Weather
High Low Precip.
July 10 68 44
July 11 76 48
July 12 . 73 53 .70
July 13 68 52 Trace
July 14 . 68 50
July 15 61 53
July 16 61 50 Trace
Seward £***, record
l he (taleway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903. Seward’s All-Weather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X, No. 3
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1953
Price 10 Cents
Reporter's
Notebook
Ruth Cooper and little daugh
ter Karen arrived home Thurs
day from a long vacation State
side. Mrs. Cooper visited her
parents in Seward, Nebraska.
Oscar Dahl left on the Bara
nof Thursday for his home in
Washington. lie has been here
several weeks doing assessment
work on the mine. Parties and
farewell dinners kept him oc
cupied this week until sailing
time.
The Zentmire cabin on Bear
Creek was broken into and rifled
of valuable goods last week.
This is the second burglary in
recent years for the Zentmires.
James Construction Company
is tearing down their shop build
ing on Fourth Avenue opposite
the city hall this week. It will
be replaced with a concrete
block building which will be
occupied by the Seward schools
as an annex for the next two
years.
Mrs. Howard Stephens of
Rochester, New York will arrive
next Tuesday for a short visit.
Mrs. Stephens is Dr. J .B. Die
sher's mother. This is her first
trip to Alaska and the Dieshers
are anticipating much pleasure
in showing her around.
John Dryer, former Sewardite
who now lives in Anchorage,
spent some time in Seward this
week. He has been doing work
on his mine claims in the area.
Mrs. Everitt Maugher was a
visitor this week. She will re
turn to Fairbanks soon where
they are living. Mr. Maugher
was contractor for the Nurses
Residence constructed here last
year.
The whole town was confused
last Saturday evening when th.e
fire siren got stuck and made
repeated calls after the first one
which sent firemen to a trash
fire in the alley back of the
hospital.
Sure did call out a crowd of
bewildered fire hunters!
The fire alarm Thursday eve
ning was in answer to a call on
Dairy Hill where a tar barrel
caught fire. No damage.
Mrs. Barbara Bedford and
Mrs. Ada Millerman are both
patients this week at the hos
pital. as is Annetta Novick
Stepp, who hurt her knee while
on a fishing trip.
Word was received here today
of Dr. Russell Wagner's election
as vice president of the Alaska
Dental Association at the con
vention in Juneau Thursday.
Dr. and Mrs. Wagner who are
both at the convention are ex
pected back in town next week.
Fred Wilmans and Bob and
Helen Hake flew into the Lake
Clark area last week to camp.
It is not known whether they
are near the section that is afire,
but as the lake is very large,
it is assumed by friends that
they can find a place of safety.
Edward R. Renwald, son of
Ed Renwald, Seward Bakery, is
attending summer encampment
of the Air Force Reserve Offi
cers Training Corps at Larson
Air Force Base, Washington. Ed
is a student in business adminis
tration at the University of Ore
gon and holds the rank of staff
sergeant and squad leader in
AFROTC at the university.
Sam Romach is justly proud
of the biggest salmon that has
been brought in here. It weighed
87 pounds and is known as a
“Copper King."
A1 Abrahamsen and family
arrived in Seward from Arizona
Thursday. They left Seattle
June 30, taking it slow and easy
because of the condition of the
road.
Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamsen
have four children. The oldest
has been visiting with the Fran
DuBeaus since last summer.
The Abrahamsens are making
their home with the DuBeaus
at present.
The “Alaska Liner-’ explains
why a ship is called a “she,” in
this month’s issue:
It is because there’s not a
straight line on her—she’s all
curves. Because she needs a man
to handle her and because it
takes a lot of paint to keep her
in trim.
The above information was
given by a man, of course.
Visitors Enjoy Wonders Of
Mt. McKinley Nat'l Park
McKinley from Wonder Lake
Park Cache
Streaming in by boat, air and
highway, visitors are helping to
make 1953 the biggest tourist
season in Alaska's history.
Chief attractions of the North
land are the rugged scenery—
glaciers, mountains and fjords—
and the profusion of wildlife.
The Alaska Railroad reports
that most of the visitors want to
see Mt. McKinley National Park,
a 3.000 square mile area in the
interior. Daily trains are now
pushing visitors from Fairbanks
and Anchorage into the park
area.
Main attraction of the fabu
lous park area, the second larg
est under the U.S. flag, is
Mt. McKinley. A giant, two
headed mountain, Big Mac was
first climbed by Archdeacon
Hudson Stuck in 1913. That was
big news 40 years ago, but since
scads of parties have scampered
to the top of the 20.300 foot
peak. Two summers ago it look
ed like the Mt. Marathon race.
