also are prone to forget that
point. Are they making a proper
move in our interests? Let us
look up a few figures of our own.
In our everyday business deal
ings we don’t generally accept
the other fellow’s word if there
is any way of verifying his fig
ures. Why not use the same sys
tem here?
The Year Book of the Depart
ment of Agriculture tells us that
the Tongass National Forests in;
Southeastern Alaska contains!
approximately 20 million acrres.
How big is that? A little figuring
gives us 31,250 square miles. We;
are still curious and dig out the;
World’s Almanac to look up the
area of the smaller States in the
Union for comparison. It takes;
the combined areas of Massa
chusetts, Connecticut, New Ham
shire, New Jersey and Delaware
to foot up to a total of 31,309
square miles. South Carolina
comes the closest with 30.495
square miles. Well, well! We say
Quite a hunk of land to turn
over to 160 million dollars worth
of corporations. 85 Billion feet
of timber at ten dollars per
thousand is 850 million dollars.
Runs into money, our timbe re
sources! Pulp companies in the
east are paying the neighbor
hood of $20.00 for pulp wood too.
The question enters our mind.
“How can we have pulp compa
nies and still profit by our tim
ber resources?”
Nothing is simpler. Have Con
gress pass a law providing for
supervision of cutting to elimi
nate waste and provide for re
forestation. Cut this 20 million
acreas up into parcels of 160
acres each and invite 125.000 of
those homeless men in tht Stat
es who are looking for a chance
to make a start in life to come
and take them.
Let those sixteen pulp com
panies come. The owners of our
land will be glad to sell them
timber. Let a bunch of Forest
Inspectors earn their pay by see
ing that no timber is wasted and
proper provision made for re
forestation. Let the pulp com
panies own timberland if they
want to. Once installed, super-1
vision, of cutting will apply to
the land whether it belongs to
them, to the Government, or to
the original settler. Let’s be in
telligent American citizens. Let’s
use a little horse sense.
Mr. Heintzelman’s article of
fers us jobs for 9,600 men. To
create those jobs for us and our
children, the Forest Seiwice is
willing to deprive us of South
eastern Alaska, a country as
large as South Carolina, of all
further development and settle
ment. Also to turn the entire pro
fits over to sixteen non-resident
owned pulp and paper corpora
tions. If you take the time to
study the articles and vision
condition as they wall be when
the program is carried through,
you cannot help but see the
enormity of the betrayal of A
mericanism. We did not become
the greatest Nation on the face
of the earth as a nation of wagej
workers. We have not been proud
of our country and its traditions
because we have been allowed to
rent a piece of land. How will
cur children feel toward our
country under conditions being
foisted upon it merely through
a lack of opposition on our part?
If on the other hand, we in
vite 125,000 men here to take
up land, what would be the re
sults? When you build a dam and
maintain it for 25 years and
then suddenly remove it. there
is bound to be a flood. Settle
ment on anything that might
remotely be termed timberland
has been practically denied
Southeastern Alaska for 25 vears.
It is hard to predist what the
exact results would be. Probably
”5 per cent of the first takers
would be absolutely unfitted to
cope with conditions. Of one
thing only I am certain. Our
precious timber would receive
eery little hurt. The unfit would
leave. Either selling their hold
ings or abandoning them. Their
places filled by other men more
fit. Our more determined settlers
would at once introduce modern
forest practice, a thing which
the Forest Service has so far
refused to do here. They would
cut a few of their best trees
PIANOS FOR SALE OR RENT
Expert Piano Tuning and Repairing
Band Instruments, - Musical Merchandise
§ ANDERSON MUSIC SHOPPE — JUNEAU, ALASKA
H
Start the
New Year
RIGHT
Install a telephone
It wiil serve you every day in
the year
L. T. Swanson,
Telephone Exchange
tXtSttXXtmt
>*♦«+« ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦««♦<*♦♦
maaummsmmmmmnmmmm;
mmKBttKummntsmmmmmmmmtmmmt}
li
Alaskan Glacier Sea Food Co, I
Petersburg, Alaska
Packers of Shrimp Meat and Crab Meat
BIGGEST PACKERS OF SHRIMP MEAT IN THE WORLD
Buyers of
Halibut, Salmon,and Trout
WE Move Anything Lccse On One End
RELIABLE TRANSFER
General Hauling
Per rick $3.50 — FOREST WOOD — Thee ricks $9.00
Phones
3 and 12
! and peddle them to our local
mills. They would cut the kind |
of timber the mills want. Not
insist on cramming down their
threats timber unsuited for
their market demands. Our mills
with half a chance are able to j
stand alone. With the grade ofj
logs the owners would be able
to furnish them they would soon j
be healthy and increase their1
output even without the salmon
box business.
