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Ketchikan Historical: The Future Moved South in the late 1890s; Early Ketchikan was boosted when several prominent Wrangell business people relocated By DAVE KIFFER - For recent generations, Wrangell has been Ketchikan's smaller neighbor to the north, even though "The Gateway to the Stikine" has a much longer history, having been a Russian outpost and a Hudson's Bay Company settlement going back to the 1830s.

It even played a significant role in the founding and growth of Ketchikan when several prominent Wrangellites moved South in the early 1900s because they believed Ketchikan had a better mining future than Wrangell.

One of those intrepid early entrepreneurs was Forest Hunt, who had originally come north from Seattle in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Hunt didn't make it to the Yukon goldfields, instead settling in Wrangell which was the gateway to other gold fields in the "Stickeen" country in northern British Columbia.

Three decades later, Hunt recounted his arrrival in Alaska in a radio address on KGBU, Ketchikan's first radio station, in 1930. A 10-page script of that address is at the Tongass Historical Museum.

Hunt remembered being on the steamship "Rosalie" which stopped in Metlakatla - which impressed him with its development - and Ketchikan - which did not. In 1898, he noted, Ketchikan was "very insignificant" compared to Metlakatla.

"It was simply a frontier trading post or fishing center, without streets or organization," Hunt said about Ketchikan, noting that he preferred to try his luck in Wrangell, which was booming at the time and had a population he estimated at 5,000.

"At this time Wrangell was a congested, busy place, a city of upwards of 5,000 frenzied people housed mostly in tents, but cheap frame structures were going up all around and work being pushed on three different wharves and warehouses," Hunt remembered in 1930. "Hammers were being wielded night and day and the constant tramp, tramp, tramp resounded on the rickety sidewalks constantly."

But there was a cloud on the horizon for Wrangell.

Canada, Great Britain and the United States were locked in a lengthy argument over where the border should be drawn between Alaska and British Columbia. Some of the proposals even had Wrangell and the mouth of the Stikine ending up in Canada. It would be several years before a boundary commission would establish the current boundaries in 1903.

Initially, Hunt did what many people in mining communities do: He mined the miners. He decided he could make more money selling mining gear than looking for gold. His family soon joined him and his wife Harriet opened the Blue Front Cafe. But rumors of new gold strikes to the south were percolating in Wrangell even as some of the bonanzas up the Stikine were starting to peter out.

Two of the more significant prospects in the Ketchikan area were in Helm Bay on the mainland across Behm Canal from the Clover Pass area of Revillagigedo Island and Sealevel which which was in Thorne Arm on Revilla south of Ketchikan. There were also promising areas on Prince of Wales Island, particularly on the east side of the island at Dolomi and Niblack.

"The Sea Level Mine was owned by Seattle parties and interest was aroused to such an extent that the homestead of Mike Martin, which encompassed the townsite of Ketchikan, was sold to Seattle parties who organized the Ketchikan Improvement Company and surveyed the first plat of (in Ketchikan) here in the fall of 1898," Hunt remembered in 1930.

One of Hunt's fellow Wrangell businessmen, H.C. Strong was a member of the Ketchikan Improvement Company and also formed Strong and Johnson, a company that purchased the Martin and Clark store, which was the primary store in early Ketchikan. Strong and Johnson would eventually become Tongass Trading Company.

Strong was also named postmaster of Ketchikan, according to Hunt, and would play a large role in the community efforts to get the federal government to relocate the US Customs Station from Mary Island to Ketchikan in 1902. When Ketchikan obtained the customs office and became the official first stop for vessels coming into Alaska, it gave Ketchikan a leg up on Loring, a slightly larger community 20 miles north of Ketchikan, and Ketchikan went on to become the dominant town in the region.

The next year, 1899, became an important year for Ketchikan, as several other Wrangell business leaders decamped for Ketchikan. Many of them became early community leaders including Charles Ingersoll, Cas Deppe, W. J. Broderick, J. H. Garrett, N.G. Zimmermen and I.G. Pruell. Along with J.R. Heckman who relocated from Loring to Ketchikan, they became the center of most of the business activity in the suddenly burgeoning community, according to Hunt.

