Seward
The Cmlmay City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seaport
Record
Seward’s All-JVeather Port is Alaska’s Greatesl Asset.
Vol. VII, No. 86
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1951
Price 10 cents
Seward To Write
Own History For
50th Anniversary
Next year, 1952, will be Sew
ard's fiftieth anniversary. In
June, 1902, a party of surveyors
was sent by the Ballaine group
of investors to lay out a town
site for the southern terminus of
the Alaska Central Railroad.
That was the beginning of Sew
ard.
In order to lay the ground
work for some sort of anniver
sary celebration, the Seward
Record will start a new sort of
column next week, which will
appear in each Friday’s issue.
This column, entitled “Story of
Seward, 1902-1952,” will pub
lish material contributed by
Seward's oldtimers who were
not only actually present as the
story unfolded, but in many
cases wore personally involved
in these events. Week by week,
column by column, the history
of Seward will be pieced togeth
er. If the plan works, if suffi
cient material is contributed, an
effort will be made to interest
a publisher in the project of
printing a book in honor of
Seward’s fiftieth anniversary.
Necessary editing and arrang
ing will be done by Jay Stauter,
who was formerly a research
writer for the Washington State
Guide Book, but the actual
authors will be Seward's own
senior citizens.
Seward Police Plan
First Annual Ball
Police Chief Dale Greene an
nounced today that the first an
nual Policeman's Ball is being
planned for June 16, which falls
on Saturday.
The boys have decided to raise
their own funds for fingerprint
ing equipment, and possibly uni
forms. They are move int; rested,
however, in added, equipment
than in new clothes.
The city does not furnish hand
guns to all the force and patrol
men have had to buy their own.
The boys feel that many items
of crime detection equipment
should be added to the depart
ment such as a fingerprint cam
era and riot guns, as well as
uniforms—so they have decided
to finance the project them
selves. by way of a big dance
where everyone can help and
have a good time as well.
This is another sign of pro
gress. and judging by conversa
tion heard on the street, the plan
meets with 'full approval of
Seward citizens.
A.R.fl Mrtn Prefers
Sewcrd To St. LouSs
Ken Porter, railroad man and
Seward ite, blew into the edi
torial office today after a month
in St. Louis, Mo. “Had a wonder
ful time, but glad to be back,”
he says.
Ken saw a big league baseball
game—Cards beat the Browns.
He also visited the police de
partment laboratory, and acad
emy in St. Louis which im
pressed him as a “wonderful
setup.”
War hysteria Outside is amaz
ing, Mr. Porter stated. He re
ceived folders with his pur
chases. even from a drug store,
imploring people to “keep calm”
in case of an atomic attack. He
was glad to get back to Alaska
where folks are sane, even
though his friends are sure that
anybody is crazy to come here.
Sam Romack’s friends will be
glad to hear that he is improv
ing so rapidly that he will soon
be out of the hospital. Sam un
derwent surgery recently at
Seward General Hospital.
Lions Club Hears
Mapping Plans
At the regular Friday noon
luncheon of tlie Seward Lions
Club, Lt. Col. James W. Free of
the 30th Engineer Base, Topo
giaphical Battalion, Presidio,
California, outlined briefly the
organization and plans of the
unit to be stationed at Seward
this summer.
Lt. Col. Free emphasized that
the present emergency had little
to do with their being here at
the present time; that this work
is part of a long-range mapping
program, and this particular pro
gram was planned and set up
immediately after World War II.
He pointed out that only 20 per
cent of the United States is
mapped and actually there is
work planned ahead for many
years and that the. maps needed
for public works and military
are given priority.
The mapping this summer will
be done with the most modern
mapping techniques. Aerial
photos will be taken from above
20.000 feet and geographic posi
tions and vertical data will be
established on the ground and
this information will be passed
on to the aerial photo. The maps
will not be considered secret and
will be available to any civilian
agency.
Ho stated that there will be a
total of 750 men of this topo
graphical battalion in Alaska
this summer. Two hundred and
forty of these men will be sta
tioned at Nome and the balance
will be working out of Seward.
He estimated that approximately
200 men would be in Seward
most of the time. He also stated
that there would be 13 helicop
ters stationed here that will op
erate from the area just south
of the Seward Sanatorium. The
helicopters will be operated by
30 civilian personnel, some of
whom are expected to bring
their families.
Lt. Col. Free stated that he
appreciated the welcome he h id
received in Seward, and th«. tin
men that he had with him are
an exceptionally fine group, and
that they had never been at a
place vet but what the communi
ty regretted their leaving. In
turn his men have always felt
that the last city they were in
was the best one.
