SEWARD’S
All-cWeatkec
SEAPORT
Is Alaska s
Greatest Asset
Alaska Historical library
and Museum ■*“
Seward Seaport Record
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD, ALASKA
Vol. VII, No. 28
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. 1950
Price 10 cents
Alaska Steamship Company
Cancels Baranof Reservations
The Alaska Steamship Com
pany this week was forced to
suspend passenger service be
cause the Marine Cooks and
Stewards Union refused to abide
by the U. S. Coast Guard pro
gram of screening all vessels
to Alaska for “poor security j
risks," and agree to replace!
without delay any men who
have been so screened.
For the past eight weeks the
MC&S have delayed signing on
vessels, have refused to report
for sign on when ordered, have
refused to complete signing on
when one of their members has
been screened, thus delaying
vessel sailings and many times
creating serious doubt as to
whether or not the vessels would
sail. This is unfair to the travel
ing public and costly to the
company, according to D. E.
Skinner, general manager.
The screening program has
been put into effect to protect
all U. S. ships carrying war
material or personnel to the
Orient or Alaska. All maritime
unions, with the exception of the
MC&S, have complied with the
program. The MC&S have at- ■
tempted to cloud the issue by [
claiming that this program has i
been established for the sole!
purpose of blacklisting their j
members who are considered.
undesirable by the company.
This could not be true as all
steamship companies involved
are merely complying with the
U. S. Coast Guard regulations,
Skinner explained.
The MC&S argue that they
are entitled to know why a
member has been classified as
a poor security risk. Yet they
refuse to comply with the appeal
procedure as laid down by the
Coast Guard. The MC&S are
demanding that the company
masters sign their men on ships'
articles at sea in order to cir
cumvent screening. Other mari
time unions have advised the
company that their members
will not sail on a ship whose
crew has not been properly
screened.
In view ot the Korean war.
Skinner continued, the company
recognizes its obligation to com
ply with- the Coast Guard screen
ing procedure. Until the MC&S
agree to this and cease delaying
company vessels, the company
has no alternative but to with
draw from passenger service.
The SS Baranof, scheduled to
sail at 5 p.m. today with passen
gers and cargo for Southeastern
and Southwestern Alaska, will
only carry cargo for these ports.
This means that instead of 54
in the stewards crew there will
be only 10. The Baranof will
make her regular ports of call
northbound, but upon complet
ing discharge of cargo at Sew
ard will proceed direct to Se
attle.
“We recognize the hardship
suspension of passenger service
will impose upon the Alaskan
people,” Mr. Skiner said, “but
this decision has been reached
only after two months of turmoil
and confusion, vessel delays and
passenger inconvenience and
with no indication from the
MC&S that the situation can
do anything but deteriorate.”
Mr. Charles Nichols, Seattle
agent of the MC&S, refused an
invitation to discuss this matter
with company officials on Octo
ber 3rd.
RED CROSS MEETING
The meeting of American Red
Cross announced previously for
Thursday, has been changed to
Wednesday, October 11, so as
not to conflict with the first
concert of the season.
Boy Scouts Scout
For Lost Child
Last Tuesday afternoon a five
year old girl was “lost” for
three hours. After her frantic
mother had searched unsuccess
fully, the Jesse Lee Boy Scout
Troop was called in.
Within 20 minutes after the
call was made, the boys were on
the streets. Divided into three
patrols, the boys began knock
ing on doors, scouring streets
and alleys in search for the
little girl.
This particular trooo was
called upon because, with many
of them living at the Home, the
troop is easy to mobilize. They
went to work with a will and
energy that was wonderful to
see.
The fact that the child had
gone on an unscheduled shop
ping trip, after which she de
cided to visit a neighbor, where
she was discovered by her
mother, does not detract from
the spirit shown by the Boy
Scouts. They are always pre
oared for emergeneios. They did
not discover the child, but they
would have in a few minutes
more, as soon as they reached
the right door.
Pre-Registration
Not Needled to Vote
Voters are reminded that in
this general election no pre
registration is renuired to vote.
Registration will be at the noils.
All persons 21 vears of age,
citizens of the United States,
who have lived one year in Al
aska and 30 days in the pre
cinct are entitled to vote.
Seward Precinct comprises
the corporate limits of the City
of Seward. All residents in Sew
ard will find the polls in the
City Hall, which everyone must
know by now, is over the Fire
Hall.
Persons living outside the city
limits will vote at Mile 6^2 on
the highway at the home of
Walter Bryan.
