The Nome nugget., 1953-10-26

Battles between cities, as well between arlines were being fought in the Civil Aeronautcs Board hear ings held last week in Anchorage.
 The hearings were held for the purpose of record ing the desires of each city in the way of air ranspor taton. The testimony will be considered when the board decides which airlines will continue to operate and whether or not there should be changes in the transportation patterns
 Because transportation is dominating factor in the growth and prosperity of every community, keen interest is shown.
 The attitudes of the cities are especially interesting as they present their arguments Some communities seek more transportation because of their local needs Others seek to do than build up themselves They would throttle their neighbors by preventing them from having the advantages thus hoping to gar ner more business for themselves.
 Anchorage has asked for continuation of the present airline operations and also for the addition of third air carrier operating the coast route from the States to Alaska This request based statistics showing the needs of this It not in conflict with the interest of any other community
 Nome wants daily one-carrier service from Seattle on the grounds that it's economic needs sufficient to justify it. No city has taken exception to it's
 Ketchikan took stand that unique in that the city not only asked for continuation of it's present service but designated the airline it wants to operate None of the other cities expressed particular interest in which airline it, leaving that decision to the Civil Aeronautics Board.
 The battles broke out however, between Seattle and Portland Both Anchorage and Fairbanks asked for continuation of present arrangements under which arliners operate to Portland we'll Seattle Portland asked the same Seattle didn't like it.
 The Seattle witnesses argued that their city should be the southern terminal and all arlners of Alaska should end their flights there and nowhere else The reason is obvious If the planes go nowhere else Seattle stands to enjoy monopoly all the business from Alaska.
 The Seattle argument is selfish It ignores the wishes of Alaskans It seeks to control economic development for the benefit of Seattle instead of allow ing the natural laws of economics and competition to follow their normal course.
 Anchorage could have adopted that type of attitude had it chosen to do This city might have urged the adoption of air patterns that would force Fairbanks Nome, Kodiak and other cities to channel all their air transportation through this city. Anchorage might have sought to build itself up the gateway" for everything moving to and from the States.
 Alaskans be proud of the fact that such selfish considerations have not been given place in the bitions of their communities.
 Instead of greed, the communities have displayed en enthusiasm for the desires of each. Every city is hopeful that every other get what it wants and needs.
 One example of this spirit is in the efforts of Kodiak to get direct service from Seattle Success in ts effort would eliminate Anchorage gateway fur Kodiak At present. all the Kodiak traffic is forced