VOLUME NO. VI.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA,.
DECEMBER 11, 1931
NO. 21
Gov. Parks Makes
Annual Report
Governor George A Parks
made his annual report to Sec
retary of the Interior Ray Ly
man Wilbur.
He recommended:
Reopening the Yukon River to
commercial fishing.
Repeal of existing restrictions
limiting lceations of placer
claims.
Open season on all small fur
bea-ers to relieve trappers who
are needy as a result of low
prices.
Construction of not less than
10 schools each year to provide
sufficient education equipment.
Appointment of a medical di
rector, placing the health ser
\ice on a better operating basis.
Construction of additional
hospitals.
Emergency funds for relief of
destitution among natives.
Discontinuance of district of
fices of the bureau of Indian af
fairs and appointment of inspec
tors in their stead.
Approval of the reindeer coun
cil’s plan for supervision of the
industry.
Approval of the Alaska Road
Commission’s tentative 10-year
improvement program.
Improvement of various har
bors and rivers.
Better charting of Glacier Bav
and other inlets.
Changing the boundaries of
McKinlev Park to conform with
Vne natural boundaries.
Governor Parks reported an
increase of a million and a half
dollars in Alaska’s gold produc-j
tion, with a total of $8,476,000.]
Fifty-seven per cent of the pro
duction came from placers
Decline in copper prices re
sulted in a production of only
$4,244,600, compared with $7,130,
000 in 1929.
The value of the fisheries out
put dropped from $57,095,819 to
$37,670,049 and whaling returns
declined from $502,081 to $472,
065.
Seal skins brought $621,767.
The seal herd numbers 1,045,101
as against 132,000 in 1910.
Juneau Lumber vs Leets
The Juneau Lumber Company
began suit against Chestbro
Bros., and O. D. and K. D. Leet
and the Alaska Fish Brokerage
Company for $2,200 worth of
box shocks supplied them. The
Leets were the prime movers in
establishing the Wrangell Cold
Storage and after operating the
concern for a couple of years,
with no profit to the stockhold
ers, they sold out their interests
to the other stockholders with
out any member of the concern
having seen any of the books or
without disclosing any part of
the operations..
-x- -
Ralph Reeser, department
commander of the American Le
gion in Alaska, has designated
E. M. Goddard as transport of
ficer to arrange special rates for
the next Legion convention
which will be held in Fairbanks.
-x
The Coliseum Theatres are
making their annual drive for
Christmas funds for the pioneers
at Sitka. Manager Lemieux will
announce a definite date when
all the proceeds from one night’s
show will be turned over to this
fund. Added to which the man
agers of the theatres will solicit
funds from business and private
interests to augment this fund
A matinee will be held in the
Coliseum Theatre, Sunday after
noon at 2:30, all of the proceeds
of which will be turned over tc
the Pioneers’ Fund being gather
ed for the old boys at Sitka.
Haines Town Puts
In Light Plant
Early in December, the old
engine which generated the
power for the Haines Light &
Power Company, broke down.
The company ordered a new 50
h. p., 60 cycle, 2300 volt, Fair
banks-Morse engine immediate
ly. The installation is now al
most complete as the work is
being rushed night arid da;/. Mr.
McTherson of the Cascade Elec
tric and Machine Works is su -
pervising the installation. He jt
was who installed the {abs a:
Yakutat, Wrangell and P.pors
burg. There are eight men work
ing including Manage” Ja’k
Pvowji and Mr. McPherson
The old plant was a 1). C.
current but the newr genera/ a;
is an A. C. It is expected that
there will be a rush fcr the mod
ern appliances and conveniences
for the home with the change.
It is expected that the plant will
be in operation about the first
of the new year And after the
installation it is expected that
the plant will give 24-hour ser
vice. The old plant will be re
paired and changed into an A. C.
outfit and held in reserve for
emergency purposes.
