I
MINERS AND OPERATORS
You can obtain at the Nugget
Office the following forms which
are carried in stock, thus avoid
ing long delays and incomplete
blanks obtained in the States.
Write or call at the Nugget Of
fice for:
Dredge Shift Reports—2 types.
Prospecting Drill Field Logs.
Cold Water Thawing Logs.
Time Sheets for Employees
Proofs of Labor Banks.
Special Power of Attorney
Blanks.
Deed Forms.
Placer Location Notices.
Lode Location Notices.
Voucher Forms.
We will soon have printed
notices of “Not Responsible for
Debts and Wages” which are post
ed on claims leased by owners.
Non-Liability forms printed on
cardboard, for posting on claims
when owners lease property. 50c
each or three for $1.00
NOTICE
Now is the time to look over
your job printing needs for the
spring and summer. The Nug
get Office will be glad to consul'
with you as to your wants and
prices on same.
“SOURDOUGH”
STATIONERY
The Nome Daily Nugget carrie*
several forms of printing blank*
for your convenience — Dredge
Logs, thawing and drill reports
Mining Deeds, Placer and Lode
Location Notices. Vouchers,
Special Power of Attorney forme
Staking of Claims
Under the law as changed a per
son may stake two claims for
himself and two under power of
attorney in any month. Under the
old Jaw a person could stake two
foT himself and 16 under power
of attorney in any month.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
I. O. O. F.
NOME LODGE NO. A-5
Meets second and fourth
Friday of each month 8 p.m.
Odd Fellows Building
L. O. O. M.
j t No. 1413 '
Meets third Monday
of each month
Odd Fellows Hall, 8 p. m.
Dr. W. A. Rvstrom
D E NT 1 S T
”
Pint Avenue Wool
Phone Main S
Lyons & Orton
Attorneys At Law
Rooms 918-921 Alaska Building
Seattle, Washington
Tbos. R. Lyons Ira D. Ortor
CHAS. CAVEY
Has Opened A Liquor Store
Carrying an Assortment
of Fine Liquors, Win
es, and Beers.
FRONT ST. NOME.
Pioneer Water Co.
Arrange Now for Your Winter
_Delivery of Fresh Sporkling._
Spring Water. *
ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE.
NELSON and BULLOCK
Phone Black 44
;
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I
4
• ~ *»
Report Made By
A. Polet Before
Planning Council
Memorandum submitted by A.
Polet, Second Division Member
to the Alaska Planning Council
at its meeting, May 22-25, 1939,
at Juneau, Alaska.
Mr. Chairman:
It is my sincere and deep con
viction that, due to Alaska’s enor
mous size and widely varying in
dustries, climate and other mater
:al factors, planning by region or
area is the logical way to pursue
our task. This is the nature of
study recommended in “Regional
Planning, Part VII—Alaska” and
which, also, seems to have been
the method laid down by the Al
aska Planning Council when it
began its program last year.
I further believe that North
western Alaska with its peculiar,
misunderstood, and diversified
conditions should be studied as a
separate area, and that the Se
ward Peninsula should be the
first region to be surveyed by the
Alaska Planning Council. This
should be done at once.
The. urgency of this recom
mendation is evidenced by the
facts submitted in this report
which, when considered as a
whole, permit conclusions point
ing to an unstable economic struc
lure. Government policies now
in force have contributed largely
to the loss of population, the stag
nation of business, and the gen
eral breaking down of the Pen
insula’s economy.
Administration
The settling of Northwestern
Alaska began with the Nome
Beach Stampede, and the strike
on Ophir Creek, NCouncil. Settle
ment was further encouraged by
the finds on Anvil, Dexter, and
other creeks in this vicinity; but
it was not until the Third Beach
Line was discovered and the set
tling of the outlying sections
caused by new discoveries, that
signs otf permanency became man
ifested. From this period on the
real Alaska development began.
Nome sent an emissary to
Washington for representation. A
delegate was granted to Alaska
and shortly afterwards Alaska ob
tained Territorial form of govern
ment. How beneficial this has
been for Alaska I will not now
state but as far as Northwestern
Alaska is concerned, it is still
governed by long distance gov
ernment and under the super
vision of inspectors and travel
ing supervisors.
It is conceded that such ad
ministration is ineffective, expen
sive, un-American and unsatis
factory. The principal .reasons of
the constant change of personnel
supplanted usually by people en
tirely unacquainted with the Lo
cal conditions caused constant
change of policies to the fancies
of every now investigator. Every
new inspector must show that he
has been here and must make
some kind of a .report, usually
reco m m end i.tig some change
which may prove ill-advised.
Those changes have many tim
es been influenced by personal
motives or on prejudiced inform
ation for selfish ends, and before
they could be brought to light
have caused considerable, dis
truction, confusion, and dissatis
faction. These conditions have di
rectly and indirectly affected the
economic life of the Second Div
ision with the result of losses
in business, which naturally fol
low losses in population.
