God offer* to every mind It*
choice between truth and re
pose. ..Take which you please,
you can never have both.
Emerson
Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
$ e o p o r f
Record
Seward's All-fV eather Port is Alaskcfs Greatest Asset.
The Seward Seaport Record
is independent in every re
spect and none shall ever be
denied the right to use its col
umns for any legal purpose or
expression.
I VOL. XI. NO. 16.
*
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1955
PRICE 10 CENT8
FUTURE LOOKING BRIGHTER,
TUESDAY MEETING INFORMED
Attendance at the Tuesday <
Chamber of Commerce meeting
■was quite heavy with all seats
filled by the several members and
three guests.
GUESTS
i Among the guests at the Tues
day session was John Hellenthal.
Anchorage attorney, who told of
his faith in the future of Seward
and his pleasure at being in Sew
ard once again.
Ray Billens the new Cordova
Airlines agent for Seward, was
also present for the meeting. He
and his wife and young daughter
are now living in Seward.
Judge Walter H. Hodge was also
a guest at the session and told of
his pleasure at 'being in Seward
and of the many times in the past
when he had been here. He en
tertained the group by telling of
on interesting incident which had
happened at the Van Gilder Hotel,
now the Renwald. where he had
stopped on previous occasions.
Judge Hodge also had a word
of encouragement and compliment
for the local Chamber which he
described as a livewire organiza
tion.
INDUSTRY
A letter was read from the Al
eutian Marine Transport Co. which
operates the mail boat Expansion
on a run to ■ the westward down
the Chain. The letter indicated
that the company was interested in
locating in Alaska and that a com
pany representative would be here
shortly to talk with officials and
interested parties in Seward and
Kodiak.
t The Chamhber had wired that
the local people were very much
interested and would be most hap
py to help in what ever way they i
could to bring the Expansion to '
Seward.
It was also reported by the i
City Manager that the Army was !
considering an expanded recrea-1
lion program for the Seward area I
and would be stationing four J j
Boats at Seward as a part of the
program.
Other industrial activity includ
ed a report that a revival of the
processing of halibut at the Cold
Storage plant was anticipated this
summer.
REPORTS
IT. S. Commissioner Stanley Hall
reported that he had just returned
from Anchorage and a convention
of US.. Commissioners from all
over the Third Division. While in
Anchorage, Hall said he was in
formed that the request for addit
ional equipment for the local office
bad been approved, largely as a
result of the local support, par
:icularly from Chamber members.
ELECTION
The City Manager told the group
hat plans for the Hydro-Electric
levelopment by the City were pro
cessing nicely and he anticipated
Wildlife Regulations
To Be Discussed Here
The local office of the Fish and
Wildlife Service announced this
week that they had received word
that the annual Game Regulation
hearings will be held the latter part ;
of this month.
On January 26th. the Fish and j
Wildlife Service will hold hear- !
ings in Moose Pass at which time j
proposals for the 1955 Game Reg- |
ulations will be received by the
Service from interested individu
als and sportsmen's clubs or or
ganizations.
The following day. Thursday.
January 27th. the agents will move
to Seward where tentative arrange
ments have been made to hold I
the hearings in the Civic Center.
For the final announcement on
time and place of the meeting,
watch for a story in next week's
Seaport Record.
Chamber Directors
Meet With Anchorage
that an election for approval of
Revenue Donds to build the pro
posed power prpject would be
submitted to the voters around
the middle of February.
ANCHORAGE TRIP
Chamber President Win Ervin
told the Chamber that the Board
of Directors of the Anchorage
Chamber had invited the loc a 1
Board to meet with them Friday
morning for a discussion of items
of mutual interest to the two com-1
munities. The President invited
all local members to attend the
meeting.
The President also said the local
Seahawks are to play in Anchor
age this week end on Friday and
Saturday evenings.
The local squad is thus far un
defeated and should be well sup
ported by local folks.
It was voted to send a booster
letter to the Coach and Team be- j
fore they leave for Anchorage Fri- j
day afternoon. At present the !
local boys top the Railbelt League. I
MT. OLIVE, N. C. TRIBUNE —
" ‘I will give you all the land you
can walk around by sunset for
this nugget of gold., said the land
lord to the returned prospector.
He put his hat on the ground.
'You must be at this hat before
the sun goes over that hill.’ The
prospector began to run. trying to
get as much land as possible. He
went too far. He exhausted him
self. With all his strength he
drove himself back before the sun
set. He did. just as the sun went
behind the hill. But he fell dead
upon the hat. Life is not all
getting. Greed makes us its slave
— kills us at the end. ’He that
is greedy of gain troubleth his
own house.’ (Proverbs 15»27.)”
