The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-01-29


 portance demands Funds appropriated for it's
 support have been barely sufficient for it's main
 tenance It has remained almost stagnant at a
 time when there should have been rapid growth,
 in keeping with other Territorial institutions and
 the increase of the Territory in population and
 importance. Every year large quantities ot ma
 terial of historical, ethnologlcal and other sclen-
 tfc value are shipped out oi tne ierlleory to +h @
 large the institutions of the States. Some ol tnis
 material is simply priceless and can never pc dupll-
 cated If Alaska is to have museum of whlcn the
 Territory continue to be proud It IS imperative
 that much of this material be retained here: 10 do
 so requires more liberal appropriations than we
 have had in the recent past Thousands of dollars
 have been appropriated for temporary and transient
 obectives while the Library and Museum was was
 being cramped for funds and it's growth all but
 checked Pieces purchased for the Library and Mu-
 scum not only retain their value but become more
 valuable time goes by. The time to act IS now
 before many kinds of valuable material are too
 badly depleted 4:o
 to the Wckersham Library. This is one of the very
 best reference libraries dealing with the history
 of Alaska and of the times and nations concerned
 in it's discovery and development In this respect
 few if any libraries in the world surpass it in value
 It would be shame and crime to let this vau-
 able collection leave the Territory Ii It , coua De
 mend that library be acquired for the Territory
 should it be available at fair appraised value.
 "The Commission also considers It very deslr-
 able that several of the famous paintings of Alas
 kan scenes by the late Sydney Laurence be ac-.
 qred and nme o ber fast passing customs are
 of great historic value and should De acquired TOT
 saThe past several Legislatures have appropri-
 ated S2OO0O per bennium for the purchase of rare
 books with no funds whatsoever for purchase .f oi
 other books and specimens. This IS the cnie1
 reason for the lack of normal expansion. We
 recommend that the sum of S5OOooo at the very cry
 least be appropriated for the coming blennum TOT
 the purchase of books pictures and specimens and
 for the hire of extra temporary help especially
 during the tourist season. - T., That is the end of the quotation. would ike to adu nv belief that the Sydney Laurence was not merely ,reat painter but that his stature will increase as tme toes on and that his hundreds of pantngs-so many or he nioue scenic and cultural record of Alaska Man does not i've bv bread alone And while the recommendation of the Museum Commission if accepted by the legislature, would provide $5000 during the next two years instead o 2OO for the purchase of books specimens paintings would like to urge specifically that the legislature Tn the rst session after Mr. Laurence death authorize Tn what yer form seems desirable the acquisition by ana Tor he territory of fewer than six Sydney Laurence pant ngs six to represent what appear to me the SIX hemes which the late Sydney Laurence was so 1ond ana which he pictured so mmtaby: MonnI o Svnev laurence unique in that he was great banter o sea capes as well of landscapes) scene yplca ol lle Alaska frontier showing perhaps food cache trapper abn or a prospector in action; of his winter scenes which one can fairly feel temperature of 5O degrees below scene of native life such his famous The van shing Race ~ .e ,;,tu makes this start and provides an pcf @ rn without further expense One longtime resident of Alaska las assured that he would leave his notable @ eoec.o @ if Sydney Laurence paintings to the territory the terr orv nrovided suitable and safe place where the public oud see them and he added that he would do ths
  need not point that the cost of acquiring the SIX type pictures to which have referred is really negligible when me considers what is involved and that there mas been md ever will be only Sydney Laurence
 of Alaska 4 e ,u
 The University of Alaska has made request for new ,ildngs and equipment amounting $386 800 there IS me institution of which the territory may rghty pe pro' f is the University of Alaska. No other agency mas pioneered so usefuy in the very direction in which shold now be headedthe direction of furnishing ade luate educational opportunities for Alaska youth ana making the territory increasingly selfreant and sell lependent But for the University of Alaska many o ,r and girls would have been denied the opportuhe for higher education and for the technical training WHICH has supplied My contact with other colleges ana par culary with the other territorial unverslties-n nawan md Puerto Rico-has led to the conclusion that our entious institution the hill at College IS or tne S mos. practical usefulness completely negrated with Jne eeus d the Territory far funds to dase nave per ntted to serving Aaska's special needs moreover know of no one who has been able to make dollar go further than it's president, Dr. Charles E. Bunne ne re- nests now made by the president and trustees TOT new buildings and equipment in response to the demand M ana desire of Alaska young and women to attend our Uni orstv which cannot now accommodate all who want to go here unless these additional facilities are granted sn- .erey hope that the legislature VIII hoe hesi'" " pf )riate for this construction