Cammunity, 
in 
•AIgAJzKI . . • PRESENT STATUS AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
A L A S K A!T"ir DEPARTM ENT OF HEALTH . . . 1949 Figure 1 
About 60% of 
Alaska is un- 
derlaid by 
permanently 
frozen ground 
(permafrost) 
In the most 
northerly sec- 
tions this per- 
mafrost often 
extends to a 
depth of sev- 
eral hundred 
feet. Qosvtesiti 
Introduction - 4 
Purpose of Report 6 
Scope of Report 6 
Definition of Terms 7 
Summary of Recommendations and Cost Estimates 8 
Summary of Existing Sanitary Facilities in Alaskan Communities 
of 200 and Over Population 9 
Waste Disposal Facilities 9 
Water Supplies 11 
Summary of Existing Hospital and Health Center Facilities in Alaska 14 
Hospitals 14 
Health Centers 16 
Tables 18 
Table A—Analysis of Existing Sewage Disposal Facilities in Communi- 
ties of 200 and Over Population, 1949 18 
Table B—Analysis of Existing Water Supply Facilities in Communities 
of 200 and Over Population, Alaska, 1949 24 
Table C—Analysis of Existing Hospital Facilities, Alaska, 1949 32 
Table D—Analysis of Existing Health Center Facilities, Alaska, 1949 37 
Method Used for Computing Costs of Community Facilities in Alaska 43 9nt^lO<lti4xUw4t 
The present status of community facilities in Alaska, 
especially as concerns water supplies and sewage dis- 
posal systems, can be summarized in a single statement: 
Adequate community facilities do not exist anywhere 
in the Territory of Alaska. 
It is safe to predict that stabilization of the popula- 
tion, and consequently of the economy of Alaska, will 
come only when potential residents can be assured of 
community environments which compare favorably 
with those of communities in the States. While it is 
true that many communities in the States still do not 
possess adequate sanitary and other health facilities, 
it will be noted that these communities do not attract 
population groups seeking permanent locations. In order 
attract permanent, homeseeking settlers to Alaska, the 
Territory must be able to offer both opportunities and 
environments which can compete successfully with the 
attractions available in the States. As a “frontier coun- 
try,” Alaska has undeniable romantic appeal for indi- 
viduals in search of adventure who may or may not 
become stable citizens. However, the practical business 
man, the investor and the average citizen in search of 
a permanent hame are generally not willing to accept 
the present make-shift, inadequate type of housing 
and community structure as a favorable location for 
setting up a business, a family or an industry. 
The four particular types of community facilities dis- 
cussed in this report—namely, water supplies, waste 
disposal systems, health centers and hospitals—are 
basic elements in the development of an adequate and 
healthful environment. Unless such facilities and their 
services are planned and provided according to mini- 
mum standards established to fit the particular needs, 
both current and future, of Alaskan communities, the 
present haphazard growth of the Territory with its 
concomitant risks to health, safety and comfort will 
continue as before. It is a sad and revealing commen- 
tary on the present situation in Alaska when departing 
visitors and residents express the feeling that at last 
they are “going back to civilization.” It is difficult to 
determine which is cause and which effect—are Alas- 
kans willing to put up with things as they are because 
they feel their stay is temporary? Or, are they unwilling 
to become more than transient residents because things 
are as they are? 
Improvement of existing conditions in Alaska is by 
no means a simple problem. The mere provision of a 
sufficient number of feet of sewer pipes, the construc- tion of a number of filtration or other water treatment 
plants of the latest type, or the erection of modern 
health center or hospital facilities, will be of little 
value unless the improvements and new construction 
are planned and designed specifically to fit the needs 
of Alaskan communities. There is, for example, no 
ready answer as yet to the problem of providing ade- 
quate water supplies for communities in Arctic areas 
at reasonable cost where permafrost conditions render 
the use of accepted methods impractical. Many of the 
needed improvements will necessarily have to wait 
until preliminary research and experimentation can be 
carried out and satisfactory solutions found for many 
of the present problems. There are, however, a number 
of “sore spots” in the sub-Arctic which can and should 
be taken care of immediately, provided sufficient funds 
are made available. 
must take into account the future probable growth as 
well as the immediate needs of the community. 
Estimating population growth in Alaska is a risky 
business. There has been no official census in Alaska 
since 1940, just prior to the start of the Territory’s 
period of phenomenal growth. For example, Anchorage 
in 1940 was listed as having a population of 3,495. 
Current estimates place the present population of 
Anchorage at somewhere between 20,000 and 35,000, 
with 20,000 a conservative minimum. The major popu- 
lation centers in the Territory have all experienced 
marked growth in the past eight years. No one can 
safely predict the future rate of growth of these same 
communities, although some planners go so far as to 
predict that Alaska will eventually have a population 
of ten million persons. 
The adequacy of existing facilities as described in 
this report, is, of necessity, measured in terms of exist- 
ing populations. Recommendations for needed improve- 
ments and new construction are based on an antici- 
pated reasonable rate of growth, with an expected 5 
to 10 per cent increase over a period of 10 years. 
Although it is quite possible that actual growth will 
considerably exceed this suggested rate, it is felt that 
for sound planning, expectations must be kept within 
reasonable limits. 
The analysis of the current status of community facil- 
ities in Alaska is relatively simple; a facility is either 
adequate or inadequate according to accepted standards. 
But a true evaluation of needs must take into account 
future as well as current demands. To design or make 
improvements in a water supply and distribution sys- 
tem for a community such as Anchorage, the planner 
5 As far as health center and hospital needs are con- 
cerned, similar allowances must be made for popula- 
tion growth and increased needs. In general, however, 
the need for such facilities and their probable locations 
can be estimated according to the pattern of growth 
already established. Areas which are destined to be- 
come medical centers are usually those which attract 
the greatest number of persons. These areas have been 
fairly well defined in Alaska. 
SCOPE OF REPORT 
Although all community facilities have a direct or 
indirect bearing on the maintenance of a healthy envi- 
ronment, the scope of the present report is specifically 
limited to those particular facilities which are of imme- 
diate concern to the Alaska Department of Health; 
namely, facilities for the collection, protection and dis- 
tribution of domestic water supplies; facilities for the 
collection and disposal of sewage and other wastes; 
health center facilities for rendering local community 
health services; and hospital facilities for the care of the 
sick and injured in the community. 
It is both unnecessary and impossible to discuss in 
detail the present status and needs of each of the 481 
communities which are included within the Territory 
of Alaska. The population of the majority of these com- 
munities is so small that there is no likelihood that they 
will require or be financially able to maintain com- 
munity facilities within the near future. Since it is a 
generally accepted principle that a population of at 
least 200 persons is the smallest unit which can satisfac- 
torily maintain and operate a community water supply 
or waste disposal system, this figure has been used as 
a base line in selecting the communities to be included 
in the survey of existing sanitary facilities and in deter- 
mining future needs. 
PURPOSE OF REPORT 
This report has been prepared for the specific pur- 
pose of presenting an up-to-date review of the status 
of certain existing community facilities and to sum- 
marize the need for additional construction and im- 
provements, indicating current estimated costs of 
proposed facilities or additions. 
The information contained in the report has been 
gathered and compiled within Alaska from reports of 
first-hand observations by special consultants in sani- 
tation, engineering, hospital and health center con- 
struction, and from data available from the files and 
records of the Division of Sanitation and Engineering, 
the Division of Public Health Nursing and the Hospital 
Survey and Construction Unit of the Alaska Depart- 
ment of Health. DEFINITION OF TERMS 
collection systems, many dwellings and even business 
establishments, although equipped with necessary 
plumbing fixtures, are not connected with the com- 
munity system, relying on private cesspools or sewers 
for waste disposal. 
For the purpose of this report, the term “public water 
supply” includes any water supply which is available 
to the public or which serves 25 or more persons, 
whether publicly or privately owned. Therefore, any 
supply serving an office building, dwelling, school, road- 
house or other establishment which furnishes water 
for 25 persons is defined as a “public water supply.” 
Similarly, a well or pump used by a number of families 
is also classified as a public water supply if the mem- 
bers of the several families number 25 or more. 
The term “Health Center” is used in the present 
report to describe any facility which serves as a center 
for public health activities in a given community or 
area. This facility provides both clinic and office space 
for such public health personnel as may be stationed in 
the community or area. Health center facilities in iso- 
lated areas must include living quarters for the nurse 
and for itinerant physicians. Ideally, they should also 
include two beds for treatment of out-patients by visit- 
ing physicians. These beds are not intended for mater- 
nity care or for isolation, but rather for rapid treat- 
ment of venereal disease patients or other short term 
treatments. The size of the facility should naturally be 
determined by the number of people served. In Alaska, 
however, it has often been necessary to make use of 
whatever building or space was available regardless of 
size or suitability, and to fit the program to the avail- 
able space. 
Any and every sewage disposal facility in a commu- 
nity is a potential health hazard to that community, re- 
gardless of the number of people served. A single privy 
on private premises can, if maintained in an unsani- 
tary condition, constitute a public health menace. Thus, 
in judging the adequacy of the sewage disposal facili- 
ties of a given community, it is necessary to take into 
consideration every method which is used for sewage 
collection and disposal within that community. Accord- 
ingly, no system of sewage disposal in any Alaskan 
community can be said to be entirely satisfactory since 
there are practically none of them which do not include 
private facilities which are invariably in a sad state of 
sanitation. Even in those towns which have community 
There are many definitions of the word “hospital,” 
but for present purposes a hospital is defined as a facil- ity which provides bed care for ill and/or injured 
persons, including both long and short term illnesses, 
Both general and special facilities, such as tuberculosis 
and orthopedic hospitals, are covered by this report. 
