The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-01-28

 states that lin order to keep the record straight we feel We should reply to the article ill the January "A issue of the Daily Alaska Empire by ANS officials. We quite approve any action hereby an agency of the government does anything for req sons of economy. However we dc feel that any action by govern ment agency affecting economy of community or territory should be given sufficient publicity before such action is taken. Since economy seems to be the prime reason for this move we think the people of the Territory as taxpayers should have the following questions an- swered by the Alaska Native Ser vice.
 ''i.-Why was this million and a half dollar Army installation taken over and S250,000 additional dollars put into building ten three room apartments and supposedly remedy ing mistakes made by the Army ill installation of plumbing and heat ing systems if, as was stated in the ANS article. were buildings con- structed of new materials in 1943 and apartments completed in 1945
 "2-Why does installation used by the Army only few months and by the ANS for a year and a half now have 'decrepit' boilers limping along with only one of these now in operation. These are Kewanee type boilers and with ordinary care are good for 20 to 30 years.
 "3.-Why didn't the ANS off cia,s, after one winters experience sufficiently winterize buildings last summer so they could be adequately heated in case of severe weather. No effort was made to bank around the buildings which set three to four feet above the ground. Ventil- ators in attics and under buildings were not closed and many windows still have summer screens rather than storm windows None of the numerous entrances have either storm porches or doors.
 "All of these things are absolute essentials in Alaska in winter If one expects to keep warm and save fuel consumption. so why this sud- den interest in economy in the middle of a severe winter?
 When the Skagway Sanatorium was taken over it was understood these buildings were temporary and would be used only until such time as permanent hospitals could be ob- tained. All talk by ANS representa- lives was on the basis of three to five years.
 Two Pertinent Deals
 On this basis two ex GIs, one a purple heart veteran received a Territorial loan to go into the theatre business. The other received Federal GI loan to go into the bakery business. Both planned to have the bulk of their investments paid before the sanatorium was re- moved
 Another citizen purchased a complete laundry and moved it from Haines in order to furnish laundry facilities for the sanator- ium. The Plus x Mission dairy purchased pasteurization plant to qualify to serve the sanatorium.
 These and other businesses ex- banded on the strength of added revenue to be derived from this government payroll and now find after enc year and a half operation and without warning the sanator- ium is to be removed,
 The theatre is tied up with con- tracts with major picture compan- ies in order to furnish the best in entertainment.
 ITO fulfill the contract with the sanatorium the baker stocked up with flour which would not have been ordered had he had a few months notice of the sanatorium' s withdrawal.
 Both bakery and laundry have contracts with the sanatorium which unfortunately can be termin- ated by the government without notice. Although the move may re- suit in some saving to the govern ment 1t has been decided blow to the economy of Skagway It must also be remembered that the move is not to permanent hospital but practically to the same type of building they are leaving Money