VOLUME NO. VI,
PETERSBURG, ALASKA,
MARCH 11, 1932
NO. 34
Halibut Market Takes Drop;
Lowest in Twenty Years
-V
X
The buyers of halibut for the
eastern markets early requested
the halibut fishermen to delay
starting their fishing operations
!' s the conditions did not point
to very good markets. By mutual
agreement, the Fishing Vessel
Owners’ Association of Seattle,
sent their fleet out shortly after
the season opened and divided
the fleet, delaying sailing of the
second division of the fleet for
another week.
Very shortly after the opening
of the season, fares were landed
in Juneau and Petersburg with
opening prices in Juneau of 10
and 5 cents per pound. The Pe
tersburg market brought * 11-3
cents a pound.
The weather on the fishing
banks were extremely bad so
that most of the fleet had to
hole up in harbor. The Pacific,
which had taken its Captain
Larsen to Seward, owing to his
death on the high seas, started
for the banks but had to return
on account of t h e extreme
mugh and cold weather. She was
so iced down that it took several
days to get her thawed out
Despite these delays, the fleet
began returning to port with
| large fares but with diminishing
prices.
In Petersburg the new associa
tion of halibut fishermen shipped
their fish on consignment, tak
ing credit slips at four cents per
pound. By the end of the first
week of March, the markets were
so glutted with fish that Juneau
offered 2 cents per pound and
the Ketchikan buyers wTere un
able to take care of the fish
even at that price. Thousands ot
pounds were dumped overboard
by the fishermen who were un
able to market that fish.
Pilchard, in California, is sell
ing at 60 cents per barrel.
Scrap fish is so heavy on the
market that other staple lines
wib have a hard time getting
marketed. The salmon cannT.g
industry is hard put—those cor
porations not on financial rock1*
are so close that the banks arej
loath to finance them. Last year
37 canneries in Southeast Alask.i
alone operated. This year, it is
not expected that 15 will operate
—due to financial worries and
lack of proper markets for the
finished products.
The fishing industry is indeed
in as bad a plight as the farmers
in the states.
MACKINTOSH APPOINTED
JUDGE
Kenneth M a cKintosh o f
Washington, was appointed
judge of the ninth circuit court
and hearings are being held be
fore the Senate Judiciary Com -
mittee wherein labor claims are
being heard protesting confirma
tion.
-x
Salmon Packers Get
Ready Come North
-x
The salmon packers of the
Bristol Bay and Prince William
Sound districts are getting ready
to make shipment of machinery,
supplies and equipment, includ
ing about 2,000 orientals and a
few Caucasians from Seattle in
preparation for the summers
operations.
The season opens on June 15
in the Yukon district and ex
tends to July 5; Bristol Bay
opens June 25 to July 25, with a
short closed season and South
eastern districts open from June
24 to early July with closures in
August.
The Libby, McNeil & Libby
steamers will leave early in
April for Southeastern Alaska
canneries and will be followed
by other vessels for the Bristol
Bay district. The Santa Flavia
of the Alaska Co-operative Pack
ing Company is scheduled to sail
from Seattle on June 1 on her
annual trip north. This is a
floating cannery ship.
»-x
DEMOCRATS GAIN SEAT
-x
The House Elections Commit
tee decided that Stanley Kuns,
Democrat, was entitled to repre
sent the Eighth Illinois District
as the official recount shows
that Peter Granata, Republican,
was defeated.
-x
Ex-Congnesswoman
'Weds Ex.Congressman
-x- -
Excongresswoman Mrs. Ruth
McCormack married former
Congressman Albert Simos of
New Mexica. The bride plans to
build a new $35,000 home on the
Simos Ranch.
-x
Don’t forget Pal night at the
Coliseum— Tuesday - Wednesday
and Thursday.
John Grant, Wrangell
Lad Drowns, Sunday
-X
Johnny Grant, Jr., son of Mr
and Mrs. John G. Grant of
Wrangell, missing since early
Sunday morning, was found
yesterday on the beach between
the Sinclair dock and the Mc
Cormack dock.
Johnny was last seen leaving
the “Bills Club” but after he get
down on to the street it was not
known which direction he had
taken. Not coming home, Sunday
his parents immediately began
making inquires and wired to
Petersburg in a wild hope that
perchance he had hopped on
some boat and come over here.
When it was definitely estab
lished that he had not lef«
Wrangell, the bay was dragged,
i unsuccessfully until yesterday
morning when the body was
found on the beach where it hod
floated. No details received as to
condition of the body but it is
not believed that there was foul
play.
Johnny was about 24 years of
age, second son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Grant, was born and raised
in Wrangell and was well liked
by all those who knew him. He
is mourned by his parents, two
asters and a brother. Interment
will be made in the Red Men's
Cemetery.
