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Seward
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
_. * s
$ e o P 0 r f
Record
Seward’s All-tV eather Port is Alaskafs Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
V01. 1A, JNo. 5a
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1953
Price 10 Cents
a
Mt. Marathon Presents
Challenge To Ail Comers
Seward's Mt. Marathon Race,
first run about 40 ye rs ago,
has now become quite well
known in the States and Terri
tory.
Marathon Mountain dominates
the Seward landscape. Its bare
upper slopes seem a constant
challenge to visitors and new
comers. If treated with respect
it offers a wonderful view of the
valley and Resurrection Bay,
the Harding Gateway and Gulf
of Alaska. It has been known
to bring death several times in
recent years, however, though
never during a racing event.
The race story goes that in
• early days the pyramidal moun
tain presented such a challenge
to seamen that they often at
tempted its climb while they
were in town between trips.
One day an argument arose
as to how long it would take
to climb to the top. One claimed
that he could do it in an hour.
Gocal men claimed that they
knew of someone who could
climb Marathon and return in
an hour. The argument waxed
hot and heavy until they chose
sides and each put up a man
to try a race.
The result is not known as
to actual time, but it is said
that the winner was presented
with a new suit of clothes. Out
of this encounter the regular
race began on the 4th of July
and has been run since 1915
except for the war years.
Oldtimers say that the start
ing point has been changed from
time to time. In 1949 it started
at the bank corner, instead of
Fourth and Washington, where
it has been for the past three
years.
Ralph Hatch, a local boy of
Aleut origin, made first place
for five consecutive years, vary
ing his time from 57 minutes
31 seconds in 1948 to 66:52,
which happened to be on the
following year.
In 1950 a new contender ran
a close second to Hatch. Don
Stickman, an Indian from Ruby,
Alaska, entered the race with
out ever having been up the
mountain. The following year
he took the race at 56:38 and
. bettered his own time last year
by three minutes, two seconds.
Stickman is an entry again this
year, hoping to cop the prize for
the third time.
A Kansas athletic coach, Har
old Walker, came in at third
place for the past two years
and is also an entry for the
1953 running. He is working
with a brother in law in Hope
on a logging claim. He never
trains on Marathon, but dashes
in to Seward at the last minute
just to climb the mountain for
the fun of it. If Walker would
put some actual time in at prac
tice, he might give the other
entries a real competition. He
spends his summers in Alaska
but returns to Kansas for the
school season.
The Mt. Marathon Race has
received a lot of publicity in
travel magazines this year. En
tries are expected from the
States, but probably will be
made at the last possible mo
ment. Students are warned that
this is a professional event and
they would lose their amateur
standing by entering. The race
is open to all comers, however.
Several women have tried the
climb but none has ever reached
the top during a race. Most of
the wins in the mountain race
have been made by men of
native blood.
Contestants are required to
run approximately three-fourths
of a mile from the starting point
downtown, climb the 3022 feet
to the peak and return to the
starting point. Watchers, stand
ing by with watch in hand and
eyes on the climbers every min
ute, have been heard to remark,
"I don’t believe it!” It is truly
a case where one can hardly
believe his own eyes.
Railway Express
Announces Winners
Don Wilson, Seward agent,
American Railway Express,
made announcement today of a
contest which was held in the
Pacific Northwest Division. This
division, Wilson states, includes
the entire Territory of Alaska.
The contest was held as part of
an all out effort being made to
reduce loss and damage on ex
press traffic moving to and from
the States and within Alaska.
Prizes will be awarded to
Glenn M. Harbolt, Havre, Mon
tana, and Paul T. Deaton, Port
land-Seattle, for the two best
slogans submitted for the cur
rent nationwide claim preven
tion program of the company.
In addition to the grand prizes,
250 additional prizes will be
awarded.
Harbolt’s slogan is, “Loss and
damage we must lick. Proper
loading is the trick.” Deaton’s
is, “If you load express like
hay in a barn, we’ll be out of
business and you back on the
farm.”
Don't let shyness keep you
from helping to make this Sew
ard's biggest Fourth of July
Businesses, Clubs,
individuals To Take
Part In Parade
Arrangements for Seward's
1953 Fourth of July parade were
made this week by the Fourth
of July committee. Frank Rob
erts has been appointed parade
master and everyone interested
in taking part in this year’s
parade is requested to contact
him immediately.
