VOLUME NO. VI.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA,
SEPTEMBER 18, 1931
No. 9
Californian Sees
Bright Future
Alaska was pictured as on the
eve cl' a new development perio.1
that bids fair to surpass any si
milar one in more than sixty
years by C. A. James, assistant
manager of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce, foreign
department. He returned from
a month’s Alaskan survey.
Gold although not by far the
chief resource of the territory,
he said, will stimulate activity.
James said the territory was in
the midst of a “new gold rush,”
less productive, however, than
the noted one of the last cen
tury.
“Recent lowering of commod
ity levels with correspondingly
higher purchasing power of
gold,” he said, “is serving to in
terest both capital and individ
ual prospectors in a renewed
effort.”
Janr.cs ..aid many proper**03
which have been dormant since
1920 when commodity prices re
duced the relative value of gold,
are being reopened, new discov
eries are being made over widely
scattered areas, and acquirement
and consolidation of claims is
being carried on by large finan
cial groups.
He called attention to what
such development means to the
Pacific Coast retail businesses.
James asserted Alaska fisheries,
timber and pulp, fur farming
and reindeer industries all show
promise of considerable expan
sion.
Predicts Record
Appropriation Year
-X
Senator Reed Smoot of Utah,
o.ean of the upper house, favors
a government bond issue to fi
nance an extended building pro
gram for unemployment relief if
necessary.
“I am prepared to support ap
propriation for needy war vet
erans and for some plan that
will provide work for the unem
ployed,” Smoot said.
His statement was significant,
in that he is chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee.
Smoot predicted that congres
sional appropriations next ses
sion. wil exceed any other session
in the nation’s history, excepting!
war times. He said he planned
to introduce a law whereby hun-l
dreds of small cities would be
entitled to postoffice buildings.
-x
COST OF RUNNING ALASKA
——x
The net cost of the United
States in running Alaska for the
fiscal year 1930 was $7,485,371,
compared with slightly less than
$6,000,000 the preceding year.
These figures were recently
released by the Department of
the Interior, reflecting the dif
ference between total expendit
ures in 1930 of $12,321,646, and
receipts to the government of
$4,846 275 from territorial sourc
es. The expenditures represent
ed an increase of approximately
$1,000,000 over the preceding
year while the receipts took a
tumble of about a half million.
-x
Mrs. Gabe Sather entertained
a group of friends Monday. High
bridge scores were made by Mrs
Chris Tveten and Mrs. Charles
Anderson; consolation, Mrs. A
B. Holt.
-x
•Miss Lillian Swanson enter
tained the Tillicum Club Fridaj
evening. High honors at bridgf
went to Mrs. Wm. Johnson witf
Mrs. C. O. Parks, second
Republican Politics
Simmering Along
Austin E. Lathrop, Republican
National Committeeman for
Alaska, is expected in Juneau
about the first of October to un
ciertake the re-organization of
the Republican party and to
gather up the frayed and fraz
zled ends of the various factions
in an effort to once more weave
them into a smooth, finished
solid unit. From all indications,
there is much to be done before
Capt,. Lathrop will be ready to
turn the party loose at the next
primary election.
It is being stated that several
of the Juneau leaders are favor
ing the selection of Charles D.
Lfilles of New York for the next
Republican National Committee
Chairman. At present Mr. Hil
les is National Committeeman
for the Republican party of the
State of New York.
The New York Times has in-'
cicated that Mr. Hilles, who was
a staunch Coolidge man, was
called into consultation by Pres
ident Hoover when the move to
draft Coolidge to run for the of
fice of president, was at its high
point. Mr. Hilles is said to be
in the good graces of President
Hoover and will probably be the
next pilot of President Hoover’s
campaign for re-election.
A. E. Rasmuson, Cordova, head
of the Bank of Alaska chain of
banks is taking active steps to
| secure nomination as Republican
National Committeeman for the
Territory. He left recently from
Juneau for Washington, D. C ,
to get a close-up perspective on
the political situation. His polit
ical statement recently publish
in Stroller’s Weekly and The
Alaskan have created consider
able speculation in Juneau cir
cles of the politically minded.