-x
Federal Attorneys
Enter Land Case
W. F. Staley, representing the
U. s. Department cf Agriculture
arrived in Juneau last week to
co-operate with the District At
torney on behalf of the Forest
Service to enjoin William Mur
chy and others from retaining
their inherent possessions at
Auk Bay Village, south of Ju
neau on the Highway. The case
is set to begin *on the 15th of
this month. Attorneys Foster
and Grigsby are representing
the Indian defendants.
The 70 acres or more land in
volved v/as the old village site of
the Auk people for generations.
While apparently abandoned, j
the Indians still maintain gar- !
dens on the spot. Several years
ago, the Forest Service appro
priated the lands without due |
process and turned it into a city1
park for Juneau citizens. Last
summer Murphy and others were
ordered from the gounds when
they began to build cabins and
gardens. Tire case went into
court on temporary injunction
proceedings which were issued
by Judge Harding pending trial.
—-x
The Ida Hellen, gasboat of
Seattle is in port with Rev. Vin
cent and family on board. The
party is leaving for Seldovia
where Mr. Vincent will be mis
sionary in charge of the Meth -
odist work.
-x
The Victoria will sail from Se
attle on the 20th of this month
I moving up two days on her
schedule in order to accomodate
the Alaska trade.
—-x
Governor George A. Parks, is
leaving for the States Sunday on
i the Victoria. He will visit with
his parents in Denver, Colorada
,c-nd will probably continue on to
Washington on official business,
i -x
i
I Until tomorrow becomes yes
| terday, men will be blind to the
good fortune of the present.—
| Chinese proverb.
* * *
| Ole Ekrum and family have
I moved into the Olsen residence
I which they purchased recently.
I Mr. Beck and family have moved
(into the Lund residence and
j Chief of Police Carlson has mov
ed into the residence formerly
j occupied by the Ekrum family.
Santa To Visit
In Petersburg
On the next southbound trip
of the motorship Northland,
Santa Claus will be a passenger
enroute South for his annual
visit to the children. While the
ship is in port he will be glad to
'interview the children of Peters
burg and will dig out of his bag
of stores a present for each,
child that comes to visit him.
He plans to hold open-house
aboard the ship.
The date and hour will be
determined according to the ar
rival of the ship. This informa
tion will be given cut by the
local agent as early as possible
so as to give every youngster
ample notice.
Santa plans to have remem
brances for about 2,000 Alaskan
children this year.
-x—
Dad’s Show Plenty Life
At P. T. A. Meeting
-x-■
The meeting of the Parent-1
Teachers’ Association, Wednes-!
day night was devoted to the'
Dad’s of the school kiddies.
The regular business of the or-'
ganization was taken care of
during the fore part of the ses
sion a'ter which a program was'
resented. Mr. Ohmer made pre
sentation of medals to the Boy
Scouts who passed into higher |
grades in their Scout work. A
fake business meeting was con
ducted by a group of men with
Mr. Carol Clausen acting as
chairman. This comedy was sup -
posed to shew the women folk
how to conduct a meeting. There
was much hilarity during the
little sketch. Mr. L. T. Swanson
gave a reading and was followed
by Mr. George Beck, principal of
the schools with a short talk.
Mr. Ohmer followed along the
lines suggested by Mr. Beck. The
Male Chorus sang several songs
and closed with the song, “We’re;
Waiting for Coffee.” after which
the Dad’s served a very nice
lunch, a la cafeteria. The atten
dance was very good and the en
tire program was enjoyed by all.
Game Commission
Changes Regulations
In a resolution adopted by th-:
Commission, it is pointed out
that there is an inequality in
the various districts in that the
northern districts have longer
hunting season than the south
ern districts; that the supply of
game birds is increasing in the
northern and western breeding
grounds and the open seasons
are in adequate as applied this
year. They therfore recommend
that there be no further curtail
ment of seasons without the re
commendations of the commis
sion. And further endorse open
seasons according to the Fur
Districts.
