VOL. 3.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, DECEMBER 28 1923
NO. 24
Officiousness ot Game
Wardens
Some of the game wardens traips
ing about on government vessels, at
government expense have gotten in
to their buric-raniums that they are
a law unto themselves. This is
more evident when citizens are un
able to defend themselves with the
"Harva’d” accent.
Recent reports from Sitka tell a
story of their illegal officiousness
that is surpassed only by some oth
er departments in Alaska.
The following are the facts: Two
old men from Sitka owing to engine
trouble were unable to move out of
Hoonali Sound. Peril Straits. They
had been there for some time and
were short of grub. While in the
woods getting bark and wood to keep
their boat and themselves warm, the
Biological Survey boat Seal with a
couple of wardens came alongside
their craft. The wardens entered
and searched the craft of the
stranded Indians; tore everything
upside down and inside out and lefi
everything a wreck. When the In
dians returned to their boat thjy
asked the wardens to tow them a
distance of fifteen miles but were re
fused curtly end in return asked if
they had any illegal furs. UpoQ be
ing told “no” they started up their
engine and loft the Indians to the
tender mercies of nature fifty miles
from home and fifteen miles out of
the direct path of boato traffic.
Two white men happening along
in a small gasboat, hooked on to
‘he stranded craft and towed it to
Poison Cove. Three weeks after
the men were due home searching
parties were t,ent out and the yve.’i
found and P'wed home.
These two old men owe no th nks
to the be eficcnt government or its
officers fov tL* ir safe return ho*u\
The officers set themselves up as
little tin gods, above the law, with
out the law and a law unto them
selves. Then they wonder why rney
are in disrepute with real Alaskans.
WITHOUT THE LAW
What Will Happen?:
When the pop’, 'ation of the t.ow» I
doubles and trebles as is hoped for
by some, and more beaten; and c-e<
rric stoves and equipment put into
ti e hemes? Notice is out to ti * ef
feet that house wives . le req n s.
td to ccnseive op electric juice be
tween the hours of 4:30 and 6:15.
To meet the emergency the house
wives are requested to cut out the
heaters at the hours mentioned as
much as possible.
A couple of years back when the
new plant wras completed, it -was
said there would be power to throw
away. When the load became too
heavy the mills were thrown off
and a second unjt installed. The
bearings on this unit have hardly
had time to get set and now come3
the urge to cut down on the use of
the electricity.
Time to install a third unit, cut
out antequated wiring, leaks, over
hauling and oiling of transformers
and what not. Some wiring was put
in when the first Deisel installation
was made ’steen years ago.
Sitka Camp Holds
Elections
The Sitka Camp of the Alaska Na
tive Brotherhood held its annual
elections during the week of the
20th. The following officers were
electel: Presid$nt\ Ralph Young;
Vice President. Raymond James, Sr.,
Treasurer, Edward Marshal; Re*
tording secretary, Raymond James,
Jr.; Financial Secretary, Lawrence
Widmark; Corresponding Secretary,
Andrew Hope; Councilmen, Billy
Williams, Peter Kitka and Peter
Simpson.
Three of the officers have been
past presidents of the Grand Camp;
Young, Hope and Simpson. Young,
and Simpson having each served
two terms; Hope served on the
Cliand Camp as vice president also.
Another noteworthy fact is that
every officer of this camp is a form
er student of the Sheldon Jackson
School or graduate. In the case of
Raymond James, Junior and Senior,
two generations received their edu
cation at the same school.
It is estimated that about fifteen
hundred students have passed thru
this school since its inception while
over two thousand have passed thru
the portals of the Chemawa Indian
School near Salem, Oregon.
Santa's Beard Scotched
Besides the playlet “General
Booth,” held in the Salvation Army
Barracks, was the Bureau School
program repeated for the benefit of
ihose who did not hear it the even-!
ieg before. Santa Clause appeared
in person but had the misfortune
to make a short circuit—his whisk
ers and a candle on the tree. The
quick action on the part of the of- j
ncers in pulling face and whiskers;
off, averted, any serious tragedy.
The kiddies as well as grown folk
got no end of enjoyment out of Old
St. Nicholas’ predicament. Aside
from a little embarrassment he en
joyed it as much as did those who
looked on.
WANT MORE PROTECTION
Operators of herring plants in
Alaska are seeking legislation thru
Congress whereby Alaska products
can compete with the Scotch fish.
They deelare that a revenue of one
cent per pound does not equal the
differential in freight from Alaska
to Atlantic ports.
Ellery and Mrs. Carlson went ov
er on the Alameda last Saturday
to visit with relatives over the holi
days in Wrangell.
To Vote for Hoover
-o
Washington State’s 3even presi
dential electars will meet at Olym
pia, Wednesday, January 2, and for
mally cast their ballots for Herbert
Hoover for President and Charles
Curtis for Vice President.
Owing to the change In the law
governing the carrying of the ballots
to Washington, plans are now under
foot to make the formal balloting
a ceremonial affair at Olympia.
