SEWARD’S
All-'Weathec
SEAPORT
Is Alaska's
Greatest Asset
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Territorial Library
Seward SeaporfRecord
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD. ALASKA
Vol. VI. No. 45
SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 1949
Price 10 Cents
4*39
Business Firm Has
New Management %
Alaska Transfer and Water,
Supply, one of the oldest estab- j
lished firms in Seward changed.
hands Dec. 1, when Mrs. Jean
Davis Thorne purchased the
partnership of her brother, Hed
ley A. Davis. The announcement
was made Monday, Dec. 3, by
Mrs. Thorne, who is now sole
owner of the business, Mr. Frank
DeLourhery, manager.
Hedley A. Davis and Mrs.
Thorne are son and daughter
of the late Aimer F. Davis, who
was in partnership with the
late H. V. Hoben and who pio
neered together in Alaska be
fore the turn of the century.
The first date on record is that
of a mine claim in Sunrise
dated 1904 in which both names
appear along with that of Ed
Crawford, who also worked
with the partners in their first
freighting business in Seward.
Mr. Davis carried mail by
dog team to Moose Pass and
Sunrise, using the old Resurrec
tion Pass trail in. preference to
the present highway over the
divide. The partners formed the
Alaska Transfer Company soon
after Seward was laid out as a
townsite in 1903,a nd operated it
together, along with other inter
ests such as mining and canner
ies until the death of Mr. Davis
in 1941.
In 1906 John A. Nelson filed
claim on the water rights on
Sheffler Creek, now known as
Lowell Creek “to the extent of
10,000 inches for power and do
mestic purposes, to be conveyed
by ditch, flumes and pipes from
this point to the town of Seward,
situate about two miles in a
southerly direction.” Records
continue to show that in 1911
John Nelson and Frank Ballaine
formed the Seward Water and
Power Company, and that in
April, 1927, Hoben and Davis
took title to that company, the
name of which was changed to
Seward Water Supply, as it is
known today.
Reminiscing over early history
of the town, oldtimers remember
that in 1904, neighbors took
water from a well in front of
the Alaska Shop, and Sylvia
Sextion recalls carrying water
from the glacier stream which
was Sheffler Creek.
During the years that Hoben
and Davis operated the water
supply the one creek was insuf
ficient to supply the growing
community and other rights
were acquired. Japp Creek, Ru
dolph Creek and Marathon
Mountain reservoirs now serve
the town and with the rapid
growth of recent years, it is ex
pected that additional facilities
will be necessary to provide an
adequate supply.
Seward is known for the fine
drinking water. Very cold, clear,
tested monthly by the Dept, of
Health, it remains pure and un
contaminated.
Since the death of H. V. Hoben
the company has operated under
the partnership of the Davis
heirs, and has continued to be
the city's largest single tax
payer.
Although the partnership is
broken up by the present ar
rangement, the old firm remains
in the Davis family under the
sole ownership of Mrs. Thorne,
who, it is expected, will con
tinue her residence in Seward.
Hedley Davis is leaving for
the Outside. His many friends in
his home town are expressing
their regret at losing him. He is
a popular man about town both
socially and in the business
circles, the last in a line of old
Alaskan family names.
*Round V 'Bout Town . . .
—The Roving Reporter
At tne cieveny staged vari
ety show at the Seward school
Friday night it was easy to see
why the school plays such a
big part in the lives of our
children. It is a fine outlet for
their activities and best of all,
they really enjoy it.
We noticed that the parents
enjoyed it, too. Nervousness on
the part of the performers was
notably absent from the entire
show.
Sg
If there were awards for the
best decorated store window
in town Joe Doyle would cer
tainly win first prize. Gee, but
his Christmas Tree looked
pretty in the snow storm Sat
urday afternoon.
Saw kids with their noses
up to the window watching the
train wind around the moun
tain scene so artistically con
structed by I. L. Gordon.
The Rainbow Girls gave a
tea for their mothers Sunday
afternoon.
&
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Whit
more had the Earl C. Shrecks
from Ogden, Utah as house
guests last week. They left on
the Baranof last Friday.
Mrs. Glenn Miller of Moose
Pass was in town Monday.
5S
Mrs. A. H. Mattson and Mrs.
Louis Dick were up town Sat
urday nite. When the news got
around that it was Mrs. Matt
son’s birthday several of their
friends joined in to wish her
many happy returns. They end
ed up having a late snack, birth
day cake and all.
Many people were talking
about the interesting book re
view they heard at the Seward
Memorial cnurcn bunaay mte.
