cSF. WARD'S
All-Weather
SI .APORT
Is Alaska’s
(iivii t< st Asset
Seward Seaport Record
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD, ALASKA
Vol. VII, No. (ft
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY. FEB. 23, 1951
Price 10 cents
Visitors Association
Expects Biggest
Tourist Season Ever
The biggest Alaska tourist
season ever, despite heightened
defense activity, is looked for
in 1951 by Territorial officials.
As Alaska’s Governor Ernest
Gruening puts it, “Alaska is
now prepared to receive visi
tors from east or west, and in
either case is prepared to give
the appropriate warm welcome
in our own way.”
The Governor’s statement was
made at a .banquet of the Alas
ka Visitors Association at which
the newly organized tourist pro
motion group outlined plans for
a banner travel year.
At the session, which was
held at Juneau with all mem
bers of the Territorial Legisla
ture in attendance, Larry Moore,
vice president of the Associa
tion, likened Alaska to “a Betty
Grable in overalls.” He ex
plained how the new organiza
tion plans to tell the world
about the Territory's tourist at
tractions.
R. E. Ellis, president of the
Association, declared Alaska’s
transportation, hotel and resort
operators prepared for the big
gest flood of visitors in the Ter
ritory’s history.
ARC CLAIMS FOR BACK
OVERTIME
Senator Magnuson of Wash
ington and Delegate Bartlett
have introduced similar bills to
allow Alaska Road Commission
employes to sue in th»* Court of
Claims for overtime compensa
tion back to 1934.
Claims of government em
ployes brought before the Court
of Claims may cover only a
six-year period from the time
suit is brought. The Magnuson
Bartlett legislation would waive
this statute of limitations so
the claims would cover the en
tire pertinent period since en
actment 17 years ago of the
act of Congress which provided
a 40-hour week for wage-board
employes of the federal govern
ment and overtime at the rate
of time and one-half for all
hours worked in excess of 40
hours a week. Overtime for such
Alaska Road Commission em
ployes has been paid since 1945
when the Comptroller General
of the United States ruled that
the act of 1934 applied to them.
If the legislation is passed which
was presented to Congress this
week by Senator Magnuson and
Delegate Bartlett, Alaska Road
Commission employes would be '
able to sue for overtime com-!
pensation covering the period
between 1934 and 1945.
"THE CORDOVA DISTRICT"
EMPHASIZES RESOURCES
I
The many opportunities ex- j
isting for economic expansion
in the Cordova area are ana
lyzed in a new report of the
Alaska Development Board just
issued under the title, “The
Cordova District.”
Special emphasis is placed in
this comprehensive survey on
the role winch resources of the
Copper River, Prince William
Sound and Controller Bay re
gions can play in meeting na
tional needs in the present
emergency.
The 81-page report, which was
written by Ralph Browne, assis
tant general manager of the
Development Board, is the third
in a series issued by the Board
dealing with separate areas of
the Territory. It was prepared
in cooperation with the Cordova
Chamber of Commerce and Cor-'
dova City Council.
Copies are available, at the
office of the Development
Board. ■ i
! LOCAL KEGLERS LEAVE
I IN FORCE FOR
RENDEZVOUS TOURNAMENT
! Two coaches were put on the
J Thursday boat train to accom
modate the large number of
Seward bowlers who will attend
and take part in the first all
Alaska bowling tournament as
part of the Fur Rendezvous in
Anchorage this week.
More than 500 bowling fans
from all parts of the Territory
j are competing for honors in
j team, doubles and singles, both
handicap and open divisions.
Seward is to begin play Friday
and continue through Sunday.
If this first all-Alaska tourna
ment is well managed, it will
probably become an annual
affair.
Health Center To Be
Ray Biding
I In a special meeting of the
city council Friday afternoon,
Alls. LaPreal Bie, public health
nurse, was authorized to make
arrangements with Mrs. Hazel
, tlay for the rental of an apart
ment in the Ray Building.
The apartment has front and
back entrances, which are re
quirements for public use build
ings. It will be large enough
i to conduct baby conferences,
| hold instruction classes for mo
Ithcrs’ immunization clinics, and
, office space for the public health
nurse.
Announcement will be made
; when the center is ready for
use.
WTT.MA MEYERS CHOSEN
QUEEN VALENTINE
i
Wilma Meyers, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Meyers of
this city, was chosen as Valen
tine Queen to preside over the
festivities at her own school
Colorado Woman’s College, and
thiee other schools in Colorado.
Miss Meyers’ popularity was
attested by the presidents of
student bodies of the Colorado
University, Denver University
and Regis College, all co ed
schools. She was crowned by A1
Wilson, president of Colorado
Woman's College.
