The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-06-22
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
Dry Strait Dredging

Back ill the dim past of 1916 - they have fought world wars since dredging of Dry Strait, better known in this area as the shortcut to Petersburg, was a potent sub jcct The Army Corps of Engineers of that date prepared report and submitted it to Congress with tine recommendation that the project be undertaken at an estimated cost of two million dollars to provide q navigable waterway joining Sti- Kline and Sumner Straits on the south to Frederick Sound on the north. The immediate area invOlv- ed was from around Blaquiere Point, near the southeast tip of Mitkof Island, northerly past Dry Island to a point approximately in the vicinity of Cosmos Point, just south of Ideal Cove.
 Meanwhile. Wrangell Narrows on the west side of Mitkof Island. a passageway between Lindenberg Peninsula on Kupreanof Island and Mitkof. was developed, and the re- port on dredging Dry Strait began gathering dust in the files. For 40 years it has been doing so until re- gently when Delegate Bartlett fer reted it out on request of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce which has received many inqueries in these log-towing days as to why Dry Strait might not be developed to supplement { h e traffiC-choked Wrangell Narrows, particularly for use of towing logs and various other work boats.
 With the development of tho lnmber and nTIp industry in south east Alaska from Ketchikan on tho south to Sitka. and probably Jun eau. on the north. additional adc- quate water passageway becomes essential as an aid to industrial development It is to be hoped the Army Engineers will dust off the old files and take another look at Dry Strait In these modern days when. as the man said, the cost Of high living keeps ever mounting. the outlay for such a project prob- ably would run considerably over tho oId original two million figure. But it could be well worth il in de- veloping the waterways of fast growing Southeast Alaska.
 For ready reference. Chart S20l Y. s. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
 The New Orleans Approach
 There appears to be a lot of whoopIa in the public prints and elsewhere about who should repre- sent the Territory under the ill famed Alaska-Tennessee plan. Talk ing a political Dry Strait shortcut, the latest message from Delegate Bob Bartlett is. "I will not run" But George II. Lehleitner of New Orleans takes a different approach.
 Lehleitner. New Orleans mer- chant who has taken some inter- est in Alaska statehood and paid the constitutional convention a yis it or two last winter. is writing letters. One in particular he has addressed to the delegates to the Alaska Democratic convention be- ing held this week end in Anchor age at which time a couple of Ten nessee plan senatorial nominees and representative will be nam ed. In his lengthy epistle, New Or leans Alaska statehood advocate is urging a draft of Bartlett to be one of the candidates; hints thv Tennessee plan might fall on its face unless Bob is one of the dele gation. He quotes Senator Dick Neuberger of Oregon as it is es- sential that Bob run" He quotes Congressman Passman of Louisiana with Bob MUST be a part of the Tennessee plan" Even quotes Prof. Ernest Barley of the University of Florida. who was some sort of a consultant at the constitutional convention. as predicting the Ten nessee plan is predestined to fail if Bob is not a member of the dele gation.'
 Such are the vagaries of the Ten nessee plan: Louisiana. Florida, Oregon. answering the roll call for Alaska Democrats Small wonder, the legiti~ately elected Delegate to Congress from Alaska says II will no' r1n "
 May he hold steadfast.
 Petersburg Marches On
 A short jaunt to Petersburg last week end to see how the competi- ton is getting along Found a new look in that brave neighbor city. Breakwater built in preparation for dredging from near PAF to be- yond KayIer-Dahrs. next step in the Metlakatla Wrangell Pet ersburg dredging projects for this season. The big halibut fleet in high fettle; the catch good. the prices best in several seasons. Dava Dinner. son of late illustrous Earl. operator of the Dinner enterprises. declared it one of the best seasons thus far.
 Elks mighty proud of their new
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