-x
Roosevelt Picks Up
Several Delegates
-x
Governor Franklin D. Roose
velt of New York, Democratic
aspirant to party nomination for
President of the United States,
gathered in eight convention
votes from New Hampshire yes
terday and took Minnesota’s 24
over Alfred Smith, former can
didate for President. Roosevelt j
now has 48 votes tied up in his
mitt with North Dakota voting
next week.
-x
CUT TEACHERS SALARIES
-X
The Seattle school teachers
are facing a salary cut of 15 per
cent due to the effort to reduce
city oprating expenses. The cut
would reduce obligations $750,
000.
-x
Northwestern is due in port
tomorrow morning, southbound.
Alaska Cash Balance
On Toboggan
Territorial financial conditions
are less bright now than a year
ago, it was disclosed in the
monthly statement showing con
ditions of the Treasury, issued
by W. G. Smith, Treasurer, ana
made public by Gov. George A.
Parks.
The treasury closed the month
of February with total cash re
sources amounting to $413,444.29.
Outstanding warrants aggregat
ed $44,949.68, leaving a net bal
ance in all funds of $368,494.61.
This is $226,738.06 less than
the net balance of the Territory
as of February 28, 1931, when the
net balance was $595,233.67. Can
nery taxes are still coming in.
md will not become delinquent
until after March 15. Until that
time, the cash resources of the
Treasury for the current year
are not accurately predictable.
It is being noted that the fig
ures presented by the-Territorial
Auditor and the Territorial
Treasurer were contradictory. In
this the general desire was to
uphold the figures presented by
the Treasurer. The warnings of
the Auditor are bearing fruit
and despite all effort to have it
otherwise, the figures are be
ginning to vindicate the Auditor
in all his statements. It is plain
to see that with a monthly aver
age expenditure of $80,000 an.!
over, the surplus on hand will in
reality turn out to be deficit.
7 he problem of securing a re
venue bill through the next le -
gislature will be no sinecure nor
can it be used for political log
rolling.
-x
Court Convenes Juneau
About March 21st
x
The spring term of the U. S.
District Court will be convened
in Juneau about the 21st of
March by Judge Justin W. Hard
ing. The order calling for the
term of court was signed by the
judge in Ketchikan. Jury panels
will be drawn shortly.
The court has been more or |
less busy in Ketchikan taking
care of petty larceny bootleg
cases, relieving the otherwise
busy commissioner’s court.
-x
Veteran Cutter May
Put in Service Again
The old Coast Guard cutter
Rear, which for forty years made
annual trips to the Arctic with
food and medicine for the na
tives and then found placid re
tirement as a museum, may a
gain go into scientific service
under command of Rear Admiral
Richard E. Byrd.
Ossian Carr, city manager ot
Oakland, received a letter from
the famous explorer saying he
would like to acquire the Bear
by purchase or otherwise for use
:n the Antarctic. Admiral Byrd
did not disclose the nature of
his expedition, but said he want
ed the Bear permanently, as she
was the best vessel for his pur
poses.
-x
Alaska Harbors Bill
-x
A series of bills asking author
izations of Alaskan river ancl
harbor improvements which
have been favorably reported by
army engineers, were introduced
by Delegate Wickersham.
The projects for which appro
priations were asked included:
Wrangell Harbor, Wrangell
Narrows, Kodiak Harbor, Dry
Pass and Stikine River.
Don’t forget the dance at
Sales’ Inn* Saturday night.
Ford Going For
Big Production
-x
More than one half billion
collars will be poured into man;
lines of industry in the produe
tion of the new Ford automobile
this year, according to prelimin
ary estimates.
This spectacular move by Mi
Ford is eagerly awaited by hun
dreds of businesses all over tin:
country. He buys materials from
5,200 of them and in addition
expects to spend $198,000,000 on
wages himself this year in pro
ducing 1,500,000 cars.
Ford, pioneer in mass produc
tion of automobiles, is staking
millions on his belief that people
are ready to buy real values. Hr
is ready with his new venture,
an eight-cylinder car, the pride
of his career, and the marketing
cf a new four-cylinder engine.
-x
Underworld Contact
Lindbergh Home
It is reported that Morri
Rosner, a person with many
contacts with the underworld, r
staying witlp Colonel Charles
Lindbergh. It is presumed that
contacts with the kidnappers of
the Lindbergh baby will be mad<^
and the little one returned. To
date all rumors of trace of the
little one have proven false. Di
rect police contacts have been
eliminated and Lindbergh is di
recting his own supervision of
mails and phone calls.
Johnson, friend of nurse Bet
ty Gow, picked up on suspicion
has now accounted for all ex
cept twenty minutes of time thf'
day the little child was kidnap
ped. He is still held, however.
