VOL. 4.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA, AUGUST 9, 1929
NO. 4
Hoquiam Water
Case Now Ends
-x
The City of Hoquium has been
seeking to condemn the Hoqui
am waterworks system the past
several weeks. Attorneys for
the city have been arguing with
attorneys for the Oregon-Wash
ington Water Service Company
for a judgment of $385,000 while
company attorneys are demand
ing $800,000 or more.
Superior Judge James M. Phil
lips, once a star tackle on the
old Carlisle Indian football team
and later on the Northwestern
University, Chicago, team, is sit
ting on the bench hearing the
arguments. He will fix the price
to bf paid and indicated that it
will take him considerable time
to reach a decision. He assert
ed that the divergence of opini
on is so gre$t that “it will be
hard to bring the two sides to
gether without breaking some
thing."
The cam began on the 10th of
June and was not ended until
the 3rd of August, being the
longest in the history of Grays
Harbor County, Washington and
is estimated to have cost from
two to two hundred fifty thou
sand dollars.
GOBS TO RBWAR9
Louis P. Shackleford, former
Democratic political boss of
Alaska died in a tacoma hospi
tal on the 27th of July, according
to the Alaska (Seattle) Weekly.
The old timers of Alaska will
Nrmember Shackleford as a
member, of the firm of Shackle
ford and Lyons. Lyons was after
ward appointed Judge by Presi
dent Taft.
“When the historian/* says
the writer in the Alaska (Seat
tle) Weekly, “writes a history of
Alaska, the name of Louis P.
Shackleford will loom large in
its pages, for he left his im
print in the big northern coun
try.”
To which wf will add that he
will be especially remembered
for his buying and selling prox
ies to territorial political con
ventions like one would buy cat
tle. However, he is dead and
tune. May his ashes res' in
peace
Trailers Hunt Fish
Outside of Sitka is the only
area reporting any fair money in
trolling operations this year. Re
ports from scattered districts
are slightly better but no great
amount of fish is being caught
by anyone these days.
More money is being spent
buying gasoline and grub than
is being brought back in troll
fish. Out of Sitka the money iat
being made out of cohoes which
are running larger in size and
in greater numbers. The pro
portion of kings being brought to
the markets by trailers and the
buyers is very small in propor
tion to the number of cohoes.
Marshal B. Pointer, working
for the Yukon Fur Farms, across
the Narrows, had the misfor
tune of getting his hand caught
In g fish feed grinder and lost
parts of e*ery finger on his
hand. First aid vgs given by
Mrg. Chuck Craig then he was
brought to Dr. Rudf for surgic
al care.
*W
The Graf Zeppelin landed at
Lkkehurst, N. J. after a flight ol
95 hours 19 minutes on August 5
Discriminations
Captain John Koski of the seine j
boat Tony K, who has been fish- j
ing in Icy Straits was in Port i
(Ketchikan) Friday on her way|
to Puget Sound. The skipper!
said that his crew had just|
about made their board. “The
regulation shortening our gear/’
said he, “is a very ingenious ar
rangement. It allows most of
the salmon to escape underneath
while we skim a few off the top.
Not many seine boat men will
become residents of Alaska as
long as these restrictions re
remain.”—Chronicle.
The Tony K., like every other
Puget Sound boat seining in
Alaska comes up under a flat
guarantee whether or not they
catch any fish. The resident
Alaskan works out his own sal
vation without any guarantee.
N« Shortening of Traps
The purse seines and gillnets
are limited to certain a length
and depth—stretched on line
and 3ya inch stretched mesh.
The pile trap has no limita
tion as to length or depth. Many
pile traps are longer than any
gear ANY seine boat in Alaska
can carry.
Floating traps are limited to
length where the waters exceed
100 feet in depth. No limit to
the depth of the trap, other
wise.
Diserimnatory Regulation
The regulations governing the
seines and gillnets are absolute
ly discriminatory. If there is
any class distinction, it is in the
use of gear.
