EWARD
The Gallic ay City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seaport
Record
Sezvard’s All-IT eat her Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
ol. VII, No. 96
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1951
Price 10 cents
The Story of
SEWARD
| NO. V
How the Ballaine Brothers
Acquired the Townsite
Our story is still dealing with
events in 1902, before the first
group of permanent settlers ar
rived at the townsite, even be
fore the settlement had a name.
In order to understand any
thing at all about these events,
and about the later story of Sew
ard as well, it is necessary first
to know a little about real es
tate, and especially about the
changes in real estate values that
can take place very suddenly.
Here’s an easy little key to help
us remember: just bear in mind
TWO factors that increase the
value of land: and ONE main
factor that reduces this value.
The first two are:
(1.) The productiveness or re
sources of the land, and (2.) The
convenience of the land in refer
ence to other sources of income
or value. In more highly devel
oped areas, such as lots in a
large city, the TRAFFIC factor
becomes highly important, but
this is merely an extension of
the convenience or USE factor.
The one main factor that
tends to counterbalance the oth
er two. and to REDUCE the
value of land, is the taxation
which must be paid in order to
maintain ownership. Let's think
of this in the simplest possible
terms, as distinct from ASSESS
MENTS for direct improve
mcnts.
Applying thes? simple keys tr>
the situation in Seward in 1902,
we can rule out one almost im
mediately. The land making the
tovvnsite of Seward had no im
portant natural resources, such
as mineral deposits. True, it was
at one time heavily timbered,
but the logs cut from this area
possessed only a local value,
since in the early 1900's there
were thousands of millions of
acres of better timber, more
easily converted into commer
cial lumber on a mass pro
duction basis. This leaves us
with two factors only to consid
er. The convenience, or use, or
traffic factor tending to increase
the value of land, and the tax
that increase, or to reduce the
value of the land. We ll refer
back to these two simple princi
ples many times in the course
of telling the story of Seward.
So, we have the Lowell fam
ily occupying an area of an acre
or two on the present site of
Seward, prior to the location of
the Southern terminus of the
Alaska Central Railroad. The
rest of the land around Resur
rection Bay was at that time of
so little value, that it wasn’t
even worth the effort of staking
out a homestead of the legal
160 acres. But the moment Res
urrection Bay was chosen as the
eventual seaport for the railroad,
the value of all this land immedi
ately increased, even before any
physical construction actually
began. Naturally, the Alaska
Central Railroad promoters were
going to take steps to make
sure that this increase in value
was returned to them, rather
than fall as an unearned plum to
the homesteaders who just hap
pened to be in the right spot at
the right time. All this may
seem childishly simple to those
with a little business experience,
but many millions of dollars in
savings have been lost by small
land speculators, who imagine
that all that is necessary is to
hold on to a plot of land long
enough, and some day it will be
worth a fortune, through the
efforts of somebody else. Even
(Turn to Page 4)
City Library I o
Tea will be served from 2 till
5. and 7 to 9 Monday, June 4,
to re-open the Community Li
brary to public service. The li
brary, located under the Bank
of Seward, has been closed for
several weeks, undergoing a
complete remodeling and en
largement of facilities. Tea will
be served by the Library Board
and ladies of the two Seward
Women's Clubs.
Women of the Board have
worked many hours and days to
put the library back into condi
tion, painting of shelves, replac
ing books, cleaning furniture and
otherwise decorating the big
club room.
Oddest Remaining Project
The Seward Community Li
brary is one of the oldest civic
projects still in existence in this
Cops Preparing For
Their First Ball
Chief Greene says that he will
take some time off and decor
ate the Civic Center for the
first Policeman's Ball. June lt».
Hal Gilfilen is helping the
boys, and will serve as master
of ceremonies. The orchestra
has been engaged and is work
ing on some hot dance tunes.
T. II. Miller, Chief ot Police,
Anchorage, Captain Gray, Chief
at Elmendorf, and a numb r of
patrolmen from both places are
expected to arrive by special
train for the event It is believed
that this is the first Policeman's
Ball to be given in Alaska.
The local boys have a long
list of items of equipment which
they hope to obtain from the
proceeds. Heading the list are a
fingerprint camera, fingerprint
kit and a wire recorder for pre
serving testimony and state
ments at arrests. They also long
for a two-way radio hook-up in
the partol car to tie in with the
highway patrol transmitter that
is to be installed here. Then, if
there is anything left, sid -arms,
a riot gun and uniforms are all
on the list. Patrolmen have to
provide their own guns, at pres
ent, which equipment is usually
owned by the city.
