VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA MARCH 4,. 1927
NO. 34
LITERACY BILL
PASS CONGRESS
A literacy test bill for voters in
Alaska is provided for in House Bill
passed by the House of Representa
tives and passed this week by the
Senate.
The bill provides that every per
son. before being allowed to vote,
shall without assistance, legibly
sign his or her full name, sex and
address, in the registration or poll
book. If it then appears to any of
the election officers that such person
is unable to read or write, the elec
tion officers may require the would
be voter to read, in their presence,
in the English language a passage of
not less than 10 lines chosen at ran
dom from the Constitution of the
United States and to write in English
10 or more consecutive words simil
arly chosen from the Constitution.
The bill was favorably reported
by the Committee on Territories at
the last session of Congress. Rep
resentative Curry of California,
chairman of the committee, said of
the bill in February that the test pro
vided in the bill is in accord with
the laws of most of the States, add
ing: “Most of the very few States
that have no lietracy test fc" voter:
have no need for it, since there is
scarcely any illiteracy in those
States, and the majority of the
States have even stronger provisions
than is included in the bill.” Adding
“The literacy test is to protect the
Government from the dangers inci
dent to the control of elections by
the group-voting of the illiterate
citizenry.”
A committee amendment to the
bill was accepted by the House and
was incorporated in the law as pass
ed by the Senate, providing that a
voter who exercised his franchise in
1924 election will be allowed to vote
in the future, even though he be il
literate.
WHEN IS PM
I. C. Sauers, who plead guilty to
complicity in the Klemm-McCall fish
p’racy case, stood before Judge
Tnomas M. Reed in district court
this morning and listened to words
which meant his release from the
Federal jail.
Imposition of sentence was sus
pended for a period of one year. He
was released from jail without bail.
Clarence Edwards and John Saari
members of the same crew were de
clared not guilty of piracy for which
crime Walter McCall member of the
same crew is serving time in the pen
itentiary and another partner is ap
pealing his case.
ne suit
. . The Forest Department has an
nounced that bids on two lots of
Alaskan timber will be held in Wash
ington April 15, 20, and 25. Each
h t contains stock enough to keep
a 500-ton plant operating for 50
jears., the term during which the
cutting will be allowed.
SEATTLE TO LONDON
Seattle, Feb. 26.—Seattle and
London talked to each other Iasi
night when the trans-oceanic trans
continental communication was ex
tented to all Pacific coast states
£ondon was heard plainly.
Letters which have reached An
chorage recently from Nagataga oil
drilling operations under way,
fail to confirm rumors which have
been in circulation to the effect that
oil has been encountered, but they
ru*e optomistic, and the indications
appear to be very promising. Latest
information received was to the ef
that the well was down 1040 feet. A
heavy flow of gas was encountered
during the early stages of drilling
and there is said to have been steady
gas pressure all the way down. It
is the opinion of those familiar with
the geology of the Yagataga field
that oil may be encountered at al
most any depth there, which pro
bably accounts for the ready accept
ance of the report which has been in
| circulation in Anchorage during the
; last several days. —Anchorage
I Times.
I
JUNIOR COLLEGE
Last month Rev. H. P.-Corser had
occasion to visit Ketchikan and
while there Representative William
L. Paul discussed with him certain
proposed legislative bills that pos
sibly may be introduced at the forth
coming legislature.
Among other things Mr. Paul
broached the subject of Southeastern
Alaska’s need for a Junior polytech
nic college. Mr. Corser regarded the
ieda as a most excellent one, and up
on his return to Wrangell he brought
the matter to the attention of the
Wrangell Commercial Club, suggest
ing that the Club give the matter
consideration. A motion prevailed
Johnny Smith, star center on
Kayhi’s championship basketball
squad, has been chosen by K. W.
Abell, Alaska College coach, as a
forward on his mythical All-Alaska
team, it became known yesterday.
Abbe Garn, forward on the Ketch
ikan town team, was recently
posed of Territorial players, includ
ing an All-Alaska, and an All-Alaska
city, and an All-Alaska high school
squad.
Abbe Garn, foward on the Ket
ch lean town team, was recently
selected by Abell as forward on the
All-Alaska city squad.
The personnels of all three squads
will be announced next month, ac
according to a letter from the college
mentor.
BIG FIRE IN CORDOVA
The most disastrous fire in the
history of Cordova destroyed the
business section of the city. The
tire started Sunday in the Star res
tuarant which was totally destroyed
including other stores in the imme
diate vicinity. Stock was removed
Irom a store in line with the fire and
the building dynamited. In spite of
heavy rains the fire lasted for severa
hours. The loss is estimated at over
$100,000.
SilDii GHtW
Members of the wrecked halibut
schooner Sca,ndia were on the Ad
miral Watson enroute to Seattle.
