The Alaska Miner from Fairbanks, Alaska • Page 2

fane 2 Tuesday, Jonuary T4, 1941 THE ALASKA MINER The Alaska Miner WHERE REFORM SHOULD BEGIN Subscription Rates Once -the people of the Territory witness the SSEN Editai jtacle of an Alaska Legislative body about to assemble; gum- Published every Tuesday at Fairbanks, Alaska, by the shoeing into office and, perhaps, springing surprise legisla- Tonana Publishing Company, Inc. Hion that was not the product -of a political platform or dis- Fairbanks, -Alaska. cussed by individual members while canvassing for office. "TSntered as second-class matter February 15, 193S, at the office at During the last two -weeks there has been some.gumshoe- Alaska, under the Act March 3, ing legislators and politicians in an to consolidate certain groups which laler will -vote for whatever the pet idea the gumshoers want to slip across on the poor, unsus- iy iiafl, vear H.ooj.pected We've seen the same thing happen for lo, ais months S2; three montn-, $1 onto thirty-five Much -of ihe Territorial news appearing in these columns is ob- i As long as the electorate continues to allow itself to be telned from newspapers published where the items originate. imposed upon, just so long will Alaska languish and its hopes.

i.of greater -Territorial powers be deferred, and just 50 long, escape -4iieir acts and con-i nfuse ffletbod5 wMch not of sense to recommend them. for advertising rates, inquire or -write Tanana i 5nc; at The place to begin xef orm in Alaska's political affairs is Fairbanks. Alaska, or The iathrop Company, 1011 American Bank Blifc, aJ nome he responsibilities of legislators to the electorate Seattle. Washington then follow as a natural Sequence. The Editor welcomes signed letters on Alaska otters of or suggestions for reserving the right to aetete per- renames and otherwise edit such letters.

FREAK LEGISLATION SHARf WOfUBS IN OFFING It is customary for freak bills to be introduced in aH leg- For about two yeai'S the President has been tearing down islative bodies. Some of them have for their purpose the en-1 Building up in the matter reconstructing federal ad- livenrnent of might become the monotony of legislative ln i I jjst ra tion agencies. The Reorganization Law, under the work, in that the ludicrous nature of the measure brings op-; tejms of wn ich he exercises his power, will expire late this portunities for indulging levity, or even filibustering. 'month. As a rule these measures emanate from an individual who; It is said that the president may ask Congress for legis- been compelled to make a promise to gain a few votes, Iation him gtm larger powers.

As a compromise, the tnd are not taken seriously by himself or anyone else butj Qf present sta tute may be extended. -Reorganization the man who believes he has a cure-all for political ills. ways nas been something of a thorn in portions of the And this gross gold tax can be classified as a freaK billj gressional flesh Debate on either of the plans mentioned will because, aimed to extract more taxation from big operators, i nclude won ic has resulted in a. real handicap to small mining A reasonable net tax on gold production would just about sat-j isfy all. but not so this gross tax which has become a -burden; to many, and practically caused others, operating on a narrow.

LET SLEEPING PORCUPINES LAY margin, to close down come We read just recently where an Alaskan got his leg full of quills when he attempted to kick a porcupine out of his Another freak bill, which in the minds of many has be- way The fact that with only one loot and got quills le of great importance to the well-being and safety of in both seems be proo positive that the porcupine shot machine-gun. The Alaskan swears this was the eviving a controversy that has raged sporadically Alaska, is the long-sponsored fish trap elimination bill. This nim li; a thus individuals rjce tne Jirst quill struct the shrinking flesh of the first novitiate of the silent places, It involves too many painful memories, it provokes the is the purest cdaptrap. bugaboo political bill conceived in dec- r.des and has long been the stepping stone of individuals aspiring to enter the political picture. For years every political hanger on who has been enjoying a good paying government job, has been beseeching old doubts our rrrinds and the minds of many others who all and sundry the terrible fish traps must go: that they are Wunclerill iv i ayed ar0 und with a porcupine for the first ruining the industry and dwindling Alaska's population.

And tim and xetired precipitately to eternally question whether all through the years it is a matter of record Alaska's fish-; we nad been £llot or mere i punctured. We have forever cries are as flourishing as ever, by far our leading left sleeping porcupines sleep. and the recent census revealed a gain of about 20.000 in popu-; lation from ten years ago. If the public wants proof, there. Alaska Coast Guard facilities are to be increased, comes it is.

word from Washington. For decades the Coast Guard ha: Also, watch out for freak bills on Indian welfare. Thisj patro ied thousands of miles of Alaska's rugged coast line is -one of the favorite vote getting tricks. a idi ng vessels in distress, bringing aid to those in need, anc Which reminds us a freak bill of some years ago. performin uncounted helpful acts and unrecorded heroism legislator proposed during the Juneau session that an Alaska i all in the iine of duty patrol extends far into the Arctic zoo be established.

