Only newspaper In the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
g e o P o r f
Record
Seward's All-lFeather Port is Alaskcts Greatest Asset.
VOl. A., 1NO. I»
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 6, 1953
Price 10 Cents
Seward Elks Lodge Helps
Ambulance Fund Drive
Following is text of a letter
sent out this week by Seward
Elks Lodge to individuals and
business concerns in the Seward
area:
Dear Fellow Citizen:
About a year ago a small"
group of civic minded people in
our midst became acutely aware
•of the fact that in our communi
ty no facilities for the emergency
treatment and transportation of
seriously ill or bodily injured
persons existed.
To rectify this situation, this
same group banded together to
form a local organization known
as The Seward Volunteer Ambu
lance Corps. Additional members
were enlisted, first-aid classes
organized, and a roster of volun
teer drivers established.
Funds were, of course, needed
to purchase and .maintain sup
plies and equipment and must,
of course, come from the com
munity as a wholerThru the ef
forts and contributions of vari
ous organizations and individu
als, enough money was raised
to launch this project.
* We of the Seward Lodge of
Elks, believing this to be a very
worthy and necessary part in the
health and safety of the people
of the community, gave our help
and support to the organization
in its beginning, and after re
viewing its accomplishments
since its inception, believe more
strongly than ever that it is very
worthy of support.
In the beginning, it was
thought that the purchase and
reconditioning of an ambulance
of rather ancient vintage would
at least temporarily suffice. This
was done thru Corps funds and
the contribution of labor, etc., by
local garages and mechanics.
However, the reliabliity of this
vehicle has proven very ques
tionable. Also, the maintenance
cost of it has been much too
t
Yi-Kwei Sze To Sing
In Music Trails
November Concert
Yi-Kwei Sze, gifted bass-bari
tone, holds the distinction of
being the first singer to come
out of China for a successful
■opera and concert career.
This brilliant young artist
made his operatic debut in this
country with the San Francisco
Opera Company during the
1950 season. This followed his
concert in Carnegie Hall, New
York the previous season when
he was heard for the first time
in an American recital. The
critics were unanimous in pro
claiming Mr. Sze as an artist
with rare interpretive gifts, and
capable of a flawless perform
ance. The great basso of the
Metropolitan, Alexander Kipnis,
was his coach for this perform
ance.
Yi-Kwei Sze has won the
.hearts of his American and Ca
nadian audience with his richly
toned and perfectly controlled
voice. A slight figure, standing
only five feet, six inches, when
he starts to sing, his hearers are
amazed at the power and ease
of his singing. His voice is often
compared with that of the great
Chaliapin for its beautiful low
bass register. It soars fluently
to the high, full-throated bari
tone range which he can shade
to a delicate pianissimo.
Encouraged by his wife, her
self a concert artist, our- singer
learned six languages in which
he sings With ease. Due to his
impeccable stage manner, audi
ences forget that here is a na
tionality new to the classic
concert stage. They only know
that they are listening to an
artist who is sensitive to the
great composers and one who
sings with a rare blend of emo
tion and intelligence, the goal
of all great musical interpreters.
At the piano, as accompanist,
Nancy Lee Sze plays the sym
pathetic accompaniments for
her husband and together, this
famous couple is known over
the world for their perfect blend
of artistic performance. A tour
of Australia and New Zealand
where over sixty concerts were
given has just been completed.
In China, they gave programs
for Generalissimo and Madame
Chiang Kai-Shek, Mr. Sze train
ing choruses in the Chinese
Army headed by the Generalis
simo.
Married in New York’s Madi
son Ave. Presbyterian Church,
Mr. and Mrs. Sze return there
to help with the music when
in New York between concert
tours.
high to make it practical.
The hard fact remains that a
mechanical failure may cost a
human life—perhaps more than
one, and it is with the thought
of eliminating this possibility
that this letter is written.
The Seward Lodge of Elks has
again pledged itself to support
the Seward Volunteer Ambu
lance Corps in raising funds for
the purchase of a new ambu
lance.