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND COST ESTIMATES OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN ALASKA 
Number of 
New Facilities 
Recommended 
Number of Expansions 
or Improvements of Existing 
Facilities Recommended 
Estimated Costs— 
New Construction 
and Improvements 
Waste Disposal Facilities 
38 
20 
$ 8,111,662 
Water Supply Facilities 
29 
29 
11,456,930 
Hospital Facilities1 
_. 9 
6 
9,100,000 
Health Center Facilities . . 
30 
3 
1,509,500 
Totals 
106 
58 
$30,178,092 
Exclusive of Federal (Gov.) Facilities. Summary 0-jj QaiAtincj, Sanitary tyaoditieA in Alaskan CammnnitieA. ajf 200 
and Ooj&i Papulation 
WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES 
There are fifty-eight communities in Alaska of 200 
or over population; none of these fifty-eight communi- 
ties have completely satisfactory waste disposal facili- 
ties. 
Of the fifty-eight communities— 
5 have community sewage disposal systems, all 
of which are in need of some improvements, 
replacements or extensions. 
8 have partial community systems, supplemented 
by private facilities. 
45 have no community sewage disposal facilities 
and rely entirely on private sewers, cesspools 
and privies. 
The four largest towns and cities in Alaska, ranging 
from 7,000 to 20,000 population, include large sections 
(with both commercial establishments and private 
dwellings) served only by private facilities. 
This sewer outfall in Cordova, Alaska, is typical of 
many to be found in coastal towns throughout Alas- 
ka. Such outfalls should be extended to a point 
below the low tide mark. 
Of the 13 communities having partial or entire com- munity systems, all discharge the sewage into tidal 
estuaries and rivers without treatment. Two of these 
systems were originally provided with treatment facili- 
ties, consisting only of settling tanks, but neither of 
these plants is being used currently because of the 
tremendous operating costs. 
fast-growing communities, now completely dependent 
on private facilities. In many instances, private sewers, 
cesspools or privies are located without regard to their 
proximity to private or public water supplies. As con- 
gestion increases in these areas, the actual and potential 
contamination of water supplies will increase. This 
hazardous situation will continue to exist until com- 
munity sewage disposal systems have been installed. 
At the present time, sewage disposal facilities in the 
entire Territory can be said to be only 10 per cent 
adequate, chiefly for the following reasons: 
Many of the existing community systems are 
equipped with old wood stave pipes, wooden box 
sewers and other worn out or outmoded equipment. 
In several instances, the sewer outfalls are inade- 
quate in length and size, or unsuitably located. 
Nearly all of the existing systems serve only 
limited sections of the community and should be 
extended to include all business and residential 
areas within or immediately adjacent to the cor- 
porate limits of the town or city. 
Community sewage disposal facilities which exist in 
towns located within the permafrost area are frequently 
put out of commission by freezing because of faulty 
design, location or construction of equipment. 
"Privy Town." outskirts of Anchorage. Alaska. Typical 
concentration of "sanitary" facilities in rapidly growing 
residential section within city limits. 
Community systems are badly needed in many of the 
10 WATER SUPPLIES 
wells and cisterns are located in close proximity to 
actual or potential sources of contamination, such as 
privies, cesspools and sewer outfalls. 
There are 336 public water supplies on record in the 
files of the Alaska Department of Health. Many of these 
supplies are serving individual schools, roadhouses and 
other establishments. 
Sixty-three of the 336 supplies are located in com- 
munities of 200 and over population. These 63 supplies, 
according to recent bacteriological tests, are classified 
as follows: 
Satisfactory 10 
Questionable 46 
Unsatisfactory 7 
Forty-three of the 63 public supplies are derived 
from surface water sources, 15 from ground sources 
and 5 from combined surface and ground sources. 
Eleven of the 63 existing public water supplies receive 
some form of treatment, chiefly chlorination alone. The 
remaining 52 public supplies receive no treatment of 
any kind. 
Of the 34 piped supplies, none is adequate from the 
point of view of equipment, extent of piping and capac- 
ity of source during various seasons. The remaining 29 
supplies are individually obtained from wells, rivers, 
melted ice and so forth. 
In a number of communities, water intakes, private 
Open wells, such as this one located near the center of 
Alaska's largest city, are customary sources of water in 
many communities throughout the Territory. During ihe winter freeze-up, October to May, residents of 
Nome, Alaska, have their water supply delivered to the door 
by trucks such as this one. Several communities, located within the permafrost 
area, find it necessary to maintain two separate water 
supplies: one for domestic use, usually distributed by 
truck from door to door; another for fire fighting and 
other non-domestic purposes, distributed through pipes 
laid along the surface of the ground, which can be 
utilized in summer only. The water distributed by 
truck is usually taken from wells which are tested at 
intervals, but there is no control over possible contam- 
ination between the time the water leaves the well and 
the time it reaches the consumer. Protection of hoses, 
nozzles and other equipment used in door-to-door dis- 
tribution depends entirely on the operator of the 
service. 
on the basis of future growth; most of them have, 
therefore, been out-grown for many years. 
Flow of contamination ——*■ 
Water supply mains < 
LEGEND 
Ft. 
Richardson 
Roads 
Streets 
Railroad •**”♦*« 
Garbage dumps 
Arctic' 
valley 
ski 
bowl 
KNI K 
ARM 
In most of the larger growing centers of population 
where community distribution systems do exist, they 
supply only a portion of the existing population. Few 
of these communities planned their original facilities 
\ ANCHORAGE CITY WATER SHED 
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION 
Figure 2 SnmmaSuj, of StUjJintf and ottealtlt Genten, tf-axUlitl&i In Alaska 
Hospital Facilities 
of log or wood frame construction. Several were for- 
merly schools, apartment houses, private dwellings, 
Federal jails, orphanages, Masonic temples, or Ameri- 
can Legion halls. 
There are 24 hospitals now serving the estimated 
94,875' civilian population of Alaska. The 25th is near- 
ing completion at Nome. 
Twenty-two, including the new facility, are general 
hospitals ranging in size from 8 to 83 beds; two are 
Tuberculosis Sanatoriums of 156 and 130 beds; and one 
is a 65-bed Orthopedic Hospital. The location, type, 
ownership and size of each hospital is shown in Table 
C. 
According to the standards established under the Hos- 
pital Survey and Construction Program, 78% of the 
beds in the 14 general hospitals operated by church or 
The total number of available hospital beds in each 
category includes: 
General 702 
Tuberculosis 286 
Orthopedic 65 
Alaska has no beds for mental patients or chronic 
disease patients, and no facilities for isolation of com- 
municable diseases other than tuberculosis. 
Many of the existing hospital beds are housed in 
buildings which are completely unsuited for use as 
hospitals. Many of the structures are ancient fire traps 
Hudson Stuck Memorial Hospital. Fort Yukon, Alaska. Only 
hospital serving large section of Interior. Totally inadequate 
for present needs. 
Estimate by Alaska Development Board, Sept. 1948. other non-governmental agencies have been declared 
of the wide dispersion of the population in numerous 
small isolated communities. 
non-acceptable because of the physical condition of the 
buildings in which they are located. 
Additional beds are badly needed in all categories, 
but especially for mental illness and tuberculosis. 
Eighty additional beds have been authorized in quon- 
set hut additions to four existing government hos- 
pitals; four hundred of the 500 beds authorized at An- 
chorage in the proposed government hospital will be 
used for tuberculosis hospitalization. The 480 additional 
Many isolated villages, which have too small a year- 
round population to afford a hospital, often have a 
seasonal influx of one to two thousand workers, creat- 
ing acute problems regarding hospitalization of sick 
and injured workers. Gold mining, logging, fishing, 
cannery operations and highway and railroad construc- 
tion are all seasonal occupations which cause yearly 
fluctuations in population. Many communities experi- 
ence a considerable influx of tourists on an increasing 
scale. Several of the coastal towns, particularly Nome, 
are expected to provide hospitalization for ivory carv- 
ers from King and St. Lawrence Islands. 
Many small communities are dependent on the hos- 
pital facilities of the nearest large town for care of 
their sick and injured. Some of these communities are 
frequently completely cut off during the winter 
months. Transportation of patients to the nearest facil- 
ity often involves miles of expensive time-consuming 
and often dangerous travel. 
The usual formula for determining hospital bed needs 
on a population basis is not applicable in Alaska because 
Providence Hospilal, Anchorage, Alaska. Completed in 1939. 
(76 beds.) Inadequate for present and future needs. 
15 authorized beds plus the 286 existing tuberculosis beds 
will provide a total of 766 beds which falls far short of 
the 1,000 tuberculosis beds recommended by experts as 
the minimum number needed in Alaska immediately.1 
are located in structures completely separated and 
often at some distance from the existing hospital. At 
least 14 other communities and areas badly need health 
center facilities. 
Most of the existing Centers are housed in buildings 
which were originally constructed and are still being 
used principally for other purposes. With few excep- 
tions, the majority of the Centers are located on the 
second floors of old frame buildings, shared by other 
All mental patients in the Territory must be sent to 
Morningside Hospital in Portland, Oregon, approxi- 
mately 1,200 miles from Juneau. There are currently 
335 Alaskan patients at Morningside. The average an- 
nual census of patients from Alaska is approximately 
350. The care of these patients, excluding the costs of 
transportation to Portland, amounts to approximately 
$480,648 annually. 
To date, only one community has been financially 
able to raise the funds required for matching, two to 
one, the Federal allotments provided under the Hospital 
Survey and Construction Program. It is unlikely that 
many of the communities in most acute need of new 
facilities or expansion of existing hospitals will be able 
to finance their construction without Federal and 
Territorial assistance. 
Health Center Facilities 
There are 21 Health Centers and two auxiliary facili- 
ties in Alaska. With a single exception, all 23 facilities 
lAMA Reports 1947, 1948. 
Health Center, Naknek, Alaska. Houses both health center 
facility and living quarters for public health nurse. Inade- 
quate to meet present needs. community facilities such as fire departments, town 
libraries, shops and so forth. Most of the buildings are 
crowded, in poor physical condition, with steep, nar- 
row stairways which make it difficult for pregnant 
mothers and those with young children to attend clinics 
and classes. 
