The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-03-15
March 15, l948 Juneau, Alaska

Juneau, AlaSKa Juneau Central Labor Council, Juneau Alaska.
 Gentlemen:
 In reply to your resolution pub lished in the Daily Alaska Empire on March 18th and ill the Alaska Sunday Press on March 14th, I wish to inform you that the Juneau Chamber of Commerce is an or ganization of men and women in- terested in promoting the economic welfare of the Territory of Alaska and of Juneau in particular.
 Our membership is not by cleo tion, and there is no discriminatory initiation fee, but is open to all re- gardlesS of race, color or creed political or social beliefs, business associations or affiliations. You pay your dues and are a member whether you are an industrialist, housewife business man, clerk, craftsman or laborer. You serve no apprentice ship in this organization and the floor of our meetings is open to all members. We solicit your member ship and will welcome your con- structive advice and cooperation.
 You refer to unemployment. That has always been seasonal and typl- cal of Alaska which has always been mainly dependent upon fishing and mining. According to our informa- tion the unemployment figures fof the Territory show Anchorage with 725, Fairbanks 425, Ketchikan 425 and Juneau 400.
 The Chamber has been working on a solution fo this problem for many years, namely to procure 3 pulp and paper industry for this area that will largely stabilize en- ployment. The corporation attor neys making trips to Washington were sent to further this purpose Is your organization against this new industry? The problems ln- volved are extremely technical and any person other than a well in- formed and able lawyer could not adequately represent the Chamber Last year the Chamber solicited and secured from the people oi Juneau funds to send MT N. c. Banfield to Washington to aid in the passage of the Tongass Timbel Bill. We are proud to report tha his efforts coupled with the efforts of men from other Alaska towns were successful and the bill becami law. Without this law the continued operation of our local sawmill witt. it's attendant payroll would mos certainly have been. jeopardized Without this law all hope for thu establishment of a pulp industr. anywhere in Alaska would have beei impossible. Two weeks ago the Chamber secured the services O MT. R. E. Robertson to represent the views of the Chamber at |; Congressional hearing on pending legislation which if enacted vii qlllet title to our timber resource. and without which the pulp indus try cannot be attracted to Alaska We are proud that we have in Ju neau and in our membership mel able and willing to represent us be- fore Congress and elsewhere; men who are able to match wits wit those foes of the Territory who seel to stop the growth and develpomen of the Territory for their own selfis ends.
 You have charged us with at tempting to drive fnom Juffeal certain government agencies. Tn policy of the Chamber on this mat ter is to have and hold all govern mental agencies in the Capital, an, to make Juneau a better place fo. the location of such activities ans their personnel. The Chamber i a presently endeavoring to prevent one threatened move of govern ment department, and is also en- gagged in procuring another such agency for Juneau.
 The Chamber solicits member. and their dues to carry on projects for the benefit of this community
 This year the projects include: extension of the small boat harbor, promotion of summer, skiing area to bring tourists to Juneau and give them a place and reason to stay, dredging the Mendenhall bar, pro- noting the resumhtion of the Capi- tal-Capital Yacht Race, and many others. The dues are obtained with mo strings attached, and are used for the economic betterment of AL aska and Juneau.
 We repeat our invitation to mem bership. Join us and be of service