VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA JANUARY 14 1927.
NO. 27
SHW TAKES TOLL
AT CIOMLEY, KETCHIKAN
Ted Voss, logger of Ketchikan
died last week of exposure follow
ing the swamping of his boat the
Three Twins in a storm in Chomley
bay.
Thomas Berry, one of the trio on
the boat, and only surviving mem
ber of the crew reached Ketchikan
where he told of the accident.
T: ey had pulled out of Chomley
end encountering heavy seas had
engine trouble. Ted went below
to fix the engine when the boat
swung into the trough of the sea
and swamped in no time. Their
skiff had been lost so they grabbed
fcr whatever they could get. Voss
got the hatch cover, Swanson was
forced overboard before he had got
ten anything while Berry got a life
preserver. The boat was heavily
loaded with boom chains and coa;
and soon stood on end. Berry made
shore about 800 feet away and was
in the water for a half an hour.
From the shore he saw Voss with
a death grip on some wreckage and
drifting inshore. When Voss final
ly drifted ashore, Berry worked ov
er him. The only matches in Ber
ry’s pocket were wet so that a fire
could not be started. When Berry
srarted up the beach for help, Voss
was unconscious but still breath
ing. It was an eight hour walk to
a deserted shack and ten o’clock be
tore Berry rested. The next morn
ing with a newspaper tied to a
ttick for a flag, he was able to hail
H. N. Young, fox farmer on Skin
ner Island. Going back to look
for Voss they found him about 8
feet from where Berry had left him
and be had removed his wet coat.
Voss' body was taken to Skinner Is
land, then going to Salt Chuck they
got other help to take the body in
t o Ketchikan.
After his statement to the jury,
Berry said: “It was a terrible ex
perience*—watching Voss die be
case a single match was unavail
able. and seing poor Swanson fight
ing through that storm. Some day
the law of Alaska will make it im
perative that matches and food be
stored in shacks along the deserted
beaches—and that the death
penalty be inflicted on anyone tak
ing them.”
At the conclusion of the teeti
ineny and Dr. J. H. Mustard’s as
surance that no signs of violence
were evidenced the jury returned
a finding of “death by drowning ’’
Searching party was ordered out
by Commissioner Kehoe to see if
Swanson could be found.
NATIONAL TIMBER CUT
A comparative large increase in
sales of lumber from the national
forests during the year 4s due to
the local exhaustion of private tim
ber and consequent demand of es
tablished industry for supplies from
the national forests, according to
Col. W. B. Greeley, chief of the
Forest Service of the Department
of Agriculture, who has just issued
a statement that 1,192,000,000
boaid feet were cut last year in the
national forests.
COMPLETE NEW SCHOOL
The new Bureau school for the
natives of Ketchikan will be com
pleted within the next thirty days
according to reecnt announcement.
The building is of mdern type
having four rooms and will accom
modate approximately a hundred
pupils.
CABMEN WRECK
The Carmen, while returning
fn m Warm Springs Bay struck on
rocks near Snow Pass. When the
tide went out shelisted over and
was filled by the incomin tide. The
crew commandeered a troller to
take them to Wrangell where they
got the Diamond C. to tow her to
Wrangell for repairs. She will be
completely overhauled at Ketchi
kan later.
Col. James G. Steese, president
of the Alaska Road Commission has
been promoted to the rank of Brig
adier General. General Steese re
cently returned- to the States from
.Europe where he was on business
for the Government in connection
with military construction work).
He will not return to Alaska until
REFUSES REVIEW SINCLAIR
CASE
The supreme court refused to
review the contempt case of Harry
Siaclair in the Senate in his refusal
to answer inquiries of the Senate
Committee on oil investigations.
Much discussion has been made
of the need of a good gymnasium
to accommodate the needs of the
young people of Petersburg. Plans
have been discussed as well as ways
and means to secure such a build
ing and even committees appointed
to recommend proper steps for the
securing of this needed adjunct to
local schools. But it has been al
paper talk for naught has ever
come after the ferver of meeting
was worn away.
Down at Ketchikan last year a
dozen young men feeling the need
of a hall where the decent young
native could meet secured a lot and
made preparations to build such a
building. Plans were drawn by one
of the boys providing for a social
hall, with stage facilities and dress
ing rooms, erception hall, kitchen
and store room.
The Chronicle tells the ntory of
flie effort of these 12 yung men as
follows:
“In the second week of Novem
ber the work of constructing the
building was started. As all the
members are employed during the
day, night work was necessitated.
Approximately 90 percent of the
material used was packed up the
hill by the boys after a hard day’s
work.
“The building is nearly com
pleted now, and our next move
‘Will be to ask the city council to
favor us with a street extension
from Bucey Way on Stedman street
to the club.
‘ The purpose of the organization
is to aid members in all ways; to
provide a common gathering place,
to encourage the further education
of their children and to help im
prove themselves in both social and
public welfare.
