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Seward
The (latently City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
£ e o P o r f
Record
Seward’s All-IPfather Port is Alaska's Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X. No. 14
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1953
Price 10 Cents
Candidates Questioned
On City Managership
f
In a Chamber of Commerce
sponsored radio program series
this week all candidates for city
council and mayor were ques
tioned as to their stand on the
choice of a city manager if the
voters of Seward pass the city
manager proposition.
The proposition was originat
ed and pushed to the ballot by
the Chamber, but many towns
people have expressed a fear
that some local person who
might not be qualified by edu
cation and experience would be
employed by the council. In
cumbents and candidates were
all questioned publicly with the
following results.
Russell Painter, candidate for
mayor, stated emphatically that
a city manager must be qualified
with a degree in city manager
ship from a good university in
the States giving such a course.
Thorwald Osbo, candidate for
mayor, stated that he has lived
in Seward 38 years except for
one year in which he was in the
Army. "We cannot afford to ex
periment with a man not experi
enced in city managership
whether he comes from Outside
or from here," Mr. Osbo stated.
Councilnten, incumbents, Gus
Johnson and John Rose botii
lavored a man from Outside.
Rose stated that he does not be
lieve there is anyonp locally who
has the qualifications necessary.
Candidates for council an
swered in favor of a "qualified"
man but some of them did not
commit themselves to the point
of demanding an Outside man.
Gilbert Anthony, 6V2 years'
residence in Seward, longshore
man and small private business
as bulldozer contractor, stated:
"City manager must be a man
trained in that capacity whether
from Outside or home."
Robert Biggs. 7 years in Sew
ard. employee Standard Oil Co.:
"Must have man actually school
ed in field of city managership,
whether from Outside or local.
Frank Blanchard, 6 years in
Seward, longshoreman and lock
smith: "Must hire somebody
qualified and experienced in the
field; geography makes no dif
ference."
Patrick Bogan, candidate for
council, not interviewed.
George Giardina, 8 years in
Seward, liquor business and
owner of the Flamingo: "I be
lieve we must have a qualified
man from Outside, preferably
one with experience."
Neville Hodson. 2 years in
Seward, owner New Seward
Hotel: "We must have a profes
sional city manager with ex
perience.”
Perry Stockton, now filling
unexpired term of Painter on
council. 6 years in Seward. ARR
foreman on dock: "Must have
well qualified city manager
with experience—one who can
cut the mustard.”
Mark Walker, 8'i; years resi
dence, longshoreman: "Must
have qualified university trained
man with experience from Out
side.”
Gus Werner, ending one year
term on council, 14 years in
Seward, dock foreman: "Quali
fied man if proposition is passed,
but I do not believe we should
have a city manager. . .”
Frank Woods, 9 years resi
dence, excavating and heavy
equipment business: “Not sure
that I agree with the city manag
er plan, but if it is passed and
we do get one, we should make
very sure that he is qualified
and everybody should back him
up.”
O. T. (Tommy) Blair, candi
date for one-year term, 14 years
in Seward, cashier in freight
office ARR: “Must be trained
and experienced.”
GRAVESIDE SERVICES FOR
SOMSEN THURSDAY
Graveside services were held
Thursday, October 1, for Lcwel
lyn S. Somsen. Mormon services
were conducted by J. A. Jensen,
an officer in the Church of Lat
ter Day Saints congregation
here.
Mr. Somsen was found dead
in his room September 23. An
inquest returned the verdict of
death by unknown causes. He
had been dead several days
when discovered.
Wilson Wires On
High School Funds
In response to an inquire of
Don Wilson, director Alaska
Public Works, concerning offi
cial status of the Seward High
School project, the following
telegram was received by 'the
City Clerk this week. This is
still not the official notice to
the mayor and city council.
The telegram, unsigned, is
given as follows:
"Frm. Wilson, Int. Dept., Terri
tories, Juneau, Alaska.
'"Subject is Seward High
School project No. 1G0 and your
tel September 26 concerning
status. Secretary Douglas McKay
has allotted $951,000 from funds
made available by Congress.
Congratulations. I regret that
unusually heavy correspondence
and personal visits by many pub
lic officials have delayed -our
sending you formal written de
tailed notice and information,
however, it will reach you
soon.’ "
McKinley Park Hotel
Being Prepared For
Alaska Day Festivities
McKinley Park Hotel's annual
Alaska Day celebration is set
for October l(i. 17, 18, accord
ing to E. W. Lauesen, operator
of the national park resort hotel.