This is Seward's fiftieth anni
versary and so this year's parade
will have as a theme, “Seward’s
Fifty Years.” Organizations with
the facilities for building a
float will enter ideas commem
orating outstanding scenes in
Seward's history. But the build
ing of a float is not necessary
for those who wish to be in
the parade. A decorated bicycle,
wagon, baby buggy or automo
bile will be welcome. For those
who wish to dress up as a clown
or a storybook character, the
parade extends a special invi
tation.
This year the parade will bo
judged in two divisions, com
mercial and non-commercial.
Winners in the commercial divi
sion wi: receive handsome rib
bons for f’rst, second and third
prizes, while those in the non
commercial division will be
awarded cash prizes in addition
to the ribbons.
Those who plan on being in
the parade are requested to con
tact Frank Roberts immediately,
either at his home. Apartment
"L” in the Arcade Building, or
by telephoning him at Main 195,
the railroad freight office.
The Pet Parade will be a part
of the regular parade, as usual.
Anyone intending to enter the
Pet Parade is to contact Mr.
Roberts.
TEEN TOPICS
By Cindy
Jerry Zentmire spent most of
last week in Anchorage. He
brought a boy friend back with
him who will be here until the
first of next week.
Walter Metrokin just got back
from Kenai. He has been there
fishing with liis dad since school
was out.
Bert Varnell left with his fa
ther for Harriet Point. They will
be fishing. Good luck, Eert. See
you in a month or so.
Bill O’Brien got a tooth
knocked out while he was play
ing football the other evening.
Sounds like it was a rough game.
Well, guess that’s all for now.
Watch for me next week. OK?
I
TAX SALE ON
REAL ESTATE
Listed elsewhere in this edi
tion are 20 lots and some build
ings which are to be sold for
delinquent taxes. The date of
sale is Monday, July 27 at 10
a.m.. City Hall.
The sale is on property held
for taxes delinquent in 1950 and
1951. Seward townsite, Laub
ner. Cliff and Federal Additions
property are included in the
sale.
Race To Start At
2:30 On July 4
The 26th running of the now
famous Mt. Marathon race will
begin at 2:30 on the afternoon
of the 4th of July.
All entries will meet at the
fire hall, 12 noon, July 4, for
the physical examination. Men
under 18 are not eligible to
race.
The Army is sending three
technicians to operate three
walkie-talkie sets. One will be
at the half-way point, one at the
peak and the third at the start
ing and finish line.
Tickets to guess the time to
a tenth of a second will be sold
up to the time the first runner
reaches the top of Mt. Marathon.
Childrens' events, races, etc.,
will begin at 10:30, but the
parade will not start until 1:30.
which will give visitors a chance
to arrive by train.
At 4 p.m. the Seward baseball
team will play the Army team
on the new diamond at Jesse
Lee Home. The day will be
climaxed with a dance at the
civic center.
Sundborg Resigns As
Dev. Board Mead
Resignation of George Sund
borg as general manager of the
Alaska Development Board was
announced this week from Ju
neau. Sundborg, 40 has headed
work of the Territorial agency
since 1046.
Board members, newly ap
pointed toy Gov. Heintzleman,
will meet at Juneau on Saturday
to chart the future course of the
Development Board.
Sunciborg's letter of resigna
tion was written the day after
announcement was made of the
Board appointments. All posi
tions on the Board had been
vacant since the previous board
resigned last March.
Salary of the position of gen
eral manager was limited by the
recent legislature to $10,800 per
year. Sundborg formerly was
paid $12,000. New appointments
to the Board will be announced.
Unusual Heat Causing
Floods In This Area
WASHINGTON MINISTER
ACCEPTS LUTHERAN
PASTORATE HERE
Rev. Dwight J. Boe of Wins
low, Washington, has accepted
a call to serve the Seward Lu
theran Church. He will arrive
with his wife about October 1.
Rev. Boe was a classmate at
Seminary with Rev. Spaulding,
who is leaving the Seward
church to accept a charge at
Klarnath Falls, Oregon. Rev.
Spaulding will leave on July 16.
Reporter’s
Notebook
Laying of blacktop on the
highway began Thursday. The
new surface begins at the city
line and is a wonderful change.
The Lagoon Road i6 under
water In several places as is
the Dairy road, so unless you
have to get out that way it is
a good idea to stay out.
