Alaska Is Land
•Df Young People
Alaska’s pd^iffaiiott average^ out
as tfie youngest in the nation, ac
cording to the Bureau of the Cen
sus. Theftiedian Alaska 'age is
KJ.5 years. No other state approa
ch^ Alaska in this statistic...
“This is more than a chid, meanr
ingless figure isolated and recor
ded by a government agency,” said
Senator Bartlett. “It is tremen
dously important for Alaska. '.It
tells us we have young, vigorous
population capable of working, ca
pable of doing the job of develop
ing the new state. It represents a
complete reversal of the situation,
for example, in 1930 when the
median age of the Alaska popula
tion was 28.7 years. Of course, it
causes unusual strains and stresses
in providing educational, health
and related facilities for the large
number of children of school and
pre-school age, but dividends pay
able from this young population
will soon start to flow to the
state.” ... .
The Census Bureau figures were
released only this week. They show
that Vermont, with 30.7 years, and
Iowa,, with- 30.S- years, have the
highest rpedian ages in the nation.
The average median age in the
United States is 30.1 years.
No state has a smaller percen
tage of population 65 years old and
older than Alaska, where only 4*4
per cent of the citizens had reach
ed that age. Vermont has 11.6 per
cent of its population in that age
group and Iowa 11.2 per cent.
Alaska's population jumped 51
percent from April 1, 1950. to July
1, 1957. That rate of increase was
exceeded o<nly by Nevada, with a
60.7 pe cent population jump. Only
Vermont, West Virginia, Missis
* # :>
sippi and Arkansas lost population
during that time. Florida’s rate
of growth was only .4 per cent less
than Alaska’s but the next state,
Arizona, was down the list with a
42 per cent population increase.*
All 'these Census Bureau figures
relate to civilian populations. '
Alaska Highway
Paving Proposed
A multi-million dollar paving
program for the Alaska Highway
was proposed by Senator Neuber
ger this week in introducing legis
lation co-sponsored by 15 other
Senators, including Senator Gruen
ing and Senator Bartlett.
The bill, similar to one intro
duced by the Oreon Senator last
year, would authorize a six-year
proram of $11 million a year for
improvement of the highway and
the Haines Cutoff on the condition
that the Canadian Government par
ticipate equally in the program.
Total cost of the work has been
estimated by the Bureau of Public
Roads at $125 million, including
about $15 million, lor making tiiv.
110-mile connection with Haines
into an all-weather road.
Senator Bartlett hailed the pro
posed program and stated he was
especially pleased that the legisla
tion calls for “maintenance ’on a
year-around basis of the Haines
Cutoff which provides the only
access to an interior highway
which southeastern Alaska has.
Regrettably, under the present cir
cumstances this is closed most of
the year because of snow. If the
bill should become law, then we
will have a way to go by car from
southeastern Alaska to Canada,
and to ^11 of the States, on a year
around basis.”
»
Convenient connections to San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Denver, Chicago and. all points in the East. Plan your
complete trip now with Pacific Northern.
Call 4131
TICKET OFFICE
MAIN STREET
r '■■■ . — ■■■
{THOMPSON TRANSFER
Eric Mueller, prop.
CLEAN HEAT! Both Standard
Fnrnaee Oil and Standard Stove Oil
are super-refined to burn clean.
Call us today for prompt service
For your convenience we have
Automatic Keep-Filled Service
Ham. ft Offlc Standard Plant
Phone 3131 ^ Phone 4303
In pointing out that most of the
Alaska section of the highway is
paved, Senator Bartlett stated,
“But should the Canadian section
be paved,, as a result of the bill
. . .1 predict thb greatest rush of
tourists to Canada and to Alaska
in recent history.”
NOTICE
The CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SO
CIETY holds services each Sunr
day ait 11 am., Sunday School at
9:30 am., and Testimonial meetings
the third Wednesday of each
month at • 8 pm. Reading Room
opens Friday 2: to 4 pm. and Satur
day 7 to 9 pm. NEW LOCATION:
Comer of Mission Road a-nc* Alaska
Way, across from the Post rttfk*
tfn
One reason fat men are always*
good natured is because they car*
neither fight mor cnun.
** • *
MILLINERY
Chic confections t®
cap your coif. See them
now! Watch for oun
new arrivals for Easterr
In Ladies and Child*
rens wear.
v
KRAFTS DRY GOODS DEPARTMENT
' fr*
Open every Friday evening until 8s00 p.m.
Florsheim Shoe Sale!
Entire Stock- No exceptions—
At Drastically Reduced Prices
$18.95
$19.95-$21.95
$22.95 $25.00
How $14.95
Now $15.95
Now $17.95
<*»
Special Group
Small Sizes $4.95
Sale Ends March 6lii
KRAFTS MENS WEAR
Open Friday night nntil 8 pm.