The celebration attracts per
sons from all over Alaska and
the States and has been a high
light on the Alaska fall social
calendar since 1947.
"The program this year will
be the most extensive ever
staged at the hotel." Lauesen
reports, with the Gay Nineties
ball being the main event.
The ball is a costume affair
with prizes going to those judged
to have the best and most ori
ginal costumes. Mr. and Mrs.
Walt Sipprell were the winners
last year.
Entertainment, tours, of the
park and the Denali highway,
cocktail parties, dances, the
showing of slides and movies,
and winter sports are other
events being planned now for
the three day program.
A number of improvements
to the hotel and the immediate
area are being completed for
the program. The famous Sour
dough Sam saloon has been re
decorated in an Alaskan motiff,
Lauesen reports. In addition
work is being pushed on the
construction of a new and long
er ski run and other outdoor
facilities.
Slides and movies of the na
tional park, the second largest
undir the American flag, will
be shown at the celebration. The
pictures are those of the U.S.
National Park Service and show
the various types of birds, ani
mals, vegetation and scenery in
the park.
For the first time tours from
McKinley Park Hotel down the
Denali highway will be possible.
Lauesen said tours are planned
as far as Cantwell, a picturesque
Indian village on the highway.
The new Denali route is said to
pierce some of the finest scenery
in Alaska.
Reservations for the annual
ceremony can be made by writ
ing McKinley Park Services,
Inc.
METHODISTS TO CELEBRATE
WORLD COMMUNION
Sunday, October 4, is World
Wide Communion Sunday. The
Seward Memorial Methodist
Church will have communion
service at 11:00 a.m. At 6:30 p.m.
there will be a family “carry
in” supper and at 8 p.m. the
first of the Evening Services for
fall and winter will begin.
There will be a showing of the
sound motion picture “Journey
Into Faith.” All are welcome
to attend all of these services.
CRAB FEED—LEGION CLUB
There will be a crab feed at
the Legion Clwb Sunday, Octo
ber 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. King crab
—all you can eat for a dollar!
NOTICE
The ACS office is now open
24 hours a day weekdays and
Sundays to telephone and tele
graph messages. This will now
provide the people of Seward
with the maximum of communi
cation service for telegrams and
long distance telephone calls.
Reporter's
Notebook
Miss Ruth Murrell, superin
tendent of Seward General Hos
pital, left Thursday for a month’s
vacation. Miss Murrell took a
plane to Seattle. She will visit
with the Knights at Orofino,
Idaho, and will drive east with
them to Missouri. She will then
go on to visit her sister in Ohio
before returning to Seward.
Miss Anna Martin, on the hos
pital staff here, returned this
week on the Denali after a
month's vacation in Seattle and
Tacoma.
Leon Urbach celebrated his
birthday October 1. He was pre
sented a photograph and auto
graph album Monday by a
friend in Eastern Star. It con
tained pictures of members and
their families as well as items of
historical interest in Seward
during the 35 years of Mr.
Urbach's residence here.
John R. Malutin of Kodiak
has been visiting Sam Romach
this week. Mr. Malutin is a
former Sewardite. He home
steaded the place now owned by
Nels Hagen and at one time
owned tiie residence now occu
pied by the Del Zentmire family.
He is accompanied by his daugn
and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Santner, of Kodiak.
Dick and Eda Myers have re
turned after their summer on
Upper Russian Lake at Elwcll’s.
They look well and refreshed
after their vacation. Folks are
telling with pride how Mrs.
Myers shot a moose by herself.
Miss Marion Munson has been
in town since the passenger ship
arrived last week. She has left
for Anchorage now, however.
Miss Munson, a former teacher
here, will teach commercial
work in the Anchorage high
school this year.
Joel Buffington owns the new
voice that we hear over KIBH.
He has come to Seward to take
the place of Jack Hauser, who is
going to the Fairbanks station.
Seward Business & Profes
sional Women will meet Tuesday
evening at 6:15 for dinner at the
Diner. Subject for the evening
will be the entertainment to be
put on soon. Onnalee O'Brien,
Mildred Kirkpatrick and Doris
Smith are the committee for the
fun.
