EWARD
The Gatezvay City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seaport
Record
Seward’s All-IVeather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Asset.
i
ol. VII, No. 97
SEWARD, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1951
Price 10 cenls
1951 Fed. Tax Bill
)esigned To Stimulate
lining Expansion
Special tax incentives design
>d to stimulate expansion of the
nining industry are proposed in
he 1951 federal tax bill now
>eing considered in Washington,
he Alaska Development Board
las been advised.
The House Ways and Means
Committee recently reported
avorably a bill which would,
imong other things, permit mine
>wncrs to deduct for tax pur
>oses money spent on develop
nent work before production
s begun.
Development expenditures in
curred after actual production
commences already can be de
iucted. Similar expenditures
nade preceding that stage of
ievelopment have never been
ieduetible heretofore.
The proposed change would
permit both classes of expendi
tures to be deducted, providing
the deductions are prorated over
the period during which the ore
resulting from the expenditures
is produced.
The change, if the bill passes
in the form recommended by
the Committee, will be effective
for taxable years beginning after
December 31. 1951.
Complete Turnover
In Tcsxi Businesses
Within the past few days, the
taxi business in Seward has
undergone a complete turnover.
Although the change represents
a transfer of ownership of the
four existing companies, the
personnel remains approxi
mately as before.
The name of “Northern Cab.”
was purchased by Mr. and Mrs.
Harvey Murray this week. The
company will keep five vehicles
in service, and install two-way
radios in all cars in three or
four weeks, according to Mur
ray. There will be no change
in service or rates, at least for
the time being, he stated today.
George Giardina, former own
er of Northern Cabs, will take
over the operation of “Reliable
Cabs" and the stand on Adams
Street at the Van Gilder Hotel.
City Cab Company was sold
to Les and Jean Fink.
Bob Lewis, former owner of
City Cab, will continue the
operation of the “Legion Cab”
and ambulance service.
University Scientist
Seward Visitor
Dr. Edward M. Little, head of
the science department at the
University of Alaska and assist
ant director of the new Geo
physical Institute Laboratory
on the campus, spoke at the
Chamber of Commerce Lunch
eon here today.
“The University should be
doing some research in ocean
ography and mountain research,
on its own,” the professor stated.
Scripps, at La Jolla, and Woods
Hole Institute from Maine are
doing such work, as well as the
University of Washington and
Vancouver, but Alaska should
also be working on her own
waters. He is unofficially look
ing the ground over, both here
and in other seaport towns with
the prospect of establishing a
branch laboratory on the coast.
“I am completely sold on Sew
ard,” Dr. Little stated. “It has
both mountains and ocean in
easy access.”
-Dr. Little has just completed
sr survey of the east slopes of
Mt. McKinley with Bradford
Washburn, who is to head the
much heralded exploration of
America’s highest mountain.
Eskimo Visitor
"Likes Seward"
Charles A. Sheldon, an Eski
mo, who has been in Seward
only two months, left for his
home in Kobuk yesterday. Be
fore leaving, he dropped in to
ask us to let all his friends know
that he was leaving, but that he
“likes Seward very much.” He
“likes the people, good place to
make money (has been long
shoring), and if it wasn't for
his business at home he would
remain here.” He especially
wanted to say goodbye to his
friends at the Sanatorium.
Charles has gold and jade
mines in Kobuk. If any of his
friends want to know ^bout
jade or the mines, just write to
him at Kobuk.
After delivering his message,
Charles stayed to talk. We
found him an interesting per
son. He is an Eskimo, “But,” he
said, “there was something else
mixed in.” His grandmother
married eitiher a Russian or
Swede—"or something else, they
didn't know what.”
One cannot tell about his age,
he appears to be about 30 years
old, but mentioned that lie and
his brother started mining in
'36. His brother is a patient at
the Sanatorium. Another brother
lives in Oregon, where he mar
ried a white girl. “Stands the
climate nicely, now, just had
to get used to it.” Charles says.
The ground at Kobuk is
frozen until July, so he can’t
work his mines during the win
ter. There were lots of Scandi
navian trappers in that region,
Sheldon says, but they have
gradually died. For a long time
he thought that all whites were
old people, because the only
ones he had seen were old. These
trappers started them off on
the English language. When
Charles was 12, a young couple
arrived and started a school, so
he found out that there were
young whites also, and began
liking them. The English lang
uage is the common tongue now
between Eskimos and Indians.
They don’t speak each other's
language, but both speak Eng
lish.
The old people used to trap
and get furs, but there isn’t
enough money in that now, so
the younger ones are mining
There are lots of sheep, caribou
and. moose, but the reindeer
have moved away.