Dog Owners Warned
About Licenses
With the opening of school
dogs are again congregating
around the school grounds and
running in packs. This consti
tutes a danger to school chil
dren as well as being a nuisance.
The Police Department warn
ed this week that all dogs run
ning the streets without license
tags will be destroyed. If the
owners are known they will be
notified and given three days
in which to obtain said license.
The law requires that all dogs
will wear current license tags,
which can be obtained from the
City Clerk. The charge is $2.50
for male dogs and spayed fe
males. Unspayed female dogs
are taxed $5.00. Owners of valu
able dogs or family pets which
they wish to protect must pay
the license fee immediately.
By Tuesday, October 3, only
53 dog tags had been sold in
Seward.
REPUBLICANS MEET
TONIGHT
Seward Republican Club
members will meet in special
session tonight at 8:00 p.m. in
the social hall of the Lutheran
Church. All persons interested
in party doings are invited to
attend, whether they have club
membership or not. Marvin
Viale, president, will preside.
City of Seward Loses
First Round With
Water Company
The complaint of the City of
Seward against the Seward
Water Company owned by Jean
E. Thorne, was dismissed in
Third District Court Thursday
on a technicality.
Judge Anthony J. Dimond
granted the defense motion to
dismiss the case on the ground
that the city had no right under
existing Territorial law to con
demn the privately owned utili
ty company. According to Terri
torial statutes, condemnation
can only be achieved when a
property is to be converted from
one purpose to another purpose.
The fact that the city wishes
to obtain the property for the
purpose of rehabilitation, ex
tension and continued use con
flicts with the wording of the
existing statutes.
The action of the court being
so recent, it has not been dis
cussed by the Common Council.
It is presumed, however, that
the subject will not be dropped
and that further action will be
taken.
Ten Cases of Polio
In Anchorage Area
Reported cases of infantile
paralysis on Oct. 5 remained at
10 in the Anchorage area and 14
in Fairbanks, according to word
received from the Alaska De
partment of Health.
Health officials said a respir
ator was flown to Ketchikan
Wednesday night by an Air
Force plane following the report
that a thirty-year-old man ha*d
become the city's third case. A
four-year-old girl is the only case
reported in Juneau.
Two additional respirators
have been requested from the
National Foundation for Infan
tile Paralysis by Dr. C. Earl Al
brecht, Commissioner of Health.
NO POLIO IN SEWARD
No polio has been reported
here, according to Public Health
authorities. Every precaution is
being observed and reported
illnesses carefully watched.
Parents are still urged to call
in a physician whenever a child
shows symptoms of fever. In
this way, the city may avoid
the disease.
MRS. SHELDON INSTALLS
AMERICAN LEGION
AUXILIARY OFFICERS
Mrs. Josephine Sheldon, wife
of the former postmaster and a
I past president of the Seward
Unit, American Legion Auxil
iary, installed Unit officers
Wednesday night.
Bobbie Smith, president elect,
was not present to be installed
as she is in the hospital for
treatment. Other officers in
stalled were Dorothy Stewart,
secretary; Miriam Mitchell,
treasurer; Viola Taw, 1st Vice
and Mildred Manthey, Sgt. at
Arms.
The Auxiliary is planning a
costume dance and box social
for Hallowe’en.
HOFFMAN-BLIDBERG
NUPTIALS
Arretta Hoffman and Johnny
Blidberg were married by Mrs.
Bonny Southard, U. S. Commis
sioner, in her home Wednesday
evening. Witnesses were Mr.
Lawrence Kirch and Mrs. Dean
Bedford.
LABOR COMMISSIONER
VISITS SEWARD
Henry Benson, Territorial
Commissioner of Labor, spent
two days in Seward this week,
leaving on the afternoon plane
Thursday. Mr. Benson is candi
date for re-election next week.
Coast Guard Bans Unloading
Of Explosives In Cities
Newsboys Forbidden
On City Dock
Authorities of Alaska Rail
road dock office request that
all newsboys stay off the city
dock.
Boys selling papers, local or
out of town, are always eager
to contact their many customers
who work on the dock. By
darting in and out and around
moving jitney cars, they not
only hamper workmen, but are
in very real danger of injury.
Freight cars and trucks are
in motion on the dock during
unloading operations as well,
and it is definitely no place for
anyone who is not conducting
business, let alone small boys
intent only on the sale of a
paper.
Parents and dealers are re
quested to instruct the boys that
they are forbidden on the dock.
