THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the
NOME PUBLISHING CO ‘
NOME, ALASKA
E. P. BOUCHER. . Managing Editor
CLINTON GRAY . Production Manager
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Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943 at the
postoffice at Nome. Alaska, under Act of March 3. 1879
A HAUNTING SPIRIT
Results of Heintzleman’s Proposal
Governor Heintzleman’s proposal to cut north
western Alaska from statehood left Democrats and
Republicans alike stunned, especially at this late date
when delay or change might mean deferment of state
hood again.
The Anchorage press immediately went to bat for
the Alaskans who would be left outside the border of
worthy voting citizens. The Fairbanks press seems to
feel sorry for us but states that a little is better than
nothing (as long as they are on the statehood side of
the picture).
Public reaction to the plan this week, however,
has been indignation over any division of Alaska. Pres
ident Eisenhower has had a strong backing in the Sec
ond Division, gained by personal visit to the area sev
eral years ago. His popularity underwent quite a
chakmg up since Wednesday, when the announcement
was made that he might favor partition. Many Repub
licans have voiced their opinion that it would be tough
going for Republican candidates in the primaries this
month should action be taken.
The idea of partition is not a new one, as Ralph
lumen and Grant Jackson sponsored the plan last year.
T'xis was published in full in the Nugget and circular
ized widely in the territory and in the States as well.
The military took a similar stand when they
announced that northwestern Alaska was “outside the
perimeter of defense.”
The younger generation forgets that Nome was
once the center of population and with its mineral
wealth could be again. It was in Nome that the battle
for a territorial form of government was fought in 1912.
If partition must be made because of the size of
Alaska, we recommend that it be cut in half, east and
west into northern and southern Alaska, instead of
picking out the heartland. In this way there would be
two states, each absorbing half of the area now deleted,
and there would be four senators for Alaska instead
of two. j
Defense Secretary Wilson Says New
Radar System Will Give Warning Of
Planes Approaching Over Polar Cap
WASHINGTON, UPC-Secretary'
of Defense Wilson said Thursday
survey work for a new Canadian
United States radar warning
chain across the rim of North
America “is already well ad
vanced.”
This new system is north of the
“Pinetree Chain” of aircraft
warning stations which was start
ed four years ago, Wilson said in
a statement. A simultaneous an
nouncement was made in Ottawa.
The far north radar warning
system is placed to detect air
craft coming over the polar cap.
Wilson also announced a build
up of the warning system over
the northern Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
He said:
“It is o'bviouslv just as impor
tant to have early warning of
aircraft approaching target areas
in North America from over the
sea as from over northern Can
ada. For this reason, the United
States Government is expanding
the early warning barrier across
the northeastern and northwest
ern Seward approaches to North
America.
“The Alaska radar system is
coordinated with those in Canada
and the continental United States,
and the development of airborne
radar is well advanced.”
It has been disclosed that the
| United States has installed in Al
aska at least one experimental
radar unit, operating fully auto
matically and designed to provide
at least six hours of warning to
the United States.
This station, apparently intend- j
ed eventually to be part of the j
“distant early warning line” of '
stations, is in the vicinity of Bar
ter Island off the northern Alas
kan coast and about 1,200 miles
from the North Pole.
The airborne radar equipment
to which Wilson referred includes
search and scanning equipment
mounted in big planes' which can
fly to distant positions and patrol
for hours. The advantage of air
borne radar is that the range is
extended because the altitude of
the plane makes it possible to
reach farther out over the curva
ture of the earth.
Much of the sea-airborne radar j
system is operated by the Navy j
with long-range patrol planes,
radar picket submarines and de
stroyers.
In his statement, Wilson said !
that work on the Pinetree Chain
| has been going on under high
__
EASTER RABBITS ARRIVE
EOR MERC AND HARDWARE
The U. S. Mere and the Nome
Hardware Store are again treat
ing Nome children to real live'
bunnies at Easter time. The rab- j
bits arrived today via Pan Am- ;
erican Airways and were immedi
ately placed on display.