It is our opinion that if the
members of the Ambulance
Corps are willing to give freely
of their time and efforts to in
sure us such a service, we, a
community of two thousand odd
people, can surely provide them
with the equipment they need
with which to serve us.
We, therefore, earnestly solicit
whatever contribution you feel
you can afford. The amount is
up to you—no amount is too
small to be sincerely appreciat
ed.
Mail it to the Seward Elks
Lodge or to the Seward Volun
teer Ambulance Corps, or drop
into the Seward Hardware Com
pany, or phone any member of
our Committee, who will pick it
up.
Hoping that you will never
need to use this service, but
wishing again to remind you
that—
“Tomorrow it may be you or
yours’’. . .
Yours truly,
B.P.O. ELKS
Seward Lodge
(The B.P.O. Elks Committee to
aid the Seward Volunteer Am
bulance Corps:
Gus A. Johnson
Tormod Bie
Eldred Reed
Pat Hodgekinson
Bob Freeman—Chairman)
Legion Service For
Arthur Carter
Arthur Carter, who died
Wednesday, November 4, will
be buried Sunday, November 8
at 2 p.m. with an American Le
gion service at the graveside.
Mr. Carter was born in Clark
son, New York in 1892. He was
a veteran of World War I and
lived in Southeastern Alaska
before coming to Seward about
12 years ago. He was hatch-boss
in the ship-side union here. He
died suddenly while at work
Wednesday morning.
Carter is survived by his wife,
Kitty W. Carter; a brother, Rich ■
ard Carter, and a sister, Mrs.
William Swanton, both of Brock
port, New York.
Friends may pay their re
spects at the Adkins Funeral
Chapel Saturday afternoon and
Sunday morning.
Fire Detection Device
Installed In School
Bayview School and five stra
tegic danger areas in the main
school building are now pro
tected by an automatic fire de
tection device. The equipment
was installed on the order of
the School Board at the cost of
$1320.
There is no sprinkler system
connected with the system; it is
purely a detection instrument
which locates a fire within sec
onds and sets off a siren on the
outside of the building.
It was the unanimous deci
sion of the Board to invite the
fire department to hold a test
of the siren to acquaint resi
dents of the two areas with its
sound. Upon hearing the high
pitched siren the fire depart
ment could be immediately
warned. This is felt to be a par
ticularly wise precaution in the
Bayview district.
Moving Day Makes
Downtown Changes
The general urge for change
seemed to hit the downtown sec
tion this week when several
businesses changed' quarters.
Pat Williams' insurance office
was moved to the Ray Building
across from the post office. Bal
mat Realty now occupies Mrs.
Williams’ former quarters at
217 Fourth Avenue, formerly
known as the Baumgartner of
fice.
Vina’s Beauty Shop will soon
move into the building formerly
occupied by the Fashion Cache
which is now getting ready for
business in the Gateway Grill.
The space vacated by the beauty
shop will be occupied as an of
fice, possibly by Ray James.
A1 Tofflemire for Friberg
Electric is sharing an office with
John P. Smith realty office.
Pat and Jim Bogan have pur
chased the Nugget Bar, but will
not be moving there themselves.
NEW SCHOOL BUSES ARE
ENROUTE TO SEWARD
Word was received from Win
Ervin this week that the two
school buses for Seward are on
their way and will probably ar
rive next week, or well within
the November 15 promised de
livery date.
Upon arrival the vehicles will
be inspected by the Territorial
Police Department before being
accepted for use. They will be
gin the regular school run De
cember 1.
Mr. Ervin and a companion
are driving the two buses up the
highway. They passed through
Seward, Nebraska, where they
were feted and photographed,
and have many messages to
bring home. The buses are yel
low, with “Seward School Bus”
lettered in black and with Alas
ka license plates.
