Report Of Legislative Committee
NWA Chamber Of Commerce
To the Members of
The 18th Territorial Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska.
We respectfully submit for your
attention and support the program
for Alaska and for the Second Di
vision in particular, adopted by
the Legislative Committee of the
Northwestern Alaska Chamber of
Commerce, and the Development
Committee of the City of Nome
and vicinity.
We realize that this Session ne
cessitates greater effort to obtain
for our Division our just propor
tion of the benefits offered.
War conditions have prevented
recognition of just rights due our
Division.
Our Territorial Government is
not justified to undergo any un
warranted program of economy.
As a matter of fact, Alaska, and
our Division in particular, have
not been under the stress of excess
taxation. The record proves that
no new Territorial taxes or levi.es
have been imposed or collected for
a number of sessions save the Vet
erans’ special tax passed by the
extraordinary session.
The facts are: being so close to
the seat of war, conditions have
been such that Alaska, and our
Division in particular, has been
prevented any possible form of de
velopment. As in the case of min
ing, it was handicapped and in
many cases entirely discontinued.
Therefore it is evident that we
must urge our legislature to con
sider the facts and wholeheartedly
adopt a program of liberal devel
opment.
We hope that the efforts and
endeavors of the legislators will be 1
commensurate with the need to
: overcome the retarded develop
ment, and assist the movement as
suggested by the program; a new
era of growth and development.
THE NEEDS OF NOME AND
NORTHWESTERN ALASKA
No. 1—Fish Survey of Bering Sea
I Following the favorable reports
j of Messrs. Anderson and Carlson,
1 representatives of the Fish and
| Wild Life Services, the Delgate
must be petitioned to introduce a
bill, appropriating $125,000.00, re
quired by the report to build a
i boat for the survey of Bering Sea
fisheries. This amount includes
maintenance and manning for a
term of three years. Copies of pe
titions should be furnished the
Fish and Wild Life in Juneau and
Washington. Also resolutions
should be adopted by the Alaska
| Legislature.
No. 2—Nome Breakwater and/or
Sea Wall
Resolutions should be forwarded
j to Delegate Bartlett and the United
States Engineers, urging for a
breakwater or sea wall in front of
Nome. The experience and losses
' which Nome has suffered in past
years justifies the effort to be
made to obtain the relief. The
breakwater should also be extend
! ed on the West Side of Nome to
prevent the waves from going over
' the Sandspit and filling in the
1 river. At the same time it will re
' claim and protect a considerable
* WALLACE TAXI
NOME, ALASKA Phone RED 55
MINERS & MERCHANTS
BANK OF ALASKA
NOME :: ALASKA
You are invited to attend a
PUBLIC DANCE
at the
High School Gym
Friday, January 31
At 8:30 P.M.
Admission: Gents $1.00, Ladies 50c
This Dance is being given to raise funds
to send our High School Basket Ball Team
to the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Inter
Alaska Basket Ball Tournament.
COME OUT AND SUPPORT
THE HOME TOWN TEAM
area that can be used by the army
as well as for the possible develop-1
ment of fisheries.
No. 3—Dredging of the Nome Har
bor Must Be Completed
It is over thirty years since the
first piling was driven in thej
mouth of the Snake River. The |
first set of experimental timber
jetties would not withstand thej
movement of Bering Sea. Several i
years ago these timber jetties were
replaced with concrete which since
have proven satisfactory.
The law' provides that a depth
of eight feet at mean low level
should be maintained, but this has
not been possible, and costly de
lays have been the result. The
dredging equipment has been ex
perimental and proven inadequate
and expensive in operation. This
dredging equipment must be re
placed with modern methods; an
eight-inch suction dredge could
easily do the work in one-third of
the time and cost. At the same
time the tailings could be utilized
to build and fill around the basin,
to make room for the extension of
the harbor and the housing area.
The fishing development would
require harbor and dock facilities,
j cold storage and cannery sites. A
I change in the harbor dredging fa
cilities would provide all this.
The original project also pro
vides the dredging of the basin
wh'ch has not been commenced at
this time. It is now imperative
; that this will be done to make
room for the numerous crafts and
lighters in the harbor, especially
in bad weather.
The dredging of Snake River to
l the Army Base is necessary in or
| der to save rehandling army sup
I plies, being hauled by trucks on
! circuitous routes to the base,
| whereas at little expense the chan
nel could be deepened to reach the
Army Base and discharge directly
in the warehouses.
No. 4—Resolutions should be for
warded to Delegate Bartlett sup
porting his bills for the extension
of the Federal Road Act to Alaska.
No. 5—Supporting the Delegate’s
Statehood Bill.
No. 6—Endorsing the Delegate’s
entire Alaska program.
No. 7—Roads
The most important problem for
the development of Northwestern
Alaska is roads. Roads are neces
sary not only for the mining and
economic development, but also
for military needs. The program
urged by the Northwestern Alaska
Chamber of Commerce is as fol
lows:
(1) The completion of Nome
Teller road.
(2) The completion of the Bun
ker Hill-Taylor Creek road.
j (3> The rehabilitation of Seward
Peninsula-Bunker Hill tram road
incuding replacing the section of
road removed by the army, to
bring the road to Nome Harbor.
(4> The immediate building of a
short-cut road from Fort Davis
via Osborn, Beaver and Shovel
Creek to the Solomon river.
(5) To complete the Casa de Pa
ga-Council road.
(6) To survey and extend the
Nome - Council - Golovin - Nulato
trunk line to connect with Fair
banks. This will aid and serve in
the proposed railroad building as
it is over the same line surveyed
by the government two years ago.
