THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the
NOME PTTBLfSFPNG CO.
NOME, ALASKA
E. P. BOUCHER ....... Managing Editor
CLINTON GRAY . Production Manager
Telephone: Main 125 $1.50 PER MONTH
P.O. Box 618 $16.00 A YEAR
Subscribers not receiving their papers by 5:30 p.m. call
Main 125 for special delivery. After 5:30 call Black 102
Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the
postoffice at Nome. Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
URANIUM INDUSTRY GROWS RAPIDLY
Although the Atomic Energy Commission refuses
to give out details on uranium production in the
United States, understandably, there are several in
dications that this industry in the United States is
growing very rapidly. It was recently estimated that
there are now over 500 uranium mines on the Colo
rado Plateau, a figure which outdates an estimate of
several months ago of about 400 mines.
When one considers the fact that, in 1946, there
were no mines on the Colorado Plateau, the 500-plus
figure of today is a remarkable one. And an official
hinted recently the uranium industry is still growing
by leaps and bounds. He noted that uranium produc
tion in the first quarter of 1953 was over twice that
in the first quarter of 1952.
If this statement is accurate the production of
uranium has doubled in a period of one year. It is
interesting to note that most uranium mines are small
business affairs. There are few large mines and most
of the mines are run by only a few men, since uranium
ere bodies on the Colorado Plateau (the second larg
est producer of uranium in the world) are usually
small ones.
It is estimated that most of the uranium mines
on the Plateau are worked by fewer than ten men,
using hammers and wheelbarrows and trucks to get
the ore to processing plants. Many private prospectors,
using newer and more efficient ore-detecting equip
ment, are joining in the hunt for uranium. The pros
pector of the West has come alive once again and the
guaranteed market price for uranium, and bonuses
provided by the Atomic Energy Commission, insure
a financial reward for prospectors who succeed in
the search for ore.
BULL’S EYE
Announcement of America’s first full-scale atomic
project had at least a semblance of the impact of the
bomb dropped on Hiroshima eight years ago. Thomas
E. Murray, a member of the Atomic Energy Commis
sion, let go with the news that the government will
spend “many tens of millions of dollars” on an indus
trial power reactor that will supply enough electricity
for a city of 75,000 people. And he did so in a speech
prepared for “the electric companies’ public informa
tion program,” which is sponsored by the private power
interests who have been struggling so long to get the
government out of the power business!
Mr. Murray says it’s all for Russia’s benefit: “This
is America’s answer,” he declared, “its significant
peacetime answer to recent Soviet atomic weapons
tests. It should show the world that, even in this
gravest phase of arming for defense, America’s eyes
are still on the peaceful future.”
But electric power people were inclined to re
gard it as bureaucracy’s answer to private enterprise.
They seemed stunned that the AEC would so com
pletely ignore the study that industry members and
groups have been giving to atomic power develop
ments, and the present competence of the industry to
build such plants—on a more modest scale.
Atom bombs are nobody’s business but Uncle’s.
Atom power is something else again. The new venture
is redolent of the Roosevelt-Truman days of “tax and
tax, spend and spend, elect and elect.” Some day the
new plant may be known as “Ike’s TVA.” x
When the white man discovered this country, the
Indians were running it. There were no taxes, no debts,
and the women did all the work. Whatever made the
white man think he could improve on a system like
that?
Help Fight TB
Buy Christmas Seals
Christmas, 1953
Dear Friends:
703 NEW CASES OF ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS
were reported to,the U.S. Public Health Service from
Alaska in 1952.
The new-case rate in Alaska per 100,000 population
is the appalling figure of 546.5. Compare this rate with
an average of 54.6 for the United States as a whole.
TEN TIMES MORE NEW CASES in Alaska than
anywhere else in the United States!
Christmas Seal time is here again. We appeal to
you to show your understanding of Alaska’s most ser
ious health problem by giving generously to Alaska’s
20th Christmas Seal Sale.
Our annual Christmas Seal Sale is our only appeal
to the public for funds. However, contributions are
welcome any time of the year.
