The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-05-08
.5ITkA BOOMING,
 IS REPORT OF !.
 CUSTOMS A55T.
Whittier Is Amazed a Growth of CifY--Mdny
 New Homes BuiIf

"& AN
 Assistant Collector of Customs M
 s. Whittier, who returned few days ago from an official visit to Sitka, was loud in praise today of the fine growth in the former Cap ital City during the past two years when he last visited Sitka.
 What pleased me most" said MT Whittier, was the number of new homes erected, and in the process of erection. In one section of the city particularly, counted twelve new homes part of which. have been completed during the last few months, or are now in the course of erection. Most of these, was in formed, were to be occupied by ves1 sel owners who have recently moved to Sitka with their families to make tneir homes. Along the road iead- ing to the Sitka National Park I also saw several more elaborate homes, costing from $5,o0O to $10.- 900, which have been recently con- strlcted. Homes, in my opinion. speak for permanency of population. Vi also saw a large increase in Sitka's fishing fleet. The Cold Stor- age plant was very busy handling newly caught fialibut, as well as King salmon from the fleet of trollers which were just starting to bring in this particular fish. s'nst'ss s1'Aa New federal Building sl
 q This was. my first visit to the new Federal building and consider it the finest looking, and most con venfently arranged Federal building of its Size in Alaska. The postoffice, Custom House, U s. Marsiiaiss office and jail, as we'll as other Federal and territorial agencies, are housed in the building. The management of the building is under the Custodiaff- ship of Mrs. Lydia A. T'ilson, the present Acting Postmaster, and she and her assistants deserve great credit for the fine condition in which the building is maintained
 's-''The beautiful Pioneers Home, under the management of Filler Ham sen, is filled to capacity. Every de- partment of the building. as well as the faces of the pioneers reflects comfort and contentment. F" f'* Air Base Ahead "t.N'
 "The one big thing on the minds of all residents of Sitka just now Is the forthcoming two million dollar Navy air base development on Ja- ponski Island, just across the chan nel from Sitka Much work has already been done on this base since my last visit to Sitka, but according to Capt. J. Cronin. commanding officer now in charge, all but two of the present buildings will be re- placed fin an enlarged way, under the new Navy plans Tn a limited way, the base is now equipped with storage space for planes: electric light and power plant: machine shop; weather bureau. develophent rooms for air pictures directional air beam station; radio station quarters for officers af1d men; hos pital and clinic; mess hall: annuse- ment and moving picture rooms large storage warehouses. etc. 'isists While no mines are in actual pro- ductio1 in the vicinity of Sitka, much development work is being done on properties which already have proven values. The formation of the Sitka mining district is very similar to that. of the Chichagof dis trict, I was told. More attention is being given to mining in the Sitka district than for several years. of'sFa ss'f'sss Small Boat farbor Aa-
 Sitka is to have small boat har- Dor similar to that now being built in Juneau. Government engineers have already made preliminary in- vestigations. and definite coflstrilc- c- ton will probably be started this year, according to Whittier. sfss
 With the already increased pop ulatioff in sSftka, the city iss badly in heed Of apartments and hotel spaceH@ Already private capital is planning for these facilities, as well as sup-to-date and fire-proof store space, I was informed" 1 ~ aJe0
 Whittier gave out the warming however, that Sitka is already ex- periencing an influx of unemployed and no one should go there looking for work unless he is able to take care Of himself for Asreasorable tiff1e. The Navy department will not employ workmen on it's new con- struction. Whittier was informed by Capt. SOoiiin, as all ,eda1struction will be let to private contractors. Y s