The pulp mills would come in.
Here is an open field they would
say. Now we can get the kind of
timber we have to have to
meet competition without hav
ing to cut that expensive poor
grade stuff fifty years ahead of
our market demands. Let’s go!
Ah! You say that is just what
our Forest Department is guard
ing against. This indiscriminate
cutting of timber. Why the pulp
mills will come in here and strip
our hills. Leave us nothing but
the rocks. They will overcut and
have to close down, they will
ruin our country.
There is only one danger and
that one very remote. Overcut
ting All right! Our Forest De- '
partment has done an immense
lot of research work and are
apable of lots more. They
should know how many tons of
pulp weed could be taken yearly |
from our forests without danger I
When that point is reached our
children v/ill know what to do.
Our job is to see that our chil
dren have the power and intelli
gence to do so without having
first been diven to bloodshed to
better their living conditions.
We cannot be blind to the fact
that an immense proportion of
our land is not agricultural land.
Let us be pessimistic and say
that only two percent of it is
tillable. I have no means of
mowing the exact proportions
it>or do I particularly care. We
have more than enough. Agri
cultural produce will not, in my
estimation, cut any great figure
other than locally in South
eastern Alaska’s development. I
lire spud patch and the kitchen
garden will be vitally important
out the destiny of 98 per cent of;
Southeast Alaska’s land is the^
growing of timber.
What can we do with only 2j
rer cent of livable land. Well
riiat is four aerres each for 100,- {
)00 settlers whom, if are wise,1
vill have sufficient timber landj
n addition to make their tenan-;
"y possible and profitable. Let
them be owners not renters. Let
them be masters not wage work
ers.
Let them draw from our tim
ber resources while they estab
lish themselves. They will buy
more fur farm breeding stock
and raise more fur here in
Southeastern Alaska than has!
ever been thought possible. They;
will build resorts to cater to thej
rourist trade; they will start!
various woodworking plants; ■
tthey will buy from our stores;
they will bank in our banks;
they will build loads, homes,
schools, churches, boats; our
waterways will see a constant
stream of traffic.
Are we going to offer our cliil
h-en a chance to participate in
something like this or are we
croing to offer them one of those
9,600 jobs that the Forest De1
partment through Mr. Heintzel
man, dangle so enticingly before
the eyes of their public, the
People of Alaska.
Are we going to concentrate
our thoughts and gaze on that
messmerists crystal? The pos
sible dollar profit coming to us
through the much advertised ef
forts of the Forest Service to es
tablish pulp mills here and be
lulled to slumber by the chant of
conservation! while our pockets
are being picked and o\ir house
burgled? Let us hope not!
E. S. Hungerford
TAXATION WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION
-x
Kake. Alaska, 1, 12, 1931
William L. Paul,
Ketchikan. Alaska
Dear Mr. Paul:
This is to call your attention to
certain features of H.R.9846 in
troduced by Delegate Dan Suth
erland in the House of Repre
! sentatives, February 13, 1930.
j As you know there are in Alas
: ka certain Indians who are not
j allowed to vote, or in any way
have anything to say as to how
the taxes paid to the Territory
shall be appropriated.
Further, there has been every
thing done to prevent the In
dians from incorporating their!
towns under the laws of the|
Territory, even before the Act!
of 1926 was passed. Apparent-!
ly, all that is really necessary to
stop a community from taking!
advantage of the Muncipal Act
is for some cannery, or corpora-1
tion to enter a protest.
These Indian viliages are now
open ting under a law that is ob
solete, void, and otherwise im
possible fev any town to work
under and do any good; such as
the law which makes the Indian
subject to the ordinances of the
town while exempting the white
people. j
The present Attorney General
the Hen. John Rustgard, has de
clared that law void, because it
discriminates against certain
i itizens of Alaska—and proper
ly. Whereas, this proposed
amendment, introduced at the
request or Attorney General
Rustgard and others, would tax
’the Indian lands same as others,
in the incorporated towns, it
still makes it impossible to have
the right of franchise denied
them.
We, who have the right to vote
and otherwise exercise the du
ties and privileges of citizens of
the United States and Alaska,
have no quarrel with the propos
ed law. But I believe that those
who have not, or are not allowed
to exercise those rights, ought to
be exempted from the obligation
of paying those taxes.