Dr. Galen Hunt reviewed the
book “Egyptian.” He is quite a
student of Egyptian history and
■ since Egypt is the earliest em
pire of the ancient world it
proved to be a very worth while
evening for the members and
friends of the Good Fellows
Club.
Dr. Hunt is giving the book
to our Public Library.
VS
Elinor and Johnny Salit were
17 Sunday. Mrs. Salit asked
a few of their close friends in
for a birthday dinner.
Mr. and Mrs. George Yost
had a pan party at their home
Sunday nite. They had the
Watsjolds, Wagners and Niege
mans as their guests. Bet there
was some mighty good pan lingo
tossed back and forth.
VS
Mr. Bruce Cruickshank left
on the train for Anchorage
this a.m. He has been visiting
friends here since Friday.
VS
Ralph Bomar is back at work
again after his visit to the
States. It is rumored he has a
girl friend there.
VS
We hear from Roy Burton,
secretary-treasurer of the Kenai
Peninsula Electrical Associa
tion, that the association has
been incorporated and that the
articles of incorporation have
been sent to Anchorage for
handling by a lawyer. He said
they plan to furnish electricity
in the Kenai area from Moose
River as far as Kasilof.
VS
The home of Charles and Ann
Lewis, of Kenai, was broken
into over the weekend. Some
clothing and food were stolen.
The culprits were apprehend
ed and are now in custody.
| Seward C. Of C.
Makes Plans To
Welcome Homerites
A telegram from R. C. Smith,
president of the Homer Chamber
of Commerce, today informs the
Seward Chamber of Commerce
that a caravan is to leave Homer
for Seward at 8 a.m., Saturday,
Dec. 10.
The trip is being made by
Homer businessmen who have
long awaited the opening of a
road from Homer to give them
a means of transportation other
than by water. With freezing
weather this year the new road
becomes passable for automo
bile traffic and the Homerites
are making their first trip from
their town to the Gateway City.
The local Chamber of Com
merce at its Thursday evening
meeting at the Methodist Church
will formulate plans for welcom
ing and erftertaining the sojourn
ers who, it is assumed, will stay
in Seward overnight.
Any Seward business man or
woman in Seward who wishes
to take part in the welcome or
lias any suggestions to make is
invited to attend the Chamber
of Commerce meeting Thursday
evening.
Garbage Cans Must
Be Covered
Henry Horton, chief of the
I garbage collection and disposal
! department, warns residents
j that cans left outside without
i covers of some kind, fill with
snow and ice and cannot be
emptied.
As a result of freezing, the
cans become battered and by
the end of the season will be
of no use. Garbage collects in
the alleys and freezes under the
snow, then in the spring thaw
it will become a nuisance and
! a health menace.
i
!
I
To make it easier on the gar
bage collectors who work on a
strict schedule in order to cover
the town regularly, and to save
the householder money, covers
of some kind, even improvised
covers of wood, to keep out the
snow, are imperative.
McRae Joins Family
! In Montana
A. G. (Scotty) McRae, owner'
of the McRae Concrete Products
j establishment here, left today by
plane to join his wife and two
children at Kalispell, Mont.,
where they have been since Sep
tember.
Mr. McRae says that Seward
h#s had a very good construc
tion year and he is looking for
ward to an even better season
next year. McRae expects to re
turn to Seward about the middle
of January.
Rainbow Girls Have
Busy Month
■
Seward Assembly of Rainbow
Girls have planned a busy'
month. A bake sale on the'10th ;
at McMullens will begin at 11
o’clock in the morning and last
until all goods are sold.
On the evening of Dec. 15, the
girls will have a Christmas teen
age party in the Masonic Hall.
These parties are always fun
and the girls decorate the hall
with a huge Christmas tree un
der which to place the gifts.
When these parties begin it is'
a sure sign that the holiday1
spirit is prevalent in Seward.
C. of C. To Nominate
for Election
The Seward Chamber of Com
merce will, at the December 8;
meeting in the basement of the
Methodist Church, conduct nom
inations for the regular election
which will be held December 15.
Feb. Poor Month for
Census of Alaska
First Entry Received
In Name Contest
The first entry has been re
ceived by the Seaport Record j
in the contest to name the win- |
ter get-together which is to be
held some time in January.
The contest is open to all resi
dents oi Kenai Peninsula, and
the prize of $o.00 is put up by
James Construction Company.
Other cities have names for their
festivals and we must have one
lor ours. There is the Fur Ren
dezvous in Anchorage, Empire
Day, etc., and this one of ours
must have a name that is dis
tinctive.