Sweeping changes are promis
ed in the realignment of Fur
Districts owing to complaints
from trappers in the various
sections. Discrepancies have oc
curred in establishing these sea
j sons and in some instances these
have been corrected.
The new Game Law Circular
No. 9 will be printed and made
available early in 1932 and mail
ed to various agencies for dis
tribution. They may be procured
from the Game Commission or
(agents and licensing officers in
! the various towns.
-x
Saddle your dreams before you
ride ’em.—Selected.
Thou shalt always have joy in
the evening, if thou hast spent
thy day well. -Thomas A. Kempis.
Republican Feud
Takes New Angle
The feud which broke out be
tween Attorney General John
Eustgard and Walstein G .Smith.
Treasurer on one side as Board
of Appeals and \uditor Cash
Cole on the other, took a new
angle when the Juneau School
Board entered into the fight by
categorically denying the as
sertions of the Auditor that the
claims for transportation of
children to school were exhori
tant.
Attorney Frank Foster was
delegated by the Attorney Gen
eral to institute suit to force
p a y m e nt of t: msportation
claims, along vjith claim of
Grover C. Winn for extra cleri-1
cal services following the last
legislature. Mr. Cole, in a signed
statement to the' Board advised
that Board that he would abide
by their ruling but places full
responsibility for such action |
upon them. That his ruling had
been made in protection of his!
office and bond which is in the
sum of $25,000. Under the law
the auditor is held under bond
and is personally liable for any
malfeasance cr misfeasance in
office and for knowingly paying1
out territorial funds for claims’
which he knows to be improper. ■
The Board took the view that!
the Auditor had no right to go!
back of the actions of the sev
eral agencies which might con
tract territorial liabilities Ac
tion of the Board of Appeals now
takes from the Auditor respon
sibility for payment of unjust
claims against the territory.
The feud which has broken
out in the Republican circles in
Juneau augers well for a com
plete victory of the Democrats
in the primary and general elec
tions. Unless National Commit
teeman Lathrop is able to patch
up the differences and to bring
harmony into the warring folds
of Republicanism, the party
might just as well fold up their
banners and put them away for
they will eniov the most stinging
defeat in the history of Alaska
politics in the next elections.
And from present indications :t
does not appear that the Com
mitteeman will be able to func
tion in his office as he should.
Road Contractors Squabie
-x
Hubbel & Waller, road con
tractors. have temporarly en
joined Gordon McDonald from
moving his equiDment, floating
equipment, gravel scow, cater
pillar and two boats from Kla
wock-Craig district where he has
subcontracted to put in the
roadway contracted for by Hub
bell & Waller. The contractors
are now paying a penalty of $25
per day for failing to complete
the road in time.
-x
JilDS AT ST. ANTHONY
GET CHRISTMAS FUND
Deputy U. S .Marshal Frank D.
Price circulated a petition a
i round among various people of
Juneau and secured a total of
$51 which is being sent to the 3t.
Anthony Reform School in Ida
ho, to be distributed among the
Alaska children. Marshal Albeit
White transmitted the donations
to the institution through its
superintendent.
-x
Collector of Customs McBride
of Juneau has asked for bids for
the painting cf the Customs
building at Sitka. Bids close
January 15th.
-x
The Commercial Club is offer
| ing a prize of $5 for the best out
side Christmas tree—put up
either by private persons or
business housea
Library Plans
Being Solved
j At last Petersburg is to have z
I library—a place where one ma;
be able to look up references anc
secure information on matters
of interest. The library will be ir
the Telephone Exchange Build
ing on Main Street. Membership
cards are being offered to ail
uilzens—adult cards, $1.00 and
children, 50 cents. When a re
oresentative organization has
been perfected, election of offic ■
ers will be held to place respon
sible persons in charge of the
libarry. Books are being gather
ed by purchase and as gifts
from private individuals so tha*
there will' be a sizeable library
to work in. It is planned to open
the dcors of the institution about
the first of the year.
