Seward seaport record., 1954-03-12

to decide whether it is just this civilian dry cargo that interests Browne, or whether he is will ing to concede cement, petro- leum and Army goods to the Seward and Whittier ports. In- come to the Anchorage port would range, he says, from $510,740 to $655, 5,700,a year with closure of Seward. (Whittier is also threatened olI this deal0 Average income, based on $4 per ton wharfage charge, would thus be $410,000, according to Browne's figures. (Wharfage in Seward is $2.)
 Cost in maintenance of the railroad has been reduced ma terially since the 1852 figure quoted by Browne. Elimination of the Loop. replacement of steam locomotives by diesel en- zines. some new rail. reduction in personnel. and other modern railroad methods introduced by Frank Kalbaugh. the new ARR manager, refute his arguments for excessive costs on the 68 mile stretch of rail now under fire. (Once again we leave this to inc ARR 10 prove.)
 BeWildered SeWarditeS won der where Browne got the idea that there was any lack of long shore labor here in 1853. They remember the hundreds of men turned away after the Whittier fire, for lack of dock work here They also know that hundreds remained to settle and form a labor pool more than adequate to handle the situation last sum- mer which Browne describes as "conjested." There has never been any complaint from the Army on delay in handling in Seward. More than 423,00G tons of freight went over Seward docks in 1853. This does not in clude petroleum products which would double the figure At S4 ton wharfage, Anchor age certainly could pay for dock IF SEWARD IS ELIMIN- ATED, and Whittier is also out of the picture. No wonder they are jealous!
 Now" MT. Browne and the Port Commission say, lets us not risk our own hard-earned money in this questionable ven ture After all--it just might fail. Let's write us nice report, a really imposing affair, throw in a few figures and tables, some quotations, and then take it to Washington. It should be no trouble at all to prove that the head of Alaska Command, ARR, Dept. of Interior, Ralph Tudor, and others are mere stupes and don't know what they are talk ing about when they want to put money into rehabilitation of that old railroad. We'll get hold of that fund and have the government build our d ock, then everybody in the good old US. vii be stuck with it (eVen those dopes in SeWard). Then, y they planned, well have the Legislature pass a port bill giv- ing us power of taxation over 500 miles Seward is 127 miles away) to keep the thing going"
 "The reason that Seward and the railroad are in our hair in the first place." Browne implies, is that the railroad and docks were put in at Seward long be Tore A c h age was ever thought of, so the government has to protect its investment, and the railroad its revenue. " Never once does he compare the wonderful God-given Res urrection Bay, deep, sheltered and with never a single gob of ice with the cost of continual dredging, ice breakers, etc. Just wouldn't do!
 The whole thing boils down 10 one outstanding truth. An chorage is on the verge of PANIC and is grasping at every straw 10 save the bacon! Browne says himself in the Development Board report. What keeps An ckorage On its economic feet. sustaining the business life of the community? The areas prin- cipal source of income tor indus trY) is UNCLE SAM-the United States Government; its armed forces. civilian agencies and sponso d construction pro- grams. Expenditures by terri- torial and municipal govern ments are much less in extent. although important.
 What of the future? What will happen to Greater Anchor age when the military pulls out? When defense construction ceas- -y-