as may be desirable

(not to exceed ten years) space or property within or upon the airports for purposes essential or appropriate to the operation of the airports. SEC. 6. The Administrator is authorized to contract with any person for the performance of services at or upon the airports necessary or desirable for the proper operation of the airports, including but not limited to, contracts for furnishing food and lodging, sale of aviation fuels, furnishing of aircraft repairs and other aeronautical services, and such other services as may be necessary or desirable for the traveling public. No such contract shall extend for a period of longer than ten years and the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes shall not apply to such contracts or the leases authorized under section 5 hereof.

SEC. 7. Any executive department, independent establishment, or agency of the Federal Government or the Territory of Alaska, for the purposes of carrying out this Act, is authorized to transfer to the Administrator, upon his request, any lands, buildings, property, or equipment under its control and in excess of its own requirements which the Administrator may consider necessary or desirable for the construction, care, operation, maintenance, improvement, or protection of the airports.

any

rule,

SEC. 8. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates regulation, or order issued by the Administrator under this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 9. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions of the words and phrases used in this Act shall be the definitions assigned to such words and phrases by the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.

SEC. 10. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $13,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, said appropriation to remain available until expended. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated from year to year such sums as may be necessary for the proper maintenance, improvement, protection, control, and operation of said airports or as may be otherwise necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Approved May 28, 1948.

AIR NAVIGATION IN THE CANAL ZONE

[Provision in Act of July 9, 1937, 50 Stat. 486]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That chapter 1 of title 2, Canal Zone Code, approved June 19, 1934 (48 Stat. 1122), is amended by adding at the end of said chapter a new section numbered 14 and reading as follows:

"14. Air Navigation. [48 U. S. C. 1314a.] The Government of the United States is hereby declared to possess, to the exclusion of all foreign nations, sovereign rights, power, and authority over the air space above the lands and waters of the Canal Zone. Until Congress shall otherwise provide, the President is authorized to make rules and regulations and to alter and amend the same from time to time

governing aircraft, air navigation, air-navigation facilities, and aeronautical activities within the Canal Zone. Any person who shall violate any of the rules or regulations issued in pursuance of the authority contained in this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year, or by both."1

COAST GUARD OCEAN STATIONS

[Act of June 22, 1948, 62 Stat. 574]

AN ACT

To authorize the Coast Guard to operate and maintain ocean stations.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Coast Guard is authorized to operate and maintain floating ocean stations for the purpose of providing search and rescue, communication, and air navigation facilities, and meteorological services in such ocean areas as are regularly traversed by aircraft of the United States.

SEC. 2. The Coast Guard is authorized, subject to approval by the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics, to operate, on floating ocean stations authorized by section 1 hereof, such air navigation facilities as the Administrator may find necessary or desirable for the safe and efficient protection and control of air traffic. The Coast Guard, in establishing, maintaining, or operating any air navigation facilities herein provided, shall request the cooperation of the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics to the end that the personnel and facilities of the Civil Aeronautics Administration will be utilized to the fullest possible advantage.

COAST GUARD AIDS TO NAVIGATION

[Act of June 26, 1948, 62 Stat. 1050]

AN ACT

To authorize the Coast Guard to establish, maintain, and operate aids to navigation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to aid navigation and to prevent disasters, collisions, and wrecks of vessels and aircraft, the Coast Guard is authorized to establish, maintain, and operate

(a) aids to maritime navigation required to serve the needs of the armed forces or of the commerce of the United States;

(b) aids to air navigation required to serve the needs of the armed forces of the United States as requested by the Secretary of the appropriate Department within the National Military Establishment; and

1 See Executive Order No. 9746 post p. 25.