PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES The Guam Rehabilitation Act, a boon to the territory's capital improvement program, was given . an added boost by Congress early in fiscal year 1969 when its funding authorization of $45 million was raised to $75 million. This increase paved the way for the continuation of rehabilitation projects vitally essential to Guam. Of the original $45 million authorization, $43,061,000 has already been appropriated, with the overall program only partially accomplished. Thus far, a total of 36 projects has been accomplished under the Rehabilitation Act since 1963. Four capital improvement projects under the Rehabilitation Act were completed during the year under review. These included the Science Building at the University of Guam, two elementary schools and a power substation. In addition, that portion of the new $11 million Commercial Port of Guam designed for container operation was completed and opened for operation in May, 1969. Projects contracted for during the year included the Central Area Water Project comprising wells, pipelines and reservoirs; a sewer system 'incl a treat-. ment plant for Agat and Santa Rita villages; construction of additional 32 elementary classrooms at four schools; and the third increment of the new Commercial Port at Cabras Island. 24
A total of 13 projects were also in various stages of construction at the end of the year under review. During fiscal year 1969, a total of $10,078,577 was withdrawn from the U.S. Treasury for construction expenditures under the Rehabilitation Act. This brings the grand total withdrawn as of June 30, 1969 to $35,553,777. Of this sum $21,033.077 represent loans which must be repaid. Repayment of such loans began July 1, 1968 and two payments totaling $986,918 were made during fiscal year 1969. The territory participated in many other grants-in-aid programs and almost all agencies of the government benefited under such programs. The air passenger service on Guam received another boost from a decision handed down by the Civil Aviation Board in the Pacific Route Case. The decision authorized a third major airline, in addition to Pan American and Continental/ Air Micronesia, to operate through Guam. Trans World Airlines, Inc., will commence operations on August 3, 1969 with daily flights east and west connecting Guam with Honolulu, Saipan, Okinawa, Taipei, and Hong Kong in its round-the-world route. The Guam-Tokyo flight by Pan American continued to show an increasing popularity as the number of Japanese tourists went up. To meet the demand for greater accommodation,
