God offers to every mind Its
choice between truth and re
pose. ..Take which you please,
you can never, have both.
Emerson
Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
$ e o P o r f
Record
Seward's All-Weather Port is Alaskets Greatest Asset.
The 8eward Seaport Record
Is independent in every re
spect and none shall ever be
denied the right to use its col
umns for any legal purpose or
expression.
VOL. XI. NO. 12.
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1954
PRICE 10 CENTS
COUNCIL OK ’S CONTROL FUNDS
SO OTY WONT GO TO DOGS
The Seward City Council met last
Thursday evening, December 9th,
to take up the business of the
City which had been put off from
Monday evening meeting which
had to be adjourned for lack of a
quorum. Councilmen Anthony,
West and Petrovich were absent
on Monday and thus no business
could be transacted.
HOSPITAL
A letter was read from the Jun
eau Office of Alaska Public Works
in which they stated that they
thought perhaps funds would be
made available in 1955 for the
local Hospital project which has
been requested by the City. If
funds were appropriated, construc
tion would likely start in the 1956
construction season.
The method of financing the
S725.000 project of which half is
to be paid by the city, was discus
sed but no immediate solution sug
gested itself at the meeting.
Two additional members to the
Hospital Board were also approv
ed by the Council upon the Mayor’s
recommendation. Mel Dec and
John Rose were the two named
to the Board.
CITY EMPLOYEES
Mr. Pelch formerly an employee
of the City Street Department was
present to protest his being ter
minated by the City Manager. Mr.
Pelch told the Council that he felt
that the troubles in the Street De
partment had been misrepresented
to the Mayor and Council. He
said he had never had any ambi
tion to take over the Department
from the present Superintendent,
Mr. Ross, as had been alledged
and reported in the paper.
• A letter from Councilman Petro
vich. who is out of town, was read
in which he endorsed Mr. Pelch
for reinstatement.
The Mayor and Council agreed
to have a rehearing with Mr. Pelch
when the City Manager got back
to town. He is expected to return
to Seward this weekend and be
on hand for the December 20th
session of the Council.
EXPLOSIVES
A letter was read from the
Alaska Steamship Company, and
the Alaska Railroad, outlining the
problem of having to move ships
from the Railroad Dock to the
Army Dock on occasions when
small amounts of class ‘A’ explo
sives were being shipped to the
Interior. The letters request that
LCL shipments be permitted to go
over the Railroad Dock. The Coun
cil agreed.
LOQUOR LICENSES
Thirteen additional Liquor Li
censes were approved by the Coun
cil at the meeting. They were for
the American Legion, Northern
Bar, Brown Bear Liquor Store,
Nugget Bar, Moose Bar, Yukon
Liquor Store. Surf Bar, Werner's
Market. Solly's Bar and Lounge,
Palace Bar, Nobby Club, and Elks
Club. All Licenses were approved
subject to the provisions of the
City Ordinance on the matter which
provides that all obligations to the
City must be paid before a re
newal will be approved. Accord
ing to the Council this could mean
that a Liquor dealer owing Sales
i or Property taxes or Utility bills
could be denied a renewel under
the Ordinance. To date the Coun
cil has approved 19 renewals of
Licenses.
DOGS
The Council received a letter of
recommendation from the Chief of
Police that a Pound Master be em
ployed to clean up the bunch of
stray dogs which were roaming the
streets. The Council approved
$200 for the program so that the
| town wouldn’t go to the dogs.
; ARMORY
The Council acted to choose an
architect to design the Armory.
| Lin Forest of Juneau was the
[ choice of the Council. He is also
( designing the Homer Armory.
QUONSETS
It was reported that there are
two quonsets still in the housing
area which have not been sold.
There are also several others
which have not been moved and
now winter has arrived, it is near
ly impossible to move them. The
Council had already received a re
quest that a waiver of the provis
ion that all huts must be removed
within thirty days of their sale,
so an extension until June 1st was
granted.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR SAN CHILDREN
Maximo Lopez, age 10, and Helen Mosquito, age 3, are hoping
Santa Claus will bring additional gifts on Christmas eve for their
15 companions receiving tuberculosis treatment at Seward San
atorium. Presents pictured are donations from stateside organiz
tions and are insufficient to provide every child with a gift.
W.S.C.S. Group Hears
Report From Korea
On Friday evening, Devember
10th, the Methodist Women’s Soc
iety of Christian Service held its
business meeting at the new home
of the Arthur Knights in the
Clearview Addition. The president
Helen Lambert, opened the meet
ing by calling on Ruth Malin to
lead the group in prayer.
A high point of the evening was
the reading of a letter from the
orphan Korean boy at the Sal
vation Army Children’s Home at
Seoul. He has been adopted by
WSCS. .
