Alaska’s Capital Should Be Near
Its People and Its Problems
Next Tuesday Vote "YES" on Initiative No. 1
Don't let the Juneau-Seattle landlords deprive you of your right to select your capital site as
they tried to deny you the right to vote on the issue ... recent court case attempting to keep initia
tive off ballot next Tuesday.
Let's bring our capital out of Seattle-Juneau captivity to a central location. Let's bring it to the
PEOPLE.
The Juneau "cliff hangers" are getting panicky. They are saying ANYTHING to cloud the
issue of the capita! move. "Clouding" the issue comes naturally to them; they are so fogged in so
much cf the time it's a way of life with them.
CONSIDER THESE BASIC TRUTHS:
(1) Initiative No. 1 is an expression of sentiment by the people that they
want the capital moved to a more centrally located spot.
(2) This initiative does not say that the capital will move in two, four or
even ten years. It says the movement of the capital shall BEGIN not later
than June 1, 1968. It could be 20 or 30 years before it is completely moved.
(3) The rate at which the capital will be relocated will depend on the amount
of money each successive legislature appropriates for that purpose. This
year the legislature set aside $2.5 million for Alaskan officials' travel ex-’
penses ALONE. Think of ii! Two and a half million dollars! In ten years this
travel fund will add up to more than $30 million (it goes up each year).
THINK OF THE SCHOOLS AMD ROADS WE COULD BUILD WITH ALL THESE
MILLIONS!
(4) Fairbanks and northern Alaska will HAVE A MiAJORITY VOTE on the capi
tal selection committee which will select three sites for the capital and sub
mit them to the people for a choice. Fairbanks, Nenana, Nome and Barrow
senators CAN determine the location of the new capital.
(5) Initiative No. 1, when approved, will be a law on the law books of the
state. That's why it is called an "initiative." It is a law initiated by the people
because'they want it and the legislature has not provided it for them.
’WBTT' ~♦3*v' ''
* * *
Now, read the law you are approving. At right is the entire Initiative
No. 1 as it will read when it is approved and included with the other laws of
Alaska.
Paid political advertising by Capital Information Committee, Robert Parrish, chairman, 522,/a Second Avenue.
INITIATIVE NO. 1
AN ACT
Relating to the relocation of the principal seat of government for
the State of Alaska to a new and more accessible location in
Western Alaska and providing for the creation of a new state
capital city within the boundaries of a capital district on State
owned land.
RE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
SECTION 1. The capital site of the State of Alaska shall be
selected and located West of the Meridian 141° West Longitude
commonly known as Western Alaska, as hereinafter provided.
SECTION 2. Within 60 days following the enactment of this ini
tiative a capital selection committee shall be convened by the
Governor. The Committee shall be composed of the Senior Sena
tors from each Senatorial District of the State.
SECTION 3. The capital selection committee shall utilize all the
competent professional and technical services required to assist
in the selection of alternate capital sites. The capital selection
committee shall be empowered to choose the consultants which
in their judgment are necessary to help in the site selections. The
Committee may also request any information or studies which it
deems essential from any office or division of the State govern
ment.
SECTION 4. The capital selection committee shall, within 24
months of the enactment of this initiative, select not more than
three (3) potential capital sites. None of these sites shall be within
a radius of 30 miles of the City of Anchorage. Each site shall
consist of not less than 6400 acres of State-owned or State-selected
Federal lands. All such locations shall be immediately classified
as “Reserved Use Land’’ by the Division of Lands. Each location
shall be selected with due regard to its accessibility by road, rail
road, 24-hour airline service, and terrain necessary for airport
construction.
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SECTION The capital selection committee shall cause clear,
concise detailed reports concerning each of the capital sites se
lected to be prepared for distribution to citizens of Alaska. The
Committee shall cause public hearings to be held in each Major
Senatorial District. The purpose of the hearings shall be to invite
questions and present facts to the citizens concerning each of
the sites. '
SECTION 6. The people of Alaska shall be entitled to vote for
any one of the alternate capital sites selected by the capital selec
tion committee. The site receiving the greater number of votes
shall be the site of the new capital city. The actual movement of
the government to the new capital city shall begin not later than
June 1, 1968.
SECTION 7. The legislature, at its first session following the selec
tion of the new capital site, shall provide for the planning and sub
division of a new capital city and district within the bounds of
the site, and for the construction of necessary state facilities.