“Kayhitems” the monthly school
paper of tr.^ Ketchikan Hi^i
School is b- ing entered this yenr
for the annual judgement of school
pu* 'at * ns ly the Columbia Fresi
Association. Announcement of
this contest was made by th ; \’a'ka
S.-hool Bi Jetin iu! published til the
Alaskan last v. ok
Major Lunsford E. Oliver, act
ing president of the Alaska Road
Commission, has announced from
his headquarters at Juneau that
the Wrangell Narrows project will
be completed within the next two
seasons provided bids for the re
gaining work fall within the resi
due of the original authorized ap
propriation. This would insure a
low water channel, 200 feet wide
and 21 feet deep through the en
tire elngth of the Narrows.
Slightly in excess of $400,000 re
main of the original authorization
and f this sum $200,000 is includ
ed in the estimates for the coming
hpeful that a contract can be se
cured at a figure which will make
competition possible without being
compelled to go to Congress for
another authorization.
Specifications approved by Chief
Engineers were issued last week by
the Alaska Road Commission in
viiing bids on the removal of the
remaining shoals in the Narrows.
The figures presented are the re
sult of the survey conducted by the
Commission under the immediate
supervision of James G. Truitt.
“Bids for accomplishing the
work are to be opened in Seattle
February 10, 1927. It is hoped that
bids will be received which will en
able the entire remaining work to
be done with the funds now auth
orized, amounting to about $410,
000. The road commission has left
about $85,000 from the $176,000
provided for last season’s work,
and an additional $200,000 was re
cently allotted to the work by chief
engineers, U. S. Army, and the re
maining $125,000 necessary to
make up the $500,000 authorized
by Congress will be allotted by the
chief engineers when needed.
The lighthouse service is plan
ning the erection of concrete monu
ments and pile dolphins to further
mark "the new channels. Rocks will
h so marked that navigators will
I now definitely the exact limits of
navigable water. The bouy system
now extensively used will be larg
ly done away with.
“It is expected when the im
proveemnt is completed the lar
gest ships now running to Alaska
will practically always pass thru
the Narrows rather than make
the trip around Cape Decision
wh{ch requires about eight hours
additional time.”
INVESTMENT
An investment of approximately
$30,000,000 in fur farming in the
United States has been reprted by
the Biological Survey. A statement
by this department recently con
cerning this industry is as follows:
There are now about 2,500 fur
farmers in the United States and
Alaska and about 1,500 in Canada.
The majority of these are raising
silver or blue foxes. The total in
vestment in the business is about
$20,000,000 in the United States
and about $11,000,000 in Canada.
The industry is not confined to the
North American Continent, how
ever, but has spread to Japan,
vhere it has had a steady growth.
Over a hundred million dollars
were spent in advertizing last year
according to figures of advertising
agencies. If advertising doesnt pay
there must be a lot of fools parting
with their money.-Brainard (Minn)
Tribune.
Last Monday evening the deep
mystery that the American Legion
Auxiliary have been keeping from
the Legionnaires was~solved. When
the boys gathered for their regu
lar meeting in their lodge rooms,
they discovered a different aspect
than had ever greeted their eyes
before. Some of them thot they
| had gotten into the wrong hall, but
soon discovered that the unusual
anpearance was due to bright cur
tains and a new table covering and
an unusual orderliness in the li
brary and kitchen. The festive ap
pearance was timely, for the boys
were initiating three candidates
that evening.: Bill Dunkelberger,
Ed Michaelson, and Axel Pearson.
After the regular business meet
ing and the initiation ceremonies,
the ladies again surprised their
brother lodge members by appear
ing in a body well laden with deli
cacies to tempt the “inner man.’.
Theboys felt this to be a golden
opportunity and proceeded to ex
iound the meanings of true Legion
dom and introduced the ladies to
the intricate mechanism of the se
veral mechanical devices that had
so impressed the three newly in
itiated brothers with the solemn
ity of the organization with which
they had affiliated that evening.
7hom the peals of laughter that is
sued from the building and the
lateness of the hour at whihc the
party dispersed, one might judge
that all had enjoyed the party.
Enroute to the North this trip,
the Alaska Steamship Company’s
steamer Northwestern hit the beach
in Seymour Narrows, bending her
bow to one side about six feet from
below the waterline to about two
or three feet above it. Very little
water was being noted in the bilge
as a result of the accident and the
steamer is proceeding to Juneau
where she will discharge freight
r»nd passengers. She will return
south from that point but will take
on no passengers or freight for the
the South.
It was reported that while pro
ceding north thru the Narrows at
high water slaclt the vessel did not
respond immediatey to the tiller
when tide rips shifted her off her
course. Signals were made to the
engine force for full speed reverse
but the momentum of the vessel
made her swing her bow inshore
giving a side swipe at the beach.
The vessel was delayed24 hours
by the accident but was not con
sidered as being unfit to travel to
the Sound under her own power.
T pon her return to Seattle she will
go on the marine ways for repairs
It is presumed that another boat
will be put on the run in her place.
ALASKA COAL PRODUCTION
Coal mining activities of the Pre
! inier Coal Company at Moose creek
have been progressing so rapidly
that transportation of the fuel ov
er the Moose creek narrow guage
line has not been able to keep pace
with production, it is reported. All
of the chutes are now filled with
coal. Twenty-four men are at work
at the mine and making a daily
output of 100 tons, which is being
used to fill a 9,000 ton contract
Anchorage Times.
