Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
£ e <t P o r f
Record
Seward’s A ll-fVeather Port is A las kefs Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
ol. X. No. 30
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1954
Price 10 Cents
r.F.W. To Observe
Ntl V.F.W. Week
rith ".22" Gun Shoot
From V.F.W. Post No. 3836
January 24th to 30th is Na
|ional V.F.W. Week and Seward
'ost No. 3836 joins the rest of
le Nation in extending its local
tembers congratulations. In the
immediate past the post has had
hard row to hoe, as many of
’ou no doubt know, and the only
ray your local post can succeed
is by having the support of you
icn and women eligible, and by
taking an active part in the op
■ation of your post. Any busi
less, union or fraternal organi
:ation is only as strong as those
|men and women who support it.
In reforming, your local post
lof the Veterans of Foreign Wars
meeds your help more than it
[has in the past. The potential
(membership of the V.F.W. in
Seward is more than adequate
to make this one of the leading
posts in the Territory. By taking
an active part in your local post
and its operation you are not
only helping Seward but you
are helping yourself. Laws are
being passed that have great
bearing on you as a Veteran,
not only as far- as past service
and benefits are concerned but
as to what you will have to look
forward to in the future. You, as
an active member of your local
post of the American Legion or
Veterans of Foreign Wars will
have a more definite chance of
being heard as to what you be
lieve in as a law, and instead
of' having something pushed
through that may do more harm
than good you can join your
voice with the thousands of
other organized Veterans the
world over and make your pleas
heard.
Sitting back in comparative
comfort now it is rather hard at
times to realize that such things
could happen, or if they did
happen that they would ever
effect you. By then it may be too
late and you’ll regret that you
didn’t take a more active part
in Veterans' Affairs through
your local Post of the Legion and
V.F.W.
This, the 55th Anniversary of
the V.F.W., is your chance to
start taking an active part in
your local post's doings. Seward
Post No. 3836 needs your help
and support in reforming, per
haps more than if we were start
ing originally, and this, National
V.F.W. Week, is your chance to
join up and pledge your support
to an organization that belongs
to you.
"22 SHOOT" WEDNESDAY
To get acquainted with other
Veterans and to give you a
chance to get acquainted with
your local post, we are having
a "22 Shoot" Wednesday, Jan
uary 27th at 7:30 p.m. in the
basement of the Civic Center
building with groceries for priz
es, and everyone has a chance
to win, not only the sharpshoot
ers. This shoot is open to all;
don’t feel restricted about com
ing, just bring your pet .22.
rifle or pistol, or we will have
a few you can borrow. We sup
ply ammunition and targets.
This will be not only your
chance to join the V.F.W. if
you care to, but to enjoy an eve
ning of good shooting, something
practically all Sewardites enjoy,
both men and women.
NEXT WEEK'S MOVIES
FULL OF UMPH!
At the movies next week is
“Yellow Sky” with Gregory
Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard
Widmark. Miss Baxter found
out during the filming of this
picture that love scenes are be
coming more and more hazard
ous. The petite Academy Award
winner finished one scene with
a black eye and sprained her
wrist in the midst of another.
“Yellow Sky” will be shown
Saturday.
"The Big Trees," Warner Bro
thers technicolor of the red
woods, shows Sunday and Mon
day. It stars Kirk Douglas and
Patrice Wymore with Eve Mil
ler in a murder mystery filmed
in the forest of Sequoia trees
near Eureka, California. These
are the tallest trees in the world.
They grow to heights of from
100 to 340 feet with trunks
measuring up to 25 feet in dia
meter.
“Night Without Sleep” playing
Tuesday and Wednesday is a mo
tion picture you will never for
get. Filled with suspense that
ties you into knots, it stars Gary
Merrill as a man who wakes up
one morning with the realization
that he has murdered one of
three women ip his life and can
not remember which one! Linda
Darnell and Hildegard Neff star
with Merrill in this gripping pic
ture.
National Guard Unit
On Full Alert
Seward Unit, Alaska National
Guard, is now on full alert and
will remain so until dismissed
by the commanding officer in
Anchorage. They are preparing
for full scale participation in the
coming action by the Alaska
Command and Civil Defense.