This is the second time in a
year that the Seward girl was
honored in the same way. She
was also chosen iimen of the
Gypsy Jamboree la t fall.
Miss Meyers also made the in
tercollegiate ski tournament as
one of the five sent from each
college. Although she had not
gone in for much of the sport at
home, Miss Meyers took lessons
during her first years at Color
ado and made the team this
year, being chosen as one of the
best five from her school. She
will graduate this year.
JOHNSONS AND BAKERS
IN ANCHORAGE
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Johnson
and the Kenneth Bakers with
their daughter Phyllis, drove to
Portage to catch toe train into
Anchorage Thursday morning.
Bad weather in Resurrection
Pass prevented the morning
plane getting through, and the
long drive was necessary to
make connections which would
get them into Anchorage by
noon.
Mr. Charles Lechner reached
home Thursday aboard the
Denali. He has been Outside
since early November. After
leaving Seattle Mr. Lechner
spent several weeks at the hot
springs on Bell Island, South
eastern Alaska.
W. W. Sipprell, local agent for
the Alaska Steamship Company,
returned on the SS Denali yes
terday after spending several
weeks Outside.
Driving Is Hazardous
On Icy Streets;
Many Mishaps
| Deep slush topped with rain
; and snow of the last few days
caused twelve inch ruts in the
! city streets. A sudden hard
i freeze Thursday night added to
the difficulty by hardening the
j ice to razoriike sharpness.
Several drivers report cut
tires and torn underseal be
| cause of street conditions which
j “are worse than I’ve ever seen
I them,” according to statements
1 made in many quarters Friday
morning.
Street equipment was on the
job early Friday, topping the
; crust, but on side streets little
J mpiovement was seen before
noon. Fall and skidding cars are
! a common sight.
J One arrest was made at 11:30
i pm. Thursday when Tom Jones
i allegedly ran his car into the
! rear of the patrol car on Fourth
| Avenue. Both cars were dam
aged, but Jones’ machine re
! ceived the most of it, as the pa
trol car was in forward motion
| at the time. Mr. Jones posted
oond for SI00 to appear in mag
I istrate s court to answer charges,
i Clear weather and a bright
i sun f'riday rapidly reduced
. some of tiie hazards of driving,
i but it will take several days to
| condition the streets, stated city
j officials.
Officer Needed For
Special Services
Public Information Office,
| United States Army, Alaska—
The current expansion of the
Army has revealed a shortage
of qualified officers in Special
Services, and a quota of six ap
I pointments to the rank of 2nd
j Lieutenant has been granted
' tins headquarters by The Ad
I jiitant General in Washington,
j it was announced.
Consideration will be limited
! to personnel with either mili
: tary or civilian experience as
| Special Services Officers, The
atrical Entertainment Directors,
or Athletic Directors. Two ap
pointments will be made in each
of these specialties.
Army Warrant Officers and
Enlisted Men, whether Regular.
Reserve or National Guard,
serving in the grades of Ser
geant through Master Sergeant,
are eligible provided they have
served at least six months in
these grades. Warrant Officers
and Enlisted personnel of the
Active Reserve who have com
pleted the ten series of the
Army Extension Courses are
also eligible.
Former officers may qualify
for appointment, former War-:
rant Officers and Enlisted Men
who have had six months active
duty service as a Warrant Offi
cer or in one of the three upper
non-commissioned grades in any
component of the Armed Forces
will be considered if they enlist1
in the Enlisted Reserve Corps
in one of the upper iitree non-1
commissioned officer grades. j
Applicants must be at least I
21 years old, but not more than'
28, and must be citizens of the 1
ynited States. Pnysical exam-'
ination, and in most "cases, ap
pearance before a Board of Offi
cers for examination, arc neces
sary. Unless they have complet-!
ed 120 credit hours rft an ac-|
credited college or university
they must also attain a satis
factory score in classification
tests.
Interested individuals on ac
tive service should make appli
cation through channels. Others'
may address Lt. Col. J. H. Ma
honey, Senior Army Instructor,
Organized Reserve Corps, Head
quarters, U. S. Army, Alaska.
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
TO r In ST AID CLASS
i Expecting the 15 persons who
! had registered for first aid
classes, the instructor, Jim Kirk
patrick, was swamped by double
that number in the first class
, Thursday night. It was neces
: sary, he said, to make last min
ute changes in his plan of in
. struction to accommodate such
1 a number.
; A second class was started at
'1:00 p.m. Friday in the Luth
eran Church, with Mrs. W. li.
Love instructing. The same
course, films and material will
be used in both classes.
jWaltoniaiis Discuss
Salmon Derby
i '
Bill Younker was elected to
| the presidency of Seward Izaa*
j Walton League this week, with
Mel iiolben as vice president.
