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Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
S e a P 0 r f
Record
Seward's AU-IVcather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X, No. 6
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1953
Price 10 Cents
Washington
News-Letter
July 30, 1953
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Five disputed items totalling
S38.565.000 for Alaska were re
solved in the Interior Depart
ment appropriation bill for the
1954 fiscal year when the con
ference report between the
House and Senate was cleared
by Congress this week and sent
to tlie President.
Major decisions were made
when no provision was included
for rehabilitation of the Seward
Portage portion of The Alaska
Railroad, although a sum for
Seward docks was granted.
“I am surprised and disap
pointed at the action of the con
ferees," Delegate Bartlett de
clared, "in striking from the
Interior Department appropria
tion bill S5.535.000 to commence,
rebuilding the section of The
Alaska Railroad between Port
age and Seward. The sum had
been requested after a personal
inspection by Under Secretary
of the Interior Ralph A. Tudor,
although not included in the
first Eisenhower budget.
"Need for putting the railroad
in first-class shape was empha
sized by the Whittier fire. Ap
parently it was the decision of
the conferees that the highway
from Seward to Anchorage ob
viated the need for repairing the
rail line. This does not square
with the contention of the De
fense Department that two ports
served by railroads arc essential
to defense. I am hopeful that
both the Interior and Defense
Departments will renew their re
quest for funds when the next
budget is presented to Congress.
"In the meantime, it is grati
fying that the conferees allowed
Sl'i million for Seward dock
construction.”
Other Alaska items include
$12 million for the Alaska Pub
lic Works program instead of
$14,325,000 as proposed by the
House. $4,215,000 for The Alas
ka Railroad ($1 Vz million for
Seward docks and the remainder
for rolling stock) instead of the
$9,750,000 as proposed by the
Senate and $2,715,000 first ap
proved by tlie House; $7,750,000
for the Eklutna hydroelectric
project near Anchorage, legisla
tion authorizing an increase in
appropriations for this project
is being considered as the first
session of the 83rd Congress
draws to an end.
CENSUS
Alaska's population on July 1,
1952, exceeded by 2.090 persons
the Nevada population, accord
ing to statistics recently pub
lished by the Bureau of the Cen
sus.
The statistics reveal that Ne
vada had 130.000 persons resid
ing within its borders a year
ago, while Alaska's population
was estimated at 182.000. This
compares with April 1, 1950,
figures of 123,643 for Alaska
and 160,033 for Nevada. The
increase of approximately 53,000
people in the Territory is a 41.3
per cent increase over the 1950
census figure, the largest per
centage increase of any given
area. Arizona with 14.6 percent
had the highest percentage
growth between the census of
1950 and July 1, 1952. for the
States, with Nevada next with
12.4 per cent. The national av
erage of population growth over
this period was 3.4 per cent.
COMMITTEE TRIP TO
ALASKA
Unless a last minute change
in plans is made, five members
of the Senate Interior and In
sular Affairs Committee will go
to Alaska to hold statehood
hearings.
The tentative schedule will
have Senators Butler, Barrett,
Anderson, Clements and Jack
son leaving Seattle August 16
and flying to Ketchikan, where
a hearing will be held on the
morning of August 17. A hear
ing will be held probably in Ju
neau on Tuesday with the party
flying to Fairbanks on Wednes
day, August 19, with a hearing
there the next day. On Friday,
August 21, the plans call for a
flight to Point Barrow and
Nome, staying overnight at the
latter place, with the committee
flying back to Fairbanks on
Saturday, August 22. On Sun
day, the party will proceed to
Anchorage by train with a hear
ing at Anchorage on Monday,
August 24.
It was announced in commit
tee that preliminary plans have
been drawn up to exclude hear
(Turn to Page 4)
Highest Officer Of O.E.S.
Here On Official Tour
Seaman Acquitted In
Senft Vs. Stalin
Julius Stalin was declared not
guilty by a jury in Commission
er's Court Tuesday. He had been
charged with assault and battery
by Iva and Mannie Senft of
Mile 5V'2 on the Highway.