In communities which need health centers and where 
there is little likelihood that the existing hospital will 
be replaced in the near future, it is recommended that 
the proposed health center be attached, or at least 
adjacent to the existing hospital. 
The construction of separate health center facilities 
is recommended for those communities in which the 
size of the community and/or the location of the exist- 
ing hospital precludes the construction of a health 
center as part of the facility. 
Several of the Centers have no running water or 
toilet facilities, and must either share these in other 
parts of the building, or use makeshift arrangements. 
Three of the Centers are in buildings which were 
built 33 to 37 years ago, and which have served in the 
past as schools, stores, or living quarters. A number of 
the Centers are in “condemned” or abandoned Alaska 
Native Service installations. 
None of the existing Centers, including those most 
recently constructed, have adequate space for current 
needs and all of them will obviously be even more 
cramped for space as the communites grow. 
It is recommended that, wherever possible, new 
health center facilities be built as units of local general 
hospitals, either existing or proposed. It is felt that 
most Alaskan communities will benefit, both financially 
and physically, by provision of a combined facility 
of this type. The new hospital now under construction 
at Nome is the first combined facility in Alaska. 
Community Health Center, Anchorage. Alaska. One of the 
newest and most modern facilities in Alaska, already out- 
grown by rapidly expanding community. 
17 TABLE A 
ANALYSIS OF EXISTING SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN COMMUNITIES OF 200 AND OVER POPULATION 
ALASKA, 1949 
Community— 
Population' 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS2 
Method of Collection 
Means of Disposal 
Akiak 
(Permafrost) 
209 
No public system. 
Individual collection and 
dumping of waste into river 
or on ground surface. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Anchorage 
20,000* 
Public sewer system, privies 
and private facilities. 
Public system discharges in- 
to Cook Inlet, untreated. Pri- 
vate facilities discharge on 
surface. 
Public system serves only part of city. Should be 
extended to serve all of city proper and as much 
of outskirts as possible. Storm sewers needed. 
Privies and other private facilities generally in 
bad shape—considerable improvement needed. 
Angoon 
342 
No public system. 
Privies and water flush toi- 
lets discharging directly to 
beach. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Barrow 
(Permafrost) 
750* 
No public system. Few (2) 
privies. Chemical toilets at 
Govt. Bldgs. Slop jars. Many 
sod huts without convention- 
al means of waste collection. 
Individual families empty 
slop jars into oil drums 
which are dragged onto ice 
in bay to be carried off in 
Spring breakup. Hit or miss 
system of collection. Fami- 
lies without facilities use ad- 
jacent surface area. 
Organized scavenger service for placing and col- 
lecting oil drums or other receptacles badly need- 
ed. Some one person or persons should be instruct- 
ed, paid and made responsible. Long term investi- 
gation needed to further develop safe, economical 
and practical methods of disposal for permafrost 
areas. Reports of gastro-intestinal disturbances 
frequent—no evidence of source. 
Bethel 
(Permafrost) 
450* 
No public system. 
Individual collection and 
dumping of waste into river, 
on ice or on ground surface. 
Wastes deposited on ice in river and carried ashore 
during Spring breakup. Gastro intestinal out- 
breaks common during this period. Public system 
would require provision of heat to prevent freez- 
ing. Recommended that new waste disposal system 
(with provision for heat) be provided. 
Chignik 
224 
No public system. 
Individual collection and 
dumping. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Chilkoot Barracks 
337 
Community sewer system. 
Discharged to tide water. 
Rehabilitate and extend system. | 
College 
(Permafrost) 
234 
No public system. University 
has own collection system 
and septic tank. 
Privies and cesspools in vil- 
lage. 
Insanitary conditions due to poor drainage because 
of character of soil and existence of permafrost. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Population (1948). 
2Provision of community sewer system will necessarily depend on the availability of a community water system. TABLE A—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS8 
Method of Collection i Means of Disposal 
Cordova 
1,500* 
Public sewer system. 
Private sewers. 
Privies. 
Sewer outfalls empty above 
low tide mark. Private sew- 
ers discharge untreated into 
small streams. Insanitary 
type privy. 
Outfalls should be extended below low tide mark 
to prevent pollution of beach area. Rehabilitate 
and extend sewer swstem. 
Craig 
500* 
No public system. 25% flush 
toilets and private sewers. 
75% cesspools and privies. 
Private sewers empty on 
beach above low tide mark. 
Private sewers in poor repair. Construct com- 
munity sewer system. 
Deering 
(Permafrost) 
230 
No public system. 
Individual collection and 
dumping of wastes. 
Construct' sewer system. 
Dillingham 
450* 
No public system. Private 
means of collection. 
Private disposal by privies 
and dumping on ground sur- 
face. 
Construct sewer system. 
Douglas 
525* 
Public system serves large 
proportion of town. Some 
private sewers; some privies. 
Discharge below low tide 
mark into channel. Private 
sewers discharge chiefly on- 
to beach above low tide 
mark. Some privies located 
over beach. 
Extend public sewers to all parts of community. 
Eyak 
365 
No public system. Cesspools 
and privies. 
Individual collection and 
dumping. 
Construct’ sewer system. 
Fairbanks 
(Permafrost) 
8,500* 
Public sewer system in cen- 
ter of town. Much of resi- 
dential area served by septic 
tanks or cesspools. 
Sewage discharged untreated 
into Chena River. 
System constructed 1938-39 for domestic sewage 
only. Storm sewers connected later. System now 
inadequate for growing city. System improperly 
constructed—low grades permit easy freezing, back 
flow. Serves only limited section of city. Difficult 
and expensive to operate (Operating costs winter 
1947-—$40,000). Rehabilitate and extend system. 
Fort Yukon 
(Permafrost) 
500* 
No public system. 
Private disposal. Chiefly in- 
sanitary privies, and indi- 
vidual collection and dump- 
ing. 
Construct sewer system. 
Gambell 
(Permafrost) 
296 
No public system. No privies 
-—slop buckets used. 
Bucket’s are dumped into 
ocean or on ice. 
Construct sewer system. 
Haines 
400* 
Inadequate system. Privies 
and cesspools. 
Sewage discharges into open 
drainage ditches. 
Clay subsoil does not permit proper drainage. Fre- 
quent failure of water supply interferes with 
sewage disposal. Rehabilitate and extend sewer 
system. TABLE A—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population1 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS* 
Method of Collection ] Means of Disposal 
Holy Cross 
(Permafrost) 
226 
No community system. 
Individual collection and 
dumping. 
Construct sewer system. 
Homer 
325* 
Privies, open ditches, septic 
tanks. (Private sewers—ho- 
tels and schools.) 
Sewage drains down slope 
into Cook Inlet. 
Construct sewer system. 
Hoonah 
716 
Community system. Few pri- 
vate sewers and privies. 
School has septic tank and 
emergency sewer to beach. 
Outfall on beach for com- 
munity system, which does 
not extend throughout vil- 
lage. 
Only one outfall for entire community, located 
above low tide mark. Extend sewers. 
Hooper Bay 
(Permafrost) 
325* 
No outhouses or other ap- 
parent means of disposal. 
Village 2/3 sod houses. 
Chemical toilets at school. 
Construct sewer system. 
Hydaburg j 348 J Privies: few private sewers. 
Deposit on beach or drain- i Construct sewer system, 
age into soil. 
Juneau 
7,000* 
Community sewers. Private 
sewers. Some houses with 
sewers not connected to com- 
munity system. Some native 
homes without any facilities. 
Privies. 
Community sewer discharges 
into tidal estuary. Sewage 
from houses not connected 
seeps into soil. Homes with- 
out facilities dump on flats 
or carry to beach. 
Entirely inadequate in many sections. Extend and 
repairs sewers—connect dwellings to existing 
sewers. 
Kake 
410 
No community system. Priv- 1 Sewers empty on beach, 
ies. Few sanitary toilets. 
Construct sewer system. 
Kenai 
303 
Pit privies, or surface of 
ground. 
Poor construction. Not re- 
paired. Generally insanitary. 
Construct sewer system. 
Ketchikan 
1 
7,000* 
Municipal sewers. Many pri- 
vate sewers. Some establish- 
ments discharge directly on- 
to beach. 
Some sewage discharged into 
creek running through 
town. 235 outfalls into 
Ketchikan Creek—important 
spawning stream. Creek 
flows through densely pop- 
ulated area. Other sewers 
discharge above low tide 
mark on beach. 
Inadequate disposal. Extend sewers to point below 
low tide line. Frequent reports of gastrointes- 
tinal disturbances in past. Rehabilitate and ex- 
tend system. 
King Island 
(Permafrost) 
208 | Individual collection— 
1 
and disposal. 
Construct sewer system. TABLE A—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population1 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS* 
Method of Collection 
Means of Disposal 
Klawock 
455 
No public system. 90% priv- 
ies, 10% private sewer lines 
—most in bad condition. 
Privies in poor sanitary con- 
dition. 
Sewers empty directly on 
beach. Privies a menace. 
Construction of community sewer system recom- 
mended. 
Kodiak 
1.200* 
Limited system—some priv- 
ies, cesspools, septic tanks, 
70-80% of town served. 
Sewage dumped into bay 
above low tide. Privies and 
private facilities not' satis- 
factory because of soil (bed- 
rock). 
Community sewer system should be extended and 
improved. 
Kotzebue 
(Permafrost) 
400* 
(Summer pop- 
ulation ap- 
prox. 1,000) 
Mo plumbing or sewers. 
Chemical toilets in some 
homes. Deposit' of waste on 
surface common. 
Chemical toilets dumped in- 
to oil cans and hauled onto 
ice. No organized system of 
collection. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Kwinhagak 
224 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Metlakatla 
674 
Village sewered. 
Flows into Bay. 
Rehabilitate and extend sewer system. | 
Nenana 
(Permafrost) 
250* 
2 sewer lines. Limited capac- 
ity. Pit privies. 