The caribou come through the
village, Charles said. “At first
they sound like an airplane,
then the people know it is the
caribou coming, anti they just
get out of the way until the
herds have passed. They don't
try to destroy homes, just fol
low the leader.”
About 150 or 200 years ago,
the tribes in that area started
fueding, so the Eskimos ran the
_ Indians out—down the Yukon
area. For years they just left
each other alone, but now they
are friends again through inter
marriage.
Incidentally, Mr. Sheldon
made a blood donation to the
Sanatorium while he was here.
If he returns again next win
ter, he will come in to the paper
to say “hello” and let his friends
know that he is back.
HARRY HALL RESIGNING
FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT
Harry Hall, swing-shift patrol
man on the Seward Police De
partment, submitted his resig
nation Monday, to be effective
in two weeks. Mr. Hall stated
that he has enjoyed working
with the department, but wish
es to go into business for him
self.
The position is open for appli
cations from qualified persons.
PETITION METCALF FOR
RELIEF ON
HIGHWAY PATROL
Among other business brought
before the Chamber of Com
merce today, a measure which
passed unanimously was a letter
suggested by Jay Stauter, and
addressed to Frank Metcalf, re
questing the speedy appoint
ment of a patrolman on the high
way force.
Bert Kellogg, patrolman, is
the only man on duty on the
Peninsula, due to a series of cir
cumstances which brought about
George Puckett’s absence for
several months.
“In view of the imminent op
ening of the highway to traffic
from the Interior, causing an in
creased burden upon the High
way Patrol, we strongly urge
that steps be taken immediately
to remedy the situation, either
by the appointment of another
man on patrol or extra office
help.”
The Seward officers were
highly commended for their past
work, but, the letter insisted,
the problem is now too great for
one or even two men to handle
in the way in which it has been
carried out, and that the good
work already done will be lost
without immediate assistance.
SEATTLE C OF C TO BE
HERE JUNE 28
A loiter from the Alaska De
partment of Seattle Chamber
of Commerce, announces the
arrival of that group in Seward,
via SS Aleutian, early in the
morning of June 23.
They request a meeting with
^interested Seward iter, and sug
gest the possibility of a public
breakfast.
Clarence Keating, president
of the Seward organization, ap
pointed a committee to organize
the meeting and a brief tour for
the 50 men and women from
Seattle, before they leave here
for Anchorage. Mrs. Hazel Er
win is chairman of the com
mittee.
FROZEN FISH. SHELLFISH
EXEMPTED BY O.P.S.
The Office of Price Stabiliza
tion last week exempted frozen
fish and shellfish from price
control.
Fresh fish and seafood, which
are subject to price fluctuations
because they are seasonal and
perishable, arc already exempt
from price control under the
General Ceiling Price Regula
tion of January 26.
OPS officials pointed out that
fresh and frozen fish are sub
stantially the same, move in the
same channels of distribution,
and are competitive with each
other. Having frozen fish under
price control and fresh fish ex
empt has resulted in some dis
location of distribution, OPS
said.
There are at present ample
supplies of both fresh and frozen
fish, it was pointed out. and
the normal relationship between
fresh and frozen fish can be
restored without material price
increases.
CIRCUS IS COMING
TO TOWN JUNE 14
Get ready, kids! The circus is
coming to town! On June 14, at
the corner of Fourth Avenue and
Washington Street, from 3 to 5
o’clock in the afternoon there
will be games, side shows, acro
batics, animal acts, pink lemon
ade, and popcorn for the admis
sion price of one cent.
The Cub Scouts, Pack 327, is
putting on the circus. Perform
ers will come from the Pack.
This is the Cub’s way of demon
strating what they have accom
plished during the year.
Freddie Richardson went to
Seattle yesterday by plane. He
is expected back in a few days.
Bus Line Operates On
Regular Schedule
Russell Swank, owner of Mat
anuska Valley Bus Bines, in
speaking before the Chamber of
Commerce today, stated that his
company has purchased the
equipment of Kenai Peninsula
Bus Line and the office and
equipment of the Kenai Scenic
Lines. H. E. Malcolm, former
owner of Kenai Peninsula Bus
Lines, will continue as Seward
manager. The Seward end has
been set up with driver, mech
anic and clerk to assist the
management.
Buses now go through as far
as Girdwood twice a week, as
well as to Kenai and Homer.
Mr. Swank stated that by June
30, the road is to be open for
bus traffic, and at that time,
daily service between Anchor
age and Seward, and possibly
Homer, will be inaugurated.
“Don't ever think you can
oversell this road,” Mr. Swank
stated. Of all the travel he has
done, and the many miles of
marvelous scenery lie has view
ed. the stretch between Kenai
and Homer along the Inlet, is
by far the most beautiful, accord
ing to the executive.
