Weather
High Low Preclp.
Apr 2 . 44 25
Apr. 3 . 45 29
Apr. 4 . 49 31
Apr. 5 . 46 35
Apr. 6 .41 25
Apr. 7 .36 15
Apr. 8 34 23
Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
$ e a p o r f
ECORD
Seward's AllAVeather Port is Alaskefs Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
. ■
Vol. X. No. 41
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1954
Price 10 Cents ■
Bill Would Stop Private Home
Building In Alaska
A bill which will virtually
stop private home construction
in Alaska has passed the House
of Representatives and is now
before the U. S. Senate, the Alas
ka Housing Authority has learn
ed. according to E. Glen Wilder,
Executive Director of AHA.
The bill, known as the Hous
ing Act of 1954 (HR 7839) con
tains on page 70 two lines which
read: "Sec. 305. Subsection (b)
of Section 2 of the Alaska Hous
ing Act, as amended, is hereby
repealed."
These two lines, which are not
explained or elaborated in the
bill, terminates the purchase of
Alhskan mortgages by the Na
tional Mortgage Association, bet
ter known as Fanny May.
At the present time, the Fed
eral National Mortgage Associa
tion is the only substantial buy
er of Alaskan FHA approved
mortgages. More than $70,000.
000 of Alaskan mortgages have
been bought by Fanny May since
the Alaska Housing Act was
passed in 1949. Private markets
in the same period of time have
absorbed less than S5.000.000 in
Alaskan mortgages.
"No more calculated blow to
stop the growth and develop
ment of Alaska could have been
devised than these fifteen seem
ingly innocuous words," Wilder
said. "It means that not only will
financing of new homes come to
a stop, but the financial market
for absorbing resales of real
estate will dry up."
Alaskan bankers and business
leaders view this situation with
extreme alarm. They declare
that every effort should be made
to have the Senate delete Section
305 from the bill—if the devel
opment of Alaska is to be saved
from a serious setback. Wilder
said.
Hardest nit win be individual
families who wish to build or
buy under FHA regulations.
They will not be able to finance
their homes under FHA terms.
Realtors will feel the pinch as
there will be relatively little
private money to finance con
struction or purchase of homes.
With financing curtailed, the
newly founded home construc
tion industry in Alaska will face
extreme difficulties.
"Because our private home
building industry is not yet fully
matured and because of our re
moteness from private lending
markets in the States, the loss
of Fanny May to Alaska becomes
a much more serious matter
than the loss of it as a mortgage
outlet to any section in the
States.” Wilder said. "Congress
should be made aware of the
disastrous effects that might
come to Alaska if Section 305 is
not removed from the Housing
Bill,” Wilder added
POSTOFFICE DEP T CALLS
FOR MAIL BOAT BIDS
The Postoffice Department is
asking for bids for the continu
ation of mail boat service be
tween Seward and Nikolski as
well as for other Alaska routes,
it was learned officially this
week.
The Seward-Nikolski route
serves 18 points along the Aleu
tian Chain. This service was
threatened last month when the
Postoffice Department announc
ed a change to air service. Gov
ernor Heintzleman and Delegate
Bartlett both made immediate
protests to the Postmaster Gen
eral and to the Interior Depart
ment. The matter was also taken
up by Seatle and Alaska Cham
bers of Commerce.
TELL US SOME LIES
Last week, Jerry the Barber,
was challenged to a liar's contest
by the "dean of barbers” of Sew
ard, Nebraska. Jerry’s reply to
the challange was:
“I accept the challenge. I feel
terribly hadicapped however, as
this is such a fabulous country
that the wildest exageraiion is
true."
He has received, Jerry says,
quite a few lies to date. He
has sold the business, however,
and wishes to thank all his good
friends in Seward for their pat
ronage while in the Gateway
City. He is still collecting tall
stories for the Seward. Nebraska
deal and asks that anyone who
has a good one to add to the
collection, leave it at the news
paper office. He will pick them
up and take the bunch to Neba
ska with the other Seward of
ferings.