LOCAL CHURCH TO
PRESENT LECTURE ON
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Jean M. Snyder, of Buffalo,
New York, will speak in the
Seward Public Library on Mon
day, October 5, at 8 p.m. The
title of her lecture is "Christian
Science: The Living Light of
Christ, Truth.” Miss Snyder is
a member of the Board of Lec
tureship of The Mother Church,
The First Church of Christ, Sci
entist, in Boston, Massachusetts.
REPUBLICAN CLUB
TO ELECT OFFICERS
Election of officers for the
next year is on the docket for
members of the Seward Repub
lican Club which will meet next
Wednesday, October 7, at 8 p.m.,
in the Seward Lutheran Church
basement.
Paul Robison, Territorial Sen
ator, is expected to be here for
the meeting.
RECEPTION FOR LUTHERAN
PASTOR DWIGHT D. BOE
Members of the Seward Luth
eran congregation will hold a
reception in honor of their new
pastor. Rev. Dwight D. Boc, and
has' wife, Eleanor. The new pas
tor arrived on the Denali Thurs
day to take up his new charge.
Rev. Boe will conduct the serv
ice at 11 a m. Sunday.
The reception will be from 3
to 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon in
the church parlors.
Globetrotters Propose Gome
As Winter Attraction
A new slate of officers for the
coming year was brought in by
the nominating committee at the
Tuesday meeting of the Cham
ber of Commerce this week.
Jacque Roth and Win Ervin
are proposed for president; Jack
Werner and Clarence King, 1st
vice president; Jack Jeffery and
Sol Uric, 2nd vice president.
The names of Charles Malin
and Patricia Williams are of
fered for secretary - treasurer.
For board of directors, Tormod
Bie, Leon Urbach, Barton Stan
ton, Mrs. George Everitt and
Dr. J. B. Deisher were names
submitted.
Propose Basketball Games
An inquiry was received by
the Chamber concerning a bas
ketball game between two pro
fessional teams and local teams.
Abe Saperstein, booking agent
for the Harlem Globetrotters
and another team, probably the
Boston Whirlwinds, suggested a
game here sometime in Febru
ary. The teams will be return
ing from an engagement in
Japan at about that time.
Any local cagers who might
be interested in playing against
the pros are asked to contact
Mr. Malin.
Survivors, Dead Man
Brought In By USCG
The Coast Guard Cutter Clo
ver docked in Seward Friday
afternoon with five survivors of
the wrecked fishing boat “Hia
watha.”
The •Hiawatha,” out of Ket
chikan. was wrecked on the
rocky coast of Hinchinbrook
Island. Five men managed to
get ashore, but one other was
drowned in the attempt. His
body was brought into the Ad
kins Funeral Home by Coast
Guardsmen.
No names were available at
press time of either the surviv
ors or the dead man.
McCarrey Appointed
District Judge
Mrs. Cal Brosius announced
today that President Eisenhower
made the definite appointment
of James L. McCarrey of An
chorage as District Judge of
the Third Division.
Confirmation of Wm. Plum
mer to the position of prosecut
ing attorney is expected momen
tarily.
Labor Inspector
Due Next Week
Lillie Angerman, inspector for
the Territorial Department of
Labor, will arrive in Seward
on a regular inspection trip on
October 8. Anyone with any
labor problems including wage
collections or labor violations
may contact her at the New
Seward Hotel October 9.
PRESENTS FLAG
TO HOSPITAL
Mrs. Jack Ives presented a
large American flag to Seward
General Hospital this week. It
will fly from the new flag pole
that was set up on the hospital
lawn by the American Legion.
The flag was given in memory
of Mrs. Ives’ son Wesley Carlisle
Rowley, a veteran of World War
I, who died in the Marine Hos
pital, Seattle, in 1935. The flag
was the one which draped the
veteran’s casket at the time of
his funeral.
SPEAKING OF TELEVISION
Here’s a note from the Sew
ard, Nebraska “Chick Chatter.”
"I was waiting in a launder
ette while my clothes were being
washed when an inebriated gen
tleman, evidently headed for the
cocktail lounge next door, flop
ped into the chair next to mine.
He stared at the whirling, tum
bling washing through the ma
chine’s window with glassy
eyed fascination for about five
minutes. Then blinking his eyes
and shaking his head, he mum
bled disgustedly as he shuffled
out:
“Thish television ain’t sho
hot!”
Roller Skating Heads
Recreation Demands
The Recreation Committee
met Thursday evening to count
preferred recreational actiivties
of the community. Sports given
the greatest number of votes by
all age groups are (1) roller
skating. (2) ice skating and (3)
swimming. Army personnel sta
tioned in Seward give their sup
port to a roller skating program.
