IKLim, ALASKA
Elsie Joffors. Acting editor
Published every weok at Palnor, Alaska for tho Matanuska Vcdlcy Farmor's Cooperating
Association for'the purpose of giving news of tho Associations, ’.cork, problems and
accomplishments, as well as nows of general intorost to tho Valley.
SUBSCRIPTION 'RATE Ql.75 __lOgf a cony
THO IS GOING TO MAKE THE MERCY FLIGHTS?
On the first of the month, the Civil Aeronautics Administration working in conjunction
with the Civil Aeronautics Board notified the some 18 non-schodulcd Alaskan air car
riers that uhless they hold a certificate of convonicnco and necessity, a tonpory
authorization or a specific exemption ordor from the Civil Aeronautics Board, they
would be denied a non-schodulcd air carrier operating certificate. Any operation of
a bush pilot or'operator after that dato would constitute a violation of tho Civil
Aeronautics Act.
This scons to have been done in spite of the fact that Raymond T. Stough in Civil
Aeronautics Board Docket 1747 recognises the services rendered by the Bush Pilots to
the Territory of Alaska and recommended to the Civil Aeronautics Board that their
status be recognized and that thoy be exemptod from the necessity of being granted a
certificate of public convenience and necessity before being allowed to operate btrt
further rccomminding that their operations bo liminted as to operating radius, num
ber end typo of aircraft etc, and requiring registration statements and periodic rc
reports from such bush operators,
,"e wonder if in donying these Bush Pilots the right to operate if the Civil Aero
nautics Board has any substitute or any means of carrying on the important services
performed by those operators.
Tio is going to go back in the isolated'spots to bring out the sick or injured? Too
rill carry food and equipment to miners, trappers, prospectors etc? Tho rill pro
vide transportation into fur farming rogions? The large airlines do not have the
type of planes or arc not equipped to perform these services. If the 3ush Pilot is
outlarod these services must bo performed by private individuals with non-commercial
planes.
The Bush Pilot has made a very great contribution to the growth of Alaska. Years ago
these isolated minors, trappers, and prospectors depended on the services of a dog
teem. 3ut there was a limit tc what they could do and whore they could go. Tho Bush
Pilot has enabled men to go and devolop parts of the country which would have been
impossible -without their service.
As these Bush Pilots•stated in a letter to the Chairman of tho Civil Aeronautics
Board in Washington, they are men ofmodcst means and unable to retain expensive
legal counsel to guard their interests. Approximately 45 operators are immediately
affected by the action of the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
ro beliovo that consideration should bo given for the services rendered by tho Pilots
in tho development of this Territory and that some action should be taken on the
recommendations of Examiner Raymond Tf, Stough in Docket 1747 as aforementioned. Some
action should bo taken now before Alaskans suffer and the Push Pilots go bankrupt.
NO. 1 HEALTH PROBLEM
One of the greatest tasks confronting the Torritory of Alaska at this tino is tho edn
trol of the dreaded disease, tuberculosis. Despite tho fact that wo know tho causo,
know how to prevent it and know how to euro it - it still causes 30 percent of all
out deaths each year.
It is to the credit of out legislators who appropriated a largo sura of money'for the
control of tuberculosis, that every resident of Matanuska Valley whether man, woman,
or child, may take precautionary stops against this insidious onomy, by having a froo
chest examination within the next few weeks.
Until apparatus using smaller films was dovolopod, mass surveys wore impractical and
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