FIRST LOAD OF FRESH
MEAT ABOARD PACIFICUS
Coastwise Line’s freighter Pa
cificus is due here next Wednes
day with 30,000 pounds of fresh
meat for Anchorage and the
railbelt. This is an experimental
shipment, according to Coast
wise agents, since Alaskans
have shown that they prefer
fresh meat over frozen meat,
which has been used for many
years.
The meat will be shipped in
two boxes, 20 by 8 feet, which
have been installed on the deck
of the Pacificus. 30,000 pounds
of fresh’■ineat is hung the same
as in butcher shops. Sides of
beef will be kept at 30 degrees
of temperature on the week’s
run. Total shipment consisting
of 15 tons amounts to $90,000.
C. of C. Starts Fund
Raising Campaign
For Nebraska Trip
By C. of C. Secretary
A good many folks have boon
asking, ‘ Are we going to take
a basketball team to Seward,
Nebraska, this year?” The an
swer is YES! Emphatically Yes!
They brought their team up
with the understanding that we
would return the trip and we
will do so even if we have to
walk.
The Seward Chamber of Com
merce appointed a finance com
mittee this week that met Fri
day and began plans for raising
the money. We don't know how
much money we will have to
raise as yet because we do not
know the outcome of the rate
hearing that will determine the
cost of an airplane. However,
we are going to work right now
to raise the money and worry
about the cost when the time
comes.
The committee appointed con
sists of Rev. Charles Malin,
chairman, Jacquc Roth, Clarence
King, Sol Urie, Jack Werner,
Gus Johnson and Don Dalberg.
They reported that we now
have $462.00 on hand. From
there on any means of making
money will be welcomed. Such
plans as the election of a Queen
in January, a benefit bowling
night between Christmas and
New Years, the showing of Mr.
Pennington’s Alaskan movies in
January, the giving of a dance
by the groan in Moose Pass, a
benefit movies here, a smoker,
etc., have all been discussed and
plans are now under way.
Sol Urie begins next week
with a little plan of his own.
Clarence King is getting to
gether a committee to pHa.v bin
go. Others have similar tasks so
that this thing is really under
way.
Let it be known right now
that the appointed committee
is just a steering group and any
ideas that you have will be
welcomed. We feel that we can
really put Seward on the map
and make a good many good
friends both for our town and
personally in this deal. So the
more folks that helD out the
better and wider spread the re
sults.
Incidentallv. there will be a
regular radio program from
Seward. Nebraska, heard on the
local station each Saturday af
ternoon and we are in hones
that someone here will write a
newspaper column for them
weekly.
So nut on your thinking cap—
dream tin ways for us to finance
this deal—and don't be bashful
with vour ideas. We will make
regular renorts on the events
coming up and how we stand
financially.
MOPE TO CLEAR $1000 ON
HALLOWE'EN DANCE
An official report on results
of the Ambulance Corps Ha’low
o’en dance will no* be readv be
fore nevt week. The unoff;cial
information, however, is that the
outlook is nood to clear $1000
or nearly that amount.
The secretary stated todov
that all ticket money is not in
yet. It can be seated that $473
was taken in at the door. $53 in
the cloak room, and about $600
from other sources. These fi
gures are all tentative.
ANNOUNCE CHILDREN'S
ART CONTEST
One of the aims of Business
& Professional "bnion of Sew
ard is to promote fine arts, jn
the community. As a beginning
on this urogram, the club an
nounced this week a contest for
children from the n<re« of 6 yeans
to and including 18 years.
Rules for the contest are as
follows:
1. Entries must be turned in
at the NewspaDPr Office by 6
p.m., November 23.
2. All work must be original,
not a copy.
3. Work cannot be composed
in school classes.
4. Any type of work in the
following categories, including
posters, will be .indeed: pencil.,
charcoal, pen and ink. water
color, tempera or showcard,
pastels, crayons, fingerpaints,
block prints, or oil paints.
Thirteen prizes and 26 honor
able mentions are to be awarded
according to age groups All chil
dren in town are invited to ent"r
the contest. An exhibit of all
entries will be held at the Sew
ard Public Library, Fridav, No
vember 27, hours of exhibit to
be announced later.
