eather:
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S e a P 0 r t
Seward
Record
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seward’s All-IPeather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X. No. 27
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY L1954 -a , X ft- / 7 S*
Price 10 Cents
[Revue Brings Back
[Forgotten items Of
(Past Year
I APRIL 17
Rev. Kent E. Spaulding, pastor
| of Seward Lutheran Church,
.tendered his resignation Sunday.
He will take a charge at Klam
ath Falls. Oregon.
Funeral services were held
April 15 for John Coffey who
died of burns.
APRIL 24
Bayview school and grounds
received an overwhelming vote
of approval in the annexation
election held April 21. The
school will now become a part
of the city system and receive
part of the overflow from the
main school building.
Telephone rates go up "re
gardless." ATC announced the
raise in rates d -spite refusal of
the city council to permit it with
in the company's franchise.
Mayor Painter promises council
and court action on the rebuff of
the city by ATC.
Grand officers of Order of
Rainbow visited this week.
MAY 1
Governor Heintzleman visited
Seward. First visit to Western
Alaska since inauguration.
Alaska Nurses’ Examining
Board met in Seward.
Miss Lottie Hirsch, newly ap
pointed public health nurse, ar
rived in Seward.
MAY 8
Mayor Russell Painter. Ken
neth Baker and Tommy Bie left
for Washington, D.C., to fight
for rehab:l:ta <n of ARR and
new Seward clocks. Funds for
trip raised by popular subscrip
tion.
City Council OK'd petition
for city manager government.
Plan to go to vote of the people.
Ambulance made first call
with rehabilitated vehicle. Nine
teen persons qualified in first
aid for drivers and attendants.
MAY 15
Funeral services were held
for Swan Lind May 13 in Sew
ard Lutheran Church. Mr. Lind
died May 9 at the age of 59.
Jack Jeffrey made Alaska
Steamship Company g e n e r a 1
agent here. Walter Sipprell
named agent at Nome.
MAY 22
Undersecretary of Interior
Ralph' Tudor inspected docks
and Alaska Railroad in Seward.
He was a guest of Chamber of
Commerce at Tuesday luncheon.
Painter, Bie and Baker in Wash
ington, reported on their mission
at C. of C. meeting by wire and
letter.
Class of seventeen graduated
from Seward High School. Dale
Lindsey winner of Lions scholar
ship.
MAY 29
Donn Lee made superintend
ent of Jesse Lee Home. Elwyn
Mathews and family left for new
post in the States.
Washington delegation return
ed. Only promise was that road
will not be abandoned and prob
ably will get appropriation for
dock.
Benny Benson, designer of
Alaska Flag expected for Sew
ard, Nebraska basketball games.
He was to present Alaska flag
to Nebraskans.
JUNE 5
Seaport Record went to large
size, seven column page!
Seward, Nebraska team and
fathers arrived and were wel
comed by town. Given two-foot
gold key to city. Former Ne
braska residents held reunion
with visitors. Entertained every
day by different organizations.
Seward, Nebraska team winners
of ivory tusk trophy given by
Alaska National Guard, Seward
Unit.
JUNE 12
Sewardites bade farewell to
Col. J. P. Johnson, general man
ager ARR. Fourth of July Com
mittee started plans for Mt.
Marathon race.
Lechners observed 30th anni
versary of Seward residence as
Ford dealers.
Nebraskans departed for
home.
JUNE 19
Unidentified man rescued
from Mt. Marathon by Don
Stickman.
Marathon climbers in training
for race.
(Turn to Page 4)
Alaska-Nebraska
Fund Progress
By Chas. Malin
Well the old thermometer is
getting up to about the $1400
mark now. This week we re
ceived $120 from the Liberty
Theatre for the Christmas show
—with still more to come in on
ticket sales. We also understand
'that the art students at the High
School made out very well on
the sale of Christmas Cards that
they designed. Dr. Romig sent
us a check this week too as he
promised to send a boy back to
Nebraska.
As we go to press the bowling
is at the half way mark with a
good many fellows and girls
bowling on the first day. Of
course we don't know who the
winners will be yet but same
of the best bowlers had poor
scores so far and some of the
least likely winners are right
up at the top. It will be interest
ing to see the final results.
The films from Seward Ne
braska are on their way and will
be available the last two weeks
in January to organizations that
would like to show them. They
are sound films on their trip up
here last summer, their Pioneer
Day Celebration and their cham
pionship football play off in
which they won.