At Easter time several chil- j
dren will become the proud own- '
ers of pets, which if the children !
are interested, could grow into an !
interesting and profitable hobby.
MR. AND MRS. JACK JEFFORD
VISIT KIS MOTHER HERE
Mrs. J. Jefford is enjoying a
visit from her son Jack Jefford
and his wife. Jack is a well known
CAA pilot and they are spending
a short vacation with here from
their home in Anchorage.
Mr. and Mrs. Jefford flew here
in a privately-owned plane and i
they plan to leave tofnorrow.
>_
priority for the last four years.
Then he added:
“Long before the Pinetree pro
ject was approaching completion,
the military planners of the two
countries were engaged in an in
tensive study of what further
steps might be desirable and prac
ticable.
“In October, 1953, a team of
military and scientific advisors
representing both countries rec
ommended that additional early
warning should be provided by
the establishment of a further
radar system generally to the
north of the settled territory in
Canada.
“The report of this team was
considered by the chiefs of staff
of each country later that same
month. At a meeting in Washing
ton in November, 1953, the Cana
dian representatives informed the
United States authorities that the
Canadian Government was pre
pared to proceed immediately
with the necessary surveys and
siting for the proposed new early
warning radar system. This work
is already well advanced.
“There are many difficult prob
lems to be solved . . . much of the
ground is inaccessible except by
tractor train and helicopter. In
many areas extreme temperatures
are confronted for several months
of the year. Many technical prob
lems, including the interference
of the auroral belt with electronic
devices, have had to be overcome.
In overcoming the various techni
cal problems involved the United
States Air Force is working close
ly with the Royal Canadian Air
Force.”
Wilson said that in addition to
the joint radar project, “both
countries are working continuous
ly to improve the air defense in
stallations in the vicinity of the
major target areas.”
In this connection, he said, U.S.
and Canadian air defense com
manders cooperate closely and
unidentified aircraft are investi
gated by the nearest interceptor {
force, whether Canadian or Uni
ted States.
Super fort Tanker
Explodes While
Refueling Jet
TOKYO, —An American Su
perfort tanker plane exploded and
crashed Thursday while refueling
a jet fighter in the air and five
crewmen are believed to have
died.
The jet was not damaged.
The Air Force said it has found
four bodies and another crewman
is missing and presumed dead.
Six crewmen parachuted from
the flaming air tanker. They were
taken to' a hospital for a check.
A spokesman said cause of the
fire was not determined.
The tanker sprang a leak while
refueling an F-84 Thunderjet near
Nagoya in central Japan. The jet
disengaged.
Fire broke out almost immedi
ately and an explosion followed.
The tanker crashed on an open
hillside. Helicopters and ground
parties found the bodies.
The tanker belonged to' the 421st
Air Refueling Squadron at Yokota
Air Base near Tokyo.
PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS
Arriving today were: George
Bayer, Mr. Walton, Mr. Bales,
Ernie Gustafson, N. Mjoa, Mr.
Baldwin and Donng Waldon.
Departing were: Ken Kadow,
John Pearson and S. Kyne.
17 POUND BABY BOY
BORN AT GOLOVIN
Word was received at the ANS
office that Helen AmaktOolik of
Golovin gave birth to a son mea
suring 24 inches and length and
weighing 17 pounds. Both mother
and child are reported doing fine.
RUMMAGE SALE
Sponsored Ey
Beta Sigma Phi
Saturday, April 10
Starting at 10:00 a.m.
Ai The
Old Territorial Tax Office
On 1st Ave.
SCHEDULE CHANGE:
Effective April 21*1
6 DAYS A WEEK
SERVICE
TO ANCHORAGE!
Steps at Unalakleet Mon., Wed. and Sat.
McGrath every day,
Moses Point Tuesday