O'Malley makes the regulation
and he knows it is discrmina
tory. He further knows that the
trap is a destructive system. He
so said when he ruled against
the ‘hammer-head’ ttap. It
was too efficient so it must go.
The other traps are Just as effi
cient. But those owning those
traps are his friends. A little
favor to friends is oft times
worth while. And who cares
about resident fishermen? They
are small fry. To hell with
them.
Pessimistic Ketchikan
-*
The ChreuicU which occas
sieaally flints facts about the
fisheries situation down that
district says:
. .“The seine boats in the Ket
chikan district have been doing
a little better the past week, but
as one skipper said, nothing to
brag about. He said unless bet
ter hauls are made before the
end of the season the seine
boats will have been working for
the oil companies.”
The past Week in Petersburg
were several Ketchikan crews on
a pilgrimage to Frederick Sound
04 Chatham Straits. For good
measure a couple of Wrangell
#pat# Were out this way for a few
of tb£ finny tribe. They all re
port JfO WISH while the swivel
chair%/fcktiheiL of the big dail
ies report formal runs.’
JoI and Urs. Standard left
|of funeau this week where Joe
gofk Into the Piggly Wiggly
Store Juneau in place of Don
Fraser trtmsferred to Cordova.
A citlren came into our office
and Wjffitfcd jtbbons printed with
the wfp|%fiif$Qr.” He is a con
firmed bfctchMor and thought if
any more Mr tourists made bets
with thb Skippers, he would be
right on tifa ground for the Hob
son act.
NOTHING BUT BUNIONS
-X
The Pyle bunion derby con
testants who ran from Los An
geles to New York last spring,
got nothing for their efforts
save bunions on their feet. C. C.
Pyle, professional sport promot
er who sponsored this race has
been cited to appear before the
California State Labor Commis
sion with $1,000 to apply on
wage claims lodged against him
James Thorpe famous Indian
athlete asks $259 which he
claims the promoter owes him
for services in the 1929 distance
iuant.
O'Malley Comes
And Goes
-o
Henry O.Malley stepped off on
the Citizen’s dock long enough
to squirt a squid of tobacco and
juice up the corner of the dock;
returned aboard the Brant and
steamed out of the Narrows
four bells and sixteen jingles
for Juneau.
Between spitting in the corn
er and getting back to his pri
vate yacht, he did have time to
say that the run of salmon down
Ketchikan way ‘was almost nor
mal, being only 17,000 cases be
hind last year. According to
which the packers will put up a
pack just short of three million
cases.
Seiners and others in position
to observe report that the pack
this year is absolutely a trap
pack. That escapement to the
spawning areas is very spotted
and the pack is being held up at
the expense of seed fish which
are caught before they reach the
spawning areas.
-X
Foshays at Ketchikan
-x
From Ketchikan way comes
reports of the doingsof the Fo
shay Company. Said report in
dicates anything but a satisfied
public in the First City.
The water rates, under the
franchise just like Petersburg’s,
were left open. Under the bene
volent philanthropies of the re
presentative of the Power Trust
in Alaska, water meters were or
dered installed and the rates
are said to be going up.
That Los Angeles, bringing its
water from over a hundred miles
charging the rates it does is
reasonable and proper. That the
Foshay Company should have to]
raise their rates in Ketchikan |
is unreasonable. Not with so
much water and rain handy.
Old Employees
With the exception of one or
two old employees all now on the
force of the Foshay Company in
Ketchikan are cheap eastern
employees. Men who worked for
$75 and $90 dollars think $125 a
big wage.
Electric Charges
One Ketchikan resident had
receipts in full for electric ser
vices rendered his home. A
short time ago he was presented
with a bill in the sum of $8 as
being due “on the line.” He ob
jected most strenuously and
showed his receipts in full of
account. It all made no differ-,
ence. The money was due ori
the line—he could pay it or be
cut off.
Oh, yes! The Ketchikna citi
zens are anything but tickled
with the Foshay service in their
public utilities.
War is on in Congress between
big navy and small navy leaders.