The USMT Funston docked
Tuesday with troops. This is
the first Army transport to dock
in Seward for several years.
The troops were transferred to
an ARR train for movement
northward.
Mrs. Lester Harvey and Miss
Alma Srhatz were guests of Mrs.
Fred Wilmann this week. They
are former owners of Carol’s
Dress Shop in Anchorage and
have many friends here.
Mrs. Harvey went on to visit
her husband who is with the
Shell Oil exploration team at
Yakataga, but Miss Schatz will
be here for a few weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacque Roth
with the children Jeff, Scott,
Charyl and the baby arrived
home on the Aleutian Wednes
day. They must have been
among the first off the ship as
they were seen driving around
the old home town shortly after
the Aleutian docked.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sabrowski
and sons Leonard and Jimmy
are visiting here for the summer.
They are guests of the Harold
Davises. The Sabrowskis now
live in Salem, Oregon, but lived
for mony years in Seward and
other Kenai Peninsula commun
ities.
A.R.R. Running
Special Train For
Celebration
The popular Seward special
is sharing the spotlight this year
with the Aurora to Lake Lu
cille. Both places plan extensive
Fourth of July celebration pro
grams.
A special train will leave An
chorage for Seward at 7:30 a.m.
and is scheduled to depart for
the return trip at 6:30 p.m. Re
duced excursion fares for the
round trip are $6.85 plus tax
and family plan rates are again
being made available.
Under this program, parents
buying two adult excursion
tickets can take along children
12 to 16 at half fare. Young
sters under 12 are allowed to
ride free.
Standard Oil Honors
Al Torvanger
A. O. Torvanger of Seward
received a gold service pin in
recognition of 25 years service
with Standard Oil Company re
cently. J. D. Smith of Wrangell
received a ten year service pin.
The presentations were made in
line with Standard’s policy of
recognizing long time employ
ment with the company.
Another award was given to
Larry Hagen, assistant district
manager for Standard Oil Com
pany of California, in recogni
tion of thirty years continuous
service. He was presented with
a gold watch and diamond serv
ice pin by S. E. Stretton, district
manager of the company.
Several areas in the vicinity
of Seward were in sudden flood
Thursday caused by the rapid
melting of snow on the moun
tains.
All three branches of Resur
rection River are running over
the banks, covering the lower
road out of Forest Acres. Houses
on the north bank and facing
Nash Hoad arc under water as
Emergency crews were sent
to the Mile IS bridge on the
railroad Friday morning when
reports were received that the
bridcra was wash'ng out. This
is one of several railroad bridg
es tha* have been destroyed by
flood lb's week.
M''e 18 road camp is reported
in c'anner from high water in
Kenai Lake.
well as the Jim Aylen home on
the highway.
Part of the Lago-on Road is
inundated and Frank Woods'
home is entirely surrounded by
water. A high tide Thursday
did nothing to alleviate the
flood condition on the lowlands.
The record temperature of
80 degrees June 24 is the hottest
June day ever recorded here
and only three degrees less than
the hottest day on record, July
4, 1951. Thermometers down
town registered 6 degrees hot
ter than the official Weather Bu
reau Wednesday, and most folks
agree that it seemed much hot
ter than 80.
However that may be, the un
usual heat has caused a rapid
melting and runoff of mountain
snow, causing every stream to
overflow its banks. The water
fall from the Lowell Creek di
version dam, which runs through
Bear Mountain and into the bay,
is filled to capacity.
Nebraska Sweet Corn
At $1.00 An Ear
Rev. Charles Malin received
his sight unseen trade package
from Harold Davisson Friday. It
was Nebraska sweet corn ship
ped airmail at the cost of $35.
"It’s a good thing Davisson paid
the postage,” remarked Malin,
“because I would never have
been able to pay $1.00 an ear
for sweet corn.”
While the inveterate trader
Davisson was here with the Ne
braskan goodwill visit, he and
Mr. Malin made a “sight unseen”
trade of something that would
cost neither one anything to buy,
but would be strictly Alaskan
and Nebraskan.
Mr. Malin’s package contained
a pair of discarded moose horns.
It w'as put in a window at Sew
ard, Nebraska and the whole
town had a guessing contest as
to the box’s contents. Davisson’s
track; padkage, however, will
not be in any window here—it
won’t last that long!
