VOL. 3
PETERSBURG, ALASKA AUGUST 10, 1928
NO. 4
Pending Legislation of
Benefit to Alaska
The amount, of money appropri-^
aL d for the Alaska Road Oommisiou
this year was $825,000. This is
$175,000 less than last year.
•1. J.Res. 100 (Public Resolution
52) : This resolution authorizes tin.*
Secretary of War to expenjl not ta
to exceed $125,000 for the regula
tion of Lowell Creek, provided that
$25,000 of the above amount shall
be contributed and paid in by the
town of Seward or other local in
tro sts to be bemiied by the propos
ed improvement before the said
work is commenced.
Authorizations For Harbor Improve
ment s
The rivers and harbors bill for this
session, now reported on the House
calendar, carries the following items
for Alaska:
For dredging and improving Ketchi
kan Harbor (Thomas Basin) -
$272,000
For a breakwater at Seward on Re
surrection Bay - $85,000
To improve the entrance to Port
Alexander - $17,000
Harbor Surveys Authorized
The rivers and harbors bill carries
the following items for new surveys
in Alaska:
I'gegik River.
Siikine River.
Tanana River, at or near its con
fluence with the Yukon River.
Kake Harbor.
Kodiak Harbor.
Petersburg Harbor.
Wrangell Harbor.
Kekn Straits.
Isthmus south of Wedge Cape,
Nagai Island, with a view to dredg
ing a channel from East Nagai Strait
O'Malley Warns Pack
ing industry
Henry O’Malley, United States
Commissioner of Fisheries, now in
Ketchikan has issued a second
warning to the Canning Industry,
ihat unless they are less hoggish in
their efforts to can every last sal
Kv.ii. The regulations now in force
contemplated a 30 per cent reduc
tion whereas in fact it has reduced
production only 10 per cen,t. His
statement to the press was that
unless the packers complied with
both the letter and spirit of present
regulations he would be compelled
to promulgate more drastic regula
tions.
1 ‘is< AT<)RIAL BELLY-ACHE
The aid of a scientific hoard of ar
bitration was invoked by a bewilder
ed court in Seattle recently to de
cide whether the fish of Washing
ton’s lakes and streams get fatal
stomach aches from eating salmon
egg bait, preserved in formalde
hyde. Huge quantities of the eggs
are thrown into the waters to lure
the fish to the hook and line of fish
ermen.
Ten vendors of eggs were brought
before a justice of the peace up
charges preferred by a game ward
en. They denied that their bait
i aused distress to the fish from
wnich they died.
in despair the justice called upon
Professor Kincaid, University of
vVasliington zoologist; Dr. W. John
son, university pharmacist and Dr.
C. L. Dixon,, county health officer,
to arbitrate the dispute.
After several hours of conference
wherein weighty evidence was pre
sented, the experts gave a report
clearing the dealers. Whether or
not the piscatorial tummy-aches
c» ntinue was not stated.
to West Nagai Strait.
Rills that have passed the House .
and are iw#\v in the Senate
II. 11. 10157 : An act making an
additional grant of land for the
support of the Alaska Agricultural
College and School of Mines.
This bill authorizes a grant of
100.000 acres of land, to be sold for
hot less than $5 per acre at public
auction. This land may also be leas
ed, and all returns to be for the
benefit of the college.
H. R. 13882 (by Mr. Vestal) :
An act to extend the benifits of the
da tell Act and the Smith-Lever
Acts to the Alaska Agricultural
College and School of mines.
H. It. 7200 (by Mr. Houston) :
An act to amend the Penal Code so
C'pt boxing matches be permitted
on the Territories of Hawaii and
Alaska.
H. R. 2137: For the relief of Ed.
Snyder, William Paddock, Ed.
Stroke,, and A. A. Heydick.
This bill would authorize the re
turn of bonds forfeited by the court
at Juneau. The individual under
bond to appear before the grand jury
committed suicide before the grand
jury convened.
H. J. Res. 135 (by Mr. Curry) :
For the relief of special disbursing
agents of the Alaska Railroad.
H. R. 10G20: An act. for the relief
of William J. Casey.
This bill would authorize the pay
lent to William J. Casey of $1,440
in full for all claims against the
Cuited States for disability caused
ny injuries recieved while in the
Quartermaster’s Department of the
United States Army at Fort Gibbon,
Alaska.
