Page 2 JESSEN'S WEEKLY Thursday. July 12, 1956
Published every Wednesday at Fairbanks, Alaska, P. O. Box 970
Edltorial-Reportorlal Departments, Phone 3511; Advertising, Commercial Printing,
Business Offices. Phone 2511; downtown Fairbanks, 529 Third Avenue or call printing
slant direct for job printing, etc.. Phone 5292. located at noith end of new Chena
oridge.
Jessen's Weekly was established January 22. 1942
E. F. JESSEN. Publisher. V. MAURICE SMITH. Managing Editor; D. L. VAN
CLEVE, Superintendent; FRANK B. CAMP. National Advertising Representative,
3ox 151, Lombard, Illinois; J. VICTOR RICHARDSON, Advertising Manager.
Entered at the Post Office at Fairbanks, Alaska, as second class matter
under the Act of March 3, 1879,
incorporated
"The Phoenix of Fairbanks'
Fish Planting Paying Off
Fishermen this,summer are collecting dividends on their ter
ritorial fishing license fees in the way of rainbow trout planted
in various lakes and streams.
Alaska fishing—except in remote areas—seemed on the
wav out a few years ago when the greatly increased military and
civilian- population converged on the accessible streams and lakes
with fishing paraphernalia. It was too one-sided, even with
legal limits set. The fish hadn't a chance.
Now, under the territorial program, nature is being assisted
the restoration and retention of a game fish supply. Plantings
m lakes and streams that were being fished out, and in other
lakes now being made accessible, insure fish for the future to
replace those taken. The success of the program is now beginning
to be noted.
In The Public Interest
Most of us, busy with our own affairs, are inclined to sit
back and let others carry on the; often thankless tasks having
to do with community enterprises. We take for granted their
selfless devotion to various causes, their volunteer service in
campaigns and drives.
A certain type of individual serves so well on community
matters that he comes to be taken for granted. He or she is
usually a member of many civic and fraternal organizations. He
is called upon to head committees for this and that. The hours
that he spends working for the public in this way without any
financial remuneration would astonish us if we knew.
Most of us feel worn out from doing the work for which wre
are paid. We are perfectly content to let the other fellow* have
the gratuitous jobs.
But we have a terrific admiration for those who devote their
>ff flours tending to things that need to be done, organizing,
directing, canvassing—all in the interest of the community rather
than their own. They give unstintinglv of their time, their skills
and their energy.
Wre don’t quite understand how they manage so many re
sponsibilities. but so long as they are willing we come to depend
upon them. They deserve special commendation. We are all the
richer for their efforts.
. Curling Interest Grows
The sport of curling belongs to the Northland. Imported
from Scotland, it has by this time become naturalized and is as
much a part of Alaskan sportdom as dog racing.
The growth of the Fairbanks Curling club bears out this
truth. Long an organization ol devoted adherents to the sport,
the great increase in membership has taken place in recent years.
Now exceeding 120 and still expanding, the new' addition to the
clubhouse is necessary to accommodate the greater number of
players and onlookers.
It's a fine winter sport and good exercise, and its members
are to be commended for their enterprise.
Water Rescue Good Idea
The next best thing to knowing how to swim is knowing
how to save another from drowning. So we are pleased to see
the organization of the Water Rescue team whose members w'ill
learn first aid and surviva Itechniques as well as how to get
a struggling person out of the water.
The group of volunteer rescuers is a fine idea. Its members
should be a valuable asset to the river front and an aid to the
life department which has hitherto been the main agency for
rescue w'ork as well as fire fighting.
Problems Ahefid For Bailies
When we note the large number of new arrivals in this
world via the Stork Express we can’t help feeling a bit sorry
for them because of the problems they will have ahead.
It isn’t only that they will inherit such a whopping national
debt, but scientific advancement as wrell as making life easier
in some respects doubles the danger in others.
Now we read that the fallout onto farm soil of radioactive
strontium that is starting to filter into the earth, by the late
1970 s could settle through food into human bones to cause
cancer and affect the genetic make-up of future generations.
