SEWARD’S
All-qWeathec
SEAPORT
Is Alaska's
Greatest Asset
Seward Seaporffctecord
J",".?|"(TTiT|n I'tt'Mt THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD, ALASKA
Vol. VI, No. 37
SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 1949
Price 10 Cents
Clipper Is
Appointed
Master
Mike Clipper, old time resi
dent of Alaska, was appointed
harbor master of the Small Boat
Harbor by the City Council in
regular meeting Monday night.
Clipper has lived in Seward
for the past two years, employ
ed until recently by Northern
Stevedoring Co. Previous to that
time he fished all the northern
waters from Ketchikan to Bris
tol Bay, for the past thirty years.
Mr. Clipper is well known to
the Westward as a guide to big
game hunters, with many tro
phies of his own. A personal ac
quaintance with most of the fish
ermen and boatmen along the
entire coast, and a majority of
the men in Seward, he was ap
pointed on the recommendation
of many of the users of the small
boat harbor.
Except for short visits Outside,
Mike has spent his life in Alas
kan waters, since his first trip
during World War I in the Mer
chant Marine.
The harbor committee plans
to erect a combined office and
dwelling on the harbor, install
electricity, water and telephone,
and other facilities to make the
Seward Small Boat Harbor an
attraction to small boats. This
could not be completed until
after the dredging work is fin
ished, but it is the ultimate goal
of the City Council.
Other coast towns having
small boat harbors have been
consulted concerning the opera
tion of their harbors, and similar
rules will be applied here.
Have You Contributed
To University Fund?
Much interest has been evi
dent the past week in regard to
location at Seward of the college
planned for somewhere in Alas
ka by the Board of Education of
the Methodist Church.
Very few people realize the
magnitude of the project. It is
really big business. One- million
dollars for construction and an
other million in reserve for op
erational fund is big business.
Regardless of where the col
lege is located, the site will be
furnished by the lucky com
munity. Negotiation are under
way now for acquiring a suitable
site at Seward.
Next step is promoting Sew
ard as the most desirable loca
tion. If you have not already
done so, write to the men men
tioned in the last issue of this
newspaper—now.
aiso aesiraDie is me senaing
of a suitable delegate to the
meeting of the Board of Educa
tion of the Methodist Church
early in December. Location of
the college will be decided at
this meeting and it is deemed
necessary that Seward’s cause
be pleaded there.
There are subscriptions being
taken up in Seward to raise the
necessary funds to send our rep
resentative, Rev. Paul I. Irwin, I
to the meeting. Fast action is
necessary so don’t wait until you
are approached for your contri
bution. Hand your check, made
out to the University Fund to
George Lesko, W. C. Erwin, Mrs.
Max Hamilton at Hamilton’s Ga
rage, or to John Coleman at the
newspaper office.
If it is more convenient, mail
your contribution to any of the
above named people, or to the
Seward Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. and Mrs. ^alt Pedersen
of Moose River are in town for
a few days taking advertising
and subscriptions for The Alas
kan Agriculturist, Alaskan mag
azine published by Ed Baldwin
of the Alaska Seed Co.
No Strike-No Lockout
Agreement Reached in
Union-PMA Contract
A sixth long term contract
for Pacific Coast shipping was
tentatively arrived at Oct. 31,
bringing to 86 percent the total
maritime personnel covered by
two year, no strike-no lockout
contracts.
Parties to the contract are the
National Organization of Mas
ters, Mates and Pilots, AFL.
Local 90 and the Pacific Mari
time Association. It covers
ships’ Captains and their Mates
in all Coast trades. The contract
runs to September 30, 1951 and
contains a no strike-no lockout
clause.
Announcement of the agree
ment came in a joint Union
PMA statement, handed to the
press by Omar Hoskins, Federal
Mediator assigned to the nego
tiations. Captain C. F. May,
Union President, headed the
MM&P negotiations. Chairman
for the PMA Committee was
J. B. Bryan, Vice President.
Agreement to establish a wel
fare plan; a basic increase of
1.56 percent; a clothing allow
ance of $7.50 monthly; and an
improved employment clause
are the features of the new
pact. The wage increase and
clothing allowance are retro
active to June 16, 1949.
Already covered by long term ;
no strike-no lockout contracts
are 5 other unions with coast
wide contracts. In addition to
the longshore force ashore, li
censed engineers, radio officers,
firemen, and cooks and stewards
all have long term pacts to
June 15, 1951.
In their statement of Oct. 31,
the parties cited, the fact that
the agreement was reached “in |
an atmosphere of friendly co- i
operation and without threat of
interruption of water-borne com
merce in Pacific Coast ports.”
The agreement was subject
to membership ratification by
both parties.
Methodist Bazaar
Sat., Noy. 12
Luncheon will be served
from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m. at the
Methodist Bazaar being held in
the basement of the church on
Saturday, Oct. 12.