Empties into Tanana River. 
Privies poorly constructed 
and ill-kept. Sewer system 
inadequate. 
Rehabilitate and extend sewer system. 
Noatak 
(Permafrost) 
336 | 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct sewer system. 
Nome 
(Permafrost) 
1,600* 
Box and can. Few cesspools 
along beach. 
Scavenger service. Dump 
waste on frozen beach. Mo- 
tor truck used with heated 
tank and hot water for 
flushing cans. 
Construct sewer system. 
Noorvik 
(Permafrost) 
211 j 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct sewer system. 
Ouzinkie 
253 
Private open privies. 
Surface disposal. 
Construct sewer system. 1 
Palmer 
1,500* 
Public sewer system. 
2 outfalls into river. 
Extend sewer system. | 
Petersburg 
1,500* 
Community system serves 
most of city—few privies or 
cesspools. 
Existing wood box sewers need replacing. System 
should be extended to serve entire community. TABLE A—(Conlinued) 
Community— 
Population' 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS3 
Method of Collection 
Means of Disposal 
Rampart 
(Permafrost) 
200* 
No community system. 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct sewer system. 
St. Paul Island 
299 
Community system. 
Completely Government owned and controlled sys- 
tem. 
Savoonga 
(Permafrost) 
209 
No privies—slop bucket's. 
Dumped at mouth of river. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Selawick 
(Permafrost) 
239 
No community system. 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Seldovia 
400* 
No public system. Private 
sewers. Privies. 
Sewers discharge on beach. 
Important fishing center—influx of workmen in ] 
summer. Construct community sewer system. 
Seward 
1,000* 
90% town sewered. Wooden 
pipes, few septic tanks and 
cesspools. 
5 outfalls into Resurrection 
Bay above low tide mark. 
Gastro-intestinal diturbances reported. Pipes and 
wooden box sewers need replacing. Outfalls should 
be extended—privies need overhauling. 
Shishmaref 
(Permafrost) 
257 
Mostly deposited on surface. 
Some can toilets. 
Dumped on surface. 
Construct community sewer spstem. 
Sitka 
2,000* 
Public system serving most 
of town. Few privies and pri- 
vate sewers. 
Discharge into tide water. 
Privies and private sewers 
outside corporate limits 
mostly. 
Outfalls in poor condition—should be extended. 
New outfalls needed to divert discharge from area 
to be developed. 
Skagway 
650* 
Sewer system, private sew- 
ers, septic tanks, some cess- 
pools, privies. 
Empties into Lynn Canal 
above low tide. 
Extend system. 
Tanana 
(Permafrost) 
300* 
Individual collection— 
Privies. Hospital has sewers 
and septic tank. 
and disposal. 
Hospital sewer discharges 
into Yukon River. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Tigara 
(Permafrost) 
257 
Box and can system. 
Individual collection— 
and disposal. 
Construct community system. 
Unalakleet 
(Permafrost) 
329 
No community system. 
Government installation has 
septic tank and cesspool. 
Other collection and dispo- 
sal individual proposition. 
Construct sewer system. 
Unalaska 
600* 
No community system. Pri- 
vate sewers ; privies. 
Discharges directly into bay 
or river, or cesspools. Sew- 
age accumulates on beach. 
Privies unsatisfactory. Sewer 
outfall from hospital emp- 
ties below low tide. 
Construct community sewer system. TABLE A—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population1 
PRESENT METHODS AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS* 
Method of Collection 
Means of Disposal 
Valdez 
600* 
No community system. 
Sewers empty into 3 small 
streams running through 
town, or into cesspools. 
Unsatisfacory—much sewage discharges into wa- 
ter table which is only 1-2 feet below ground 
level. Construct community sewer system. 
Wainwright 
(Permafrost) 
341 
No community system. 
Individual collection and dis- 
posal with slop buckets. 
Construct community sewer system. 
Wasilla 
200* 
Privies and cesspools. 
Seepage pits. 
Cesspools and privies located too near wells. Con- 
struct community sewer system. 
Wrangell 
1,200* 
Public sewer system ; private 
sewers ; privies ; cesspools ; 
some without any facilities. 
Wood box sewers. Private 
sewers discharge directly on- 
to beach above low tide. 
Generally unsatisfactory condition—wood box sew- 
ers broken and leaking. Rehabilitate and extend 
sewer system. 
Y akutat 
292 
Privies or no facilities. 
Pit or surface disposal. 
Mostly insanitary open priv- 
ies. Cesspools at school, hos- 
pital and cannery. 
Construct community sewer system. TABLE B 
ANALYSIS OF EXISTING WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES IN COMMUNITIES OF 200 AND OVER POPULATION 
ALASKA, 1949 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality3 
Akiak 
(Permafrost)3 
209 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Private sources or Kusko- 
kwim River water used. Community supply 
should be provided by developing source 
and constructing treatment and distribu- 
tion facilities. 
Anchorage 
20,000* 
Surface 
60% of present popula- 
tion served. Present 
mains insufficient in 
number and size. 
Chlor. 
Satisfactory 
Present source subject to contamination. 
Distribution system inadequate. Develop 
new source, intake works, transmission 
lines, provide treatment and rehabilitate 
distribution system. 
Angoon 
342 
Surface 
2 outlets in buildings. 
4 public faucets. 
4 hydrants. 
None 
Questionable 
Present source—drainage from muskeg 
swamp, inadequate and unprotected. Addi- 
tional or new source should be developed, 
water treatment provided and distribution 
system extended. 
Barrow 
(Permafrost) 
750* 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Hauled from lake in bar- 
rels in summer. Ice melted in winter. De- 
velop adequate source, provide treatment 
facilities and construct distribution system 
suitable for use in permafrost. (Perma- 
frost 900 feet deep.) 
Bethel 
(Permafrost) 
450* 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Community dependent on 
river, tundra lakes, rainwater and melted 
ice. Develop adequate and safe source, pro- 
vide treatment and distribution facilities 
suitable for use in permafrost. 
Chignik 
224 
Ground 
None—save for can- 
nery (private) supply. 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Private unprotected wells. 
Yearly outbreaks of gastro-intestinal dis- 
turbances reported. Develop more adequate 
community source, provide treatment facili- 
ties and distribution system. 
1Unless starred (*), population figures are as of 1940 census. Starred figures indicate estimates as of 1948. 
bacteriology quality is indicated as “satisfactory,” "questionable” or “unsatisfactory” in accordance with U.S.P.H.S. drinking water standards. 
Communities with permafrost problems so indicated. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality* 
Chilkoot Barracks 
337 
Surface 
Limited distribution 
system. 
Chlor. 
Questionable 
Lake source, watershed open to trespass. 
Provide emergency ground water source, 
treatment facilities, and extend distribution 
system. 
College I 234 
(Permafrost) 
i 
Ground 
None—save at Univer- 
sity of Alaska. 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply for community. Shallow 
wells along Jenny M. River subject to con- 
tamination. Develop community source, 
provide treatment and distribution system. 
Cordova 
1,500* 
Surface 
Mains inadequate in 
number and size. 
None 
Satisfactory 
Reservoir not adequate year round. Develop 
additional supply, provide treatment and 
rehabilitate distribution system. 
Craig 
500* 
Surface 
Pipe line poorly con- 
structed. Subject to 
freezing. Not adequate 
to supply entire village. 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
Present storage capacity inadequate when 
canneries are operating. Supply often fails 
during dry or freezing weather. Develop 
additional source, provide treatment, reha- 
bilitate and extend distribution system. 
Deering 
(Permafrost) 
230 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Individual families get 
own supplies from creek, melted ice, and so 
forth. Develop source, provide treatment 
and distribution facilities suitable for per- 
mafrost area. 
Dillingham 
450* 
Surface 
and 
Ground 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Natural springs and shal- 
low wells used as source. Typhoid reported 
1948. Develop community source and pro- 
vide treatment and distribution facilities. 
Douglas 
525* 
Surface 
Mains extend to only 
part of community. 
Chlor. 
Unsatisfactory 
Unprotected surface source ; dwellings, ski 
and foot trails on watershed. Frequent 
laboratory reports of contamination. Chlor- 
ination carried on irregularly. Further de- 
velopment of source and additional treat- 
ment and distribution facilities necessary. 
Eyak 
365 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Sources subject to con- 
tamination. Develop source and provide 
treatment and distribution facilities. 
Fairbanks 
(Permafrost) 
8,500* 
Ground 
Limited piped supply 
in business district, pri- 
vate wells, bottled wa- 
fer or tank truck de- 
livery to door. 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply for domestic use. Bottled 
water and water distributed by truck tested 
at source. No possible control over potential 
avenues of contamination during delivery 
to consumer. Develop community source, 
provide treatment and distribution facili- 
ties suitable for use in permafrost. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System | Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality2 
Fort Yukon 
(Permafrost) 
500* 
Surface 
None 
Nona 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water obtained from riv- 
er, subject to contamination. Develop safe 
community source, provide treatment and 
distribution facilities suitable for use in 
permafrost. 
Cambell 
(Permafrost) 
296 
Surface 
and 
Ground 
Partial piped supply, 
some wells, melted ice 
and snow. 
None 
Questionable 
Lake formerly source of piped supply con- 
taminated by sea water. Many families now 
using old condemned well and ice. Many 
cases of diarrhea reported. Develop source, 
provide treatment and distribution system 
suitable for use in permafrost. 
Haines 
400* 
Surface 
Old wooden pipes in 
need of constant re- 
pair. Piping not ade- 
quate. 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
Present supply entirely inadequate—ob- 
tained from creek and muskeg swamp. Sub- 
ject to contamination and frequent failure. 
Develop source, provide treatment, rehabil- 
itate and extend distribution system. 
Holy Cross 
(Permafrost) 
226 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Doubtful private sources 
used—chiefly river. Develop community 
source, provide treatment and distribution 
facilities suitable for use in permafrost. 