Again: the pensions which are
appropriated for the relief of
the pioneers of Alaska, are
largely paid to white residents,
regardless of whether they were
citizens or not; and when they
are paid to Indians they have|
been smaller than that allowed
others.
The road money has not been
allowed Indian communities un
til recently: and then, only in
small amounts. The funds for
the education of illiterates have
been used only for the white
communities There are illiter
ai es among cur people who
would be glad of the opportunity
"f pret'-?ng the rudiments of an
education. The only action tak
en by the legislature in regard
Ao adult Indian education has
been to try to ko^p them from
voting altogether, not so much
because they were illiterates, as
because they might vote for the
wrong party.
This amendment was offered
presumably because the law of
192G was partial to Indians in
certain ways Let us see if this
fairness is carried out to the ex
tent suggested. The canneries
located in, or near villages,
(rather, all canneries) pay 10c
a case to the Territory on can
ned salmon; or it is returned to
the town, if it is incorporated.
These people who live near the
town and in the towns, work in
the self-same canneries and help
! to earn the money which enables
| the canneries to pay their tax
les. They would appreciate get
j ting some of the money in the
| way of taxes to incorporated
I towns. But the canneries have
| always filed a protest, or had
| their attorneys at the courts to
! embarrass citizens trying to in
corporate a town. WHY? And
worse: these same canneries
which dodge taxes, hire foreign
labor under iron-clad contracts,
have the resident fishermen sign
contracts that are cold-decked,
and nay less for the fish they
can than those in cities such as
Ketchikan.
It’s alright for these canneries
and others to holler about the
Indian being exempted from
paying taxes on land by the law
of 1926, but they are doing a pa
triotic duty by trying to amend
that law. But they manage to
ero “Scott-free” by merely pro
testing while the ordinary citizen
must pay both Territorial and
Municipal taxes. Again, I say,
what possible excuse do they of
fer the officials for these prac
tices? Should the citizen be
!continually kept in poverty just
| to encourage these industries?
That is sudden death for most
financial pockets. It kills the
home industry in the embryo
stage, while it has fattened
'those corporations which refuse
to pay a share of the taxes that
are required of the great major
ity.
Let the canneries pay their
share of the taxes; same with
the mining industries. Let the
tax money be equitably spent
for all the citizens of the Terri
tory, and not just for the favor
ed section, or cities; then, and
not till then can we talk with
confidence about the Indian be
ing unjustly favored.
By all means have the law
changed so that all will be treat
ed alike; so that all will have
the same duties and privileges.
It is far better than favoring one
and then trying to figure out
just how much you should favor
someone else.
Sincerely,
Frank G. Johnson.
(Editorial Note):—The Gov
ernment holds title to all “In
dian Possessions”—lands—which
it is now being proposed shall be
taxed. When title is granted the
Indian to his lands, as any other
citizen, then this bill is fair. But
so long as the government holds
title then the government should
pay that tax—or give title in
order that the tax be paid.
•X
Divisional Notes
WRANGELL
Local Masons met last week
and undertook formation of a
Masonic Club which may be thr
forerunner of a Masonic Lodge.
The following officers were elec
ted: President, C. P. Kirtland.
Vice President Ernest Campbell
secretary-treasurer, R W. J.
Reed, trustees, Donald Sinclair,
and L. M. Campbell.
The Seattle Fairbanks-Morse'
Company is willing to turn over
to the City Council for operation
the new diesel plant at the head
of the bay at an estimated cost
of $17,000, payments to be made
to the company by the city from
the plant’s earnings. The plan^
is about ready for its trial run
and Wrangell will be up with
other cities in power delivery.
The Council has revoked the
franchise held by the Wrangell
Mill and Power Company and in
some quarters it is expected that
a law suit will result.
Mrs. May Gartley left for Pe
tersburg on thp Farragut and on
to Juneau from that nort.
H. B. Gubser. federal leader
of predatory animal hunters re
turned here from Juneau.
Alex Cresa, formerly of Pe
tersburg, has been making con
tact with an amatuer operator
at Telegraph Creek and learns
that there is three feet of snow
up there and an average tem
peratore ranging from 3 and 5
above zero at night to 15 above
during the day. Mush ice is now
coming out of the lower Stikeen.
Tom Case. Jr., has taken over
phe transfer and equipment!
'Derated by Jerry Neilson who;
has gone to the states.
H.C L. Versus C. H. L.