“We may not be able to get
everything this year,” the young
Chief stated wistfully, “but, at
least, we can make a start, and
maybe get the fingerprint stuff
and wire recorder.”
Residents and businessmen
are pleased at the ambition of
the four young men composing
the city police department, anti
they are receiving the support
of most of the business district.
MAHOPAC NOT AVAILABLE
FOR 4lh OF JULY
Word from Lt. H. F. Deen,
USN, Commanding Officer of the
USS Mahopac, is to the effect
that the ship will not be here
this year.
“It is with sincere regret,”
Lt. Deen writes, “that we, the
officers and crew of the USS
Mahopac, must inform you that
circumstances will prevent our
return to Seward, our honorary
home town, this coming Fourth
of July.
“The USS Mahopac will be in
the United States from June 20
until late August and must re
gretfully decline your invita
tion.”
The ship was invited to attend
the celebration again this year.
Bob Morgan, nephew of Mr.
and Mrs. Earl Cass, came back
to town a few days ago for his
vacation from college. Bob has
been attending the University of
Alaska.
city. It was organized and put
into operation as one of the first
projects of the Seward Woman's
Club in 1915, under Mrs. Claud
ia Sexton, president of the club.
The library was started in the
base m e n t of the Episcopal
Church with about 300 books.
After three years, lack of pub
lic interest prompted the club
women to discontinue the work
as a public library, and the col
lection was transferred to the
school, where it remained for
several years. The school build
ing was at that time on Second
Avenue, later remodeled and is
now part of the hospital build
ing.
„ By 1928 the need for a public
library again became apparent,
and the Woman’s Club, with
Mrs. Earl E Reisner, president,
'Copter Crashes In
Chickaloon Flats
Raymond Chaisson, pilot for
Rick Helicopter, Inc., was in
jured Wednesday morning when
tit? craft he was piloting over
Chickaloon Flats crashed on
takeoff. His passenger was un
injured.
The helicopter failed to gain
altitude on takeoff, and crashed,
according to the pilot. He was
three, n out of the bubble, injur
ing his knee. The machine was
completely demolished.
Chickaloon F’lats is an unin
habited area of swamp and mus
keg at the north end of the
Kenui Peninsula, on Chickaloon
Bay. The men were marooned
until spotted by Chris Christen
sen on his regular afternoon
flight to S e w a r d. Christensen
notified the 10th Rescue Squad
ron, and an Air Force helicop
ter, piloted by Capt. John
K a n g a s, went to the scene.
Chaisson was removed to Pro
vidence Hospital in Anchorage.
His passenger was taken to th?
Moose River camp of the Rick
Helicopter Company in another
of the company's ’copters.
The Rick Helicopter Company
furnishes the planes and pilots
for the mapping project being
conducted by 30th Topograph
ical Engineers on the Peninsula
this year. An accident of this
kind is said to be rare.
MAN FINED <550 IN
COMMISSIONER'S COURT
Cecil Lindsey pleaded guilty
to a charge of driving a vehicle
without a Territorial license and
was fined S50 in Commissioner's
Court Thursday morning.
Lindsey was cited by the
Highway Pa.trol after running
his car off the road at Mile 1(5.
It was found at that time that
lie had no license. The car was
wrecked when it hit a stump
at the foot of the 20 foot em
bankment. Lindsey was not in
jured.
In addition to the fine, Lind
sey was denied the privilege to
drive a car for GO days.
FAULKNERS' SON RECEIVES
MARINE CORPS PROMOTION
Sgt. Lambdin W. Faulkner,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell
Faulkner, Mile 5>L\ has just re
ceived a promotion from Staff
Sergeant to Master Sergeant at
the Moffett Field Marine Corps
installation in California.
Sgt. Faulkner is serving his
second enlistment in the Marine
Corps. He went through the
battles of Iwo Jima and Saipan,
Tinian and the Marshall Islands.
He has received the Purple
Heart and Bronze Star medals.
He spent six months with his
parents here in Seward between
enlistments.
with the help of Miss Katherine
Faust, a former teacher in Sew
ard High School, began work
on the project. They persisted
in the face of several disappoint
ments, until September of 1930.
Using the original 300 vol
umes, and others from the par
sonage, and private collections,
together with discards from the
Seattle Public Library, these
determined women set up the
library in the Mount Building
that has continued through the
yearjs.
Incorporated
It was found necessary to in
corporate the organization in or
der to obtain the $150 annual
assistance offered by the Terri
torial Legislature in 1929. Sew
ard Community Library incor
poration papers were taken in
Three Families Leave
Aboard SS Denali
Many Sewardites were aboard
the SS Denali last night to bid
farewell to three popular fami
lies who are leaving Alaska.