In view of the overwhelming
support given by the towns
people it was decided to make
the group a permanent active
Recreating Group. A committee
was selected to present further
information and to ask for the
personal representation from all
business and social clubs of
Seward. These representatives
and all others interested are
asked to come to the next Rec
reation Group meeting on Oc
tober 15 at the City Hall, 8 p.m.,
for the election of permanent
officers.
Remember this is your pro
gram^ it needs your support,
states the committee.
Fire Disastrous
For Couple
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brannan
lost all their personal posses
sions including their supply of
cash lor living expenses when
a Hash fire destroyed their tent
home Saturday night.
The house tent at Mile 4'2,
where Mr. Brannan and his wile
have been living because of
their inability to find a house,
blazed up and was gont in a
very few minutes after catching
fire from a gasoline lantern.
Seward firemen were alerted
but no siren was sounded as
the place was completely de
stroyed in so short a time.
Returning home at midnight
from his work on the dock,
Brannan lighted the lantern
which, he said, flared up or ex
ploded.
In attempting to save some
thing from the blazing tent,
Brannan was severely burned
on the legs. The couple came in
to town to the home of John
Disney, who gave him first aid
and took linn to the hospital.
This is not the first loss by
fire for the Brannans. He lived
here and operated a restaurant
on Fourth Avenue at the time
of the big fire in 1941. Every
thing was lost at that time.
HANDBOOK SAYS BIG GAME
NOT AS PLENTIFUL AS
COMMONLY BELIEVED
A new publication on the
representative fish and wildlife
species of Alaska, intended pri
marily as a reference handbook
for newcomers to the Territory,
has just been released by the
Fish and Wildlife Service, ac
cording to an announcement by
Secretary of the Interior Doug
las McKay.
The handbook, “Alaska's Fish
and Wildlife,” was written by
Clarence Rhode, regional direc
tor for the Service in Alaska,
and Will Barker, to help orient
the soldier, sportsman, tourist,
and homesteader upon arrival
in Alaska. It points out the im
portance of the renewable fish
and wildlife resources to the
economy of the Territory and
emphasizes the need for pro
tecting and managing them
properly. Stress is also placed
on the fact that big game is by
no means as plentiful in Alaska
as people have been led to be
lieve.
In addition to the descriptions
of Alaska’s big game, fur ani
mals, birds, and fishes, and the
localities where found, trie pub
lication contains a number of
illustrations by Bob Hines, FWS
staff artist.
School children will find the
booklet of value in their study
of Alaska and its resources
since it includes checklists of
the more representative fish and
wildlife species.
Copies of "Alaska’s Fish and
Wildlife,” Circular 17. can be
purchased for 25 cents from the
Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office,
Washington 25, D.C.
Parcel Post Rates
Boosted 35 Pet.;
Effective October 1
As of October 1, parcel post
rates were boosted 35 per cent,
which means that Alaskans mail
ing packages or receiving them
from Outside will pay from 5
to 18 cents per pound more than
in the past.
The new rate affects all zones.
Rate for the first pound has gone
up from 15 cents to 18 cents;
zone 1 and 2 (within 150 miles)
is increased from 18 cents to
23 cents; the first pound going
over 1800 miles (zone 8—Seattle)
will now cost 32 cents instead
of 27 cents.
The rate increases for each
pound up to 37 cents for the
fourth pound and an increase of
18 cents for each pound over
four. Seventy pounds, which is
the limit of weight for parcel
post, will now oast the sender
S12.78 instead of $9.93 under the
old schedule.
The advance in rales was au
thorized by the Interstate Com
merce Commission last June but
the Post Office Department post
poned the effective date until
now in order to give users time
to adjust to the new rates.
AVA Compiling
Resort Directory
An appeal for assistance in
compiling a hotel and tourist re
sort directory was made this
week by the Alaska Visitors As
sociation to all individuals, com
panies and civic groups through
out Alaska.
The Association requests that
everyone engaged in catering to
the tourist inform the Alaska
Visitors Association of the facili
ties and services they offer.
•Rates and number of rooms
available, whether seasonal or
year-round, as well as what
means of transportation serves
the area is important in order
that the directory be complete
and accurate,” stated Mary B.