KETCHIKAN IN FISH RUNNING
■o
Reports from Ketchikan*, like re
ports from Port Althrop are very
good as far as salmon pack is con
corned. Port Althrop has a pack of
14$,000 cases to date while the to
tal pack of the Ketchikan district
is 496,946 cases. The districts are
the extreme southern and western
entrances of salmon from the sea.
Seiners are making good catches
in the Portland Canal, Carrol and
George Inlet areas where the traps
have no advantage. The catch of
IPgh boat for the Ketchikan district
is reported around 70,000.
The run around West Coast of
Prinec of Wales Island is reported
as being somewhat slow and the
packs not coming as rapidly as
might be desired.
Heavy rains and change of weath
er has sent the salmon skooting for
the rivers and spawning grounds.
Where a few days ago scow-loads of
fish were being brought in, the scows
are returning empty or only with a
part load.
-s
Cannerymen Drown
H. Lienes, superintendent of the
Waterfall Cannery of the Nakat
Packing Company, and Rasmus Lar
sen, employee, were drowned when
their skiff overturned in Santa Cruz
Eay late the afternoon of the 2nd,
while working on a trap lead.
The yacht Tuckahoe brot Liene’s
body to Ketchikan and it was sent
home to Seattle for burial. Lar
sen’s body was not recovered.
rihe Admiral Line secured a con
tract to haul 5,000 ton)s of news
print from the Pacific Mills, Ocean
Falls, B. C. after a sharp competi
tive struggle with the Canadian
government subsidized lines. A ser
vice of five vessels will be used to
carry paper to California ports.
ARRANGE FOR HOSPITAL
y ev. Kiklall of the Lptheran
Charch is to be invited by the City
Council through Rev. W. J. Maakes
tad, to come to Petersburg and in
vestigate tlie feasibility of opening
up the old Petersburg City Hospi
tal. The building which was turned
over to the city for specific hospital
| pi rposes has not been operated as
such during the past. If suitable to
the Lutheran pastorate, it will be
taken over by them and again op
erated as a general hospital.
Kake Supt. Eats Pie
In last week’s Alaskan was re
ported the strike of the Kake fisn
ei men at the Skinner and Eddy can
nery at that point. The terms set
forth by the management were that J
each crew was to be limited to 3,00u I
salmon each day. Second, that the |
fish had to be delivered at the can
nejy not later than 10 p. m. eacn
day else they would be pitched over
board by the delivering crews. The
fishermen literally begged the man
agement—Mr. A1 Maynard and Mr.
Skinner to be more liberal in their
terms and allow at least a 24-liour
delivery. This was curtly refused
and the fishermen advised to go fish
ing or put up their gear.
’they put up their gear and some
of the hotter heads pulled off some
horse play which bordered close to
direct action. Cooler heads pre
vailed so that that company may
be well content that they still have
the cannery.
Some of the workers upon learn
ing of opportunity to work here in
Petersburg, promptly came over
to work and fish; others outfitted
to go trolling; still others are mov
ing • about looking for work of any
k’nd. Mr .Maynard asked some of
his fishermen to take their gear and
go out again. His traps went on
st.ike and delivered him no more*
saimon—empty traps fill no cans
but seine boats could if they would
go out. The fishermen refused to
have any further dealings with the
company this year. Just what luck
this company will have the balance
of the year is not hard to figure out.
It is reported here that Mr. Maynard
wired to Mr. Schoenwald asking for
fish. The reader can picture Schoen
wald, with only a half pack tvo date,
falling all over himself to accommo
date Maynjard.
o
Radio to Replace Cable
In Alaska
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The United States Signal Corps
which has direction of all the cable
work in Alaska plans to install radio
stations in the several towns now
served by the cable. Petersburg,
Wiangell and Sitka are on the list
for such stations.
The local station work will he
undertaken very shortly. Contract
for erection of the poles being let
to ‘‘Whitey” Olson who will coni
n'ence work immediately. A man
will be sent here from Ketchikan
to install the equipment so that the
new station should be in operation
by September.
The cables are getting pretty old
and unless other steps are taken,
will have to be replaced. The high
cost of this work along with the
cost o fkeeping te cable repair ship
n the job makes installation of radio
stations a cheaper undertaking.