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Seward Democrats
Mapping Plans
The bravery of the Seward Dem
ocratic Club was tested Monday
evening when they ventured forth
on the traetionless ice and windy
weather to hold a meeting at the
Episcopal church.
It was reported that the next
session of the club to be held on
February 14, would take up the
matter of the Hydro-Electric pro
ject which will be voted on next
month. A report will be heard
from the City Manager and as
many other City officials as can
be induced to speak and answer
questions on the matter.
Other business of the evening
included the discussion of matters
which the club \yould like to have
Senator Werner look into while
he is at the legislature. The local
club had previously met to dis
cuss items they wished supported.
Specific measures mentioned at
Monday evening's meeting includ
ed increase in the Hair Seal bounty
from $3 to $6; allocation of gas
tax money for Highway. Boat and
Airport facilities use and a so-cal
led Oistricting Bill which has re
ceived wide pre-election support. :
Under the terms of the bill re- j
presentation would be broken !
down on a district basis rather !
than have representatives to the ;
legislature chosen on a Division
basis. The bill would assure the
smaller towns of the Territory
that they would be represented
in the legislature.
Also discussed was a current
move to get a road built to Lowell
Point so that homesteaders in the
area could drive to town and not
be dependent on their boats and ;
good weather for connections with
Seward. A petition is being cir
culated, it was reported, asking 1
the construction of the one mile
of road necessary.
Final business of the evening
was the discussion of the forth
coming party for Senator Jack I
Werner to be given in the Elk's
Hall Saturday night.
I
Beta Sigma Phi s
Plan 1955 Program
Beta Sigma Phi's held their first
meeting of the new year last Tues
day evening at the home of Doro
thy Lentz on 6th Avenue.
President Ivis Whitbeck presided
at the business session which con- j
vened at 8:30 with plans and pro
grams for the 1955 year being pre
sented to the group.
The local Chapter has been ad
vised the first Alaskan Conference
is being slated for April with all
Chapters in the Territory being
represented. International Head
quarters has advised thateihttir
Walter W. Ross, founder and haed
of the Sorority, or his son John J.
Ross will fly to Anchorage for the
Convention and will be the guest
speaker. The local lota's are plan
ning a delegation for the event.
Tenative plans for a Valentines
Day Bake Sale on February 12th,
were made with Irene Griffin be
ing appointed chairman.
Burma Anderson, member at
large, is transfering into the Sew
ard Iota Chapter and was a wel
come addition to the local group.
Dorothy Lentz( program chair
man led the program for the even
ing and the group discussion fol
lowing it.
The next meeting will he Jan
uary 19th at the home of Ruth
Brown.
Local Pooches
In Jail Break
A big jail break was staged
sometime last Saturday evening,
it was learned by the Record this
week from City Dog “Pounder”
Disney. According to the officer,
some dog lover released all the
dogs in the pound sometime dur
ing the night and among the es
capees was a dog suspected of hav
ing rabies or possibly 'distemper.
Disney warned that cogs are
picked up because they are a haz
zard to public health and though
he himself is a dog lover, all dogs
havef to be picked up for their own
and the public’s protection from
possible disease or injury.
Mary Karen Fyles, together with
her mother, left for Anchors g e
this week to have her leg fitted
with a brace. While in Anchorage,
she will also learn to walk. She
hopes to be able to return to Sew
ard in time to start school at the
beginning of the new term.
City Business License
Applications Ready
Next Tuesday
City Clerk Sigrid Stearns an
nounced this week that forms for
the new City Business License I
would be ready early next week
ind she would start processing ap
plications on Tuesday.
Under the terms of an -Ordin
ance recently passed by the City
Council on all businesses operat
ing in Seward must obtain a busin
ess license. This does not take the
place of the Territorial Business
License but is merely a supple
ment to it to give local business
lines of business which might start
up in thns area. Once licensed
by the City a greater measure of
control over business operations
in the City.
Farm Meetings
Discuss Research
Cunrent nesults in agriculture
research filled the programs for
Farmer meetings in Homer and.
Kenai held the first week in Jan
uary.
The meetings started a year-long
observance of the 25th anniversary
of the University of Alaska Ex
tension Service. Farmers on the
Kenai Peninsula helped District
Agent Edward Liebenthal plan the
two events, Liebenthal said.