Pacific Fliers Are
Found on Island
-x
Somewhere, in the vast reach-!
es of the Pacific, on the coast of;
Siberia, perhaps in Alaska, the
Aleutian Islands, or the Interior,:
are Don Moyle and his co-pilot!
Allen, who struck eff from Japan
in an attempt to span the wat
ers of the Pacific from Japan to
Seattle in Lieut, Bromley’s plane
Tacoma.
Four coast guard cutters plow
ed eastward along the Aleutian
Peninsula in an effort to find
the airmen without result. This
v.eek headed north two planes
which will scour the far reaches
of the interior, coast line and
islands for the two men.
| One of the men, just before]
Staking off at Japan said, “Jail orj
i Glory,” and glory it must be for
there is now small hope of find
ing the wreckage of the plane.
Japan is sending ships out to
the Kuriles in a search for the
men and Canada is expected to
search the B. C. coast. Fishing
| vessels have been asked to keep
ia weather-eye out for any signs
!of the plane.
| Late despatches report Coast
'Guard Headquarters in Seattle
in receipt of advices to the effect
tnat airmen Moyle and Allen,
missing since Sept. 7, were found
safe on an uninhabited island
off the coast of Kamchatka.
-x
: Laden with $250,000 in gold
. | bullion and 1,000 reindeer car
casses, the Lomen steamer Bald
win left Nome for Seattle, last
• week.
T The treasure cargo is from the
5 properties of the Hammond
^Consolidated Gold Fields on the
j Seward Peninsula.
Little Man Frozen
Out Says Solon
From S. roller’s Weekly
The government’s conserva
tion policy in Alaska is giving
the big fellows a monopoly on
the mineral resources of the
Territory. There is practically
no new mining development in
Alaska. What production of
gold there is, comes from old es
tablished properties.
Representative William R.
Eatoh, just returned from Alas
ka, was deeply impressed with
the fact that under existing
laws the little fellow, the man
with a will to work but no capital
has not much of a chance to
acquire a worthwhile mining
claim in Alaska.
Eaton, accompanied by Mrs.
Eaton, made the trip to Alaska
as a member of a group of con
gressmen and federal officials.
Congressman Edward T. Taylor
of Colorado, was in the party.
Eaton, as a member of the
House public lands committee,
will have to handle considerable
legislation affecting Alaska. Tho
he went on government business,
Eaton paid his own expenses on
the four-weeks’ trip.
“I failed to find oft the trip
any support of the Garfield
field commission’s report with
respect to public lands,” Eaton
said. This is the report that re
commends that the government
turn over public domain to the
states, but reserves the mineral
and oil rights.
“Numerous hearings I attend
ed in Alaska clearly brought out
what the Alaskans want is legis
lation to place the Territory, so
far as the acquisition of mining
claims is concerned, under the
same laws as the forty-eight
states.
“I believe the next Congress
will act to put Alaska on that
basis.”
The next Congress, Eaton be
lieves, will also appropriate
money for coal bunkers at Sew
ard, sea terminus of the Alaska
Railroad. The government is
now spending a quarter of a
million dollars in a geological
survey to find anthracite or bi
tuminous coal. Eaton said the
coal now being mined in Alaska
is of low-grade quality.—Denver
Post.
Petersburg Man
Tries Suicide
--X
John Norman Sjursen, former
manager of the Union Oil Com
pany’s station in Petersburg, at
tempted to commit suicide in a
fit of despondency, last week in
Seattle. He hired a youth to
take care of his two children,
took his wife to a dance hall for
what he planned to be their last
| waltz together then went home
and shot himself near the heart.
At his bedside, in the hospital,
Mrs. Sybil Sjursen said that her
husband had been jolly and most
considerate of her during the
evening. They had not been to
many such entertainments since
he lost his job driving a truck
in Seattle and he seemed to
make special effort to have his
wife enjoy herself.
When they returned home, she
said, he entered the bathroom
and almost immediately she and
Uhe lad who took care of the
children, heard a pistol shot.
They called the police.
Sjursen had many friends here
while he was connected with the
Union Oil Company.
