MAY 1948
JUNEAU HAS THE WORST
SLUMS IN ALASKA--OPINION
William L Deering, Assistant Sanitation Engineer of the Territorial Health Department, created a considerable stir at last night's meeting of the Juneau City Council, when he appeared as a private citizen and declared "The slums in Juneau are equal to any in the world in quantity and are certainly the worst in Alaska."
Deering criticized the City governments and many others for the poor housing conditions existing in Juneau. He was particularly severe in his remarks concerning sewage connections in approximately 40 homes....
"Alaskans spend more per capita for health than any other Americans," Deering stated, "but as long as such conditions exist, the costs will continue to increase rather than decrease." He argued that such poor building conditions contribute to the Territory's high rate of tuberculosis, "Returning to these homes after treatment for tuberculosis would be bad," he said.
Deering had two recommendations for the City to take in order to cure these evils. He said that Juneau should condemn improper housing properties and should also set aside land for adequate housing. He said that the people, themselves, should pay for the improvements, but that the City should help make them possible.
After the Council had held considerable discussion and argument on the matter, the subject was referred to Committee for investigation of making a possible test case. Daily Alaska Empire, May 8, 1948
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| From the Douglas Bridge, looking north over the future site of Harris Harbor. AMRC-b75-175-515 |
In his talk, Deering was probably in part referring to the tracts of un-serviced
houses north of Gold Creek, between Glacier Avenue and the Channel. Some are shown here in these 1938 Department of Interior photos by Ray Dame.
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| From the Juneau approach to the Bridge, looking south over the future site of the Juneau Hotel . The smoke from the Juneau sawmill waste burner is in the distance. AMRC-b75-175-513 |
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