Kodiak
(/Iffleciiny the (Asm of cyfldskao cA(od ty/iotoftc (island
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Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Executive Secretary
Staff Photographer.George C. Ameigh, Jr.
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in this paper and also the local news published herein.
Mirrored Reflections.
By Sig Digree
The plan to abolish the personal
property tax as proposed by Mayor
Coon and substitute in its stead
the 1 per cent sales tax now levied
for the Small Boat Harbor, is not
without merit.
The levying of the personal prop
erty tax has been obnoxious in
many ways as it presents loop
holes for the individual who “wat
ered down” values in declaring his
personal property. It also is seem
ingly impossible to arrive at a fair
figure as to values.
The idea is not new. The Fair
banks city manager is now working
on a similar plan to increase the
far north city’s sales tax and abol
ish the personal property tax.
Kodiak is in a better position in
this regards as no increase in the
sales tax will be necessary, but it
will mean merely the approval of
taxpayers to reallocate 1 per cent
of the tax now levied for use as a
personal property tax.
The Fairbanks city manager
voiced the opinion that the sales
tax would reach all groups on an
equal basis. Transients would share
in the cost of operating the city.
He also cited that cost of adminis
tration would be cut sharply.
With such a tax, it will relieve
the burden on the taxpayer. Peo
ple in the area temporarily would
help pay for the facilities they
enjoy. It would help the retailer,
and cut his book work. Without a
doubt, this method of providing
funds for the city and eliminating
of an objeotionable tax at tht
same time, may be the answer.
The pro and con arguments
which appeared in the Kodiak
Mirror last week — regarding the
constructing of the highway
through the city—covered the sub
ject fairly well considering the
limited space, and offered food
for thought.
We are inclined to agree with
the “con” arguments that the high
way as planned is not necessary.
We have never been too keen
about constructing the new sec
tion as planned on “J” street and
through to Mission Road. The
widening of the roads to meet
specifications necessary for Fed
eral participation, has seemed an
unnecessary waste of money, be
sides working a hardship on some
of the owners of abutting property.
In the long run, the highway
would only provide a speedway in
the heart of the city and in a resi
dential area past the school. As
already pointed out this provides
new hazards to playing children.
It might be advisable to investi
gate the possibility of surfacing
the two well - traveled existing
roads, namely Brooklyn and Mis
sion roads, widening these to 50
feet instead of 60, thus diverting
the traffic two ways—a much more
satisfying arrangement anyway.
Funds for the municipally con
tracted construction of the two
roads could be obtained from
floating a bond issue, which could
be paid back from sales tax funds
—thus would be eliminated the
“red tape” and cumbersome ma
chinery of two government agen
cies who don’t seem to see eye to
eve on methods, specifications,
etc.
A factor that should be consider
ed, too, is that by this method
much of the labor could be local
hire and so specified in the con
struction contract, thus circulating
more money for local spending.
I venture to say, we could have
adequate roads in a much shorter
time—which in time would get
paid for Without any undue strain
on municipal or individual funds
—We would pay a price for inde
pendence, but we would have
roads, and that’s what counts.
We’d like to offer our belated
congratulations to Mrs. Yule Chaf
fin of Woody Island who was win
ner of an award for the best maga
zine feature published in 1959.
The Thrill Thai Comet Onoe in a Lifetime atostmclasmc
(GUESS I’LL
HAVE A GO
AT FABLES
IN SLANG
, 1& NIGHT
'Those benighted days when we had
MO RADIO OR COMIC SECTIONS "to SUPPLY
OuR HUMOR' BuT HAD 1o DEFEnO ON SUCH
items as mark "Twain's huckleberry finn,
Tom sawyer-George ades fables in slang,
ARTIE, PINK MARSH. IN BABEL, AND Bill nyes A fkfity
COMIC HISToRYoFIhE united states tXd> /
___. _ _ e tw* >W< »*-■ he_/*■>«•
Mrs. Chaffin won her award
from the Alaska Press Club on an
article entitled “Farewell to a
Fisherman,” in which she used an
old resident of the Island, Mike
Chabitnoy, as the subject. Mrs.
Chaffin is the wife of Darrell
Chaffin, FAA station manager at
Woody Island.
Oscar (Nelson, old time resident
of Kodiak, now retired and living
in California, said a hasty goodbye
last week as he departed Kodiak
following a couple months stay
here.
Oscar came out of retirement
mainly to sell his last remaining
property here, but did a little fish
ing on the side (he’s another one
of those old-time fishermen with
fish oil in his veins instead of
blood, and you couldn’t keep him
away from the fishing grounds if
you tried).
He apparently harvested a nice
catch, because he said: “I had to
quit because I’d only be working
for Uncle Sam if I caught any
more. Besides, I’m behind on
several Social Security checks al
ready.”
And now a parting thought: To
all a little rain must fall, but why
does it always have to be on a
weekend?
