The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-08-11
NAVY RESEARCH
 UNTOLD AID, SAYS
 ADMIRAL WAGNER
1 7th District Official Speaks Chamber Opposes Krug
 Settlement Plan

Alaska's new Commanding Off, cer of the 17th Naval District Rear Admiral Frank D. Wagner spoke on the Navy's peacetime op- erations in the Territory to mem- bers of the Chamber of Commerce this noon at the Baranof Hotel.
 Admiral Wagner, who arrived here by plane yesterday for his first official visit to the capital city, emphasized the importance of research activities being carried out by the Navy.
 Research scientists are contri- outing an untold amount to the knowledge of Alaska" he said Experts from numbers of univer- sities are doing research work Tn geology, geology, ocean currents volcanoes, glaciology, information which will, and has already proved | invaluable"
 Speaking briefly of naval opera tions at Point Barrow, the Admiral said the discovery and usage of natural gas deposits should greatly reduce the supply problem for the farthest north Navy installation where testing of all types of equip ment is one of the main activities.
 Scars of wartime installations are becoming obliterated,' the Ad- miral said. Wartime properties including a number of cannerles taken over by the government dur ing the war, are being returned oi leased to private enterprise oi municipalities.
 Admiral Wagner, who has been ! in Alaska shortly more than two months, is accompanied on his ofti- cial visit by Capt. L. J. Dow, Com manding Officer, U. s. Navy, Ko- diak; Capt. w. E. Kaitner, and It. Cmdr. John Morton also of Kodiak
 He was introduced by Robert Boochever, Chamber vice presi- dent. who presided in the absence of President Fred Eastaugh.
 Oppose Krug Settlement Plan
 Strong opposition to Secretary of Interior J. A. Krug's recently pub licized plan for settlement of million acres in Alaska with "sel- ected groups was expressed by the Chamber this noon.
 Members voted unanimous SUD- port of letter of opposition writ ten to Delegate E. L. Bartlett, in which the Chamber goes on record in favor of settlement by individual families, with adequate government assistance through extension of ex- .isting aid through farm settlement measures now applying in the states.
 1 We want settlers who have come up here on their own and who expect to better their condi- tion largely by their own efforts, 2 says the Chambers letter. This Chamber wants Alaska to have the benefits which come was a family unit type of agricultural develop ment"
 Interior Man Speaks
 H. Rex Lee, assistant director cf the Division of Territories, Wash ington D. C., luncheon guest, was called on by Boochever for a few comments Lee is enroute to Washington after several weeks in the Interior looking over land transportation rehabilitation.
 Robertson Named Representative
 R. E. Robertson was named as Chamber representative to the Northwest Trade Association for the year at yesterdays board If directors meeting. The Chamber voted this noon to send a represen- tative to the Associated Board Of i Trades convention to be held Aug 18-19-20 at Smithers, B. C., with the delegate to be selected next week.
 Possibility of Chamber repre- sentative attending a board meet ing of the Methodist Church in New York City in September in connection with establishment of a college in Alaska was expressed with the matter to be up for con- sideration.
 Visitors introduced at the session included William Bates, president of Miners and Merchants Bank, Ketchikan; George B. Astel, profess sor of Journalism, University of Washington, Seattle. and Cmdr. D. NJ. Morrison. chief. Engineering Di-