A Plan For The Partition Of Alaska
Nome Alaska
October 20, 1953
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Alaska
The subject of statehood for Alaska is one of paramount interest
to the people of Alaska and, without doubt, the most controversial
and important subject before us.
It is not merely a sentimental matter as appears from some of
the arguments presented but a very practical one which will affect
the future economy of the territory and the best interests of its
citizeps. It is not reasonable to suppose that the interests of one
section will coincide with those of another in a territory so large
and where the distribution of population is .centered within a
limited area.
A large portion of the territory is ready for statehood NOW but
it is very questionable whether the minority interests would gain
unless some plan of partition is adopted. It would seem that those
favoring statehood would welcome a plan whereby they could be
relieved of the administration of vast areas having neither developed
economy or population to produce a proportionate share of taxes.
For the purpose of creating general discussion we submit a plan
for the partition of Alaska; the creation of a state and a district.
We thank you for the use of your columns and sincerely hope
that your readers will be sufficiently interested to present their
views on the subject whether in favor or in opposition.
Respectfully submitted.
Sincerely,
G. R. Jackson.
Ralph Lomen.
A SUGGESTION FOR THE REORGANIZATION
OF ALASKA
IN ANTICIPATION OF STATEHOOD
All Alaskans would like state- *
hood but we are convinced at the
present time that we are not
ready for it in the northern and
western part of Alaska. It seems
to us that a country one-fifth the
size of the whole United States
with a population of something
over one hundred thousand peo
ple, of which a great many are
Indians and Eskimos, can hardly
support itself as a state under
present conditions. They tell of
other states in the Union that be
came states with even less popu
lation than we have at present,
but those sections of the country
did not include a vast territory
like Alaska; also living costs etc.
were on a far less expensive scale
than now exist in Alaska.
For a long time we have felt
that the people in the thickly
populated portion of Alaska, who
appear to want statehood, should
have it, but, that other portions
where the population is small,
should not be included. In other
words, that Alaska should be div
ided, or partitioned, making a
state of the eastern and southern
portion and the western and
northern portion be made a dis
trict. As a dividing line the follow
ing has been suggested: Include
Kodiak in the state and then run
vp the 153rd Meridian to the Yu
kon River; up the Yukon to the
Porcupine River; up the Porcu
pine River to the dividing line
between Alaska and Canada, and
up that line to the Arctic Ocean.
Everything south and east of these
lines to become the state, and
everything west and north of
the lines to become a district.
The state to select its city to
become its capital and the City
of Nome, as the largest city in
that portion off Alaska, to become
the capital of the district. The
district of Alaska would be gov
erned by a governor and a secre
tary appointed by the President,
and would have a federal judge,
U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal,
wi >.h U.S. commissioners to en
force the laws, and the Depart
ment of Interior would have
dirge of the natives in the dis
trict, which would include Aleuts
Dorn the Aleutian Islands, Indians
from central Alaska and the Eski
mos from western and northern
Alaska. When the law is passed
it should be drawn to allow for
the District of Alaska to become
a part of the State of Alaska,
when and if the district developed
to such an extent that it would
be an asset to the state instead of
a liability as at present.
Some of the southeastern gen
tlemen have suggested that Bris
tol Bay should be included in the
state of give the state the fisheries
in those waters; if so, the south
ernmost line of the Fourth Divi
sion could be used as the dividing
line, starting at Cape Newenham
and following the Third and
Fourth Division boundary line in
an easterly direction to the 153rd
Meridian and then on as before
outlined. This would put the bur
den of the care1 of the natives of
the Alaska Peninsula and the Al
eutian Islands on the state.
With the development of the
pulp industry and the potential
aluminum and iron deposits, to
gether with hydro-electric power
in southeastern Alaska and the
rapid growth of the population
and economy along the Alaska
Railroad in central Alaska, the
granting of statehood by Congress
appears favorable.
The referendum by which the
people of Alaska declared them
selves as for and against state
hood was the expression of a
smaller portion than the present
population and has since ceased
to be a true criterion. However,
it was most apparent that the re
mote and sparsely settled popula
tion of the territory were in oppo
sition. There is little doubt that
a referendum' at this time would
reveal a greater proportion of the
population favoring statehood but
with the same demarcation be
tween the urban and suburban
segments.
The vastness of Alaska and the
distribution of population is such
that the people of one section may
have interests quite opposite to
those of another. Therefore, in
view of the great changes which
have taken place ^ace the origin
al referendum, ana in fairness to
all who are concerned, it seems
highly desirable and practical to
consider the question of PARTI
TION.
For the immediate purpose of
this discussion it is proposed to
divide the territory into two sec
tions on a basis off population and
natural economy. To carve a state
from a land mass of one-half a
million square miles and be fair<
to all people of the territory is
not an easy matter nor can it be
done arbitrarily. A state, to sup
port itself, must have assets and
population. Three suggestions, al
though there could be more, ap
pear to have particular merit.
These three are as follows:
A. That portion east of the 153rd Meridian and south of
the Yukon and Porcupine Rivers, including Kodiak Island,
to constitute the future stale.
B. All of the present First and Third Judicial Divisions and
all of the Fourth Judicial Division east and south of the
153rd Meridian, Yukon River and Porcupine River, to
constitute the future state.
C. All of "B" excepting the Aleutian Islands and the islands
of Bering Sea to constitute the future state.
All of the Territory not embraced by the State shall become
a District or Limited Territory.
See map showing the three above boundaries
USEFUL STATISTICS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE
PARTITION OF ALASKA STATE AND DISTRICT
The Seventeenth Census of the United States credits Alaska
with a total population of 128,643 and a land mass of 571,065 square
miles. Density of population is 2.5 persons per 100 square miles.