Huth Malin led the group in an I
hilarious game after the business
meeting and delicious refreshments
were served by hostesses Lu Dean
Knight nad Maralyn Edwards.
Mrs. Andy Novak returned this
week to her home in Seward after
an extended visit to Norway.
Community Christmas
Treats Announced
A special treat la In store for
the young fry of the community
on the afternoon of Thursday Dec
ember 23 when all youngsters In
pre-school to third grade group
are Invited to come up to the Civic
Center to meet Santtf Clause. In
addition to the opportunity to meet
St. Nick the youngsters will also
be given a little treat. Hours of
the Community Santa Clause pro
gram are from 2 to 4 p.m.
On Friday the doors of the Lib
erty will be thrown open for a
Children's Matinee which is be
ing sponsored by the local No.
3- of the ILWU. Children up to
and including 14 years old will be
admitted free to the show which
will feature a film presentation
of the Charles Dickens story, “A
Christmas Carol”. In addition to
the Dickens film there will also
be a showing of three cartoons.
NAME NEW CHAMBER OFFICERS
AT TUESDAY NOON DIG
Main business for the jam-pack-,
ed session of the Chamber of J
Commerce held this past week on ;
Tuesday at Wally's was the elec
tion of officers. It seems like
every year the membership comes
out in force on election day to see
that they don't get elected, behind
their backs, to the various offices.
Win Ervin succeeded himself as
President, as the Chember mem- :
bers were so well satisfied with
his accomplishments of the past 1
year they saw tit to send him j
back for another helping.
For First Vice President, Sol
! Ur>e was the voters' choice, and 1
jthe Second Vice Presidency went
to Cordova Airlines Agent Dave:
I Swanson. The Corresponding Sec
1 retary's job was awarded to Frank
Roberts and the Recording Secre
tary's office was given to John
McAnerney.
Jaunita Everett was drafted to
continue as Treasurer of the Cham
ber for another year.
| Five members of the Board of .
I Directors were chosen and they
are Dr. J. B. Diesher, Jacque Roth,
Turner.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
A report of a recent meeting of
the Board of Directors was read
b which they decided to write
me Superintendent of Schools,
questioning the practice of allow
ing an out of town radio station ]
broadcast the local High School
basketball games when refusing
to allow the local station to broad
cast them.
The Board also reported that it
had written a letter to the Terri
torial Police endorsing Tommy
Roberts, local patrolman, and re
questing that he be kept on in
Seward if this did not otherwise
interfere with his wishes or chanc- j
es for promotion. On hearing the ;
report it was suggested by the
Chamber members that an addi- I
tional patrolman be asked for the
Seward area. ;
The Board also decided to write
to John King of the Kwik Log
j Company, asking if there was any- j
thing which could be done for his
j company in Seward. King had in- j
j dicated that the company was i
thinking of moving their fabrica-j
ting plant to Seward so that they
could expand their operations.
i
Other recommendations of the |
Board included a request for twice j
daily mail service which is now
available if the Post Office De
partment approves. The plan for
the twice daily service was warmly
greeted by all the Chamber mem
bers and Postmaster Larsen in
dicated that he was dlso in favor
of the proposal.
According to Cordova Airlines,
there would be practically no ad
ditional charge for the added ser
vice, only the hauling fee front
town to the airport.
The Board had also voted to
write to the Territorial Board of
Boad Cnnnissioners asking that
funds be made available for main
tenance and snow removal on the
Bear Lake, Quartz Creek, Snug
Harbor and Gull Rock Roads. The
Commissioners failed to provide
funds for these roads and after the
first of the year the Bureau will
no longer keep them clear or
maintain them.
One of the biggest items on the
docket of the Board was the re- j
luuiiiif iiuctinni null u j/ubu
started to have immediate con
struction of a two berth dock with
the available funds.
Final action of the Board was
to write to Judge J. L. McCarrey
asking for a steel rollaway cabinet
for the Commissioner's office to be
used for Deeds and Records.
BLOOD BANK
Frank Roberts reported on the
recent David Dyer operation and
said that a drive is on to raise
at least six pints of blood to re
place that used in the operation.
President Ervin reported that
be bad heard from Seattle that
there had been so little favorable
response to the suggestion of an
Alaskan Blood Bank in Seattle
that the plan had been tabled for
the time being.
INDUSTRY
It was reported that the crew
and owners of the mail boat Ex
pansion had indicated that they
were interested in basing the ship
in Seward and making their run
to the Westward from here. The
Chamber agreed to look into the
matter and see what could be
done. The stickler for the time
being seemed to be a dock where
the ship could lay during the per
od when it is in port.