Homer 
325* 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water hauled by bucket 
through hole in ice on creek ; several “un- 
improved” privies on creek. Some dug 
wells. Cases of “stomach flu” reported at 
intervals. Develop community source, pro- 
vide treatment and distribution facilities. 
Hoonab 
716 
Surface 
% of community served 
by piped supply. 
None 
Questionable 
Supply reported as fairly adequate although 
subject to contamination. Gastro-intestinal 
disturbances reported—water suspected. De- 
velop emergency ground water source, pro- 
vide treatment and extend distribution. 
Hooper Bay 
(Permafrost) 
325* 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water obtained by bucket 
from small lake % mile from village. Gas- 
tro-intestinal disturbances reported. Devel- 
op community source, provide treatment 
and distribution facilities suitable for use 
in permafrost. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES 
AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality8 
Hydaburg 
348 
Surface 
Limited piped supply; 
faulty piping. 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
Supply uncertain. Many homes without wa- 
ter in winter. Typhoid and gastro-intestinal 
disturbances reported. Develop additional 
source, supply treatment and rehabilitate 
and extend distribution system. 
Juneau 
7,000* 
1 Ground 
3 Surface 
Supplies 
4 different systems— 
equipment old, some 
wood stave piping. 
Chlor. (1) 
None (3) 
Satifactory (1) 
Questionable (3) 
System does not service entire community. 
All supplies should be treated. Source 
should be augmented and improved, treat- 
ment provided and distribution system re- 
habilitated and extended. 
Kake 
419 
Surface 
Limited piped supply 
to part of village. 
Many families carry 
water by hand. 
None 
Questionable 
Water taken from small creek—often goes 
dry in summer. Water unpalatable. Can- 
nery near town has own supply—from larg- 
er more adequate source. Possible ground 
water sources nearer town. Develop better 
source, provide treatment facilities, reha- 
bilitate and extend distribution system. 
Kenai 
303 
Ground 
None 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
No piped supply. Shallow unprotected wells 
used chiefly. Cases of gastro-intestinal dis- 
turbances reported. Cannery has own sup- 
ply. Develop source, provide treatment and 
distribution facilities. 
Ketchikan 
7,000* 
Surface 
System constructed in 
1906. Wood stave 
mains. Poor repair. 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
Recent sanitary surveys have shown gross 
pollution of water supply, chiefly from wa- 
tershed, possibly from back siphonage 
where pipes are laid under piling and are 
covered at high tide. Expected power de- 
velopment will rquire expansion of distri- 
bution system. Watershed should be pro- 
tected and treatment provided. 
King Island 
(Permafrost) 
208 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Melted ice and snow used 1 
without treatment greater part of year. 1 
Klawock 
455 
Surface 
Piped supply to some 
parts of village. 
None 
Unsatisfactory 
Wood stave pipes—many in poor condition. 
Supply often fails in winter. Dam should 
be raised or better source located. Treat- 
ment facilities needed and distribution sys- 
tem should be rehabilitated and extended. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality* 
Kodiak 
1,200* 
Surface 
Ground 
Municipal supply does 
not serve entire com- 
munity. Some private 
wells used. 
1 Chlor. 
2 None 
Satisfactory 
| Questionable 
Several small supplies in use—not consid- 
ered safe. System freezes in winter. De- 
velop better source. Distribution system 
should be extended to meet demands. 
Kotzebue 
( Permafrost) 
400* 
(Summer 
population, 
1,000) 
Ground 
and 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Melted ice primary source. 
Thawed pools under buildijngs and a few 
dug wells. Gastro-intestinal disturbances re- 
ported, typhoid. Develop community source, 
provide treatment and distribution system 
suitable for use in permafrost. Suggest 
series of shallow wells—housed and locked 
pumps with attendant as immediate solu- 
tion. 
Kwinhagak 
224 
Surface 
None J None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Surface sources unsafe. 
Develop source, provide treatment and dis- 
tribution facilities. 
Metlakatla 
674 
Surface 
Community owned sys- 
tem fairly adequate. 
Does not serve entire 
community. 
None 
Questionable 
Reservoir in mountains — gravity flow. 
Treatment facilities should be provided 
and distribution system rehabilitated and 
expanded. 
Nenana 
(Permafrost) 
250* 
Ground 
Piped supply serves on- 
ly railroad and docks. 
Rest of town uses 
wells. 
Chlor. 
(Piped 
supply) 
Questionable 
Wells near Nenana River subject to con- 
tamination. Community source should be 
developed, treatment facilities augmented, 
and distribution facilities extended to serve 
entire community. (Typhoid reported 1947.) 
Noatak 
(Permafrost) 
336 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water taken from Noatak 
River; ice melted in winter. Develop com- 
munity source, provide treatment and dis- 1 
tribution facilities. | 
Nome 
(Permafrost) 
1,600* 
Ground 
Limited piped supply 
for use in summer. Bot- 
tled or tank truck 
source in winter. 
None 
Questionable 
Possibility of year-round piped supply re- 
quires investigation. Wells tested but wa- 
ter may be contaminated before it reaches 
consumer by truck. Gastro-intestinal dis- 
turbances reported. Develop source, pro- 
vide treatment and develop distribution 
system for use in permafrost. 
Noorvik 
(Permafrost) 
211 
Surface 
None 
Nona 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Melted ice and snow used 
in winter. River water in summer. De- 
velop source, provide disinfection and dis- 
tribution facilities. 
28 TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality* 
Ouzinkie 
253 
Ground 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water obtained from 
shallow open wells by dip bucket. Improve 
wells, provide disinfection and distribution 
facilities. 
Palmer 
1,500* 
Ground 
Piped supply does not 
serve all homes. 
None 
Questionable 
Original system expanded haphazardly— 
supply sometimes runs short in summer. 
Gastro-intestinal disturbances reported. Im- 
prove and supplement source, provide dis- 
infection and extend and rehabilitate dis- 
tribution system. 
Petersburg 
1,500* 
Surface 
Piping inadequate in 
size. Mains need re- 
placing. 
Chlor 
Satisfactory 
Present source inadequate as dam is in bad 
condition. Piping over 30 years old—only 
6-inch diameter. New dam, intake works 
and supply line needed, also improved 
treatment facilities and minor distribution 
system repairs needed. 
Rampart 
(Permafrost) 
200* 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Melted ice and Yukon 
River water used. Develop better source 
(ground), provide disinfection and distri- 
bution system suitable for permafrost. 
St. Paul Island 
299 
Surface 
Piped to Government 
buildings and some Na- 
tive homes. 
None 
Questionable 
Piped supply limited—source not developed. 
Develop source, provide treatment and dis- 
tribution system. 
Savoonga 
(Permafrost) 
209 
Surface 
Limited piped supply 
for non-drinking pur- 
poses. 
None 
Satisfactory 
Piped supply obtained from river unsafe 
for drinking. Melted ice and snow also 
used. Improve source, supply treatment and 
extend distribution facilities suitable for 
use in permafrost. 
Selawick 
(Permafrost) 
239 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water obtained from river 
by buckets. Melted snow and ice used. De- 
velop better source, provide treatment and 
distribution facilities suitable for perma- 
frost area. 
Seldovia 
400* 
Surface 
Limited piped supply. 
None 
Questionable 
Supply subject to summer failure—source 
inadequate. Develop better source, provide 
treatment, rehabilitate and extend distribu- 
tion system. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality2 
Seward 
1.000* 
Ground 
and 
Surface 
Antiquated piping - 
wcod stave. Limited 
service. 
None 
Satisfactory 
Private corporation—several sources used, 
not all suitable for domestic use. Pipes 
often freeze creating sanitary and fire 
hazards. Improve selected source, provide 
treatment, relay pipes deeper and/or re- 
habilitate and extend distribution system. 
Shishmaref 
(Permafrost) 
257 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Shallow ponds, ice and 
snow used. Develop source, provide treat- 
ment' and establish distribution system 
suitable to permafrost area. 
Sitka 
2,000* 
Surface 
Piped supply. Few 
wells. 
Chlor. 
Satisfactory 
Supply often runs low in mid-winter. 
Source will not be adequate if pulp mills 
are established. Wells unprotected. Extend 
distribution system and provide emergency 
source. 
Skagway 
650* 
Surface 
Piped supply serves 
most of town. Few 
wells. 
Chlor. 
Satisfactory 
Watershed used as recreation area—possi- 
ble contamination. Need auxiliary ground 
sources for maintaining supply during cold 
weather. Extend and rehabilitate distribu- 
tion system. Provide additional facilities 
for treatment. 
Tanana 
(Permafrost) 
300* 
Ground 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Water obtained from well 
near bank of Yukon River. Need distribu- 
tion system, additional source, and treat- 
ment facilities. 
Tigara 
(Permafrost) 
257 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Shallow surface pools, ice 
and snow. Need better source, treatment 
facilities and distribution system adapted 
to permafrost. 
Unalakleet 
329 
Ground 
None 
Chlor. 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Well sources. Need distri- 
bution system and improved treatment 
methods. 
Unalaska 
GOO* 
Surface 
2 mains from reservoir 
to town ; 2 wells. 
None 
Questionable 
Reservoir inadequate for year round sup- 
ply. Gastro-intestinal disturbances reported. 
Develop additional source, extend and re- 
habilitate distribution system. TABLE B—(Continued) 
Community— 
Popula- 
tion1 
PRESENT SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Source 
Distribution 
System 
Treatment 
Bacteriological 
Quality2 
Valdez 
600* 
Ground 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Individually owned wells 
and pumps. Provide more and protected 
wells, disinfection equipment and a dis- 
tribution system. 
Wainwright 
(Permafrost) 
• 
341 
Surface 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Shallow surface pools, ice 
and snow used. Develop source, provide 
treatment and distribution system adapted 
to permafrost. 