Don't forget "Major" Shef
field's program on the sixth day
of February. If you can sing,
dance, play an instrument or
put on most any kind of an in
teresting act let him know about
it today. This promises to be a
real program of home talent.
WHO WILL BE THE
ALASKA-NEBBASKA
BASKETBALL QUEEN?
Through the month of Jan
uary there will be an election
held in the stores in which you
will be given the chance to vote
for Queen of the Alaska-Nebras
ka Basketball games. In the
stores where you see the sign
"Get your Queen votes here"
you will be given a vote for
every dollars worth of merchan
dise purchased. You write on
the vote for a school girl of your
choice and of course the young
lady with the most votes will
receive the following prizes:
A Trophy, Northern Steve
doring Co.; a Jantzen sweater,
The Blue Shop; her hair styled.
Modern Beauty Shop; her por
trait, Weber's Studio; fitted over
night case by Sky-Way, Alaska
Shop; Arctic Night Cologne,
Arctic Scent Co.; dinner for
tour, Tony's Restaurant; nylon
slip. MuMullen’s; Munsingwear
nylon gown. Brown and Hawk
ins; jade necklace and ear rings
to match, O'Brien's Gift Shop.
And she will make the trip
to Nebraska with the team.
Any girl in the Seward, Al
aska school this year is eligible
for the prizes so pick out your
favorite "queen” and then plan
to do all of your shopping in
Seward.
NEW YEAR'S EVE WEDDING
FOR LOCAL COUPLE
Betty Jean Hoogland and Don
ald E. Larson were married on
New Year's Eve at 7 o'clock.
Rev. Dwight Boe performed the
ceremony which was held at the
home of ^ir. and Mrs. Herbert
Lynd.
The bride was attired in a
light green suit with brown ac
cessories and brown hat. Her
corsage was of yellow rose
buds. The bride’s sister and hus
band, Mr. and Mrs. Loren Tra
vers. were attendants,.Mrs. Tra
vers wore a light blue suit.
A reception was held follow
ing the wedding, also at the
Lynd home. The bride is a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ger
rit Hoogland of Seward. The
couple plans to live here.
Telephone Hearing
Set For January 6
Hearing of the case of the
City of Seward versus Alaska
Telephone Corporation is set for
2 p.m. in District Court, Anchor
age. At least, this is the latest
date given.
The dispute is over the rate
increase announced last summer
by ATC over the denial of city
council for any rate hike. Since
that time a second blanket raise
was made by the telephone cor
poration which was effective
December 1. Users who kept the
service are paving under protest
awaiting results of the hearing.
LONG VACATION MAY
CURB MEASLES
Lottie Hirsch stated today
that medical authorities are hop
ing the long holiday vacation
from school may have cut down
the incidence of measles in town.
A number of cases have been
reported within the last 10 days,
however, and it is thought that
there may be other unreported
cases which have not come to
the attention of the doctors.
It is not the mild form of
three-day or German measles
this time, but the regular form
of the disease which is generally
more severe and which runs a
longer course. About the only
preventive measures being rec
ommended is to keep children
away from exposure to conta
gion by avoiding association in
parties or groups.
IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE
WILL CONTINUE
Seward Chapter, Izaak Wal
ton League, will hold its first
meeting of 1954 on Tuesday,
January 12 at 7:30 p.m. in St.
Peter's Church basement.
There will be election of of
ficers and planning for a con
servation contest for school chil
dren will be discussed. Fishing
and hunting recommendations to
be made to the F&WS game
hearing are on the evening's
agenda.
Plan to attend!
COLORFUL CEREMONY AT
O.E.S. INSTALLATION
Installation of officers of Sew
ard Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star, held Wednesday night, was
the most colorful in several
years.
Christmas lights and red can
dles provided the only light
used except the direct beam
over the open Bible on the altar.
Star points wore beautiful
gowns in the colors appropriate
to their offices; other officers
were in white except for Mrs.
Gladys Bogard, Worthy Matron
elect, whose gown was a dusty
rose. The men wore tuxedoes.
Installing officers were Mrs.
Florence Harding, worthy ma
tron, Patrick Hodgkinson, wor
thy patron, Margery Jean Bo
gard, marshal and Mildred Kirk
patrick, chaplain. Miss Bogard
installed her mother in the high
est office of the lodge.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Berg
played two selections on violin
and ’cello, accompanied by Mrs.
Beryl Wagner on the piano. Mr.