The University of California soil scientists are reported to 1
be testing a way of washing the strontium from the soil by heavy
irrigation plus use of certain salts and acids. Other scientists
are working, on the way to- get more water for irrigation and
other uses. .
Oh well, youth will probably find answers but it seems a
helluva legacy to leave it.
Bond Issue Is
Recommended
By City Mgr.
In a report to the city council
dated July 2, 1956 City Manager
Matt Slankard took a pessimestic
view of city finances.
In view of this discouraging fi
nancial condition, the city manager
has recommended that a genera), ob
ligation bond, amounting to $400,000
be submitted to the voters for ap
proval. $300,000 of this figure would
be returned to the sales tax fund.
The city manager has also rec
ommended that, in accordance with
Territorial law, two mills be adflt#i
to the tax rate to pay general obli
gation bonds and interest.
No municipal audit for the year
1954 was made until January 30,
1956. when a report by Hagelbarger
and company proved finances were
bad. On March 30, 1956 a detailed
audit of 1955 budget expenditures
showed that several departments
of the city were overdrawn.
“Due to the “bad condition of the
streets," the manager’s report stat
ed, “the Public Works budget had
been ekceeded considerably, as
were the Municipal garage and En
gineering budgets.”
The city has been operating on a
20 mill rate. Ten mills of this go
to the school system, and 1.2 mills
go to pay off bonds and interest,
leaving 8.8 mills for operating the
city.
I he one encouraging note in
Slankard's report, however, was the
city's sales tax income increased
44 per cent in 1955. Outstanding ob
ligations in amount __of $231>,381
against the sales tax fund have al
ready been paid, the report said.
The $1,033,028 still outstanding will
not all be needed until the com
letion of construction.
A total of $340,253 has been spent
frem the sales tax fund on the new
Street lighting system, including op
erational costs for the balance of
1956, But Slankard expressed dis
satisfaction with the lighting pro
gram in another report: "This office
was informed that all street lights
would be installed not later than
March or April.”
“At the present time. 178 mercury
lighting units remain to be in
stalled. This is a very unfortunate
situation, which is no fault of this
office said Slankard. The delay is
being caused by personnel prob
lems in the utilities department.
Seven booster pump sewer sta
tions have added to city expenses.
The current 1956 budget is $74,085.
Due to the expanded sewer pro
gram. 08,842.21 is being expended
monthly on this program. But the
sewer program is meeting the needs
of the public, Slankard added, and
no complaints of frozen sewers
reached the council last winter.
A major project looming in the
near future is the redecking of the
Cushman street bridge. $10,000 of
unbudgeted money will be required
to rennovate the structure before
the planking becomes dangerous.
A change of plans has been au
thorized in the Alaska Public Works
sewer project, since the specifica
tions for future sewer connections
were not on the original plans. An
additional charge will be made, of
which the Alaska Public Works will
pay one half.
In view of the city's discouraging
financial condition, the city mana
ger has recommended that a general
obligation
Schroeder - Wise!
Lease Harts Auto
Service Station
New,operators of Hart's Auto Ser
vice at Seventh and Cushman are
Henry Schroeder and Vic Wisel,
both formerly employed with Mu
nicipal Utilities system. They took
over their duties Tuesday morning
and will operate the business under
the name of S and W Auto Service.
The two men also operate the
Hertz U-Drive service locally.
Schroeder and Wisel leased the
station from Vic Hart, owner of
Pioneer Radio Cab company and
president of Aiaska Overland, Inc.
Xanana Valley
Fair Dates Set
For Aug. 16-19
(Continued from page 1.)
concession at the event is asked to
call 5573 for further information.
A 1956 Plymouth Fury Sport
Coupe will highlight this year's
fair activities, augmented by three
SI00 merchandise certificates.
