TO SALUTE
I Four F-80 Jet Fighter planes
will make two passes at 2000
feet over Fourth Avenue Satur
day at approximately 2:23 p.m.
in a salute to the City of Sew
ard from the Commander-in
Chief of the Alaskan Command,
its officers and men. The jets
are part of the 57th Fighter
Interceptor Group at Elmendorl'
Field. This is in celebration of
the second Armed Forces Day,
which was established as May
20, by the President in 1950.
When the nation observes its
second Armed Forces Day, May
19, American civilians and mili
tary everywhere—in the states
and overseas—will hear much
about “unification” of the Arm
ed Services. For Armed Forces
Day was instituted a year ago
as a tribute to all of the coun
try's fighting men—on land, on
sea and in the air, working to
gether in war and in peace to
achieve a common purpose.
To Alaskans, unification of
the Armed Forces is an observ
able reality, for the Alaskan
Command, established in Janu
ary, 1947, is one of the truly
unified commands set up under
the United States Joint Chiefs
of Staff. It is similar to the com
mand existing in Europe, in
the Far East, and in several,
other sections of the world. Un
der its Commander-in-Chief, Lt.
Gen. W. E. Kepner, the Alaskan
Command embraces all Army,
Navy and Air Force In the T rri
torv.
Because Alaska is primarily
an Air Force Theater, it is tiie
Air Force member of the Joint
i Chiefs of Staff who is the Alas
kan Command's designated ex
ecutive agent in Washington,
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Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seaport
Record
Seward’s All-lVeather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
Vol. VII, No. 92
SEWARD, ALASKA. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1951
Price 10 cents
The Story of
SEWARD
No. Ill
FORMATION OF THE
ALASKA CENTRAL
RAILROAD
Fabulous gold discoveries at
Dawson and on other parts of
the Northern Yukon River and
its tributaries brought the prob
lem of transportation from the
Pacific to the Interior of Alaska
into national prominence during
1900 and 1901. Many schemes for
building railroads from some
ice-free Alaskan port to the
Golden Heart were proposed
and promoted. One of these
plans resulted in the location of
the City of Seward.
W. H. Whittlesey, writing in
the Pathfinder. May 1920, tells
how a group of Seattle men,
most of whom had been Klon
dike prospectors, formed the
Alaska Central Railroad Co. in
1901. Original interested parties,
according to Whittlesey, were
Charles M. Anderson, a civil en
gineer who had spent a season
at Rampart: John H. McGraw,
former governor of the State of
Washington; and Col. E. M. Con
rad, another prominent Seattle
ite. These three men enlisted
the financial support of John E.
3allaine, recently returned from
service as an officer in the
Spanish-Ameriean War; and also
of George W. Dickinson, former
traffic manager for the Northern
Pacific Railroad. Other invest
ors joined the group, and pres
ently offices were opened in the
old Denny Block in Seattle, with
John E. Ballaine as manager, as
sisted by his brother, Frank L.
Ballaine. Charles M. Anderson
occupied adjoining offices in the
capacity of chief engineer, and
W. H. Whittlesey (later prom
inent in the story of Seward)
was appointed chief clerk. Stock
issues were floated, and a brisk
sale of securities began forth
with.
Two survey parties were or
ganized in Seattle, one to start
from the north, in the vicinity
of the present town of Nenana;
the other to start from the south
from a point on Resurrection
Bay.
The northern party left Seat
tle in February, 1902, under
William G. Atwood, and after
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Lindsey Questions
Legality of
Taxi Ordinance
Legality of city ordinance No.
179 was questioned Wednesday
by Cecil Lindsey, who was re
fused a business license by the
City Clerk. Lindsey wishes to
operate a taxicab company
which would become the fifth
licensed company in the city, in
violation of the present ordi
nance.
Dated February Itf, 1940. Or
dinance 179 limits the number
of companies operating taxicabs
to four to serve the city while
the population is 2000 or less
within the corporate limits. It
provides for the licensing of an
additional company when the
population reaches 2500. and an
increase of one with each in
crease of 500 in population.
There is no restriction placed
upon the number of cabs to be
operated, although each indi
vidual cab stand is limited to
the space of two cars.
A special meeting of the coun
cil was called at 10 a.m. Wednes
day to discuss the matter with
Lindsey. The city clerk stated
that Lindsey made application
at her office on May 7, at which
time he was informed that he
would have to have the consent
of the council, which was meet
ing that night, but he failed to
appear at the meeting.
Other ordinances provide that
cab operators must clear with
local and federal law enforce
ment agencies before being
granted license to operate a
public conveyance. Neither Mar
shal Metcalf nor Chief Greene
has given such a clearance for
Lindsey.
Lindsey stated that Ordinance
179 is not legal, and that he
would invoke the Sherman Anti
Trust Act by bringing suit
against the city if the question is
not settled Monday night. “If
you can straighten this up by
Monday, all right.’’ Lindsey
stated. “But if you don't, (cen
sored) you will pay m~ for every
day that you keep me out of
business. You can't keep me
from starting a new taxi com
pany."
The special meeting was ad
journed after a motion was
passed to table the application
for study and to secure legal
advice, and to be continued be
fore a full council at the next
regular meeting.
