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THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the
NOME PUBLISHING 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
Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the
post office at Nome, Alaska, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscribers not receiving their paper by 5:30 p.m. call
Main 125 for special delivery. After 5:30 call Black 102.
United for Statehood
Without Partition
All over the territory plans are being made to
give Secretary Seaton and his party a hearty welcome
by citizens who, by birth or choice, call Alaska home
and want to participate in all the privileges of their
brother Americans whose residence is in the 48 States.
These are Alaskans who hope to achieve a long
sought goal, full citizenship, in a land that has been
American for 90 years and a territory for 45 years.
Nome has citizens who can remember when Alaska
became a territory with the promise of statehood. The
delay, year after year, the treatment of the territory
as a poor relation, makes our neighbors, a few miles
to the east wonder at our kind of democracy which we
treasure.
Lack of industrial activity could change overnight
if the Government would recognize the need of state
hood, release some of its vast oil reserves and forests
to private enterprise.
Alaskans in this part of the territory aren’t asking
for large sums of money for paved roads, but for access
roads to mineralized areas so that it can develop in a
healthy and economically sound manner.
Although the economy of the different parts of
Alaska may be very different—fish, farming, fur, min
ing, and other fields—two things stand out on which
all Divisions are unanimous, namely, favoring state
hood and opposing partition.
Alaska is fortunate that Secretary Seaton is very
much interested in Alaska and that many of his assis
tants have lived in the territory. If statehood is
achieved, Seaton will go down in history alongside of
former Secretary of State William Henry Seward, who
purchased Alaska for the United States.
Parents’ Time Well Spent
At Meetings of the PTA
The PTA is launching another membership drive.
This isn’t meant for those civic minded people who
are always willing to find that extra hour for the
good of their children, good of the community and
growth of the territory. They will come to PTA meet
ings without being urged.
This means that every single mother and father
in the community with children of school age should
resolve to give one evening a month to attend the
PTA meeting and see what is being planned and WHAT
THEY GAN DO to assist in the program for the im
provement of relationships between teacher and parent
as well as take part in the youth problems confronting
the community. Even if parents only come to listen,
they will learn a lot about their children and their
neighbors’ children.
We strongly urge you to make tomorrow’s meeting
the biggest one, in attendance, ever held.
Guaranteed Lang and Olympic
Ranges
Fuel Service „ *
Heaters
LP Gas STOVE PARTS
and Appliances AND REPAIRS
Main 152 Quaker oil
GREEN’S
CITY FUEL & TRANSFER
Chamber Prepares
Report for Seaton
(Continued from Page One)
Eskimo people.”
MINING—
“Attention is also directed to
this subject as contained in the
enclosed Report. We believe that
the exploration and development
program suggested should include
other strategic minerals aside
from tin and that surveys under
taken by the Bureau of Mines
should be continued.
The suggestion as to the hydro
electric potential of the Seward
Peninsula should, be modified.
‘‘We especially endorse the Bill
introduced in the present Con
gress by. Delegate E. L. Bartlett
for the encouragement of the de
velopment and production of tin,
which is similar to a bill intro
duced in the 84th Congress which
failed of passage, which we be
lieve was due to a misunderstand
ing of certain agencies as to the
nature and purpose of the bill.
According to the report pub
lished by the Territorial Depart
ment of Mines, the Second Divi
sion is second only to the Fourth
Division in gold production. The
Third Division is listed first in
minreal production, but this ap
pears to be for the unaccountable
reason that gravel is listed as a
mineral within the purview of
such report, despite the fact that
District Judge George W. Folta
held that deposits of gravel were
not subject to mineral entry. In
deed, the potential of gold pro
duction in this area is enormous.
However, we are informed that
up until five years ago there were
at least 55 placer gold operations
on the Seward Peninsula, includ
ing large dredges, but that now
such operations do not exceed 10.
Although the high cost of labor
and materials and the stabiliza
tion of the price of gold are large
ly responsible for this decline,
roads to reach areas not now ac
cessible would be distinctly help
ful in vastly reducing production
costs. For example, we are in
formed that all material taken
into and all gold concentrates
taken out of the Kougarok dis
trict must be transported by air.”
LIVING COSTS—
“We reiterate the suggestion
made in the Report that a cost of
living allowance exemption of 25!
percent on Federal income; tax
should be allowed to all taxpay
ers in Alaska, if such may be ac
complished by legislation. This ]
situation is especially applicable j
to the Second Division, where the;
cost of living is understood to be '
in excess of 50 percent of such
cost at Seattle, Washington.”
FISH & WILDLIFE—
“We again urge that there be
established at Nome an office of
the Fish and Wildlife Service to
provide for the enforcement of
the laws and regulations relating
to the taking of fish and game
animals.”
ECONOMY OF THE
ESKIMO PEOPLE—
"A survey was made as to hous- j
ing and sanitary conditions by the
Alaska Housing Administration
and the Alaska Department of
Health in cooperation with the
Alaska Native Service and the
U.S. Public Health Service, with
the view of lending assistance to
provide for better housing in the
Eskimo villages, and instruction
in sanitation and possible finan
cial assistance to improve sewage
and water facilities. It is reported
that two villages have improved
sanitary conditions but such lacks
supervision and financing; and no j
housing facilities have as yet been
providede. We urge the continu
ance of this program.