Washington gave the Hoover-Cur
tis ticket a far greater percentage
of votes than any other Pacific
Coast states.
Exercises at Native
Church
The Native Presbyterian Church!
gave its annual Christmas tree ex
ercise’s Sunday evening in order that
their date would not conflict with
that of other organizations. Their
tree was prettily decorated and well
laden with presents f(*r everyone.
The program which follows was pre
sented by the children of the Bu
reau of Education School under the
direction of Miss Koester, teacher,
and was well enjoyed by those pre
sent. The entire program showed (
much effort in preparation and the
interest shown was a manifestation
of the program well presented.
America - - - All
Joy to the World—Christian En
deavor Choir.
Invocation—Mrs. William Tama
ree, Lay Worker.
Scripture Reading
“We Welcome You”—Primary.
Grade.
“First Christmas Eve”—Helen
Marks.
“Song”-Jolly Old St. Nicholas—■
Julia Joe and Clara Johnson.
Message of the Candles—Primary
Grade.
Visit from St. Nicholas—Walter
Johnson.
Silent Night—pantomime.
Ted Goes Shopping — Gordon
Johnson.
The Christmas Sprite-Short Play
Curious Little Ted-Louis Omee.
i
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing—
a play.
In Closing-Clara Johnson
All Hail the Power of Jesus
Audience
The Lord’s Prayer-Congregation.
After the program the presents
were distributed and a good time
gathering was held into the wee
hours of the morning.
Reduction Plant Is
Enjoined
-o
The California Fish and Game
Commission brought suit against
four Monterey Sardine canneries
and asked restraining order to pro
hibit them from using more than 25
percent of their catc hof sardines
for reduction purposes. Order was
granted by the court.
The Commission required that
the companies can fifteen cases of
I sardines for each ton of sardines
! brought to their plants. They did
not do so or refused to do so, there
fore the action by the Commission.
A social for members of the Sons
and daughters was given Thursday
night in their hall.
$M,250,OOO COMES FROM
GROCER’S IDEA
Twenty-five years ago John R.
Roney had an idea. Recently h
cashed in on it for $8,250,000.
Roney started a grocery store on
the South Side in 1903. The idea he
had was to sell on a smaller profit
margin but in larger quantites. It
became the nucleus of a chain of
300 units known as the Consumers’
Store. Sale to the Kroger Grocery
& Baking Company was announced.
Lutheran Exercises
A very interesting and ^easing J
program was given at the Lutheran
the night following Christmas. A
very large was present to enjoy the <
program which follows:
i. As in Days of Old - Song by Sun
day School.
2 Address of Welcome - Randic
Molver.
3. The Wondrous Gift - 4 Girls in
4. To a Star - Phyllis Ekrum
Mrs. Isom’s Class.
5. Days of Baking Christmas Cakes
Neil MacGregor
6.. Recitation - Elizabeth MacGregor
7. Song - Down from Realms of
Glory - 5 Girls
Lee Maurice Molver,, Ruth Lee
vS. The Dearest Gift, etc - 4 children
9. Recitation - Holy Night - Patsy
Fryer
10 Song “Away in a Manger”-Helen’s
class.
3 2 Recitations-Mrs. Wick’s Class of
thirteen.
13 Song “Silent Night” v 103 by S.S.
14 The Christmas Story-pantomime
MRs. Coates Miss Lero’s Dr. Stan
ard’s classes.
Text read by Alaska Jorgenson.
Song “Across the Desert Sands” S.S.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem S. S.
15 Dialogue, “A visit to the Christ
child”-Dorothy and Sylvia.
T6 The Precious Christmas Story;
Helen’s Class of three.
;7 Song “Beautiful is Heaven’s hue”
Mrs. Isom’s Class.
1 8 “Little Children can you tell”—
Miss Mvhres Class.
19 Song: Come into my heart” —
Miss Myhres Class.
20 Recital Four girls—Mrs Isom’s
Class.
21. Du gronne glitrende tra God
dag - Clifford Swenson
22. Song Juleafter du er skjon -
Mrs. Isom’s Class
23. God Hath Laid His Anger By -
Roma Runstad
2 4. Did Ever Such Melody Flow -
I
Song - Sunday School
25. Recitation - A Poem - Freda
Sandvick
26. If Jesus Had Not Come - Agnes
Hammer
2 7. Ring Out Sweet Bells - Girls’
Chorus
28 .Now the Day is Ended - Helen
Evans
29. Song by Audience - Joy to the
World.
Remarks - Rev. W. J. Maakestad
Distribution of presents, dismis
sal.
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
Tuesday evening the newly organ
ized Alaska Native Brotherhood and
the Sisterhood assembled in the
Presbyterian Chapel for a luncheon
given in honor ofMiss Mary Adams
whose engagement to Mr. David
Phillips was announced immediat
ly after the luncheon.
David has been the “devil” in The
ALASKAN office for some time past
but is settling down to heavy work
and will announce date of wedding
later. The happy couple was con
gratulated ty surprised but suspi
cious friends who had an idea that
Lan Cupid had fired a couple of fa
tal shots.