•-x
Community Tree Plans
Now Completed
-X
Definite plans have been made
for erection, and decoration of
the Community Christmas tree,
following established custom
Charles Gieena will head the
committee which will secure all
the trimmin’s which will glad -
den the hearts of the kiddies;
the teachers of the public
schools will put up the goodies
in bags for distribution and the
Boy Scouts are to decorate the
tree. Santa Claus will be present,
long whiskers, bells and all. Ac
cording to recent report he is
still up in the Arctic Circle but
is fast wending his way south.
Following distribution of pre
sents at the tree, the children
cf the Public Schools will put on
a Christmas program at Enge’s
Theatre on the night of the 23rd.
-x
Special Pregram Put
On at Klawock
The Klawock town hall was
almost filled to rapacity Wednes
day evening for the school pro
gram. The town band furnished
music with its usual pep and
enthusiasm. Decorations of ever
green branches and colored tis
sue paper added much to the
holiday atmosphere.
Mr. R. J. Peratrovich spoke for
a short time relative to the im
proved educational facilities in
Klawock as compared with the
times when he attended the
public school.
Practically every pupil in the
school took some active part in
the program. The first grade
children were the hit of the pro
gram offering songs and exer
cises. The second grade present
ed a peppy gobbler song with
three members dressed to repre
sent the gobblers. The third
grade featured a Colonial Drill
in costumes. Four boys and girls
from the fourth and fifth grades
debated on the subject—“Re
solved that Thanksgiving Day i?
a more important holiday than
Alaska Day.” The negative
speakers received the greatest
amount of applause from the au
dience. The sixth grade featured
a short two act play with Miles
Standish, Mrs. Miles Standish.
an Indian and a traveler as the
characters.
A basket ball game took place
immediately after the program
The married men’s team defeat
ed the bachelors by two points.
—-x
In the Legion flcticuffs to b<
held at Juneau on the 31st. ol
December, Mack will meet Gur
vich as a substitute for Mile;
Murphy who was given a sen
tence of 30 days in jail plus 3
fine of $200 for being in a drunk
en fight Sunday,
iMIakatla To
Dedicate Hall
-x
Saturday, December 19, the
historic town of Metlakatia wii
have passed another milestone
n its progress by dedicating the
'argest community hall in Alas
ka. When completed, this hall
’7ill cost $50,000.
Out-of-town visitors are ex
pected in numbers to enjoy the
program which is being prepar
ed. The committee in charge
consists of Mayor Roderick Davis
Rev. Edward Marsden, Charier,
Brendible, E. R. stone, Herbert
Murchison and Ben Ridley.
There will be exercises at 2
0- m. and again at 8 p. m. The
new band instruments for the
Metlakatia band which cost
>3000 will be used by the musi
cians for the occasion. The best
musical talent in the town of
Metlakatia will take part in the
program.
The community hall is 70x120
feet and divided into club rooms,
meeting places and a large space
:for sports. A number of boats
j will be available for transport
I mg Ketchikan residents who will
I be invited to attend the dedica
it ion exercises. —Ketchikan
: Chronicle.
-x
Need Medical Aid
At Ketchikan
P obably a third of the native
population of the Territory is in
the Ketchikan district. This fact
coupled with statistics which
-ho v a high mortality rate a
mcng these natives, particular
ly from tuberculosis, was cited at
the regular meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce recently
by Dr. R. V. Ellis.
It was the contention of Dr.
Ellis that if these data are sub
mitted to the newly-appointed
medical director fGr Alaska; Dr.
Frank S. Fell owes, when he visits
Ketchikan there is a possibility
mat beneficial results will follow.
President J. A. Talbot an
nounced that he would advise
the committee under the chair
manship of Judge W. C. Arnold,
previously appointed to study the
situation, to assemble the neces
sary facts and figures for pre
sentation to Dr. Fellowes, who is
making his headquarters in Ju
neau. He has charge of all the
medical work among the Alaskan
natives.
| There has been considerable
agitation in Ketchikan for the
establishment of a government
hospital to care for the many
eases of illness among the na
tives in this district.—Chroncile.