George Turnbull was returned
to the post of secretary-treasurer
lor the second term.
The League went on record
us opposing the Legislative
j Memorial to Congress to permit
i open season on brown bear on
Kodiak Island and Kenai Pen
insula.
Advisability of sponsoring an
annual local salmon derby was
i discussed, but no conclusion
i was announced.
i The question of a game din
| ner for the fall of lyol, which
| might become an annual event,
| was also discussed.
1 VETS RETURNING TO DUTY
ADVISED TO NOTIFY VA
j Veterans recalled to active
duty wiuie they are receiving
benefit payments from the Vet
erans Administration are urged
to notify the VA immediately
of their return* to military serv
ice.
Included in these benefit pay
ments are subsistence allow
ances for G. 1. BUI and Public
.Law lb trainees and compensa
tion tor service-connected dis
abilities. 'The VA explained tnai
tne law does not allow a veteran
to receive such payments once
he goes back into unnorm.
It a veteran receives such a
payment covering any period
after he has entered active duty,
ne should return it to the va.
office which has Ins records.
Otherwise, it will stand as an
overpayment against the veter
an until disposed of.
Vv hen notifying the VA of re
call to active duty a veteran
should include his “C” (claims;
number, his complete name and
auuress, tne amount of the VA
payment, what it's tor, and the
date he is to go back into serv
ice. He should send this notice
to the VA office handling ms
records.
The regional office in Alaska
is in the Goldstein Building,
Juneau.
KAMILTON3 RETURN FROM
TRIP OJTSIDE
Mr. and Mrs. Max . Hamilton
returned Monday by plane from
a three weeks business and plea
sure trip Outside.
The Hamiltons toured Wash
ington, Oregon, California, Utah,
Nevada, and Idaho before their
return. Mrs. Hamilton said site
was “really glad to be home.”
OFFICER PUCKET BACK ON j
JOB AFTER ILbNESS
Highway Patrol Officer Mr.j
George Puckett is back on the
job after an illness of several1
weeks. Mr. Puckett has been j
with the Highway Patrol ever1
since the Kenai Peninsula dis-1
trict was opened. He is senior;
officer on the Peninsula.
Buffer Clam Canning
Industry May
Be Revived
Revival of Alaska’s butler
clam canning industry is ex
pected to result from a new
Food and Drug Administration
interpretation raising the toler
ance limit on the amount of
toxicity which will be permitted
in the clam pack, the Alaska
Development Luard announced
I this week.
i The development results from
a scientific study which the
Alaska Fis.ieiy Produc's Lab
oratory at Ketchikan has been
conducting over several years
and from r presentations made
to the Food and Drug Adminis
tration by the A! isl:a Develop
ment Bocird.
Processing of Alaska butter
clams ceased about five years
ago when the Food and Drug
Administration seized several
shipments of clams on the
j grounds that the product was
! toxic. Studies by the Labora
tory have indicated that if the
siphons of the clams are re
moved and other safeguards
taken, the resulting pack will
be safe and wholesome.
I Alaskans have always con
tended that there was no danger
involved in consuming butter
i clams, but the Food and Drug
Administration was compelled
under the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act to initiate
regulatory action against their
shipment.
In announcing the new clear
ance, George Sundborg, Devel
opment Board consultant, paid
high tribute to the scientific
work done by the Fishery Pro
ducts Laboratory. This consist
ed of sampling numerous clam
beds under varying conditions,
testing toxicity of the clams and
experimenting with processing
methods.
The industry is of special sig
nificance in Alaska because it
supplies employment to diggers
and cannery workers in the
winter season when other em
ployment is scarce.
Interested packers may write
to the Alaska Development
Board for full information on
the new interpretation by the
Food and Drug Administration.
LEGION AUXILIARY CARD
PARTY MONDAY, FEB. 26
Women of American Legion
Auxiliary will hold a public card
party Monday night, Feb. 2(5. in
the Legion Club.
Bridge, pinochle and canasta,
music and food will be the order
of the evening, with proceeds
going toward the convention
fund.
The convention of the Alaska
Department, American Legion
will meet in Seward this year.
Attendance at the convention is
always in the neighborhood of
500 persons. Every effort is be
ing made by the Seward Post
and Auxiliary to have a new
building by that time. It is
hoped that it will be nearly
enough completed to hold the
convention. Legionnaires plan a
large dining hall and completely
equipped kitchen as well as a
convention hall.
Tins hard working group ex
pects to be very busy the rest
of the year raising funds to han
dle the convention as well as
financing the building program.
The card party scheduled for
Monday is the first of a series
of events for these worthy
causes. The general public is in
vited, and judging from past
performances card fans, will be
well entertained.
Jerry Martin is back in cir
culation after an operation for
appendicitis.