Announce Marathon
Queen Contest
Announcement of plans to
select Seward's Queen of all
Fourth of July activities will be
made public at the Armed
Forces Day Dance in the Civic
Center tomorrow night. The
1951 Queen will be 16 years old
or more, unmarried, and will be
chosen with the aid of judges
and a popularity contest after
she lias qualified through the
sale of tickets which will vote
her into the race. This year, the
work will not be left entirely
to the contestant. It is planned
to have every Civic Club. Lodge
and Fraternity sponsor the one
of their choice. The Army will
also sponsor a Queen.
Seward's 1951 Queen will
reign over all activities sur
rounding the Fourth of July
program beginning with her
coronation at the big dance June
30th and ending with the world
famous Alt. Marathon race. It
will be a lucky girl indeed who
wins the honor of being Queen
this year, as there are many
events being planned in her
honor as well as gift awards.
Listen to KIBH and read your
local newspaper for the progress
of this and other events con
cerning Seward’s Fourth of July
program for ’51 and every time
you can help this worthy event
gain more popularity, talk fav
orably for it, work with your
club for it. back it with your
money, it’s YOUR program. We
just try to help.
SEWARD FOURTH OF
JULY COMMITTEE
Committee Plans
Entertainment
Beginning with the ‘'Kick
off-Dance'’ tomorrow.night, hon
oring the Armed Forces, sever
al items of entertainment are
planned for the benefit of Sew
ard children and residents, end
ing with the Mt. Marathon race
and general celebration on the
4th of July.
Crescent Shows, a Canadian
carnival show will be sponsored
by the 4th of July Committee.
The carnival is to be here the
day of the community picnic
on the Sunday proceeding the
4th. This day will be. as usual,
the children's day. with hot dogs
and soft drinks free to all kids.
RIDS RECEIVED BY B.P.R.
ON NEW STRETCH OF ROAD
Bids were rc-ceiv d by the Bu
reau of Public Roads in Juneau
on May 17 for new road between
Mile 4! \ii and Mile 47 on tha*
road to Cooper Landing. Lytle
and Green submitted the low
bid of $415,713.50. Stock and
Grove of Anchorage were the
second bidded at S573.933. Other
bidders were Manson-Osbcrg
and Morrison-Knudsen.
Bids for construction of the
three Resurrection River bridges
and a new road west of The Alas
ka Railroad between Seward
and Mile 3. and the Victory
Creek bridge at Mile 20 will be
received by the Bureau in Ju
neau on May 24.
PRAYER FOR ARMED FORCES DAY
Following is the prayer prepared by the Armed Forces Chap
lains’ Board for use in Armed Forces Day memorial services:
“Almighty God. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, we humbly
beseech Thee to look down upon our nation engaged in a stand
against aggression and greed. We thank Thee for all thos^ who
have laid down their lives for freedom. Protect and assist, Our
Heavenly Father, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by
sea, or in the air, are serving our country. We pray especially for
those immediately exposed to peril, conflict, sickness and death;
comfort the prisoners, relieve the sufferings of the wounded, a«d
show Thy mercy to the dying. Accept, w? pray, these sacrifices
now being made by our Armed Forces and use them in the estab
lishment of freedom and peace for all men.
“Show us our part in tiic redemption of the world from cruelty
and hate and make us faithful and courageous in the accomplish
ment of this holy purpose. To this end we dedicate ourselves unto
Thee, the only Giver of all victory.
“All glory be unto Thee, world without end.
“AMEN”
Class of 195!
Now c» Part of
School's History
The graduation exerciss took
place upon the beautifully dec
orated stage in the school audi
torium. Class colors were rose
and white and constituted the
theme of decoration. The class
flower was rose, and the rnotto
•Rowing Not Drifting.”
Instead of the usual address
by a prominent citizen, the
graduates took care of their own
commencement except for the
presentation of awards and the
diplomas.
Raymond Anderson delivered
a masterly oration as saluta
torian, with his topic “Today’s
Challenge.”
The valadictory address, “The
Zest of High School Education,”
was presented in a very credit
able manner by Jack Rafter,
who. incidentally, went through
his four years of high school
without an absence.
Marilyn Ratchfortl, Helen Var
neli, William Erwin, P.wi'is
Baker and Margar t bi /
each took a place in t’u ss
farewell. Mrs. Beryl \ r
presented the diplomas. id
Superintendent of Schools Carl
R. Carlson presented the Citi
zenship cup. IMr. George Green
presented the Lions Club Schol
arship in behalf of the commit
tee.
The Rev. Martin Borbeck, S.Jh
delivered the Invocation and
Benediction.
The Class of 1951 now has a
place in the history of Seward
High School and the eleven
young people move on to take
up their share of responsibilities
to the American way of life.
Scholarship Award
“In recognition of the confi
dence we place in the ability,
character, industry and scholar
ly attainment of Miss Beverly
Abrahamsen we, the undersign
ed committee, are pleased to
award to her the Seward Lions
Club Scholarship of Five Hun
dred Dollars for the year 19rl.
"We and the memb.rshio of
the Seward Lions Club, ho ve
this award will aid her in the
continuation of her education,
and extend to her our wishes
for success in her chosen field.”
“Lions Club Scholarship
Committee.”
Miss Abrahamsen has prov n
her ability in journalism by car
rying the high school pap r, the
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Sponsored by S. F. J. C.
*T CF for ^RflTON QUEEN COR IEST
Head Civic Center
m