“We protest generally the pa- i
temalism extended by agencies
of the Federal and Territorial
Governments to these people, oth
er than in aids to self-improve
ment, especially in the matter of
welfare and other aids which
tend to make them more and
more dependent on Government
charity and less and less self-re
liant. Although full citizens of the
United States, they are in many
respects treated as wards of the
Government. We urge that en
couragement be given them in
stead to become more self-sup
porting with incentive to partici
pate in the industry and com
merce of the area.”
SCHOOLS—
“We urge the passage of legis
lation proposed by the President
in hjs annual message to Congress
providing for Federal aid in the
construction of public schools,
which should be extended to in
clude Alaska. There is but one
public high school in the 2nd Di
vision, although one is planned
for Kotzebue and there is a mis
sion school at Unalakleet.
“A situation Has arisen since
the Alaska Native Service adopt
ed the policy of discontinuing na
tive schools which creates an un
usual problem in this area by
reason of the influx of native
families with children into Nome
in particular. It is reported that
within the last five years 164 ad
ditional native children have been
enrolled in the Nome Public
School, which is more than the
entire school enrollment ten years
ago. Eighty percent of the present
school enrollment are Eskimos of
at least one-quarter blood and j
about half of these are full
blooded natives. This represents
an approximate 400 percent in
crease in the enrollment due to
discontinuance of the native
schools, whereas tax revenues to
the City of Nome have increased
less than 10 percent. The Terri
tory pays a nominal amount of $9
per month for non-resident chil
dren regardless of race, but the
Alaska Native Service pays noth- j
ing towards such expense. This
constitutes a greater burden on
both the Territory and local tax
payers, which situation is rapidly
increasing.
“It is therefore urged that pro- j
vision be made by the Depart-1
ment of the Interior through the j
Alaska Native Service for contri
bution to the communities affect
ed thereby on a per capita basis
of such amount as may be found
reasonable for the education of
the native children formerly tak
en care of in the native schools.”
PUBLIC WORKS—
“We commend the continuance
of the program of the Alaska Pub
lic Works and urge the adoption
of the proposed budget for such
purpose. In this connection the
town of Nome has thus far fi
nanced but one project under this
program, being a new addition to
the Nome Grade School, but is
now applying for financing a
water and sewer project under
this highly important program,
which is a much needed facility*.”
-HOUSING—
“During the part year an effort
has been made by the City Coun
cil of Nome with assistance by
the Northwestern Alaska Cham
ber of Commerce, to provide for
housing loans throught the Alas
ka Housing Administration and to
comply with the regulations of
the Federal Housing Administra
tion in order to procure home
construction loans, including the
sewer and water project above
mentioned. However, these regu
lations are believed to be too
strict for the economy of this
area, especially due to permafrost
conditions, and it is urged that
such regulations be relaxed as far
as possible to meet such peculiar
conditions.”
The committee preparing the
report were Russell Hermann,
Carl Glavinovich, Judge Walter
Hodge, representing the Chamber
of Commerce; Boyd C. Harwood,
representing the Rotary Club, and
Mr. and Mrs. Pete Reader, repre
senting the Second Division Re
publican Club.
A luncheon is scheduled for
the public. Reservations on a
“first come, first seated” basis
at the Pioneer Igloo at 11:30 a.m.
are being made.
In the lodge room of the Igloo
a mineral display as well as an
ivory carving display and a fur
display will have been set up.
Judge Hodge states that a few
reservations are still available
and can be secured this evening
by calling Mary Diede.
PTA MEETING
TOMORROW, 8:00 P.M.
AT NOME SCHOOL
ARC 1 1 (7 <J 1L D EL 1 V E li \ 1
Vvny Worry ? — Call us and Relax !
Residence Office
Main 52 Black 76
WE CHECK YOUR TANK REGULARLY
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FINAL NOTICE TO VESSEL OWNERS
AND FISHERMEN
The Alaska Employment Security Law covers
(taxes) the earnings of fishermen, provided—such
earnings are subject to Federal Unemployment Tax.
Effective on January 1, 1956, the Federal Unemployment
Tax Act, and therefore, the Alaska Employment Security Act, i
cover the earnings of halibut, salmon, crab and shrimp fisher
men, provided the vessel owner or employer has in his employ
4 or more individuals performing services for some part of a day
in each of 20 weeks during the calendar year. In the case of
crab or shrimp fishermen an additional requirement for cover
age is that the vessel on which the services are performed be
of more than 10 net tons.
Fishing vessel owners who are subject to the Federal
Unemployment Tax for 1956 may take credit against such tax
for a portion of the amount of taxes paid to the Alaska Employ
ment Security Commission. Secure reporting forms—or addi- j
tional information by writing to the Commission at the address
shown below.
ALASKA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION
Box 2661 Juneau