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Published every Friday at Kodiak, Alaska
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THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Box 1307, Kodiak. Alaska
Editorial Opinion
The Kodiak Mirror this week is presenting “pros” and “cons"
on Initiative No. 1 (the initiative which would move the capital of
Alaska from Juneau to an undesignated spot, not closer than 30
miles to Anchorage).
The Mirror is not taking a stand on this particular issue or are
the two writers who have expressed an opinion in the editorial space
below. The principal purpose is to better inform the readers in
order that they make their choice on November 6.
Maybe At Some Later Date
For the second time since statehood was granted, voters in
Alaska will be called upon to cast ballots on the removal of the
capital from Juneau.
We accept the claims that Juneau is a long ways from the center
of the state’s population, and we will also go along on the argument
that it is inaccessible and growth of additional state buildings is
limited by available space.
But right now. Alaska needs the estimated $190,000,000 it
would cost to move the capital for oaher purposes such as education,
roads and development of industry.
Nor are we swayed by the fact that the capital should be near
the center of population. It just could be that 10 years from now
Anchorage won’t be the state’s most populous city. The shifting
tides of military appropriations can make a city into a village in a
few short months.
And how often does the average citizen have to make a personal
call to the capital? Very seldom. Most capital matters can be han
dled by correspondence.
Lack of growing space could be a blessing. If they can’t build
any more state buildings at Juneau, maybe they won’t keep hiring
unneeded state workers to occupy them.
Alaska has only been a state for less than four years. Let us
wait and w’ateh the future developments, and then in a matter of
20 years or so bring up the metter again.
The issue isn’t so demanding that it has to be settled in 1962.
We would recommend a No Vote on Initiative No. 1.—B.M.
Capital Schould Be Moved
The well heeled propagandists who have a $75,000 slush fund to
bamboozle Alaskans into believing that they cannot afford to move
the capital from a remote and almost inaccessible southeastern
town have a formidable task in attempting to make Alaskans ignore
cold unchangeable facts of geography and nature.
That they desire to protect their interests by keeping the capital
a captive from which they receive considerable profit and would
stand to gain even more in the event they succeed in their massive
publicity assault ... is understandable.
That they should expcet the people of Kodiak, or any other area
outside of Juneau to buy their bill of goods, is difficult to under
stand All Alaskans, particularly the people of Kodiak, stand to lose
by keeping the capital in remote Juneau
The true fact is simply that we cannot afford to attempt to
leave the capital in Juneau- By their own figures, the land area
available in the town of Juneau is too small to accommodate the
capital. The township of Juneau is 130 acres in size . . . less than
a single homestead! and virtually every foot of that tiny 130 acre
area is covered with structures now! According to the Juneau parti
sans over 1.000 acres will be needed to build a new capital city.
Just where do they propose to provide such acreage in Juneau? On
stilts over the sea° Blast out Mendelhall Glacer or the cliffs that
surround their tight little town? More space WILL be needed for
our capital as our great state grows. We might as well face this fact
squarely right now and start immediately to provide ourselves with
a new capital site. Why continue to build costly state buildings in
tiny Juneau when eventually the capital will have to be moved
anyway. There are always short-sighted or selfish individuals and
interests in any issue ... no matter how worthy. There were people
who actually voted in favor of keeping fish traps! . . . and who
voted against statehood! And they. too. spent scads of money to
bamboozle Alaskans into thinking their way. Alaskans used good
sense and voted in their own interest and for progress despite all
the money used against them. We urge the people of Kodiak to
disregard the silly phony cost figures presented wildly by dedicated
Juneau interests. Vote for Alaska. Vote YES on Initiative 1.—K.A.
. .... ' 1 H
FOR ALL YOUR
Welding Needs
or Problems
Phone 486—5150
KODIAK WELDING WORKS
U. of I. Accepts
James 0. Fulp, III
In NROTC Program
James I). Fulp, HI
James D. Fulp, III, son of Capt.
James D. and Mrs. Fulp of the
USNS Kodiak, has been accepted
into the Contract NROTC program
at the University of Idaho on Sept.
24, 1962.
Idaho is one of the 53 selected
colleges throughout the nation
which offers this program leading
to a commission as an Ensign,
USNR. or 2nd lieutenant, USMCR.
Under the program James will
receive his Navy books and uni
forms without cost and will spend
one summer on a deep water cruise
on a ship of the Pacific Fleet. He
is a graduate of Kodiak high school
and worked for the Public Works
Department at the base before at
tending the university.
‘Garbage’-Chamber
Head Says About
Brochure Charge
“Garbage” was the charge is
sued by Kodiak Chamber of Com
merce president to the ad in last
week's Mirror which claimed that
the Seattle Fair was without Ko
diak brochures while they lay on
the floor of the Chamber offices
here.
Brooks’ charge followed this
item appearing in the Mirror of
Oct. 19, “And just what did my
opponent accomplish in regards to
this (Century 21) in his then ca
pacity as President of the Kodiak
Chamber of Commerce? When it
was brought to his attention that
there were no brochures of Kodiak
at the World’s Fair he stated: ‘Oh,
I have sent thousands of them
down there!’ The brochures W’ere
later found in a box on the floor
of the Chamber office.”
Brooks said that three or four
boxes containing between 3,000
and 4,000 brochures were sent in
June and when these were ex
hausted about 12,000 colored postal
cards of the Island were sent there,
and Brooks said that when he was
there on Aug. 12 the Alaska Ex
hibit attendants said there were
plenty.
“The only one laying on the
Chamber floor” were those which
were poorly printed with poor pic
tures and they were ashamed to
send them, and only about 250
were at the chamber office.
NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS
The second payment on property
taxes was due October 15th, and
will be delinquent after October
31st, at which time the penalty
will be 10%.
CITY OF KODIAK
Douglas G. Preston
City Clerk-Treasurer
Submarine Patrol Covering Streets
The submarine patrol” made it
past the Kodiak Mirror and Laun
dry, Thursday afternoon on the
heels of last week’s front page pic
ture in the Mirror.
Even the operators of the main
tainers had the comment, “We’re
now known as the Submarine Pa
trol.”
It may have angered some
municipal employes, but no one
can deny it brought results.
SUNDAY SPECIALS
Cherry Pie. 600 Ea.
Apple Crisp. 200 Ea.
Open Day & Nite
Phone 486—2600
Give a bouquet or corsage of
roses, carnations, chrysanthe
mums, or any other welcome va
riety.
* * • •
New Supply
Blooming Potted Plants
See Us for Her Corsage for the
PURPLE BUBBLE BALL
FLOWERS
By ELAINE
Local Wire
Delivery Anywhere
Phone 486—5225 c/o City Market
THOMPSON TRANSFER
ERIC MUELLER. Pr*p.
CLEAN HEAT!
Both Standard Furnace 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
*nd 0,,lre Standard Plant
486-2300 486-5115