Mr. and Mrs. Senft charged
Stalin with assault and battery
while trespassing on their prop
erty on Bear Creek the previous
week. Stalin is employed by Al
aska Steamship Company as
steward on the SS Baranof. The
trouble occurred during the last
trip of the Baranof.
He testified that he was fish
ing in Bear Creek while his ship
was in port and he was off duty.
Upon his arrest he was held in
federal jail here until his trial
August 4, when his case was
heard before Commissioner
Anna B. Southard. Prosecuting
Attorney Seaborn J. Buckalcw
of the Third District prosecuted
the case. Attorneys for defense
were Gregory and Walters.
The jury found Stalin “not
guilty” after several hours of
deliberation.
Stalin lived and went to
school in Seward as a boy. His
name was then Stalinsky, but
was shortened when the family
moved away from Alaska.
French Consul Due
Here Next Week
Louis de Guiringaud, Consul
General of France at San Fran
cisco, is visiting Alaska this
month. His first stop is Juneau,
after which he will come to Sew
ard, arriving on the Baranof Au
gust 12. He is accompanied by
Michel Dumont, Press Counse
lor to the French Consulate.
De Guiringaud studied at the
Sorbonne, was attache in the
cabinet of Mr. Delbos and was
sent to Turkey as attache to
the French Embassy at Ankara.
He was on the staff of Gen
eral Weygand in the Near East.
He worked with the French un
derground in 1942 and assisted
in the departure to London of
Mr. Massigli, French Ambassa
dor in Ankara by secret plane.
De Guiringaud escaped to Al
giers in 1943. In 1944 he en
listed in an armored car unit
with the 4th Regiment of the
Moroccan Spahis, fighting in
the Italian campaign and in
Alsace where he was wounded.
After the war he became jun
ior counselor in the French Em
bassy, London, then did much
work on tripartite agreement in
Germany—the Berlin blockade,
Ruhr agreement, occupation ne
gotiations, etc.
He was appointed principal
French negotiator for the recent
peace contracts signed in Bonn,
then left Germany for his pres
ent appointment as French Con
sul General for San Francisco
in 1952.
The Consul will inspect Al
aska. which is part of the
French Consular district of San
Francisco. He will visit the
Seward Sanatorium, Seward
Electric System power plant and
other points of interest here. He
will then continue north to An
chorage, Mt. McKinley Hotel,
Fairbanks, etc.
To The Editor:
Several members of the Sen
ate Committee on Interior and
Insular Affairs are scheduled
to arrive at Ketchikan on Au
gust 16 to hold hearings on
statehood and perhaps other
matters. Hearings have been set
for Ketchikan, Juneau, Fair
banks and Anchorage. The com
mittee is going to Nome but so
far as I know no hearings are
to be held there.
I am already receiving com
munications from other com
munities requesting my assist
ance in altering the itinerary
so that more communities will
be visited. This is sent to you to
inform you that much as I
should like to do so, I am power
less to alter the itinerary. This
is under the exclusive control
of the Senate committee, and
the trip will not represent a
joint inquiry by the Senate and
House of Representatives.
It is my intention to accom
pany the group at the invitation
of Senator Butler, but I shall
be going along only as a guest.
I thought it best to outline the
procedure now because I regret
as much as you do the fact that
the time of the Senators will
not permit their visiting all the
Alaska towns.
E. L. BARTLETT
Mrs. Ruth A. Jones, Most
Worthy Grand Matron, General
Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star, has been a visitor in Sew
ard all this week. Mrs. Janes is
head of the Order, with chapters
in all parts of the world. She is
making her official visit to Al
askan chapters which are under
the jurisdiction of General
Grand Chapter. After she com
pletes a three month tour of the
Territory, Mrs. Jones will set out
upon a five month tour of the
world, visiting chapters in all
countries, including two new
ones in West Germany.
Mrs. Jones arrived in Seward
Tuesday morning. She met the
officers of Seward Chapter at
luncheon in the home of Mrs.
Troy Bogard. The menu for that
day was all Alaskan, beginning
with baked, stuffed silver sal
mon and ending with rhubarb
and strawberry pie.