ALASKA—NEBRASKA NEWS
As time begins to draw closer
fur the trip to Nebraska, enthu
siasm seeme to be growing. In
■order to seat all that wish to
see the game back there, it has
been decided that there must
be two Basketball games instead
of the one originally planned.
There has had to be a limita
tion as to folks who could get
tickets for the Chamber of Com
merce banquet at which Gov.
Crosby will attend too. The place
will only seat 500 and early in
dications are that 1500 tickets
are requested for that dinner
alone. Mr. Davisson writes that
the folks back there are really
being carried away with their
plans.
Here the fund is still growing
but very slowly. The Senior
Woman’s Club has turned in
close to $40 on their bake sale,
while the Pep Club at school
made $48 on the Mixmaster.
The Woman's Society at the
Methodist Church turned in $126
on their dinner last week. Plans
are going ahead for the boxing
matches on May 1st. and sever
al other plans are under way,
but we still have a long ways
to go to make our goal. One
of the folks who had their seat
on the plane paid for, has had
to withdraw, leaving space yet
for one more person. First come
with their money, first served.
A special "Gold Rush" edition
of the two Seward. Nebraska
Newspapers together, printed on
special gold paper and carrying
many pictures of both Alaska
and Nebraska, will be printed
and will sell for 50 cents, or
you can order the "Blade” for
three months and the special
edition for $1.00. Actually, our
fund gets half of the 50 cents,
so that you not only get this
prized souvenir, but we get a
return on it too!
Some of you folks may have
some novel ideas as to how to
advertise your business back
there too, which we would like
to hear about. For example, at
the Governor’s Dinner, we will
be eating Matanuska Valley Ice
Cream, while the program will
be on Alaska Steamship Co.'s
famous dog menues. The glasses
will sit on Hair Seal Coasters,
from the Alaska Fur factory,
and the ash trays will say:
’’Solly's". "Frankly I am anx
ious," Mr. Malin stated, "to see
someones face, if Jacque Roth
trys to pay for something in
gold dust.
Reporter's
Notebook
Dorothy Prior, candidate for
election to the Territorial House
of Representatives, was a visitor
in Seward this week. She attend
ed the meeting of the Chamber
of Commerce, installation of of
ficers of the American Leeion,
and other meetings, as well as
visiting her many friends in
Seward. Miss Prior has proven
herself a good friend of Seward
and she found no difficulty in
renewing acquaintances here.
James E. Hawkins of Ninil
chik and Clam Gulch was a visi
tor in town this week with his
wife and children.
Mrs. Everett R. Skinner and
son Lawrence, aged three, ar
rived aboard the Baranof this
Wednesday.
John Paulsteiner was an
other passenger arriving home
on the Baranof this Week.
Mrs. Nora Lee Erdmann is a
patient in Seward General Hos
pital.
George Massoz, a former resi
dent, returned to Seward from
Minnesota last Sunday. Mr. Mas
soz plans to spend the summer
here.
Miss Arlita Hall arrived last
Friday to make her home here.
She is a sister of “Doc” Hall.
She is the new beauty operator
at Vina’s Beauty Shop, and is
prepared with all the latest Cali
fornia hair styles.
■ ■■ ■ -mm.
—PI. atos Courtesy Harold Davisson, Seward, Nebraska
"Quack" Blown Up In
Shelter Harbor
Another attempt was made
Wednesday afternoon to demol
ish the hulk of the old Quacken
fcush which lies sunken in the
small boat harbor.
Several yea^s ago the hulk
was partly demolished and part
of it deposited on the tide flats
to the north of the harbor. Part
of the old ship still lies in the
harbor area, however, and must
be removed before harbor im
provement can be completed.
The harbor was cleared of all
boats Wednesday afternoon and
about 1100 pounds of dynamite
placed in the sunken hulk. The
charge was set off at about 3:30
in the afternoon. Chunks of
wood and debris were blown to
a considerable height by the big
blast.-No damage was suffered
by other craft or the mooring
dock which was in the immediate
vicinity.
