The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-08-17
6 ROSS VISITS ] PIONEERS NOW ! ! AT SITkA HOME
Has Praise for Superintend-
 ent-Touches Up that Christmas Fund

Mi totlti00 | diAO
 w. D. Gross, pioneer theatrical man of this section of Alaska and originator of the Christmas Cheer Fund for the Pioneers at the Sitka Home, has just returned Ito Juneau and has sent the following commun- ication to The Empire.
 T have just returned from trip to Sitka and while I was there went through the new Pioneers Home with Superintendent Hansen.
 'The Home Is credit to Alaska and to men who worked to have it constructed. It is a fitting monu- ment to the Pioneer who took this country from a vast wilderness and built it into country of pretty, thriving towns and cities, with beau- : tiful homes and buildings.
 T Pioneers Happy
 .t The men that are now in the { home are very happy and proud to be part of the home and to spend the dimming years of their life dreaming and talking with their friends and buddies of the days when they prospected and surveyed, and brought civilization into this great country.
 : T talked to several of the boys { who were in the first home, and then were moved into the new home. They say that they have everything their hearts desire in the way of care and treatment, and they are well satisfied.
 Boys" Fond of Hansen T will also, at this time, give credit to the men who picked the Superintendent for the Home. He gives the boys every accommodation and help that he can. The boys all speak well of him and his family. Mir. Hansen watched for my arrival { in Sitka as he knew I was coming, and when got there he took me through the home and showed me everything. MT. Hansen was full of smiles and very proud to point out i, all the quarters, dining rooms, and recreation rooms, everything was kept up, being spotlessly clean and comfortable.
 | "Mr. Hansen introduced me to !, all of the boys, and told of the | towns from which they came. Kitchen Okey
 "Thc Kitchen in the home is up to date as any in the country, in 2 c.uding the big hotels in the States, and the restaurants. Everything is of the best. the dining tables and chairs are all of composition, sani- tary material that is kept clean, the floors are always shining. Every thing is of the best that the Terri tory could have purchased. The majority of the boys who can get around are so proud of their quar- ters that trey don't allow anybody but themselves to keep them up They make their own beds and clean their own quarters. The men are well taken care of by doctos, nurs- es, walters, and cooks. Everything to make the boys comfortable.
 16O At Home
 MT. Hansen informed me that at present there are 160 Pioneers assigned to the home, but he states Accommodations are being made to raise the quota to 200 or 225.
 Several groups of the old boys seemed to be worried about two things; the first vas that I live long enough to carry on the annual ! Christmas drive for spending mon- ey for them. assured them that even if something happened to me that my son, who is now young man, would carry on after me. Also that had circuit of theatres in Southeast Alaska, and that each of the managers in those towns could be depended upon to raise the fund in their own communities.
 tA Christmas Fund
 T then talked to MT. Hansen regarding this spending fund, and he stated it was the best thing that ever happened to the boys. They try and keep the money for the whole year, buying medicine that wsley think will help them that they
 -'t get in the home, an apple,
 range, postage stamps and post # cards. So after going through the
 sme with Mr. Hansen was more M ssfied than ever that the boys
 wged that spending money each KF< tsss
 wrzn we first started this drive,
 did all right. We got from 5000 W ta.59a each Christmas until the
 pression came along and then it