The Wrangell sentinel., 1955-06-17
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
Building Code

district Everybody became, natuI- ally enough, very fire conscious. City fathers of that time, actlng promptly, got an advisory commit tee of civic leaders on the ball to draft a new building code, aimed primarily at eliminating fire haz- ards so it couldn't happen again.
 Advisory committee spent weeks on the project; came up with the tough universal building code used generally throughout the United States with a few minor changes. Council adopted the document and it has been in force since. Several buildings have been erected in the burned out area under it's provls- ions. Other proposed buildings have not been constructed, allegedly be- cause the building code was too ex- acllng. Some new construction on Army permit land in the burned out area is now contemplated.
 Result: Pressure is being brought on the City Council to change the building code; make the require ments a little less rigid. In other words, the fires out, let's boom.
 The building code has stood the test of three years under conditions which at times have been some thing less than favorable to build ing incentive. The picture now is much brighter. Industrial develop ment is under way. The local saw mill is operating and, incidentally, 10 hours a day, to meet its com mitments. Pacific Northern's plans for a lumber plant and pulp mill out the highway are making excel lent progress. People are coming to Wrangell to make their homes. Many more will as they find means of livlihood in the expanding industrial economy. The old towns growing up. Federal Power Con- mission in it's power survey of the area predicts a community of 5000 by 1860.
 We're not that optimistic, but we do visualize some good, sound growth and a considerable amount of construction It strikes us as rather an inopportune time to low or the requirements of a building code which has stood the test of three years which were not exact ly sparkling with prosperity.
 Things are looking up, despite the harassed building code. It may not be the best one to meet every situation in Wrangell, but it is ac- complaining the objective for which it was written keeping down the fire hazard
 We can still feel those hot blasts whipping across the street, smashing windows and giving the hot t4foot to our venerable old Coun- try Campbell while in the holo- caust on the waterfront side neighbors and friends were losing their all in the fiery inferno which left in it's wake more than a mill lion dollars damage. Life's effort in some instances went up that faulty flue.
 Shall we now reactivate a bad situation to achieve the quick dol lar?
 Report From Washington
 Despite the outcome of the Ked- erick-Riley dispute now before the court in Anchorage, the prospect is not bright that legislators will be qualified to serve as members of the constitutional convention to be held in College in November. Re port from Washington is to the ef- feet that the White House frowns on the proposal now before Con- gress to amend the Organic Act to permit members of the last Legis- lature to serve as delegates. Ad- ministration leaders have picked up the ball and have reportedly won the support of several influential Democrats. Effort to change the Organic Act is likely to die on the vine.
 Meanwhile, the court battle in Alaska is on the same point. Bob Kederick of Juneau has brought action to disqualify Burke Riley of Haines, who served in the last leg islature, from being a delegate to the convention on grounds that the Organic Act provides that law maker can not serve in an office created by a Legislature of which he was a member or receive any of the emoluments thereof.
 Last Legislature, as everybody knows. passed the act creating the constitutional convention, purpose of which is to draft a state consti tuition. It appropriated some $S50,. 900 for the venture which can last for 75 days and pay the delegate: to same 35 bucks a day plus mile age. Many members of the last Leg isIature have filed as candidate. for delegate.
 Might be. the bOys have wastst