SEWARD’S
Atl-*Weatkec
SEAPORT
Is Alaska’s
Greatest Asset
Seward SeaporrRecord
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD. ALASKA
Territorial Library €-31
Vol. VI, No. 69
SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEB. 28, 1950
Price 10 Cents
Sewer To Cost
Much Less
Than Expected
W. L. Estes, who made the
primary survey of the proposed
North End Sewer system, sub
mitted his report of costs, maps,
and profiles to the city council
in special meeting last night to
be included in the formal appli
cation for GSA funds.
The actual cost came as an
agreeable surprise, amounting
to $158,866.00. instead *of the
expected $300,000 of the first i
estimate.
As part of the picture of over
all planning of civic improve
ment required on the applica
tion the following projects were
listed: Public schools and rec-!
reation, approximately $1,000,
000: paving of streets and side
walks. $250,000: hospitals, $1,
000.000: possible water svstem,
$300,000.
Under the General Services
Administration of the Public j
Works Bill, all the above listed
projects are possible for Sew
ard over a long range plan.
Mayor Gene Lanier and the
city council ask the opinion of i
the people concerning these pro-j
posed improvements. Any ob- i
jections or additions should be j
made now and in writing to |
the council before the plans are
too far advanced.
Sea Hawks Return
Fram Fur
Rendezvous Series
Our Sea Hawks returned Mon
day, tired, frayed and discour
aged, but with chins up. No def
inite word has been received
here at press time as to the of
ficial play-off with the Kodiak
Class B team for the Western
Alaska championship, but it is
definite that Seward holds the
Class A championship of the
Railbelt.
As challenger, Kodiak will
have to come to Seward for the
play-off. but rumor has it that a
guarantee of $500 will be neces
sary before the Islanders will
make the trip. This has not been
verified, and, according to Supt.
Carl Carlson, final arrangements
have not been completed.
In appreciation of the long
grind and the good work our
boys have been doing, the team
is being honored tonight at a
banquet in the Methodist Church
parlors at 7:30. Many sports
minded townspeople are expect
ed to attend, and to contribute
to the athletic fund by paying a
nominal charge for the dinner.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Werner
have been seen riding around
in a shiny new black car. Spring
surely must be in the air as
several new cars are seen about,
saying nothing of the three wed
dings which took place over the
week end and more coming up
in the next few weeks.
Round n Bout Town . . .
—The Roving Reporter—
Mr. Rodger Gray, son of Mr.
■and Mrs. Loti Gray, arrived
home with his bride last week.
He has spent three years in
the Navy, having most of his
training at the Naval Air Sta
tion in Chinchateague, Virginia.
A group of ski enthusiasts
are planning on going out to
Mile 50 to ski next Sunday. Mr.
Shuster’s ski tow will be in
operation there. Any one wish
ing to spend the week end
should make arrangements with
Mr. Shuster In advance as there
are only accommodations for
about 15 or so.
Vi
Mrs. Lillian Ward and Mr.
Delbert Aldridge will be mar
ried in the Nurses Home at the
Seward Sanatorium next Friday.
«
Beverly Wirz and Charles
Smith are also planning on walk
ing down the aisle next Sat
urday.
«
At the regular meeting of the
Eastern Star Monday evening,
the members honored their sec
retary, Mrs. Martine Johansen,
and their treasurer, Mrs. Rich
ard Myers, with a little cere
mony and a gift was presented
to each of them.
«
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bristow
arrived home last Wednesday.
They have been vacationing in
the States since last November.
They drove a new car over the
highway and report the roads
in good condition.
Jack Willis of Cooper Land
ing, who has been visiting his
mother in Portland, came with
them.
vi
Mr. Jimmy Dunmire left for
his home at Cooper Landing Fri
day. Since an operation he has
been convalescing at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Davis.
VS
Bea Davis’ mother, Mrs. Her
bert J. Cox, and her aunt, Mrs.
Charles J. Dickey, who have
been visiting here since last
Thanksgiving, left for their
homes in Manzanita, Oregon.
Mrs. Dickey plans on visiting
in Chicago before returning to
her home.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Humes were
in town from Hope Monday.
Mr. Humes attends the Farm
Classes while in town.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cassel and
family left for the States last
Saturday.
A farewell party was given
them after a meeting of the
Liorffc Club. Gifts from the Lions
Club, Methodist choir and Sun
day School were presented to
Mr. and Mrs. Cassel and their
son Jack.
The Cassels were well thought
of in Seward and their friends
are hoping they come back, if
not to live, for a vacation.
Mf
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Blair
entertained at dinner Saturday
night. After listening to the
basketball game they and their
guests adjourned to the Metho
dist Church social room to
square dance.
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Urbach
are now in Palm Springs, Calif.
