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VOL. 20 NO. 48 KODIAK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 24, 1960 * PRICE TEN CENTS
Option To Buy Cold Storage Plant
Accepted By City Council Thursday
Completion of a cold storage
plant in Kodiak loomed as a pos
sibility in the near future, follow
ing a proposal to take a 90 day op
tion on the plant, by Craig Enter
prises, an Anchorage firm.
Mr. Gene Craig, president of the
company, who was present at the
meeting of the Council Thursday
evening, offered a check for $1,
000 on the option, which was ac
cepted by the Council, following
a study of the company’s proposal.
Oraig stated his company pro
poses to conduct a full scale cold
storage plant for purposes of stor
ing, freezing or processing any and
all seafood products, beef cattle,
and other meat products. He said
the cold storage products will not
be restricted or limited to any par
ticular firm or group of firms.
“In other words, it will be for the
unrestricted use of the general
public,” he stated.
Craig Enterprises offered $65,
000 for the present plant, $3,000 of
which will be paid when the option
is taken up, and the balance of
$62,000 payable at $500 per month.
The company will pay any City
taxes due on the property and
plant.
Install Officers
Of Eastern Star
Kodiak Chapter No. 13, Order of
Eastern Star will hold public in
stallation ceremonies Saturday
evening, January 7. Officers for
the# coming year will be installed
with Dorothy Rohwer taking of
fice as the new Worthy Matron.
The formal ceremony will begin
at 8 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
All members, Masons and friends
are invited.
John Fletcher
A Sourdough
Mr. and Mrs. John Fletcher re
turned from Anchorage Wednes
day following their attendance of
the Pioneers of Alaska party held
there. John Fletcher was initiated
into the group, having qualified
with thirty years residence in
Alaska.
John is manager of the Orpheum
Theatre. His son, Skip who has
charge of the family’s theatre in
Seward, came over to Kodiak dur
ing his parent’s stay in Anchorage.
The offer of King Crab, Inc.,
who have been negotiating with the
City for the possible purchase of
the cold storage plant, was re
jected by the Council when the
Council could not reach an agree
ment on the company’s proposal
that the City revoke all taxes for
a ten year period.
Should the Craig Enterprises
take up the option, the sale of the
property will then be submitted
to the voters in a form of an ordin
ance at a special election to be
held early next year.
Island Airstrips
Contract Awarded
A contract has recently been
awarded to Alaska Coasting and
Trading, Inc. of Seward for trans
portation to and construction of
five bush airfield projects at out
lying communities on Kodiak Is
land, according to Eugene G. Rog
uszka, Director of the Division of
Avation of the State Department
of Public Works. Minimal facili
ties will be constructed under the
Pioneer Airport Program at Afog
nak, Alitak, Karluk, Old Harbor
and Ouzinkie.
Under the Pioneer Airport Pro
gram air strips are being construct
ed which vary in length from 1,500
feet to 4,000 feet. Most landing
strips will be about 2,000 feet long,
which will permit operation off of
these strips with small twin-engin
ed aircraft or single engined air
craft.
Harvey Turner, the engineer in
charge of construction, reports that
the extension and improvements
to the existing facility at Afog
nak have been accomplished and
that a new facility at Old Harbor
will be completed prior to the
Christmas holidays.
Wendell P. Miller, the engineer
in charge of the Pioneer Airport
Program, stated that the work on
the five projects would be suspend
ed after completion of the Old
Harbor project due to weather con
ditions and lack of adequate hours
of daylight. Work will be resumed
as soon after spring break-up as
practicable.
LIBRARY CLOSED
The Kodiak Community Library
will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 and
Jan. 2.
Airport Work Receives Assist From City
Work at the airport would have
been momentarily stopped but for
the actiqn taken at the City Council
meeting Thursday evening.
Considerable progress has been
made in the construction, with
more than 2,000 feet already com
pleted. City Manager Bill Poland
explained that State funds have
been coming in to cover the cost
of construction, but he said it
would take all of the $125,000 allo
cated to complete the initial phase
of tfee woA. State policy is to with
hold 10 per cent or $12,500 pend
ing completion of an adult of ex
penditures by the State. The ques
©
©
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tion was whether the work be
stopped and resumed at a later
date, or whether the City advance
the necessary funds and continue
while the equipment and men are
available. The Council voted on
the later course.
Pay Increase
300 employees at the Naval Sta
tion here will receive pay raises in
line with the new schedule an
nounced from Washington last
week.
The new Army and Navy sched
ule call far an average increase of
about 13 cents an hour.
Wanted
All children in Kodiak for the
annual Rotary Club Christmas
Party. The place is the Orpheum
Theatre, Saturday, Dec. 24, be
ginning at 10:20 a.m.
Santa has agreed to be there.
Its free and its for all 12 year olds
and under. ^
Seeks To Revoke
Old Land Law
The Kodiak Area Chamber of
Commerce at its meeting at the
Island Fountain went on record as
favoring *he revocation of a law
that has been on the books since
Feb. 10, 1940, which restricts the
use and ownership of land com
prising 2,500,000, acres.
The land in question was with
drawn by executive order signed
by former President Roosevelt, in
accordance with Congressional ac
tion which was taken June 25, 1940.
The order reads in part as follows:
“All Kodiak, Whale, Uganik,
Spruce, Sitkalidak, and Aiaktalik
Islands, including all adjacent
islands, rocks, pinnicles within 2
miles of the shores thereof.” It
excludes certain lands comprising
approximately 570.42 acres em
bracing lands in amended U.S.
Survey No. 1272, U.S. Survey No.
1389, as well as some other lands.
