The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1939-12-08
GOVERNOR SEES
BRIGHT FUTURE
FOR TERRITORY


urally includes Wrangell, to keep in
step with the anticipated transpor-
tation development in the Territory,
DR.. Ernest Gruening, new Governor
of Alaska, said during an interview
here this week while the Yukon
which was carrying him to his new
position in juneau. was in port.
The Governor explained that he
believed the entire territory was
destined to go forward in aviation
but that he referred to Southeast
Alaska because it Is far behind the
Interior and Westward regions in es-I
tablishing air fields
Governor Gruening and Mrs.
Gruening were welcomed here by al
large delegation Of local citizens,
the mems party headed by Mayor
Van H Fisk and Frank S. Barnes,
President of the Chamber of Conn
merce, and the women's group by
Mrs. NJ o. Johnson, President of the
Civic Club, and Mrs. Barnes While
Dr. Gruening was going over local
nal gathering in the Elks Club, Mrs
Gruening was the guest of the wom-
en- at the Civic Center A number of
women teachers from Wrangell IN
stitute were in for the occasion and
the women in their conference at
the Civic Center found Alaska's new
First Lady particularly interested in
health problems and what might be |
done in furthering this work.
In his informal talk with the men
the Governor expressed his faith in
the Territory and its advancement. |
He stressed the need for not only
constructing airports and charging
transportation facilities but saw the
necessity for completing such pro-
jeets as the small boat harbor here, I
providing accommodations for tour
lists and establishing new industries
to provide livelihood for the many
persons who are eventually coming I
to Alaska to make their homes.
On the local airport plan, Gov
ernor Gruening said he would take
ments on his arrival in Juneau with
the hope of borrowing an engineer
from one of the departments to pre-
pare a comprehensive engineering
plan Of the proposed field. He assert
ed he would do everything that his
office could in bringing about early
work on the small boat harbOr. /,
Speaking of Federal and Terri |
torial assistance the Chief Executive |
said that while it was necessary in
large degree at this time, he ia
vored the use of private capital as
much as possible in creating new in
dustry and that he looked forward /
to the day when Alaska would be
self-supporting through its own in
itiatiye and thus ready for state
hood.
at is my firm belief" he said,
that where private capital is avail
able it is far better in the develop |
ment of business and industry than
is government expenditure.
In this connection, Dr. Gruening
stressed the need not only here but
throughout the Territory of con-
structing facilities to accommodate
tourist travel to the north, which he
anticipates will be increased ap-I
preciably this summer as a result
OF the war in Europe He suggested
as a venture here for private capital
the building of lodge in some fav-I
ctr /
over tourists
1T need not be a luxuriant af-I
fair" he said. Rather, I believe
it would be preferable built of logs,
of the timber you have in this coun-I
try, just so long as it provides sleep
ing accommodations and a place to
eat. Your sportsmen are not COM
ing north to loll around a modern
tourist hotel such as they would find
on beaches in the States They want
to get out and fish and hunt, take
pictures and generally enjoy the out
cf-doors Alaska has what they want,
we need only furnish, as l suggest,
the not too elaborate accommoda-
TONS"
Expressing himself as pleased
with the prospects for Wrangell and
all of the Territory, the Governor,
in parting, assured local citizens,
I'll be back in the daylight hours
when l can really see what you've
got here"
DR.. Gruening was born in New
York city February 6, 1887 He was
graduated with a bachelor of arts
degree from Harvard in 1907, and
took his degree as a doctor of medi-
cine there in 1912. He and Mrs.
Gruening were married in 1914.
They have two sons, Huntington
Sanders and Peter Brown.
He started in newspaper work as
reporter for the Boston American in
1918. He was assistant editor of
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