Local Seahawk Team
Clobbers Palmer High
The Seward Seahawks met the
Palmer High school team for a
two game series last Friday and
Saturday evening in the Civic
Center Gym and came away with
two wins.
Friday night’s game got under
way with Seward taking the tip
off and after a few quick passes
Pete Wagner scored with a lay
up. Seward’s offense continued
to click all through the games
first half. Rose and Bahr con
nected with long shots and Wag
ner converted three free throws
into points for the Seahawks.
Worledge of Palmer scored the
only basket in the first quarter for
his (earn'. The quarter ended
with the Seahawks out in front
11 to 2.
The second quarter found the
visitors a little more relaxed. The
Iwo teams exchanged baskets and
the score at the half time was 22
to 11 with the Palmerites still
trailing.
The only time Palmer had pres
sure on the Seward team was in
the third period when Larry Bentti
and Winegarner started hitting.
Doc Blatchford was sent in to
substitute for Pete Wagner, who
was in danger of fouling out, Joe
Hughes then moved to center for
Seward. This maneuver seemed
to calm the Palmer threat.
Wagner took scoring honors for
the evening with a total of 17
points followed by Larry Bentti
who collected 16 points for the
losers.
On Saturday night the game got
off to a slow start as a see-saw
battle was waged between the
tpams ri urine thp first nnartpr
which ended tied 8 to 8. Palmer
looked much better during the
second quarter of play and posed
a real threat it seemed for a while.
By the middle of the third per
iod Seward caught fire and started
rolling up the scores to give a
three quarter time score of 34
to 25. It seemed that the only
Palmer player who kept up the
fire shown in tlje first half by the
visitors was Jack Warledge who
continued to score and k«ep Pri
mers hopes alive.
Scoring honors on Saturday ev
ening went to Jack Warledge of
the Palmer team who racked up
17 points followed by Pete Wagner
for Seward who held 16. The clos
ing score on Saturday night was
48 to 35 thus giving the Sea
hawks both games in the series.
The Hawks will meet the Fair
banks team this week on Friday
and Saturday in Seward.
Make Holiday Call
Reservations Early
The cooperation of Alaskans who
ire planning holiday season tele
phone calls to the States was
requested by Col. M. R. Kunitz,
Commanding officer of the Alaska
Communication System. Signal
Corps, United States Army.
Col. Kunitz stated that an ad
vance call reservation is the best
assurance that the call will be
aompleted during the period when
:he tremendous volume of requests
aften exceeds the available fac
ilities and may result in disappoint
ments to those persons w-ho fail
:o make reservations in advance.
Patrons are requested to contact
:he local ACS office at the earl
est possible date for reservations.
SEA TRAINS ARE COMING,
KALBAUGH TELLS CHAMBER
A large number of Seward Char
ber of Commerce members were
on hand last Friday evening tc
hear Mr. Frank Kalbaugh explair
what he knew of the announced
intention of initiating Seatrair
service to Alaska. Meeting in the
City Council Chambers, the grout
heard little to comfort the unreal
which has shaken the city as a
result of the threat to the area’s
mainstay to the economy, long
shoring.
Introduced b y Chamber Presi
dent Win Ervin, Mr. Kalbaugt
gave a brief talk on the history
of the Sea Train proposal and
what it would involve in the way
of personnel, equipment and freight
rates.
The Sea Train talk got started
In 1949 when the National Bulk
Carriers made proposal to the
Army and others to put in thal
sort of service if they could be
given a guarantee of so much
freight. Kalbaugh said. This offei
was turned down, and until Iasi
summer had not been actively
pursued until the same company
once again proposed to initiate the
same type of service without guar
antee. At this same time, Kal
baugh told the group, the Alaska
Steamship Company and a com
bine of Coastwise and Luckenback
Steamship Co. indicated their in
terest in starting the same sort
of service. All these proposals
were apparently channeled through
Kalbaugh's boss, the Secretary oi
the Interior, since the service
is to connect with the Dept, of In
terior's Alaska Railroad in Alaska
either at Seward or Whittier.
oinee sea i ram service would
drain off the cream of the crop in
freight (that is, the military cargo)
it was decided that who ever was
given the green light to run the
sea train would also have to agree
to serve „lhe small towns of the
territory which would not have
sea train connections or sufficient
volume of freight to make it eco
nominally feasible to have a second
carrier serve these communities
On December 7th, Kalbaugh
said, the Secretary of the Interim
contacted all of the carriers'who
have indicated an interest in the
sea train proposal to have them
provide an outline of their service
proposals for the smaller com
munities of the Territory. These
proposals were to he in the Sec
retary’s hands by this week on
Wednesday, December 15th, when
an announcement will be made is
not known.
