The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1945-11-02

moment of its inception, worked for the passage of
the necessary legislation, and heartily approved the
appointments Of its members understandable that
we should begin to inquire as to the reason Tor
the complete lack of constructive activity for which
this organization may take credit.
1t might be we'll to recall the detectives OF the
Alaska Development Board set forth in the Act by
which it was created Those detectives are outlined
as follows: THE purposes of this Act are hereby
declared to be ca to assist in the reconverson OF
industry and to aid in the rehabilitation of returning
veterans; b to cooperate with the several agencies
of the Territorial Government and the Federal Gov
eminent to the end that all governmental activities
are -synchronzed with the postwar development
projected by the Federal Government as provided by
the President of the United States after his recent
visit to the Territory Co encourage the expansion
and development of existing business and industry
I'D to promote the development of industry; te)
to coordinate existing governmental enterprises CD
to do all things that will furnish the people OF the
Territory maximum employment and opportunities
in trade, shipping, business and industry, and to
develop to the utmost the natural resources Of the
Territory"
A little more than six months ago the Alaska
Development Board named and started its labors
with the hearty backing of every element of Alaskan
citizenship. So far as the people OF Alaska have been
permitted to know, its accomplishment to date has
been to develop salmon loaf which 1t hopes Will
find consumer acceptance and to lend its influence
to tie frtherance the interests of certain private
concerns in the matter of airnes to Alaska and to
the Orient as against the interest OF other airline
operators 1t also, understand, has come TO the
aid of agriculture in the Territory by loan, the
legality of which is say the least questionable
Two recommendations of the examining board in
the Pacific case affect Alaska vitality That there be
but one Oriental airline by of Alaska to be based
in the Midwest and that the Alaska Airlines be
granted certificate to operate between Seattle ard
the City of Anchorage
The chairman of the Alaska Development Board
Governor Ernest Gruening is reported to have IN
formed committee which called upon him IN Seattle
that he would support the recommendations OF the
examining board in entirety, with the sanction OF
the board for which he will act as spokesman
So far as concerns the matter of an Alaska
Oriental monopoly based in the Midwest Southeast
Alaska is overwhelming in opposition, and the balance
of Alaska would prefer to such a line based IN
Seattle if direct airline connections with the Midwest
could be established without denying Seattle her
rightful place in the Alaska Oriental picture. Yet
we have the strange picture of board supposedly
representative of Alaskan thought in unreserVed sup
port of contrary course of action
Concerning the recommendation that Alaska AIR
lines be given certificate to operate between Seattie
and Anchorage the exclusion of others who appeo
for such certfication call your attention 10 tne
fact that at least one genuinely Alaskan airline
operator Woodley Airways has a similar application
before the board Therefore in supporting the recon-
mendations of the examiners in entirety, the Alaska
DEVELOPMENT Board is placing itself in the repre-
hensible position of taking up the cudgels OF one
private interest against another.
We submit that nothing in the act by virtue OF
which the Alaska Development Board came into being
iuses such procedure and respectfully suggest tnat
the 100000 appropriation for the bienniums activities
of this board be put to constructive use for the de-
velopment of Alaska before the bennium passes and
disguised legislature refuses further appropriations
for the work so vital to the future OF Alaska.