Weather
Feb. 19
Feb. 20
Feb. 21
Feb. 22
Feb. 23
Feb. 24
Fbb. 25
Low Precip.
7 Trace
2
3 .01
12 .14
7
12 .19
7
High
16
15
18
24
20
29
- 29
EWARD
The Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
S e o P o t t
Record
Seward’s All-Weather Port is Alaskots Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper in the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X, No. 35
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1954
Price 10 Cents
Seward s Practice Air Raid
"Fairly Successful"
Analysis of the first air raid
test since the war proved the or
ganizational setup to be good as
a whole but showed some “bugs"
here and there which need im
provement.
First and most evident failure
showed up in the air raid siren
itself. Aside from mechanical
difficulties, the siren could not
be heard inside the school build
ing and from several points
north and west of the main disl
rict.
Fire, police. National Guard,
medical and rescue responded
to the alert within minutes of
the siren, equipped and ready
for duty. The need was plain
for additional auxiliary police
and firemen, but other sections
seemed to be adequate.
On the whole, civil defense
director Col. C. E. Johnson ex
pressed satisfaction with the or
ganization. Other drills will be
necessary to perfect the area
protection plans. They will be
announced in advance if of local
origin.
Airline Challenges
C. of C. Mail
Service Request
Merle Smith, president and
general manager of Cordova Air
lines, Inc., challenged the com
plaint of Seward Chamber of
Commerce this week, on the
Chamber's complaint of airmail
service.
The Chamber of Commerce in
consulting Paul Weber, superin
tendent of postal transportation,
made no complaint against the
airlines but stated that too many
days of bad flying weather held
up important airmail that could
just as well be brought in a sur
face means and requested an
agreement by the postal depart
ment in which mail would be
brought in by truck or bus.
Mr. Smith states in letters to
the Chamber and to Weber that.
“We were somewhat disturbed
by the attitude of the Seward
Chamber of Commerce in this
matter. We think it only fair
that if the Seward Chamber of
Commerce has complaints or
suggestions regarding the air
mail service, it should bring the
matter up to the carrier. We
would be happy at any time to
discuss the service with repre
senatives of the Chamber. We
do not think it fair that the
Chamber should request action
by the post office authorities
without notifying the carrier in
volved. This certainly should be
true when it was found that a
representative of another trans
portation agency was prominent
ly heard in this matter.
Cordova Airlines is proud of
the improvement in service that
has been given to the people of
Seward. Among other things, we
feel that the introduction of
Douglas DC-3 equipment was a
valuable improvement. We will
always work for the develop
ment of service to your commun
ity, and any suggestions from
your organization will be wel
comed at any time.”
In a letter to the postal depart
ment, Smith makes the proposal
that whenever it becomes ob
vious that air mail cannot be
dispatched due to weather or
other conditions beyond the con
trol of the carrier, Cordova Air
lines will assume the responsibil
ity of providing surface trans
portation of airmail between
Anchorage and Seward, this
service to be provided at abso
lutely no cost to any instrument
ality of the U. S. Government.
In his opinion, Smith states,
that weather conditions for fly
ing are a direct corollary to
highway conditions. He is wil
ling to assume, however the re
sponsibility of surface transpor
tation by highway. If the high
way is also closed, as it has been
numerous times, the he will
make every effort to put the
mail on the train, if it is running
Usually when the highway is
closed by slides, the train is also
unable to operate, Smith com
ments.
“Further, we believe,” Smith
writes, “that many of the com
plaints regarding mail service
can be traced either to the An
chorage post office or to actions
- of connecting carriers at Anchor
age Intemationl Airport. When
ever possible mail from the
States is transferred from Pacific
Northern Airlines and North
west Airlines on the ramp direct
to Cordova Airline flights. In
(Turn to Page 4)
SS Jamas Lick Due
Here SVkx. 1, Fire Out
R. L. Fisher, district manager,
Coastwise Line, reported today
(Friday) that the fire in number
2 hold of the freighter James
Lick is out and the ship was ex
pected to proceed northward to
Valdes and SeVard by 2 p. m.
