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Box 1307, Kodiak, Alaska
Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Executive Secretary
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
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tion of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
this paper and also the local news published herein.
inflation’s Cist Reported In Study
inflation ti c.. d $3,602 490,900
in spendable income from pockets
of Washington .ins between 1917
and 1955, according to National
Association of Manufacturers’ re
searchists.
The multi-billion dollar after
tax loss to Washington residents
in eight years is reported $n NAM’s
latest study,. “The High. Cost of
Inflation in the Eleven. Western
States.”
Washingtonians can view the
loss on a very personal basis, as
the sum referred to is lost indivi
dual income. It does not include
sums lost to government and in
dustrial budgets through inflation.
Difficult to grasp the size and
significance of $3% billion dol
lars?
The sum, at current construc
tion costs, would build a total of
nearly 4,450 new, 30-rqom elemen
tary schools in Washington, a
total of 1,045 new, 75-room high
schools. That would provide 17
new elementary schools or four
new high schools for each of
Washington’s 259 incorporated
towns and cities.
So, who is to blame?
Among the environmental fac
tors the NAM study blames for in
flation are government and priv
ate debt, continuing wage increases
surpassing productivity increases
and farm support and national de
fense costs.
Big federal government contri
butes to inflation through deficit
spending and taxation, excesses.
By competing in the market place
with borrowed money, government
bids up prices of raw materials,
equipment and labor.
Early this year, the NAM study*
notes, Uncle Sam accounted for
HVz per cent of the nation’s goods
and services purchased, and had
one of every 20 employed persons
on his payroll.
Private indebtedness is anHher
inflationary pressure due; m siirivj
measure* to public debt. Industry
must borrow to expand because
taxes, which took only 1/8 of cor
porate profits in 1929, rose to
more than Vz of 1958’s corporate
profits.
Inflationary effects on wage
boosts outrunning productivity
have been increasingly evident
since 1956, the study notes.
As an example, non-farm work
ers’ pay rose 61 per cent between
1947 and 1956. Reducing those
payments to real compensation, by
adjusting for price increases, ttee
wage boosts amounted to 33 per
cent. Yet productivity gained by
only 26 per cent in the same per
iod.
Inflation's impact has been felt
most acu.- ly by Oregonions’ with
fixed incomes. Doubling of con
sumer prices since 1941 has paup
erized m 'lions a::d created more
human sintering than unemploy
ment.
Today’s $127 social security
check is just about equal in buy
ing power to tbj $60 check a re
tired person may have received
in 1940. according to a National
,ity Bank letter cited in the study.
Inflation creates the need or
desiio to supplement family in
come. As a result, it is a factor
in such cu.rent labor market con
ditions as “moonlighting”—multi
ple j or holding—and the increase
in working women.
Plight of pensioners under to
day’s inflationary squeeze in the
light oi p * dieted population
growth and shifts serves to drama
tize what may lie ahead if infla
tion is not curbed now.
Census bureau projections indi
cate that the age 65-and-older
group is growing three times fast
er than th-3 total population in
crease.
Public insistence on sensible
government spending and for tax
rate and labor law reform will, the
study conduces, help stop infla
tion and its total effect of turning
a nation of “savers” into a nation
of “spenders.”
“Congratulations” Jaycees!
Congratulations are in order
and should go to the newly formed
organization of Jaycees for their
handling of the Fourth of July
celebration.
Aided by good weather, the Jay
cees put on a good show, which
was evidenced by the good crowds
who attended the days activities.
Merriment reigned supreme
throughout the days events, and
the laughter of children and grown
ups was heard continually at the
site of the events.
The events from the parade to
the fireworks was very ably
handled, and showed much prep
aration. For an organization only
a few months old, your achieve
ment was little short of pheno
menal. Congratulations again.
Flag Designer
Accorded Honors
Ben Benson returned this week
from Juneau where he was the
guest of Alaska’s Gov. William
Egan, during the 4th of July cele
bration in the capital city.
They were memorable days, ac
cording ts Ben. The town went all
oust in a jubilant celebration of the
raising of the 49th star flag. The
designer of Alaska’s flag received
recognition for his accomplishment
during the ceremonies, and was
given the honor of serving as grand
marshal of the huge parade.
One newspaper account had this
to say: “Alsaka’s flag—with its
eight stars of gold in a field of
blue—received its homage in grand
float displays and musical ren
ditions, while the th ongs of spec
tators applauded its designer, Ben
Benson, as he rode as grand mar
shal In the parade.”
In the flag raising ceremonies,
the Juneau newspaper had this to
say: "Special applause was given
in recognition of Ben Benson, de
signer of Alaska’s flag, and Mrs.
Marie Drake, author of the ‘‘Alas
ka Flag Song.”
Here, There and Everywhere
By SIG DIGEEE
Passenger Service To Alaska?