Seward wil be in the pathway
of the “attack” and will have a
realistic preview of what could
happen in enemy invasion.
The Unit met with Col. C. E.
Johnson, Civil Defense director,
Tuesday night. A plan was for
mulated which was put into ef
fect immediately for the protec
tion of the city and Seward
area. Col. Johnson’s visit and
the discussion brought about the
acquisition of more supplies for
the Unit which will arrive with
in two weeks, and be used dur
ing the alert.
Four new members were in
ducted into the National Guard,
Seward Unit. Pvt. Richard Neitz,
Pvt. Frank Spadaro, Pvt. Robert
Sheperd and Pvt. Theodore How
ell are now in training.
The Guard meets every Tues
day and Friday nights at the
armory at 8 p.m. They invite
every one who is interested in
the work of National Guard to
visit and observe the Unit in
action.
Privates First Class Edward
Robinson, Herman Nelson, Wil
bur Simard and Private Foster
O. Riker have just graduated
from an Army Area Noncom
missioned Officers School at
Fort Richardson. The purpose of
such schools, financed by feder
al funds, is to prepare members
of the ANG for positions of lead
ership and to qualify them for
promotions as non-commissigned
officers.
After the meeting Tuesday
with Col. Johnson, officers serv
ed coffee and doughnuts to all
present.
New Ambulance
Ordered
An order has been placed for
the new ambulance for Seward.
It is not known yet how soon
it can be delivered, as the body
has to be built to customer's
order.
Monday night the City Coun
cil voted $2200 to supplement
the $3600 contributed by towns
people for purchase of the ve
hicle. Freight charges are not
included in the total cost since
Alaska Freight Lines has agreed
to bring the ambulance from
Seattle without charges except
for handling.
The Ambulance Corps, after
studying other models supplied
by local dealers, decided upon
the Ford as the one most suited
to the circumstances in Seward
area and still within the price
range that they could afford. Al
though it will be controlled and
operated by the Ambulance
Corps, the machine will belong
to the city and carried on City
insurance policies the same as
Fire Department vehicles.
Nebraska Fund
Over $1800 Mark
Mr. Malin reports the Seward,
Nebraska travel fund has passed
the $1800 mark today. Ralph
Andrews raised $57 in his sale
last Friday. The Nebraska film
made by Harold Davisson, has
been shown several times and
has brought in S85. Approxi
mately $150 was cleared by the
Legion Club's ham dinner last
Sunday.
JAM SESSION
A big Jam Session is sched
uled for tonight (Friday) at the
Legion Club. This proved very
popular when given last year.
All the musicians in town will
give out with music to keep the
fun going.
Werner Attends Demo
Convention in Juneau
Mr. Jack Werner returned
Monday evening from three days
in Juneau as Seward delegate
to the Democratic convention.
Mr. Werner stated that the
convention was very successful,
most of the time being spent on
working up the party platform
for the coming election, and
forming resolutions. Of interest
to Sewardites is a strong resolu
tion for the rehabilitation of the
Seward-Portage section of the
ARR and the docks.
Mr. Werner was elected dele
gate from the Third Division to
the Territorial Central Commit
tee.
SIX DIESELS ON
S.S. GADSEN,
DUE SATURDAY
Sometime Saturday the SS
Gadsden will arrive in Seward
with the biggest shipment of lo
comotive equipment ever to
come into Alaska. She is carry
ing six diesel engines of 1500
horsepower, weighing 120 tons
each. In addition to the locomo
tives, the cargo includes a large
number of automobiles and
wrecking cars and other Army
goods.
The Gadsden, chartered by
Alaska Steamship Company, has
three well known masters serv
ing as first, second and third
mates; they are Captain Otto
Karbe, Capt. “Blackie” Selig,
and Capt. C. N. Goodwin. The
engineering crew members are
all chief engineers of the Alaska
Line. Captain Gavin is master
of the Gadsden.