-x
P. T. A. reception for the ne«
feachers at Sons of Norway hal!
this evening at 8:15.
School Gym Plans
Now Under Way
The long cherished dream of
Petersburg boys and girls, both
old and young, the hope of bas
ketball players and fans for a
hall whch will always be avail
able for games and for practice,
as well as equipment for those
unhonored and unsung members
of the student body who never
attain a place on any athletic
team, but whose physical train
ing is perhaps much more neces
sary, is at last about to be real
ized.
In fixing the municipal tax
levy for the current year, the
City Council included a levy of
2 y2 mills on all taxable property
in the town to provide funds for
a school gymnasium. The valu
ation of the property within the
corporate limits for taxation
purposes is approximately $1,
500,000 and the tax levy should
therefore provide $3,750 in ad
dition to other funds on hand,
amount to approximately $1,000.
The City Council requested the
School Board to act as a com
mittee to devise and recommend
plans for the construction of a
suitable building on the lot ad
joining the school property do
nated by the P. A. F. corporation
for that purpose and which was
cleared by contract last year.
As a member of the school j
board, Dr. Rude stated that pre
parations are going forward as
rapidly as possible, meetings
have been held with athletic
coaches, and several local car
penters and contractors have
discussed plans. “We are trying
our best to get a ten thousand
dollar building for five thousand
dollars or less,” said he, “and we
feel that we could not hope for a
time when building material
would be cheaper or the neces
sary labor more readily available
than at present. We find that
the main floor must be no less;
than 67.1/2 x 108 feet with 24 foctj
studding. This would provide aj
regulation basketball flcor with;
bleachers to accommodate 400
spectators. This means that itj
will be utterly impossible to
complete the building and equip |
it with the money now on hand, i
It seems more than likely that
many patrons and friends of the;
school will be willing to donate j
a certain amount of labor, but!
even at best, there may be a de
ficit for the P. T. A., to tackle,
It may be possible, of course, to
include part of the expense in]
next year’s tax budget, or again!
perhaps additional funds could j
be borrowed, the interest oil]
which would not be greater than
the rental heretofore paid for
the use of a hall. That expense
we shall, of course, try to avoid.
Tentative plans will be submit
ted to the Council at its regular
meeting, and, if possible, con
struction work will be gotten un
der way at once before the cold
er weather sets in.”
I
Miracle, Felix Was
j Not Killed
Felix Stuck is alive today due
tc his guardian angel sitting on
1. top of his head and the poor aim
j of R. O. Parks, hunting partner
1 who mistook him for a wolf.
^ Felix had just filled and lighted
t his pipe and stepped from be
!| hind a pine tree when his part
• | ner fired at him point blank.
The stem of his pipe was driven
■ into his mouth, fragments of the
; pipe spatered into his face, mak
ing flesh wounds on face, peck
and shoulder but no bones were
f broken.
1 The incident occurred neai
Totem Bay last Sunday.
Jury Drawn For
October Court
Grand and petit jurors drawn
for the October term of Court
announced by J. H. Dunn, clerk
of the court are as follows:
Grand Jurors
Juneau—Mrs. Mildred Wyller,
A. Bertelson, R. E. Thompson,
Mrs. C. W. Carter, M. H. Sabin,
Mrs. George B. Rice, Elmer Reed,
Mrs. G._ T. Griggs, Mrs. Douglas
Mead, G. T. Paul.
Douglas—Tom Cashen, Jr., Al
Iterta Gallwas, Gertrude Laugh
lin, Emile Geubelle Albert Goetz.
Hconali—C. A. Bevens.
Haines—C. H. Chisel, Mrs. Ned
Lemieux, C. W. Chindblom.
Sitka—S. C. Rowe
Ska^way—Clara S. Dedman,
John Keller, P. E. Olsen.
Petersburg—J. M. Hudson, Mrs
Lulu McKecknie, Mrs. David
Phillips, Paul White.
Petit Jurors
Jimeau—H. L. Arnold, Mrs. H.
Berg, Mrs. Ruth Blake, J. M.