Mrs. Bate Bond and two chil
dren left for Clayton, New Mex
ico, to make a new life, after
the recent death of husband and
fat r, B Bo They
accompanied by Mrs. Hattie R.
Bond, who came to Seward for
the funeral of her son.
Elmer Johnson and family
were l aving after several years
in Alaska. Mr. Johnson was
assistant freight agent at the
Seward office, Alaska Railroad.
The Johnson girls are well
known here for their dancing
ability.
Mr. and Mrs. Lon Gray and
son David are also on their way
Outside after a residence of six
years in Seward. Mr. Gray was
an employe of Standard Oil
Company here. Their son Keith
is in school at Chico. California,
and Roger, who was married
after his discharge from the
service, settled Outside.
THREE POUND BABY LIVES
IN INCUBATOR
Seward General Hospital staff
membrrs are proud of their
achievement of maintaining life
in a baby weighing only 3
pounds 2'i ounces at birth.
The baby, a little girl was
born prematurely, Monday, May
29 in the hospital. She was put
under oxygen immediately, and
is living in the incubator. Tin
tiny infant takes nourishment
regularly, and moves hands and
feet normally. No check has
been made upon the possible
increase in weight, but reports
are that she appears to be filling
out. and the staff have high
hopes of saving the child.
HIGHWAY MAY EE
PASSABLE BY JUNE 30
Rumor has it that the Anchor
age-Seward highway is passable,
but Bert Kellogg, in making a
test of it, says that he made it
within two miles of the Potter
end, but could go no further.
Although it will not be open
for regular traffic before late
summer, the connecting link at
Turnagain Arm is supposed to
be finished by June 30.
ENJOYS VISIT OUTSIDE
Mrs. Annie Clarkson, mother
of Mrs. Margaret Webb, is en
joying her visit outside, but will
be home soon.
The elderly lady traveled
alone to the states to visit with
relatives. She will see her grand
son Jackie Webb and wife Tan
ya, before her return. This is her
first trip Outside for several
years.
1931. At that time the Library
Board was formed, composed of
a representative of several civic
organizations, with the presi
dent of the Woman's Club auto
matically becoming a member
of the Board. Of the original
Board, only Mrs. Hazel Erwin
remains as a member of the pres
ent Board. Mrs. Elwyn Sv/et
mann and Mrs. Bessie Malloy
were elected the next year. Mrs.
Swetmann is still on the Board,
as president this year.
The Woman's Club raised the
first $150 required by the Terri
tory to establish the revolving
fund. The following year, the
Club, under the chairmanship of
Elizabeth Gjeisbeek, then super
intendent of the hospital, raised
(Turn to Page 4)
Firs Department
Gets Workout
Local fire-eaters were called
out twice this morning within
two hours. The first call was a
chimney fire at the Kenai Cafe,
which was quickly extinguished.
Two hours later a second
alarm brought the fire depart
m nt in record time to a cabin
betwe n Second and Third Ave
nues on Washington Street. It
proved to be a false alarm, turn
ed in when someone saw s am
rising from the roof, and thought
it to be smoke.
Volunteer firemen, all work
ing in various parts of the town,
made record time in getting to
the fire station or directly to
the scenes of the alarms. Chief
Kielcheski, working the street
grader in the North end of town,
commandeered a car from the run
in, the first time, but happened
to be on Washington within three
blocks of the scone of the second
alarm. He is just about the busi
est man in town these days.
The Army truck with its new
coat of red turned out for both
alarms, fully loaded with GIs
thankful for the break in the
monotony, but eager to get into
the game.
"BROWNIE” VISITING
IN SEWARD
Mr. and Mrs. Merle L. Brown
(Brownie) came in to Seward
Wednesday, leaving again the
next day. They were accomoa
nied by Jack Snyder. The
Browns and Snyder are runnhvj
tender for Northern Packing
Company of Valdez this year.
The Browns are well known
here, Brownie having operated
boats for ATS out of Seward
during and after the war. He
also operated tender for Resur
rection Bay Company, a local
cannery, in 1949. Last year ire
ran a tender for Kenai Pack rs.
Snyder is also no strang r,
having been in and out of Sew
ard for the past several years.
He fished here in 1.948 for tne
Resurrection Bay Company.
NOTICE
The 10:00 p.m. curfew siren
will be discontinued for the
period of one month. This docs
not mean a lifting of the car
few, however. Parents of chil
dren under 18 years of age are
warned that police will oick
up children under age, wiv n
found on the streets after 10
p-m., even though the sir:n
does not sound.
Mrs. Elvvyn Swetmann re
turned to Seward Thursday by
plane. She came alone and plans
to remain here for a while.