Council Makes
Election Official
Members of the Common
Council at a special meeting on
October 4, at 4 p.m., canvassed
the votes cast in the municipal
election and accepted the count
of tin? election board as official.
Coune.'lmen elected in order
of number of votes cast were A.
G Mcllao, 1 C,l>- Charles Cole,
149; Lawrence Whitmore, 149
Mur! J'revethan was el,'cted
to the Utility Board by 181 votes
and Leon Lewis will take his
place on the School Board on a
vote of 810. A total of 217 votes
were east
New council members will
take the oath oi office at the
next regular meeting of the
council, Monday, October 16, at
8 p.m
Steamship Company
Officials Visit
Mr. H. N. Peterson, general
traffic manager of Alaska
Steamship Company, and Mr.
G. S. Duryea, general freight
and passenger agent, were due
to arrive in Seward today on
the S. S. Alaska.
Mr. Peterson is on his annual
trip around the Territory in the
interest of company business.
This is Mr. Duryea’s third swing
around the Territory this year.
While in the Territory the two
men will attend the Alaska Day
celebration at McKinley Park
October 14-16. They will con
tinue on to Cordova from Sew
ard aboard the SS Alaska and
will fly from there to Anchor
I age.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
The Record will resume the
Community Calendar as a free
service to the community if all
organizations interested will in
form the editor as to their regu
lar meeting nights.
Special events must be called
in before the deadline on Tues
days and Fridays in order to be
placed on the calendar.
Lest we forget . . .
Registration is NOT
a pre-requisite to vot
ing in next Tuesday's
General Election!
Right of Franchise is
our privilege and our
duty.
Let's not shirk.
I Lt. Commander C. E. Hawley,
i U. S. Coast Guard, 17th Coast
j Guard District, in a whirlwind
I visit to Seward yesterday, issued
' instructions to Mayor Eugene
N. Lanier and to Alaska Rail
road officials, Northern Steve
' doring and Alaska Steamship
Company officers that hence
, forth no class A explosives will
be permitted to cross any dock
j within the corporate limits of
the city.
I According to Hawley, ships
will be required to anchor in
stream across the Bay and light
er explosives to the end of the
j Bay or to some point outside
] of town, there to be transported
I to railroad cars or to storage
points outside the city limits.
This regulation met concerted
opposition from all quarters in
the city and this morning a spe
cial meeting of the City Council
was called for the purpose of
drafting and adopting an ordi
nance controlling the handling,
; transportation and storage of
j class A explosives within the
i incorporate limits of the city,
j The ordinance requires that
I all class A explosives will be
I handled in accordance with the
\ precautions prescribed by Un
1 derwriters Laboratories and
i Standard Practices; that vehicles
: hauling explosives will be mark
! ed on all sides with large red
. lettering (EXPLOSIVES—DAN
i GEROUS) and by red lights at
I night; that no vehicle carrying
| explosives will exceed a speed
| limit of more than ten miles per
| hour through town; that they
' will not carry a load in excess
of three tons; and that they will
I use the streets which have the
: least normal traffic. They are
j prohibited from carrying deto
i nators on the same load as the
explosive itself.
No class A explosives are to
be stored within the city limits,
either powder, detonators or
fuses. Permits for handling of
such explosives must be obtained
from the City Clerk before they
can be handled.
This regulation by the Coast
Guard was issued a few days
ago. It concerns not only the
Port of Seward but every port
in Alaska receiving commercial
shipments of explosives. Any
port under the jurisdiction of
the military, may, of course,
unload explosives from strictly
military transport vessels across
a military dock, but commercial
shipments may not be received
under the same ruling.
Contractors on the highway
work are awaiting a shipment
which is aboard the SS Chena
and due to arrive shortly. There
are no facilities in this port for
lightering to points outside the
city limits, and authorities are
concerned about the stoppage of
highway work for lack of ex
plosives, caused by this unavoid
able delay.
Information received here was
to the effect that shipments al
ready loaded in Seattle are
being removed from the ships
until the matter can be settled
between the Coast Guard, the
shippers and contractors.
CARRY IN DINNER FOR
EASTERN STARS
Mrs. Helen Jordan, chairman,
announced plans for a carry-in
dinner for members of Seward
Chapter. Order of Eastern Star,
to be given next Monday eve
ning at 6:30 in the Masonic Tem
ple.
Members are being contacted
by Mrs. Jordan and her com
mittee, and any members who
do not expect to attend the
i dinner are asked to notify Mrs.
! Jordan at Monroe 106.