In addition to the luncheon
there will be a sale of food,
candy, cake, pies, salads and
hot dishes. A fish pond and hot
dogs for the children and a
white elephant sale for their
mothers is expected to attract
large numbers.
Fancy work for Christmas
gifts is another drawing card,
besides the door prizes which
will be given every hour from
noon until 4:00 o’clock.
Sitka Radio Station
flearing Completion
Equipment for, completion of
Sitka’s first standard broad
casting station is moving north
on the Alaska Steamship Com
pany’s steamer Denali, sched
uled to sail from Seattle at 11
last Friday morning, Mr. Wil
liam J. Wagner revealed.
The new station, to be identi
fied by call letters KIFW, will
broadcast on a frequency of
1230 kilocycles with a. power
of 250 watts. When completed
it will cost in the neighborhood
of $40,000.
Already 80 percent finished,
KIFW will raise to six the num
ber of stations in the territorial
chain of the Alaska Broadcast
ing Company. Their first, KFQD
in Anchorage, was the initial
standard broadcast statioii in
Alaska, Mr. Wagner stated, and
the 95th in the United States.
It went on the air in 1924.
KIFW will bring to Sitka
programs of Columbia Broad
casting System as an affiliate
of that national network.
Repairs
On School
Planned
Plans are being considered
for the rehabilitation of the old
school building. Fluorescent
lighting in class rooms in the
new building has proved by
comparison how inadequately
the old rooms are lighted.
According to Dr. J. H. Shel
ton, newest member of the
school board, the forced air ven
tilating system should be in
stalled in the building. With so
many children living in close
contact for several hours each
day, one child infected with
tuberculosis could endanger the
health of all others in the room.
Ventilation such as that Wn the
addition would tend to relieve
the danger of infection.
Installation of a force pump
in the water line is also con
sidered an immediate necessity,
the water pressure on the sec
ond floor not being adequate
in case of fire.
Replacement of 126 panes of
glass, damaged by earthquake
and vandals, must be made with
out delay, according to the con
tractor, before severe cold
weather, to conserve heat.
It is expected that the amount
budgeted for fuel will be con
siderably lowered, as the changes
made in the heating arrange
ments seem to bring about heat
ing of the entire building for less
than it took to heat the old part
in previous years.
All classroom doors need locks
and rooms must be painted and
some floors refinished. No esti
mate has been asked on the com
plete rehabilitation of the build
ing, but the council assumes that
the cost will be roughly $12,000.
The Territorial Board of Edu
cation was authorized by the last
legislature to rehabilitate old
buildings through the Territory,
with an expenditure of S30,00(J
at Seward. With the freezing oi
funds sometime later, however,
this money is not immediately
available for the work. Since
the repair of the building is a
necessity, however, the city
must assume the expense until
such time as it may be possible
to be reimbursed by the Terri
tory from the frozen funds.
Dr. Lowell Stresses
TB Seal Importance
In furtherance of the annual
tuberculosis seal sale, Dr. L. M.
Lowell, M.D., medical director
at the Seward Sanatorium, has
this to say:
“No Alaskan needs to be re
minded that tuberculosis has
been and continues to be our
most serious health problem. The
death rate continues to be high
—in the native population about
ten times that of the national
average and in the white popu
lation about twice the national
average. The establishment of
medical and surgical facilities in
hospitals and sanatoria, a func
tion of our Territorial and Fed
eral Governments, is progressing
satisfactorily although funds
continue to be inadequate.
“The National Tuberculosis
Association, which is supported
by the annual sale of Christmas
Seals, has important work to do
in Alaska in supporting the gov
erpmental agencies. On the local
level we depend on the Alaska
Tuberculosis Association for fi
nancial support of the annual
x-ray survey, which is carried
on in cooperation with the Alas
ka department of Health. On the
national level approximately
$750,000 is spent each year by
the National Tuberculosis Asso
ciation on tuberculosis educa
tion and medical research. In our
hospitals and sanatoria we de
(Turn to Page 4)
Basketball Season
Starts Wednesday
Night at School Gym
The opening whistle for city
league basketball will sound to
morrow night, Wednesday, Nov.
9, at the high school gym. The
Nobby Club, sponsored by the
same, and the Boosters, spon
sored by Kenai Electric, tip off
the season at 7:30. In the second
game the Dehorns, sponsored by
the Palace Bar, play the Seward
Sea Hawks.
All four teams have been
practicing regularly and compe
tition promises to be good. A
trophy may be given to the
winner this year.
This season the four teams
of the city league will play a
double-header once a week on
Wednesday nights. The season
is divided into five series, each
series being completed when
each team has competed against
the other three. Place of playing
will alternate by series at the
high school gym and at the
Civic Center.
