The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
By KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH

Did you know that in far away Alaska there are three remarkable
 places where Uncle Sam tries to play the part of protector? He tries to
 guard them as best he can for they are so wonderful and full of interest that every one who has seen them feels they ought to be saved for pos terity. Vhese spots are the Old Ka- saan National monument, the Sitka National monument, and the Katmai National monument.
 What are these three wonders in Alaskan" you inquire, and an Alaskan will tell you the Old Kasaan Nation- al monument Is deserted totem pole village that cannot be duplicate the Sitka National monument Is plat Of ground near Sitka associated with Russian and Indian history; and the katmai National monument Is a re- markable region in the volcanic belt with stupendous scenic qualities. Totem Poles Going to Ruin. | It Is the Old Kasaan National mon- ument that is just now agitating Alaskans and Uncle Sams interior and forestry departments. for unless something is done to preserve it's re-
 markable treasures there are fears 1 that it's high, vari-colored poles some of the best to be found-will be destroyed by fire or the clements. Already one small fire has played havoc and some of the totems have l decayed and fallen to the ground The Old Kasaan National monu-
 ment is little off the beaten track
 of Alaskan travel. If you had landed ] there several years ago you would have drawn up your small boat-sent 1 from the large steamer-before many empty wooden huts which faced a 1 sandy beach. You would have found walking difficult because of the high
 weeds, you would stop before the i high weeds, you would stop before
 the high totem poles that stood in
 front of each hut as evidences of
 family pride or ancestor reverence.
 It would be the sight of these poles
 from the sea that would tempt you to land and investigate. Today, you would find some of the huts remain 1 ing but on entering you would dis
 cover that the relics in the way of painted and carved chests. spoons. masks and other Indian curios have
 been removed and that there are many totem poles tottering or on the
 the poles, too, is becoming dim and
 the carvings are broken in places. | Yet this is national monument, a place that cannot be duplicated and 1 that has been set aside to be under
 the care of the United States govern ment. san
 1 Some monuments require little care beyond putting up signs and writing
 notices but many, like Old Kasaan. need custodian to protect them. | They also need publicity of some kind
 to set forth facts regarding, their na- ture, history and treasures. Kasaan has been under the care of the for
 estry department which has done the best it could do protect it. but spe- l cial forester cannot be appointed to guard 1t and this department is ad- lvocating the removal of these unique
 treasures to Sitka where there Is a
 national monument supervised by a
 man who is intelligent and in sym- pathy with the objects of the reser- vation.
 Plan to Move Village.
 The forestry service has arrived at plan is that recommended by the for
 ester in charge of that section. This 1 is to carefully talk e down such of the ; huts as are intact and remove them, piece by piece, taking care to notice exactly how they. are put together and in the same way to remove the totem poles. If they can be trans ferred to the Sitka National monu-
 ments both monuments can be pro- tected at the same time. The plan may be as good as any proposed for Sitka is visited annually by many pers sons. ,hut.it must be confessed
 that relics are always more interest