The ship, specially rigged for
handling railroad equipment,
has been into Seward before,
but never with such an extensive
cargo. She will dock at the Army
dock. Railroad officials are ex
pected in town to receive the
diesels and supervise the un
loading.
Bartlett Asks Opening
Of Katmai Area
•A "realistic appraisal" and a
specific appraisal of Katmai
National Monument was asked
of Secretary of Interior McKay
this week by Delegate Bartlett.
lie requested that the com
mittee appointed by the Inter
ior Department to study federal
withdrawals in Alaska, give
special study to the petition of
a number of Naknek residents
to open the areas surrounding
Naknek Lake to about eight
miles back from the lake shores
in all directions.
This is of special interest to
some Seward residents because
of the pumice deposits in this
area.
It is a matter of record, Bart
lett stated, that this Monument
was created because of the Val
ley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
Now the Smokes have diminish
ed until there are only a few
so that the very purpose for
which the monument was estab
lished no longer exists. Beauty
of the area and its other special
features warrant a national mon
ument there, but its area should
be realistic in respect to size
and should not deny land which
has no proper place within the
monument.
Civil Defense Needs
Inactive Nurses
Seward nurses are putting on
a campaign to increase their
strength for civil defense or dis
aster. In addition to actively
employed nurses and members
of District 2, ANA, they request
that all inactive nurses who are
willing to make themselves
available for this work, make
themselves known. It is thought
that there may be as many as
25 trained nurses in the area
who are not now employed in
the profession.
In the civil defense plan, these
nurses are needed at the three
medical centers being set up in
the area. Former hospital corps
men are also asked to join in
this recruitment program.
For more information or to
volunteer, call Mrs. LaPreal Bie
or Mrs. Phil Durant.
Local Man Escapes
Injury in Truck Wreck
Seward drivers have been for
tunate in that of the many high
way accidents this winter on icy
pavement, no one has been ser
iously hurt.
Bill Ackerman, driver for
Northwest Freight Lines at San
Juan Dock, escaped from the
cab of his truck Sunday after
noon with nothing but a stiff
neck.
Reports from the freight of
fice are that Ackerman, driving
north, at about 4:30 Sunday af
ternoon, took to the ditch at
Mile 28 to avoid hitting either
a parked car or an Alaska
Freight Lines semi which was
approaching. He found himself
upside down in the cab, after
the truck overturned over the
embankment.
The driver of the car, an An
chorage man, who was in the
parked car, helped Ackerman
out, no doubt expecting to find
him injured or dead. Damage
to the truck is thought to be
almost total at first estimate.
High Wind Damages
Roofs in Seward
The Seward weather station
has no instruments to record
wind velocity automatically, so
there is no record of the wind
during the night, when it is usu
ally strongest, i' was reported
here this week ?.s varying from
36 to 46 miles per hour, how
ever.
Swirling, hurr>cane-like gusts
at tremendous velocity, buffeted
the city Monday and Tuesday
doing considerable damage to
roofs and blowing out windows.
One observer reports seeing a
solid wooden cttw.r sail through
the air ten feet off the ground.
Another tells of a discarded
Christmas tree flying down an
alley over the tops of cars.
Those accustomed to our
windy winters remark that we
were lucky that the wind was
“warm,” temperature on those
days reaching 43 and 35 high,
dropping to 29 and 28 low. Even
at these temperatures, furnaces
burned oil like mad and kept
deliveries in great demand.
Despite the wind, however,
Seward has enjoyed clear, sun
ny skies since January 13, which
seems to be typical January
weather here.
Grant Lake Project
Gets Go-Ahead
A 24 month permit has been
granted by the Federal Power
Commission to the Grant Lake
Power Company of Anchorage
for survey and engineering of
Grant Lake power project.
The company expects to set
up a power facility on the little
lake, just east of Trail Lake at
Moose Pass, which will have a
capacity of 4000 kilowatts. It
would supply power to Moose
Pass, Cooper Landing and the
Seward area.
Reporter s
Notebook
Seward Girl Sjcouts will hold
a bake sale Saturday morning.
January 23 at the Blue Shop.
