ALASKA KXIIIBIT—This is an artist's conception of the Alaska exhibit that is being built in New
lork for the two year World's Fair that is beginning this coming summer. The exhibit will be shaped
like the traditional igloo, similar to the exhibit at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The New York ver
sion will also contain the Northern Lights exhibit that awed persons in Seattle. The Alaska exhibit
proved to be one of the more popular sights in Seattle, and the 49th State is gearing up for a similar
response in New York.
REP. BLODGETT FAVORS GVEA AT BARROW
WHILE CRITICIZING BIA IN 49TH STATE
oiaie nepresemauve itooert Blod
gett. a Democrat from Teller, in a
recent interview told the Tundra
Times concerning the Barrow power
controversy. “That I am in favor of
a separate co-op operated by the
people of Barrow. Such a utility
co-op would not be subject to the '
veto power of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs.”
Blodgett recently left Barrow,
where he had been employed by !
the Central Construction Co. on the
new airport and water lake road
job.
“Barrow is an Alaskan city of the
fourth class, and as such is vested
with the authority to grant power
and utility franchises." he said. “I
have talked with most of the town’s
leaders, and they are in favor of
granting such a franchise to the
Golden Valley Electric Assn, of
Fairbanks. With the understanding
that the villagers will ultimately
control both generation and distri
bution.”
Blodgett went on to say that he is
conecerned about the electric utility
at this time, because he is concerned
with who will ultimately control the
natural gas that will be availaable
lor Barrow’s use in the future.
'if the BIA gets control of the
gas, then it conceiveably could use
this control as an economic lever
against Barrow,” Blodgett said.
“I'm not saying this is going to
happen, but in cases where the BIA
and the city disagree, then it could
happen,” he noted.
Unhappy With BIA
Blodgett, who owns a trading
company at Teller, northwest of
Nome, says he is unhappy with the
BIA. "They're spread too thin in
Alaska, he said. “However, I be
lieve the trouble comes from the
Washington level, and not from
Area Director Robert Bennett,
whom I consider a fine man, and a
fine administrator."
Blodgett particularly hit at one
BIA activity . . . relocation. “Why
does the BIA have to relocate our
people?” he asked. “In my way of
thinking, this is tacit admission that
the BIA has failed to properly edu
cate the people, or to prepare the
people to live in their own area. So
what do they do? They relocate the
native people to the lower 48, where
the problems are even worse.
“It also robs villages of fine
young leaders. The BIA milks off
our fine people, and then replaces
TOWN PLAN—Dr. E. F. Rice, second from left, of the University of
Alaska, is shown discussing an overall Barrow town plan with State
Senator Eben Hopson, right, while Mrs. Hopson and Dr. Rice’s as
sistant J. Ronald Saroff listen. Dr. Rice recently revisited Barrow
as port of the plan he Is doing under coontract to the Bureau of
Affhtrs. —Tundra Times Photo
them with non-native experts from
the lower states.” he argued.
Peratrovlcli Knew
“I believe State Senator Frank
Peratrovich knew what he was do
ing when he refused the Alaska BIA
area director's job. He did not want
to be put in the same position as
Mr. Bennett, whom I am convinced
is being dictated to by Washington.
“And speaking of Mr. Bennett, he
better never be made the scapegoat
for any of the BIA failures in Alas
ka. Because the blame does not lie
with him. it is higher up.
“Basically, as I see it, the real
problem lies in the attitude of the
big politicians. To most of them the
problems of the bush are nebulous.
But to our people, the problems are
monumental." said Blodgett, a white
man who has lived in northern
Alaska for many years.
Rampart Dam
Changing subjects. Blodgett com
mented on the proposed Rampart
Dam project on the Yukon River.
“Rampart Dam is just another facet
of the advancement of man on this
earth.” he said.
“However. I don’t see how it can
go into construction for at least an
other 10 years. This gives us at least
a 10-year period to train our Alas
kan people to work on this dam,”
he said.
“This gives us a 10-year period
to plan new villages on the edge of
the proposed lake. Hydropower will
bring cheaper and better living to
these people,” Blogett said.
President Kennedy
The Tundra Times interview of
Rep. Blodgett was cruelly inter
rupted by a radio news bulletin an
nouncing the death of President
John F. Kennedy, killed by a snip
er's bullets Nov. 22.
Blodgett’s comments on the death
of the President and his party’s
leader were, “I am so shocked I am
giddy. He was a dedicated presi
dent. Though I didn’t always agree
with him, I supported him.
“America came of age when they
elected John F. Kennedy, a mem
ber of a minority religious group
(Catholic) as its president. But a
step backward was taken today,
with this murder," he said.
Oil Rumors
Repeated Here
Contrary to earlier published re
ports, the Tundra Times has learned
that the oil industry has not ‘‘gone
to bed for the winter" in the north
land.
