TERRITORIAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Territorial Building
P. O. Box 1931
Juneau, Alaska
C. Earl Albrecht, M. D.
Commissioner of Health
October 2,1948
Mr. Howard Lyng
Nome, Alaska
Dear Mr. Lyng:
Herewith is a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Grant
Jackson, which presents the problem that is confronting
the Women’s Division of Christian Service who are
building the Nome Hospital. It is purely a matter of
working out some method of temporary financing un
til the appropriated funds of the last Legislature are
made available at the next session. Incidentally, the
Board of Health took action allotting $50,000 of the
total appropriation under that Act for the Nome
Hospital.
I will appreciate your help in this matter and may we
hear from you at an early date.
Very truly yours,
C. EARL ALBRIGHT, M.D.
CEA:dr Commissioner of Health
October 2, 1948
Mr. Grant Jackson
Nome, Alaska
Dear Mr. Jackson:
Everyone is pleased, I am certain, that Nome will
undoubtedly have a fine, modern hospital facility in
the not too distant future. We certainly must commend
the Women’s Division of Christian Service of the
Methodist Church for the prompt and courageous
efforts that they have put forth to erect the hospital
immediately. They are financing the greatest share of
the cost. Other finances are those from the so-called
McDougal Fund, I understand, and the remainder is to
come from the Territorial appropriation under Chapter
90 of the Session Laws of Alaska, 1947, and from
Federal grants through the Department of Health of
$200,000.00. The processing of the Federal grants is
unfortunately slow. It will not, therefore, be available
until sometime in November.
T have been advised that the construction work has
progressed very rapidly and that the contractor is
eligible for a subsantial payment. The unfortunate fact
is that the Territorial appropriated fund of $50,000 is
not available because the Territory of Alaska is essen
tially bankrup and in the absence of revenues to meet
them, many appropriations including this one have
been frozen. Certainly these funds will become avail
able at the time of the next session of the Legislature,
but the funds are needed now. Therefore, I am writing
to you, and other citizens of Nome, hoping that this
community-spirited group might work out a plan
whereby the $50,000 could be advanced to the
Methodist Board until suitable revenue measures to
allow repayment are passed by the Legislature next
spring. Those receiving a copy of this letter are:
Judge Joseph W. Kehoe
Howard Lyng
Luther Dunbar
Carl Lomen
A. M. Hartford
1 hope that you will acept this suggestion in a true
spirit of helpfulness on my part since I feel confident
that, a plan could be worked out locally to meet this
emergency.
May I hear from you at an early date.
Sincerely yours,
C. Earl Albrecht, M.D.
CEA:dr Commissioner of Health
Mr. Lyng
TERRITORY OF ALASKA
Treasurer’s Office
Juneau
Oct. 4, 1948
OSCAR G. OLSEN
Treasurer of Alaska
Clarifying conflicting reports which have been
made as to the state of the Territorial treasury, Treas
urer Oscar G. Olson today released the following
statement on the condition of the Treasury as of
September 30, 1948:
The Territory’s general fund was short $227,524.23 of
being able to meet its obligations as of the end of
September. There was $44,179.86 in the general fund
as the books were closed. Against this amount, due
to delay in vouchers being presented, a sum of
$37,598.98 was paid the following day in rural teachers
salaries, leaving a balance in the general fund of
$6,580.88. Vouchers in the amount of $234,105.11
chargeable against the general fund are being held up
in the Auditor’s office. This amount less the $6,580.88
remaining in the general fund, leaves the fund
$227,524.23 short of being able to meet all obligations.
The vouchers being held up include $46,931.90 to the
Teachers’ Retirement System; $80,750.00 for school
refunds to incorporated towns for the month of Sep
tember; $64,750.00 for the University of Alaska, and
$41,673.21 in miscellaneous items, a total of $234,105.11.
From now until the end of the year it is estimated
there will be approximately $400,000 coming into the
Treasury in tax money available for general fund
purposes. The largest part of this will be in liquor
taxes. Actual moneys due will just about meet the pay
1 roll for the next three months which runs $120,000 per
month, or for the three months period $360,000.
L
School refunds to incorporated towns will run an
average of $100,000 per month through next April.
There is no prospect at this time that any school refunds
will be padi at least until after the first of the year.
The Treasurer’s bank balance as of September 30
was $2,063,956.68. Against this is deducted $357,328.07
in outstanding warrants, leaving a balance of
$1,706,628.61. Of this latter amount $1,662,448.75 is
in special funds and funds incorporated in the general
fund which are not available for the general operation
of the Territory, leaving a cash balance in the general
fund of $44,179.86. The rural teachers’ salaries in the
amount of $37,598.98 paid just after the closing of
the books leaves a balance in the general fund of
$6,580.88 on this date, October 4, 1948.
The present crisis in Territorial finances would have
arrived many months sooner had it not been for prompt
action by the Board of Administration immediately
after the 1947 Legislative session in “freezing” spend
ing of $1,038,000 in appropriations for contruction and
in requesting repayment to the general fund of $350,000
from the World War II Veterans fund.
Accompayning this statement is the monthly report
of the condition of the Treasury at the close of business
September 30, 1948.
OSCAR G. OLSON,
Territorial Treasurer
40
Due to my ten days absenre, traveling to most of ♦he
Second Division Arctic villages, I was unable to get
these letters into Friday’s Nugget. I am printing them
%
as a paid advertisement because I believe the Nome pub
lic should be acquainted with the true facts of the intol
erable situation with which the Territory and Nome it
self is confronted.
HOWARD LYNG
(PAID ADVERTISEMENT)
4