Seward daily gateway., 1927-07-08
URGENT NEEDS OF NAVIGATION

URGENT NEEDS OF NAVIGATION BEFORE any permanent policy with respect to Coast Guard cutters and light house tenders is decided upon due consideration should be given to the question of the question of economy and navigation hazards in the var Ous districts of Alaska. desous of securing the material aid contributed by Coast Guard and other vessels stationed in Alaskan waters all claims should be based upon the exgencies of the situation In this respect Seward has the strongest claim for recognition because of it's centrally located posi-
 on district most in need of aid for shipping. There approximately 200 habut boats operating annually banks off the Central Western Alaskan coast, with
 greater number of like craft as well as large liners op eratng further westward These vessels constantly facing hazard because the aids to navigation supplied to the southeastern coast and which ample, such as light houses radio stations and other markings and
 as to safety have not been extended to the waters of the western district All calls for aid from Coast Guard vessels from these western waters. difference of two or three hundred miles, which cutter would be peed to travel if called upon for aid in these waters will defeat the very purpose for which these craft sup piled.
 Aside from large liners plying to Nome in summer all navigation to Alaska is through landlocked waters until the Gulf of Alaska is reached There no material number of small craft operating in the gulf The small fleets which compelled to operate in open waters to be found west of the gulf with the major portion work ing from Seward westward Thus any claim for cutters to be stationed what is practically the extreme east edge of the danger has merit to recommend It. On the contrary, Western Alaska is sorely in need OI JfS pTOecuOn II deVelOpment Of great and prolific section is to be considered Each year this need for aids to navigation becomes more urgent. This year ef forts being directed to the propagation of sheep and cat tie on the islands of the Aeutian chain Until this busi ness increases to point where large liners required all travel must be by small craft plying the most danger ous waters of the world, where lighthouses buoys etc., are few and where at any moment life and property may be jeopardized.
 Seward has fine harbor for large vessels once the shelter harbor constructed for the habut fleet there will be even larger fleets operating in Western Alaskan waters Seward has fuel station and every facility for serving the needs of large and small craft It is the dis trbumg point for large volume of business the West ward which is rapidly developing into rich district This development will increase aids to navigation increase Indications that the Kennect Copper Corporation will shortly begin exploration of big copper deposits on the Alaska Peninsula, which will to increase the lit tora of western waters including the plying of big liners To safeguard this shipping Coast Guard cutter should have its base at Seward the distributing point of the Sig nal Service and terminus of the cable system it should have light house tender and many material essentials to making navigation of these waters safe It's claims are based solely upon these facts and believe that when Washington considers them it will not be hard to arrive at decision.