The vessel was under charter to
the Commision making scientific
study of halibut a*nd was on her
ninth trip when she encountered the
storms last week which drove her
shelter. Beating her way into Ko
diak and following the bell buoy
marking the channel, she struck a
teef, with huge combers breaking
over the vessel. The crew managed
to launch the remaining dory but
leaving several men on the wreck
ed vessel. Wireless message had
been sent to Kodiak so that help ar
rived just before the vessel made its
plunge to Davy Jones’ locker. The
| entire crew escaping with nothing
but what they had on their backs
and some had mighty little of that
as most of the crew were in their
bunks.
The members of the crew speak
most highly and kindly of the recep
tion and care by the good people of
Kodiak.
JI NEAU’S MONEY
BEADY TO SPEND
Wastington, D. C. Feb. 24.—
President Coolidge yesterday signed
tho bill authorizing Juneau, Alaska,
to issue bonds for the construction
and equipment of a school house.
SOME VESSELS
CLOSE GALL
Stories that come from the West
ward tell of stories that give a thrill
at the heroism of men who toil by
the sea. The venus which staggered
into port probably had the most
Inrills of any small vessel in the
storm. Riding at her sea anchors
she was swefct by a huge comber
which threw her on her side sweep
ing her decks of gear and tearing
her dories loose. A second comber
followed tearing her pilot hoose off,
after the crew had cut away wreck
age from the decks. The vessel
1;1 led with water before temporary
coverings could be put on the en
trance to the engine room. The
engineer was on watch for 24 hours
without rest making repairs, clearing
pipeline and getting pumps in work
ing order before he went forward
for coffee. Every stitch of available
clothing, oil skins and canvas pos
sible was hung over the side with
oil to break the force of the seas.
Sho staggered into Kodiak without
pilot house but with a man at each
tiller line. That she survived the
fury of the seas will go down in his
tory as an epic of the North Pacific
fisheries.
The Sitka, also in the storm limp
ed into port with all her deck gear
and dories gone and pilot house
stove in. Other vessels riding at
anchor in Seward harbor were com
pelled to pull up anchor and search
for better holding ground. The Ad
miral Wason, laying at the dock in
Seward had to pull away from the
dock and steam around the outer
harbor as the waves coming in en
dangered both ship and dock.
So far no casualties had been re
ported. A small launch with three
men reported as being lost was
lound riding safely at anchor in a
1 quiet harbor.
. _ P. T. A. MEETING.
The Petersburg Parent-Teachers’
Association meeting Wednesday ev
ening was well attented and a good
program was given by the pupils of
Miss Vick’s room, assisted by several
others. The numbers consisted of a
violin solo by Solveig Vick, a group
song by the boys of Miss Vick’s
room, and another song by the girls
chorus. A Pantomime was also giv
en by the fourth grade pupils and
Mrs. Ed Locken also entertained
with a very delightful reading.
The regular business session fol
lowed the program in which routine
matters were handled.
The long looked for report from
the committee appointed to canvas
the matter of the need for th erecion
of additional school rooms and the
much discussed gymnasium.
The chairman of the committee,
Mr. Jack Schoettler was absent nurs
ing sore teeth. (probably due to
promises made the Petersburg Ath
letic Association) and the report was
given by Mayor Edward Locken. He
reported that after much consider
ation and investigation, the commit
tee had decided to recommend that
the P. T. A. go on record and request
the City Council to erect additional
school rooms and gymnasium during
the coming summer. The report was
accepted and the recommendation
adopted.
A communication wag read from
the Secretary of the P. T. A. Council
of the Territory relative to the advis
lbiliy of arranging for a lecture or
i a musical entertainment for the com
ing season to be given in the differ
ent cities having Parent-Teacher As
sociations. The local organization
instructed the secretary to write for
more detailed information before ac
tion was taken by the Association.
A communication was read from
the Fairbanks P. T. A. relative to a
Dill that is to be introduced in the
Legislature asking that the Territor
ial appropriation for the maintain -
ance of the schools be raised from
75 percent to 80 percent.
This increase would not benefit
Petersburg at present, but it is only
a matter of a short time until the to
tal expense budget for the lo
cal schools will have exhausted this
75 percent now provided by law and
Petersburg will need the additional
amount. For this reason the local
P. T. A. went on record as approving
the measure and instructed the -Se
cretary to so inform the Fairbanks
erganization and also to send a re
quest to the Senators and Represent
atives of our district asking their
'support of this measure.
. The Senate sub-committee report
ed on the case of Senator Arthur R.
Gould of Maine, Republican and re
commended that the charges against
him be dropped and he be given his
seat.
The committee reported that the
alleged payment by Goud of $100,
000 to Canadian officials was in the
nature of a business transaction.
