From Fairbanks, Alaska
In some ten years from now, when the International Highway from Seattle up through British Columbia and Dawson to Fairbanks is completed, we expect that big Dartmouth Shindig that Chicago stages every couple of years will be transferred up here. In the meantime, however, we haven't had the chance to welcome a visiting alumnus since Bob McKennan '25 passed through here in the summer of 1933 on his way up north in search of Indians who hadn't yet been contaminated by civilization. With no Dartmouth visitors that we were aware of this past summer we got to thinking that unless a little broadcasting was done you might come all the way up here and not even be aware of this farthest north and probably smallest Dartmouth outfit. If the editor has space to fill during the next few months we'll put out a few pictures of Alaska the mining the College enjoying life when it's thirty degrees colder than it ever gets in Hanover. We won't attempt to put into words what it is that makes you want to stay after you've lived here awhile. You'll have to come in here yourself to find that out. For now may we introduce our small club:
GEORGE MARCHAND '05, who for several years now has been the man responsible to Uncle Sam for the delivery of mail throughout most of Alaska. Under his supervision, not only the people living in communities but the isolated miner, fisherman, trapper and trader gets mail service by steamer, river boat, railroad, auto, tractor, airplane, dog team or the old grey mare. George has sailed and flown and mushed over nearly every mile of these mail routes; and when an old sourdough writes to Washington complaining that he hasn't got any mail for a period of six weeks or two months, George knows from actual experience whether the mail carrier has been lax or has met temporary weather conditions that for the time being were insurmountable. By right of seniority, ability and leadership George was unanimous choice for President of this club.
SAM WHITE '17, who is swinging into his third year as sort of office boy for Pacific Alaska Airways, a subsidiary of the Pan American Airways System. This outfit carries a lot of George's mail for him in the winter, and reaches nearly all parts of the Territory with it's planes. As a former member of the Secretary's Association the scribes job was wished on him.
JACK ALEXANDER '30, who is pursuing a course in mining engineering at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines here in Fairbanks, and spending his summers working on the creeks where they are taking out the gold that the Brain Trust will use to wipe out unemployment. We'll try and get Jack to give you a picture of this college up here, which reminds me in many ways of the stories I've read and heard of Dartmouth when she was younger and smaller. In the hopes that Jack will strike rich pay dirt one of these days and stake a claim for the club we made him treasurer.
Secretary.
