The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-07-06
THROUGH THE SENTINEL TELESCOPE
Fill Area Taking Shape

portions at the north end of the project were nearing completion and it was expected this month would see the major part of the work finished.
 Meanwhile, efforts were being directed toward clearing title to the reclaimed land now held in trust by the Federal government. Several bills to transfer such tide lands located within municipalities to the cities are now before Con merce has asked Delegate Bartlett to further such legislation with the aim that the land can be made available for commercial develop ment
 Dry Strait Review
 Review of the Dry Strait dredg- ing proposal. dormant for years, will be asked of the Corps of Army ngineers, according to advices re- ceived here. Delegate Bartlett has written the Chamber of Commerce that with supporting information he will ask a congressional com mittee to request the engineers for a review.
 Territory's Income
 Report of the Alaska Legislative Council on Territorial taxes, now being circulated, reveals that the tax collections for 1855 totaled S17,O67.971 The net income tax was the leader bringing $6.391,133 into the coffers. Motor fuel tax to- taled s2,O5O,S55. the raw fish tax s1 P'0.S'5, the liquor excise tax $1.457.357, business license tax $1,394,218 and the tobacco and cigarette tax $1,O15.s03.
 Seasonalitv
 The questio- of seasOnality ur- der the Employment Security act has hnen the cause of a great deal of difficulty and controve'sv. Wi'- liam !. Stanton of the University of Colorado. in addressing the AL aska Chamber of Commerce in Ket- chikan recently. came up with am other approach. Here. in part. are his views:
 'One way to meet the problem head on would be to rewrite into the law a provision for declaration of seasonality and then to classify construction and fish packing as seasonal industries.
 'T realize that I am opening up a hornets nest by advocating such a measure. I have heard and stud jed arguments on both sides But the economic existence of seasonal ity is still in Alaskas economy; it is full grown fact and cannot be declaration of seaSonality is not a pleasant prospect to some people but neither is the alternative - periodically depleted and a peren- nially unstable employment secur- ity fund. Until year-round indus tries are a more significant part of Alaskas economic base, the Terri tory's employment security pro- gram is in jeopardy as things now stand. These statements are not limited to Alaska, for the same sit uation would prevail in any state where two-thirds of the benefits paid and One-half of the contribu- tions received were from two ex- tremely seasonal industries. as was true up here in 1854. Under these conditions, and with no seasonality provisions. no fund could stand the gaff of an economic setback in either or both of the industries
 For those who fear that a sea sonality measure would curtail construction activity. create labor problems. and hinder economic de- velopment up here, I would point to the economy of any state or area within a state. In no case has long-range and healthy economic base been built on construction a. lone. A construction- based economy is a boom economy, not a stable and lasting one. I am sure there is no group in Alaska that recognizes this fact more than the business
 and civic leaders in the railbelt. They have experienced those ups and downs from a temporary and seasonal industry I know many of them are searching for year-round economic bases on which they can count for the long haul over five. ten, 25 and so years. It is only from such stuff that a big and sound economy will develip. It just happens that a sound. year-round base has been found and started in the Southeast - refer. of course. to the forest products industries. I feel confident that in due time the Interior will develop and expand on equally sound footings.
 "0rce seasonaiity is declared. the employment security frnd shc~'I1 build u0 ranidlv and make possible a reduction of the present tav rate or a return to an experience rating program or both. Either measure would be q positive factor fin attracting stable industry tc A. ssks''