February 28, 1918: From one of the Dailies of Alaska: “It is pretty generally believed that a bunch of women can’t get along together for any length of time without a lot of friction,” says Miss Anna Durkee, head of the Alaska Garnet Mining and Manufacturing Company, a $1,000,000 concern, “but I want to say most emphatically that it isn’t so. Fifteen of us have been closely associated for eight years now, and never once have we had any ructions in a board meeting-we’ve gone through some pretty strenuous times, too.” It was eight years ago that Miss Durkee went to Alaska to look over a copper proposition. It didn’t size up to her idea of sure thing, but being of the opinion that the boundless resources of the northland were as available for woman as for men, Miss Durkee began casting about here for opportunities, and thus it was that she learned of a garnet claim for sale at the mouth of the Stikine River, nine miles from Wrangell. She bought an option on the claim, then returned to her home town in Minnesota and by dint of much enthusiastic talk persuaded fourteen of her women friends to go in with her. The original owner of the claim didn’t think the garnets amounted to much, but Miss Durkee as controlling stockholder, secretary and general manager went to work.
March 5, 1943: All the girls were present this meeting and were all sewing something such as tablecloths, napkins, potholders and dish towels. Miss Pickett appointed Margie Sumption and Olga Oglend to write a letter to another Girl Scout in America. This letter will be to Miss Hamet, a Girl Scout leader. The letter will be published in the American Girl magazine. Some pictures of our troop will be taken to send her. Miss Pickett, our Girl Scout leader, asked us questions and we were to answer them to see if we can win with the highest points. Yolanda Ferguson won with the highest score. Miss Pickett suggested we learn to tie knots and next Monday when we go on our hike we are going to study knots. The meeting ended with the song “Taps.” A Girl Scout is Courteous.
March 7, 1968: Wrangell has mud up to its axles this week. But firm ground seemed a little closer. City crews were busy this week putting rock on streets throughout the community. State highway workers were trying to firm up Zimovia Highway and Government Road. City Administrator Clayton Schmitt said the city crews would be closing down some streets in town for major repairs. Among them were sections of Second Avenue and Case Avenue. Workers were also hand patching holes in the streets. Things should be a lot better next year for residents along Church Street and Zimovia Highway. State crewmen arrived in town this week to begin work on the $1.3 million Church Street Zimovia Highway job. Ted Vander Weyst, construction engineer on the job, and four state highway men arrived here Monday. They plan to hire two or three more men to round out their crew. Officials of Green Construction estimate that they’ll be using 35 workers on the road project. Work is expected to begin on the road job about April 1. Green, the low bidder for the road job, is completing the $1.5 million state airport project. Officials said the job is 40 percent complete. Completion is expected by August 1.
February 25, 1993: A single line in President Clinton’s massive economic package submitted to Congress Feb. 17, has raised the idea of a new review of Tongass National Forest management, an issue that many believed was settled by Congress in 1990. The President proposed a phasing out of below cost timber sales over a four-year period beginning in fiscal year 1994. The move would result in a savings of $274 million for the Federal Treasury, the White House said. Environmental groups for years have claimed that the Tongass is a big money loser for the Federal Government, while backers of the timber industry contend the Southeast Alaska forest is economically viable.
Reader Comments(0)