• Mrs. Katheryn Baker was sup
posed to go outside Tuesday,
but son Frankie, who was going
along, came down with measles.
They are waiting for the bug
to leave so they can go ahead
with their plans.
Mrs. Bea Davis is filling in
for Mrs. Baker in the school
office until her return.
Logan Varnell and Thurman
Eddy are fishing in Prince Wil
liam Sound.
The Harold Davis' had several
houseguests this week. Mrs.
Helen Gwin, the two Jim’s—
Jim O'Brien and Jim Dunmire,
and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fuller,
all of Cooper Landing were in
town for shopping, etc.
Ten housemothers from Jesse
Lee Home will complete their
fiist aid training with the final
examination next Wednesday.
They have had more than one
occasion to use their training
since the course began.
Don Dalberg’s seventh grade
will hold a white elephant sale
January 30 at 2 p.m. in the Blue
Shop. The children request that
if you have anything around
your home that isn’t wanted,
send it or take it to the Seward
Steam Laundry. The packages
will be sold for 50 cents without
being opened, "So come on and
bring them down,” the kids say.
Bridge, pinochle and canasta
will be played at a public card
party to be given by St. Peter's
Auxiliary Saturday, January 23
at 8 p.m. in the basement of the
Episcopal Church. Prizes and
refreshments. Admission is $1.00
for adults, 50 cents for teen
agers.
Dave and Dorothy Hassingcr,
two of Seward’s popular young
people, are to leave the first of
the month. Dave is going into
TV work at Anchorage. Seward
will miss him at the radio sta
tion and Dorothy at Werner's
Market.
ROBERTS' BROTHER
AMONG MISSING
Leonard W. Roberts, son of
Mrs. Vera Giese of Anchorage,
was reported among the 28 Ma
rines missing after the ramming
of a landing craft near Korea
this week.
Aged about 21, he was un
married. He was a brother of
Tommy Roberts, Territorial Po
lice Department patrolman in
Seward area.
10 Per Cent Increase
In Freight Rates To
Coastwise and A.S.C.
Freight rates for Alaska
Steamship Company and Coast
wise Lines will be increased 10
percent effective February 10,
according to information from
Delegate Bartlett this week. The
hike was granted by the Feder
al Maritime Board.
Tariffs will apply between
Seattle and Tacoma and Alaska
ports on Alaska Steamship Co.
vessels and between California,
Oregon and Tacoma ports and
the Territory on Coastwise ves
sels.
The two companies claim that
"In keeping with everyone else,
the steamship lines operating to
Alaska have had substantial in
creases in various operating
costs since the last rate adjust
ment became effective March 1,
1952.” Alaska Line’s officials
state that the estimated revenues
from passengers, mail, freight
and other sources totalled $16,
967,539 for 1953 with operating
expenses totalling $16,859,786,
the net result before taxes being
$107,753.
Coastwise states that during
the past year its total operations
will indicate a loss of about
$300,000. Approximately 50 per
cent of revenues of this line is
derived from Alaska trade.
The recent report of the Pa
cific Coast Freight Conference,
which is composed of the two
companies, stated: ‘‘After care
ful consideration we believe
that the companies need and the
trade can bear, a revenue in
crease which is equivalents to
about 10 percent across the
board upon their total freight
revenues (military and commer
cial). This would, of course, wipe
out their operating deficite and
provide a return of 6 percent
after taxes.”
Queen Contest Gains
Momentum
Votes for the first week in the
Basketball Queen contest were
counted Monday night with a
total of 2,426 votes cast.
The names of 27 Seward
school girls had been submitted,
of which the first 10 are listed
and the order in which they
stand. They are: 1, Murlene
Trevethan; 2, Mary Walker; 3,
Bonnie Lou Douglas; 4, Ava Jo
Doyle; 5, Hazel Brossow; 6, Lura
Peck; 7, Carol Ann Trevethan;
8, Cindy Coleman; 9, Doris Do
shen; 10, Barbara Cobban.