Sen. E. L.‘ (Bob) Bartlett is
making an effort to have passen
ger service brought back to Alaska.
We heartily endorse the idea
and hope the senator will to suc
cessful. In a letter to the Federal
Maritime Board, he pointed out
the need for maritime passenger
service to and from Alaska and
between ports in Alaska.
Unless we are badly mistaken,
this is going to be an uphill battle
all the way. Alaska Steamship
Company found it unprofitable,
else there is no doubt they would
have continued offering the ser
vice. No doubt that at certain
times of the year, there was no
lack of pas onger traffic. It was
a shot in the arm business, strict
ly seasonal.
Vi re one cC many who in
tent* d at some time or other to
make the trip—it is without a
doubt one of the finest water trip
imaginable. Interest in Alaska at
the present time and in the years
to come should assure a good traf
fic, especially from May into Sep
tember or October of, each year.
Deprived of this service leaves
a void that no amount of excel
lent air service can fill. It takes
longer, but it beconr s a part of a
vacation that is both restful, and
memorable. The coastline of Alas
ka as well as that of the province
of British Coli4mbia offers scenic
values that leave their imprint on
the minds of the to holders no less
than a fine painting on a canvas—
it is there to stay. *
The need for such a service is
even greater now than ever be
fore. As wo stated, there are more
people interested in this great
State than ever before. They want
to see it—at its best, leisurely, and
uncLer the most favorable circum
stances.
Sen. Bartlett sums it up nicely
when he says: “I believe it is al
together accurate to state that
the need for maritime passengor
service to and from Alaska and
between Alaska ports is greater
than at any time in the past.
Alaska has now become a state
and there is every indication that
the population will grow with a
considerable degree of rapidity.
Alaska enjoys splendid air service
but this is not the complete an
swer.”
One final word—it is because
wo have priced ourselves out of
this enjoyment; are the costs too
high—wages, foodstuffs, etc., too
prohibitive? If not complete pas
senger service, why not a combina
tion freight and passenger ship?
A traveller - cently returned from
a t's^n months tour of world ports,
stated that this was a most de
lightful means c- travel. Foreign
ships make them pay, and offer
superb cuisine and accommoda
tions in the bargain, but we Am
ericans have advanced to such an
extent that we can no longer of
fer the simple pleasure of aboard
ship travel because it costs too
much.
k
Roaring Twenties
Hit Performance
The cast of the “Roaring Twen
ties” performance from the bar
keep right down to the last one in
the “follies” line scored a hit with
their large audiences both nights
o er th& Fourth of July.
A versitile program, it showed
considerable practice. The mem
bers of the not so male quartet
scored heavily in each of their
appearances, while Bob Waage and
his wife Nell offered vocal enjoy
ment and comedy relief.
Kodiak could go for more per
formances of a like nature.
Griffin Memorial
Hospital Notes
ADMISSIONS
Patients admitted to Griffin
Memorial Hospital during the past
week were Mrs. Cecelia Carpen
ter, Paul Oskoloff, Nilnilchick;
Ole Gjhertson, Seattle; Rudolph
Sundberg; Steven Farsovitch, Ali
tak; Tom Johnson, Uyak, Marlene
Aga, age 6, Alitak; Tichon Shera
tine; Mrs. Susie Lee; Nick Katel
nikoff, age 5 months, Karluk; Mrs.
Toni fciamond; Joanne Vickery;
Nick Malutin, Karluk; Mrs. Jeri
Mansuy and Mrs. Ruth Lange.
DISCHARGED
Lloyd Balcom; Paul Oskoloff;
Kelly Inga; Mrs. Lina Getty and
Paul Farsovitch.
BIRTHS
Robert Marvin, weighing r ">s.
12 ozs., was born on Juiy to
Cecelia and Howard Carpenlv :.
Lori Lyn, weighing 7 lbs 15
ozs., was born on July 9 to f oni
and Russell Diamond.
Derby Plans Set
Chairman Reports
#Plans for the coming halibut
derby scheduled for July 31,
August 1 and 2, and a recap of the
4th of July results occupied the
attention of the members of the
Kodiak Outdoorsmen at their
meeting Tuesday.
According to Chuck Edris, all
plans are progressing on schedule
and cooperation and interest from
Kodiak people have been “most
gratifying.” There will be over
$1000 in prizes given. Rules, regu
lations and a map of the derby
fishing area will be out within a
week or ten days. Tickets are be
ing sold at many businesses in
town, Edris stated.
Some fine colored slides were
shown by Doug Preston, with re
freshments following.
if
WELCOME
ALASKA PACKERS ASSOCIATION
The name Halferty Canneries has been an honored name
in Kodiak over a period of many years; it has been
privilege to know the firm well and to enjoy the friendship
of its officers and staff.
Now we salute Alaska Packers Association and wish for
them a continuation of the success they enjoy in other areas.
We are certain that their operations here will be of
mutual benefit.