Chase. Mrs. A. B. Clark, Cash
Cole, Mrs. Trevor M. Davis, Mrs.
J. B. Erbland. Mrs. Roma Faulk
ner, Mrs. W. S George, Mrs. Geo.
A. Getchell, Mrs. May D. Godfrey
Miss Minnie Golstein, Tiygvie
Hagerup, Miss Dalma Hansen, B.
H. Howard, R. M. Keeney, Joe
Kendler, Mrs. Lena Marshall, J.
B. Monagle Mrs. John McLough
lin. C. E. Naghel, Mrs. Tom Ness,
Mrs. Florence B. Oakes, Char
les Personneus, Mrs. S. P. Ray
mond, G. B. Rice, Mrs. T. J. Sel
by, Mrs. M. Skuse, Mrs. M. Stone
house, M. S. Wilson.
Haines--Grace Eatchelder, J.
Cryderman, Lon Garrison, John
Leslie, Fred Myers, John B Ward.
Petersburg—H. Berg, Mrs. Jno.
Campbell, Mrs. C. Clausen, Chris
Christiansen, Mrs. R. Enge, F. M.
Hungerford, Mrs. O. Husvik, H.j
M. Phillips, Louis Susort.
Sitka—Gerald Clark, Elizabeth;
G. H. Peterson, Mrs. Nick Trier-,
schield.
Douglas—A. R. Edwards, F. A.
J. Galwas.
Angocn—George R. Betts.
Skagway—Jane Ganty, Edith
Larson, John Olson.
Kake—Mrs. Beulah Kirberger
and Margaret Williams.
x
Juneau Wants In On
Seal Revenue
-X
The Juneau Chamber of Com
merce last week adopted a mem
orial passed by the 1931 Alaska
legislature asking for 50 per cent
of the annual revenue derived
from the Pribilof seal herds. The
money to be remitted to Alaska
for the-common school fund.
H. L. Faulkner expressed it his
opinion that the present Terri
torial revenue would not be suf
ficient to meet expenses of gov
ernment. This was pointed out
by The Alaskan when officials
were congratulating themselves
upon the fine work of the last
legislature. The Territorial of
ficials, knowing the true condi
tion of affairs now, are worried
as to how they will make ends
meet. The next legislature will
have a real job ahead of it.
-x
33RD MASON DIES, SPOKANE
-x
John H. Shaw, 76 years old,
chairman of Shaw & Borden Co.,
Spokane, and prominent in
Northwest Masonic circles, died
at his summer home at Spirit
Lake, Idaho on the 6th of Sep
tember.
Shaw was a thirty-third de
: gree Mason and held every im
1 portant office in that lodge ir
i Washington. He had been grant
■ commander of the Washingtor
| Lodge, Knights Templar.
Pitman Talks of
. Silver as Factor
—X—
Senator Key Pittman of Ne
vada, chairman of the Senate
Committee appointed to study
the decline of foreign trade, de
clared in Salt Lake City, last
week that China, Mexico and
Canada are prepared to call an
international conference- if the
United States fails to do so He
reiterated his conviction an in
ternational conference to dis
cuss the decline in the price of
the white metal will be called
within thirty days.
“I cannot say unequivocally
that China will call the confer
ence if the President of the Unit
ed States will but intimate that
this country would participate,
he said.
“I am satisfied with my con
cacts with officials of Japan that
she would be glad to issue a call
in cooperation with the United
States. I have absolutely m
doubt but what Canada will a.t
and the only thing which is
the fear of some Brith-h states
men that such a c inference
might complicate the discus
sions between the Briash gov-,
iorrment and the Indians in the
forthcoming round taffie con-J
ference. I
“I am confident that Mexico
would call it if our government
would indicate a willingness to
attend.”
x
Alaska Health Chief j
Is Named |
Dr. Frank S. Fellowes, past as
sistant of the United States Pub -
lie Health Service, since 1929
stationed at Portland in charge
of relief and quarantine stations
and immigration in the Portland
area, hs been appointed super
visor of health work, Indian Bu
reau, Alaska.
He will have the title of dis-j
trict medical director for Alaska, i
detailed to the office of Indian
A ffairs.