Though only these 10 names
are listed, it does not mean that
they are candidates to the exclu
sion of others. Votes can still be
cast with every $1.00 purchase
in the stores cooperating, for
any girl in school. The contest
runs through Valentine's Day
and the queen will be crowned
at a special Queen’s dance.
President's Ball To
Follow Amateur Show
Seward is falling down on its
contributions to March of Dimes.
The big semi-formal annual
President’s Ball which will wind
up the campaign is hoped to
make up the difference.
It was not possible to find a
night when there was not some
thing else scheduled for enter
tainment in Seward. The Seward
calendar is booked solid for
every Saturday through Febru
ary. The dance, with good music
will begin in the Civic Center,
therefore, after the Major Shef
field Amateur Show at the
school February 6, approximate
ly 10:30 p.m.
SEAHAWKS OFF BY PLANE
FOR FAIRBANKS GAMES
Twelve players, the coach and
one girl boarded the Cordova
Air Lines plane at 9:40 Thurs
day morning. They were on their
way to Fairbanks for the return
basketball games in that city.
One other passenger was to
board the plane at Anchorage.
This is the first time the team
has taken to the air for its long
trips, and seems to be a most
satisfactory arrangement.
A telephone message from
Coach Dalberg in the afternoon
reported safe arrival in Fair
banks at 1:30 p.m., with beauti
ful weather all the way. This be
ing the case, the youngsters must
have had a good view of Mount
McKinley.
Fight Potto!
Join tfie
MARCH OF DIMES
January 2 to 31
CITY COUNCIL NEWS
NO HELP FOR CITY
ON HOSPITAL
A letter from Don Wilson to
the City Council requested a fi
nancial statement concerning
the application for a new hos
pital.
It was brought out during dis
cussion that the $100,000 partici
pation expected from the Wo
man’s Division of Christian
Service of the Methodist Church
will probably not be available.
It seems that it was only a ten
tative sum to be contributed in
case Seward Sanatorium should
be closed. The Woman’s Division
had thought that with the clos
ing of the Sanatorium, enough
equipment could be sold to make
up the proposed amount. This
pledge counted heavily with the
voters when the bond election
was passed for the hospital. It
was not generally known at the
time, however, that the $100,000
was a conditional sum to be
available upon abandonment of
the Sanatorium.
Since there now seems to be
no indication that Seward Sana
torium will be closed at any
foreseeable near date, the city
is now responsible for raising
the entire $310,000 which is 50
per cent of the total amount
under Alaska Public Works,
providing the application is ap
proved.
Other Council Doings
The City Council adjourned
at 9:20 Monday night, which
must set some kind of record for
regular meetings. Before ad
journment, however, the council
voted to pay the annual mem
bership fee at the rate of 10
cents per capita in the League
of Alaskan Cities.
The fee is based upon popu
LINCOLN DAY DINNER
A*T SANATORIUM
Seward area Republicans will
hold their Lincoln Day dinner
February 12, in the dining room
at Seward Sanatorium. Tickets
will be on sale next week at
$2.50 each.
Mrs. Cal M. Brosius is general
chairman for the dinner. Phil
Durant is in charge of tickets.
Mrs. Brosius stated today that a
speaker has not been found yet,
but will be announced later.
P.-T.A. — and You
by Virginia Fyles
The Parent Teacher Associa
tion of Seward is a self govern
ing unit but is linked thru its
membership to the National
Congress of Parents and Teach
ers. The Bylaws of the unit are
based on those of the National
Congress whose whole interest
centers on the welfare and ed
ucation of children and youth.
It is a democratic volunteer or
ganization working actively for
betterment of the community
and representing that commun
ity in statewide and nationwide
programs. The National Con
gress furnishes services and ma
terials to the local organizations
when requested. It offers train
ing courses, workshops and con
ferences thru state branches.
These services and publications
are offered free and are support
ed by membership dues. Thru
its accredited members it repres
ents entire organization at nat
ional and international conferen
ces and endeavors to do what
ever needs to be done for the
welfare of children that is be
yond the scope of local organ
izations.
