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W. A. and EMILY BOUCHER.Editors
Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the postoffice at
Nome, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Wednesday, December 26, 1945
TUBERCULOSIS
(Daily Alaska Empire)
The people of Alaska—ruled by a national govern
ment which gives them no national representation, but
collects taxes—whanged at by junketing Congressmen
as being too ignorant to govern themselves—are soon
to be called on to tackle a problem which has long been
the responsibility of the Federal government but which
the national government has failed miserably to even
dent.
The people of Alaska are soon to be asked to spend
$50,000 for a special session of the Territorial Legisla
ture to appropriate another quarter million dollars for
the purpose of hospitalizing tuberculosis cases of which
there are more in Alaska for its population than any
other spot on the North American continent.
It is estimated by the Territory’s able Commissioner
of Health, Dr. Albrecht, that Alaska’s small population
has some 4,000 active cases of tuberculosis. The death
rate has been set at 13 times that of the national aver
age. It is a serious problem and one which must be met
as soon as possible, because it will become larger each
year.
The Territory could well keep the tuberculosis prob
lem among the white population under control—and has
done so. The incidence of the dread disease among the
white population of Alaska is estimated at present as
only slightly higher than the national average, and in
some years it has been lower than the national average.
It is among the Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts that the
disease has raced unchecked until there are now almost
4,000 cases among these people, alone. In fact the recent
report of the House Subcommitee of the Committee on
Appropriations for Congress states that there are “more
than 4,000 cases of tuberculosis among the natives of j
Alaska.
This same report states: “The Indian Service in Alas
ka is lacking pitifully in rendering appropriate service
to natives over which it has jurisdiction.”
This is probably an understatement of fact.
The incidence of tuberculosis among the natives of
Alaska is 10 times as great as among the Indians in the
States, proof that the Department of the Interior’s Of
fice of Indian Affairs has greatly neglected its duty to
the natives of Alaska.
There is no reason why the T. B. germ should thrive
better in the Alaskan climate than in the States. The
fact that the incidence of T. B. among white in Alaska
corresponds so closely to the national average should
tend to bear this contention out.
It should be noted that any funds used to provide for
the treatment of T. B. cases will be wasted if nothing
continues to be done about the deplorable sanitary and
health conditions existing not only in the homes of the
native peoples of Alaska but in some of the Indian Of
fice institutions. The recently abandoned Eklutna na
tive boarding house, which we visited this year, was a
disgrace to the United States. Who knows how many
cases of T. B. were spread there?
Real poverty, and almost the only poverty found in
Alaska exists among the natives for which the Federal
government assumed responsibility as far back as the
Treaty of Cession. One survey—the only one we know
of—found that in one native village with 79 houses and
a total of 514 individuals, income, including relief, to
taled for one year $66,415 or $840 per house and $129
per person.
It is not possible in Alaska, where living costs are
hitJh to maintain health and decency on such an income.
NEWS-LETTER
| WASHINGTON
By MARY LEE COUNCIL
^screfary to E. L. (Bob) Bartlet*.
Delegate to Congress from Alaska
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
TO MAINTAIN ALASKA AND
HAINES HIGHWAYS
The Canadian Government has
informed the United States War
Department it will maintain those
parts of the Alaska Highway and
the Haines cut-off, which lie with
in its boundaries, according to in
formation made available to Dele
gate Bartlett.
Assumption of this responsibil
ity will be taken on April 1, 1946,
t at which time the Canadian por
tions of both highways revert to
the Dominion through agreement
reached between the United States
and Canada when plans were
drawn up for construction of the
highway.
At a joint conference between
representatives of the Canadian
army and the Commanding Offi
cer of the Northwest District.
Sixth Service Command. United
States Army, specifications were
drawn up as a standard for main
tenance of the roads. The specifi
cations are to be used as a plan
for achievement in order to keep
the highways in as good a condi
tion as possible with the amount
of money available.
The roadbed would be graded to
a width of twenty-six feet, and
horizontal curves would be no
sharper than six degrees except
in mountainous terrain, according
to the standards set forth in the
specifications. The surface would
be bladed free of snow during and
immediately following a snowfall
to prevent ruts and an accumula
This is a responsibility that has been shirked by the
Federal government long enough.