ANCKORAGEITE3 HERE
FOR WEEKEND
Mrs. Charles Strom and nine
year-old daughter, Charlotte, o
Anchorage are vmtmg Mr. and
Mrs. John Coleman for the week
end. Mrs. Strom pilots her own
three-place li ' 'plane, but de
cided to make the trip by train
because of the weather.
Mrs. Strom is an employee of
the Anchorage City Electric
System, and her husband works
for The Alaska Railroad in the
hub city.
They were accompanied by
Cynthia Coleman from Toledo,
Oregon. Cynthia, who is twelve
years old, came all the way to
Anchorage by herself to spend
the summer with her father in
Seward. She will finish the
school year here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARRIVE
Any day now, friends of the
Sewmrd High School seniors can
expect to receive announcements
and invitations to graduation.
The stationary arrived this week
after many months of waiting.
STERLING HIGHWAY OPEN
All restrictions have been
lifted on Sterling Highway
traffic except the 75 per cent
of rated capacity load limit on
trucks and pickups, according
to Alaska Highway Patrol of
ficers.
C. o£ C. Asks Aid In
Plc^rtirg Program For
Fdiforiaf Association
Every organization in town is
asked by the Chamber of Com
merce to send representatives to
the meeting next Wednesday
night to plan for entertaining
the National Editorial Associa
tion members, about 150 of
whom are expected to remain in
Seward for four days during the
second week in June, while the
national organization is making
its tour of Alaska.
With the highway in poor con
dition for traveling at that time,
because of the reconstruction
work, most of the visitors will
be confined to local areas.
"Priceless advertising to be
gained from so many newspaper
men from all over the United
States, makes it imperative that
we go all out to show these peo
ple a good time and make them
welcome." stated the Chamber
of Commerce committeemen to
day, "but we can't do it alone.”
Various forms of entertain
ment have been suggested, such
as a barbecue, shooting match,
liars contest, deep sea fishing,
hiking, and even a preliminary
Marathon race. It will call for
the cooperation of many towns
men to put across a good cele
bration. Seward will hit the
headlines clear across the coun
try if it succeeds, and gain many
friends from Outside.
All persons and organization
representatives willing to serve
on the project are asked to meet
with the Chamber of Commerce
next Wednesday night in the
city council room at ?, o'ciock.
Bring aiong your ideas and the
will to work.
Do Yci! Renemher?
Do you remember when you
said goodbye to your last doll,
and said hello to your first date?
Do you recall the* first high
heels, the first fur coat, the first
time you were called for by a
young man in a tuxedo? It you
don't her/s a sure .ire way to
refresh your memory, and if you
do r n"raber, don’t miss this
oppportunity to re-live those
pleasa n t teen-age memories.
“Junior Miss” are the two mag
ic words .which will transport
you back to your youth for a
few c'aarming hours.
Phyllis Baker lr. ads the cast
in Seward High School's produc
tion of this sparkling comedy
and is seen in the leading role of
Judy Graves, who alternates as
match-maker and home wreck
er during the course of the play.
As her worried and irascible
father. Bill Erwin will be seen
as Harry Graves. Ruth Iioogland
plays her much-put-upon moth
er. Judy's part n e r and pal,
Fluffy Adams, will be played
by Jo Ann Milroy while Winnie
Sanders will be seen as Judy s
older sister, Lois. Jack Rafter
plays J. B. Curtis and Margaret
Lindsey his daughter, Ellen. Bob
Erwin is the mysterious Uncle
Willis and Ronald Lewis plays
Haskell Cummings, the Junior
Miss’ charming ihrst date.
“Junior Miss” is the play and
May 4 is the opening night. The
casts production of this hit
comedy will be shown for 2
performances.
OSBOS RETURN FROM
TRIP OUTSIDE
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osbo. of
Osbo’s Electric, arrived back in
Seward on the Baranof Thurs
day after a visit of several
months Outside.
The Osbos toured tHe West
and spent some time with their
son, Thor, in S attle.
Alesha Trade Tour
Planned For June
A 10-day trade-travel tour to
Alaska in June was announced
this week by the Portland
Chamber of Commerce. Princi
pal cities to be visited include
Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks,
Seward and Valdez, with side
trips to Nome, Kodiak and
Talkeetna.
Departure from Portland has
been tentatively set for June 15,
according to R. B. Maloney,
chairman of the Chamber’s Alas
ka committee and Montgomery
Ward official. The trip will be
made via scheduled airlines.
Emphasis will be on the An
chorage-Fairbanks R-dlbelt area,
which is linked with Portland
by Coastwise Line, now in its
third year of operation of sched
uled steamship service with a
fleet of seven ships providing
sailings every ten days.
Businessmen from throughout
the Portland area have been in
vited to participate in this, the
fourth Portland Chamber spon
sored tour in the last three
years. As in the case of the tour
last July, they are invited to
take their wives.