A banquet was held Wednes
day evening in the dining room
of Seward Sanatorium with over
one hundred in attendance.
Among these were several visi
tors from Anchorage and Out
side lodges of Eastern Star and
Masons.
The banquet was followed by
a meeting and initiation in the
Masonic Temple. Because of the
large number oi visitors from
California and tne States who
were passengers on the Aleutian,
which just happened to dock on
the night of the meeting, the
hall was filled to capacity. Visi
tors were presented from chap
ters in Stockton, Sacramento
and other California cities; Wis
consin, Minnesota, Kansas, Ar
kansas, Idaho, and from Ketchi
kan and Anchorage, Alaska. It
was notable that the visitors
outnumbered the local members.
On Friday evening the Chap
ter m e m b e r s, husbands and
guests plan a picnic at the Ma
hurin home in Forest Acres.
Mrs. Jones plans to leave Sew
ard on the Saturday morning
plane.
Rainbow Girls Hear
Guest Speaker
Seward Assembly, Order of
Rainbow for Girls, honored the
Most Worthy Grand Matron
Thursday night at their regular
meeting. Mrs. Ruth Jones spoke
briefly to the girls about the
ideals of their order and a little
of its founding.
The Rainbow is sponsored by
Eastern Star. Several members
of the Masonic Lodge in Seward
also attended the Assembly
meeting.
Girls served refreshments
after the meeting and a showing
of Alaska films.
WILMANS ENTERTAIN
VISITING SHRINERS
Among the Shriners who ar
rived Wednesday on the SS
Aleutian were Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Maple of Sacramento,
California. Mr. Maple is a life
long friend and fraternity broth
er of Mr. Fred Wilmans of this
city.
A cocktail party was given on
the boat to welcome them to
Alaska, which was followed by
dinner at Gabe's. The guests in
cluded Mr. and Mrs. A1 Sadler,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lauppel of
Sacramento, Mrs. Dean Conover
of Anchorage, Miss Alma Schatz
of Los Angeles, Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Wilmans and Tom Reilly
of Seward. .
New Deputy For
Order Of Elks
CHICAGO, ILL., July 27
Earl E. James, Grand Exalted
Ruler of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, today
announced the appointment of
W. L. Lhamon as District Depu
ty Grand Exalted Ruler for the
Western District of Alaska.
The Alaska West District has
jurisdiction over lodges in An
chorage, Cordova, Kodiak, Sew
ard, Palmer and Fairbanks.
District Deputy Lhamon has
been associated with the Fair
banks Lodge since 1933 when
he transferred his membership
from Ketchikan. He served two
terms as Exalted Ruler in 1948
49 and 1949-50 and one year as
president of the Alaska Terri
torial Elks Association, 1951-52.
The City Council authorized
purchase and installation of
parking meters for Seward’s
streets. Boy, is the town buzz
ing with that one!
Seward To Get
New High School
With the passage of the $12,
000,000 Alaska Public Works
appropriation before Congress
adjourned, Seward is now as
sured of the long awaited new
high school building.
Had the appropriation re
mained at the $10,000,000 fig
ure set by the Senate Appropria
tions Committee, this project
would have been deleted. The
added $2 million, however, put
the city back on the possible list.
Unofficial confirmation from
Juneau received today, gives
positive assurance that the Sew
ard school will be included in
APW for immediate construc
tion.
Immediate construction, how
ever, means that the present
season has been lost and nothing
can be started on the building
itself until next year.
New Group Studies
Pros And Cons Of
Organized Recreation
Over thirty Seward citizens
met Thursday night, August 6,
at the Civic Center in the sec
ond meeting held to discuss the
possibility of a permanent and
planned recreational program
for Seward. The attendance
more than doubled that of the
first meeting and two commit
tees were formed temporarily
to explore the needs of the com
munity, and to inventory the
existing facilities and possibili
ties.
Much interested discussion
took place on the possibility of
a recreational director, the use
of the Civic Center, the rehab
ilitation of the First Lake area
with supervision, etc.