No. 8—Mining Program
The program to aid mining in
the Second Division is very im
portant and very extensive. In or
der to accelerate the production of
gold, both placer and lode, it!
would require that the Commis
sioner of Mines be furnished with
more funds to carry out the pro
gram. The development of much
needed strategic minerals which
has had the attention of both the
Territorial and Federal Bureau of
Mines during the war period has
been seriously curtailed. This leg
islature should adopt the program
which embraces prospector’s aids
and a plan to regiment the devel
opment of strategic minerals by
employing veterans, and educate
personnel to replace the old pros
pector.
No. 10—Housing Program
The effort of the last session of
the Legislature was made in re
pect to housing. A Housing Au
thority was created. Efforts should
be made to obtain cooperation and
appropriation from Congress and
the Alaska Legislature should
adopt a housing program of its
own. This will be the only method
1 that will get results and an early
start to cope with the housing
shortage in Alaska.
No. 10—Resolution to endorse the
Alaska Development Board and
urge that the program submitted be
adopted, together with the recom
mendations including the selec
tion of an assistant manager, an
appropriation of $120,000.00 for
the next two years be made.
No. 11—Schools
Extra effort should be made ti
obtain for Nome an appropr.atio.
for a larger school to accommo
date the growing population.
Also to establish limited facili
ties to take care of the noising oi
high school children from outlying
points, and also to house teachers.
No. 12—Small Town Governments
The present deplorable plight Ox
the towns in the Second Division
is principally due to the lack of
coordination and the lack of some
form of self governing agency.
No greater incentive to the
growth and permanency of the
community can be devised than
the opportunity to have a vo ce in
j the affairs of the town in which
you live.
We suggest that Section 2481 of
; the Compiled Laws of Alaska be
liberalized to permit the organiza
tion of smaller groups. Nome is
the only incorporated city in
Northwestern Alaska. We suggest
; that a bill be introduced amending
said act permitting 20 or more
j persons to petition for an incor
i porated town of third class, with
! only three members to constitute
a council.
Funds should be provided to as
sist in the organization. This will
I assist immensely in the prepara
I tion for the new State.
No. 13—Wolf Menace
The increased bounty and oth?
ass stance given by other depart
ments have been beneficial in con
i trolling this pest. We recommend
■ that the present law and amount
of bounty be continued.
No. 14—Liquor Problem
The liquor quest.on in our Bivi
sion is bad. Several attempts have
been made to arouse dealers to
regulate their business, control
abuses, and follow the law. Bid
such has not happene 1. It is th re
fore evident that the only solution
to control and protect th Nat ve
People is to place the Second D -
vision under Territorial control
the profits of which will form a
good source of revenue for the
Territory and the City of Nome.
No. 15—Housinq at Serpentine Hot
Springs
The Territorial Road Commis
sion is to be thanked for the
$2,500.00 granted, and the Alaska
Territorial Buard for the building
donated, at the Serpentine Springs.
However, it lacks in part, insula
tion and equipment. It is calcu
lated that $1,000.00 will furnish
the necessary material and equip
ment. The labor required will be
donated. The Territorial Road
Board should be urged to allot
this sum.
No. 16—Hatcheries for Salt and
Salmon Lakes
The reduction of the catch of
almon from these lakes, the nat
ural spawning ground of Bering
Sea, demonstrates that the unre
j stricted fishing for the last forty
years has finally done its damage.
It is suggested that the Fish and
Wild Life Service be requested to
investigate the situation, and if
found possible, a hatchery be es
tablished.
To. 17—Department of Public
Welfare
The Second Division is receiv
ing fine support by this Depart
nent. We recommend that special
tudy be given to the requirements
of the Department and support
heir bills as presented.
Wo. 18—Sunday Closing
We urge you to consider the
.uoject of Sunday closing. This
uvv should be amended and made
no. e general and effective..
| .«o. 19—Territorial Fairs
j The war is now over. The Leg
i .siaiure should re-establish and
..iU.ve appropriations for the An
nual industrial Fairs. All Divi
sions have Fair Organizations.
-.o. 20—Agriculture
ine Second Division has not re
ceived in recent years any atten
..oii in the field of agriculture. We
should resume this study. Pilgrim
uoi springs, Unalaklect, and
• -'•orih western points should be
| ueiped and encouraged. Food for
| -Ur Reindeer Industry should be
^oduced.
Wo. 2i—Native Industry
n is now the time for us to
-.uupi a co-operative attitude and
ai.uuy toward the Native problems.
Rebuilding of the Reindeer In
dustry is vital. The returning of
a«_er to the natives should have
our assistance and encouragement,
ihe more individual herds are es
.aoiished, the sponer the industry
.vin reach its former magnitude.
The Arts and Crafts Industry
vvh.ch furnishes a large portion of
ue living to the Native should re
ceive attention. Is the industry
economically sound with good fu
ture prospects? Are the Co-Opera
.*ve Sio.es based on sound princi
ples? Is the development of same
j«_nefic.al to the industrial life of
.he Territory? Is the life of the
.Natives and the life of the Wnites
economically so related that they
will assure a prosperous growth?
No. 22—We earnestly urge you to
make a study and take necessary
iction in the maintenance and the
j budding of small new aviation
Helds at strategic points. In the
•bsence of roads the airplane is
i he miner's and prospector's only
means of transportation.
o. 23—Availability of GI Loans
for Mining and Reindeer Indus
tries
The Alaska World War II Vel
| erans Act is acknowledged to be
one of the most liberal ever enact
ed for the benefit of ex-soldiers.
The work done under the provi
sions of this act is fine in many re
spects. There is no doubt about it
that a deserving applicant will get
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