Wasilla 
20* 
Ground 
None 
None 
Questionable 
No piped supply. Community well, dip 
bucket extraction. Develop better source, 
provide treatment and distribution system. 
Wrangell 
1,200* 
Surface 
Ancient piping — re- 
quires constant repair. 
None 
Questionable 
Replacement of dam imperative. Distribu- 
tion system should be rehabilitated and ex- 
tended. Emergency ground water source 
should be developed and elevated storage 
tanks provided. Treatment facilities should 
be supplied. 
Yakutat 
292 
Ground 
and 
Surface 
None 
Chlor 
Satisfactory 
No piped supply. Private supplies, springs, 
creeks and rain barrels. Develop commu- 
nity source, provide treatment facilities and 
distribution system. TABLE C 
ANALYSIS OF EXISTING HOSPITAL FACILITIES 
ALASKA. 1949 
Community— 
Population 
of Area 
EXISTING FACILITIES 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
COMMENTS 
Type and 
Ownership' 
No. of 
Beds 
Description 
New 
Facility 
Expansion of 
Existing Facility 
Anchorage 
20,000 
Gen. 
(CH) 
76 
Opened 1939: Re- 
inforced concrete, 
3-story 
Inadequate for 
present or 
future demands. 
500-bed 
(400-TB ; 
100 Gen.) 
Authorized by 
Fed. Gov. for 1949 
Isolation Unit 
(25 beds) 
needed. 
Existing facility too small for cur- 
rent demands. Proposed Government 
hospital will provide care for Na- 
tives only. Will relieve some of de- 
mand on Church hospital; expansion 
of existing fecility necessary to 
meet f uture needs. Recommended 25- 
bed addition for isolation unit. 
New Government facility to provide 
hospital care for large section of In- 
terior. Will relieve strain on exist- 
ing hospital and provide more fa- 
cilities for care of Native patients. 
Barrow 
2,387 
Gen. 
(Gov.)2 
20 
One story frame 
construction 
Inadequate for 
present or 
future needs 
20-bed Quonset 
hut addition for 
TB isolation 
authorized. 
Dental office 
and field nurse’s 
station to be 
included. 
Inadequate for current demand. Ad- 
dition of 20-bed isolation unit for 
TB will release original 20 beds for 
general care. 
Bethel 
2,608 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
45 
Two-story frame 
construction. 
Inadequate for 
present or 
future needs. 
20-bed Quonset 
hut addition for 
TB isolation 
authorized 
Dental office and 
field nurse’s sta- 
tion to be included 
Original 45 beds will all be available 
for general care when 20-bed addi- 
tion is completed. 
Ownership indicated as follows; 
CH—Church 
Gov.—Government (Alaska Native Service, Dept, of Interior) 
NPA Non-Profit Association 
Mun.- Municipal 
Terr.—Territorial Government. 
Government owned hospitals are operated primarily for Native groups only. In 
communities where Government hospital is only one, it serves entire commu- 
nity ; where additional hospitals exist. Government facility is restricted for 
Native use only. Community-— 
Population 
of Area 
EXISTING FACILITIES 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
COMMENTS 
Type and I No. of 
Ownership' 1 Beds 
Description 
New 
Facility 
Expansion of 
Existing Facility 
Cordova 
2,351 
Gen. 
(NPA) 
23 
Second floor of 
old apartment 
house; fire 
hazard ; lease 
expires June, ’49 ; 
no possibility 
of renewal. 
No funds. 
New 35-bed 
hospital; 10-bed 
isolation unit 
for TB included. 
New hospital badly needed. Present 
facility unsafe; to be abandoned. 
Big influx of fishermen and other 
seasonal workers causes critical need 
for beds each year. 
Fairbanks 
16.542 
Gen. 
(CH) 
51 
Frame building, 
3-story. 
Fire hazard. 
Opened 1910. 
No isolation 
space ; totally 
inadequate. 
40-bed addition 
with 20-bed 
isolation unit 
for TB. 
Critical need for more beds in rap- 
idly growing area. Addition of TB 
unit will free some beds for general 
care. Top priority. 
Fort Yukon 
800 
Gen. 
(CH) 
37 
Log structure; 
fire hazard ; 
space inadequate. 
New 40-bed 
hospital with 
20-bed isolation 
unit for TB. 
Only hospital serving large area ; 
totally inadequate for present or 
future needs. 
Haines 
1,301 
NONE 
New 25-bed 
hospital with 
10-bed isolation 
unit for TB. 
No hospital nearer than Skagway; 
frequently cut off during winter 
months ; Skagway hospital available 
only for emergency care. 
Juneau 
9,046 
Gen. 
(CH) 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
55 
48 
Present main 
structure opened 
1933 ; 3-story 
non-fire resistive; 
open stairwells 
fire hazard. 
Wing added 1933; 
(reinforced 
concrete). 
Two-story frame 
construction. 
Space inadequate. 
New facility— 
7 5 beds—- 
(50 gen. 25 TB) 
scheduled for 
completion by 
1952. 
Bed space inadequate for present 
needs. Only room for expansion in 
present location is from frame 
structure. No immediate plans. En- 
larging nurses’ residence would re- 
lease small number of beds. 
Present government hospital only 
general facility for Native popula- 
tion in Southeastern Alaska; larger 
facility needed to serve large section 
of Territory. 
TABLE C—(Continued) TABLE C—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population 
of Area 
EXISTING FACILITIES 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
COMMENTS 
Type and 
Ownership7 
No. of 
Beds 
Description 
New 
Facility 
Expansion of 
Existing Facility 
Kanakanak 
500 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
37 
2-story wooden 
building, 
1 floor patients, 
1 floor living 
quarters. 
20-bed Quonset 
hut addition to 
existing facility 
authorized. 
Dental office 
and field nursing 
station (2 nurses) 
included. 
Existing facility located 5 miles 
from community which it serves; 
road often cut off in winter. 
Ketchikan 
8,561 
Gen. 
(CH) 
83 
Original building 
3-story non-fire 
resistive. Opened 
1923 ; space inade- 
quate although 
wing added 
in 1943. 
27-hed TB iso- 
lation unit needed. 
Addition should he built on to wing 
added in 1943 (reinforced concrete). 
Kodiak 
4,064 
Gen. 
(CH) 
19 
Opened 1939—- 
Reinforced con- 
crete. Inadequate 
space for area 
served. 
21-bed addition 
for TB isolation 
to free Gen. beds. 
Addition of another floor and allo- 
cation of 21 beds for TB isolation 
would release space. 
Kotzebue 
1,937 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
• 
21 
Opened 1930 : 
frame building ; 
totally inadequate. 
New 80-bed 
hospital—■ 
(40 gen. 40 TB) ; 
Dental office and 
field nursting 
station (2 nurses) 
included. 
Authorized. 
Present hospital to be abandoned 
when new 80-bed hospital is com- 
pleted. Expected to be completed in 
1952. 
Mt. 
Edgecumbe 
Special 
hospitals 
serving 
entire 
Territory 
Ortho. 
(Gov.) 
65 
Opened 1947 ; 
reinforced con- 
crete ; converted 
Navy installation. 
65-bed addition 
needed. 
Present Orthopedic Hospital only 
one in Alaska. Inadequate to meet 
demands. Long waiting list. 
TB 
(Gov.) 
156 
Opened 1945 ; 
reinforced con- 
crete ; converted 
Navy installation. 
200-bed addition 
under 
construction. 
Present' TB hospital one of two in 
Alaska ; inadequate bed space ; long 
waiting list. TABLE C—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population 
of area 
EXISTING FACILITIES 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
COMMENTS 
Type and 
Ownership' 
No. of 
Beds 
Description 
New 
Facility 
Expansion of 
Existing Facility 
Nome 
5,503 
NONE— 
Hospital burned 
in 1948. New 
general facility 
under construc- 
tion with 
Hill-Burfon funds. 
34-bed Gen. (CH) 
Hospital scheduled 
for completion 
in 1949. 
New facility first Alaskan hospital 
built under Hill-Burton Act. First 
to combine hospital and health cen- 
ter facilities. 
Palmer 
4,316 
Gen. 
(NPA) 
12 
Hospital burned 
1946. Present 
structure tempo- 
rary and inade- 
quate in space 
and design. 
New 50-bed 
hospital, includ- 
ing 15 beds for 
TB isolation. 
New hospital badly needed to replace 
present makeshift facility. 
Petersburg 
2,213 
Gen. 
(Mun.) 
9 
Existing beds 
located in re- 
conditioned pri- 
vate dwelling ; 
space and equip- 
ment inadequate. 
25-bed hospital 
with 15-bed 
TB isolation 
unit. 
• 
Seldovia 
418 
Gen. 
(Mun.) 
8 
Frame building, 
opened 1942— 
inadequate space. 
17-bed addition 
—10 beds for 
TB isolation 
| 
Seward 
2,028 
Gen. 
(CH) 
TB 
(CH) 
30 
130 
Existing beds lo- 
cated in old school 
house ; some 
patient rooms 
below ground 
level. 
Opened 1946— 
converted Army 
installation. 
40-bed hospital; 
10-bed 
isolation unit. 
Existing facility makeshift—unsuit- 
able and inadequate. 
One of two TB hospitals in Alaska— 
no immediate plans for future until 
isolation units in existing hospitals 
and addition to TB sanatorium at 
Mt. Edgecumbe are completed. 
Sitka 
Pioneers' | 
Home 
serves 
entire 
Territory 
Institu- 
tional 
(Terr.) 
44 
l 
Institute for 
care of aged. 
Opened 1934. 
Additional wing 
planned to house 
aged women 
residents. 
Only facility for care of chronic 
cases among aged. Facilities for 
care of general chronic patients 
badly needed. TABLE C—(Continued) 
Community— 
Population 
of area 
EXISTING FACILITIES 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
COMMENTS 
Type and 
Ownership' 
No. of 
Beds 
Description 
New 
Facility 
Expansion of 
Existing Facility 
Sitka 
3,581 
NONE 
50-bed general 
hospital with 
10 beds for TB 
isolation unit’. 
