The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1949-09-30
THROUGH
THE SENTINEL
PERISCOPE


ed land settlement program is in
the works for Alaska. Representa-
tive J. Hardin Peterson of Florida
had introduced in Congress H. II,
$3.50, cited as the alaska Settle
ment Act of 1919" and it is be-
fore the house committee on pub
lie lands with the endorsement of
the Interior Department.
The bill would authorize the
secretary of interior to set aside
up to two million acres of land
suitable for settlement in the ter
ritory and develop it under a re-
stricted program of hand-picked
settlers. While veterans would be
given preference under the bill,
the secretary would be authorized
to determine qualification of po-
tential settlers as to industry, ex-
perience, character, capital and
credit"
The secretary of agricultur
would be authorized to see to the
clearing of the land and getting
it in shape for the settlers and
the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration would be authorized to
make loans up to seven and one
half million dollars for business
enterprises within the settlement
area or areas.
The bill fits into the develop
ment program for Alaska now be-
ing pushed by Interior Assistant
Interior Secretary William E.
Warne, who has charge of Alaska
affairs for the department and al
strong advocate of the development
program, was in the territory last
week meeting with the Alaska
Field Committee at Mckinley Park
in connection with the general de-
velopment program for the terri
tory Warne expected to be in
Alaska several weeks looking intoI
Interiors installation and will
visit Southeastern Alaska beford|
returning to Washington.
Meanwhile, the Eskimos and the
Aleuts were going to be subject
to a little investigation whether
they liked it or not. A seven-ma
team set sail from Nome last Fri
day aboard the North Star to study
conditions among the Natives.
Oliver La Fargo, president of the
Association ON American Indians,
was quoted from Washington as
saying the Natives of the Pribilofs
may be in virtual peonage," so
into the frozen north were going
seven intrepid souls to find out
about it.
In the party were John M. Mich
OILS, new commissioner of Indian
affairs; Albert M. Day, director of
the Fish and Wildlife Service;
Mark A. Dawber, executive secre-
tary of the Home Missions Council
of North America and director of
teh Association on Indian Affairs;
Lawrence Stevens, assistant to the
Indian commissioner; Lorin It. Old
royd, director of the Extension
Service of the University of Alas
ka; Don Foster, general superin-
tendent of the Alaska Native Serv-
ice, and E. P. Hadon of the Fish
and Wildlife Service 4
The group was scheduled to
visit Nunivak, Makushin, Unalaska
Akutan and st. Paul, st. George
and King Islands If there was Q
peon in the country, they will find
him. 1t is also a nice time of the
year to make a trip, before the
bad weather sets in UP there.
POLITICAL TROUBLES
1t dribbles into the Periscope
from here and there that some of
the boys up in the Third Division
are developing another peptic I'LL
Ger in the region of the political
stomach. A group known as the
Anchorage Democratic Club is re-
ported incensed, indignant-and,
might be added, forgetful be-
cause not enough Third Division
aspirants have been appointed to
political jobs. The so-called Demo-
cratic Club alleges in a long reso-
luton that the governor has failed
to consult with the party organi-
zation in making some appoint
ments. By party organization 1t
probably means the Anchorage
Democratic Club which, incident
ally, is not part of the party or
ganization.
The Third Division, like other