The Nome nugget., 1959-01-19
WHO CARRIES THE LOAD?

the needs and desires of this community, it gets little or no support from a major portion of the citizens of this city. Homeowners, businessmen, individuals and companies with substantial and lfe-work investments in Nome give it time assistance. The officers and Board of this organi- zation must scrape to gather the funds needed 10 send it's President to another Alaskan city to rep resent Nome in a forthcoming meeting which will set and determine basic policy and planning for the future Alaska road program, and which may mean sink or swim to Nome, its roads, and it's future development. Yet, no real interest appears in the community at large to help the small Cham Der of Commerce group fight this all important battle for roads roads in the years to come.
 When the company operating Nomes only direct Seattle airline connection petitoned the Civil Aeronautics Board for suspension of Nome Fairbanks servce it the Chamber of Com merce, with much needed and appreciated assist from the city government, that made some effort, though unsuccessful, to hold this important service for the community. No funds were available to retain counsel in Washington, D. C. to represent Nome, and written statement all this munity had to rely upon in this important de- cision
 Trump Card for Recognition of Nome
 For one reason or another some people do not like the Chamber of Commerce. It is not a re- quirement of success that everyone like the Cham Der, for tax collector, it is not expected that it will always be liked. But, like it not, it is the one recognized businessmens and individual residents trump card in gaining recognition for Nome outside of the city as to it's basic needs, problems and desires. It is the one agency ognized and influential elsewhere in the building of the city's commercial life
 Not every effort of any Chamber of Commerce succeeds, and sometimes feelings hurt but Noneite need run his finger too far over the map of Alaska to the East Southeast to find Alaskan cities with vital vocal, financed, and well supported Chambers of Commerce that are boom communities and getting the cream from the top
 The substantial and life-work financial in terests existing in Nome today may be the empty buildings of tomorrow.
 No Interest Shown In Tourists
 The tourist industry with the advent of Statehood, is about to smother Alaska but Nome is not interested beyond struggling, earnest m dermanned and Unsupported tourist committee of the Chamber of Commerce that has done a splendid job with the little offered it with which to work The airline carrying the great majority of tourists into Nome spends a few morning hours here, and then overnights in another Alaskan town. No interest is shown in a very possible and lucrative winter tourist industry.
 Non-precous metal mining beckons in this rich Seward Peninsula area, but few here will paste a stamp envelope to invite outside capital
 Vital Route 97 upon which, in the opinion of many, the future of Nome rests, is advancing at the rate of six miles a year for 600 miles of road, and the Chamber of Commerce struggles to get the necessary funds to send personal repre- sentative to the forthcoming road policy and plan ming meeting for all Alaska
 Nometes had better get the ball on the boat