The cable office will be maintain -
ed until it becomes necessary to d*s
continue it and all service will then
be swung over the radio. It is rum
1 ored that this station may be made
a two man station but not much in
formation could be secured on the
subject.
Would Restrict Funds
In Campaign
Senator William E. Borah of Ida
ho recently made an appeal to both
major political parties to limit their
campaign expenditures to $3,000,000
each. He charged that greater ex
penditures would constitute “an at
tempt to debauch the American
electorate.”
Referring to a recent dispatch
which stated that the two parties
planned to spend $20,000,000 on
the campaign, he said such a thing
seemed “incredible.”
lie said “It is impossible to spend
*20,000,000 on this campaign with
out transgressing every rule of de
coney and common honesty. It
would be nothing less than an at-1
t erupt to debauch the American
electorate. It would disclose very
fully that the committees sadly un
de'’ estimate the intelligence and
Ik nesty of the voters.
“The issues in this campaign will
bring the voters to the polls. There
is less use for extravagance in this
campaign than in any other cam
pa ’'gn since I8 60.”
League Will Protect
Whales
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It the League of Nations does not
prevent war in the future it will
at least help the fishermen by pre
”t n.ting the total destruction of the
whale. The League has had a com
mission of experts at work on this
idea for some time to see if an' in
ternational convention could not be
launched relative to whale and oth
er deep sea riches.
As regards the protection of birds
it is expected that the September
assembly of the League of Nations
PI be asked to summon ai^ inter
national conference for the purpose
of launching a new international
lird convention to replace the 1902
Paris convention on the subject.
The migratory character of both
nt birds and whales is such as to
make any regulation to them nec
essarily of an international nature
and hence within the scope of the
league, while the economic value
to the world as a whole is declared
sufficiently7 great to justify the
league’s attention,
volitions will be the fixing of “open”
The primary object of the con
vention is to prevent extinction of
the species.
SMITH CHALLENGES PREACHER
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Rev. John Roach Stratton, Past
or of the Calvary Baptist Church of
New York City declared from his
pinpit that Governor A1 Smith, De
( •'atic presidential nominee was a
leader of evil forces. In a curt let
ter to the Rev. Stratton, Gov. Smith
challenged the statements made and
asked for opportunity to reply from
the same pulpit. It is very prob
able that a debate will be held in
the near future.
Tunney Loses D. Cupid
Gene Tunney, the “Fighting Ma
rine,” World’s Champion Heavy
eight boxer has announced his en
gagement to Miss Josephine Laud
er of Connecticut. Miss Lauder os
a society leader of Connecticut and
a woman of wealth. Tunney has a
few shekels of his own. A few days
ago, Tunney announced his retire
n ent from the rinjg and claimants
to the title are now stepping for
ward to fill the bill.
Shipment of fish this week;
Shrimp meat, 3 tons; crabmeat, %
ton About the same amount of
fishmeat will be shipped on the Ad
miral Liner Queen, Saturday.
AUCTION OF FUR SEAL SKIN3
BRINGS $5181,023
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A total of $381,623.50 was real
is'd from the public auction at St.
Louis early in May, of 9,9 85 fur
seal skins taken on Pribilof Islands
for the government account is the
port of the Bureau of Fisheries
recently made public by the Depart
ment of the Interior. The auction
*.l-o included 728 blue and 30 white
fox skins, which brought $46,096.
Briefs from Council
Meeting
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Mr. Lund reports that 10,000 feet
of lumber was needed at the dam
and needed mighty soon..
O. D. McDonald was given the
contract to get the lumber moved
to the construction. ?
Mayer Swanson reported that M.
K Idahl has offered to the city his
property for use as a cemetery. No
action takeiv
Ed Nelson, in charge of city con
struction estimated $75. as prob
able cost of wallboard necessary for
finishing work in the schoolbuilding.
W iring and plumbing still anoth
er item to be considered.
Mayor Swanson reported that
the approximate cost of premiums
to the City under W'orkmen’s Com
pensation is $500. It being based
upon salaries paid. The matter was
continued to next session.
The School committee was in
structed to have the Fryer Machine
Works overhaul the “Oil-o-matic at
the school and have it in shape by
the opening of the school term.
The auditorium will be finished at
once.