Metal parts of the old "Quack”
are still in the small boat har
bor, but it is hoped that they
were loosened enough by the
blast to enable removal with a
crane.
ANOTHER WEEK OF
ARID WEATHER
Seward has had only .23 of an
inch of precipitation since the
16th of March. There has been
no precipitation since March 25
when there was .19 of an inch,
which amounts to little more
than a trace, and that was in the
form of a little skiff of snow
during the night.
This must set some sort of a
record for Seward weather, es
pecially spring weather. Folks
are now betting on rain for
Easter! But no one is featuring
rain hats yet.
EIGHT WINNERS IN
ESSAY CONTEST
Three first prizes, each a .22
rifle, and five prizes of member
ship in the Izaak Walton League
will be awarded Tuesday, "April
13, at 8 p.m.
The contest on wildlife con
servation was announced early
in the year by the local chapter,
and entries were accepted from
all high school students who
were interested.
The entries have been judged,
but names of winners are with
held pending presentation of
awards.
THREE FIRE ALARMS.
ONE FIRE
Fire fighters were called out
three times this week, but only
the third call proved serious.
Monday morning before 9 o'
clock a call sent the firemen to
311 Seventh Ave. for an over
heated stove. No damage. At
about 3 p.m. Wednesday they
responded again to a call at
200 Madison Street. This was
a false alarm.
At 11:40 Thursday morning
however, a real blaze .was under
way in a garage in the 900
block of Fourth Ave., belonging
to Howard Smith. The building
was used as a storage place for
furniture and household goods.
Damage amounted to approx
imately $500. Firemen saved the
exterior of the building in spite
of the high wind. The interior
and goods were badly damaged.
COMMITTEE TO PLAN
GIRL SCOUT CAMP
The camp committee, Vern
Coumbe, chairman, will meet
with the executive board of the
Girl Scout Association at the
home of Dr. and Mrs. J. B. Die
sher Tuesday, April 13.
A new camp ground has been
acquired at Mile 18 on Kenai
Lake. Plans are to be made con
cerning use of the camp this
summer and facilities which will
be necessary to construct before
the season opens.
Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies are still
available in Seward. They can
be had by calling Mrs. Diesher,
Lincoln 105. Place an order at
this number and the cookies will
be delivered.
ANNUAL JUNIOR-SENIOR
PROM NEXT FRIDAY
Friday, April 16, will be a big
date for Seward High School, as
the date of their annual junior
senior banquet and prom. The
banquet will be held in the home
economics room.
Buster Clark and his orches
tra from Anchorage will fea
ture the prom to follow the ban
quet. Buster Clark, from the
Seward Elks Club, and vice pres
ident of the Anchorage Musi
cians Association, has arranged
with the Anchorage business
agent, Mr. A1 Seitz, to contribute
the services of the orchestra to
Seward High School free of
charge.
The Elks Lodge No. 1773 will
underwrite expenses of lodging
of the musicians while they are
in Seward Friday night.
NEBRASKANS CROWN
KING AND QUEEN
At the All - Sports banquet,
sponsored by the Seward, Nebr.,
High Ftp Club hold at the high
school in that city on Monday
night, March 22, Juanita Clark
was selected as Queen and Ray
Sloup as King.
Appearing in the above pic
ture, reading left to right are Ed
win Schultz and Pat Smutny, at
tendants: Ray Sloup, King; Jua
nita Clark, Queen; Dick Cooley
and Janet Stilahn, attendants.
Betty Rolfineier, president of
the Pep Club, acted as toast
mistress. Ray Sloup, president
of the S Club, gave the response.
Left: Seward, Nebraska, High
School Band and Majorettes who
will welcome the Seward, Alaska
group when they make the trek
south this spring.
To Export Tinbor For
Manufacture Sn Japan
The exportation of cottonwood
logs from Alaska to Japan for
manufacture has been approved
by Secretary of the Interior
Douglas McKay.
Governor B. Frank Heintzle
man advised his office in Juneau
on April 7 that cottonwood logs
for export will be cut from pub
lic domain lands principally in
the Anchorage and Matanuska
Valley area. The Governor said
the exportation will continue un
til such time as local manufac
turing facilities are developed to
provide a substantial home mar
ket for such logs.