A letter from the Anchorage
planning group was read, sug
gesting the possibility of co
operation between Seward and
Anchorage in a midway camping
area project.
The “Needs” committee, head
ed by Miss Lottie Hirsch, will
meet at 5 p.m. at the Health
Center, Thursday, August 13.
The “Inventory” committee,
headed by Mr. and Mrs. A1
Weber, meets Thursday, August
13, at 7:30 at the Episcopal
Church. The general group will
meet again August 20 at the
Civic Center at 8:00.
These are open meetings and
anyone wishing to sit in or par
ticipate will be very welcome.
Alaska Visit Planned
By Portland C. Of C.
Washington DC Mgr.
Nine Alaska Communities will
be visited in August by Harold
B. Say, who for the past six
years has been manager of the
Washington, D.C, office of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce.
Say's 15 day tour will take him
to Juneau, Ketchikan, Anchor
age, Fairbanks, Nome, Kodiak,
Palmer, Valdez and Seward.
The Portland Chamber exec
utive plans to meet with busi
ness and government leaders in
each community and to discuss
problems of Alaska relating to
the nation’s capital as well as
matters involving Alaska and
Portland areas.
During his six years in Wash
ington, Say has played a key
part in the Portland Chamber's
efforts to enter the Alaska mar
ket in a substantial way, and has
testified at numerous hearings
concerning steamship and air
service between Alaska and the
Pacific Northwest. He has also
gone to bat for Alaskan business
firms having problems with the
government.
One of the main objectives of
his trip, according to Say, is to
let the people of Alaska know
that the Portland Chamber's
Washington office is open to
them. He reported, “We want
your businessmen to feel that
■our office is your office and to
invite you to make use of our
services at every opportunity.”
Leaving Portland via Pacific
Northern on Monday, August
10, Say will be in Juneau short
ly after noon, remaining through
Wednesday morning when he
will leave for Ketchikan via
Alaska Coastal Airlines.
Returning to Juneau via Ellis,
Say will next visit Nome via
Alaska Airlines on Friday and
Saturday, August 14-15, and
Kodiak on Monday, August 17.
From August 18 through 21st
he will be in Anchorage with
the exception of side trips to
Palmer, Seward and Valdez dur
ing that period. He will wind up
his Alaska visit with a stop in
Fairbanks from August 22 thru
August 25.
Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Gets Nod From Council
City Council Lists
Public Owned Lots
To Be Sold In Sept.
A list of real estate owned by
the City of Seward is being pub
lished for sale by individual bid,
with bids to begin at 50 per
cent of the assessed valuation.
Those lots advertised for sale
do not comprise the entire num
ber of city owned property, al
though more will probably be
listed at a future date, accord
ing to Harry Southard, assessor.
There are a number of lots
in the Laubner Addition that
should not be sold singly, but
the entire area subdivided for
development as a whole, Mr.
Southard states, because of the
rough terrain in that section.
The city has title to several
lots in Cliff Addition that are
classed as school reserve. Terms
of the Patent would make this
property revert to the federal
government if used for anything
other Ilian school purposes.
Some original townsite lots
not included in the advertised
list are now being used by the
city. The Army has been grant
ed temporary use of several
lots for vehicle storage, and
others are being held for possi
ble future needs of the city.
Millage Rote To
Remain The Sams
It has been depided by the
city council that the same mill
age rate on real and personal
property will remain the same
as last year—15 mills on real
property and 25 mills on per
sonal property.
Tlie financial picture seems
to look good for the next year,
according to city officials. Al
though the tax to be collected
on seme townsite property will
be less than in previous years,
because of fire or demolition,
this was equalized by new con
struction. Total valuation of the
city has increased slightly over
1952, and since all departments
operated under their budgets,
there will probably be a balance
at the end of next fiscal year.
Announce Rules For
Waterfowl Hunts
Regulations released July 28
by Secretary of the Interior
Douglas McKay, contain those
for the shooting of waterfowl in
Alaska, where the season in cer
tain areas begins as early as
September 1. Secretary McKay
stated that the detailed regula
tions for migratory waterfowl
and woodcock hunting in the
United States will not be issued
until the latter part of August.