While the group will be pri
marily concerned with business
it is planned to arrange the
itinerary to allow for a weekend
at Mt. McKinley Lodge.
Proclamation
WHEREAS, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United
States, a patriotic organization
founded in 1899. is directing the
observance of LOYALTY DAY
on Tuesday. May 1, 1951. and
WHEREAS, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars organization in
this time of crisis, is firm in
its d tcrminaton to emphasize
Americanism in all of its fines'
aspects, and to demonstrate them
proudly before the world, and
WHEREAS, the V F.W. slogan
for the year is: "Loyalty to One
‘Ism’—Americanism!,’’ and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate
that Americans everywhere ob
serve J OYALTY DAY, toward
reaffirming their faith in the
Arne:*1' an Wav of Lif —a v.n v
of life which esteems human b -
nitv and personal rights and
condemns branny and slavery,
NOW, THEREFORE. t. Ernes*
Omening. Governor of Alaska,
do hertbv proclaim May 1. 1951,
as LOYALTY DAY in the Terr'
tory of Alaska and ask that all
Alaskans note this observance
with appropriate reflection and
fitting ceremonies.
Bv the Governor,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Seal of the
Territory of Alaska to be af
fixed. Done at Juneau, the
Capital, this 4th day of Aoril
in the year of our Lord, nine
teen hundred and fifty one.
(Seal) ERNEST GRUENING,
Governor of Alaska
LEW M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary of Alaska.
GENE KIRKPATRICK LEAVES
FOR SPECIAL TRAINING
Pvt. Gene Kirkpatrick left
Elmendorf Field one night this
week by stratocruiser for special
training at Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland.
Although it is in the line of
duty, Kirkpatrick felt that ho
was really getting a break since
it meant going back to his own
horr." town which he has not
seen since he left there five
years ago.
Aft'r completing the training
course he expects to return to
Alaska for duty and a 30-day
leave with his mother and broth
ers here. The folks look for him
home sfome time in September.
Bfccd Typing Program
Set For Seward
May 8 Through 13
Plans are progressing rapidly
for the blood typing program in
Seward May 8 to 13. A large
part of the expense of the large
scale project will be borne by
the local Red Cross Chapter as
part of the Civil Defense pro
gram in the city.
Details of the work have yet
to be settled, including the ad
visability of metal “dog-tags” for
school children. Other cities
have included the tags as a more
permanent record in case of war
emergency. Tags being used are
the same as those issued by the
Army and Navy for indontifica
tion. They bear the name, num
ber and blood type of cadi per
son, for the purpose cf rapid
identification and in event of the
need for blood transfusion.
Dr. Phillips of the Seward
Sanatorium is assisting in the
program. Adults will be asked
if they will participate in a per
manent walking blood bank for
sanatorium patients and the
local hospital. Even in peace
time, whole blood is the only
means of saving a life in many
cases of accident and in chest
surgery.
Additional help will be need
ed for clerical work for the typ
ing program. The Nurses Associ
ation will be asked to assist in
the actual technical work, but
records must be made on cards
and filed for future reference.
Women and girls who can give a
few hours a day during that
week, and anyone who will
donate a typewriter for the week
are asked to contact Mr. Kent
Spaulding, or the newspaper
office.
Job:ass In Due
li.’c Month
Employment Security officials
cautioned employers this week
that the unemployment insurance
tax on their workers is due this
month. If reports are not filed
by April 30 a penalty attaches
to the amount due, according to
She! Ion, Ex cutive Direc
tor of the Employment Security .
Commission.
“Some employers are under
the impression that the reports
and the tax payment are'not due
f the < u rt ca se r ?cent
ly decided in Juneau," Sheldon
s ad, “Thy re ’’eminded that
on March 14 Judge George W.
Folta signed an order dir cting
the Commission to hold certain
funds in a special account, but
he also ordered employers to
continue to pay contributions
due on their pay rolls pending
outcome of the appeal filed by
the Commission to the U.S.
Court of Appeals in San Fran
cisco."
The litigation grew out of the
determination of the Commis
sion that experience rating cred
its were not due employers for
the period July 1, 1950 through
June 30, 1951. These credits
would apply against the tax fall
ing due during that period. New
England Fish Company and
Wards Cove Packing Company
challenged the Commission's in
terpretation. Judge Folta decid
ed in favor of the plaintiffs on
January 18 and the Commission
has appealed this decision. H. L.
Faulkner of Faulkner, Banfield
and Boochever, Juneau, as at
torney for tho plaintiffs and
Attorney General J. Gerald
Williams and Assistant Attorney
General John H. Dimond are
representing the Commission. A
date for the hearing of the ap
peal. has not been set.
Mrs. Aron Erickson is back
home after a trip to Anchorage.