Wortler Maltt
V oju
me 4
Un tlakteet, Alaska.Septemlier. I<vi6
Number 28
DIGNITY
SAFETY
One of the imperative needs of
the Bureau of Education along these
harborless shores is a well made
well equipped and well manned pow
er schooner suitable for both shallow
and deep water.
The present system is overwhelm
ingly dangerous and ex pensive
expensive localise annually the same
trips are made with the unavoidable
high rates L ick of funds necessitates
the present mo le of oper ition. and
we fear that 1 ot until a I erii g sea
or an Arctic tragedy occurs will
Congress loosen its purse strings;not
until officials and teachers are sacri
ficed.not until the press of the nation
paints the horrors of the catastrophy
will steps be taken to lessen the
danger.
Only those who are acquainted
with these shores of hundiedsof
miles of sh illoyv water can realize the
suddenness in which a storm can lash
the billows into a sea that defies the
ardinary bolt that skirts our shores.
At present school supplies are often
sent and officials and teachers are
compelled to make long trips in shell
like powerless native schooners of
not more than fifteen tons capacity.
Often they are delayed for days at
the month of a friendly river or on
the favored side of an island waiting
the passing ot the tempest.
The lossoi the Wasp a few seasons
ago and the near loss of Supt.A.N.
IS vans was a call for better and safer
means of transportation. Not long
ago nearly a thousand dollars was
paid for delivering 30 tons of freight
from St. Michael 300 miles down the
coast to a single school. Because of
the lateness of the season no one
would attempt the trip for less.
It seems that this matter could sat
isf.tctorally be adjusted if the Bureau
had two well manned boats; one for
the Southern and S E. Alaska, and
one for the Northern and N.W.dist.
Ore it corporations add dignity and
safety to their work by bei: g equip
ped. Other branches of the govern
ment are usually v\ ell equipped for
service. Why not this branch of the
work which means so much to the
saving of a race fast passing because
of conditions 1 ror.ght about by
me • -S with-held.
To insure safety and add dignity
to the noble work of the Bureau of
E lucatiou at least two well made
vessels in which are installed engines
of the proper power,and manned by
men wlio know their business is
needed. We are hoping that it may
come ere the sacrifi* e is made
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