The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-04-02
LETTERS
Continued from Page One)

what can be made one of the finest small boat harbors in Alaska. This idea is not a new one. have heard the question raised on several oe- casions, as to why this place should not make q fine harbor
 For the information of those persons who have been so interested in procuring an inner harbor, wish to state that the location I have in mind is in the very heart of the business section of the city, running parallel to front street from the Wrangell Machine Works to Johnson's Store.
 It seems there has been so much ACTION and so little thought on this new project that the location l have mentioned has been entirely overlooked.
 The taxpayers will eventually pay for any harbor improvements; not the fishermen. Therefore why do they not derive some benefit also. How?
 Those of us who have not been residents of this town too long, real ize that in the summertime, and for that matter at low tide at any time of the year, we have what can be properly classed as the most foul smelling town in the territory Why not eliminate the spot that is the cause of most of this offensive odor? Why not get rid of a few old rotten docks and shacks that are prevalent in this area.
 Why not do a little old fashioned thinking instead of new fashioned spending and let everyone in thls city feel that they have really gain ed something by providing the fish ermen the finest natural harbor in Alaska.
 One of the most admirable fea- lures in using this location for a harbor cannot be stressed too strongly. It will provide a permanent float in the business district at which boats may land at any time of the year.
 We have all had the opportunity of witnessing, nearly every year, what happens to the float located behind the Wrangell Hotel. Small boats coming in here in the winter time, carrying passengers, must either tie up at the dock and dis charge their fare via the ladder route, or take their passengers to the city float in the bay. This sit nation might be good business for the taxis. But l believe those win tertime visitors make mighty poor boosters of our city, upon their re turn to their home ports. This con- dition probably does not exist in any other town in Alaska. And the dredging of the proposed location is not exactly a remedy for the aitua- tion here.
 If the six thousand dollars will dredge that hole out in the sticks |, it should be enough to dredge the location have mentioned with enough left over to put a cement wall atop the natural breakwater which now parellels this harbor on the outer side.
 At least half of the dredging op- erations for the proposed harbor, will go for digging out channel which is necessary in order that the boats may reach the harbor proper at any stage of the tide. This bad feature would be eliminated in the downtown location. Dredging would begin in the harbor itself. Doing away with what would be purely a waste of money in the proposed To- cation.
 I do not believe there is any ques- tino as to the ample size of this new location for harbor, for many years to come. But if at some future date a problem should present itself we might be able to induce some O1 the boat owners to move out into our S4O,00O harbor in the bay.
 This article is not intended as criticism of the Chamber of Com merce nor of anyone connected witf the new harbor project. But it Il my earnest belief that only by dras tic methods are we able to presen the utter foolishness of goirt through with this project in it present form.
 Let's not have so much ACTlOH that it overrides our common sense
 Respectfully,
 OTTO ENGDAl