The TVFA will sponsor a dance
; Saturday, August 4, from 10 p.m.
i until 2 a.m. in the Eagles hall. $1
admission tickets will be on sale
throughout town soon. Prizes have
been donated by Fairbanks mer
chants.
The fair committee chairmen, an
nounced this week, are: Lou Joy,
Program; Clyde Sherman, Agricul
ture; Paul Greimann, Publicity; Don
Creamer, Buildings and grounds;
Glenn Thornburg and Hesden Scou
gai, Finance; Bob Fall, Advertis
| ing; and Tom Jones and Ken Gil
landers, prizes and exhibits.
! MRS. PEARL LASKA
PLACES 19th IN ANNUAL
POWDER PUFF DSRBY
A compilation of results this week
showed that Mrs. Pearl Laska of
Fairbanks placed 19th in the Wo
I men's annual Powder Puff Derby.
A total of 47 entries competed in
j the 2.366 mile airplane race from
California to Michigan. Mrs. Laska
made the flight with a Montana
woman as co-pilot.
Results of the race were figured
; on the basis of total elapsed time
| measured against engine power of
! the plane.
j Grills En joy
Short Visit W ith
\Danish Relatives
Mr. and Mrs. G. E. S. Grill re
turned home Friday via Pan Amer
ican after spending several weeks
abroad.
Beautiful weather marked their
: non-stop flight from Chicago to
j Shannon, Ireland, Grill said, and
! they enjoyed several days visiting
! in London and Hamburg.
| The real purpose of their trip was
; to visit his half brother and his
family who live in Fredericia, Den
| mark on the peninsula of Jutland.
This was the first time the two had
met.
Since Grill’s brother could speak
i little English and Mrs. Grill little
; Danish, Grill acted as interpreter
- for the family.
After visiting in Copenhagen for
a few days, they returned to this
country, with stopovers at Chicago
! and Denver en route, home.
Grill is superintendent of the
Ladd branch of the U.S. post of
i fice, where his daughter, Karen, is
also employed.
The Grills also have a son, Jerry,
in junior high school here. Mrs. Grill
is a music instructor in the Fairbanks
schools. The family makes their
home on College road.
NURSES FLY TO SITKA
Miss Rosalie Fields and Miss Stel
la Muckenthaler. both nurses at
St. Joseph's hospital, left Tuesday
i by plane for Juneau and Sitka.
The two girls plan to see the
sights and visit friends for several
days. They expect to be back Fri
day or Saturday.
Igloo INo. 4 Pioneers of Alaska
SPECIAL MEETING
To Complete Plans for Golden Days Program
July 16th - 8 P. M. - Eagles Hall
J. M. Jorgensen, President R. J. McKanna, Sec'y
MASONIC DIRECTORY
Masonic Temple, 80S First Ave. Dial 2836
Tanana Lodge No. 162 F&AM
Stated Communication Wednesday. July 11. 8 P.M
Howard H Kuhns. Worshipful Master
F. L. Baker, Secretary
Midnight Sun Chapter No. 6, O. E. S.
Next Regular Meeting—-2nd Friday in Month
Esther Ward, Worthy Matron
Mary Helen Chaddon, Secretary
Alaska Commandery No. 1 Knights Templar
William B. Bevington, Commander
Edward Leigh-Kendall, Recorder — Phone 5469
SHIP ALASKA DIRECT
FREQUENT SCHEDULED SAILINGS,
4 Gateways
Los Angeles • San Francisco
Portland • Seattle
Ship dim! by water ends
LUVEMfrtt^tcWftt
IBJMJNATf
Sl AVOID
pfisTUjist unc
FAIRBANKS ANCHORAGE
i P O. Box 1201 P O Box 592
21L Nerland Bldg. 223 Central Bldg
Tel: 345fi Tel: 3-4401
R. J. Hastings, Dist. Mgr Geo. Hutton, Aaa. Mgr
SEWARD
P. O. Box 85 Arcade Bldg.
Tel: Main 164 R. L. Fisher. Agent
’ACIFIC FAR EAST LINE, INC. Calif Agents