Allowance is made in the
branch to be adaptable to the
needs of the community in
which it serves. In this respect
the Parent-Teachers Association
of Seward has coordinated all
branches to serve all children
from pre-school thru high
school. Activities of the local
branch are vitally concerned
with the problems confronting
all children. P.-T.A. offers you
the opportunity to become in
formed on the needs of the
children of Seward. It needs
your ideas, interest and support.
Payment of dues makes you an
active memiber in not only the
local organization, but also the
territory and the National Con
gress. It gives you the privilege
of voting, holding office and
supporting the program. Only
by joining forces with others
can you help build a school pro
gram that will enable your
children td grow up with faith
in their country, their fellow
men and themselves. Its goal is
for better homes, better schools,
better communities and better
and peaceful world in which to
live.
Next week: Basic policies;
education.
lation as estimated every Janu
ary by the City Council. It was
estimated on the same basis as
in 1953 when the figure for
population was set at 2,490.
Press of business forced the
council to meet every week in
stead of twice monthly since
January 1. The backlog of busi
ness has been caught up now and
the meetings are on a regular
basis again, with the next meet
ing February 1.
Dogs Musi Be Licensed
Every year the problem of
dogs running at large comes to
the fore in Seward as well as in
other Alaska communities.
Large packs of dogs are roam
ing the streets to the inconven
ience of traffic and danger to
small children. It was reported
at City Council Monday night
that police attempted to disperse
a pack with tear gas, and were
unsuccessful. City Manager
O'Hara stated that the ordinance
concerning dogs as a nuisance
provides that dogs must be im
pounded for 72 hours to allow
owners of pets to claim them.
Then the owners must pay for
the dog’s keep during impound
ment.
As the city has no adequate
pound, the dogs are now running
at large, except for three that
were locked in the jail. The or
dinance also requires that every
dog shall have and wear a li
cense tag.. It was disclosed by
the city clerk that only 39 li
censes have been sold in Seward
at noon Thursday. Licenses for
clogs were due on July 1, 1953.
License for a female dog is
S5.00, for a male $2.50. From
discussion at the council meet
ing, it is assumed that this or
dinance will be enforced and all
dogs must be licensed.
FATHER CHAPUT ILL
IN SEATTLE
Residents of a few years ago
will be sorry to hear that Father
Chaput, former priest of Sacred
Heart Church, is very ill in Pro
vidence Hospital, Seattle. Word
received is that suffering from
diabetes, the minister has or
will have to lose both legs by
amputation because of the dis
ease.
This cheerful, kindly man,
who was friend to everyone he
met in Alaska, is not downcast
but talks enthusiastically about
learning to walk on artificial
limbs.
'TEEN TOPICS
By Cindy
The team left for Fairbanks
Thursday. Gee! What a dull joint
although I guess the teachers
enjoy the silence that prevails
at the team’s absence.
Audney Horton and Bruce
Lewis are the only two high
school students down with mea
sles that I know of. The question
is—Who caught them from who?
Sharon Stevens left us to take
up farming in Arkansas. Sharon
and her .mother are taking turns •
driving out the highway.
Also going to Arkansas are the
Lohman kids, Andrea, Johnny
and Russell. They are traveling
with their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Lovell.
Tom Sawyer left us the first
of the week for Anchorage. Tom
was reluctant to go but it was
a matter of necessity. We all
miss Tom a lot.
Gallaway went thataway! Yes,
Guy has left us again, only this
time it is North Dakota instead
of sunny California. Plane and
train will be his means of trans
portation.
The Seward, Nebraska-Alaska
films were shown Wednesday
for the high school assembly.
The films were wonderful. Most
of us wonder how we got by
with paying only a quarter.
The Pep Club held a tradi
tional “victory dance” after the
Cordova games. The dance was
pretty successful, but after it
was over we still felt like danc
ing so we adjourned to the home
of “The Jones Boy.”
At school we are having vol
ley ball tournaments. There are
four teams. One team is made up
of boys. Boy! if the boys don’t
win that tournament they will
never live it down.
Well, that’s about all, kids.
Look for me again next week,
same time, same place.