SWARD
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
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THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD. ALASKA
Vol. VIII, No. (52
SEWARD, ALASKA. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 8, 1952
Price 10 Cents
By Ray Doyle
The City Council was called
to order in regular session Mon
day evening with A. C. McRae
acting as chairman in the ab
sence of Mayor Eugene N.
Lanier. Councilmen present be
sides McRae, were Hamilton,
Cole and Johnson, and Sigrid
Stearns, city clerk.
Permission was asked by Stan
dard Oil Company to erect three
storage tanks to be used for stor
ing Deisel fuel and stove oil.
During discussion the construc
tion engineer for Standard told
the council that in every instance
throughout the Northwest and
the Territory “berms” (a ledge
or space; were provided as a
safety measure. Despite a peti
tion of property owners in the
area who feared an increase in
insurance rates because of close
proximity ol the tanks, Standard
was granted permission to erect
the tanks. Assurance was given
the council and property owners
concerned that all necessary
safety precautions would be ob
served.
The council granted permis
sion for the leasing of the south
end of the city dock to establish
a “filleting” plant. This was con
sidered under the heading of a
new business enterprise.
Correspondence was read from
the Alaska Dock and Bridge Co.,
which asked to have its indebt
edness to tile city for use of a
boiler settled for $500. Accord
ing to the discussion among the
councilmen, this boiler was ta
ken and used without permission
from the council. Inasmuch as
the Alaska Dock and Brdige Co.
is now bankrupt, the council de
cided to accept the aforemen
tioned offer.
Two subjects were tabled be
cause of a possible technical
oversight on the part of the city
council. Discussion on the leas
ing of the Housing Area was
tabled until after the cty attor
ney has studied thj ordinance
governing the disposition of city
property. The other subject un
der discussion was the raising of
utility rates. This discussion, also
tabled, involved the right of the
utility to raise the rates without
a public hearing.
Perhaps the most explosive
subject and also the most timely,
was that of the present condition
of the water system. Two sec
tions of Seward are especially
handicapped because of the lack
of water, Second Avenue and
the Housing Area. The discus
sion centered about the reasons
for no water in those areas. Mr.
Cole explained that the water
mains in the Housing Area are
such a maze that is impossible to
run down those now frozen.
During the discussion it was
suggested that perhaps some
temporary remedy might be
brought about this coming sum
mer to provide water for the
residents of the affected areas
next winter. However, the inter
ested spectators and the council
decided that the most pressing
need and solution thereof was
(Turn to Page 6)
REEVES TO BE GUEST AT
LINCOLN DAY DINNER
Seward Republicans will hold
a Lincoln Day dinner at Hard
ing's Cafe on the evening of
February 25, it was announced
today.
Bob Reeves, Republican candi
date for Delegate to Congress,
will be guest speaker. Tickets
for the dinner will be on sale
next week.
Anchorage Mushers
WiH Trek To
Seward By Dogteam
Headquarters, Alaskan Com
mand, Elmendorf AFB—One oi’
the few military dqg mushers in
Alaska, Lt. Col. Alexander C.
Field, USAF, aide-de-camp to Lt.
Gen. W. E. Kepner, Commander
in-Chief, Alaskan Command, will
participate in the forthcoming
Anchorage Dog Mushers’ Club
trek from Anchorage to Seward.
The Anchorage Dog Mushers'
Club is sponsoring a trip by dog'
sled along the Anchorage-Sew
ard highway in which approxi
mately six teams will partici
pate in the mushing caravan that
will depart Anchorage on the
14th of February. It is due to
arrive in Seward two days later.
The manager of the Fur Ren
dezvous Committee, John Croul,
has stated that some candidates
for the Fur Rendezvous queen
will take part in the trip sched
uled to return to Anchorage on
the 17th.
The purpos. of this trip is to
stimulate interest in the Anchor
age Fur Rendezvous among the
residents of Seward as well as
to give the teams participating
further experience for the forth
coming dog rodeo to be held dur
ing the week of the Fur Rendez
vous.
Other mushers participating
with Colonel Field are: Charles
Cannon, Mac McLean, Harold
Gaasland, Bill Chamberlain.
Lircky Merik, and John Webb.
Two Women To Face
Grand Jury On
Narcotics Charge
Patricia Staley and Betty Clif
ford, both of Seward, were
bound over to the grand jury by
Commissioner Southard Thurs
day afternoon on the charge of
possessing narcotics. They were
represented by Wendall Kay and
Stanley MeCutcheon at the local
hearing.
The government’s case was
presented by Roy Webb, special
investigator.
