The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-10-16
TBIIR0UGlHs sTBlE SENT TN ELL
 TELESCOPE

Alaska uavel regulations which have caused no little complaint ap- parently are being eased. Alaska Secretary E. l.. Bartlett, who was designated by tht Alaska War Coun- eil to delve into the matter came up this ween with this sign of pro- gress in h4s efforts. Henceforth, travellers Tor Alaska can get in Seattle what are known as 60-day temporary permits to enter the Ter ritory. Instead Of having to cool their heels In Washington. Queen City for a couple of weeks while investigations are carried 0 IL through mlatary channels, traYtl- CTS can come to the Territory on the temporary permits, providing, of course, the Army sees it to pass them, and the probe made in the meantime. II the traveller passed military muster in the inyestiga- ton regular permit can be obtained. Action Is expected to relieve some Of the grieI bona fidt Alaskans have been having i'll proving that they are noe some sort of mdesir- able citizens.
 Meanwhile. shakeup Is reported in tht Seatu4e office oI Alaska Fra vel Control. Lieut. Col. PauI 5. Malone. Jr.. being moved iu as dir eetor, succeeding Lieut.. Col Irwin ClaWson, and Mrs. Floreuce oyYe- rud, formerly connected with Alaska National Youth Administra tion, will be receptionist.
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 Gold, which Is worth $35 an ounce as gold put is virtually val ueless as the basis for a war effort industry, is getting the gate for the duration. War Production Board has ordered 3U0 or 400 gold mines in the westtrn states ana Alaska, major producers, closed within the next 60 days Idea is to get the supply of miners at work on min ing which will produce strategic metals to help win tht war WIPE figures the action will throw about 4.O00 miners into war industry min ing It hits Alaska's No 7 industry hard and naturally causes heavy sacrifice, but it also may mean the actual development oI some strate- gic mineral areas in the Territory. More than d year ago, for example, government decided to develop a chrome deposit near Homer. Alas ka-Juneau mine in Juneau got its mill in shape to handle it but so far no chrome has been forthcoming One of the reasons has been lack of dition applies, as WIPE indicates, in similar areas. Wrangells Ground hog is another possibility. Engine CTS have bten surveying and looking it over Tor strategic metals all summer; have some rather happy reports Whether anything will be done about the Groundhog remains to be seen, but the idea is to tap strategic metals and push other mining essential to the war effort and let the gold lay in the ground for the time being. If WIPE order affects A. J., Fairbanks Exploration Company and Hammond Consolidat- ed at Nome, Alaska's big three, it is going to change the economic life of tht Territory no little, not over looking the wham at Alaska's treasury.
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 One of the difficulties in getting going on Southeast Alaska spruce for war planes is lack of men. Con tractors have been right up against it getting crews Effort is being made now to classify Alaska in critical war production area. Mill itary and manpower commissions were huddling on the question this week in San Francisco. Creating a critical war production area in war zone, which Alaska already is