First Basketball
Games Of Season
This Weekend
Basketball season will open
here this weekend with the Sea
Hawks versus Whittier Friday
night at the Civic Center.
It is announced that the Sew
ard High School will sell season
tickets for its home Railbelt
Conference games. Adult season
tickets will be sold for $5.00,
and student tickets will go for
$2.50. This includes the two
games with Anchorage, two with
Palmer, and the two Fairbanks
games. Tickets will be on sale
some time next week.
High school basketball pro
grams must be financed almost
wholly from gate receipts and
because of the great amount of
travel involved, it is very diffi
cult each year to break even, ac
cording to Coach Dalberg. In
fact, he states, the athletic fund
at present is in the red.
The coach feels that if season
tickets are sold it will give the
athletic department a better
chance to finance the program
to which it is committed, and
the boys will then know about
how much they will have to op
erate with.
Travel and other expenses for
the Railbelt Conference and
Western Alaska High School Ac
tivities Association Tournament
require about SI500. It is hoped
that at least 400 season tickets
can be sold before the season
starts.
SIPPRELL TRANSFERRED
TO KODIAK
Walter W. Sipprell, Nome
agent of the Alaska Steamship
Company, effective November 2,
is appointed acting agent at
Kodiak, H. N. Peterson, com
pany general traffic manager,
announced this week.
The Alaska Line Nome agency
is open during the open season
■of transportation only, and Sip
prell has been appointed to the
Kodiak post to fill in pending
the appointment of a permanent
agent there.
At Kodiak he succeeds John
W. Titus, who is returning to
his position of assistant agent,
Anchorage, from which he was
temporarily transferred to Ko
diak as acting agents on Septem
ber 8, 1953.
Sipprell is a native of Skag
way, Alaska. He joined the Al
aska Steamship Company as as
sistant agent, Seward in July,
1942. He served as Kodiak
agent from 1943 to 1947, as gen
eral agent, Seward, from 1947
until he assumed his Nome post
in May this year.
ROJCEWICZ "NOT GUILTY"
The sensational trial last Fri
day and Saturday of Giardina
vs. Rojcewicz ended with a ver
dict of “not guilty” of assault as
charged against Rojcewicz.
The jury, all local residents,
deliberated nine hours before re
turning the verdict, which came
after midnight.
SEWARD REPRESENTED AT
LEAGUE OF ALASKA CITIES
Mayor Painter deputized Mil
died Kirknatrick this afternoon
to represent Seward at the
League of Alaskan Cities now
in session at Cordova. She will
leave Saturday morning for the
official meeting.
BPR To Continue Snow
Removal At Airport
Quick action on the part of'
Seward Chamber of Commerce
this week insured the use of the
airport during the winter.
Word had been received that
the Bureau of Public Roads
would not be permitted to con
tinue snow removal as in past
years. Telegrams to Governor
Heintzleman, Delegate Bartlett
and other officials brought a
reply from the Governor Friday
to Tom Bie, C. of C. president.
“Arrangements have been
completed for snow removal by
BPR with the Alaska Road
Commission acting as inter
mediary for the Territorial De
partment of Aviation,” was the
text of the wire received today.
Reporter's
Notebook
Col Henry Rosness visited his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ros
ness, and his sister, Mrs. Sigrid
Stearns, last weekend. Col. Ros
ness has just been transferred
from the East Coast to duty at
Elmendorf Air Force Base.
Four duck hunters, Dick Bo
gard. Pat Bogan, Ray James, and
Doug Keating are busy in their
spare time building'a hunting
cabin on Moose River.
Mr. Roy Seater is a patient in
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Portland.
He has been Outside since Oc
tober 1.
Walt Holben reports that his
son, Jimmy, who is in his last
year at Hill Military Academy,
Portland, was captain of the
football team this year and made
two touchdowns in the last game
of the season.
Mrs. William McBride writes,
from The Dalles, Oregon that
she and Her two daughters, Bren
da and Marjorie Williams, will
be back soon to their home at
Mile 4. They have been spend
ing the summer Outside.