A half dozen parties came to
Alaska for the assault.
The mountain rises a sheer
17,000 feet from the 3,000 foot
high plateau. The south pinnacle
—the higher peak—tops the
north by some 300 feet.
Visitors are flocking to the
hotel, which is now under pri
vate operation, to headquarter
their McKinley Park vacation.
Regular tours are conducted
through the park on a hook-up
originating in the States.
New "boss man” at McKinley
Park Hotel is E. W. "Bud”
Lauesen, formerly of Detroit,
who says he plans to make the
hotel one of the finest to be
found anywhere.
“Every effort is being made
to salvage that good old fash
ioned Sourdough hospitality for
which Alaska is famous,” he de
clares. “In addition we plan to
provide more facilities to enter
tain guests.”
Lauesen said he is pointing
(Turn to Page t>)
POSITION OPEN IN
DEPT. OF EDUCATION
Miss Marguerite Schuman,
Certification Director and Su
pervisor of Non-Resident In
struction in the Department of
Education for the past year, has
resigned her position effective
August 14, 1953. Miss Schuman
will take a position as a girls
physical education instructor in
California this fall.
Applications will be received
until August 1 for filling the
vacancy. Applicants must be
qualified teachers with at least
a B A. or B.S. degree, and either
certified or eligible for certifi
cation in Alaska. Some actual
teaching experience would be
helpful, but is not essential. The
applicant should be able to oper
ate a typewriter in order to
handle routine correspondence.
Letters of application should
include personal information,
education and experience, and
a list of references. A transcript
of credits should be enclosed.
Salary will be based on posi
tion on the Refundable Salary
Scale, First Division, and wiil
be computed at 11-9 of such
base salary. The position is year
round with annual leave and
sick leave privileges as provided
by Territorial law.
SANDVIK-WETHERILL
An Anchorage couple was
married by Commissioner Anna
B. Southard at her home last
Saturday night. They are Fran
ces Wetherill ■ and James Q.
Sandvik. Their attendants were
Mrs. Florence Rogers and James
L. Burke, both of Seward.
4Si.‘ I- .. V
Horseshoe Lake
Igloo Creek
McKinley Park Road
Pholos Courtesy A.R.R.
The 'Welcome1
Sign And The
New Alaska
Word was received this week
that the old cabin at Cooper
Lake has been destroyed by fire.
This was a well known land
mark. familiar to hunters of this
area for years, knowing that
they could plan on overnight
shelter upon reaching the cabin.
It will be missed by many as
one of the relics of the o 1 d
Alaska.
The cabin was within the
limits of a mining claim held
by Hank Pallage, big game
guide and hunter of Seward.
He has spent much time and
money on the camp and had a
complete camping and mining
outfit in the cabin.
Since nothing remained in the
ashes, not even the stove and
solid items that would not com
pletely burn, it is assumed that
the cabin was stripped before
the fire which was apparently
set to destroy evidence of rob
bery.
When contacted about the fire
Hank .remarked, “There was a
welcome sign on the open door.
This seems to be the new Al
aska.”
Juneau
News-Letter
(Issued by the Office of the
Governor, Juneau. Alaska for
information and publication.)
Tax collections by the Terri
torial Department of Taxation
amounted to $9,130,004.50 for
the first half of 1953, Governor
B. Frank Heintzleman has an
nounced. Collections for the six
month period have been report
ed to the Governor's office by
R. D. Stevenson, Acting Tax
Commissioner.
This year's collections to the
end of June compare with $8,
943.002.15 for the same Deriod
in 1952 and $7,279,190.27 dur
ing the first half of 1951.
Tax collections by judicial
divisions for the first six months
of the three years were:
First Division: 1951, $2,384,
110.63: 1952, $2,443,131.58; 1953,
$2,519,055.82.
Second Division: 1951, $133,
024.29; 1952, $132,487.59; 1953,
$120,583.57.
Third Division: 1951, $3,651.
126.03; 1952. $4,640,547.25; 1953,
$4,827,133.44.
Fourth Division: 1951, $1,110,
929.32: 1952, $1,726,835.73; 1953,
$1,663,231.67.
Biggest single producer of
Territorial revenue during the
first half of 1953 was the Alaska
Net Income Tax, which brought
in $3,127,595.29. The commercial
fisheries of Alaska, including
the raw fish tax, fishermen’s
licenses and gear taxes, paid
$2,207,418.53 into the Territorial
treasury during the six months.