Mr. MacKecknie will oversee the
wiring of the auditorium and the ad
diCon to the school.
Mr. Ernest Schoenwald offers the
lot adjoining the City Hall ,to the
Ciiv at $50. per foot, frontage.
Tom Heeney, heavy weight fight
er recently defeated by Gene Tun
nev was married in Spring Valley,
New York to Marian Estelle Dunn
of that village. Tom had known
her for some time prior to his re
cent fight.
Mormon Elders Discuss Alaska
The Mormon Elders who have
been investigating the Westward
and Interior sections of the Terri-1
tory, were visitors in Petersburg'
the past week and left on the Ala
meda for Wrangel. While here they
discussed their observation^ of on
ditions throughout the Territory.
The Westward section, Tanana
and Matanuska Valleys had wonder
ful agricultural possibilities; the
resources, mineral and timber thru
out the whole territory were prac
tically untouched; greater popula
tion however is necessary to the de
velopment of these resources. If
the agricultural resources were de
veloped to the point where it could
supply local demands it would mean
a wonderful growth of the country,
i Other industries would follow and
many of the problems would be
solved.
There is a great need of more
home rule. Governed by federal ap
j ;.ointees from outside, the people
have too little to say about their ;
own territorial affairs. Greater j
measure of home rule would make
it possible to solve problems locally
that federal officials or departments
are prone to give no attention to.
The problems of the different sec
tions are as different from each oth
I
er as night is from day. There is a
lack of understanding of the needs
of sections in this territory which
is so vast as to be beyond the com
prehension of the average citizen.
Site Owners Ask
$2,000
A meeting of the Executive Com
mittee of the Commercial Club was
he cl on the evening of August the
8th. A letter relative to purchase
of the Mason Homestead, south end
of the Narrows was read in which
one of the owners, Miss Drawotski
asked $2,000 for the site.
The matter was considered in all
its various angles and the Commit
tee was unanimous in its belief that
the price was exorbitant and beyond
the subscription power of the com
munity.
The matter will be held to await
further information from the Bu
reau of Education.
Information at hand is to the ef
fect that the Bureau is without
funds with which to purchase tha
site and that the only way it can
secure the property is by gift from
local people. Linder the circum
stances the local Club has been mak
ing effort to secure the property
iml if successful will turn it over
:o the Bureau without any profit to
liiemselves. Aside from the good
which will accrue to the whole Divi
sion were the industrial school es
tablished at this point, local people
tiave no value on the site for any
iise whatsoever. It will probably
stand undeveloped, if local efforts
o secure it are unsuccessful, for a
rood many years. A fair price is
worth more in the hand than the
’opes of the next forty years.
Sec, Jardine In Alaska
Secretary William Jardine of the
Agricultural Department arrived n
Ketchikan this week on the Brant,
Bureau of Fisheries flagship. Mr.
Jardine is combining both business
w:th pleasure. Being unwell his
physician ordered him to take a va
cation and complete rest. He came
io Alaska to get both, incidentally
'in plans to investigate proposed
amp projects. He will remain in
Alaska for two weeks before re
suming to Washington.
ALASKA NEEDS .MORE ‘.‘HOME
Therefore the southern section does
"ot understand the westward or in
terior sections and vice versa.
7 lie country is suffering from ov
er exploitation. The fisheries, mines,
and fur industries have been work
ed and exploitated without any re
par for the permanence of those in
dustries. Such little regard for the
permanence of the future of the
Territorial resources should be
checked and steps taken to more ad
equately insure its permanence.
There is a need for family life
and attention to the moral respons
ibilities of citizenship. Permanence
of home life means permanence of
citizenry. Alaska is too much a
place to get rich in and lacks the
permanent settler who sturdily
builds up a country. Seattle and
other cities of the States are deriv
ing the benefit of the resources of
the territory. What should be done
now is turn the flow' of money back
info the territory to build up other
industries w'hich will employ more
labor and thereby build up larger
and more communities. Ufljtil this
return flow of money is secured not
much could be hoped for aside from
the agricultural possibilities.
Alaska has wonderful and diversi
fied resources whihe makes of it a
wonderful land of opportunity. The
day will come when the people will
discover them and make use of them
and then w'ill come an era of pros
perity to those who have faith In
the country.