“Since the cottonwood timber
is not being utilized at the pres
ent time,” Governor Heintzle
man said, “the supply of timber
for local use would not be en
dangered by exportation of rea
sonable volumes. This arrange
ment will increase the economic
activity between Japan and Al
aska.”
The request for authorization
to export cottonwood timber
came from the Anchorage Cham
ber of Commerce and individu
als in Palmer. The Governor
said he feels the exportation of
cottonwood logs at this time will
demonstrate the value of this
timber and arouse interest in de
veloping an industry for Alaska.
ENGINEER CRITICISES
UNTIDY LOOKS OF CITY
Col. Ledcrer, engineer and
tonnage expert, who has been
studying the Seward docks, cri
cized the city in a friendly way
this week. “Approaching town,”
he said, “either by water, rail,
or highway, the scenery is un
approachable in beauty. And the
setting for the town is magni
ficent."
The untidyncss of the city it
self however gives one a jolt,
the Colonel remarked. He hoped
that the citizens would clean
up, paint up and tidy the streets,
yards, fronts and vacant lots,
so as to make the whole appear
ance better to the visitor.
It was remarked at the Cham
ber of Commerce, that the
Mayor calls for an annual
cleanup month, usually in May,
and that in past years some
civic club has undertaken to
sponsor some kind of campaign
to beautify the town; it was
hoped that some organization
would enter into such a program
again this year.
Governor Proposes Split
For State In Territory
Development Board
Reports High Cost
Of Rail Shipments
To: All Presidents of the
Chambers of Commerce and all
interested parties.
URGENT!
“The Alaska Development
Board wishes to call to your at
tention the fact that when rail
shipments are made from points
in the East to the West Coast
ports, the rate is much higher
for shipments to Alaska than to
Hawaii, Japan or Korea. This
difference is as much as 100%
on some products. The same is
true of traffic moving from Alas
ka to points in the States.
“It is quite obvious that such
a situation defies common sense
and rules of fair play and exacts
a heavy toll from the economy
of Alaska. The effects of such a
discriminatory rate structure are
keenly felt by merchants, ship
pers and all consumers in gen
eral.
“The high cost of living is one
of the greatest stumbling blocks
to the development of Alaska
and indirectly the rail shipment
rates not only cause hardship to
the consumer but affect the
competitive status of goods pro
duced and exported from the
Territory. Such goods will be in
creasing in number. Without a
drastic reduction in the rail
freight rates, the establishment
and growth of new industries
will be stymied and prevented.
“Preliminary discussions with
the representatives of the rail
roads were announced and will
be scheduled soon. Since you
know your local situation best,
we urge you to appoint a special
committee to gather the neces
sary data and transmit them to
our office at the earliest possible
date. It is suggested that direct
quotations be requested from
manufacturers of all types of
goods you consume and the cost
of shipping by rail on that basis.
Discuss those matters in detail
with your freight forwarders
and all persons who have a def
inite knowledge of the percent
age of rail freight cost in the
total cost of goods shipped in
and out of Alaska. -
“Pass resolutions based on
facts and express your determin
ation to see the Territory freed
from discriminatory rail freight
rates!
“Alaska Development
Board
by: Alexander Baird,
General Manager
Beautiful Paintings
At Hobby Show
Many unusual and beautiful
paintings were on display at the
Woman's Club Hobby Show
Thursday. The show, held in the
afternoon and evening in the
city council room, was tastefully
displayed and of particularly
fine quality.
Many visitors were impressed
with the quality of work being
done by local amateur aritsts, as
well as the works of Ramsauer,
Jensen and Hawkins who are
classed as professional.
J. A. Jensen’s charcoal and
chalk portrait of an Eskimo held
people fascinated. It seemed
more popular than landscapes
done in the same medium.
Hawkins’ familiar scenes of
Seward in his favorite blues
have a poignant and gripping
quality that drew viewers back
repeatedly to the pictures.