In Alaska the shooting hours
will be the same as last year,
one-half hour before sunrise to
one hour before sunset, except
on the opening day when shoot
ing begins at 12 noon.
ALASKA: Ducks, geese, brant
and cool. In the First Judicial
Division and the Kodiak-Afog
nak Island group Sept. 15 to
Nov. 23. In the Second, Third
(except Kodiak-Atognak Island
group) and Fourth Judicial Di
visions Sept. 1 to Nov. 14; pro
vided that scoter, cider and mer
ganser ducks may be taken in
the Third Judicial Division west
of 152 degrees west longitude
and in the Second and Fourth
Judicial Divisions from Sept. 1
to Dec. 15. The daily bag limit
for scoters and ciders is 10 sing
ly or in the aggregate and the
possession limit is not more than
20 singly or in the aggregate of
all kinds. The daily bag limit
for American and red-breasted
mergansers is -25 singly or in
the aggregate of both kinds with
no possession limit after the
first day of the season. Limits
for other ducks 7 a day, 14 in
possession. Other limits: coot
15 a day, 15 in possession; brant
3 a day, 6 in possession; and
geere 3 a day, 0 in possession
•of one kind or in the aggregate
of all kinds.
Salmon Derby For
Local Anglers
A salmon derby for silvers
is being organized by Dick Cox
at the Bayside Sporting Go-ads
store for local sports fishermen
of the Resurrection Bay area.
All interested anglers may in
quire at the store and register
for the derby. Rules and dates
will be announcctl soon, Mr.
Cox states.
Jack Kelly, president of Sew
ard Volunteer Ambulance Corps,
presented the report of Corps
activity to the City Council
Monday night. The report was
given in proof of the amount of
service the ambulance group
has given during the past month,
and in its search for uptown
garage space.
In recognition of the fine
work being done, the Council
proposed use of the rear of the
city log cabin at Fourth and
Adams streets, which with some
slight alteration could be avail
able. This would put the ambu
lance within easy and quick
reach of all drivers of the SVAC
for emergencies.
Assistance on gas, oil and the
service of city mechanics was
also includes in the Council’s
support of the service.
MEETING TUESDAY
The regular monthly meeting
of the Volunteer Ambulance
Corps will be held Tuesday, Au
gust 11, at 8 p.m. in the Fire
Station. Anyone interested in
this important work is invited to
submit an application for mem
bership for presentation at this
meeting.
Kay McCann, secretary-treas
urer, states that several most
important items are to be dis
cussed this month. As the volun
teer service is a new organiza
tion, situations that are not anti
cipated in the beginning make
themselves evident as work pro
gresses and must be ironed out.
FOUR RUNS THIS WEEK
The ambulance made four
emergency runs since last Sat
urday. At noon August 1, a call
was answered to bring a patient
to Seward hospital from Lawing.
At 2:30 Sunday morning an
emergency call was made at the
city dock.
Thursday morning the ambu
lance to-ok a man to the hospital
when he was injured in a fall
at the Army dock.
Friday afternoon Seaman 1st
Class Edmund R. Spencer was
taken by the ambulance from
the USS Jefferson, suffering
from appendicitis.
At any time, day or night, this
group of willing and capable
volunteers is available by sim
ply calling the telephone opera
tor and asking for the ambu
lance.
A son was born to Mr. and
Mrs. George Jackson in Seward
General Hospital August 1. The
little fellow weighed 7 pounds
11 ounces. He was named How
ard Allen. The Jacksons live at
Sanak, out on the Aleutian
Chain.
Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Kulin
of Seward have a girl born in
Sew’ard General Hospital Au
gust 1. She was named Pamela
Ann. The baby weighed 6
pounds 11 ounces at birth.
Mr. and Mrs. William Stinson
are parents of a son born in
Seward General Hospital August
2. The little boy weighed 6
pounds 8 ounces. He was named
Steven Wayne.
A daughter was born to Mr.
and Mrs. Gene Skinner in Sew
ard General Hospital August 2.
