The Way We Were

June 27, 1912: The Alaskan Committee of the American Mining congress during the past month have been in frequent conferences with Secretary of the Interior Fisher and various committees having in charge the two bills which have been finally agreed upon as a compromise between the conflicting views of those who have been in consultation. The result of this compromise is embodied by Sen. Simbot and now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Public Lands. A very similar measure has been introduced in the House by Congressman Bocher of Missouri, which has been referred to the Committee on Territories of the House and the House committee on Public Lands is also giving consideration to the Smoot Bill with a view of substituting it for the bill introduced by Chairman Robinson of this committee. While the session is so near its close as to make doubtful any completed legislation, the radical change in the public sentiment concerning Alaskan affairs which has been brought about during the last few months is very encouraging, to those who are interested in Alaskan development.

June 25, 1937: A site nine miles south of Petersburg, overlooking Wrangell Narrows, has been tentatively selected for the Agricultural Experimental Fur Farm station for which the last Legislature provided $20,000, it was revealed this week. The site is in the Forest area, has a natural drainage and stream, and affords all the natural advantages for an ideal set up, officials state. The tentative program calls for work to start probably about July 1 in getting the site into shape and it is expected preliminary work will be done by a CC crew. Building will be undertaken shortly afterward and it is understood the Dr. Jules B. Loftus of Juneau, Territorial Veterinarian and member of the University's extension staff, will be placed in charge, moving from his residence out the Glacier Highway at Juneau to the new station.

June 22, 1962: With only two more weeks to go, until midnight July 8, Jim Culley Jr. is leading the Wrangell Salmon Derby with his 46-pound, 14 ounce King caught last Sunday at the Big Bend, Culley is leaving for Fairbanks Saturday, June 23 so will not be here to protect his standing. Big fish are expected this weekend from the Pt. Ward area. In fact, previous winner, Barney Iversen, has already caught a 54 pounder there but was disqualified because his son, Peter was fishing with him and didn't have a Derby ticket. If the weekend southeaster fails to show for this and the next weekend Culley had best look to his laurels. One hundred two tickets were sold this year, a little under the average, the Derby Committee said. The Committee feels that much wholesome sport has been had by local people in the Derby and said one can't help but notice the growing out-board fleet.

June 25, 1987: It's official. After a full year of delays, the state finally has released the $2.45 million appropriation for improvements to Wrangell General Hospital. Hospital Administrator John Vowell said Monday he had received official word from the Department of Health and Social Services the funds were available to the Wrangell facility. While Vowell said Wrangell officials would need to fill out many forms and gain state review for many plans - he also said he knew of no possible problem to stand in the way of actual construction this time around. One of the most difficult tasks for Wrangellites now will be to get excited about the construction project, which won't go out for bid until early next year, Vowell said. With the uncertainty Wrangellites have experienced over the off-again, on-again hospital construction funds - as well as the shortage of state Medicaid funding for hospital operations - “it's awfully hard to get excited about something until we see it actually happening,” Vowell said.