The Wrangell sentinel., 1954-04-02
F < * $ #
 THROUGH THE SENTINEL
 PERISCOPE
Shakes Island Approach


 necessary to mention the Shakes Island approach - the little bridge that extends from the street en- trance across the causeway to Shakes Island proper.
 Since 1940 when the Forest Ser vice built the replica of the origin al Shakes House, and Wrangell had a Potlatch to celebrate the event, a great many thousands of persons have walked across the little wood en footpath From year to year as the thousands wore it little thin ner the Wrangell Chamber of Com meree, aided and abetted by the city which does the work, has rais- ed the funds to buy blanks and such necessary equipment as need ed to permit safe ingress and egress for the tourists who like to look at the totems, see Shakes House and take a lot of pictures.
 Once again the old walk isn't what it used to be. Something has to be done about it. Under a lease deal which the city has been talk ing with the Alaska Native Sery- ice, actual custodian Of the Island, for some eight or ten years now, the city is responsible for keeping the walk in safe condition. Actual ly under the lease the city can't drive a nail without a permit, but with the cooperative spirit of the Chamber and the good will of the city Shakes Island has continued to be tourist attraction, with safe causeway on which the tourist may walk.
 This year the problem of keeping the walk in good condition comes up again. It's going to cost few hundred dollars at the least to keep it in shape, or the city, as a result of it's lease, is going to declare it closed. After all, the town is res ponsible if any injury should occur and it is not in shape to protect damage suits from that source, or any other, for that matter. i
 The Chamber has little some thing less than $1OO in it's old Shakes leland fund = $96, or a bout, as we recall, which so far as ~e were able to learn, 1t is willing to put toward the cost of putting . the Shakes Island bridge in shape. 1 It has even reactivated its old !, Shakes Island committee to see what needs to be done. Traditional i, ly, Senator Doris Barnes heads that ! committee as she always has since , it's inception, and as a result the : Chamber has always had the money [ to do something about keeping it ! in shape.
 Effective today, or maybe yester- day, the Shakes Island committee has resolved that the Shakes Island causeway must be maintained. In ] this, the committee has the whole | hearted support of the town coun- cil, which never has any money to spend on such things.
 Come tomorrow, or possibly Mon ' day, the Shakes Island committee is coming around. It's going to ask "are you interested in keeping Wrangell's major tourist attraction available for the tourists?"
 From here on, you're on your own. The Sentinel can only say it believes the Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Wrangell are do- ing, and have been doing through ' the years, magnificent job of keeping Wrangell's major tourist attraction a going concern. We trust that some of the good citizens of this community feel the way We do and give them a helping hand in a financial way. 1
 right easy way would be to drop a check in the mail addressed to "Wrangell Chamber of Com merce. Box 49, Wrangel," with the notation Shakes Island Fund"
 Think of the time it would save not having to listen to that excellent sales talk by Senator Barnes, H. B. Thornquist or L. T. Campbell, who make up the com Mittee
 Republicans Active
 With the expectancy of a June !, bride the Republicans in Alaska are getting active. or perhaps more ac- eurately, staying active now that they control most of the public of- fees. When June is breaking out all over on the 18th and 18th of that notable spring month, the G0pprs hra p0inp fo hold a cop