The- little girl, Laura Mac,
weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces.
The Skinners, former resi
dents of Seward, are' now mak
ing their home at Dutch Harbor.
This is their second child and
second daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Gilliam
of Kenai are parents of a little
girl born in Seward General
Hospital August 2. The baby
weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Her
name is Elaine Mahan. Mr. Gil
liam te aches in the Kenai school.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moore, Sr.,
are parents of a daughter, Elsie
Lou, born in Seward General
Hospital August 4. The little
lady weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces.
Moores live on Nash Road.
FISH FRY SUNDAY P.M.
AT LEGION CLUB
Seward Post No. 5 American
Legion and Auxiliary invite the
public to a fish fry Sunday aft
ernoon from 4 to 6 o'clock.
Deep fried halibut —-all you
can eat for a dollar! Bring the
family.
Reporter's
Notebook
Mr. and Mrs. John Sands left
Tuesday for Gem, West Virginia
where they are going to farm.
They bought a place there last
spring and have decided to re
turn to their home state.
Ed and Mili Manthey drove
to Palmer last week end for the
christening of Mili’s niece.
Members of the American Le
gion and Auxiliary had a party
for the Commander, Ralph Rider
and his bride. It was in the na
ture of a belated wedding party,
friends said, but they made it a
good one when they did have a
party.
Father Ed Turner is back in
town. He came in on the Denali
this week. He will spend three
weeks before going back to his
work in New York. Father
Turner has been one of a party
making a survey of Episcopal
work in Alaska this summer.
He expects to take a charge
in Puerto Rico this fall.
Ed Renwald, Sr., has been
a patient in Seward General
Hospital this week.
H. H. Leonard is still in the
hospital, condition not much
improved.
Oscar Watsjold just returned
from a plane trip to New York.
He is back in the store.
Barbara Bedford will leave
for Billings, Montana, as soon as
she is able to travel. She has
been ill for several days.
Vic Mahan left Wednesday
for Chicago.
Bruce Cruikshank, a former
resident, drove in to Seward
Wednesday. He had with him
his friend Bob Mabee of Fair
banks.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cuffel of
Anchorage were guests at the
OES banquet and ceremonial
Wednesday night. They left the
next day.
Mr. Carl R. Carlson returned
Thursday night from a three
weeks vacation with his family
in Oregon.
Among the many visitors in
Seward in the past few weeks
were Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Lind
strom of Wilmington, Delaware.
They were guests of Mrs. Lind
strom's sister, Mrs. Walter Blue
and family.
They all went to Fairbanks to
gether where the Blues visited
Dr. and Mrs. John I. Weston
and the Lindstroms flew to
Nome and Kotzebue. They all
drove back to Anchorage where
they were guests at the R. H.
Bruce home for several days.
Mr. and Mrs. A1 Abrahamsen
and children started back to Se
attle this week. They have been
visiting the Fran DuBeau's for
a few weeks. Young Al. who has
been in Seward since last sum
mer, will be missed among the
high school group.
Mr. and Mrs. W7illard Dunham
are expected home next week.
Dunham is to receive his Army
discharge the 11th and they will
be back in Seward shortly there
after. They have been living in
Fairbanks.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill O’Brien
have guests this week. Frances
Nickelof of Seattle. Mrs. O'Bri
en’s niece, is here. Also in town
are Mrs. O'Brien's twin sons,
Father Ed Turner and Allen
Turner, his wife and two chil
dren from Anchorage.
Elderly Teacher
Drives Frora East
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Blue had
as guest this week, Mrs. Char
lotte N. Van Vrannken of Snots
wood, New Jersey. The elderly
lady, in her late sixties, and her
inseperable companion, her dog,
drove all the way alone and
have started the return journey.
The Blues describe her as a
“woman with lots of spunk.”
Mrs. Van Vrannken is a teach
er in the New Jersey schools
who decided that she wanted to
see Alaska first hand. When
asked if her family approved of
this long trip alone, she replied,
“No. but they thought their
mother would have a wonderful
time.”
She was interested in seeing
the schools and churches in
Alaska.