George Cornelius, chairman of
the Chamber’s lands committee,
introduced the motion asking the
Chamber to go on record favoring
its repeal, and drawing up peti
tions to be circulated throughout
the Islands seeking its revocation.
Cornelius also offered another
motion, which was also passed,
that the Chamber go on record as
requesting the Bureau of Land
Management take action to make
available for pul^Jic use all lands
which are not patented lying north
easterly of the planned Kodiak
Otmeloi Road to the water’s edge.
This section of land will extend
from the present watershed of the
City reservoir to the mouth of Pil
lar Creek at the head of Monashka
Bay.
A discussion arose as to the
status of Abercrombie under this
request. City Manager Poland
pointed out an attempt is now be
ing made to have this designated
a State park area. The motion was
amended to leave this area out of
the request.
Homes have been numbered, on
paper, that is, according to a re
port by Chuck Weir. He stated
streets and houses will soon be
designated by numbers following
the working out of all details.
Weir also reported on the airport
developments. Two thousand to
twenty-two thousand feet have al
ready been completed, he stated.
Present funds will be exhausted by
Jan. 15 or a little later. Plans are
now to make drawings of what has
been accomplished and future
plans, together with airial shots of
this and the airstrip at Old Harbor,
and submit them to the next legis
lature seeking funds for future
work.
In making an executive commit
tee report, Dr. Bruce Keers stated
tJte committee is planning the King
(Continued on Pa£e 2)
Pioneer Aiaskan Merchant Passes On
One of Alaska’s fine pioneers and
merchant passed on this week with
the death of Harry Donnelley
sometime Wednesday. Cause of
death is given as pneumonia,
Donnelley, a partner in the firm
of Donnelley and Acheson, would
have been 83 years of age on
Christmas day. He first came to
Alaska about 1904, when he went
to Nome. He engaged in mining
there and in 1909, moved to the
Ididarod area, where he engaged
in mining as well as freighting.
He established the Miners and Mer
chants Bank there, where he re
mained until 1948. His partner in
the firm here, Bob Acheson, be
In 1948, the two purchased the
In 1948, the two purchesed the
W. J. Erskine interests and moved
to Kodiak. Donnelley did not take
an active part in the business here,
but came to Alaska once a year.
Harry Donnelley served a term
in the Alaska Territorial Legis
lature.
BPW Holds Annual
Christmas Party
The Kodiak Business and Pro
fessional Women’s Club Christmas
party held at the Island Fountain,
Monday evening, Dec.19 featured
singing of carols, a humorous
Christmas reading by Dorothy
Donnelley was born in Chester,
Pennsylvania, where he received
his early schooling. He attended a
trade school, and has since active
ly supported it with scholarships.
The deceased is survived by his
wife in Seattle, two sisters in Pen
nsylvania, and several brothers.
Bob Acheson left for Seattle
Thursday. No announcement has
been made as to date of funeral.
Clark, and a numbers game pre
sented by Connie Dendeneau.
The program, emceed by Betty
Springhill also included a Christ
mas film, “The Meaning of Christ
mas”, which was presented by
Estelle Marlin.
(Continued on Page 19)
CHRISTMAS TREES
TO BE PICKED UP
A Christmas tree pickup follow
ing the holidays is planned by the
Kodiak Junior Chamber of Com
merce organization for Jan. 2. Old
trees are to be left in front of the
house and will be picked up by
Jaycee’s members.
A bib Christmas tree burning
party is scheduled at Mission Lake
on the evning of Jan. 4, weather
permitting. Also, weather per
mitting, skating is planned. Free
hot dogs will be served the kids
and coffee for the adults.
Last issue Of The
Kodiak Mirror
Until Jan. 7,1961
Conforming with our usual custom, there will be no issue of
the Kodiak Mirror next week. The next issue will be the first
week in January—January 7, 1961.
Mirrored Reflections
By Sig Digree
Now It Cm Be Told
With the dawn of a new day,
Friday, December 23, 1960, we feel
much like one working a jigsaw
puzzle, putting into place the last
of the 51 pieces that make up a
year’s publication effort. The puz
zle is how we got out sometimes.
As most of you know, next week
we don’t publish, but will gear
ourselves for the first issue of
1961, when on January 7 the Mirror
will appear with more news of the
community, some added features
and the long look ahead.
The year 1960 has been a good
year. We are that much closer to
burning the old mortgage, we have
added some new type and equip
ment that has made our task easier
and pleasanter, and has added to
the general appearance of the
paper.
Strange as it may seem, lack of
manpower has been our biggest
problem. One thing we have learn
ed—the dreams of men don’t al
ways shape themselves into reali
ties. Sometimes they have to be
fitted to circumstances. One such
was the Progress Edition. We had
this issue blueprinted long before
publication day, with a certain
working force in mind to accom
plish it. Actually, putting out the
paper was accomplished witn one
linotype operator and makeup man
rolled into one, and your editor
pinch - hitting in the backshop
and stealing a moment or two at
the typerwriter now and then. But
through the combined efforts of
the office girl, our staff photo
grapher, some last minute help in
the folding department, in which
even the newsboys helped out, we
were able to get it out, even
though a little late.
This same condition had existed
prior to that edition, all through
the election campaigning, and
afterwards, when we had to sal
vage a little extra time in which
to meet a deadline in getting out
the telephone directory. Then fol
lowed the Christmas edition.
It is any wonder that we look
on this day with a great source of
relief —a feeling mixed with mis
givings and joy—the misgivings
for the shortcomings of our efforts
at times and pleasure in the fact
that despite circumstances, we
were always able to meet publica
tion day.
We want at this time to acknowl
edge the loyalty shown by our
staff, particularly our production
(Continued on Page 2)