On next Friday night, Nov.
11, at the school gym, all three
city teams will combine forces j
against the Sea Hawks, the pre
liminary being played by Sew-1
ard High girls’ teams. The Sew
ard All Stars vs. the Sea Hawks'
will compete each Friday night,
except when special occasions
are scheduled and when out-oi-,
town teams are scheduled. The j
three city teams have voluntar-1
ily agreed to combine into an
All Star team against the Sea
Hawks once a week to prepare
both teams for inter-city and
inter-scliool competition.
Biggest Birthday
For Oldtimer Sat.
“Pack’’ Olsen, well known
oldtimer of Seward and vici
nity, celebrated his 82nd birth
day Saturday evening. A group
of Seward residents went out to
his home at Mile 16 and pre
pared and served his birthday
i dinner.
j A very beautiful cake, baked
and decorated by Mrs. Helen
Parks of the Oceanview Home,
where ‘Pack” spends the win
ters, was the high spot of the
evening. The cake was covered
with candles, eighty-two to be
exact, and was enjoyed by all.
i Mrs. Eva Lindsey was the chef
for the birthday dinner.
! “Pack” said that it was the
biggest birthday he could re
member. He also stated that he;
was moving into town for the
winter this weekend and to tell j
his friends to come and see him
and he would beat them at a
game or two of cribbage.
I Plan For Christmas
At Sanatorium
i
The staff at the Seward San-,
atorium is looking ahead to
Christmas and already has plans
under way to make this greatest
of all religious celebrations as
meaningful and happy an occa
sion as is possible for the pa- j
tients who must of necessity be
away from their own firesides
and loved ones.
Christmas trees gaily decorat- i
ed and brilliantly lighted will
add a festive air to the wards, j
Traditional Christmas carols
and music will be provided dur- i
ing the week preceding Christ- j
mas, culminating in a program
presented at a Christmas party
and on Christmas day gifts will
be distributed to each and every
one.
The interest of the towns
people of Seward, has always
been evidenced in their genero
sity to the Sanatorium at this
season of the year and their
benevolent giving has contri
buted much to the enjoyment
and entertainment of the pa
tients.
(Turn to Page 4)
Vandals
Reported
At School
Reports of repeated acts of
vandalism in the high school
building were made to the city
council Monday night.
According to Ray James, new
doors in the addition still under
construction have been forced
twice in the past ten days. A
pipe or bar of sime sort was
used to force the automatic
lock, causing the doors to be
swung out of line, and splin
tered at the point of contact.
Electricians reported that in
dividual thermostats installed
on radiators in each room for
the control of uniform heat have
been damaged. Plaster, some of
it recently repaired, has been
kicked or gouged out in base
ment rooms, toilet seats torn
off and broken, presumably af
ter school hours.
An inspection of the building
by School Board and Council
members revealed the necessity
of replacing 126 panes of glass.
Most of the windows in the old
building were damaged by the
earthquake, but too many of
them are definitely broken by
stones.
Council members expressed
the hope that it will not be
necessary to take police action
against such acts of vandalism,
but if they continue, parents of
children caught or proved to
be responsible for destruction
of public property will be pros
ecuted.
Short Meeting For
Rebekah Ejection
Seward Rebekah Lodge No.
6A elected Jean Trotter as
Noble Grand for the next year
in the regular meeting Monday
night. Mrs. Elsie Shingleton is
vice grand elect; Mrs. Wilma
Lind, treasurer; Mrs. Katheryn
Hassmann, secretary; and Miss
Sylvia Sexton, trustee.
Business was conducted with
out any delay so as to vacate
the hall for the use of the Elks,
whose Grand Exalted Ruler was
visiting in Seward, and had re
quested use of the hall.
The ladies retired to the Elks
Club after their meeting, in lieu
of the usual refreshments fol
lowing election.
RELIGIOUS FILM AT
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHAPEL
“Abraham’s Sacrifice,” the
sacred narrative of Abraham’s
sacrifice of his only son Isaac,
which has been produced in
16mm sound motion picture by
Rev. Rasbach of Foundation
Films corporation, will be the
main feature of the evening
service, Wednesday, Nov. 9, at
the Assembfy of God Chapel at
7:30.
A cordial welcome is extend
ed to the public to see this in
spiring and educational film.
There is no charge, but a free
will offering will be taken.
BIGGER PRIZES FEATURED
AT SCHOOL CARNIVAL
The school carnival Nov. 18
will feature bigger and better
prizes than ever before.
Giant pandas, wool car blan
kets, five pound fruit cakes,
table lamps, whistling teaket
tles, dishes in beautiful pastels,
and many more valuable prizes
will be given away in Seward’s
biggest give-away show ever
presented.
Be sure to save the date Noy.
18 to try your skill at and win
these prizes at the school car
nival.