Other major sources of reve
(Turn to Page 6)
MOOSE COMMITS SUICIDE
AT MILE 4
The head-on collision of a big
cow moose with a Jeep truck at
Mile 4 or thereabouts, on the
highway at 10:30 Wednesday
night, amounted to virtual sui
cide for the animal.
The car, owned by Leo Del
arm of Seward, was moving
south on the highway just north
of Clear Creek bridge-when the
moose slid down the bank and
ran full tilt into the vehicle.
Upon impact the animal was
thrown over th& radiator and
onto the top of the car, accord
ing to the driver of a car fol
lowing. It sprawled across the
road with three legs broken.
Tucker Jones and a buddy,
who were in the car behind the
collision, brought the passengers
into town and got Carlos Carson,
F&WS agent to the scene of the
accident.
Extensive damage amounting
to approximately $600 was done
to the car but the occupants
received no serious personal in
jury. Mr. Carson had to dispose
of the moose.
Traffic was halted for several
minutes until the wreckage of
car and animal could be cleared
away.
Homer Sartor To Be
Buried Outside
The body of Homer Sartor,
aged 36, was flown to Seattle
Friday for burial. Mr. Sartor
died suddenly in Seward Gen
eral Hospital Wednesday, July
15.
Homer F. Sartor was born in
Forsyth, Montana. September 1,
1917. He was a veteran of World
War II in both the European and
South Pacific areas. Among his
citations was the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife,
Margaret, and two small sons,
and his parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Sartor of Port Angeles,
Washington.
Mrs. Sartor was called to
Buhl. Idaho last week because
of illnoor. in her family 5shp Irfl
the children with Mr. and Mrs.
C. C. Corderio, neighbors here,
and was not in Seward at the
time of her husband’s death. It
is not known if she intends to
return to Seward to stay.
GIRL SCOUT CABIN DOORS
LEFT UNLOCKED
Doors of the Girl Scout cabin
at the end of Nash Road are
unlocked. A poster on each door
bears this legend:
"This cabin and its contents
have been donated by the citi
zens of Seward for the Girl
Scouts. You are welcome to use
it, but please leave everything
in the same condition in which
you found it."
Several private cabins in the
area have been molested in re
cent weeks. The Scout Council
hopes that by putting people on
their honor the cabin and facili
ties for the little girls of Seward
will be left unharmed.
Washington
News-Letter
By Mary Lee Council
July 8, 1953
RURAL ELECT. LOAN
A loan of $842,000 was ap
proved to the Homer Electric
Association, according to infor
mation given Delegate Bartlett
by the Rural Electrification Ad
ministration.
The funds would be used for
installation of a 500 kilowatt
diesel generating unit and con
struction of 104 miles of distri
bution lines to serve 369 addi
tional rural consumers. System
improvements and previously
approved construction will also
be undertaken.
MILITARY PUBLIC WORKS
The Department of Defense
has asked the Congress to auth
orize $10,791,000 in construction
for Army and Air Force public
works projects in Alaska.
The projects are included in
a message sent to' the Hill by
the Defense Department for 169
named installations located in
41 states and additional projects
in Alaska, Okinawa, Mariana '
Islands, the Philippines and
Cuba totalling $529,386,000.
The Alaska Army projects
totalling $8,791,000 are ear
marked as follows: $345,000 for
the Turnagain Arm firing range,
$3,990,000 for Big Delta, $737,
000 for Kenai, $2,054,000 for
Ladd Air Force Base and $1,
665,000 for Fort Richardson.
Two areas in the Territory,
Aniak and Fort Yukon, are des
ignated for Air Force opera
tional facilities in the total sum
(Turn to Page 6)
C. of C. Discusses
Woodrow Siding
Three guests were present at
the Chamber ot Commerce meet
ing Tuesday. They were A. N.
McClellan, claim agent for Al
aska Steamship Company; Pat
Cook, chief engineer, The Alas
ka Railroad; a representative
of the Departmfcnt of Labor and
Elroy Hinman, assistant to the
general manager, ARR.
Mr. Hinman was asked about
the closing of Woodrow station.
He stated that some investiga
tion is to be done on the prob
lem. The station was closed as
of July 1 to the inconvenience
of Seward consignees.
Guns Recovered in
Army Store Robbery
A large number of hand guns,
rifles, knives, camping equip
ment and ammunition were re
covered by Seward police Wed
nesday from the group of teen
agers who broke and entered
the Army Surplus Store owned
by Ralph Andrews on Adams
Street.
Quick work on the part of the
police department apprehended
the boys involved in the rob
bery. Confessions of the young
sters revealed that the robbery
had been planned to the last
detail, even to the extent of
burying the loot.