Leon writes that wherever they
go they see people from Alaska.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Vic Brown, Sr.,
of Anchorage, are also vacation
ing in Palm Springs.
The Urbachs just attended a
Date Festival and say the night
pageant was a beautiful sight.
J8
Do you know that the recom
mended Federal budget for the
fiscal year 1951 involves an ex
penditure of $278 for each man,
woman, and child in the United
States? In fiscal year 1939 the
corresponding figure was $69.
*
Mrs. Billie Hunt of Anchorage
was in Seward on a short busi
ness trip.
*
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Boe, Mr.
and Mrs. John Smith and Mr.
and Mrs. Hank Olson square
danced at Hope Saturday night.
tt
Mrs. Dick Thomas arrived
home from her vacation in
Seattle.
&
Mr. Charles Lechner, Sr., re
turned home from an extended
visit in the States last Friday.
He is feeling much better, hav
ing spent some time at Hot
Springs, Ark. *
F.H.A. Grants
More Funds
For Alaskans
Ending a dramatic deadline
race for Title 608 housing, word
was received in Juneau last Fri
day that an additional $11,500,
000 of private construction for
Alaska had been committed by
FHA. “It was a near photo
finish," Clinton C. Staples, ter
ritorial director of FHA re
marked, “with a March 1 expira
tion date on Title 608 legisla-j
tion under which there is now]
assured more than $30,000,000
in apartment construction dis
tributed from Ketchikan to
Fairbanks." Such housing will
provide anoroximately 2,500 in-1
dividual units.
In a state ment to Governor |
Gruenmg. Mr. Staples added 1
that within 30 days some $50,
000,000 worth of military hous
ing would be insured by his
office under provisions of the;
Wherry Act. This would be in |
addition to the $30,000,000 of j
privately financed housing com-1
mitted within the past six ;
months.
With the approach of the!
March 1 deadline, Staples point-1
ed out, virtually all states and
territories anxiously sought to
get under the wire by urging
the commitment of their pend
ing 608 applications. Because
applications in process exceeded
the available insurance author
ization by almost four to one,
disappointment was inevitable
for many. ‘‘Alaska, in receiving
one hundred per cent commit
ment of all applications, real
ized more favorable treatment
than perhaps any other jurisdic
tion,” Staples stated.
Mr. Staples paid tribute to the
elective assistance of Governor
Gruening and Delegate E. L.
Bartlett in bringing the matter
to a successful conclusion. He
expressed appreciation as well
for the efforts of Raymond M.
Foley, administrator of housing
and home finance, Franklin D.
Richards, commissioner of fed
eral housing, and M. J. Cassidy,
zone commissioner for Alaska.
“But for their recognition of
Alaska’s problem, as voiced re
peatedly by Delegate Bartlett
and Governor Gruening, we
could not have received one hun
dred per cent commitment of
our applications in so competi
tive a situation,” Mr. Staples de
clared.
With respect to prospective
applicants who were unable to
file applications under Title 608,
Mr. Staples noted that Section
207 of the National Housing
Act is now in process of amend
ment to replace 608. While it
is unlikely that action in this
respect will occur in time for
utilization in 1950, there seems
every assurance FHA insurance
provisions comparable to 608
will be available to private
builders again next year.
When Mr. ^ Staples visited
Seward in November and talked
with members of the city coun
cil and townspeople about FHA
guaranteed loans, he mentioned
the fact that Title 608 would
end on March 1, 1950. Speak
ing to the effect that the govern
ment in an effort to discourage
too much high priced housing
in Alaska favors a plan for low
rent apartments, which is to be
covered under the proposed
amendment, Title 207.
It is not to be construed that
with the retirement of Section
Title 608 the prospect of FHA
guaranteed loans for private
home construction is lost to the
individual. The bill applies only
to the construction of multiple
unit h i g h-p riced' apartment
buildings.
Albert Baumberger
Retires After 32
Years With A.R.R.
Word was received here today
that Albert Baumberger of Sew
ard, retires officially at 3:30 to
day after 32 years of continued
service as an engineer with The
Alaska Railroad.
The Baumbergers are well
known and respected residents
of Sewafd where they have re
sided for many years, serving
the community and their many
friends quietly and well, he as a
good citizen, ever ready to lend
a hand, and Mrs. Baumberger
as a Registered Nurse, and mem
ber of the Nurses Association.
They will remain in Seward a
few months longer then retire to
Minnesota, where, it is hoped
they will find every happiness.
1950 Registration
Books Open
According to the Territorial
laws it is necessary to re; Aer
for voting sometime during each
calendar year. The first elections
this year will be the Primaries
in April.
Qualifications for voting are:
American citizenship, 21 years
of age, one year residence in the
Territory, and 30 days residence
in Seward. Only one registration
is necessary for all or any elec
tions.