West was soloist. He also gave
a whistling number accompanied
by Mr. Berg on the violin and
Mrs. Wagner at the piano. Three
Rainbow girls, DcLoyce Smart,
Carol Ann Trevethan and Mur
lene Trevethan, sang and an
other Rainbow girl, Audney
Horton, played a violin solo.
Refreshments were served
from tables decorated with holly.
SLEDDING ON
2ND AVENUE ONLY
Don Balmat, chief of police,
announced this week that child
ren may use the block on Second
Avenue between Adams and
Washington streets for sledding.
This is the hospital block.
All other streets are forbidden
because of dangerous traffic.
Even then parents are cautioned
to warn children about sliding
near moving cars. During the
twilight hours, it is most dif
ficult to see a sled, and practical
ly impossible to stop in time to
prevent an accident.
Salt Water Line
Could Lower Fire
Insurance Rate
Ray Lee, Union representative
to the Chamber of Commerce
and member of the fire depart
ment, told the Chamber of Com
merce meeting Tuesday that an
extension- of the salt water main
along Fourth Avenue to Monroe
Street could have the effect of
reducing insurance rates in Sew
ard.
Word has been received, he
said, to the effect that if the Pa
cific Fire Underwriters Associ
ation will make another survey
of the town and find that fire
fighting and protection equip
ment have been increased
enough to reduce the rating
from its present 4 and 5 by two
points. Stateside companies will
reduce the rates here.
Extension of the line, which
Lee advocated last year, would
help materially in gaining re
duced rates, he stated.
Mr. Lee also brought up the
matter of ownership of the La
goon and hignway crossing. He
learned in the Land Office, Lee
said, that the lagoon, being
classified as lideiands, is not ad
ministered by the Land Office
and remains government prop
erty. Although the road across
tins body of water was filled and
constructed by the city it did not
become city property. This be
ing the case, Mr. Lee suggests
that steps be taken to include
paving of this approximate half
mile in government appropria
tions or secure a.iefinite settle
ment of ownership.
A motion was passed by the
Chamber of Commerce to begin
investigation of the situation.
Jesse Lee News
By Tommy Dillard
(Due to early publication of
the Christinas issue, this was
received too late for publication
last week.)
If possible, this week has been
even more hectic than last, with
getting things ready for the trip
to Anchorage being topmost on
most lists. Last minute Christ
mas shopping, wrapping and dis
tributing: unwrapping presents
containing new clothes for the
holidays to be spent with our
neighbors “to the North;" put
ting up Christmas trees, and all
the final preparations for any
home with children. Altogether
I have counted 2,i separate dec
orated Christmas trees.
Only one calamity is report
ed, and it not too serious. The
older girls' carefully decorated
tree decided to lie down on its
ornaments one night, but with
a little help, and a persuasive
support at its base, it was re
stored to order and its place in
the window.
The tree in the dining hall and
the other gay decorations, were
put up this week by members
of the various dorms. When
everyone walked into supper the
night before Christmas eve, no
lights were on in the room ex
cept those on the giant tree,
making a beautiful atmosphere,
just crispy with “spirit."
Joe, from the San, spent all
of that same evening giving hair
cuts to the boys. They really ap
preciated his skilled efforts—as
did Mr. Lee and the two house
mothers who have been doubling
as barbers.
Half of the older girls have
been practicing with the Junior
Choir, which has been newly
formed at the Methodist Church,
for the Candlelight Service on
Christmas eve.
Fifteen of the younger chil
dren, who have been practicing
hymns and carols with. Mrs.
Boehm, sang at midweek vespers
in the chapel. They looked very
sweet and Christmasy in their
white robes. Mrs. Horton's piano
pupils continued the program
with carols, followed by a short
message and singing of carols
by everyone.
The staff and children would
like to say “thank you" to the
many individuals, business con
cerns, and groups who have add
ed so much to our holiday happi
ness. May the joyous spirit of
Christmas be truly with each
one.
City Manager Due
This Weekend
Raymond O’Hara, new city
manager, is expected to arrive
in Seward sometime during the
weekend. He will assume his du
ties January 4 when it is pre
sumed that he will attend the
meeting of the city council.
Mr. O’Hara comes from De
lano, California. It is not known
whether his family will accom
pany him at this time. He will
live at 614 Fourth Avenue in the
house formerly occupied by Mrs.
Kathryn Rager.