Hunt would join the Wrangell rush to Ketchikan in 1900.

"On March 9th, 1900, I landed in this embryonic city and, finding myself disappointed in securing the location which I expected to occupy, after a diligent effort to secure a proper location for my business of meat market, fruits and vegetables, I made a second determined attack upon Mr. Bryant, manager of J. R. Heckman and Co. for a space on their platform on Dock Street, now occupied by a portion of the hardware store of Heckman, Carrington and Co. which was granted and on which I pitched my 14x20 tent where I did business until the first of July when I rented the building now occupied by McDonald's Confectionary, on Front Street," Hunt remembered in 1930.

Hunt also had his eye on another local townsite that also was being promoted in 1899. The town of Revilla in Ward Cove.

"I will state here that I came to Ketchikan from Wrangell during the previous February to investigate the situation and, at that time ex-Gov. A. P. Swineford and a man by the name of Harper had platted a town site at Ward Cove which was being agitated as the coming city, the better harbor facilities being urged in its favor, and the Pacific Coast Steamship Co. was induced to construct a wharf there during that spring," Hunt remembered three decades later. "I invested $15.00 in a lot there and quite a little activity was manifest during the early part of 1900; a store, sawmill and saloon were established at, what was then called Revilla and strong efforts were made for the removal of the custom house to Revilla, but the influence of Ketchikan overcame it and when the custom house came here the competition ended in favor of Ketchikan."

Although Revilla failed as a new community, Eugene Wacker homesteaded in Ward Cove several years later and the town of "Wacker City" eventually rose up with a small store, a post office and school that existed until the creation of the Ketchikan Pulp Mill in the early 1950s. - More...
Thursday - April 06, 2023

Quoting a news release from the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), this means the FLUP was released without consideration of the community of Whale Pass and how those living directly below the sale will be affected despite outcries from residents, Whale Pass Mayor Dawn Waldal-Anderson, and newly formed advocacy groups like Friends of Whale Pass. Currently, there is a tight 100-foot buffer zone between the clearcut sale area and resident property lines. What’s more, this sale - and other recently announced, old-growth sales like it including El Capitan Timber Sale — will affect tourism to the area, subsistence hunting, and quality of life for the residents of Whale Pass and Prince of Wales Island.

“The state's lack of empathy towards Whale Pass residents directly affected by the sale is apparent and disappointing,” says James Greeley, Whale Pass resident, member of Friends of Whale Pass, and The City of Whale Pass Councilmember. “They continue to plan on zero changes to property buffers and the dangerous and destructive use of cable logging directly above residential homes.”

“I am disappointed and frustrated by this decision, especially in terms of the potential to include Southeast State Forest and other state-managed lands in carbon storage programs. These parcels would add huge value to the pilot projects described in the Governor’s carbon bills,” says Katie Rooks, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council’s Policy Analyst. “Additionally, it is clear to me now that the Division of Forestry does not care about the Alaskans it harms with timber sales on public land; it seems obvious that the DOF cares only about extremely minimal and short-term benefits to the timber industry.” - More...
Thursday - April 06, 2023

Alaska: 2023 Studded Tire Removal Deadline Extended; Winter Driving Conditions Warrant Extended Studded Tire Use - Yesterday, Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell issued an emergency order extending the statutory deadline to remove studded tires from vehicles operating on Alaska roadways. Due to extended winter weather conditions across much of the state, the order was issued to ease the burden of Alaskans and ensure drivers can safely operate their vehicles during the extended winter season.

“Much of Alaska is experiencing prolonged winter weather after a heavy snow winter that has extended the ice season well into April,” said Commissioner Jim Cockrell. “This 15-day extension for the studded tire removal deadline will provide additional time to switch to regular tires without compromising safety.”

Alaskans living below the 60 North Latitude line, including Southeast, the Aleutian Chain, Southwest Alaska, Southern Kenai Peninsula, and Kodiak, may use studded tires on Alaska roadways until May 1, 2023.