The women were released on
their own recognizance until
called for a hearing by the grand
jury.
Patrolman Catches
Burglar in Act
Patrolman Bradford formed a
posse and captured a .burglar in
the act early Wednesday morn
ing at Doyle’s Hardware store.
The man, David Alex, had
broken windows in the rear of
the building, and raised a bar on
the door to gain entrance. Resi
dents in the apartment over the
store, hearing the noise, called
police to investigate. Officer
Bradford, however, discovered
the break-in at the same time
and was already at work on the
capture, with help of several
nearby residents whom he called
into service.
Alex is having a hearing Sat
urday afternoon at which time
the case was expected to be sent
to the grand jury. He was recent
ly released from the federal jaiL
here.
TO SEE SEAHAWKS GAME
IN ANCHORAGE
A number of Seward people
will travel the highway Satur
day towards Anchorage, all bent
upon seeing the Seahawks’ game
with the Anchorage High School
basketball team.
Several carloads of people ex
pect to leave early in the morn
ing in order to get in a day’s
shopping in addition to the bas
ketball expedition.
Veterinarian To Be
Here February 14
Dr. F. E. Miller, veterinarian,
will be in Seward, Thursday,
February 14, with his mobile
unit parked in the vacant lot
south of Gil's.
The Anchorage veterinarian
will administer shots and per
form minor surgery at that time
and place. Animals needing more
detailed attention will be taken
to Anchorage in the heated unit
and brought back at a later date.
Persons wishing to make ap
pointments for attention to their
pets should call Norine Reed at
Main 74.
Local Masons Visited
By District Deputy
The Seward Masonic Lodge
was honored at their stated
meeting, February 5, with the
visitation of District Deputy to
the Grand Master of Washington
Grant McMurry of Anchorage.
Accompanying him was Wor
shipful Master Anderson of An
chorage Lodge 221.
Dinner in hor.or of the visitors •
was served at Harding's Cafe.
Lodge opened at «> p.m., a second
degree being conferred upon
Cecil Casey.
Lodge was well attended and
several Past Masters were pres
ent for the occasion.
New Secretary For
League of Cities
Dr. Louis A. Weinberg, profes
sor of political economy at the
University of Alaska, has ac
cepted appointment as ex cutive
secretary of the League of Alas
ka Cities. The position was form
erly held by Arthur II. Rosien of
Anchorage.
Dr. Weinberg attended the an
nual conference of the L.ague
held in Kodiak in November as
consultant, loaned by the univer
sity. It was not known at that
time that Mr. Rosien would be
leaving the Territory, but the
impression made upon member
representatives at the conference
prompted the unanimous call
upon Dr. Weinberg for his as
sistance when the post was va
cated by Rosien. All members of
the executive committee and
board -of trustees are congratu
lating themselves and the League
upon acquiring the services of so
abls a man. Dr. Weinberg is the
man who was chosen by the
Constitutional Committee to
draft the constitution for the
new state of Alaska for consid
eration of the people when and
if ... .
The office of the secretary is
now in College, Alaska, instead
of its former location in An
chorage.
Painter Appointed To
Council Vacancy
Russell Painter has been ap
pointed to fill the uncompleted
term on the City Council, left by
the resignation of Lawrence
Whitmore.
Mr. Painter served two terms
on the council previously, his
most recent service ending in
October, 1950. He is a business
man, member of the Volunteer
Fire Department, and active in
other civic affairs. Much is ex
pected of him by Seward resi
dents, stepping in, as he is, at
one of the most critical periods
of local history, according {■>
opinions htard on the streets.
Mr. and Mrs. Fran DuBeau
r turned the first of the week
from a prolonged auto trip Out
side. Although enjoying the trip
immensely, they say “there’s no
place like Jiome.”
Moose Pass
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jacobs
and daughter Rita arrived in
Moose Pass Feb. 6 with a new
Jeep pickup which they had
driven up over the highway.
They left Spokane, Wash., on
January 31 and experienced no
trouble along the way. The hard
est part of the trip, according to
Bob was from Anchorage to
Moose Pass. They could not find
iiotel accommodations so decided
to drive on home but due to the
new snow' the trip took all night.
Bob says he opened the road for
the snow plow's.
Mrs. Thurman Wolfe enter
tained with an afternoon of ca
nasta on January 31 with the
following persons as guests: Mrs.
Walter Hansen, Mrs. Ray Foster,
Mrs. Robert Hall, Mrs. Merle
Reed, Mrs. Robert Wolfe, and
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Waite of Sew
ard.