TOWN CELEBRATES
GABES BIRTHDAY
Probably 70 per cent of the
adult population of Seward cele
brated Gabe's birthday last Sat
urday. Open house at the little
old roadside restaurant was held
on Gabe's 72nd anniversary.
Many people who do not know
that Gabe's last name is Santo,
do know the man himself from
Juneau to Barrow, and his res
taurant which for years was
little more than a shack has been
famous for many, many years
for its fine meals with steak din
ners as a specialty. World celeb
rities, congressmen and special
visitors have always been enter
tained at Gabe's.
All of Seward joins in with
“Happy birthday to Gabe!”
DR. JOSEPH SHELTON
VISITS SEWARD
Dr. Joseph Shelton, formerly
4 Seward physician, surprised
friends by dropping in on
Wednesday evening.
He is returning to Alaska, the
doctor announced, but not to
SeWard. He will practice as eye,
ear, nose and throat specialist
in Anchorage.
For the past few years he has
been practicing and studying in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
CONSIDERS PROBLEMS
The Alaska Legislative Coun
cil concluded a three day meet
ing in Juneau, December 20.
Several items of business were
discussed and considered during
the meeting. A summary of the
subjects and the action taken is
as follows:
1. License taxes on munici
pally-owned vehicles. The coun
cil, in response to a request from
Mr. Victor P. Guns, City Man
ager at Ketchikan, will prepare
a bill to amend the registration
act to exempt municipally-owned
vehicles from payment of such
license fees. Also, the Council
will prepare a bill to reimburse
cities for the amounts of such
taxes they are required by law
to pay in 1954.
2. Land Registration Act. The
Council decided to prepare a bill
to revise the land registration
act, in order to make the act
inapplicable in cities and other
local taxing districts, and to pro
vide for a release of any liens
that may attach to such lands.
3. Highway Finance. The
Council heard the testimony re
garding highway-user taxes and
road administration of A. F.
Ghiglione, Alaska Road Com
mission, Mr. Robert Killewich,
Bureau of Public Roads, and Mr.
Irving Reed, Territorial High
way Engineer. Mr. Ghiglione
recommended an increase of 3
cents on the motor fuel tax, in
creased registration licenses, and
an additional highway-user li
cense and regulatory code for
motor carriers. Mr. Killewich
agreed with the Road Commis
sion recommendations. Mr. Reed
also stated that there was a need
for increased road taxes.
The Council reviewed the tes
timony and information collect
ed by its staff, and decided to
issue a Progress Report on road
finance as soon as the material
could be prepared for distribu
tion, such report to include facts
and information on present road
administration and taxation in
Alaska, ad comparisons to sim
ilar taxes in the states.
Other items discussed were
fiscal reorganization, tax en
forcement, juvenile code, local
government problems, industrial
incentives, legislative aids, merit
personnel system, administrative
organization.
Reporter's
Notebook
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Airlines will be crowded this
weekend with students return
ing to schools Outside. This has
been a particularly beautiful
Christmas season with the heavy
snow and will give them some
thing to remember after they
get back to the grind.
Mrs. Margaret Hodgkinson
left Wednesday for Seattle, via
Anchorage. She will enter a hos
pital for medical treatment.
Chuck and Sharon Barr spent
the holidays in Seward with
Sharon’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Jones.
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Urbach
left on the Baranof Wednesday
"night for a three month vaca
tion Stateside. They will visit
Seattle, Portland, Palm Springs
and Beverly Hills.
Friends arranged a surprise
birthday party for Charles Flynn
at the Legion Club last Sunday.
Bob Morgan is in town on
leave from Ft. Richardson. He
has several days left to enjoy
before he has to go back.
Helen and Pedro Denton and
the baby have returned to Col
lege. Alaska after spending
Christmas with their folks.
Mrs. George Turnbull has re
turned after several months
Stateside.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jeffrey
and their daughters left last
week aboard .the Denali for a
six weeks vacation Stateside.
Don't forget that stores will
be closed Saturday, so you will
have to lay in enough groceries
for the weekend.
FIRST SNOW STORM FOR
JACOBS GUEST
Jean Buckley, schoolmate and
guest of Gail Jacobs, is expe
riencing her first real snow and
finds it completely thrilling, she
says.
Miss Buckley and Gail came
to Seward to spend the Christ
mas holidays with Gail's par
ents. Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Jacobs. Her home is in Salina
Beach, California where snow
is rare. The two girls attend the
University of Washington and
will return there Saturday.
