The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1944-02-17

teachers The latter are very scarce in many com
munites outside today and schools are very crowded
result. 1t has of the most modern and finest
hotels the Pacific Coasta hotel which might have
been erected in another Alaskan city if the business
men in those cities had the civic spirit faith in their
cities futures and the quits" to invest in such a
venture 1t has many paved streets instead of slippery
plank streets on ping and dusty lanes. 1t has not
one industry, even though the Alaska Juneau mine is
the largest in normal times when it is allowed to run
its own business without government interference
but it has large cold storage plant, sawmill fine
lumber yard, two newspapers and radio station as
well as the Government workers. All of which is not
too bad for city of its size
1t does need good library we'll as new city
hall and the city government is laying away funds
for this purpose and the plans being drawn.
Other buildings in the city old and other
plans are being made for new buildings, and the
money is being put aside
1t is true that the children in Alaskan cities
especially those which have plenty of liquid
shine need places where they may work off their
energy An indoor swimming pool and an artificial
indoor ice skating rink would help Football however
competitive sport between schools can be played
in rain or shine The trouble at present is that travel
difficulties and the distance between schools would
knock school football games for loop and that
would be taking the JOY out of football Small schools
tht is, those with low enrolments, also would have
tough time finding II strong men to make football
teanl-findng five for basketball is tough enough.
The suggestion that an indoor ice skating rink
could be put to advantage is we'll taken. However
these things not offered even in the States for
free" and neither are indoor swimming pools or
outdoor pool such as the Juneau offers But
privately sponsored indoor ice skating rink might be
worthwhile venture here. first-class marine ways
is also project which Juneau businessmen could well
afford to sponsor
There is no question but what planning agency
could be put to good in Alaska Not so very long
ago we had branch of the National Resources Plan
ming Board here and the sudden evacuation has never
been fully explained nor there any objection to
its removal as remember, from any source except
this newspaper Some persons under the i'm
preston that this agency is longer operating
However this is not So When Congress cut off its
funds it was simply taken the State Department
and continues to function The agencys removal from
Alaska this vital time when planning is needed still
remains an unexplained mystery. There is reason
for everything
We fail to share the fears that Juneau is headed
for the last roundup In spite of the fact that the
is doing its best to shut down our largest
peacetime industry believe this Juneaus business
men do not fear for the future because most of them
are prepared or preparing themselves for it. They
do not shout about it much as those in other
cities because they not like small boys whstling
in the dark.
Neither do we need the wishful thinking from
other cities which probably because they fear the
future speak aloud their wishes for the transfer of
the capital from Juneau to those cities Our civic
pride places this point beyond consideration
We appreciate and commend the recent criticism
because such remarks often hasten the incubation
period for germs of new ideas
Juneau has been "shot in the arm" by an expert
and we hope the incubation will take