The Sentinel of Wrangell is
suggesting that the City go on its
spring road building program
now when the work is most
needed instead of waiting until
spring when the men are other
wise engaged in jobs that bring
in the panga. Good idea, Dick—
not bad a-tall for all of the
Alaska communities to follow.
x
KLAWOCK
“Happy Jack” Williams—Na
vahn—who left before Christ
mas upon investigation by his
friends, has been found missing
from his camp at Twelve Mile.
The door of his camp was open,
his bedding thrown back, his
breakfast set back from the fire
olace and partly consumed and
very little food gone from the
oamp. Aside from his gun and ax
there is nothing missing from
fhe camp other than Jack him
self. Searching parties have been
unable to find anything of him.
Jack is related to the Annisketts
of Klawcck and Aaron Bean of
Kake.
It is being reported here that
the New England Fish Company
will not buy fresh fish for the
freezing markets this year.
Mrs. Peter Roberts left on the
Princeton for Juneau where she
will enter the hospital for treat
ment.
A baby daughter was born to
(Mr. and Mrs James Demmert, on
the 23rd of this month.
— Where Sound Sounds Best—
Saturday
“Ingcgi”
Vitaphone Acts, Comedies and Newsreels
Sunday - Monday
“The Three Sisiers”
Vitaphone Acts, Comedies and Newsreels
Tuesday - Wednesday
“Rich People”
Vitaphone Ads, Ccmedies and News Reels
Thursday - Friday
| “The Big Party”
:• x
l . =--' # |
Vitaphone acts, News Reels & Comedies |
j Fresh—
1 Beef, Pork and Mutton
! Hams, bacon, sausages
H
1 and prepared meats
8
1 Sanitary Market
Mr. and Mrs. John Pcratro- j
rich have returned from Juneau]
where John was in the hospital
for medical attention.
The Libby, McNeil and Libby!
Company will not operate the
Klawoek cannery this year but |
will use the buildings for the
overhauling of gear and traps, j
The machinery in the Karheen
canne y will be moved to Craig
where the company will operate
a four line cannery.
-x
HYDABURG
A son was born to Mr. and,
Mrs. Victor Edenso on the 13th
of January.
John Wallace who has been
j suffering from an attack of the
! flu is up and around again.
| Craig basketball boys came!
lover and gave the Hydaburg'
hoopsters a good licking.
CRAIG
The statement published in
I our issue of January 16, under
I the heading of Craig notes, an-j
jncuncing the engagement of
| Miss Margaret Roberts has since j
been denied. We offer our sincer-j
est apologies to the parties inj
question and to our readers for!
the misinformation we have in
advertently passed along.
The Alaskan
-x
A baby girl was bom recently
to Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nathan of
this- city. /
Also a bouncing nine-pound
baby bey to Mr. and Mrs. Victor
Edenso on the evening of the
13th.
Trappers hereabout report the
trapping very poor this season
and fur prices disappointing.
Mrs. Lydia Jacobson, daughter
of Paul Gunyah of Klawoek j
passed away recently.
Doctor Devidum (DeW-hyd
vum) has located here and will
practice medicine and surgery.
Doc. was official doctor for the
Dorothea search party sent out,
by the Seattle Star in search of
Pat Renahan who was lost last
November while searching for
Paddy Burke.
-x
HOONAII
The Local Camp is doing
everything possible to make
things run smoothly and well
here. In a recent meeting the
matter of schools rules and at
tendance was taken up. Some of
the people are opposed to the
idea of the Camp enforcing the
rules of the school and “driving”
children to school. It is not plea
sant for the officers of the Camp
to drive anyone but it is much
better than having the Marshal
do the driving. It is at least
cheaper.
Work on the hydro-electric
plant has been discontinued for
the year on account of the in
clement weather. Just as soon
as the weather will permit a
concrete foundation will be put
in for the machinery.
The Salvation Army Corps of
Kake has sent us notice that
they were coming over to give
us a few “Pop. Corn” meetings.
Local Soldiers have been busy
cutting wood and otherwise get
ting ready for their guests
from Kake.
Members of the Russian Greek
Orthodox Church of Sitka on
ihe gasboats Perseverance and
Starlight had a little trouble
when the Peseverance bumped
a rock but the passengers were
turned over to the Starlight
which brought them here. An
other boat went out with the
Starlight and pulled the Perse
verance off the rocks. Silas Dol
ton is making repairs on the
boat.
Mr. James Grant, president of
the local camp and acting town
mayor gave a fine dinner to the
friends from Kake and Sitka who
came in connection with the
work of their church organiza
tions.