DAN LHAMON ON ANNUAL
VISIT TO LOCAL ELKS
A big event for the Elks Lodge
here is scheduled for tonight,
Nov. 6.
It will be a special meeting
for initiation and the annual vis
itation of the District Deputy,
Alaska West, W. L. “Dan” Lha
mon, of Fairbanks.
A semi-formal dance and en
tertainment will follow this spe
cial meeting, for Elks and their
ladies only.
Some special activity for each
week until the first of the year
is scheduled for Seward Elks to
help provide entertainment for
members and friends.
LEGION TO DEDICATE FLAG
AT REHABILITATION
CENTER
American Legion Post No. 5
will dedicate the American Flag
at Seward Rehabilitation Center
on Armistice Day. Ceremonies
will begin at noon, following a
program at the cemetery. Sever
al other local organizations are
to participate in the dedication.
The public is invited to attend
the dedication and visit the Re
habilitation Center on the invi
tation of Ethel Lindley, Reha
bilitation Chairman, American
Legion, Department of Alaska.
ASC Adds New Vessel
To Cargo Fleet
A new vessel is being added
to the Alaska cargo fleet this
week with the Alaska Steamship
Company purchase of the 7100
gross ton Seacoronet from the
Pacific Cargo Carriers Corp. D.
E. Skinner, vice president and
general manager of The Alaska
Line, announced the purchase.
The Seacoronet, a liberty-type
ship, increases to 10 the number
of Alaska Steamship Company
owned vessels employed in the
Alaska trade and raises to 56,000
the gross tonnage of The Alaska
Line’s privately - owned fleet.
Pre-war the company’s fleet in
cluded 17 vessels of 69,000 gross
tons.
In addition to its owned ton
nage, Alaska Steam charters a
number of Cl-MAV-l’s from the
Maritime Administration for use
in the northern trade. Three of
these were recently returned to
the govenment. Six others of
23,000 gross tons are still under
charter.
“The Seacoronet is the first
replacement for the Cl-MAV-l’s
that were recently redelivered,”
Skinner pointed out.
Before entering the Alaska
trade, the Seacoronet, which has
just completed a tour of service
in the trans-Pacific trade, will
be completely outfitted for the
Alaska run, including a name
change. Radar will be installed.
Its holds will be modified to ac
commodate unitized loads and it
will be equipped with company
engineered portable ’tween decks
to facilitate packaged-cargo car
rying. The name “Seacoronet”
will be changed to a name of an
Alaskan lake or river ending-in
“na” in line with Alaska Steam's
cargo-vessel naming policy.
The Seacoronet was built in
Bethlehem-Fairfield Ship Yards,
Inc., Baltimore, Md., in 1944.
POTLUCK DINNER AND
"REVERSE PARTY"
AT LEGION CLUB
Men and women of the Ameri
can Legion and Auxiliary will
put in a busy time next week.
To start activities the Auxiliary
announces a potluck dinner at
the club Sunday, Nov. 8. Dinner
will be served from 5 to 8 p.n.,
at the cost of $1 per plate.
To avoid confusion, members
state that guests are to bring
nothing but their appetites.
Armistice Day ceremonies at
the cemetery and the dedication
of the American Flag at Seward
Rehabilitation Center will take
place Wednesday morning.
A “reverse party” such as the
very successful one given lrst
year, will be packed with fun
■on Tuesday night, Nov. 10 at the
club. In a reverse party, boys
and girls change places, the men
dressing as women and vice
versa.
The committee is giggling
over the floor show which will
be put on by the not-inconsidcr
able talent of Legion members.
Prizes will be given for the best
costumes at the party.
CARD OF THANKS
We take this opportunity to
express our sincere gratitude to
the many friends for their kind
assistance and expressions of
sympathy at the time of our re
cent bereavement in the loss of
our son and brother, Harold W.
Wilson.
Sadie E. Michael, motlvr
Arthur L. Wilson, brother