Another soloh, solemnly rising in answer, any increase, and this has been'practically nilior past suggested the Territory build a fence around Juneau. decades, will be more than welcome by Alaskans who live It is hoped if any bills are introduced at this Alaska along tlie coast a isolated regions, as well as by those whc session of the legislature adding further benefits to the min- go down to the sea." ing industry, that they will merely be facetiousness, for it! would be 'poor advertising for Alaska if investing capital one of the most, fascinating things in all the world is a learned that newly-enacted prerogatives has again narrow- winding road. It lures. It It promises new and excit- the margin for profit. U.

S. STRATEGIC META1 SCORE BGAK0 Metal ANTIMONY CHROME MANGANESE MERCURY TIN NICKEL TUNGSTEN We -Produce Of Onr Consumption 10' 1 6 40 50 We Import From China, Mexico Africa, Philippines, rng things. In fact, it hurls a veritable challenge to the man iwith an adventurous spirit to explore its unknown course, up hill and down to a glamorous journey's end. And in no place in the world are roads better appreciated and traveled than in Alaska. Alaskans hope that the coming of the Army ito the Territory on a grand scale, will also mean the coming Iof roads long needed, for business, pleasure and defense.

Interstate commerce is receiving some startling in- key, New Caledonia jterpretations. The Wage-Hour Administrator has recently 'PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS 1940 LOG 67,100 total route miles. 53 countries and colonies served, I 1590,054 passengers, carried. i 627,008,201 passenger miles flown, 191 radio stations operat- ing. 6.430 persons i 144 aircraft in operation.

98.62 per cent' regularity ol schedule maintained. GOLD IS WHERE YOU IND IT In a summer long since over There appeared in certain parts 1 A geologizing rover With an aptitude for charts; His -manners "were patrician And speech' collegiate. And his rock-wise Seemed both -deep and up-to-date Ee spoke of schists and sulphides And of sedimentary zones. Of sphalerite and serjcite And correlated stones; He was shearings. Displacements, and stresses, On major faults and minor faults, Intrusions and buttresses.

Ke named the varying strata With familiar nonclmlance And xvas liberal with data On their known significance. scedulated ores micaceous And discoursed of diorite Of shales carbonaceous. Hornblende and hematiie. His work was scientific He excelled in taking pains. And, while loth to be specific In assessing any veins.

Ke in one pisce gave the ruling "Littl? of values here." And some roughneck, short or. schooling Mineci a million there last year. Net mine to science -underrate Wealth follows oft behind it; i This tale is.fyufc to illustrate That "Gold is kvhere you find it." unknown. Reno Chain Letter The following chain letter recently went through the mail: This chain was started in Reno hopes of bringing happiness to tired working -men. It does not cost you money.

Simply send a copy of this letter to five male friends; then bundle up your -wlffl and send her to the fellow -whose name appears at the head of the list. When your name works to the top you should receive in turn 15,175 -Have faith. Do not break the chair- One mac broke it and got his own wife back, All 3tfine is a letter from your wife saying you are the father of a tea- pound boj'." i "Does she say anything else?" "That's all. except at the end oi the letter she says, 'Truly Russia, Cuba, Africa, Brazil Canada Dutch East Indies Canada China jsaid that a -little print-shop that runs off a few letterheads 'for the corner grocer becomes engaged in interstate commerce if the grocer writes on one of the letterheads to sorae- lone in another state. The official conclusion, of course, is I that the print shop is subject to the federal Wage-Hour Act.

Speaking of hand to hand figh-ting, the United does not seem to think that it is -old fashioned. 'defense systems -call for men in abundance, all armed, trained and ready, -rather than a multitude -of reservists. Use.wil^bE it is -clear that further increases are on the -way. Because- and it is-ciear industrial regions ma ny kinds of days oi Phil Sheridan Jeb Stuart, The cavalry branch SiSrt -workers has already become highly Us a matter fact, has been approximately trebled since juiicu I tne WorW competitive. Certain kinds of prices are going to advance, and very few lands are going to decline, in the next two years.

-One price that is already visibly advancing is the price of labor, ARITHMETIC i Professor: -'Arithmetic is an ex- 1 act science. Figures can't lie. Pos instance, if one man can house in twelve days, twelve mefl can build it in one." Student: "Oh yeah? Then 288 men can build it in one hour. 17,280 one minute, or 1,036,800 one sec-r i ond." found to be a relic of the Civil War pay their tax bills, the rail- i roads worked 32 1 days last year, in' i 1929 taxes took the railroads' total i receipts for only 23 days..