Mrs. Leora Roycroft entered
the Seward General Hospital on
Saturday, Feb. 2, to remain for
several days for observation and
treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Foster en
tertained with a turkey dinner
on Wednesday evening, Feb. 6,
in honor oi Mrs. Max Foster’s
birthday. Guests present were
Mr. and Mrs. Max Foster and
sons Larry and Billy, Mr. and
Mrs. Kenneth Condit, Mr. and
Mrs. Thurman Wolfe, Floyd
Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Wolfe and daughter Wanda of
Moose Pass, and Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Waite, Mr. and Mrs. Del.
Robbins, and Mrs. James Smith
erf Seward.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Woods
and children, Roy, Marjorie and
Ruth, spent the weekend in An
chorage as guests of Mr. Woods’
parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Delb rt Wolfe
were recent visitors in Seward
at the homes of Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Hatch and Mr. and Mrs.
Troy Bogard.
Merle Reed has suspended his
Alaskan gold nugget jewelery
business lor a period of six
months upon the advice of his
physician. Mr. Rerd has to rest
and spend more time out of
doors.
ANCHORAGE LUTHERAN
PASTOR TO
CONDUCT SERVICES HERE
The Rev. A. H. Mjorud, pastor
of Central Lutheran Church in
Anchorage, will conduct the Sun
day morning worship service at
the Seward Lutheran Church.
He will also conduct Evangelistic
Services at the Seward church
each evening, Sunday through
Wednesday. 7:30 o'clock.
Rev. Mjorud is a former at
torney and is now an ordained
minister. He is a classmate of
The Rev. Kent E. Spaulding,
pastor of the Seward Lutheran
Church.
Rev. Spaulding will fill the
pulpit at the Anchorage Church
for the Sunday morning services
and return to Seward for the
evening services here.
FHA REPRESENTATIVE TO
BE IN SEWARD FEB. 18
Word was received here this
week that a representative of
the Federal Housing Administra
tion will be in Seward on Feb.
18, to meet with local residents
who are interested in FHA build
ing.
Arrangements have not been
made for meeting place and time
but it is expected that informa
tion will be made available bv
Feb. 15.
Anchorage-Saward
Bowing Mutch
Ends In Draw
Although A1 Priess, the now
famous 300 bowler from Anchor
age, was a member of the Hub
City team which met a Sewarcl
team in a matched game here
last Sunday, the ten-game match
ended in a draw.
John Paulsteiner, Jim Van
Pelt, Frank Markey, Gene Skin
ner and Marty Kowalski, rolling
for Seward, won the first half
which was played in the after
noon.
The night match was taken by
the Anchorage team, made up of
Bob Perry, Frank Douglas, Bill.
Lofflin, Rusty Swackhammer,
and A1 Priess. Crowds of inter
ested spectators jammed the
Dreamland Bowl all day, intent
on the outcome of Seward's fa
vorite sport.
No plans have been made to
include a bowling tournament in
the Fur Rendezvous this year, it
was disclosed by the visiting
keglers, although teams from the
two cities will continue to vie
for the unofficial title.
Elks Bowlers Feb. 15
Two teams of men and one of
women will come to Seward
February 15, for a matched game
with the Sew'ard Elks teams.
ACS To Discontinue
Long Distance
Telephone Booth
The Alaska Communication
System will discontinue its long
distance commercial telephone
booth service at Seward. Alaska,
effective Feb. 15. 1952, Colonel
Fred P. Andrews, Commanding
Officer of the system, announced
this week. The ACS will con
tinue to keep its booth open for
official U.S. Government and
military calls, and for general
use in case of emergency.
Colon 1 Andrews emphasized
that there will be no leVdown ii>
service due to this change as the
Alaska Telephone Corporation
locally operated booth provides
twenty-four hour attended serv
ive which is adequate to meet
the requirements of the citizens
of Seward.
Colonel Andrews explained
that it is ACS policy not to com
pete with local Alaskan com
panies in providing booth serv
ice in cases where the local com
pany is in a position to provide
equal or better service to the pa
trons on an adequacy of location,
quality, and hour of service
basis. Armed forces personnel
who present proper identifica
tion may make personal military
rate calls from the ATEC booth
as outlined in ACS Regulations
and Tariffs.
P-TA POSTPONED
There will be no meeting of
the Parent-Teacher Association
this Saturday. The meeting has
been postponed until Saturday,
Feb. 23. 8:00 p.m.
Also postponed has been the
P-TA bake sale originally sched
uled for Monday. That affair will
take place Saturday, Feb. 23.
Mr. Ray Tranowski, Clam
Gulch hermit, was a visitor in
town Wednesday.