Barrer, executive secretary of
the Association. “Many people
have responded and have been
most cooperative, however, we
are making the final round-up
and we want to be sure every
one is included," she added.
The survey has been conduct
ed by mail. Information should
be addressed to the Alaska Visi
tors Association, Klein Building,
Juneau, Alaska. Plans for pub
lication and distribution of the
directory will be announced
later.
Six Complete Course
For Ambulance Corps
Four men and two women
completed the Red Cross first
aid course this week making
them eligible for membership
in the Volunteer Ambulance
Corps. All of the men had taken
the work as part of Army or
Navy training, but toi^k the pre
scribed refresher course in order
to become certificated by Red
Cross and the ambulance group.
One of the women was renew
ing her certificate.
Elks Promise Assistance
Seward Elks Lodge has prom
ised material assistance in the
purchase of a new ambulance
to be maintained and operated
by the SVAC. A special commit
tee was appointed this week by
president Jack Kelly to compile
detailed information on makes
and cost of ambulances and
equipment. They will then con
fer with a committee from the
Elks so that a machine can be
ordered "after the Hallowe'en
Dance October 31. It is hoped
that the revenue from the dance
will be enough to make an ini
tial payment on a new vehicle.
LIBRARY MEMORIAL
INSTEAD OF FLOWERS
So very many flowers and
messages of condolence are be
ing received by the family that
they have requested people to
show their sympathy in another
way.
Instead of flowers, send a con
tribution to the Seward Com
munity Library for a memorial
shelf of children’s books. Names
of contributors will be given tj
the family of Carol and Michael
Breitenbach for acknowledge
ment.
Funeral services will be held
Sunday, October 4, at 2 p.m, in
Seward Memorial Methodist
Church for Mrs. Carol Breiten
bach and 18 month old son,
Michael.
Carol Janet Jones Breiten
bach was born September 6,
1929 at Mansfield, Ohio. Daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Jones, she moved with her par
ents to Seward at an early age.
Mrs. Carol Breilenbach
Mr. Jones is Seward general
agent, ARR. She attended grade
school and high school here,
graduating in 1947.
After attending business col
lege in Tacoma, Washington,
she married Eugene V. Breiten
bach at Silvana, Washington,
September 29, 1950. They moved
to Seward, where their son Mi
chael Eugene was born March
10. 1952. Mother and child were
drowned in Seward Lagoon Sep
tember 28, when the car Mrs.
Breitenbach was driving went
off the road into 14 feet of
water.
Mother and child are survived
by the husband and father, Eu
gene Breitenbach, her parents,
Thomas and Emma Jones and a
brother Thomas Reese, all of
whom live in Seward. Mr. Brei
tenbach’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon Breitenbach, live in
Thompson Falls, Montana.
The car with mother and
child became the object of a
two-day, area-wide search Mon
day when the young wife failed
to return to their home in For
est Acres, just outside of Sew
ard. She had started to town
at about 10:30 in the morning
to pick up groceries and mail
after which she and her hus
band planned to go to the saw
mill at Bear Lake for some
lumber. When his wife failed
to return after a reasonable
time, Breitenbach went into
town to see if she had stopped
at her mother's. Inquiries of all
friends, relatives and neighbors
failing to disclose the pair's
whereabouts, the disappearance
was reported to the police.
The Lagoon road was inspect
ed but no evidence was found
of a car having gone off ihe
road. This road is built on a
narrow strip or idled ground
bridging town and highway. It
is lough and on a windy cay
such' as last Monday, dust wh ps
up in blinding gusts. As a rule
water on the upper side is l.ot
deep enough to cover a car, a id
the same condition was t.sought
to be true of me lower or bay
side ol the road.
Failing to find the car, local
and Territorial police called cor
volunteers to search the area,
fearing that the young woman
might have picked up a hitch
hiker and hau met with f. ul
play.
By Tuesday the search had
extended as far as Anchorage,
and parties were readied to
comb the highway as lar as
Homer. Every possible lane,
driveway and waterway was
searched on foot and by tne
several small planes sent up
irom Seward. Men left their
work and closed business to aid
in the search.
On Wednesday, Don Ealm.it,
Seward police chief, and Tam
Roberts, Territorial police o.ii
cer, who was in charge of the
search, decided to drag the la
goon. Oliver Amend, friend of
the family and local dairyman,
who lives in the vicinity of the
lagoon, took a rowboat into the
water to pole around the edge.
He noticed’an oil slick when bis
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