The Daily Alaska empire., 1943-03-13
HAGERTY DENIES
 CRITICISM OF
 FOOD PROGRAM
Field Representative Says Seattle Stories of Emer-
 geney Supplies False


 Grossly inaccurate" was the de- scription given by Donald w. flag erty to articles appearing in Seattle newspapers of March 6, in which it was claimed food reserves far ir excess of requirements have beer sent to Nome by the Federal govern ment and that much of this food had spoiled through lack of proper care.
 AS Field Representative for the Department of the Interior, Hagerty is now in charge of the Civilian Food Reserve program for the Ter ritory. Although he did not occupy that position when the shipment to Nome was made, he has official knowledge of what was sent and what happened to the foodstuffs after arrival in Nome. Hagerty is now in Juneau on his way to h. terior and Northwestern Alaska. His statement as to the inaccuracy of the Seattle accounts, supposedly based on conversations with Alaska and Seattle business men, was SUD- ported by residents of Nome who are in Juneau at this time.
 Placing of food reserves in Nome and other points to tide the popu- lation over should there be an in- terruption of shipping was an act of prudence which reflects credit on the Federal government" said O D. Cochran, President of the Terri torial Senate now in session and senior Senator from the Second Di- vision. ITO my knowledge no food was left on the beach to spoil. II was properly warehoused. We are fortunate that Alaska shipping has gone forward in normal fashion but certainly it was the part of wisdom to prepare for any contin- gency."
 Similar sentiments were express ed by Senator Stuart L. Stangroom also of Nome. Because I am in the food business myself. Naturally had keen interest in the Civil ian Food program at Nome Sen ator Stangroom said, and there is no doubt in my mind at all that 1t was handled as well as could be expected We are glad to have the food there. am sure it will serve a very useful purpose
 Stored Butter Exaggerated
 Tn one of the Seattle articles the assertion was made that 350 tons of butter were put ashore at Nome" declared Hagerty. The ac- tual amount was less than half that figure. Also, it must be re- membered that much of the butter unloaded there, together with other items, was originally destined foi other points on Seward Peninsula but could not be unloaded because of seasonal storms. Thus it became necessary to store much food al Nome which otherwise would have gone to smaller communities.
 "The coffee shipment was just about one-third as large as the fig ure quoted in the article.
 The article went on to say that 5,l60 gallons of vinegar were shipped" continued Hagerty. "T'he truth is that not a gallon was un- loaded at Nome.
 Canned milk certainly would bt considered by nearly everyone as ar essential in an emergency stock pile; I don't believe too much coulc have been sent to the Boring Seq area. Even so, the newspaper ac. count added almost a hundred tom to the true figure for this commod. ity."
 No Canned Pears
 According to the article there will be plenty of canned pears iron the Nome reserve" said Hagerty seventy tons to be exact. Those who start looking for pears for des. sert are going to be rather unhappy however; we haven't a single cast at Nome"
 No Salmon to Nulato
 A business man was quoted by { Seattle paper as saying: Do vol also know that the government sen1 l50 cases of canned salmon to Nu. lato on@the Yukon River, and i there is one thing Nulato has go and needs not one bit of, it's sal mon. Catching of salmon is Nulato' sole industry" This would be yer, interesting if true" Hagerty said But it simply isn't true. We sen ---- -----