The following table compiled from the 1950 census reveals some
interesting and pertinent facts as a basis lot consideration in any
plan of Partition:
POPULATION OF ALASKA BY JUDICIAL DIVISIONS
NUMBER, PERCENTAGES OF INCREASE AND DENSITY
Judicial Division 1950 1939 Land Area in Sq. Mi.
First 28,203 25,251 34,391
Second 12,272 11,877 147,135
Third 59,518 19,312 152,031
Fourth 28,650 16,094 247,508
Total 128,643 72,524 571,065
Density per 100 sq. mi. Division Percentage Increase
1950 1939 1939 to 1950
82. 73.4 First 11.7
8.4 8.1 Second 3.3
41.9 13.6 Third 208.2
11.6 6.5 Fourth > f 78.
(Source: 1950 United States Census of population, U.S. Depart
ment of Commerce, Bureau of Census. Alaska, 1950 Papulation
Report P-A 51)
Accepting the above figures and Partition of Alaska to be under
Plan “B”, specified above, the following tables will sustain argument
in favor of Partition though there may still be a question as to
which of the three proposals would be mast acceptable to the major
ity. Later figures, when available, will tend to emphasize the regions
showing growth in population and economy. The following figures
given for the Fourth Judicial Division will be somewhat arbitrary
but based upon reasonably accurate estimates.
PROPOSED STATE
Judicial Division Area in Sq. Mi. Population
First 34,391 28,203
Third 142,031 59,518
Fourth (one-third) 82,503 (two-thirds) 19,084
. Total 258,925 106,805’
PROPOSED DISTRICT
Second 147,135 12,272
Fourth (two-thirds) 165,005 (one-third) 9,542
Totals 312,140 21,814’
(Texas has an area of 265,876 square miles)
DENSITY OF POPULATION
District — 14.3 Square miles per person
State — 2.4 Square miles per person
RACIAL COMPOSITION OF ALASKA POPULATION, 1950
(Estimates based upon information from Alaska Native Service)
Whites 93,000
Natives 35,000
Others 1,000
, 129,000 •
For analysis of the Native population the only figures available
are estimates made after the 1939 Census, which, for purposes of
this discussion can be accepted as reasonably accurate. They were:
Eskimo 15,600
Indians 11,300
Aleuts 5,600
32,500
Under any of the foregoing plans the Eskimo population and a
small portion of the Indians would reside in the District and the
majority of the Indians in the States. Under Plan “A” or “C” the
Aleuts would reside in the District along with the Eskimo and a
small portion of the Indians.
Of the twelve largest centers of population; having a total of
96,833, Nome is credited with 5,592 and is the only one to be em
(Continued on Page Five)
SCHOOL NEWS
FOURTH GRADE
>. This measle and chicken pox
epidemic has hit our fourth grade
pretty hard. We have had as
many as nine absences a day. We
are all hoping that no similar
epidemic will retard our progress
in the future.
During out study of the sea
sons of the year, the youngsters
were required to write a para
graph on the season they liked
the best. It was interesting to note
that the majority wrote that they
preferred winter.
Ernest Ailak and Mark Fritz,
thus far, are honor spellers and
Charles Burnett is our best mathe
matician.
HIGH SCHOOL
Mrs. Cameron and Mr. Heath
tested the new popcorn machine
on Monday afternoon and each
student was given a bag of deli
cious popcorn. The machine was
bought with the money saved
from the high school plays in the
iast few years.
Report cards were distributed
on Wednesday afternoon, and
most of the students received very
good marks. The first issue of the
North Star will be passed out this
afternoon.
Mrs. Cameron, who is in charge
of the Independence Hall Fund,
reports that the little bank for
contributions has been filled onfce
and is close on its way to another
filling.
The English students are work
ing hard on their themes entitled,
“What America Means To Me.”
The students who made this
year’s Honor Roll are: Lucie Fag
erstrom, Chuck Fagerstrom, Mary
Jeanne Boucher, Paul Glavino
vich, Carolyn Glavinovich, Sigrid
Olsen, LeRoy Reader, Bruce Rus
sell, Helen Sahlin, Robert Sum
mers and Nancy Tripp.
Also this year we had many
who had perfect attendance dur
ing the first six weeks. They are:
Anna Ailak, Mary Jeanne Bou
cher, Chuck Fagerstrom, Lucie
Fagerstrom, Geri Fagerstrom,
Carolyn Glavinovich, Patty Her
man, Donna Lyle, Arlene Muller,
Lawrence Oscarson, LeRoy Read
er, Pearl Rotman, Bruce Russell,
Helen Sahlin, Stanley Senunge
tuk, Penny Smith, and Robert
Summers.
Army Relinquishes Firing
Range on Susitna Flats
For One on Tumagain Arm
ANCHORAGE, <£> — Maj. Gen.
William M. Miley, commander of
the U. S. Army in Alaska, said
Thursday the Army is relinquish
ing its firing range in the Susitna
Flats area, west of Anchorage, in
favor of one in the Tumagain
Arm region.
The general said the action
came as a result of recommenda
tions by Alaskans during hear
ings a year ago. The transfer has
been approved by Interior Secre
tary McKay and the land acquisi
tion authorized, Gen. Miley said.
The firing point and gun em
placements of the new range are
to be located on a site consisting
principally of bottom land about
10 miles south of Anchorage. The
area includes approximately 518
acres of public land and 823 acres
acres of private land. The private
property will be leased or pur
chased from the owners as funds
are made ^available.