The Admiral Evans returned
to Ketchikan after leaving for
Seattle, on account of Purser
Miller having an acute attack of
appendicitis. An emergency op
eration was necessary and Miller
is reported as resting quietly.
-x
The Yukon Fur Farms is ship
ping out samples of mink fur
from their pens to various a
gencies. At the recent Interna
tional Fur Show held at Was
seau, Minn., the dozen mink
sent for exhibition made a com
plete sweep of prizes. The com
pany plans to ship out a bunch
of fur for market purposes about
the 21st of the month. Fred
Burch and Jack DeSaute,r are
pelting the mink for the com
! pany.
-x
The secretary of the Commer
cial Club, Mr. William Holt has
written letters to various or
| ganizations in town asking theii
, support and cooperation in put
ting up the Community Christ
jmas Tree.
City Council in
Long Session
The City Council met in re
gular meeting Monday night in
j the Fire Hall, with Mayor Ohmer
and all members present. All bills
before the session were ordered
paid as was also the interest on
city bonds due as of January 1st.
The clerk was authorized to pay
out $45 each month for main
tenance of the new city library
—$25 for rental and $20 for up
keep.
It was ordered that following
the usual custom the City should
nut up a Community Christmas
tree. Mr. Ed Nilsen, in charge of
city works is to see that the tree
is set in ample time for its de
coration and illumination. Th >
school faculty under Principle
George Beck will have a large
share in getting or. the trimin’s
end fittin’s.
Ed Walwick, aged blacksmith
who has been under physical
disability for several years due to
a stroke of paralysis, is to have
an electric heater to displace
his wood burning stove. Ed, tho
unable to cut wood, has been
observed doing his best to get
in fuel supply to keep out the
cold. The action of the Council
is being commended by various
citizens.
The Council discussed in its
various angles, the matter of the
kiddies sliding with their sleds
on the several hills. It was point
ed out that unless stringent re
gulatory measures were taken,
there might be some serious ac
cidents. To prevent this, the
Council took steps to put up
‘ Stop” signs on certain st eets
and to cut out all sliding on
other streets.
Considerable discussion was
g’iven by Messrs Forrest Fryer of
the Fryer Machine Works and
|j. H. Wheeler of the Wheeler
Drug & Jewelery Company re
lative to securing city business.
The suggestion being urged that
more of the city business and
! purchases be put on a bid basis
—
At The Coliseum Theatre
Gary Cooper stands today, the
foremost fighting man of the
screen.
With six-shooter, sword, bay
1 onet and fists, Cocper has bean
fighting his way through on1
picture after another during tile
past year. Now, in “Morocco. ’
his latest starring picture, in
which he appears with Marlene
i Dietrich and Adolphe Menjou
1 at the Coliseum Theatre for
| Sunday and Monday, he is still
! 1 fighting man, this time a pri
jvate in the French Foreign Le
j gion.
I Since Cooper shot it out with
; Trampas in “The Virginian,” ha
!has had a continuous succession
)f hardy rcles. He was a “kiltie”
in “Seven Days Leave.” In ‘'On
ly the Brave,” he fought battles
cf the Civil War He went back
to the six-gun and the plains for
“The Texan,” and “A Man From
Wyoming” saw him in action in
France again.
-x
The letter from the Ketchikan
Commercial Club, held over by
the local Club from a previous
meeting was discussed Wednes
day evening. The matter was left
in the hands of President Ohmer
as the Alaska Game Commission
had taken action already along
the lines urged by the Ketchikan
Club. In event this action does
1 ot meet with the approval of
the Ketchikan Club, the matter
will be taken up further.
| -x
The Community League meets
at the Lutheran Church Tuesday
evening. The hostess for the
evening are Mrs. John Otness
and Mrs. Jack Otness.