Dr. Fellowes is a World War
veteran, 32 years old, graduate
of the University of Wisconsin.'
He directed fumigation work of,
t e public health service in the
Puget Sound district, with head-'
quarters at Seattle, for ten
months beginning July, 1928,
from which position he was as-|
signed to Portland.
-x
FOSHAY BILKED PUBLIC BY
FALSE CLAIMS
Advertisements of the Foshay
utility concerns were placed in
evidence in court, Minneapolis
to show that the officials of the
oncern used the mails to de
fraud.
The Government contends that
advertising was inserted in peri
odicals falsely representing the
financial condition of the con
cerns and that the officials were
aware of the shaky financial
condition at the time.
The company charged that the
company officials gave away
| stock valued on their books at
more than a million dollars as
premiums to induce investors to
purchase other stocks and they
did not mark this off the books
* as a loss.
-x
■ Emil Hill passed thru Peters
burg enroute to Seattle. He was
joined here by Mrs. Hill who had
'been visiting friends and rela
tives.
-x
J. H. Wheeler has started suit
• against Marshal White and C. V
i Brown in the sum of $1850 foi
l mink taken in judgement froir
i Marshal Pointer. Wheeler claim:
| ownership.
Halibut Schooner
Destroyed by Fire
Rescued from the halibut boat
volunteer which burned off Put
ney Point, near Alert Bay, B. C.#
two Seattle fishermen were re
covering from exhaustion and
flight burns, at St. George’s
Hospital, Alert Bay.
They are Capt. Louis Hanken
and Andrew Sather, Seattle. The
pair were rescued by Oliver Mai •
sonville keeper and his ass st
ant, Matt Anderson, at the near
by lighthouse, according to a re
port from the British Columbia
provincial police.
Hanken was at the wheel
when the fire broke out. Sather
was asleep below. The first
warning of danger came with the
backfiring of the engine. Soon
after the midsection of the ves
sel was enveloped in flames.
Plunging aft, Hanken aroused
Sather. Together the men got
a small skiff overboard and saw
it smashed in the heavy sea.
They then made a raft of halibut
floats and pushed away from the
burning vessel.
Seeing the fire from a distance
Maisonville and Anderson set
out from shore in a small boat
j and rescued the men.
The Volunteer left Seattle two
weeks ago with a crew of five
men. Three of these were left
in Alaska.
Russia Abandons
Communism
-X
1 Col. Hugh L. Cooper, American
hydroelectric engineer, said re
cently upon his return to New
York from Russia, that Com
munism had been abolished in
that country and supplanted by
a form of state capitalism.
Cooper's firm is acting as
consulting and supervising en
gineers for an 800,000 horsepow
er hydroelectric plant on the
Dnieper River in the South U
kraine.
“I have been in a position to
observe and speak with those in
authority,” Colonel Cooper said.
“And I cannot only repeat
that the soviets are now operat
ing on a state capitalism basis.
Furthermore, eventually the so
viets plan to swing to a modi
fied system of private capitalism
This is not hearsay, but infor
mation fromthe powers that be
| “Col. Cooper described soviet
Russia as the “only country in
:the world that is absolutely
[stable and sound,” and where
law and order actually exist.
-x
On Saturday morning, Sep
tember 12, Mrs. Charles Craig
I died in her home following many
months of illness. Death was
not unexpected either by her
friends or herself and she went
out of this world to the World
Beyond as if she were but going
to leave for a visit in another
town. Though constantly in
pain, she always evinced a hap
! py optimistic frame of mind and
i greeted her friends in just that
! way. A kindly little woman, in
| terested in civic and church af
! fairs and her death is a distinct
' loss, not only to her relatives, but
to those who knew and worked
vUth her.
Deceased is survived by her
husband Charles Craig, daught
er Pauline Craig and sister, Mrs.
E. F. Johnson.
-x
C. O. Duvall claims the prize
; buck of the season, seven perfect
■ points on each horn not counting
• the eye guard. The deer waa
i shot near Ideal Cove and dressed
? 169 lbs. The head is to be mount
ecL