The Kachemak Bay Farmers Co
operative Association of Homer
presented the Farmers’ Institute.
Jan 7 and 8. All institute sessions
met in the Homer school building.
Kenai farmers concentrated the
two-day Homer institute into one
day, Jan 9, in the Kenai school.
A 25th anniversary program the
evening of Jan. 7, included Mrs.
Lydia Fohn-Hansen. first Alaskan
leader in home douionstra t i o n
work and present associate direc
tor for home demonstration work
in the Extension Service; Don L.
Irwin, director of the Alaska Agri
cultural Experiment Station: I. M.
C. Anderson, district agricultural
agent in Palmer in 1937, and Dr.
Allan H. Mick, present dean of
agriculture and director of the ex
tension Service.
Peninsula farmers asked agri
cultural experiment station men
to talk about new research results
that apply to the Kenai and Homer
areas. Horticulture, cereal crops,
farm buildings, forages, livestock,
insect and pest control, vegetable
disease control. Alaskan soils and
soil testing, and farm management
and marketing on a developing
homestead were on both programs.
Territorial Conservationist, C. A.
Wilson, Forest Hanger James Scott
of Homer and Commissioner James
Wilson of the Alaska Department
of Agriculture spoke in both com
munities.
The American Legion Auxiliary.
Anchor Point Homemakers Club
and the Homer Homemakers Club
served meals during the two-day
institute, Wyant said.
Senator’s Party
Plans Completed
Mel Deck Chairman of the com
mittee in charge of plans for the
party to be given this Saturday
evening, at the Elk.s Club starting
at 6:45, in honor of Senator Jack
Werner.
Besides the dinner which will
he prepared by Lou LaFord there
will be music for dancing follow
ing the dinner party. Sol Urie
will be the Master of Ceremonies
at the big doings.
Menu for the dinner will con
sist of Roast Beef, Tossed Salad.
Mashed Potatoes, String Beans,
Hot Rolls, and Coffee.
All the local folks regardless of
the political affiliations are invit
ed to attend the dinner which will
honor Werner who is the first man
from Seward in sometime to go to
the Legislature.
SENATOR’S
* ELK’S
JANUARY
PUBLIC CORDL
Sponsoi
SEWARD $EM<
-«
Utility Board I
Met Tuesday
After a two month recess from
meetings, the Utilities Board met
this week on Tuesday evening for
their regular meeting.
ORDINANCE
A lengthy discussion of the pro
posed new Ordinance on charges
for water services was held, as
the proposition had been referred
back to the Board by the City
Council.
The matter in question was whe
ther or not the City should be re
sponsible for any thawing of froz
en water connections. The Utility
Board had left the door open, in
the Ordinance, to the City’s tak
ing the responsibility in case the
freezing took’ place in the City’s
portion of the line.
The Council’s difference in opin
ion comes in the wording of the
Ordinance in that they felt that
the way it is now worded, the City
could he held liable for all sorts
of freeze-ups.
At the conclusion of the discus
sion. it was decided to refer the
matter back to the Council as or
iginally presented and let them
figure out what was to 'be done.
On a previous vote, the Ordinance
was passed when the Chairman
cast the deciding vote.
ELECTION
Next item on the agenda for the
evening was the presentation by
the City Manager of a proposed
schedule of events leading up to
the election to approve Revenue
Bonds for the Hydro- Electric pro
ject at Crescent Lake.
The Ordinance calling the elec
tion will be called up for emergen
cy passage and approval next Mon
day evening by the City Council
and if approved, the election will
follow on February! 15tb.
MISCELLANEOUS
Other items taken up included
the receipt of a letter from the
City of Anchorage offering to sell
the Sacketts Harbor Power Ship.
The local Board showed no inter
est in the purchase of the craft.
An operating statement for the
Utilities was requested by the
Board on motion of Stearns. Dis
cussion of the matter with the
City’s auditor indicated that it
should not be difficult to give such
a report at each meeting. The
meetings are held on the second
Tuesday of each month.
The balance of the evening—
and 'way into the night—was spent
.in a discussion of the power policy
recently adopted by the Board.
This policy in essence took tlie
City out of the retail power busi
ness outside the City, except in
certain areas presently served,
or south of the south fork of the
Resurrection River.
It was finally decided, your re
porter was informed, that Mr.
Harstad would beinvited to come
to Seward for a joint meeting of
the Council and Utilities Board
next Wednesday evening.