Fishery Tangle
Hearing on an action brought
by Indians of the Quinault Re
servation to prevent the Bakers
Bay Fish Co., a subsidiary of the
Columbia River Packers’ Associ
ation, from restraining the In
dians from fishing on the seining
grounds on Peacock Spit is
scheduled to start in the federal
court in Seattle, Friday of this
week and the result of the action
will be watched by all fishing
interests operating land gear
along the lower Columbia River.
The C. R. P. A. defence will be
bolstered by intervention by the
Barbey Packing Co., which op
erates seines on Sand Island.
According to H. J. Barbey, the
decision in the present action
which is based on claims of the
Indians that treaty rights ob
tained in 1855 at the time they
ceded their land to the U. S.
Government gives them the right
to fish where they please, might
effect the Sand Island grounds.
Local Significance
Judicial interpretation of the
Indian claims will also play a
oart in the case of the State of
Oregon vs David Baker, a half
blood leader of the Taholah In
dians, who is charged in the As
toria justice court with fishing
in Oregon waters without an*
Oregon license, as a result of an
attempt by the Indians to Invade
the Barbey seining grounds on
Sand Island.
Reports from Ilwaco where
many of the tribesmen are lo
cated during the fishing season
are to the effect that the In
dians, in event their full claims
are sustained by the court, in
tend to invade not only seining
grounds but many valuable trap
locations.
This legal action follows the
attempt to get on the grounds
a short time back, when the In
dians were repelled by the com
pany fishermen.
This legal action may have a
considerable influence and scope.
It will be noted in time that the
Alaska Indian never ceded his
Continued on Page S
Men's Wear
Waldemar Kaemfort, director
of the Rosenwald Industrial
museum says: “Man’s enslave
ment to fashion will be broken
by paper suits costing about $2
apiece and thrown away after
about two weeks’ wear.
“The fibers will be made of pa
per and will be spun like cotton,
or wool, then woven into attract- j
ive patterns. A man will step
into a clothes shop, where an ex
pert tailor will in a few minutes
drape strips of paper about his
form and then fasten them with
fish glue.
“Such a suit—unlike a paper
tissue towel—will be unaffected
by rain and hold its shape for at
least two weeks.”
With the women getting more
of their physical charms into
the sunlight for health’s sake, it
would seem proper that the men
follow their lead. Might not be
a bad idea if many of our ultra
civilized men and women, went
to the South Sea Island and oth
er tropical points where there is
1 more excuse for sun baths. In
the United States the sun bath
gag gets the masculine Coueism
and ideas of Christian science on
the go, too much.
Secretary Work authorized ad
ditional work on McKinley Park
road assuring completion in two
i years a distance of 73 miles.
BOATS BUMP IN NARROWS
-x
The halibut schooner Augusta
Capt. Martin Enge and the gas
boat Pheasant of Juneau collid
ed in the Narrows, south Peters
burg early yesterday morning.
The Augusta was bumped just
aft of the bow and had fourteen
planks stove in and was making
considerable water when she
made for the marine ways. The
Pheasant was not damaged
much and continued on her way
to Ketchikan with several pass
engers from Juneau and this
port.
New Park For
Playgrounds
-X
A piece of land between Scow
Bay and Mountain Point has
oeen laid out by Foresters Hol
brook and Archbold, for park
purposes for the town of Peters
burg.
With compass, five chain steel
tape, telescopic do-dads, alidad,
plane table and other do-fun
nies and with the able assist
ance of Ranger Chipperfleld of
Craig to help fiinish up survey
notes, the Job was finished.
The area has been set aside
for public camping ground. Two
fire places have been built
two camp tables set up and a
road to a small creek for water.
For parties from the beach a
trail has been cut to the road;
a swing for the kiddies and kid
dish oldsters; and even a bit of
wo od was furnished a la sour
dough style.
The grounds are readily acpes
sible by both cars and boats and
already has been in use since the
latter part of June. The For
est Service has provided this
campground for public use and
intends doing more work to it
from time to time.