Mining
The gold production has been
and is the largest source of rev
enue and offers occupation for
most of the people. The increase
in the price of gold, the Territor
ial and Federal aids given in
transportation and other general
forms have contributed to the
doubling of the godd output this
past season.
Intensive mining is being car
ried on, at and near Nome, and
several new discoveries have
been made, especially in the Kou
garok section. This section should
be given direct assistance in road
building, and enough funds
should be made available for
next season to complete the Tay
lor Creek Road. Such general in
crease in the building of roads
!
and landing fields should further
increase the production.
The Territorial Assay Office es
tablished by the last Legislature
has proved of immeasurable value
and would recon mend that the
Legislature appropriate a larger
amount to provide for Nome a
field man to aid in the 'investiga
tion of mineral resources. This
coming season will witness the
first gold production from quartz
in the Second Division.
I would like to impress upon
you the necessity of an inventory
of the industry and survey of its
pressing economic problems.
There is a great need for a sur
vey of the entire region with the
view of providing employment
for residents during periods of
the year in which it is not pos
sible for the placer miners to op
1 erate.
It is further recommended that
the Federal Government be urg
ed to appropriate more adequate
funds to the Geological Survey
to carry out its program and to
aid the Territorial organizations
in the assistance of disseminating
information to the prospector.
Reindeer
The second largest industry of
the Second Division is the rein
deer industry, I refer in this re
spect to the general report of
the National Resources Commit
tee and Alaska Planning Council,
and wish to support these reports
in every detail. But I wish to
emphasize stronyly the necessity
of close herding and closer con
tact with the herd. This alone
would produce in revenue almost
enough to pay for herding. The
amound of reindeer slaughtered
unlawfully is astounding when
compared with the total annual
increase.
I would suggest that all the
herds should be administered as
soon as practicable as one unit
and marketing should be done
with the purpose in view of pro
fiting from the reindeer by-pro
ducts.
It is granted that the by-pro
ducts of any industry is the pro
fit. At present the greater part
is entirely wasted. No compre
hensive or effective system can
be devised unless it be by con
centration of the slaughtering of
marketable reindeer and assem
bling of the by-products in ad
vantageous points.
Mining furnishes a market for,
labor during a part of the sea- i
son. The treatment and produc- j
tion from the by-products should !
furnish to the ever increasing del
rnand for local labor a means of,
balancing the annual labor dol
lar.
Seward Peninsula offers unus
ual opportunities for this purpose
The situation of the herds are
almost fan-like fflom the rail
road. A retaining area could be
established somewhere near Sal
mon Lake to which portions al
lotted annually from the several
herds could be driven to and in
due time from this area to the
slaughtering corrals as the de
mands of the market and the ship
ping facilities permit.
The slaughtering yards should
be established at some point near
Nome River Valley, close to the
railroad, water supply, and feed
ing grounds, with the purpose of
erecting Living quarters factories,
etc. The meat should be sold to
local dealers or transported to a
cooperatively owned cold storage
plant on Snake River Harbor
with handy facilities to load light
ers for outgoing vessels alt as low
a cost as possible. These facil
ities would also serve the meat
and by-products from herds not
within driving distances of the
main area.
Nome should be the market
point. Prices should be set f.o.b.
Nome. The present government
method of distributing reindeer
is uneconomic and very expen
sive to the taxpayer. There is no
greater encouragement for the
reduction of freight rates and the
bettering of service titan an as
sured return cargo. One way car
go necessarily must pay both
ways cost of operation.
The natural development of all
branches of the reindeer indus
try would aid in establishing oth
er relative industries and feed
for fur farms. It is predicted and
indicated from facts and corres
pondence in the hands of Nome
dealers that orders of substantial
amounts are received but which
under the present conditions are
impossible to fill.
With the establishing of a con
trolled market it is believed that
all available meat could be sold
at N me at better prices and at
no cost to the government or its
owners.
The Alaska Steamship Com
pany has ample cold storage fac
ilties entirely unused on the
southbound trips which are avail
able at very low rates. The com
pany would be glad to assist in
the establishing of distributing
centers through the regular chan
nels at the principal points jf A1
aska. The influence which this
will have upon lowering of gen
eral freight rates should not be
underestimated.
Through elimination- of the
present expensive government
distribution and the further pos
sibilities of the concentration of
reindeer and by-products and the
production and marketing of the
finished products, a big volume
of labor could be created for the
long idle winter months.
The perpetuation of the rein
deer industry can never be fully
realized unless the fear of vanish
ing grazing areas end the over
crowding of ranges is put to rest.
This Council should recom
mend a study to be undertaken
by the Department of Agricul
ture to determine what grass,
roots and other kind of vegeta
tion can be successfully grown
and stored to feed reindeer dur
ing the winter period. This
would also encourage and teach
natives to produce -other things
which will materially add to
their food supply.
