At a legislative hearing Thursday, former Gov. Bill Sheffield also said the bullet line needs state funding right now.
“If you had a gas line coming to Southcentral Alaska,” said Sheffield, it would create jobs and lower the cost of living.
Sheffield said lawmakers could take the “$4 billion or $5 billion” needed to build a bullet line and Alaskans would get access to inexpensive fuel. Or the state could pay for 49 percent of the pipeline and provide bonding for the rest.
Stevens said he didn’t want the state to build the pipeline but to invest in it. This would show the oil companies the state wants the pipeline built.
Former Gov. Frank Murkowski said he supports a bullet line and immediate action, but he did not call for an immediate subsidy. He said if it “pencils out,” it could be good for all Alaskans. He said a state investment equivalent to the state’s royalty share of gas would be appropriate.
The overriding question is how much of a state subsidy is required to get “cheap” fuel? We don’t know.
Before legislators appropriate billions for a project that is not designed yet, they ought to be able to answer that question.
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FAIRBANKS PIONEER: There ought to be a monument of some kind in Fairbanks for Jujiro Wada, one of the unsung founders of the community.
The Japanese adventurer, long-distance runner, mining promoter and soldier of fortune grew up in Matsuyama City in poverty. He left home at 16 to go to North America. After working on whaling ships and learning the secrets of dog team travel and life in the Far North, he made his way to Fairbanks with E.T. Barnette in 1902.
Barnette sent him to Dawson that winter to talk up the gold strike by Felix Pedro. There was talk of hanging Wada in 1903 because the promised gold boom did not materialize quickly, but in time Wada was proven correct. He had a spectacular series of other accomplishments in Alaska, including a 1909 expedition in which he helped establish the trail from Seward to Iditarod.
I mention this because Takami Doi, a retired school administrator from Wada’s home town, recently visited Fairbanks along with four other members of the Jujiro Wada Memorial Association.
The president of the association met with Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins to say how her group would like to establish stronger contacts with Fairbanks. She also said that perhaps Matsuyama should establish some formal ties with Fairbanks.
She would like students in her home town to learn more about Wada. I think it would benefit Alaskans to learn more about him as well.
One of the ideas several Alaskans are talking about is hosting a series of running events, perhaps in Seward, Nome and Fairbanks. Wada was a champion distance runner in the early 1900s, and he almost always participated in events at which large sums were wagered on the results.
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RELAY FOR LIFE: The organizers of the 15th annual Relay for Life would like to increase the number of teams in the 24-hour event to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
To that end, those who might like to form new teams are invited to the Noel Wien Library from 6-8 p.m. Monday to learn all about it. There are 38 teams signed up, and there is room for many more.
“We want people to know that while it’s called a relay, it really is a fun outing where the vast majority walks the track during the course of the event,” said Karen Mahlen, the publicity co-chair of the event.
“When they aren’t taking their turns walking the track, you can usually find them enjoying the music and other entertainment, visiting the other team campsites, participating in the many fun activities and games we have scheduled, or just relaxing at their own team campsite enjoying the camaraderie during the event.”
In addition, teams that are already registered for the relay are welcome to drop by and see what is planned for this summer. The event takes place June 4-5 at the West Valley High School track.
Columnist Dermot Cole can be contacted at cole@newsminer.com or 459-7530.
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