The Sea Train proposal came
about, Kalbaugh told the Chamber
group, as a result of the high
freight rates to Alaska which had
been a constant concern of the
military shippers as wefc as the
civilian shippers of goods to Alas
ka. The freight rate to Alaska,
Kalbaugh said, was one of the
highest in the world.
As to the location of the docks
and the port whether the seatrain
installation might be established,
Kalbaugh saW no final decision
had been made, however two of
the companys interested in the
Sea Train operation had indicated
>n past discussions that they pre
ferred Whittier to Seward. One
of the companys has not indicated
i-which port they would prefer. The
choice would be up to the com
pany operating the ships, Kalbaugli
indicated.
As to the type of ships to be
used, Kanbaugh said that the Nat
ional Bulk Carriers Corp. proposed
to convert a couple of tankers for
the service and the Luckenback
Coastwise combine had plans for
converting a couple of C-4 type
ships for the service. The Alaska
Steamship Company planned t o
build new ships for the run accord
ing to their announced intentions
in their proposals thus far.
Whichever of the companies
handles the service, their ships
would have a capacity of 90 to 100
railroad cars and several Van units
for truck transportation. Unload
ing would require five or six hours
compared to the present 5 or 6
days, and a ship would be sailing
for Alaska about every four or five
days and would travel at speeds
of 18 to 20 knots compared with
the present ships which travel at
10 to 12 knots.
Following the sketch of the op
eration by Mr. Kalbaugh, the meet
ing was thrown open to questions.
In response to questions by Mrs.
Charles Lechner, Mr. Kalbaugh
said that the Sea Train operation
would require only four to five
men on the dock as compared to
| the present 200. He al§fl told the
i group that the dock At Seward
I would be rebuilt regardless of the
! decision on the Sea Trains, but
design, would have to await the
that decisions of the type, size and
final determination of which port
would be used—Seward of Whit
tier. Also at least two of the
»w...rMU>vw lliai IUCJ
' desired to build their own docks
i 'f they were given the go ahead
on the Sea Train service.
Questions of back haul, rates,
the relative value of Whittier com
pared with Seward and other
questions were posed by Jack Hull.
Tom Ousdale. Dr. Dei3her. Tommie
Bie, Jack Jeffery, and others.
To the question of a back haul,
Mr. Kalbaugh said that at present
there was no back haul, however
they were always looking for ways
to develop the area so there
would be. At the present time
they are shipping some birch logs
to California for processing by a
furniture manufacturer to determ
ine the value of the Alaska birch
in the railbelt for such purposes.
On rates Kalbaugh said he fore
saw an immediate cut in rates
once sea train service was inaug
erated. however if shipments to
Seward were routed via Whittier
he saw little likelihood ol a cut in
rates for Seward shippers, although
coupled with anticipated savings
of $4 per ton in handling freight,
he said he thought that the rate
would not be any higher than at
present. Most all freight would
be charged on a weight basis,
Kalbaugh indicated.
Though no firm answer was giv
en, it was presumed that should
the shipping go to Whittier, Seward
would have a ship calling here
about once per month.
The question was also asked if
any cost estimates of the sea train
service had been made to which
•Turn to Page 4)
Seward Recreation Council
Wishes to Extend their Most Hearty Thanks to the Following for
the 100% Co-operation they Have Given to Put Our Youth Organiz
ation Over the Top.
OUR MAYOR — Russell Fainter
CITY MANAGER — Ray O’Hara
SEWARD — City Cotmcilmen
CITY CLERK — Sigrid Stearns
POLICE CHIEF — Robert Jackson
FIRE CHIEF — Fred Kielcheski
Mrs. George Dangler & Her 4-H Girls
First National Bank of Seward
Werner’s Furniture Store
Seward Seaport Record
•i
Bear Lake Lumber Co., “Irv” & Ray Tressler
(owners)
Seward Builders Supply
Durant’s Hardware
“Petes” Print Shop
'. Andrew’s Outdoor Store
207th National Ouard Unit Co.
Bayside Sporting Goods
Kenai Co-Op.
Mr. Herman Leirer
Radio Station K I B H
SIGNED BY THE
RECREATION COUNCIL OFFICERS
and DIRECTORS
TED K. WEIR, President *
JACK JEFFERIES, Vice President
BILLIE POORE, Sec.-Treas.
GENE BRIENTENBACK, Commissioner
ED. ROBINSON, Athletic Instructor
CLARENCE BYRNE, Boxing Instructor ,
BOB KEEFE, Weight Lifting Instructor
DICK KIRKPATRICK, Archery Instructor
DON DALBERG, Director
DR. JOSEPH DEISHER, Director
TOM BILYEN, Entertainment - l*
PEGGY POORE, Display .... £