Fishing
While fishing as an industry in
the Second Division has not re
ceived any attention, a growing
population would soon find
means of developing this huge
industry. There 'is not a phase of
this industry that is not represent
ed in Bering Sea and in the Are
tic Ocean. In addition to all oth
ers, we have a number of branch
es such as seal and walrus, etc.,
which if properly administered
will furnish ivory for the crafts
and food for the people for gen
erations to come.
I suggest that the Bureau of
Fisheries make a survey of the
resources of Bering Sea for the
purpose of the perpetuation and
protection of thus industry.
Land Use
The reports made on Land Use
and -all its subdivisions and class
ifications are so numerous and
difficult to study as to their ap
plication to Northwestern Alaska
that it is -impossible for me to
even attempt to voice any opin
ion.
Any survey of the Seward Pen
nsula should also consider a class
tfication of lands as to their pro
per future use.
Wild Life
While the comprehensive re
ports already submitted have my
full support and I urge that the
recommendations be carried out
and made to apply where c n
sist-ent with the Second Division,
I believe that there should be
some study of the conditions af
fecting the walrus and neindeer
f-awn in their utilization on a
mass scale for commercial pro
duction of arts and crafts art
icles.
Give Northwestern Alaska A
Chance and It Will Become
Self-Supporting
It is strange that while the
Second Division has been organ
ized for over forty years, Nome
is still the only incorporated city.
The first ten years manifested
a remarkable growth. Thirty or
more towns were established
with school houses, vyith one or
more mercantile establishments
of all classes, poistoffice, hotels
and a population that was grow
ing and progressive. Today these
same towns have lost most of
their population. Business estab
lishments have been reduced to
a minimum, buildings with a
very few exceptions^re badly in
need of repair and all signs of
painting entirely worn off. Gen
erally the towns show lack of
civic pride; no one cares, and
there is no one to look after the
streets, alleys, ioit sanitation. Re
cently the Territorial inspectors
of the Department of Health
have begun their visits, to what
benefit at this time it is difficult
to predict. If they are to be ex
tended to remote places, encou
ragement of local self-govern
ment in our smaller communities
is essential. I, therefore, urge the
Council and other Territorial as
well as interested Federal agenc
ies to cooperate in an educational
campaign to that end. While the
advantages should be evident, it
is difficult to get the residents
of these small communities to
preceive them.
The Native Life
The proper place of the native
Eskimo in the genera] eeonom c
system should be considered in
the survey as the native inhabi
tant is of vital importance in the
whole order of things.
There is not a phase in the de
velopment of Northwestern Al
aska that in part or whole does
not materially affect theNative or
mixed blood population. Thus
particular study could probably
be undertaken in cooperation
with the Office of Indian Affairs
at very little additional cost.
General Economy
There should be a general
s' udy of the economic structure of
Northwestern Alaska. Transport
ation should be included as well
as existing and potential indus
tries. It should also embrace the
administrative pattern of both
Federal and Territorial govern
ments and their effects upon
trade and development of our
tremendously valuable resources.
I therefore urge that the Alas
ka Planning Council immediately
I undertake a preliminary survey
f »r t'he purpose of showing in
more detail the existing deficienc
es and lack of economic balance
of Seward Peninsula. This pre
liminary survep should pave the
way to more spec fic studies to be
carried out by various Federal
and Territorial agencies as sug
gested above.
On motion it was unanimously
carried.
The following week was spent
by Mr. A. Polet in studying with
the staff '$ the Alaska Planning
Council far the purpose of laying
the foundation for the study
which will take place the first
part of July.
Dr. H. A. Bauer, Consultant to
the Alaska Planning Council and
under direct employ of the Na
tional Resource Committee of
Washington will take charge of
the Economic Survey of the Sec
ond Division. He probably will
have an office with the Alaska
Road Commission as Mr. Ike Tay
lor, President <kf the Alaska Road
Commission is Chairman of the
Alaska Planning Council.
NOTICE
The Nome Nugget has just com
pletcd the printing of new Legal
forms on card board, they are for
use when owners of mining pro
perty lease t> other parties, and
are termed Non-liability Notices
for wages and other debts con
tracted by leasees. They are for
sale at 50r each or 3 for $1.00
» I ■ I • * 11
S W I S $ AIR DEFENSE centers partly on such anti-air
craft units as this, with one soldier holding the gun. Mights over
Switzerland might be fast, save for the Alps with their great
mountain peaks. In this little country are 2,924,314 German
speaking persons who may be fully aware of Hitler’s cherished
hope to bring all Germans into the Third Reich.
OFF-SLIDE ON THE PLAY, Joey Pa!ms\ini lets
tiimsclf and the pants go, swinging at his brother In a N. Y. nutch.