Seahawks’ Schedule
HOME GAMES
Feb. 4 & 5—Anchorage.
GAMES AWAY
Jan. 14 & 15—Anchorage.
Jan. 28 & 29—Palmer.
Feb. 18 & 19—Fairbanks.
LISTEN TO . . .
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REVELATIONS
Over K I B H — Thursdays
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15, 1955
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)CRATIC CLUB
PURCHASE LEASE PROPOSED
BY ALASKAN BUSINESS GROUP
Hopes for the prosperity of Seward took a definite turn for
the better this week when it was announced at a meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce that a proposal had been sent to the
Secretary of Interior, Douglas McKay, asking for possible terms
for the purchase or leasing of The Alaska Railroad.
City Manager, Raymond O’Hara, rocked the room when
he told the local business group that he had been advised by
Robert Baumgartner, local attorney, that a wire had been sent
the Secretary of Interior in behalf of a group of reputable Alaskan
residents who are interested in taking over the railroad.
4-H-ers Get Some
Big Time Publicity
Alaskan 4-H’ers attending the
1954 National 4-H Club Congress
received national publicity in the
columns of the Christian Science
Monitor.
Copies of the December 9th issue
of the Boston daily paper were
sent the University of Alaska Ex
tension Service by Louis R. Huber
of Seattle. Huber is a special cor
respondent for the Monitor. He
interviewed the three 4-H members
in Seattle on their way to Chicago.
"Three sure-enough pioneers” is
what Huber called Lura Peck of
Seward, Don Hurlock and Henry
Jenkins of Juneau, the three 4-H
delegates. The trio was accomp
anied by Mrs. Carol Winey, An
chorage home demonstration agent,
and Mrs. Joe Kendler, 4-H leader
of the Juneau Boys.
Cheaper Fertilizer
Predicted This Year
Ammonium nitrate, a valuable
fertilizer used by farmers of the
territory, will be shipped this year
from Vancouver, B.C., at a saving
of $10.50 per ton, George Jackson
president of the Anchorage Cham
ber of Commerce has announced.
The savings in transportat i o n
cost was not necessarily the prime
factor in shipping from- the Cana
dian port. Jackson said, but it will
oe welcomed, nevertheless by the
farmers of Alaska.
Jackson explained that arrange
ments were made to clear 400 tons
of ammonium nitrate, considered
a high explosive by the United
States Coast Guard, through Van
couver in order to avoid barge and
lighterage service necessary when
shipping from Seattle because of
harbor regulations imposed by the
Coast Guard. Canada has no such
regulations against ammonium ni
trate.
The Alaska Steamship company
will reroute one of its freighters
to Vancouver to take on the cargo
and will transport it directly to
Seward.
Included in the shipment will al
so be a supply of sulphate of am
monia and phosphate of ammonia,
also fertilizer compounds used on
some. Alaskan soils.
Local reaction to the announce
ment was mixed. Some residents
felt it was a pipe dream and others
—the latter group in the majority
—held that local control of the rail
road was a logical solution to Sew
ard’s economic woes.
When contacted by a Seaport
Record reporter Attorney Baum
gartner said that it was true that
he had sent such a wire to the Sec
retary of Interior. As to the sug
gestion that the whole thing was a
stunt or pipe-dream, Baumgartner
replied that the offer was serious
and there was nothing fantastic
about the proposal.
While he was not at liberty to
divulge who the interested parties
were, Baumgartner said that they
had every intention of pursuing
the original request to the fullest. *
He pointed out. that though some
folks had thought the deal impos
sible, he felt there was good bus
iness sense behind it, in as much
as the Railroad is now operating at
a three quarter of a million collar
profit, according to the present
manager, Frank Kalbaugh. While
he acknowledged that the profit
might be narrowed under private
ownership he said that his clients
felt it was worthwhile to look into
the matter.
At press time today no reply
had been received from the Sec
retary of Interior.
Injunction Granted
By District Court
At a special session of the Dis
j trict Court conducted here this
week by Judge Walter H. Hodge
! the Alaska Telephone Corporation
I was directed to discontinue the
rate increases put into effect in
1953.
The injunction was conditional
upon the granting by the City of
Seward of a rate hearing to deter
mine the need for an increase in
rates.
Though the present charges we
re not approved by the Court no
refunds will be made for the per
iod when the Telephone Company
had the rates raised in spite of the
Council’s refusal to condone the
raise.
No date for the hearing has been
set but it will likely be decided at
next Monday’s City Council meet
ing.
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