Steel Plays Major Role In America
Prom tin cans and safety pins
to automobiles and bridges, steel
plays a major role in our lives
... as indicated by the attention
focused on the industry’s current
labor contract negotiations.
But it took a Chippewa Indian
chief and “seven iron men” to
point out the mineral wealth that
herders Lake Superior . . . and
to lay the foundation for the
world’s largest steel industry.
Michigan was a wilderness in
1845, when a merchant named
Philo Everett heard rumors of
possible ore deposits and went
looking for copper and silver. Ac
cording to research experts with
The World Book Encyclopedia,
Everett reportedly ran into Full
Moon, niece of Chief Marji-Gesick,
who told him about a mountain
of ore. The chief entertained Eve
rett with Indian dances, passed
him the ceremonial pipe, and then
led him up a hill to a fallen pine
tree. Under its roots lay chunks
of iron ore . . . ready to be scoop
ed up and fed to the furnaces in
the east.
In 1810, the U.S. had made 1,000
tons of steel. In 1873, the figure
topped one-million tons. But the
richest deposit was still to be
found.
Iron experts had ignored one
range in Minnesota, convinced
nothing worthwhile lay beneath
its glacial drift. One company had
even built its railroad across the
eastern end of the range.
The Merritt brothers, however,
had grown up amid the prospect
ing fever and they took a chance
on the range the Indians called
"Mesabi”—“h idden giant.” In
1890, they uncovered ore testing
at 65 per cent iron. They had tap
ped one of the greatest concentra
tions of ore yet discovered in the
world.
The “seven iron men” plunged
into the development of the Mesa
bi, but the Panic of 1893 caught
them with too many commitments
and too little money. They were
wiped out.
Men like Rockefeller, Carnegie,
J. P. Morgan and Cyrus Eaton
went on to give the steel industry
its key role in the American econ
omy.
Qne indication of the import
ance of steel is the fact that the
first billion-dollar corporation was
a steel combine. Today the indus
try—comprising more than 250
companies—has the capacity to
produce some 120 million tons of
steel a year. And almost 40 per
cent of all jobs in manufacturing
industries* depend on the manu
facture and use of steel.
4th Concessions
Can Be Selected
The Jaycee Finance Committee
consisting of Chairman Bob Leo
nard and committeemen Chuck
Powell and Roger Reed announce
that the Concession organization
for the Fourth of July is all set up.
The cost for a plat is nothing, but.
a percentage of the net profit will
be expected from each concession
aire to help finance the celebra
tion of the day.
Those interested in arranging
plats for concessions may call Bob
Leonard at 3201 days, 4184 even
ings, Chuck Powell at 2233 days
or evenings, Roger Reed on the
base, 0-360, days or evenings.
Organizations are advised to get
their reservations in early, for
first come first serve on choice of
plat.
Theatre Group
In Roles Of
Struggling Actors
Ken Becker will be seen as the
ringleader of the hopeful band of
actors and actresses sharing a bar
ren apartment while they try to
get jobs on Broadway, in the Ko
diactors’ presentation of “Out of
the Frying Pan'” This is the role
created by Alfred Drake on Broad
way and played by William Holden
in the movie version of this com
edy success which opens at the
Lake Louise Little Theatre soon.
In the part of the dim-witted
but pleasant young lady from Bos
ton, the only solvent member of
the stage-struck group, Sharon
Van Buren will be playing the role
which introduced Barbara Bel
Geddes to the New York stage.
Jill Acheson, Norma Gaillard,
Tom Mann and Bob Biel will
r
HOSTAGES ESCAPE THROUGH WINDOW—Mr. and Mrs. Les
Darter, handcuffed together, climb through small window to escape
crazed killer after being held hostage all night at Dallas, Texas.
Police finally killed the mad man after he held police off for two
hours. (AP Wirephoto)^'
play other acting tyros who live
innocently and economically in
the communal set-up in New
York’s West 50’s, as energetic in
their efforts to dodge the rent
collecting landlady as in their at
tempts to meet the playcasting
producer who has the apartment
below them. The latter is played
by F. L. McCrady.
The Kodiactor’s presentation of
“Out of the Frying Pan” is being
directed by Dick Lasater, and
others in the acting company will
include Cris Boxwell, Genevieve
Layman, Ken Lewis, Dave Shop
inski and Dave O’Conner.