The Norahwestern arrived in port
southbound today.
Norway Herring Total
Failure
-o
Much is said of the Norway her
ring when depletion of the Alaska
fisheries is brought into controver
sy. Local herring men are quoted
as declaring that the Norway fish
eries “can never be depleted” and
for the same reason the herring
fisheries of Alaska cannot be de
pleted.
Says the December issue of the
Pacific Fisherman of Seattle: “For
i he second consecutive season the
fat herring fisheries of Norway
were a complete failure this year,
according to reports from the Amer
ican consul at Bergen. The spratts
(brisling) fisheries have also been
u 'ussually dull with almost no fish
ing on the west coast coast, altho
there has been some activity in the
Oslo fjiord. The landings of bris
ling at Bergen have been far from
sufficient for the canneries there.”
Fishermen more recently from
Norway declare that the reason
heretofore, for the seeming non
depletion ol' the Norwegian fisheries
was due to the fact that the fisher
men were running four to six hun
dred miles from base of operations
for their herring. But as the boats
had to make the longer runs, the
hazard became greater and the
smaller boats too often did not re
turn. The smaller rigs were there
fore compelled to lay up their gear
so that in proportion the packs fell
in that country. Depletion of the;
inland fisheries being given as the!
cause of the longer run from base j
of operations. j
Many New Charts
-o-•
The Coast and Geodetic Survey
Department will soon issue charts
of new surveys of the following
channels and bays:
Gulf of Alaska, Cape St. Elias and
from Cape Cleare to Cape Resur
rection, triangulation from Cape
Cleare to Chiswell Islands to the
bead of Nuka Bay. Port Hobon,
triangulate and in southeastern Alas
ka surveys of Keku Straits, Taku
Inlet, Tlevak Straits, Holkham
Bay, Kaingani Strait, San Alberto
Bay, Salisbury Sound, Kruzof Island
and waters in the vicinity of Sitka.
Buys Fishermen Home
-o
The American Legion met in their
lodge rooms Wednesday evening.
The important event of the evening
being the amending of their by
laws whereby the post commander,
finance officer and adjutant are to
be trustees of the organization with
power to hold property for the or
ganization.
This step was necessary in order
that they might purchase the old
Second Street school house. Funds
are being raised by the Legion to
complete the deal which has the
sanction of the Council.
Sam Gauffin has purchased the
Cold Storage stock held by Frank
Hudson, during the past week.
Frank expects to reinvest in a new
venture before very long.
U. S. Leads in Furs
Aftefr centuries of unchallenged
supremcy as the world’s chief fur
center, London has been forced to
lake second place in recent years—
i wing to the rapid development of
the fur manufacturing industry and
trade in the United States.
The London trade nevertheless
has expanded considerably, especial
ly since the war, when the American
industry attained its greatest pros
perity. The total import of furs
and manufactures into the United
Kingdom in 1903 were valued at
$1 8,298,91 , and from then until
he declaration cf the World War
there was a general upward trend.
The 1913 importation, valued at
$35,776,000, was the highest re
gistered up to that time. In 1914
the trade dropped off to $23,312,000
and in the following year to $9,581,
000, the lowest figure of the pre
sent century. The imports during
vhe remaining war years likewise
were considerably beneath the vol
ume of thy prewar period, but in
1919, the first post-war year, the
trade advanced to $36,082,000, and
during 1927 totaled $80,905,000.
In the United States the figures
followed approximately the same
general trend, Increasing from $15,
301,912 in 19tv3 to $24,102,000 in
1913, but the volume up to that
Cme was considerably beneath that
of the United Kingdom. However,
.mports in 1927 reached $135,573
530, over $50,000,000, greater than
Britain’s. Although the takings of
the United Kingdom more than
doubled from 1913 to 1927, the Am
erican imports were over five times
as large in 1 927 as in 1913.
. The value of the domestic fur
catch cf the United States is vari
ously estimated by trade sources
at $45,000,000 to $70^000,000.
There are no accurate figures for
tne United States as a whole, but
many of the States kept data based
on trappers’ returns, which are filed
boforo the issuance of the following
season’s license. Of the States hav
ing available figures on annual fur
catch, Louisiana leads with a valu
ation of over $5,500,000, chiefly by
virtue of the large numbers of musk
rats trapped in that State.
The report of the Bureau of the
Census for the year 1925 is the last
available on fur manufacturing.
This report under the heading.
Cost of materials,” gives the total
of $159,316,000, which, represents
chiefly furs. The wholesale value
of the finished products of the in
dustry is given as $25 4,266,000.
Brindles Bay Cannery
The Brindle Brothers, W. A. and
H. A., both of Ketchikan purchased
the Ward’s Cove cannery. They al
so have an option on the interest of
It. P. Walsh who retains his holdings
in the company. The Brindle bro
thers a few years ago operated a
seine boat, got some trap locations
and were successful in their opera
tions. They will add their trap lo
cations to their cannery holdings
and operate next year.
The Auxiliary to the American
Legion is to hold its regular meet
ing during the next week.