Mrs. Ruth Inglis, who has
been painting only a short time,
shows a simplicity of style and
an integrity of form that is par
ticularly appealing. The amazing
thing about the show was the
evidence of a great deal of un
trained talent to be found in a
town the size of Seward, and in
the “frozen North” where we
arc expected to live in igloos.
Tea and cookies were served
during the hours of the show
which was considered most sat
isfactory by all concerned and
the club decided to make it an
annual affair.
CITY WATER SAFE
TO DRINK
City water is free from con
tamination, according to the lat
est analysis from the Alaska De
partment of Health laboratories.
The sample, taken from the
Japp Creek tanks, was a routine
sampling which is required for
analysis every month.
Following is complete text of
Governor Hientzleman’s letter
to Speaker Joseph W. Martin,
Jr., on subject of Alaska state
hood, Saturday, April 3:
“I am greatly concerned that
an enabling bill for statehood for
Alaska may not be passed in this
sessions of Congress. I know that
the people of Alaska are over
whelmingly anxious for early
statehood. They have demon
strated on numerous occasions
their readiness to assume the re
sponsibility and certainly the
rapid strides which the Territory
has made in recent years sup
ports in every way their firm
belief in themselves and their
destiny.
“I regard the enabling bill for
Alaska statehood which passed
the Senate on Thursday as an,
excellent one, far more equitable
and sound than has ever been
proposed before. It will give the
new state access to its own re
sources on a scale never envi
sioned before, enabling it to
meet the costs of government
while continuing to foster eco
nomic development within its
borders.
“I have noted that the pend
ing measure had the support of
thirty three Republicans in the
Senate while only nine Repub
licans were opposed to it. There
were twenty three Democratic
votes for it but it was opposed
by nineteen members of the
minority party. With an equaL|
number, forty two, of each party
voting on the measure, it is
plain that the bill passed the
Senate only because it had the
overwhelming endorsement of
the Republican membership of
that chamber.
"In the past there has been a
feeling that Alaska could not
carry the financial burden of
maintaining statehood. This has
been due in large part to the ex
treme vastness of the remote
and undeveloped land areas
within the present territory in
which low productivity is un
likely to be increased in the for
seeable future. Nevertheless,
these areas, stretching over ap
proximately three hundred thou
sand square miles, would have to
be administered and policed,
with consequent burdens on the
resources of the new state dur
ing the most critical period in its |
history.
“Rather than delay further I
the granting of Statehood on this
ground, I suggest that it might |
be well to consider for immedi
ate statehood that portion of the I
Territory that is developed, that
embraces all the larger metro
politan centers and in which 85
percent of the population resides.
“In general, this area might
well include all the land lying
east of Shelikof Strait and the
One Hundred. Fifty Second Me
ridian of Longitude and south
of the summit of the Brooks
Range, eastward to the Canadian
border, and all of Southeastern
Alaska. There is within the areal
The Alaska Railroad, most of the I
existing industry of Alaska, vir-|
tually the entire highway net
work. and the great bulk of I
known minerals, arable land and!
other natural resources which I
constitute a strong base for the I
future development of the new|
state.
“In this area would be approx
imately two hundred thousand!
square miles. It would, of course,I
include the Kodiak Island group.!
In our history it has not been|
unusual to establish states with
in the borders of large terri
tories of the United States.
“If it appears that the above!
mentioned plan would enhance!
the prospects for the granting of|
Alaska statehood at this time,
will be pleased to confer withl
you further on the matter at|
your convenience.
"Sincerely,
B. Frank Heintzleman.’
DENALI ON FIRST TRIP
NEXT WEEK
The Alaska Line’s passenge
ship Denali will make it’s first]
trip of the year next week,
riving here April 15. This id
the beginning of the season for
one passenger ship each weekj
The Baranof will put in agair
April 22.
The Aleutian will leave Seat!
tie May 26, and the Alaska oh
June 2, which will initiate th^
usual service of two passenger
each week through September 3|
An increase is noted in
number or frequency of freigh
ters for Alaska also, as the buil|
ding season progresses.