They ask cooperation in keep
ing it clean and in sanitary con
dition by burning papers and
properly using garbage pits.
AT THE SHOWS
[
On Sunday and Monday will
be seen at the Variety “Moth
er Machree”—smiling Irish eyes
and aching Irish hearts—with
Belle Bennett, Neil Hamilton,
Victor McLean and other Stars
in the caste.
Thursday and Friday—“Buzz”
Barton will featurein “The Sling
Shot Kid,” a Western theme
with plenty of action.
Next Saturday Chester Conk
lin is “A Social Celebrity” with
Louise Brooks, starring with
him. A Hal Roach comedy,
“There Aint No Santa Clause.”
Eugene Gilbert is the fun maker
on these nights.
The sixth chapter of Melting
Millions— a serial with plenty
of mystery and action, will be
seen. .
Rin Tin, the famous police dog
will be featured at the Variety
in “Jaws of Steel.” In the cast
are Jason Robards, Helen Fer
guson and Baby Mary Louise
Miller.
“Our Gang” comedy is a real
grouch chaser—“The Fourth
Alarm” with the kiddies in the
role of firemen.
Thursday and Friday “Mother”
the story of modern life—of a
woman battling insiduous mod
ern jazz influences and too much
money. A story of lov» that gave
but never asked.
A comedy that chases away
serious moods—Harry Langdon
with The Bearded Lady— is dif
ferent from other comedies.
Contract Made By
Van Orsdall Is N.G
-o
Mr. Peterson, attorney from
Tacoma, Wash., arrived in Pe
tersburg Wednesday noon and
met with the City Council to
present and consider a new draft
of contract for sale of the pub
lic utilities to the private con
cern. He declared it was a mat
ter of grave concern and regret
that John P. Van Orsdall pre
sented and signed contract for
purchase of the utilities by the
City; that he had exceeded his
authority and his contract was
not sanctioned by the company.
A new draft of the contract
presented provides that the Fo
shay company will retire the
bonds serially in the amounts
required by law plus interest;
pay the sum of $10,000 earnest
money which will apply on pur
chase price in event sale is
okeyed by the electors and sale
luthorized by Congress.
Other minor changes were
made in detail of the contract
company.
to the advantage of the city and
It is reported that Mr. Peter
son stated that in event the sale
of the utilities fell through his
company would not consider the
purchase of the cold storage. In
some quarters this is thought to
be a club with which to whip
voters into line to work for the
sale of the utilities.
Notice of special election for
sale of the utilities has been
posted but owing to change in
contracts, new notices will be
posted next week when the.
council has completed the deal.
-X
GO TO HUNTING GROUNDS
-x
The Metropolitan Life Insur
ance Co., reports 599 deaths from
alcoholism among its industrial
policy holders in 1928, or a death
rate of 3.3 per 100,000.
In 1927, the number of deaths
from this cause was 603, and the
death rate was 3.5 per 100,000 of
insured.
Canada offers a startling con
trast. There were in 1928 only
seven deaths from alcoholism
tmong the 1,200,000 workers of
that country who carry indus
trial insurance.
Deaths from wood alcohol and
denatured alcohol are not in
cluded in the above.
fflx mbTmbTHS swin7rhy mpa
Work for Dredge
A committee of water front
men will soon call on Charles
West to ask him to lay og filling
in the north end of Citizen’s
Wharf with builders' sand
which he had brought in from
out of town in two scowloads.
Last week a large scowload of
sand turned turtle at the dock.
Turning the scow back about all
its peeling and trimmings were
torn off so it was put on the
grids for repairs. This week
again Charley got sore at the
big dredge and turned another
scowload over. Skipper Hank
scowload over.
Earl Ohmer says Charley had
better nail a canvass and deck
the next scowload over so if it
does turn turtle it won’t make
so danged much work for the
dredge, dod bust it.
James Wheeler, Jr., arrived at
man’s estate Thursday of this
week by celebrating his 21st
birthday. How those kid bro
thers do grow.