Get in your suggestions!
Judging will be the aay beiore
Christmas by the committee.
New Year's Dance By
Volunteer Firemen
Seward Volunteer Firemen
are planning a oig dance lor
i\ew fears Eve at the Civicj
Center.
Committees have been named,1
aim plans are progressing 101
the anair which is to be semi- j
lormai “Masque Bai. Home tai-1
ent orchestra will provide the}
music, and with the usual on-;
thusiasm, 01 the Firemen to pusn j
tne anair, it looKs like a oig!
time coming up.
The whole town looks forward!
to the Firemen s dances arm has
never been disappointed yet.
New Years’ Eve being tne ad
ditional time to let go and blow
off steam, the Firemen have ue-!
cided to provide the time and1
the opportunity.
It was erroneously reported
by this newspaper last week that
the proposed dance was to be
given by the American Legion,
we Knew better, but slipped up i
somehow. Apologies to both tnej
Legion and the Firemen!
Jesse Lee News ...
JESSE LEE BOYS
HELP SANTA
Many u childish heart on the:
Aleutian Chain will beat taster!
tins Christmas as tneir eyes be-1
hold the regal splendor ox a!
gaily festooned real live Christ-1
mas tree! The call went out from
Kev. Keith Whittern, Methodist
pastor at Unalaska, and others, i
for real trees that Santa couia
decorate this year. Christmas
trees, or any other kind for that'
matter, are simply non-existent
out there. The challenge was
met by Capt. Jacobsen of the
Mailboat Garland, who promised
to carry the trees free of charge,
if the trees could be had.
It was with real pleasure that
the Jesse Lee boys, some ox
whom are from the islands, cut
42 fine trees and hauled them
down to the boat. As the Gar
land wends her way Westward,
stopping here and there, the
boys will have the satisfaction
of knowing they have helped
Santa make Christmas a little
brighter for many of their rela
tives and friends.
Staff Member Leaves for States
Miss Dolores Ready left on
the SS Baranof last week for her
home at Eastman, Wisconsin.
She will be greatly missed by
her boys at Jesse Lee as she has
endeared herself to their hearts
during the short time she was
here as their housemother. She
leaves a vacant spot at Jesse Lee
that will be hard to fill.
Logan Varnell left for An
chorage Tuesday morning for
medical treatment. He has been
ill for several weeks.
(The following editorial ap
peared in the Nov. 28 issue of
the Anchorage Daily Times. This
article should be given serious
thought by every Alaskan.)
"Federal and Territorial of
ficials hit a foul ball when they
met recently and set the date
for starting the 1950 census of
Alaska. After deliberations and
consultations they came up with
the date of February 1.
‘‘They could hardly have se
lected any date more contrary
to the best interests of the peo
ple and the Territory of Alaska.
The decision bids well to yield
detrimental results which will
plague Alaska for the next 10
years.
‘‘February is the month when
the Alaska population is at its
low'est ebb.
“It is the month when those
who travel in the States, for per
sonal or business reasons, are
absent from the territory.
"Trappers, white 'and native,
are scattered over the vast
stretches of the interior, iso
lated in their cabins and camps.
“Mining camps are ‘buttoned
up’ for the winter, with only
the watchman there.
“Dozens of interior communi
ties are on a stand-by basis, with
a handful of people waiting for
the spring breakup and the new
economic activity of another
productive season.
"February is the month when,
the Alaskan economy is at the
lowest point of its annual cycle.
It is the most unfair month to
select for census takers to com
pile records which are supposed,
to reflect the true population
and economic facts about life in
Alaska.
"The selection of February for
the census should bring immedi
ate reactions from every resi
dent who is interested in the
true facts and the proper devel
opment of Alaska.
government agencies should
be concerned inasmuch as their
programs in Alaska will be
judged at the nation's capital on
the basis of the population
served. Congress will gauge the
importance of appropriations on
the basis of the census.
“The 1950 population figure
will be used in determining the
advisability in projects such as
road building, community facili
ties, health and welfare pro
grams, law enforcement require
ments. statehood, transportation
and postal services.
“The military establishment
will look to the census for an
accurate picture of the civilian
economy upon which so much
dependence is placed for certain
services and facilities.
“The territorial government
will be guided by the census.
The public school system will
be shaped to meet the needs as
shown by the census takers. All
territorial agencies will be guid
ed in their activities on the basis
of the needs shown by the num
ber of persons involved.
“The number of representa
tives to hold seats in the terri
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