(Comm, or NPA.) 
Nearest general hospital for Sitka 
residents is at Juneau. Emergency 
care only available at' Pioneers’ 
Home and Mt. Edgecumbe special 
hospitals. 
Skagway 
1,305 
Gen. 
(NPA) 
10 
Opened 1904 for 
railroad 
personnel. 
Operated primarily for employees of 
White Pass & Yukon Railroad; 
emergency care only for local resi- 
dents. No plans for expansion. 
St. Paul 
Island 
482 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
10 
Government facility operated for 
Native personnel in Fur Seal indus- 
try on Pribilof Islands. No plans for 
expansion. 
Tanana 
300 
Gen. 
(Gov.) 
« 34 
Present facility 
inadequate 
20-bed addition 
to be completed - 
in 1951. 
Of total 54 beds, 24 will be for TB 
isolation. Dental office and nurses’ 
station included. 
Unalakleet 
2,898 
NONE 
No beds available 
for large area. 
10-bed rural 
health center. 
(Gov.) Dental 
office and 
nurses station. 
Combined facility recommended. 
Valdez 
1,541 
Gen. 
(NPA) 
17 
Hospital burned 
194 7.Temporary 
17-bed facility 
closed 1948— 
lack of personnel 
—no beds avail- 
able now. 
50-bed hospital 
with 20 beds 
for TB isolation. 
Critical need—no facility available. 
Community often cut off during 
winter. High on priority list. 
Wrangell 
1,300 
Gen. 
(CH) 
13 
Opened 1924. 
Non-fire resistive, 
two-story struc- 
ture. Inadequate 
space. 
10-bed addition 
for TB 
isolation 
Construction of staff quarters would 
release more space in present fa- 
cility for patients. KEY TO TYPE FACILITIES RECOMMENDED IN TABLE D 
SEPARATE FACILITIES 
COMBINED FACILITIES (Hospital-Health Center) 
URBAN 
(Without Living Quarters) 
RURAL 
(With Living Quarters) 
F 
Same as Urban “B” with Living Quarters 
in Hospital or Elsewhere 
G 
Same as Urban “B” with Living Quarters 
as in Rural “D” 
A 
Office Space for 8-12 Personnel 
Waiting Room 
3 Clinic Rooms 
Utility Room 
Class Room 
Laboratory 
Lavatory Facilities 
B 
Office Space for 5-10 Personnel 
Waiting Room 
2 Clinic Rooms 
Utility Room 
Class Room 
Lavatory Facilities 
C 
Office Space for 2-3 Personnel 
Waiting Room 
Clinic-Class Room Combined 
Small Utility Room 
Lavatory 
D 
(Headquarters Station for Itinerant Personnel) 
Health Center Living Quarters 
Waiting Room Living Room 
Clinic Room-Office Bedroom 
Utility Room Kitchen 
Class Room (Optional) Bath 
1 One-Bed Treatment Room Small Bedroom 
1 Twe-Bed Treatment Room for 
Lavatory Visiting Staff 
E 
(Substation for Itinerant Personnel) 
Health Center Living Quarters 
Waiting Room Bed-Living Room 
Clinic Room-Office Kitchenette 
2 One-Bed Treatment Rooms Bath 
Lavatory Small Bedroom 
for 
Visiting Staff TABLE D 
ANALYSIS OF EXISTING HEALTH CENTER FACILITIES 
ALASKA, 1949 
Location 
Existing or 
Population of 
Area Served 
Type and Adequacy of Existing Facility 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Separate 
Facility 
Combined Facility 
Expansion 
of Existing 
Health Center 
Addition to 
Existing Hospital 
Addition to 
New Hospital 
Anchorage 
20,000 (City, 
plus immediate 
vicinity—Mt. 
View, etc.) 
2-story (first floor and basement) frame 
building, housing 7 Public Health Nurses, 
Sanitarian, part-time Health Officer, 
Branch Laboratory of Department of 
Health, Custodian’s living quarters; cleri- 
cal staff. Inadequate to meet present and 
future needs. 
Anvik 
200 
NONE. Episcopal Mission located here. 
Public Health Nurse needed for part of 
lower Yukon (Anvik to Holy Cross to Mar- 
shall). Quarters and Health Center needed 
before a nurse can be assigned. 
Rural 
D 
Bethel 
2,608 
(Area served 
extends to 
mouth of 
Kuskokwim 
River) 
Small Health Center and living quarters 
combination in town. Frame structure. 
G or G 
Health Center and living quarters 
should be added to present A.N.S. 
Hospital or to new A.N.S. hospital. 
No space now available. Remodelling 
the hospital, however. 
Cordova 
2,351 
Small facility—Center combined with law 
office. Inadequate space. Should be com- 
bined with new hospital. 
F 
Dillingham 
405 (Winter) 
(Estimated 
summer pop- 
ulation is 
2000-3000) 
NONE. Public Health Nurse rents room for 
living quarters. Only available office space 
at Government Hospital 5 miles out of 
town. Hospital not accessible as Health 
Center. Often cut off in winter. 
Rural 
D 
Douglas 
525 
NONE. Families must go 2 miles across 
Gastineau Channel to Juneau Health Cen- 
ter, which is inadequate for Juneau’s needs. 
Urban 
C TABLE D—(Continued) 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Location 
Existing or 
Proposed 
f 
Population of 
Area Served 
Type and Adequacy of Existing Facility 
Separate 
Facility 
Combined Facility 
Expansion 
of Existing 
Health Center 
Addition to 
Existing Hospital 
Addition to 
New Hospital 
Fairbanks 
16,542 
4 small rooms set off from the Public Li- 
brary. Inadequate for size staff and amount 
of service rendered in populous and grow- 
ing area. 
Urban 
A 
Fort Yukon 
800 
NONE. No facility for entire area nearer 
than Fairbanks. 
Episcopal Hospital 
needs to be rebuilt. 
G 
1 
Glenn Allen 
(Highway) 
7201 
NONE. Public Health Nurse for this area 
must work from headquarters at Fair- 
banks, 360 miles distant. 
Rural 
E 
Haines 
1,301 
(Steady 
expansion 
expected) 
Health Center in church mission. Unsatis- 
factory arrangement for community health 
service. Nurses living quarters in aban- 
doned A.N.S. school building. 
G 
Hoonah 
750 
Condemned A.N.S. facility. Frame construc- 
tion 
Rural 
D 
Hydaburg 
351 
Present Center to be abandoned—entirely 
inadequate. 
Rural 
E 1 
| 
Juneau 
8,546 
A converted old frame building ; partitioned 
off into 3 rooms. Facilities entirely inade- 
quate for amount of service rendered. 
Urban 
A 
Kake 
419 
Health Center consists of one room in old 
school. Entire building needs to be rebuilt. 
Present space inadequate. 
Rural 
E 
Ketchikan 
8,561 
2-story (first floor and basement) structure 
housing 2 Public Health Nurses, part-time 
Health Officer, Sanitarian, Branch Labor- 
atory of Department of Health, clerical 
staff. Inadequate for needs of immediate 
future. 
3rd floor addition 
plus garage 
facilities. 
(2 cars) 
CBntire highways area population (not including summer transient Road Commission workers) about 1,500. 
Health Centers at Glenn Allen and Tok Junction will each serve about % of highways area population. TABLE D—(Continued) 
Location 
Existing or 
Proposed 
Population of 
Area Served 
Type and Adequacy of Existing Facility 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Separate 
Facility 
Combined Facility 
Expansion 
of Existing 
Health Center 
Addition to j Addition to 
Existing Hospital I New Hospital 
Kodiak 
4,064 
Combined living quarters (chiefly) and 1 
small room for Health Center. Center 
serves Kodiak Island area as well as 
Kodiak. 
F 
Kotzebue 
sET 
1,937 
NONE. Public Health Nurse works out of 
A.N.S. Hospital. No Health Center facili- 
ties. 
G or G 
Health Center and living quarters 
should be added to present A.N.S. 
Hospital, or to new A.N.S. Hospital. 
No space available now, but hospital 
being remodelled. 
Mt. Village 
265 
NONE. Public Health Nurse needed for 
Lower Yukon (Marshall to Coast) and 
down Bering Sea Coast to Scammon Bay 
and Hooper Bay. Nurse cannot be assigned 
until quarters are provided. 
Rural 
D 
| 
Naknek 
405 (Winter) 
(Summer 
population 
estimated 
2,000-3,000) 
NONE. Public Health Nurse now has office 
in her living quarters—2 rented rooms. 
Health Center at Naknek would also serve 
villages in surrounding area. 
Rural 
D 
Nome 5,503 
New facility combined with new hospital - 
under construction—to be completed 1949. 
1 F 1 1 
1 1 1 
Palmer 
2,000 
One attic room in frame building, which 
houses recreation center downstairs. Steep 
narrow stairs to poorly lighted quarters. 
Building is 13 years old, and may be sold at 
any time. Running water and other facili- 
ties inaccessible to Health Center. 
Community 
hospital 
burned 
in 1946. 
F 
Petersburg 
2,213 
2 small rooms in attic of condemned Indian 
Service School building of frame construc- 
tion. Narrow, steep stairs to poorly ven- 
tilated, poorly lighted quarters. Kindergar- 
ten held in emergency first floor quarters. 
Present Commu- 
nity hospital of 
frame construc- 
tion badly in 
need of 
replacement. 
P 
40 TABLE D—(Continued) 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Location 
Existing: or 
Proposed 
Population of 
Area Served 
Type and Adequacy of Existing Facility 
Separate 
Facility 
Combined Facility 
Expansion 
of Existing 
Health Center 
Addition to 
Existing Hospital 
Addition to 
New Hospital 
Pt. Barrow 
2,387 
NONE. Public Health Nurse works out of 
A.N.S. Hospital. No other facilities avail- 
able locally. 