The books are open every day
in the City Hall from 10:00 a m.
to 3:00 p.m.
Have you registered?
Alaska Booth at
Seattle Sports Show
Juneau—An Alaska booth is
to be installed at the Seattle
Times Sports and Vacation Show
March 17-26 through the coop
eration of the Alaska Steamship
Company, Chambers of Com
merce in the Territory and the
Alaska Development Board.
The booth, which will feature
Alaska products and exhibits,
will be financed by the Alaska
Steamship Company under an
offer made by F. A. Zeusler, ex
ecutive asistant to the president
of that line.
Chamber of Commerce par
ticipation, so that all sections of
Alaska will be represented, is
being organized by the Alaska
Development Board.
One feature of the exhibit will
be the showing of motion pic
ture films from various sections
of the Territory.
The Seattle Junior Chamber
of Commerce has volunteered to
help man the booth during the
exhibit.
Assistance Will Be
Given Eligible Needy
In view of the fact that mis
statements have been made re
cently in regard to a controver
sial matter affecting the Terri
tory through the establishment
of reservations, Mr. Henry A.
Harmon, director of the Depart
ment of Public Welfare, makes
the following statement:
The Department of Public
Welfare follows the requirement
of the Federal Security Agency
that assistance be given to all
eligible, needy persons, regard
less of race or residence location
within the Territory.
Therefore, people receiving
assistance under the Public As
sistance programs would not be
affected by either the establish
ment or non-establishment of
reservations.. Whether people
vote for or against reservations,
will have no affect on their eli
gibility, and the payments will
continue to be determined only
according to their need for aid.
The Sea Hawks arrived home
on Monday night’s train along
with several Sewardites who
were in Anchorage for the bas
ketball games and the Fur Ren
dezvous.
Local Bowlers
Win Honors At
Rendezvous
Two teams from the Seward
Bowling League returned from
the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous
wearing laurels this week.
Both the men’s and women’s
teams played three games, two
each with Anchorage, and one
each against crack Kodiak
teams. Seward women bowlers
won two out of three, and the
men took all three of their con
tests.
Mae Hoy, Myra Lesko, Agnes
Janakula, Martha Eads and Nor
ine Reed represented Seward
against the Peacock Cleaners of
Anchorage in the first game of
the series, and came off winners,
i The second game was with Kodi
! ak and was also taken by the
! Seward women. They lost the
j third game with the St. Paul
| squad of Anchorage. Mae Hoy
bowled high game for the wom
' en at 107, and a 528 series.
The men's team, made up of
I the league’s best bowlers, Gene
; Skinner, Bob Forsyth. Everett
; Skinner. Frank Lewis and Bud
: Brown, took all three of their
games, with Frank Lewis bowl
ing a high 30 of 632 in a series
of 162. 219 and 251. For rolling
a 250 game he was made a mem
‘ her of the Anchorage 250 Club,
! and was presented with a pin
i proclaiming his membership.
The games began on Satur
day against Anchorage teams,
one of which was the Anchorage
I All Stars. Sunday afternoon
I Seward played a Kodiak team,
i taking the game by a 310 lead,
i It was in this game that Frank
Lewis rolled up such a beauti
ful score.
Open house was held on Sat
urday night honoring the Sew
ard teams, and on Sunday eve
ning they were entertained at
dinner. Both teams are enthu
| siastic over the reception they
I received in Anchorage, and are
eager to return the hospitality
when two teahis from that city
come to Seward about March
18 for a return match.
Large Attendance at
'World Day of Prayer'
The World Day of Prayer
service held Friday evening in
the Lutheran Church had an at
j tendance of approximately 45,
! representing four churches.
Miss Lucille Stephan, Ladies
Aid president, and Mrs. Fred
Schomburg of the Lutheran
Church, were program chair
men, and members from the va
rious churches lead in readings,
prayers and musical numbers.
The program guide used the
theme “Faith for Our Time” and
this was prepared for the United
Council of Church Women by
Miss Michi Kawai, who is an
outstanding Christian leader in
Japan and international church
activities. She is a trustee of the
new Japan International Chris
tian University.
The service held here Friday
linked in a great chain of pray
er that reached into 90 countries
on the first Friday of Lent.
These prayers were uttered in
60 different languages.
Because women share as well
as pray, the custom of an offer
ing has continued. The total of
fering of $27.00 will be mailed
to The United Council of Church
Women, New York, N.Y., which
funds are used half for home
missions which include the
sharecroppers, migrant workers,
and Indians. For foreign work
funds go to Christian colleges
in Asia, books and periodicals
for Latin America, and also a
project for meeting and getting
settled foreign students who
come to American colleges.