A penny a seal, a dollar a sheet! How many sheets
of seals will you use this year? Please make your
checks payable to your local Seal Chairman or to the
Alaska Tuberculosis Association, 119 Seward Street,
Juneau, Alaska.
With many thanks for your generous support,
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Lester O. Gore,
_ Alaska Seal Sale Chairman
Eisenhowers Visit Prime
Minister St. Laurent
OTTAWA, Ont., — Under a
leaden sky, President Eisenhower
arrived in the Canadian capital
Friday for a two - day visit. He
will address the Canadian parlia
ment Saturday.
Mechanical troubles delayed
the special presidential train en
route from Washington, and it ar
rived 15 minutes late. The Presi
dent and Mrs. Eisenhower stepped
onto a red carpet at Union sta
tion to receive the greetings' of
Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
—Whose visit to Washington last
May is being officially repaid.
Gov. Gen. Vincent Massey, bro
ther of the actor Raymond Massey
and Canada’s first native - bom
governor general, also was on >
hand, along with members of the
Canadian cabinet.
Thousands cheered the Eisen
hower’s as they entered Massey’s
automobile to ride to his official
0
residence for lunch.
Early Day Alaskan Asks
North Star Flag For Casket
JUNEAU, UP)—An Alaskan flag
will cover the casket of one of the
territory’s early day Signal Corps
men for his burial in Ohio.
It was the final request of
George Miller before his death at
Cleveland. He had served 13 years
in Alaska. Gov. Heintzleman ar
ranged to have one of the North
Star - blue dipper flags flown to
'the Ohio city.
THE NOME LIQUOR STORE
WE CARRY A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF
FINE LIQUORS, BEER AND WINE
OUT-OF-TOWN ORDERS CAREFULLY HANDLED
FOR DEPENDABLE FUEL SERVICE
CALL
CITY FUEL AND TRANSFER
PHONE MAIN 152
RELIANCE BURNERS PARTS AND SERVICE
BERING SEA CLUB I
RESTAURANT
SUNDAY SPECIAL NOVEMBER 15th
$3.00 Seafood Dinner $3-00
FRESH CRAB COCKTAIL
OLIVES PICKLES CARROT CURLS
CAPTAIN’S PLATE
(CONSISTING OF FRESH OYSTERS, SCALLOPS,
PRAWNS, FILLET OF SOLE AND
ALASKA SILVER SALMON)
TARTAR SAUCE
FRENCH FRIED POTATOES
TOSSED VEGETABLE SALAD
WHITE WINE DESSERT COFFEE
Report, Recommendations
By Engineering Firm On
City Power Plant Purchase
(Continued from Page One)
ation of the system as a municipal
utility will involve any substantial
operating -change. The city will
not be subject to taxes, other than
ordinary social security. The city
may be able to combine the man
agement of the electric system
with other municipal functions,
and thus effect a saving in salary
expense. However, as we have no
concrete proposal for future man
agement plans to appraise, we
have not assumed a saving in this
category. We understand that the
entire Company personnel, except
for the Company’s president and
manager, have signified their de
sire to continue with the city.
“We recommend -that the engi
eering studies for new power sup
ply be extended to cover the pos
sible use of waste heat in connec
tion with central water service
and central heating in the main
business district.
“We further recommend that the
original financial arrangements in
clude provision for issuing up to
$100,000 of additional parity bonds
as -soon as the necessity for adding
to power supply has been deter
mined.”
Maj. England Named To
Represent Engineer Corps
On Oil Pipieline Project
ANCHORAGE, UH— Maj. John
E. England has been appointed to
represent the Corps of Engineers
in construction of the Haines to
Fairbanks multi - million - dollar
pipeline, the Alaska district en
gineer has announced.
Maj. England will supervise the
building of the 621-mile pipeline
which will carry liquid fuels from
Haines to military bases in the
interior. He and his Engineer
Corps staff will maintain a head
quarters at Haines.
Maj. England has been with the
Alaska District Corps of Engi- .
neers since April, 1948.