Alaskans living above the 60 North Latitude line, including all portions of the Sterling Highway, may use studded tires on Alaska roadways until May 15, 2023. - More...
Thursday - April 06, 2023

Alaska: Willow Project Construction Begins, U.S. District Court Judge Denies Environmentalists’ Initial Efforts to Halt Project Posted & Edited By MARY KAUFFMAN - A federal judge on Monday ruled in favor of ConocoPhillips by denying a motion for preliminary injunction brought by environmental groups as part of a March 15, 2023  lawsuit challenging the Willow project in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The ruling allows construction activities planned for the remaining three weeks of the construction season, including constructing roads and a gravel mine as a first step toward developing a the oil-extraction operation.

The U.S. District Court Judge denied initial attempts by environmental groups to halt the Willow Project concluding that the balance of the equities and the public interest tip sharply against preliminary injunctive relief for the plaintiffs. Construction activities, including gravel work, were expected to begin on Willow Tuesday.

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), on Monday welcomed the federal judge’s decision denying a preliminary injunction requested by Lower 48 environmental groups against Alaska’s Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A). The Willow Project was reapproved by the Biden administration on March 13, 2023 after years of litigation and environmental review, and following a united statewide push from Alaskans. On March 24, the Alaska congressional delegation submitted an amicus brief in the case that was joined by both bodies of the Alaska Legislature. The judge cited the delegation’s amicus, as well as the Alaska Legislature’s unanimous resolution in support of Willow, in Monday’s ruling against the injunction.

“The ruling on the Willow Project [Monday] is a critical win for Alaska’s prosperity and future,” said Sen. Sullivan. “It was heartening to see how much weight the court gave to both the congressional amicus brief, which I was honored to lead and which the Alaska Legislature joined, and the Alaska Legislature’s unanimous resolution in support of Willow, which I handed to President Biden recently in the Oval Office. The court said that this demonstration of unanimous support from Alaska’s elected officials ‘tips strongly against’ efforts by Lower 48 radical NGOs to halt the Willow Project. Today’s ruling will likely face further frivolous legal challenges by these same Lower 48 radical groups who want to impoverish our state and our citizens. But we are prepared to defend the court’s most recent decision, including before the Ninth Circuit, and the future prosperity of Alaska for as long as it takes. When Alaskans are united, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. I want to thank the thousands of Alaskans from all backgrounds and corners of the state, as well as members of the Alaska Legislature, who spoke up with one voice in support of this project. This made a consequential difference. In particular, this is a win for Alaskans who live on the North Slope, whose ancestors have inhabited the lands closest to this project for thousands of years, and who bravely spoke out in support of the Willow Project.”

“This is good news as ConocoPhillips is moving forward, putting Alaskans to work on Willow,” said Sen. Murkowski, “While it is unfortunate that a responsible development project is being forced to fight through litigation every step of the way, I appreciate the court’s quick ruling to deny a preliminary injunction and let the project continue.”

“I am grateful that the court has recognized the fact that Willow is a well-planned and beneficial project for Alaska and the nation, and that this most recent lawsuit should not be allowed to overrule the wishes of Alaskans and the President while it is being litigated,” said Rep. Peltola.

Peitola said, “With this decision, the court acknowledges the years that the Willow Project has already spent under extensive litigation and environmental review, the approval of multiple levels of government, and the strong support for the project from the majority of affected Alaska Native groups. It’s finally time for Alaskans to get to work, and I look forward to seeing construction begin as we await the final resolution of this case.”

“This Court order validates Alaska’s high standards for the environment when it comes to oil production. It is also responsive to the unifying bilateral support demonstrated in our Alaska Legislature and from our Congressional Delegation, said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. "Alaskans understand that Willow will reinvigorate the Alaska economy with jobs, billions in State and local taxes and grants to North Slope communities.”

If Willow proceeds and produces according to projections, up to $4 billion is estimated to go into a development impact mitigation fund for grants for Alaska residents living near the development.

Up to 2,500 construction jobs and some 300 permanent jobs are projected to be created from Willow.

“It is heartening to hear that the Willow project can move forward, while we have to continue fighting this lawsuit. This will mean progress and jobs for Alaskans,” said Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor.

The Willow Project is an oil development, estimated to produce more than 600 million barrels over 30 years and is described as the largest project in size and scale to be developed on the North Slope in more than 20 years. - More...
Thursday - April 06, 2023