He is an active member of
the Alaska Visitors Association,
and is doing all in his power
to help promote the tourist in
dustry on the Prumsula.
It was also stated that with
the opening of the highway, th •
Matanuska Valley Lines will
make direct connections with
Valdez, thus linking for the
first time, by land, the two ship
ping termini to the Interior.
One can now travel clear to
the States by bus, making con
nections with Canadian Lines.
"It is not the cheapest trip, nor
the quickest, yet,” said Mr.
Swank, but it is the beginning
of less expensive travel between
Alaska and the United States.
The greatest difficulty en
countered in bus travel so far,
is the lack of overnight facili
ties and housing for passengers,
Mr. Swank continued. It is not
practical to run the larger bus
es, because th:re are not enough
way stations to accomodate more
than 15 or 20 passengers at 'a
time. The coach carrying 35
passengers would be much more
economical to operate, but it
cannot be done until housing
is made available.
GARBAGE CONTRACT TO BE
AWARDED NEXT MONDAY
Invitation to bid on a contract
to haul garbage and trash, made
by the city council two weeks
ago, received four bids.
Owen Harvey, Nils Hagen,
John R. Jackson and Charles
Flynn, each submitted bids
guaranteeing from 10 percent
to $175 monthly to the city for
the contract, each to supply his
own truck. One bidder, how
ever, promised a regulation
covered garbage truck as soon
as it could be obtained.
The council held all bids until
next Monday for study. Contract
will be awarded at that time.
THREE ALASKA BROWNIES
CAPTURED SUNDAY
Three Alaska brown bear
were downed last week, and
brought in by Bill Younkers
of Seward and Peter Kalama
rides, Anchorage attorney.
The hunters were set down
at Trout Lake by Tiny Trakow
ski where they camped, and
disprov d the statement heard
recently that there are no more
brownies on the Peninsula.
The brownies were a mother
and twin cubs, but even the
cubs measured six feet, accord
imT to the report of townsmen
who have seen the big catch.
Comt?9Utee Drops
Queen Contest and
Street Decorations
Lack of interest on the part
of Seward girls and sponsoring
organizations prompted the de
cision of the 4th of July Com
mittee, in session Sunday night,
to drop thp annual popularity
contest for a 4th of July Queen.
“Unless some organizations
or business men take it upon
themselves to purchase street
decorations, that will also be
conspicuous by its absence this
year,” a Committee spokesman
stated.
The community picnic, dance,
children's races and food con
cessions will continue as usual,
and, of course, the Ml. Mara
thon Race. “The few m mbers
of the Committee feel that with
out the help and cooperation of
the townspeople a really large
scale celebration will not be
attempted this year.” This state
ment was made by Committee
members.
"If the people of Seward want
the celebration to grow and be
come the big thing that it can
be. they must help,” stated Hal
Gilfilen. "It is too big for the
six or seven people who gave
so much time, cf',ort and money
to it last \car. I don’t see how
you did it," he commented.
The Mt. Marathon Race is b. -
ing handled bv the Volunteer
Fire Department this year and
promises to be a big affair.
The American Legion will
spon or the parade, and tr ot that
music will be available for the
first tints in several years. Priz
es ar-' offered for the best floats.
A soccial excursion train from
Anchorage is promised by the
ARP. Last year's train was the
largest passenger train ever to
have run in Alaska, according to
renorts from the ARR office.
Many people were left behind
because of lack of space.
The Seward 4th of July Com
mittee merts every Sunday at
8:00 p.m in the city council
room. All persons interested in
tfm promotion of another big
celebration, such as that of last
year, are invited to attend the
meetings.
Fp^-' Ap^fainteH
Ft''?!* Master
Frank Perry, a local man. vet
eran of World War II, and small
boat owner, was appomted har
bor master, for a three-month
trial period, by the city council
Monday night.
Mr. Perry was deputized by
the police department a few
weeks ago, to keep some sort
of order in the shelter harbor.
He will make needed small re
pairs on the floats and assign
mooring space.
Little else can be done at the
shelter harbor until after the
dredging and new construction
has been finished. Frank Met
calf. Territorial Highway En
gineer. has indicated his inten
tion to put in a new float after
the dredging is done.
Dredging was promised for
the 1950 season. Some contract
difficulty between the govern
ment and the dredging com
pany has postponed the project,
which may possibly be accomp
lished this year.
In the meantime, all that can
be done by the City is the mak
ing of minor repairs to the pres
ent floats.
TP.OUT SEASON OPENED
TODAY
Several parties of Anchorage,
Interior and local sportsmen,
ep ned the trout season today in
force. No reports are in yet as
to the kind of luck enjoyed as
an opener.