G or G 
Health Center and living quarters 
should be added onto present A.N.S. 
Hospital, or as a part of new A.N.S. 
hospital when one is built. 
St. Lawrence 
Island 
Savoonga 
500 
Health Center formerly in school which 
burned. Nurse’s cabin still stands. A separ- 
ate new installation with living quarters 
for itinerant service at Gambell would be 
adequate if a “D” type facility is provided 
at Savoonga. 
Rural 
D 
Sand Point 
605 
NONE. No Public Health Nurse coverage 
or medical care of any kind for Alaska 
Peninsula. Barge Unit will serve Peninsula, 
Aleutian Islands, and all Bering Sea Coast. 
Full time field nurses needed for year- 
round service Alaska Peninsula. 
Rural 
E 
Seldovia 
900 (Includ- 
ing Homer, 
Port Graham, 
Portlock) 
Second floor (2 large rooms) of frame 
building at end of town. Library on first 
floor. 
F 
Plans call for 
expansion of ex- 
isting hospital. 
Seward 
2.208 
Facility consists of 2 rented rooms ($70.00 
per month.) Inadequate space for rendering 
needed services. 
Urban 
B 
Shishmaref 
410 
NONE. No Public Health Nurse coverage 
or medical care of any kind for Upper 
Seward Peninsula. Public Health Nurse 
attempts covering area from Nome, several 
hundred miles distant. 
Rural 
D 
Sit'ka 
3,581 
Rear room in city fire hall. Inadequate for 
services rendered to sizeable population 
group. 
No community 
hospital in exist- 
ence now. One is 
badly needed. 
F TABLE D—(Continued) 
Location 
Existing or 
Proposed 
Population of 
Area Served 
Type and Adequacy of Existing Facility 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Separate 
Facility 
Combined Facility 
Expansion 
of Existing 
Health Center 
Addition to 
Existing Hospital 
Addition to 
New Hospital 
Skagway 
1,305 
2 small rooms in frame building—recently 
renovated and adequate for immediate 
needs. Should be rebuilt if proposed indus- 
trial expansion of community takes place. 
Rural 
D 
Sleitmut 
500 
(Area along 
Kuskokwim 
River to Bethel, 
including 
McGrath) 
NONE. Upper Kuskokwim receives practic- 
ally no Public Health Nurse or other health 
services, as there is no facility or living 
quarters at upper end of River. Nearest 
Public Health Nurse at Bethel, 200 miles 
from Sleitmut, 300 miles from McGrath. 
Rural 
E 
Tanana 
300 
NONE. Public Health Nurse works out of 
A.N.S. Hospital. No other facilities avail- 
able locally. 
G or G 
Health Center should be built as addi- 
tion to existing hospital, or as part of 
new hospital. 
Tok Junction 
(Highway) 
7231 
NONE. Public Health Nurse for this area 
must work from headquarters at Fair- 
banks, 200 miles distant 
Rural 
E 
Valdez 
1,541 
(Including 
Prince William 
Sound area) 
Converted frame building owned by town, 
but land site not owned by city. Serves 
Prince William Sound area plus town of 
Valdez. 
Community hos- 
pital burned in 
1946. 
Construction of 
new facility 
planned if and 
when funds are 
available. 
F 
Wrangell 
1,300 
2 rooms in Federal Building. Subject to 
eviction at any time, as regulations pro- 
vide for the housing of Federal offices only 
in Federal building. 
Present Commu- 
nity hospital 
needs replace- 
ment. Frame 
structure in 
“fair condition.” Method Ipsi Goiti jjCVi GosfunnnUif, tyaxUlltioi 
In AlaAha 
Construction costs in the different sections of Alaska 
are affected chiefly by such factors as the accessibility 
of the area to regular shipping routes; local labor costs; 
local availability and demand for building materials 
and construction equipment; and, in certain areas, the 
need for modification of standard construction proce- 
dures because of terrain, climate or other factors. 
Seward, where all cargoes are transferred to the Alaska 
Railroad, taken to the Tanana River, put on the river 
boat downstream to the Yukon River and then up to 
Fort Yukon. During the winter in Interior Alaska, all 
materials must be transported by air or overland by 
dogsled. Otherwise the equipment and materials must 
be flown directly from Outside points to Fairbanks, 
and transplaned to Fort Yukon at high rates. 
In Southeastern Alaska, which has ready access to 
year-round shipping points, a fairly tight labor and 
materials market, a moderate climate and no special 
problems of terrain other than steep grades, construc- 
tion costs are approximately IV2 times as high as the 
average cost of construction in continental United 
States. The increase in cost in this area is due chiefly 
to high shipping rates, high wages and a continued 
demand for construction materials. 
Skilled labor forces for construction in the Fort 
Yukon area are practically non-existent, and workmen 
for any extensive project must be imported to the area 
from elsewhere in the Territory or from continental 
United States. In addition, Fort Yukon lies within the 
60% of Alaska which is underlaid by permanently 
frozen ground (permafrost). This fact alone consider- 
ably complicates the task of the designer and engineer, 
and raises the cost of construction accordingly, of both 
utility and building construction. Because of the perma- 
frost and the prolonged periods of low temperatures, 
standard water and waste disposal systems are imprac- 
tical and uneconomical in this area. Therefore, specially 
designed systems, such as recirculating or utilidor sys- 
Construction costs in the upper Interior, on the other 
hand, are five times as high as the United States aver- 
age, and almost SVz times the cost in Southeastern 
Alaska. In the Fort Yukon area, for example, all con- 
struction equipment and materials must be shipped by 
water to the nearest port on the Gulf of Alaska at terns, must be planned and installed. Both systems are 
necessarily much more expensive than usual installa- 
tions. The effects of the permafrost also necessitate cer- 
tain modifications of building design and construction 
so that the costs of erecting hospitals and health centers 
is also greater in permafrost. 
eral estimates for construction costs of various types of 
utility systems in Alaska. The four curves of the graph 
indicate the approximate per capita cost of constructing 
each of four types of water or waste disposal systems on 
the basis of population size. The map indicates the cost 
indices which must be applied in different sections of 
the Territory. By way of illustration, if the cost of con- 
structing a recirculating water system for Fairbanks 
is to be computed, the following formula is used in 
connection with the graph and map: 
ESTIMATING COSTS OF UTILITY CONSTRUCTION 
IN ALASKA 
Figure 3 has been prepared as a guide in making gen- 
Design population 
Per capita cost of 
Cost index for 
Estimated 
of Fairbanks1 
X recirculating system X 
Fairbanks area 
— 
cost2 
(curve No. 2 on graph) 
(from map) 
10,000 
x $68 X 
3 
= 
$2,040,000 
In working out the estimated costs for utility construc- 
tion, some adjustment of the 5-10% population in- 
crease will be necessary in certain instances. On the basis 
of location, past development and current economic 
status, it is more-or-less obvious that some of the 
smaller communities will remain static or may even 
regress as far as population is concerned, if their pres- 
ent residents should emigrate to other areas where 
more permanent, year-round employment is available. 
Such adjustments should be based entirely on subjective 
’Design population equals the estimated population of a 
community as of 10 years from date, assuming a reasonable 
rate of increase for most communities of 5-10% over the 
10-year period. Ultimate design should consider both 10 and 
25 year population increases. 
"Construction costs computed on the above basis cannot be 
more than general approximations because of the large 
number of variables involved. judgment which can safely be applied only by persons 
who are thoroughly familiar with the pattern of devel- 
opment in Alaska and are therefore capable of estimat- 
ing trends. 
for the different sections of Alaska as given in the map 
(Fig. 3), the approximate cost of constructing any one 
of the seven types of health centers in any given section 
of the Territory may be estimated roughly. These costs 
necessarily include only the construction of the building 
and any built-in equipment, but do not include movable 
equipment or furnishings. 
ESTIMATING COSTS OF HEALTH CENTER 
CONSTRUCTION IN ALASKA 
Figure 4 indicates the average cost of constructing 
various types of health centers recommended for 
Alaska on the basis of current construction costs in the 
continental United States. By applying the cost indices 
The approximate cost of constructing a type D Rural 
health center at Naknek, for example, would be com- 
puted as follows: 
Average cost of constructing 
Cost index for 
Estimated cost of constructing 
a type D Rural health center 
X 
Naknek area 
= 
type D Rural facility 
in the U. S. (Fig. 4) 
(map, Fig. 3) 
at Naknek2 
$10,000 
X 
3 
$30,000 LEGEND 
Average Index 1.5 m 
" 3.0 m 
“ ” 4.0 liS 
' “ 4.5 ES3 
" 5.0 r.'] 
CONSTRUCTION COST 
INDICES FOR ALASKA 
Figure 3 PER CAPITA COST CURVES 
WATER ond SEWER UTILITIES 
for ALASKAN TOWNS 
PER CAPITA COSTS - HUNDREDS OF S 
1 Conventional Water Distribution System 
2 Recirculating " " ** — — — 
3 Sewage Disposal System — 
4 Utilidor System —o—• 
NOTES I. Cost Reference ENR CONSTR. INDEX = 450 
2. Costs tor Woter Utilities include 10% expenditure 
for Supply Development and cost of treatment 
by chlorination only. 
3 Costs for Sewage Disposal Utility does not 
include any treatment plant. 
POPULATION IN THOUSANDS 
Figure 3 DIAGRAM FOR ESTIMATING HEALTH CENTER CONSTRUCTION COSTS 
TYPE 
Focility 
COST IN THOUSANDS of DOLLARS 
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 
Urban 
H 0 T C S s 
Rsftrsncs Bate — ENR Construction indti ■ 4SO 
Costs oro overogss for continsntol Unitod Slots*, 
and should b# corrsctsd (or various suctions of 
Alaska by application of oppropriota cost indas' 
from map inaart 
Rurol 
Combined 
with 
hospital 
Figure 4