The Petersburg Commercial Clan
held its regular meeting Wednes
day evening, January 12, at which
time a great deal of business was
transacted. One of the chief trun
actions wa sthe election of oflicers
lor the ensuing year. Due to press
of business affairs, Earl Ohmer
felt that he would be unable to do
justice to the responsibilities en
tailed and so refused to consider
the honor the club wished to confer
upon him by reelecting him Presi
dent. Consequently Tom Elsemore
was chosen to head the organiza
tion. with Fred Nelson as Vice
President. Frank Havens was re
elected to fill the office of Secre
tary, while Ed Locken was made
Treasurer. The Executive Com
mittee is to be constituted by Toni
Fihiemore, Fred Nelson, Eari Ohn;
or, Harold Dawes, and Mr. Swan
son.
The retiring president gave a re
sume of the past year’s work and
expiessed his appreciation of the
suDport given him while in office.
The Club decided to hold their
meetings weekly henceforth, hav
mg a "get-together” dinner every
Wednesday evening..
rj he Secretary was instructed to
w'rc Mr. William Worth ./id U B.
I Cornelius, who are now in Juneau,
' to confer with the Road Commis
| glouer and exprc s th> interest of
j the Club in regard to the Scow Bay
jR.nd Slough road.
; The Club voted to recommend
the proposed mail route from
Ketchikan to Wrangell, Petersburg,
Kalte, Chatham Strait Points and
return. Correspondence regarding
the dredging of Petersburg Harbor
and -government veterinary aid to
hunting deer beaifd fj -s-ufllsiend
aid fox farmers was heard. It was
recommended that the deer hunt
ing season be shortened fifteen
days. Communications were read
from Hon. Dan Sutherland, the Bu
reau of Fisheries, Bureau of Public
Roads, Fish and Game Commission
and the Seattle Chamber of Com
merce. Immediately following the
regular meeting the new Execu
tive Committee was called into ses
sion to lay plans for tli'e future ac
tivities of the Club.
I AND FOR ENTRY IN ALASKA
The General Land Office of the
Department of the Interior has just
announced the prosjeetive opening
of more than 9,000 acres of public
spring.
lands in Alaska. The area will be
opened under the jurisdiction of the
Anchorage Land Office.
A memorandum issued by the
General Land Office describes the
area to be opened.
The official plats of surveys in
Ts. 10 and 11 N., R. 7 W„ S. M.
Alaska, will be officially filed in the
! district land office at Anchorage,
A 90 day preference will be given
to ex-Service men in application for
entry.
‘SAMSON” FOXES UNSUITABLE
I The comparative undesirability of
j cf “Samson” foxes for breeding fur
animals has been demonstrated by
tests according to the Biological
Survey. • :
Investigations carried on at ex
perimental fur farm of the depart
ment in New York, have included
experiments with “Samson” foxes.
"Ihese are foxes that lack the long
guard hairs, which make fox fur
so beautiful and desirable, and so
havo nearly worthless pelts.
It was thought advisable to de
characteristic wouuld be transmit
ted in crossbreeding with foxes of
superior quality.
The wrk has progressed sufficient
ly to justify advice against retain
ing any “Samson” foxes as breed
ing animals.
I
Majority and minority reports
of the special subcommittee of the
Joint Committee on Postal Rates
were submitted to the Senate early
this month. Both reiterated re
commendations made in a report
at the ast session of Congress to
reduce rates and both asked cen
sideratitn "by Congress tf pending
tills.
The new Gilmore building, under
construction for the past several
months in Ketchikan, will be ready
i
for occupancy the first day of Jan
uary, according to Pat Gilmore,
owner of the building.
titFt
'"'Pile case against Ernest Kirberg
er, charged with perjury, and V. A.
I aiiie, indicted for alleged suborin
atiou of perjury in connection with
the voting of the former in the No
vember election might not be tried
for several weeks. A continuance
was asked until after the canvass
ing board had opened the official
returns. Judge Reed announced
it v' ould hardly be possible to try
either case during the preesnt ses
sion of the court under the circum
stances. —Chronicle.
charges McPherson case
DISMISSED
On motion made by district at
torney Keys, Los Angeles, all charg
es against Mrs. McPherson, the An
geius Temple evangelist, were dis
missed.
f or many years the Army has
supplied to troops in Alaska, wolf
skin robes. These have been is
sued to telegraph, radio and relief
^ stations. A decision has just been
| reached by the Quartermaster
Corps to abandon further issue of
v ohskins and substitute down fill
ed comfort.
The Army now owns 115 of the
.robes which are valued at $450.
j >:ach. All are badly worn and in
. need of repair but still so valuable
; that they will be repaired and re
issued until entirely worn out.
The down-filled comfort which
will from now on be issued in their
stead will cost the Army some $25,
making a saving of $425 for each
roplaceemnt necessary.
It is now the expert opinion of
soldiers, trappers,. prospectors and
old residents, known as “sour
doughs,” that the comfort offers
;ntor,e warmth and comfort in 40-be
low-zero weather than the wolf
i
| skin.