BOILER INSPECTOR HERE
Phil Burch is in town this week
inspecting boilers in the two can
neries here. He just returned from
of an inspection tour taking over
Bristol Bay and Westward, a part
the whole State of Alaska.
He is representing various in
surance companies in America,
including the General, First Na
tional, Safeco and General Life
Company of America.
SCHOOL PATROL GUESTS
Six members of the School
Patrol, accompanied by Chief
Vickery were guests of the Cham
ber at the luncheon Thursday.
New Dentist Soon
Dr. Thomas Colford, dentist
from Oregon, was a visitor over
the weekend. He will return in
about ten days to practice in Ko
diak.
The new dentist purchased the
home and practice of Dr. Gene
Sullivan. He and his wife will
drive up the Alaska highway, ar
riving here about June 20.
Rev. R. Sturmer
Addresses Group
Rev. Roman Sturmer, pastor at
the Russian Orthodox Church
here, was the principal speaker
at a meeting of the Cook Inlet
Historical Society held in Ancho
rage Thursday.
Rev. Sturmer’s topic was “The
History of the Russian Church in
Alaska.” He returned to Kodiak
Friday.
Employee Cited
In ACS Ceremony
Margaret Lightfoot was award
ed a 10 year Length of Federal
Service Award Pin, in a ceremony
conducted at the Alaska Commun
ications Systems office, Tuesday.
Present for the award ceremony
in addition to MSGT Archie L.
Zehe, who presented the award,
were Mrs. Lightfoot’s daughter
Mrs. Phyllis Sundberg, grandsons
Phillip and David Sundberg, Mr.
and Mrs. William Lamme and
ACS co-workers.
Following the ceremony coffee
and a beautifully decorated cake
with a congratulatory message was
served.
Mrs. Lightfoot was one of 150
civilian employees of the ACS
who were honored on the 50th
birthday of the System, May 26,
and were presented with 10. 20, 30
and 40 year pins. The System
wide ceremony consisted o f
presentations at Anchorage, Fair
banks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skag
way, Delta Junction, Tok, and
Seattle, Washington, as well as
Kodiak.
A RARE SIGHT—IPs very sel
dom that John L. Lewis is seen
with a smile on his face. The
bushy-browed United Mine Work
ers Union leader was caught
chuckling at some remark made
during a function of the West
Virginia state society in Wash
ington Saturday night. Lewis was
declared an “adopted son of West
Virginia" for his nearly 30 years
of work in the interest of West
Virginia coal minersi. (AP Wire
photo).
KODIAK MIRROR
ALONG THE WATERFR N“5
(Continued from Pag
a later date for the purpose of
considering legislation relating to
crab fishing.
At the Union Oil dock, several
shrimp boats were in for fuel.
Del Valley Construction Com
pany completed work on the new
float this week. The old one was
wrecked by winds recently.
The Fish and Wildlife auction
held last Saturday resulted in
11 outboards and one skiff be
ing sold. Due to a government
regulation, sales were limited to
$500, so the remainder of the
boats could not be sold at this
time. Another auction will be held
after July 1.
FWS field men are now out. All
canneries have been contacted on
gear regulations according to
Chuck Connelley. Local boats will
register at the FWS headquarters
here. No estimate on gear out can
be made at this time—possibly
within the next two weeks, ac
cording to Sonnelley.
&
Kodiak Airways is expecting
delivery of a new Colonial Skim
mer, 4-place amphibius plane Sun
day. The plane will be piloted by
Wynn Young, chief pilot of Colo
nial. Kodiak Airways has been
appointed distributor for Colonial
in the State of Alaska.
Cannery workers are arriving
on direct FNA flights, but there
are not many in yet.
Paul Hansen, Contract pilot for
Kadiak Fisheries* is in town.
Snores
aren’t heard around the Kodiak
Insurance & Bldg Corp. Here
we practically
Break
our necks to be of service to
you and all we want is for you
to get the true
Picture
Merchants can display mer
chandise but a combination of
service and knowledge is all
we can put in our show
Window!
2561 ART BROOKS 3401
Kodiak insurance
& BUILDING CORPORATION
y yssyktiftM/ »
I SAILINGS FROM SEATTLE
MS GALENA
II June 3
Calling at
I I
Womens Bay, Kodiak
Seldovia, Homer
■ Port Graham, Snug Harbor
I • l
t % Lou Veerman
Agent
* ; Thone 4521
Hi