-x
JAP FREIGHTER IN DISTRESS
-x
The U. S. Destroyer Tracy is
racing to rescue the Japanese
freighter Kaku Maru off Min
doro Island. The freighter was
sending out SOS calls.
-X
Honor Killers Gain Point
Affidavit Prejudice
-x
Judge Albert Cristy, U. S. Dis
trict Court, Honolulu, Hawaii,
lost jurisdiction in the recent
honor slaying cases in Honolulu,
cn account of the filing of an
affidavit of prejudice. Clarence
Darrow, famous Chicago crimi
nal attorney, and counsel for
defense is expected to arrive in
Honolulu very shortly. He will
direct defense in the case.
-x
DORE ELECTED MAYOR
OF SEATTLE
-x
John Dore, fighting attorney
ofSeattle was elected over mayor
Harlin by 72,000 against 31,000
votes. Effort was made last year
co disbar Dore from practicing
law in Washington—the charge
being that he had bribed electors
to vote for him. The Supreme
Court of Washington reversed
the lower courts decision.
-x—
COMMUNITY LEAGUE
PIE SOCIAL
-x
Tuesday evening the Com
munity League will hold its
monthly meeting at the church.
This meeting will be a “pie
social” to which everyone is in
vited. A short program has been
arranged for the evening. Mes
dames Forrest Fryer, Ted Hun
gerford, and Harold Dawes are
on the serving committee. A
small charge will be made for
service.
-x
Admiral Evans is due in port,
northbound, tomorrow morning.
Jones Trap Bill
Moves Up, Senate
-X
A bill sponsored by Senator
Wesley L. Jones of Washington
is being skidded along for fav
orable passage in the United
States Senate. The bill would au
thorize the War Department to
issue licenses for five-year
’’eriods to owners of fish traps in
Alaska and which are now op
erated under permits renewable
from year to year. After issuance
of license the operator would
hold possession without inter
ruption on the sites even though
no traps were put in.
This measure is similar to one
written up by Judge Wickersham
several years ago and which met
with considerable opposition
from certain cannery and poli
tical interests. They alleged at
the time that Judge Wickersham
and Williai’U L. Paul had written
up the bill and sold out for a
consideration, their constituen
cy. It will be remembered that
the interests which are support
ing this measure at this time
are the very interests which de
dared it bad an:! which they
used as political ammunition
against the two above named
men in the elections.
To be consistent, the Juneau
Empire, the Ketchikan Chroni
cle, the Petersburg Press and
ether papers of the Territory
should at this time open up on
this measure which now has
their tacit support. Otherwise
their sincerity in trying to bring
disgrace on decent men will ever
rebound to their shame.
-x
Wickersham Opposes
Small Boat Regulation
-x
Representative LaGuardia o'
New York, is sponsoring a bill in
Congress which would place
under the U. S. Steamboat In
spection service, all vessels from
fifteen tons up, commercial or
private. This would subject such
vessels to annual inspection by
the U. S. Inspectors, navigation
and operation by duly licensed
officers.
Delegate James Wickersham
stated his oposition as follows:
“I believe its passage would be
detrimental to fishermen and
commercial service in Alaska, sc
will bring what influence I cm
at the proper time to defeat the
bdl in Committee or the House.”
The various Chambers cf Cam
n.erce have placed themselves
on record as being in opposition
ti the measure.
-x
Rep. Committeeman
Confers With Leaders
-x
Capt. A. E. Lathrop, republican
rational committeeman for
Alaska was in Juneau recently
conferring with republican forc
es. It is reported that Attorney
General John Rustgard is slated
to occupy the bench of the dis
trict court at Nome—if he de
sires to take it.
Considerable opposition to the
confirmation of Judge Lomen
has developed—the latest being
two petitions presented by the
Indian Rights Association of
Philadelphia.
-x
“Baby" Bonds Issued
-x
Final details of a plan to offer
an “unlimited issue” of small
denomination bonds as part of
President Hoover’s anti-hoard
ing campaign will be announced
at the treasury.
The bonds, available March 7,
will be in $50, $100. and $500 de
| nominations and will run for one
| year.
Ketchikan Demos Ignored
Fight Convention Delegates
-x
Ketchikan politicians of the
Democratic party are staging a
Lght for Alaska’s delegation to
rhe national convention to be
held in Chicago next June. The
delegates nominated by the Ter
ritorial convention at Fairbanks
last January were instructed to
work for the nomination of Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt for Presi
dent of the United States. The
Ketchikan delegation are work
ing for the nomination of Gov.
‘ Alfalfa” Bili Murray. Publicity
is given the' scrap from Okla
homa, where the news originat
ed according to press dispatches.
