Alaskan voters have declared |
themselves in favor of statehood,
there is hope of ending the sus
p pended animation in which Alas
ka has languished since its incor
poration as a Territory 34 years
ago. The referendum in the Alas
kan general election removed any
doubts as to how the residents
themselves feel. The issue is now
up to Congress. It must pass an j
enabling act before Alaskans can
♦ draw up a constitution and take
up the place to which they (and j
p we> feel they are entitled.
“The political dalliance with
which Alaska has been treated
has been a material factor in re
tarding its development. Alaskans
have a very limited local auton
omy. They have virtually no say
over the disposition of most of
their money. They are at the mercy
of a Government 4000 miles away
which owns 93 per cent of the
land and has imposed well-nigh
impossible restrictions on use of
p Alaska’s resources. Alakans like
wise are held in near-bondage by
their dependence on steamship
companies. High freight rates, not
only on water transportation but
also on the Government-owned
Alaska railroad, make the Terri
tory’s cost of living nearly double
that of the United States proper.
^Absentee ownership of canneries
and other principal Alaskan in
dustries combine with profiteering
and long-distance bureaucracy to
hinder expansion.
“Statehood is not, of course an
automatic cure for all that ails
Alaska. State or Territory, it still
is not a bonanza for get-rick-quick
schemers. It is a sparsely settled,
rugged region of tremendous dis
tances that requires both thorough
Understanding and a strong con- j
stitution on the part of those who j
seek to exploit it. It is patently!
clear, however, that the present
artificial discouragements prevent
use of Alaska’s tremendous poten
tialities. There is no valid reason
why this should continue. With
expanded use of the Alcan High
way together with relaxation of
the senseless barriers against use of
Alaska’s vast resources—including
a return to Alaskan ownership of
excess land belonging to the Fed
eral Government — Alaska could
come into its own as a land of
promise, not only for Americans
but also for refugees seeking a
new life.”
“The enabling bill to be intro
duced in the 80th Congress will be
quite similar to that which I in
v/oduced in the 79th Congress,”
said Delegate .lartlett. “In the
main the changes will follow cer
tain recommendations made by the
Juneau Chamber of Commerce
committee which studied the sub
ject carefully. I was particularly
impressed by the Juneau Cham- ,
'C. ’s recommendation that the bill
set forth specifically the new
state’s authority beyond the coast
al shores.”
BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS
TO SHARE CHRISTMAS
TREE WITH PUBLIC
Girl Scout Troop No. 1 and Boy
Scout Troop No. 666 have com
bined their efforts and are blend
ing their voices to bring Nome
Christmas Carols as additional
Yuletide Cheer!
Under the direction of Nelle
Mi^ncy and Andy Anderson the
little citizens of Nome have re
hearsed for the past two weeks
and plan their Christmas Tree to
be transported throughout the City
on a large truck. The tree, fully
decorated and lighted, will ac
company the youngsters through
out the City and on the Army Post,
starting at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, and
will be presented to the Maynard
Columbus Hospital by the Scouts
at the end of the singing.
NOTICE
Fred W. Kraft is no longer a
partner in “Nome Builders.” He
will not be responsible for debts
contracted.
154-3tp FRED W. KRAFT
For somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through.
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes bade to you.
—WkinUr
NOME HARDWARE
& DIESEL OIL SALES
GREETINGS
OF THE SEASON
ALASKA TELEPHONE
& TELEGRAPH CO.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
NORTHERN LIGHT &
POWER