Now, due to the insistent efforts made by Dr. Al
brecht and others recognizing the serious threat, some
thing may be done.
It has been suggested that the people of Alaska cough
up $250,000 to be matched by $250,000 appropriated by
the Federal government. In other words, we are asked
to do what the Federal government hasn’t done and
should have done. This is what is known as “passing the
buck.”
Dr. Albrecht recently pointed out that the death rate
from T. B. for natives was 346 per 100,000 population
compared with 55 per 100,000 for whites, alone. This is
a ratio of 7 to 1.
In other words, if the Federal government would
match the Territory’s $250,000 at the same ratio the
Federal government’s matching funds should total
$1,750,000.
If the people of Alaska take this “deal” at a special
session of the Legislature next year the next step will
probably be another buck passing move of the problem
of educating Alaska’s natives, another place where the
Federal government has failed and another, and per
haps the main reason for the pitiful economic plight of
the Alaskan native.
Adversity is the only diet that will reduce a swelled
head.—Howard Newton.
We can all do more than we think we can, if we give
ourselves a chance.
, DRIBBLE, DWBB15
tion of frozen snow. All snov
would be cleaned off the roadway
and shoulders just prior to th<
spring thaw. Frequent summei
blading to prevent ruts or corru
gations would be made. Route pa
trolmen would keep the high'■ iy
free of fallen trees, rocks and
other debris.
The War Department has recom
mended that funds be obtained for
the fiscal year 1947 by either the
Alaska Road Commission or the
War Department for the mainten
ance of the portions of both the
Alaska Highway and the Haines
cut-off which lie within the boun
daries of Alaska.
Thomas H. MacDonald, Com
missioner of Public Roads Admin
istration, accompanied the sub
committee of the House Roads
Committee on its inspection trip
to Alaska last summer, and it is
believed he will recommend main
tenance of the Alaska portions oi
both highways.
ALASKA OIL
I
The surface indications of the
potential oil fields in northern
Alaska are the best ever seen by
: Captain Bart Gillespie, according
to his recent testimony before the
j House Naval Affairs committee.
Capt. Gillespie, USNR, has been
in active charge of the oil explo
| ration project in the Barrow,
I Alaska, reserve, and has been in
! the oil business for many years
prior to his service with the navy.
The committee was held to de
termine the desirability of contin
uing the exploration work through
private contractor, since most ex
perienced naval men who have
been at the field will be released
from service. It was agreed that
testimony proved the value of
continuation, and the navy will
j let a contract at an early date.
All witnesses were optimistic as
to the possibility of discovering
; real oil fields in northern Alaska.
! Commodore W. G. Greenman,
USN, Director, Naval Petroleum
Reserves, stated that he believed
it was altogether possible the Bar
row fields could be as extensive
and valuable as those in Califor
i nia.
Commodore Greenman stated
j that a preliminary pipe line sur
vey has been completed furnish
ing the basis for a detailed pipe
line location survey if oil is found
• in sufficient quantities to warrant
the installation of such facilities.
The flow of oil in northern Alas
ka is such that its transportation
during the winter offers no prob- ’
lem. The pipe line would be a
minimum of sixteen inches, laid
on the surface at a cost of between
sixty and ninety million dollars,
depending on its location and ter
minus.
VISITORS
Dr. C. Earl Albrecht of Juneau^
T e r r i t o rial Commissioner of
Health, has called on Delegate
Bartlett while in Washington on
official business. Dr. Albrecht
served &s colonel in the army and
was stationed at Fort Richardson
a long while.
James S. Robbins, of Candle,
was a Washington visitor. Mr.
Robbins heads the Arctic Explo
ration Company in the Seward
Peninsula.
Lt. and Mrs. Patrick J. Gil
more, Jr., of Ketchikan, visitfe
Delegate Bartlett during their visi|
here. Lt. Gilmore, released from
the Navy, will be the United
States Attorney for the First Divi
sion at Juneau.