The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-07-12
EDITORIAL

AAdAubtI oA commerce was oNdke Island - Wrangen's main touris attraction.
 :. A few years ago approximately
 S40,000 was expended in restoring ] Shakes community house and erect.
 ing totems to make the island as
 nearly as possible what it was when
 the mighty chief of the Thlingets
 resided there. It is one of the first l places tourists head for when d boat docks Ii is the only thing of
 it's kind in southeast Alaska access sible to tourists
 Yet what the Chamber wants to l know, what can be done to keep f l slightly and an interesting place for tourists to visit? It is owned by the Native Service who have no funds to keep the grass cut or maintain it's general appearance
 A short time ago. Mayor Doris Barnes. after watching toruists wade through the almost knee-high wet grass, ordered a city crew to cut the grass. The improvement was magical. Now the Wrangel Wo- mep's Civic Club has voted two dol lars a week from their treasury to keep the grass cut Both the Mayor and the Civic Club should be com mended for their accomplishment. But the Civic Clubs gesture is but a temporary one. It can hardly be expected that they should take on the burden of keeping the place up.
 Catch in it all is that the island Is in the custody of the Native Ser vice who say they have no funds with which to keep the place in shape Key to the comSnunity house is kept out at Wrangell Institute so tourists who tramp down to the island with the expectation of see ing the house find it locked. 1t seems shameful that after the ev- penditure put into the place. and the interesting history behind it. that means cannot be found to make its interior accessible to people from the Outside.
 Chamber President James Nolan suggested that steps be taken to try and have the island turned over to the city as a city park. This, it seems to us, would be a wonderful solution. It was pointed out that if this were done a guide could be hired to show tourists around and small admission could be charged to pay the guide and keep the place in order. As it is now admission can not be charged to a government owned property and yet, as was pointed out before, the Native Serv- ice which controls it, has no funds with which to maintain it. It seems strange that after putting so much money, time and trouble into build ing such places bureau budgets de not look farther toward maintain ance, but that's how it is.
 Motion was made yesterday that the Chamber write a letter to the City Council asking them to contact the Native Service to have it turned ever to the city. We hope this will be done speedily It probably is too late for this year, and it will take an act of Congress to put it through, but as long as the Native Service hasn't the money to keep the place in the fitting order which it de serves, it probably will be glad 10 relinquish it's rights in it.
 In the meantime, as was suggest ed at the Chamber, the Native Serv- ice might be induced to consent to allow the key to be left in the hands of Chamber President James Nolan at the Den O'Sweets where it would be handy and Walter Shad- desty, who formerly acted as guide, could be hired to open the commun- ity house and show tourists around, returning the key after each visit, so Wrangell's, in fact Southeast Al aska's outstanding tourist site, could take it's place, as it was meant to, as a mecca for tourists.
 Another place of interest which Wrangell has overloked and which was mentioned by Chamber Secre- tary and Mayor of Wrangell Doris Barnes and which, to our notion, ranks almost with Shakes Island, was the site of the petroglyphs on the beach near the garbage dump. It doesn't sound inviting, but never theless it is true that out on the beach north of town are what are probably some of the oldest rock writings on the north American continent. They were carved by long since forgotten tribes which, au- thorities tell us, came down the Stikine ages ago and marked the sites of good salmon fishing foi tribes which might follow. We sel' dom hear them mentioned in Alaska publicity, yet the rock writings ol l cn1nradn and New Mexico are fam