They broke into the store
from the rear door at about mid
night Tuesday. Andrews report
ed the loss at 8 a.m. Wednesday,
and by night the guilty boys
had been apprehended.
Aften an informal hearing be
fore U. S. Commissioner Anna
B. Southard, the boys were put
•on probation to the Public Wel
fare Department.
George Green At
Lions Convention
Seward was represented in
the Alaska delegation to the 36th
annual convention of the inter
national organization of Lions
Club in Chicago this week.
George Green went to the con
vention after attending the con
vention of another organization.
Alaska's float in the parade
took second prize of $500. It
depicted the snows of Alaska,
an igloo and the aurora borealis,
which was the only color. The
float is said to have received
many rounds of applause from
the sidelines.
The Seward Lions are a small
number but very active. They
provide an annual scholarship
for graduates attending college
from Seward High School, and
they arc also quick to respond
to any other civic affairs.
Rev. Spaulding
Off To Oregon
Rev. Kent E. Spaulding, first
regular pastor of the Seward
Lutheran Church, left Thursday
with his family on the Baranof
for his new charge at Klamath
Falls, Oregon.
Rev. Spaulding came to Sew
ard three years ago to take
charge of the new Lutheran
Church, llis third child, a son,
was born in Seward General
Hospital during his pastorate
here. Mr. Spaulding was a mem
ber of the Chamber of Com
merce and an elected member of
the Seward School Board for
the past two years. He is an
enthusiastic hunter and fisher
man and enjoyed the sports in
Alaska.
Ladies of the church held a
tea honoring Mrs. Spaulding last
Sunday afternoon, and on Wed
nesday night, the eve of their
sailing, Lutheran men had a
fellowship dessert honoring the
pastor.
The new pastor, Rev. Dwight
J. Boe, is not expected in Sew
ard until October. Until that
time the pulpit will be filled
by laymen and visiting minis
ters. Next Sunday, July 19,
services will be conducted by
Mr. Gerrit Hoogland.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
"OUT" FOR VACATION
Carl R. Carlson, superintend
ent of Seward schools, left
Wednesday for a three week va
cation with his mother and fam
ily at Altoona, Washington.
Mr. Carlson's vacation is short
this year because of preparing
Bayview School and the main
building for the coming session.
There is considerable painting
and remodeling still to be clone,
Although the school is closed,
Mrs. Baker is available in the
office during the mornings, or
for any special information she
can be contacted at her home
on Fourth Avenue.
Gov. Heintzlemon Protests
Cost Of Living Cuts
Volunteer Ambulance
Corps Seeks Drivers
It is not fun driving an am
bulance, it is indeed nerve
wracking, according to members
of the Volunteer Ambulance
Corps. There is always the
worry over the safety arid well
being of the patient inside. It
is however, an appeal to the
skill -of a driver and the ever
present desire in the American
heart to help the injured.
At the regular monthly meet
ing of the Ambulance Corps
group Tuesday night, members
decided that more volunteers
are needed for that job in Sew
ard. Both men and women are
being recruited for membership
in the Corps. It is the hope of
the organiation to have a fully
accredited first-aider to accom
pany the driver on every call.
More often than not, when an
emergency call is received, it is
difficult or impossible to locate
drivers by telephone. It is there
fore necessary to have a larger
number on the list to handle
emergencies.
Persons interested in joining
the Ambulance Corps are asked
to contact the secretary, Mrs.
Kay McCann, President Jack
Kelly, or any member of the
Ambulance Corps.
No Polio Cases In
Moose Pass
Among the new cases of polio
as reported by the Department
of Health a case was listed as
being in Moose Pass. Being so
close to Seward, some mothers
here became alarmed.
A check with the Health Nurse
and Moose Pass disclosed that
the 11 year old son of Lyle Sax
ton is a victim of the disease,
but he is not in Moose Pass.
He lias been visiting in the
Matanuska Valley for several
weeks. Upon becoming ill, the
child was removed to the Pal
mer hospital where he is still
under treatment. It is also felt
that the boy contacted polio
from some source other than in
Moose Pass as he was not at
home during the incubation per
iod.
Contradict Reports
In Cause Of
Fatal Plane Crash
First reports published in Al
aska papers on the cause of the
crash of Vern (Tiny) Trakowski
in Washington are contradicted
by the later report (just received
here) made by Lt. Edith Doran,
of the Eureka, California Civil
Air Patrol.
