COULD II HAVE BEEfl yOU?
Civilization is marching steadily ahead
toward the heart of Alaska. The plumes and
banners of pale blue smoke that lie in
drifts in the folds of Seldovia!s hills for
the past few days bear constant proof of its
approach.
The first forerunner of civilization^
advance has always been blazed in paths of
fire and marked by acrefc Of desolation and
ruin in its rear* Today-ohe bf the fij*st of
iuch fires ever to bu^rt irt the heaht Of the
Kenai peninsula, one of fclia last of our big
game storehouses, is still ^°ting ahead on a
front that stretches for miles in the vicin
ity of Skilak and Tustamena Lakes.
The destruction that it leaves in its
wake is a monument of ruin dedicated to the
carelessness of man. Perhaps not due to a
tossed cigarette such as those which cost
millions of dollars annually along the high
ways of the states to the south •• Alaska
has not come that far yet — still it is hu
man carelessness that has destroyed miles of
beaver and moose habitat in the Kenai.
Other fires burn in other sections of Al
aska. nTjas near Fairbanks are burning for
many miles. ^11 of the flames can be traced
directly to neglect or carelessness in some
human form. Brush fires carelessly guarded
by a lazy homesteader, controlled fires of
government agencies set as protection and
then escapjd, or even the smouldering cigar
ette of a camper or hunter have set Elaska
blazing this season.
In the Kenai area, another aspect of man 1 s
neglect is evident in the apathy of govern
ment agencies, which make no attempt to con
trol the forest-destroying fire. It*s too
far, costs too much, and would take too many
men to fight are the excuses they give. Only
the army can help, says someone else. And
the fire burns on, unchecked, while the opt
imistic look for rain.
AT THE CHURCHES
Gospel Center
Sunday School 11:00
Church 7:30
Services held in
Union Hall.
Methodist Church
Sunday School 10:00
Adventists
Sabbath School 10:00
Church 11:00
Services held in
Methodist Church
If it will take
the army, then why
not take steps to get
the army? Theyfre
fighting fires in the
vicinity of iinchorage
which are not nearly
so destructive in
scope. Why not army
firefighters and equ
ipment flown to the
scene of the blaze in
army planes?
When the moose
hunting season opens
next fall, army men
will be first afield
in search of a trophy.
Why not exchange a
few daysf firefight
ing now for the priv
ilege of hunting next
fall? If that fire
is not controlled
soon, it is possible
that there will be no
moose hunting on the
Kenai Peninsula this
fall f