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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
NEWS RELEASE
October 23, 1963
Governor ’William A. Eagan said today the
Canadian Government has agreed to keep the
Haines cut-off open throu :*hout the coming
winter on an experimental basis.
The announcement confirmed earlier hopeful
expressions by the Governor and other State
officials and brought to a successful con
clusion several years of effort by the State
to obtain year-round maintenance of the
highway connecting Haines, Alaska, with the
Alaska Highway at Haines Junction, Yukon
Territory.
Aord of the approval was received by "• • .
Governor Egan from Mayor D.J. Lester of
; Irince Rupert, B.C., who said he had been
advised by Arthur Liang, Minister of
Northern Affairs and Natural Resources, that
11 Haines road to be kept open on experimental
basis this winter subject to negotiations
on arrangements with State of Alaska and
others t"
/The Canadian Government action followed re
ceipt of a report from a five-member in
spection team recently sent to Alaska and
the Yukon to look into feasibility of the
undertaking. It was during conferences with
these officials, when doubt was expressed
as to whether adequate time would be avail
able to assemble equipment and manpower
| to undertake the work this winter, that
Governor Sjan offered services and equip
ment of the Alaska Department of Highways
on a reimbursable basis pegged to depart
ment estimates of* probable costs.
Since Statehood, Alaska has maintained the.
40-mile stretch of highway between Haines
and the Canadian border. The State also
maintains the highway inside Canada to the
Mile 48 pumping station under agreement
with the Corps of Engineers. A similar
agreement has provided for maintenance of
the highway by the Canadian Government from
Haines Junction back to Mile 94• .—
The' Alaska Department of Highways has
estimated cost of maintaining the entire
portion of the highway within Canada at
)203,000 a year with Gl27,l00 of this
attributable to the 46-mile stretch not
previously maintained.
Maintenance of the Haines cut-off on an
annual basis has long been sought by Alaskan
Yukon, and British Columbia interests. The
drive which ended in today's announcement
was launched by Governor Egan more than
two years ago as essential to the success
I ful operation of the Alaska marine highway
“stem throughout the winter seasdSfThe
highway has normally been closed down form j
mid-November until mid-May.
In announcing receipt of word of the Canadian
approval, Governor Egan said he was "highly
pleased not only at the action but at the
faith which this action indicates is held
by the Canadian Government for the growth and
development of Alaska and the Canadian
jurisdictions of British Columbia and the
Yukon Territory."
'This is just one more example of many which
could be cited of the growing recognition
being given to this entire northern region
by both the United States and Canada," he
said.
The Governor also paid special tribute to
Mayor tester of Prince Rupert who,he said,
put in many hours of hard diligent effort
" has
on behalf of the Haines cut-off. The success
of these efforts is well-evidenced in today's
announcement."
fhe Governor also commended the Alaska State
highway Department for the fine reports and
evaluations of the problems involved.
PEAT RESOURCE STUDIED
Expanding best coast markets, and the
enthusiastic interest of a number of Alaskan
entrepreneurs, has led to a review of Alaska
peat resource potential by the Department of
economic Development and Planning's Division|
of Hanning and Research.
Used as fuel at dome by European prospectors
at the turn of the century, peat has been on^
resource Alaskans have taken for granted.
Not until 1939 did it become the subject of
national interest. During that year, the
Bureau of Riant Industry studied 43 avail
able and accessible peat bogs of commercial
promise.
During the late fifties and the early sixties,
several of these were developed to serve small,
but growein, civilian and military local
markets. By late 1962 a number of individuals
were looking at Alaskan peat as something
which could be readily marketed in other
states. The Department of Economic Develop- j
ment and Planning was asked to provide
technical help.
hhile markets were being explored, proving
California to be the hottest prospect, the
Department's Division Of Planning and Research
began a review of changing technology in peat
extraction and processing. Contact was ‘
established through the British Consulate
General and the German Consulate with
manufacturers of pressure de-watering equip
ment and newly-formed and developed
extractive machinery.
The Department's Division of Industrial Develop
ment is now at work with private industry on
means of transportation. The outlook is favor
able and high quality Alaskan peat may soon be
-an-o-ther natura 1_resource on .Alaskan expQir.t. ledger
unction
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