The following excerpt is from
the Eureka Independent:
A Republic “Seabee” amphib
ian plane, reported as missing
on July 4 after filing a flight
plan over this area from Bishop,
California, to Seward. Alaska,
via Seattle, and object of a Civil
Air Patrol and U.S. Air-Sea Res
cue search throughout the North
Coast area, ended Monday at
3:15 o'clock. The plane was
found between Chehalis and
Centralia, Washington, with its
pilot dead. Lieutenant Edith
Doran of the Eureka flight, CAP,
reported shortly afterward.
A woodsman discovered the
wreckage of the Alaska Scenic
Airways plane which carried its
owner, V. D. Trakowski, to his
death.
The big ship had refueled at
Rohnerville airport on July 1,
and was last reported by a High
way Patrol car about five miles
northwest of Eureka with its
landing gear down and flying
low as though seeking a landing.
There was sufficient fuel
aboard the plane when found to
have carried it to its destination,
local CAP authorities reported.
Ceiling at take off time from
Rohnerville was reported at
1.000 feet. The plane took on
50 gallons of gas at that time.
PENINSULA PICTURED IN
FORD MAGAZINE
A magazine of national circu
lation, the “Ford Times,” de
votes two pages to the Kenai
Peninsula this month. Pictures
in color show Turnagain Arm
and Kenai River, both familiar
scenes to local motorists.
Although Bob and Ira Spring,
the authors, do not mention
Seward, local readers found the
impressions of Outsiders motor
ing through the Peninsula to
be very interesting.
(From the Juneau News Let
ter, issued by the Office of the
Governor for information and
publication, July 14, 1953.)
The perennial effort to de
prive residents of Alaska and
other Territories who are Fed
eral employees of the 25 per cent
cost of living allowance has
been made in Congress in recent
weeks.
Governor fe. Frank Heintzle
man has made strong protests
against the amendment eliminat
ing this allowance for residents
■of the territories. The amend
ment this year was attached to
the Defense Department appro
priation bill but would apply
to all Federal departments.
William Strand, former editor
of the Fairbanks News-Miner
and now Director of the Offices
■of Territories in the Interior De
partment, has also vigorously
opposed the amendment, as have
the Juneau chapter of the Na
tional Federation of Federal
Employees, the Juneau Chamber
of Commerce and Various other
groups.
The amendment as it passed
the House would discriminate
against the actual residents of
Alaska and other territories. It
would apply only to persons
who were residents of the terri
tories when they entered gov
ernment service. Federal em
ployees recruited from the states
would continue to receive the
allowance.
“This legislation would create
a chaotic employment condition
in the Federal agencies in Alas
ka,” Governor Heintzleman
wired members of the House and
Senate appropriations commit
tees. “The end result would be
the loss of a large percentage
•of resident personnel, who have
the same standards of living and
hence the same cost of living as
non-residents.
"Replacements could only be
made by recruitment or transfer
from the states," the Governor
continued. “This would entail
high transportation costs. New
personnel from the states would
receive the cost of living allow
ance and no economy would re
sult.”
Governor Heintzleman also
pointed out to the Appropria
tions Committees that there is
generally a smaller turnover
among resident personnel, who
have homes and families in Al
aska, than among non-residents.
The latter, he said, frequently
do not like the climate, the rec
reational facilities available or
other aspects of life in Alaska
and soon apply for a transfer
back to the States.
The Governor added:
“Higher costs of living in Al
aska are well established by
surveys of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics and other agencies
and are reflected in the pay
scales offered by Territorial and
Municipal governments and pri
vate industry. These pay scales
are universally higher in Alaska
than in the States and are equal
to or above present Federal pay
scales including the cost of liv
ing allowance.”
OSd Waterfall Rairsp
Repair Project
Undertaken by B&PW
The Seward Business & Pro
fessional Women’s Club has
scheduled a picnic at 6:15 next
Tuesday, July 21 at the water
fall south of town.
The picnic was arranged so
that plans could be studied for
repair or replacement of the
wooden ramp leading to the
waterfall. Several sources have
pointed out the dangerous con
dition of the old ramp. Boards
have been removed and the
underpinning is said to bo un
safe.
Since this is about the first
point of interest for tourists
coming off the ships, and a won
derful spot for camera fans,
something must be done about
making the place safe. The club
has undertaken the job of at
least starting the ball rolling
to make this scenic area attrac
tive and safe for tourists and
residents.
Members and wives of the
Seward Lions Club have been
invited to join in the picnic and
project.
Norine Reed and Mildred
Kirkpatrick w'ill furnish coffee
at the picnic. Others are expect
ed to bring basket lunch enough
for themselves and guests. In
case of rain any change of plans
will be announced.