Territorial Jobless
Increasing
According to Employment Se
curity Commission records for
the past two weeks, unemploy
ment throughout the Territory
is approximately 50 per cent
higher than last year.
The greatest increase is in
Fairbanks, where the local office
of the Employment Security
Commission of Alaska has 1,500
job seekers listed, compared
with 770 a year ago—an increase
of almost 100 per cent. Anchor
age has 2,600, compared with
1,900 a year ago, and surprising
ly Ketchikan has almost twice
as many as last year—423 com
pared with 217. The totals in the
five local offices are 5,090 this
year and 3,457 a year ago.
There is a popular misunder
standing that all, who are reg
istered with local employment
offices, are receiving Unemploy
ment Insurnace — but, actually
only slightly more than half of
the above-named 5,090 unem
ployed are filing for Unemploy
ment Insurance benefits.
Unemployed workers, who
live at a distance from the five
local offices, file for Unemploy
ment Insurance by mail. The
most current statistics available
for this type of claimant reveal
that during November, 1953,
there were 1,386 filing, as com
pared with only 727 a year ago.
From the above figures, we
can conclude that there are at
least 6,476 unemployed at pres
ent in Alaska, compared with
a minimum of 4,184 a year ago.
SCHOOL LAND
OWNERSHIP
NOT SETTLED
Settlement of ownership of
the proposed site of the new high
school is still pending. The city
clerk stated today, however,
that steps are being taken in
accordance with a recommenda
tion received from the Bureau
of Land Management to secure
final settlement.
The question was brought up
in Chamber of Commerce meet
ing this week about the land
problem. Members were inform
ed that it seems probable that
Alaska Public Works authorities
can bring about a satisfactory
agreement with the government
if other efforts are too long de
layed. Patents are held by the
city on both tracts concerned,
but a reversal clause is involved
that would cause the park land
to revert to the Land Office if
used for other than park pur
poses. This tract is needed in
addition to the school land for
the new school building.
The matter of public election
to vacate streets and alleys in
the school plot was also discuss
ed and will be brought to the at
tention of city officials. These
streets have never been opened
but are shown on the city plat
and have been dedicated as
streets; consequently they can
be vacated only by election.
Join The Marines—
In Anchorage
Young men in Alaska with a
desire to be in the U.S. Marine
Corps no longer have to pay
their own way to the United
States to join the Marines.
For tire first time, a U.S. Ma
rine Corps recruiting station
has been opened in Alaska and
all prospective recruits will now
be initially processed at the Fed
eral Building, Anchorage. Final
processing will be completed at
the Marine Barracks, U.S. Nav
al Station, Kodiak. From there,
the young men will proceed as
Marines to the Recruit Depot in
San Diego, California ,for fur
ther training.
The opening of a recruit sta
tion by the Marine Corps came
after Headquarters, U.S. Marine
Corps, learned that nearly 20
youths eacli month were defray
ing the costs of their own trans
portation to Seattle, the nearest
Marine Corps recruiting activity,
to join the Corps. Major E. R.
McCarthy, commanding officer
of Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval
Station, Kodiak, has been named
as recruiting officer for the Al
aska territory.
In addition to the usual nrli
tary benefits, enlistment in the
Marine Corps offers youths a
chance to join one of the world's
proudest organ Nations, a mili
tary unit with a colorful history
in many parts of the world.
While at San Diego, the Ma
rine recruit is instructed in basic
military subjects such as preci
sion drill, first aid, Marine Corps
history and traditions, discipline
and care and cleaning of indi
vidual weapons.
Following the 10-week "boot
camp," as recruit training • is
commonly called, the Marine is
then transferred to Camp Pen
dleton, California, or to a serv
ice battalion to await further
transfer to one of the many Ma
rine Corps posts and stations
where he will receive special
training.
These schools include avia
"tion mechanics, airman’s school,
administration, motor transport,
photography, quartermaster and
supply, cooks and bakers and
others.
At Camp Pendleton the Ma
rine receives further training in
the use of his .30 caliber Garand
rifle, the .45 caliber pistol and
the carbine and browning auto
matic rifle. He will also receive
further train'ng in the use and
employment of light and heavy
machine guns, 60 and 81 mm.
mortars, flame throwers and
other crew-served weapons.
Youths interested in serving
with the Marine Corps are asked
to contact Master Sergeant Ed
ward Schwartz, Room 12. Fed
eral Building, Anchorage,