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
A paved route via Brooklyn
Avenue, Rezanof Drive, “J” Street
to Potato Patch Lake—thus Mis
sion Road would be wonderful. It
could be built to the required
specifications of a road as the
present route is too narrow and
would be too expensive to buy
right-of-ways.
It would be maintenance free
for many years. With the savings
that batch plant the Council was
thinking of could be brought to
pave the route now used. I feel in
the long run the City would come
out on the winning side and be
able to build other roads on plan
ning table instead of fighting mud
dy country roads all the time,
getting nowhere.
Sincerely,
M. L. Chandler
ACCA Announces
2 Scholarships
The Alaska Crippled Children’s
Association announces the avail
ability of two scholarships for
Alaskans specializing in Speech
and Hearing Therapy, Physical
Therapy, Clinical Psychology or
Special Education. Grants for $500
will be awarded one Junior and
one Senior student each year.
To be eligible an applicant must
be accepted in the senior or junior
year of a degree course in the
above subjects, in a school approv
ed for such training.
Applications wiH be evaluated
on a competitive basis by a schol
arship selection committee.
Deadline for filing applications
is September 1, 1960. Forms may
be secured from the Scholarship
Committee, 225 E Street, Anchor
age, or from the local A. C. C. A.
Chapter president, Miss Irene
Brooks. Box 152, Kodiak.
Andre ws-Me Li n n
Wedding Date Set
The engagement of their daugh
ter, Lois Marie, to Mr. William
Howard McLinn was recently an
nounced by Mr. and Mrs. Denver
Paul Andrews.
The young couple will be mar
ried on Sunday, August 21, at
seven o’clock in the evening at the
U. S. Naval Station Chapel.
MILITARY LEAGUE BOWLING CHAMPS—Navy Patrol Squadron
19 toppled their competition like ten-pins to sweep the Military
League Bowling at Kodiak Naval Station to win 13 of 14 trophies
offered in the American Bowling Congress sponsored meet. Downing
seven teams from the Naval Station, Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron
114, U. S. Naval Communications Station, and Holliday Beach, during
the three months of hot and heavy play which ended on August 4,
the Patron kegglers took honors as Winning Team, High Series, High
Series Average Finals, High Game, High Game with Handicap, and
High Series with Handicap. The only award won by another unit
was the Most Improved Player trophy which went to I). L. Springer
of the Naval Station team. Sporting their trophies and victory smiles
are left to right (front row): F. A. Riddell, AOl, USN, CDR B. B.
Smith, USN, commanding officer of VP-19, A. F. Hood, AOl, USN,
and W. C. Perry, SN, USN. (Back row): R. A. Rhoads, ADC, USN,
D. D. McBride, AOl, USN, J. L. Hinson, PN1, USN, D. L. Springer,
RM1, USN, LTJG J. Bjork, USN, and R. M. Brownell, YN1, USN.
Winning team members not shown were D. L. Nichols, A03, USN,
and H. A. Turman, AOl, USN. U. S. Navy photo
Travel Between
Alaska, Wash.
Seen Greatest
Washington State tops all others
in the number of visitors to Alaska
and likewise hosts the greatest
number of Alaskans, according to
a year-long survey just completed
by Pacific Northern Airlines. Cali
fornia is a close second in Alaska
travel, with Oregon third, as the
three West Coast states account
for more than two-thirds of the
travel between the “Southern 49”
and Alaska.
Other western states among the
leaders in travel to Alaska include:
Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho
and Arizona in that order, although
they were surpassed by the more
distant states of New York, Texas,
Pennsylvania and Illinois.
The survey, made by the adver
tising and public relations depart
ment of Pacific Northern Airlines
over a 12-month period starting in
May, 1959, is the most complete
ever taken on Alaskan travel. Sur
vey cards were filled out by pas
sengers on all PNA northbound
and southbound flights for a period
of 10 days each month while the
survey was being conducted.
Figures show that 33.97 per cent
of the visitors to Alaska came
from Washington State, followed
by California with 21.22 per cent,
and Oregon with 8.49 per cent.
Next in order were New York,
Texas and Pennsylvania.
As for the Alaskans, Washington
State was the preference of almost
half with 47.28 per cent traveling
to that state. California was the
choice of 14.70 per cent with Ore
gon hosting 10.49 per cent. Next
were Texas, Oklahoma and Colo
rado.
The people who tell you never
to let little things worry you have
never tried sleeping with a mos
quito in the room.
.
PUT VALUABLES IN A
SAFE DEPOSIT BOX!
IT’S RISKY to leave difficult-to-replace
papers and other valuables where they
could be stolen or destroyed, anytime
. . . but it is doubly risky when you
are going to be away.
RENT ONE of our low cost, convenient
Safety Deposit Boxes today.
Kodiak Branch
NATIONAL BANK OF ALASKA
Member Federal Reserve & F. D. I. C.