Two Seward Scouts
Attending Jamboree
Peter Wagner and Dan Rose,
Seward boys, are a part of the
contingent of 65 Alaska Boy
Scouts attending the National
Boy Scout Jamboree at the Ir
vine Ranch, Santa Ana, Calif
ornia.
The Alaska contingent left
Anchorage Saturday in a char
tered DC-4 for Seattle, where
they will begin a tour of 11
states before returning home
July 31.
The boys will have sight
seeing tours of Seattle and other
Washington points of interest,
including Coulee Dam. They
will go on to Yellowstone Park,
Salt Lake City, Denver, and
then to the Philmont Scout
Ranch in New Mexico where
they will spend four days over
the 4th of July.
The Alaska boys will then
continue their tour which will
take them to the historic cities
in. Arizona and the Grand Can
yon. They will next go to Calif
ornia where they will see Holly
wood, Los Angeles, San Diego
and Tia Juana, Mexico.
They will Join the 48,000
other Boy Scouts at the great
(Turn to Page 6)
New docks for Seward seem
to be in the immediate future
if all goes well in Washington.
Mayor Russell Painter received
word today (Friday) that the
Senate in passing the Interior
Department bill June 26, grant
ed $1,500,000 for Seward docks
in addition to the $5,535,000 al
ready approved in committee.
The bill now goes to conference.
Because of the Whittier fire
the Interior Department request
ed the $1,500,000 addition to
supplement the amount already
approved by the Senate commit
tee. Secretary McKay also asked
for contract authority from Con
gress in a sum not determined,
but sufficient to proceed without
delay in completing the entire
rehabilitation program.
Contract authority to complete
the job was not considered by
the Senate as being against the
present practice of Congress.
Debate on the floor, however,
according to Delegate Bartlett,
indicates that the Senate is fully
aware of the need for additional
funds.
Washington
News-Letter
By Mary Lee Council
ELECTIVE GOVERNOR
By an overwhelming voice
vote and after a brief hearing,
the territories subcommittee of
the House Interior and Insular
Affairs Committee rejected Del
egate Bartlett’s bill providing
for an elective Governor and an
elective Lieutenant Governor
for Alaska.
Following a favorable report
on the bill from Assistant Secre
tary of the Interior Orme Lewis
but qualified by the statement,
“I recommend enactment of
H. R. 1916 if enabling legisla
tion for statehood is not enacted
by the Congress,” testimony was
taken from William C. Strand,
Director of the Office of Terri
tories.
From the outset of the hear
ing, committee members voiced
the opinion that the elective
governor bill would be a barrier
to statehood, and the motion
to table the measure made by
Representative Wesley D’Ewart,
Republican of Montana, was sup
ported by both Republicans and
Democrats. The motion was sec
onded by Representative Wayne
Aspinall. Democrat of Colorado.
John P. Saylor, Republican
of Pennsylvania and chairman
of the subcommittee, apparently
expressed the views of the ma
jority of the committee mem
bers when he said, “In my opin
ion, the elective governor bill
would set back the cause of Al
aska statehood 20 years. I am
now and always have been for
statehood and not for any stop
gap legislation. If a greater mea
sure of territorial home rule
were the only alternative to
statehood, naturally the elective
governor bill would not be the
complete answer.”
Senator Hugh Butler, Chair
man of the Senate Committee on
Interior and Insular Affairs, has
stated he will back and urge
his committee and the Senate
to accept an elective governor
bill. Senator Butler is opposed
to statehood at this time.
MINING LEGISLATION
Two measures which have
been declared designed to stop
abuses with regard to mining
land and disposal of materials
on public land received con
gressional attention.
One measure, favorably acted
upon for report to the House
by the Committee on Interior
and Insular Affairs, would with
draw the disposal of sand, com
mon stone, gravel and cinders
from location and entry under
the general mining laws and
would permit their disposal un
der a permit or leasing system.
The legislation which would
forbid the ownership of land
upon which the named materials
are located from passing from
federal to private ownership
would, according to federal of
ficials, “put an end to the loca
tion of mining claims for the
enumerated materials to obtain
title to valuable land, water,
timber, recreational and other
resources unrelated to or un
necessary for the conduct of
mining operations. Since miner
als of this nature are generally
(Turn to Page 3)