The old guard Democrats in
structed the delegates to work
tor Roosevelt. It is pointed our
by the Ketchikanites that the
Ketchikan voting districts turn
ed in a greater Democratic poll
than any other district in the
territory—more than 100 more
than the Juneau district, yer
Ketchikan was not given any re
cognition whe nthe delegates
were being picked out while Ju
neau received the lion’s share.
It is pointed out that there
were 2,636 democratic votes cast
in the First Division; that Ket
chikan furnished 756 votes or
better than one-third while Ju
reau delivered some 600 votes.
The boss-ridden convention at
Fairbanks is pointed out as a
“horrible example” of manipula
tion and misrepresentation and
evidence pointing to the further
scheme to defeat the primary
law to eliminate any chance of
the public having any say as to
choice of candidates—leaving
only the hand-picked, boss-rid
den candidates in the field.
The reported split at the Divi
sional Convention held in Pe
tersburg last fall is widening in
to an unhealable breach. Tne
two combinations of Democrats
in Ketchikan being both united
in their effort to negate the in
hfluence of the powers which
manipulated the territorial con
vention. As one candidate de
clares: “Like the Chinese citi
zens of Shanghai, they refuse to
“withdraw” just to please the
political Japanese of Juneau.”
The fight against the old gang
that has misruled the territory
j for a number of years is being
waged with circulars appealing
i to the women voters and others
to arise in force to defeat the
nefarious purposes of the old
“convention gangsters” of Ju
neau.
P. T. A. Had Nice
Program Wednesday
-X
The Parent-Teachers’ Associa
tion met in its regular meeting
;n the school auditorium Wed
nesday night. The third grade
children in full uniform of red
capes with white trimmings,
bule paper caps, white trousers
a n d dresses presented three
clever numbers through their
Rhythm Band, Miss Christiansen
their teacher accompanying
them at the piano. The numbers
v.ere well executed and well re
ceived.
Mrs. Andrew Johnson and Mrs.
Martin Enge sang a duet, follow
ed immediately by a solo by Mrs.
Fnge. The Community Sing—
Irish music—was led by Mr.
George Beck.
Mrs. Johnson made a report
cf her trip to Indianapolis to at
tend the convention of the
American Legion Auxiliary and
the second Defense Conference
in the national capital. She re
lated experiences and observa
tions in Washington having
visited both houses of congress,
several senators and representa
tives, the capital buildings.
Washington and Lincoln monu
ments, Arlington Cemetery and
ether points of national interest.
Mr. Beck speaking of the
school work urged the parents to
give greater encouragement tc
those pupils whose grades were
falling down in order that they
might make greater effort.
-x
Council Appoints
Board of Election
The City Council met Monday
evening in the Council Chambers
They approved current bills and
authorized payment of $5,000
to the School Board. Thev ap
pointed Carl Roger, John Johns
ton, Bob Ketchison, John Jensen
and William Gribble as Board of
Election.
Filing date for city offices
closes on the 19th of March.
Three council men and mayor
are to be elected this year. May
er Earl N. Ohmer has made his
filing for re-election. None oth
ers have qualified to date.
-x
Don’t forget Pal night at the
C oliseum— Tuesday - Wednesday
and Thursday.
RAILROAD SCHEDULE
-X
The Alaska Railroad announc
es that effective the 17th of this
month, trains will leave Fair
banks on Thursday instead of
Mondays and leave Seward Sat
urday instead of Wednesdays to
arrive in Fairbanks on Sundays.
Whether the steamers will re
arrange their schedules to mee t
the railroad change or not has
not been indicated.
-x
Canadians To Remove
Sockeye Restrictions
-x
Because the American canner.s
of salmon have shown sufficient
power and influence to preve at
ratification of the international
salmon treaty which Canada h .s
sponsored and attempted to have
ratified for many years and be
cause of the refusal of the U. S.
Government to agree to closure
terms which would protect the
industry, the Dominion Govern
ment may remove all restrictions
protecting the Fraser River. T!.1
Canadian authorities understand
that this means the complex
annihilation of the sockeye
fisheries at that river but tlvw
propose to seed rivers furtli t
north where the fish can return
without passing through Puce:
Sound waters.
The destruction of the Fraser
River sockeyes will mean the
complete destruction of South
eastern Alaska and Washington
sockeye. The cheaper fish now
sells at 3 cans for a quarter in
Seattle retail houses which is
more than it costs laid down in
Seattle. The sockeye production
is the only hope of the industry
and it will be noted that opera
tions this year in Alaska arc
limited, at least 75 per cent io
canning of this species alone.
Kansas
Two Hoover-Curtis delegates
to the Republican national con
vention were chosen from th>3
second Kansas congressional
district last week.
The district convention, tha
first to name delegates in Kan
sas, indorsed President Hoover
and Vice President Curtis for re
election. The delegates were not
Instructed,
Names Two
Hoover Delegates