newsminer.com

10 YEARS AGO

May 14, 1998 — Old tales die hard, but the gap might be closing on another Alaska myth. A new Census Bureau projection shows that by November, women will outnumber men in every state except Alaska and Nevada.

In 1990, five states fit that description. Alaska’s gender gap is heading toward extinction, though the state still has a higher proportion of men than any other state. “It makes sense, because we’ve always had those demographics,” said Neil Fried, an economist with the Alaska Department of Labor. “It’s sort of a typical frontier phenomena. It’s been with us a long time.”

Alaska has had a gender ratio skewed toward men since gold rush days. Folklore says the state has twice as many men as women.

25 YEARS AGO

May 14, 1983 — The city’s core area water distribution system does not meet recommendations of the Insurance Services Office, which evaluates municipal fire protection systems for insurance rating purposes.

The report was part of a $450,000 study of all downtown utilities by Roen Design Associates of Fairbanks and Bell-Walker Engineers of Redmond, Wash. A draft of the consultants final report, which will contain specific locations, sizes, methods of construction and timetables for utility construction, is now being reviewed by city engineers.

50 YEARS AGO

May 14, 1958 — Some 600 soldiers stood at attention as Capt. William H. Cox was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross from Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Beck, commanding general, Yukon Command, in colorful ceremonies at Ladd Air Force Base this afternoon. This is the highest award to be presented in recent years in Alaska. Captain Cox was credited with saving the life of Dr. C.H. Pierson of Anchorage, whose Cessna 180 airplane crashed into the hills south of Eureka in October 1957. Pierson had spent the night on the lonely mountainside with his wife and three children before he started down the 3,500-foot mountain and through 12 miles of tundra and woods to seek aid at the Eureka Lodge.

75 YEARS AGO

May 14, 1933 — Opportunity will be afforded the public to enjoy a delightful four-hour excursion on the new steamer Nenana, 210 feet long, when she makes her trial trip on the Tanana River next Tuesday. For the accommodation of Fairbanks residents desiring to make the trip, a special railway gasoline car — and if there are more than 50 persons a special train — will be operated between Fairbanks and Nenana. The steamer will be boarded at Nenana.