The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-05-24
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERTSCOPE

companies and dlfllneS are DOoheu weeks ahead Alaska is beginning to feel in earnest the influx of people to the north. Among the more unusual requests, and reveal ing we are living in an air-minded world, are those being received by Highway Engineer Leonard Smith from private plane owners in the States Any number of them want to fly to Alaska this summer. They want to know where the fields are what routes they should follow, etc, There also is heavy interest in the Alaska Highway, now under control of the Canadian govern ment Canadian policy on the road has not yet been made clear. Some traffic is being permitted over the route, and it is understood the Canadians are planning to keep the Haines cutoff open on their side of the line. On the American side the Alaska Road Commission has the road in excellent shape. An Al aska highway patrolman has been stationed at Tok Junction.
 Boats are sold out, virtually, fol the summer. CPR's Louise has been chartered by the Association of Equipment Distributors of America for the June 26 voyage out of Van couver, a party of about 250. CPR officials report if they didn't get another request they are filled up until fall right now with people wanting to come to Alaska. Amer ican lines, with only a limited number of vessels available, are swamped. Big game parties also are again on the move Alaska probably will get more of them this season than in any year prior to the war.
 The trek is northward and, un- fortunately, Alaska is not prepared for the influx. There is an acute housing shortage. While some pro gress is being made by individuals in various parts of the Territory toward erecting tourist lodges and accommodations in the recreational areas, nothing will be ready for this season. It may be that lack of transvortation to Alaska is bles- sing in disguise. Certainly the Territory hasn't the facilities to- take care of people who want to come here, and are coming daily by whatever means they can mus ter.
 With the Federal housing pro- gram being expanded, some relier is in sight. particularly for veter- ans, but adequate housing looks a long way away. When the 30-unit housing project was opened recent ly in Juneau it was jam-packed. exclusively with veterans and their families. There was a long waiting list, with little hope of any of them obtaining quarters. All the towns of the Territory and most of the smaller ones are in the same fix-no housing, either adequate or inadequate.
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 International Boundary Commis- sion will be coming north in July, scheduled to leave Vancouver July 10. Party will be headed by John A. Ulinski, of Washington, U. s. Commissioner, and Noel J. Ogilyie of Ottawa, Canadian Commission CT. Boundary engineering crews were scheduled to arrive next week.
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 Election interest continued to center this week in the contest be- tween incumbent Walter P. Sharpe and Kenneth c. Johnson for nom. nation for Labor Commissioner on the Democratic ticket. With one precinct unreported in the Second Division, seven in the Third and TO official tally made yet in the Fourth, Sharpe was leading John son unofficially by A votes. It would take the official count to decide the nominee.
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 In the Third, where seven pre- cincts were still missing, there was still a contest for a Democratic House nomination between Arthur Mcdonald ana MfS. DOfOIny COl- lins. wife of the Senator. McDon- aid was five votes ahead for sey- enth place. Seven are nominated in the Third.
 Up in the Arctic, Mrs. Bess Cross rolled ahead in the final pre- cincts to defeat Senator Frank Whaley by better than 15O votes for Democratic nomination in the Second Division for the Senate She picked up 109 votes on St Lawrence Island while Whaley was getting two. Mrs. Cross operates trading posts throughout the Sec end with headquarters at Kotzebue and Deering and is one of the best known women in the Arctic. Sen