The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1951-01-13
COMMITTEE
TAKES ACTION ON
"A" EXPLOSIVES

The Alaska Field. Committee has
adopted a formal resolution en-
dorsing a letter addressed to Vice
Admiral Merlin O'Neill, Comman-
dant. us. Coast Guard, Washing
ton, DC, regarding the recent con-
ferences held in Juneau by inter-
ested parties called in Juneau by
Col. John r. Noyes, Commissioner
of Roads for Alaska, January and
a meeting called by Admiral Green
spun, Seventeenth Coast Guard
District on January 4. to discuss
difficulties which have been en-
countered in Alaska in connection
with the landing of Glass A eXplo-
sives vitality needed for important
public works and development Of
civilian properties.
The letter includes observations
made as a result of the conferences
held and recommendations which
the Field Committee states represent
the combined judgment of nearly
all who attended the meetings in
Juneau concerning the movement
of Glass A explosives. With the
letter is also enclosed list of
federal agencies represented on the
Alaska Field Committee.
The letter is signed by Ernest
Gruening, Governor of Alaska, Ken
meth J. Kadow, chairman, Alaska
Field Committee, Department of the
Interior and Col. Johu r. Noyes,
Commissioner of Roads for Alaska,
Department of the Interior.
Recommendations
The following recommendations
represent the combined judgment
of many who attended the recent
meetings in Juneau concerning the
movement of Glass A explosives in
Alaska:
/. In view of the large program OF
building construction for ,. ational
defense and the essential nature Of
mining and other civilian opera
tions, it is urged that your office
utilize the discretion granted you
under the present national emer-
gency to reopen the port of Seward
for the movement of explosives
under the same restrictions and SUI
pervision previously in effect before
December /, 1850. 1t should be
pointed out that the movement OF
explosives through Seward is not
seasonal, but is uniformly distrib-
uted throughout the year The
period of reopening should be for
not less than IL months in order to
permit thorough consideration and
effective action toward providing
a permanent solution at Seward ana
in order not to hamper national de-
Tense construction. The Alaska ROAD
Commission, in cooperating with
other interested agencies, has al
ready begun study with the view
to providing satisfactory port OF
entry for explosives with a rail-
road connection. When this study
is complete and financing is pro-
vided a permanent solution can
probably be made available.
Uncertain weather conditions ana
frequent high seas make lighterlng
operations anywhere in the general
vicinity of Seward unsafe and ire
quently impracticable. This proceed
ure should not be followed even as
a temporary expedient.
Other Alaska Ports
2. The recommendation for other
ports in Alaska are as follows:
Nome-Same as set forth in pre-
sent Coast Guard rules.
Homer-We request permission TIC
land unlimited quantities of ex-
plosives at Homer. This port is G
miles from the town of Homer and
should present no problem of safety
to nearby residents. At the present
time, storage facilities do not per-
nit the use of this port in any
thing more than a limited manner.
However, consideration of this port
will be given in an overall study Of
the problem by the Alaska Road
Commission
Anchorage = The restriction OF
$4,000 pounds presently placed on
the Port of Anchorage is satisfac-
tory if recommendation No. l (for
Seward) is approved Otherwise, it
is recommended that 100000 limit
be allowed for the Ocean Dock, An
chorage.
Whittier-Same as set forth in
present Coast Guard rules.
Valdez-Same as set forth in pre-
sent Coast Guard rules. Use of the
Dayville Cannery Dock seems to be
the most practical solution there.
The Road Commission and other
interested parties are making sur
vey of the costs of providing road
to the dock of this location.
Cordova-Same as set forth in
present Coast Guard rules.
Haines-It is recommended that
the P. S. Harris Company cannery
he