Sure, and was not that a business
transaction pulled off by Secretary
Fall when he secured a loan of $100,
000 from Doheny?
The lobbyists aer reported as be
ing in full force at Juneau.
The scientific work undertaken by
the International Commission v ill
be delayed on account of the r
ing of the Scandia used by tnc
mission, according to Dr. V
Thompson, director of tin <■
sion. The loss of the Sea.;
the cost of another vessel I : ■
pense of the owner "'ill d*
propriations for the year,
that the president app nt
! mittee to investigate the
jos such a project. President
j min appointed Mr. Corser a i
I of the committee. At a recent
ing of the Club* Mr. Corser h ’
ip a comprehensive report fa
the idea.
The matter was ordered bled
pending further investigation a3 ;i
Club wished to go into the m
{thoroughly before submitting a r
J tion to the Legislature,
j The report filed rrcom
that a building be furnish d b
town be offered as the first unit
the school. Having reference to s’
the building formerly occupi
the Bureau of Education.
m
p: y
:S OE t
A report from Seattle dated ’’
25th is to the effect that the N t
gland was making a deal to par
the plant of the Carlisle ’r
Company at Cordova. The C
cannery is a five line plant and p
ed last year 92,000 cases. A. ■
Hager is quoted as statin t
development program of tin co
pany for 1927 would be double *
capacity of the Ketchikan plum,
nery at Noyes Island, Jui i. x
gell, Petersburg and Al<\anh r
traps in Southeastern Alaska.
U. S. District Attorney \m’
Sboup, who retires fr mi
month, was aboard tin
Watson-Saturday enroun to r,<
Mr. Shoup will leave
California with the int at
locating in that state.
FRAUD IN LEASPS
Decision by the Supreme Com *
this week was to the effect that euf
ficent evidence had been produc* d 1
the lower courts to warrant the find
ing corruption, and fraud and tai f
ed leases in connection with the Po
heny oil companies while Secrotarv
Fall was in office. •
The decision also cancelled 1 *
leases confirmed findings of tb b
ar court, and disregarded the acquit -
tal of Fall and Doheny by local y
of conspiracy.
BIGGER CHILDREN
The average English child of ! j
vaars of age is two inche tall- r
the school-boy of the same
the school years ago, while r
school-girl is but five ounce
The increase is attributed t
diet and more exercise.
Do Alaskans want Home Rule;
Tell your Representatives.
The Petersburg Commercial Club
he'd it8 weekly dinner meeting at
ih<- > ;e Cafe on Wednesday even
, nn. Mr. Irwin, an expert cabinet
■ t who has decided to locate in
" one of the guests of the
'•o v. short talk and told
‘Vit he has already or
: ’ lent for his up-to
n which he will open
of having been
before and of
ondenee from the
stated that he had
here because Peters
opportunity of
v P in Alaska for a cabinet
p. Fie stated fur
i tin :■ tV.it i..:* i ad arrived at this con
< ; i i !i I c :u• * of the large number
Sul ► itial residences here,
r v.\ r. Crown, who is a mem
1' • of the force in the Government
; ! os O’- if t in Juneau, was also
of the Cluh. He is checking
{ up on the dredging and other gov
t work in this vicinity.
c itul d the members tip
s' a a - ial growth of the city
• ih'ty of new business
! and upon the im
n others. He also
the number of
■r cted since he was
? four or five years
i no doubt in his mind,
a. Petersburg has made
Continued on page 3
■-- --
lip is a persistent rumor
1 . t cold storage plant at
L rd 1 iusr contemplated. The
s . , ilai enterprises at Ju
n ; . i Kchican. Petersburg
ard V j i : 1! has, so it is said,
caused * r st in the local situa
te,!. Wi; millions of the finny
,i i r , d • . d waiting in the wat
< of i rince William Sound, it
d • ; in r,:rau.,e th »t something has
not ; n done before this to porvide
& meat -i for their taking and dis
p. al. it ia to be hoped that the
p , ,i mu ( urea soon as no more effl
r h s bedevised for the
a permanent fishing
the consequent bet
ii c lit ions in Alaska.
Cordova Times
The United States Senate this
week passed a bill providing for flve
in ru h nestead tracts which will be
c » b : it to Alaskans. This per
mits patents to land tor those who
have bai t hom< s, established fishing
stations or trading stations, manu
facturing plants, etc. The Act is
- ti< ; • icd primarily to apply to land
ptii v domain or in Forest Re
■ - s i • h cannot be cultivated,
* n t include agricultural
tg Harbor cannery, aband
on'd three years ago, will be opened
tip and operated this year by Eric
Fribrock, Is report coming to the
1 Alaskan. Mr. Fribrock was former
I iy with the Northwestern Fisheries.