Big things are happening both on
the north slope of the Brooks Moun
tain Range, and on the upper Cop
per River Plateau in the Glenallen
region.
Moving Overland
Probably the most significant hap
pening in the oil business in Alas
ka at this time is the big overland
move of British Petroleum drilling
equipment, from the Colville Ri
ver to a spot near the Itkillik River,
where an exploratory well is gto be
drilled.
The Itkillik River is on the Arc
tic Slope, near the western border
of the nine million acre Arctic Wild
life Range, and southeast of Umiat.
The drilling equipment was moved
from northern Canada, down the
McKenzie River, along the Arctic
Ocean coastline, and up the Col
ville River this past summer.
There have been no official prog
ress reports of the overland trip,
1 timed for winter, to take advantage
of the frozen tundra of the north
land. However, speculation is that
an announcement that BP has
“spudded in” (began drilling) is
t expected soon, it has been learned.
Mobile Exploring
Also, it has been learned that
the Mobil Oil Co. is planning to
drill an exploratory well in the up
per Copper River Basin, near the
Richardson Highway, south of Fair
banks.
The drilling for Mobil will prob
ably be done by the Trinity Drilling
Co., it has been said. There has been
no official announcement on this
, well.
I SU11 WaiUng
However, the biggest news con
cerning northern Alask oil develop
ment is expected to break after the
1 first of the year. It is hoped that the
long awaited announcement that the
federal government will open an ad
ditional 16 million acres of the north
slope for development will be forth
coming then.
It has been learned that the State
of Alaska has waived any selection
rights in the area, which lies north
of the Brooks Range, and between
Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4,
and the Arctic Wildlife Range.
About four million acres in this area
is now under development contract.
Colorado Oil and Gas Co. has al
ready drilled near Gubik, hitting
a sizebale natural gas deposit.
Surplus Rig
Also of interest to oil develop
ment has been the surplusing by the
Army of a large LeTorneau Co.
built overland train, which several
major oil companies are said to be
interested in.
The big diesel-electric powered
overland train consists of a pilot
unit, that houses a six man crew—
an engine unit, that supplies electric
power to motors turning each wheel
of the coupled units, and four large
cargo cars.
The train was built prior to 1958,
and was used with some success on
Arctic tundra land, thought it
proved balky in the muskegs of In
terior Alaska.
Rumor has it that Standard Oil
Co. is particularly interested in the
train. This could mean that Stand
ard is planning big things on the
North Slope.
The train is now sitting idle in a
surplus yard near Fort Wainwright
about six miles from Fairbanks.
Foreign travel ought to soften pre
judices, religious or political, and
liberalize a man's mind; but how
many there are who seem to have
travelled for the purpose of getting
up their rancour againat all that is
opposed to their notions.
Charles B. Fairbanks
Alaska Review
Slated at AMU
Announcing the forthcoming pub
lication of the ALASKA REVIEW
by Alaska Methodist University and
at the editorial direction of Ro
bert O. Bowen. This publication is
in the tradition of the university
journal of ideas, and while empha
sizing Alaska, includes essays,
stories, poems, and reviews of gen
eral interest.
The first issue, scheduled to ap
pear the end of 1963. offers a sig
nificant scholarly article on Jack
London, previously unpublished
Kenai Indian materials, also quali
ty fiction, poems by Marion Mont
gomery and other well-known poets,
and reviews.
Future articles are scheduled in
our Alaskan Men of Letters series
and in similar departments cover
ing the graphic arts and other re
lated fields. Individuals and insti
tutions interested in maintaining a
complete file of the ALASKA RE
VIEW for reference purposes should
subscribe now.
Librarians will find a complete
file invaluable for the Alaskana
alone. Aside from scholarly matters,
the ALASKA REVIEW offers a live
ly flow of the ideas currently in
play among Alaskan intellectuals.
The editors welcome subscribers
and contributors. Rates are 50c for
individual copies and $2.00 for four
[ issues. All material submitted for
publication must be accompanied
by a stamped and addressed return
envelope. Payments is in copies
only. , ,
Degnan on Way to
Ketchikan Meet
Frank Degnan, mayor of Unala
kleet, passed through Fairbanks
last week on his way to the meeting
of the Fish and Game Board at
Ketchikan. The meeting is to be
held from December 1-11.
“The Board is going to discuss
recommendatoins sent in by dist
ricts and villages. We will reject
and accept some of them,” Degnan
said.
During the last meeting of the
Board, Degnan had recommended
that villages be members of the Ad
visory Board. The Board was fa
vorable to the recommendation.
There is a field where all won
derful perfections of microscope and
telescope fail, all exquisite niceties
of weights and measures, as well
as that which is behind them, the
keen and driving power of the
mind. No facts however indubitably
detected, no effort of reason how
ever magnificently maintained, can
prove that Bach's music is beautiful.
Edith Hamilton
Tundra Times
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