Friday. II is due to dock in Sew
ard sometime Monday, March 1,
Fire in number 2 hold was
reported Tuesday when the ship
was about 80 miles north of
Cape Spencer. It put back into
Icy Strait to Douglas Island
where with the help of Coast
Guard ships the fire was ex
tiguished by flooding the lower
hold. It spread between decks in
'die hold, but was conquered by
Thursday night, and the ship
made ready to proceed on its
first Alaska voyage in several
years. No damage was reported
to other cargo.
Reporter's
Notebook
Mrs. Guy Kearns received an
unusual valentine from her
daughter Mrs. Barbara Jacobs.
The valentine was a sample of
the white sands from the beach
of Carmel, California where
Mrs. Jacobs is vacationing with
her husband. They plan to spend
the rest of the winter there and
at Monterey before opening
their own shore resort. Shore
Acres in the Birch Bay region
of Northern Washington.
Meet the new butcher at Sew
ard Trading company, Mr. Carl
Graham.
Mrs. Helen Brooious has mov
ed from her apartment in the
former Brosius building to an
apartment over Osbo's electric
store.
Vernon Olson, son of John N.
Olson was one of the four
University of Alaska students
awarded the Sears Roebuck
Foundation scholarship recently
awarded. Each scholarship will
provide $210. The awards are
based on scholastic, personal
other qualifications.
Mrs. Candy Friemuth fell
while ice skating last Sunday
and suffered a badly fractured
leg, the bones broken in three
places, according to reports of
friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Perry and
family left on the Baranof
Thursday night for Seattle
where they plan to settle down
in a new home.
Mr. Charles Coleman, brother
of John Coleman, also left on
the Baranof. He has been a vis
itor in Seward for nearly a year.
Chet Brown is outside on a
business trip. He flew out.
Someone remarked this week
that spring must be here-travel
ling salesmen are roaming
through town, and they are as
much a harbinger of spring as
the robins.
Mrs. Ray James has been
home resting and recuperating
from a bad cold.
Armand Loring will celebrate
his sixth birthday Saturday in
his home. He will have a party
with 14 guests invited.
Patty Bogan will entertain
five little friends on her seventh
birthday, Saturday. They will
have a luncheon and a theater
party.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stearns
plan to leave town tonight, driv
ing over the highway for a two
months vacation Stateside, Mrs.
Stearns is City clerk of Seward.
Gene Majors is substituting in
the clerk’s office during Mrs.
Mrs. Stearns’ absence.
Urie's Daughter Returing
Sol Urie's daughter Wilna,
who is Mrs. John McAnerny, is
returning home to Seward with
her husband and children next
month. They will live in the
Urie building in the apartment
next door to Mr. and Mrs. Urie.
Mrs. McAnerny is well known
to the younger set in Seward,
having graduated from high
school here. She has been living
for the past two years in New
York.
Girl
Scout
News
Ann Weber and Karen Fyles
sell the first boxes of Girls
Scout cookies to Mayor Russel
Painter and city manager Ray
mond O.Hara in the kick-off of
the Girl Scout local drive for
funds. Other members of Seward
troops look on with pleased an
ticipation as city officials buy
the first cookies.
Unlike many of the fund cam
paigns, all money obtained from
the cookie sale remains in Sew
ard for promotion of the Girl
Scout movement here. It will
help the girls enjoy another
summer camp and finance scout
ing for nother year. None of
the proceeds go to national or
district activities.
These little girls will make a
a door to door canvas of the
city, taking orders for cookies
at 50 cents a box. They will col
lect no money until the cookies
are delivered. They are an act
ive and enthusiastic group of
young ladies, happy in learning
and doing for themselves. They
are supported by a strong adult
council and Seward women who
believe in the good of the scout
moevment. The cookies are
made by a national firm packed
specially for the Girl Scout drive
which is in operation all over the
United States during the month
of March.
National Red Cross
Officer Pays Visit
To Seward Chapter
Gilmor Marquis, personal rep
resentative of the manager of
Pacific Area Office of American
Red Cross was a visitor to Sew
ard Chapter ARC this week.
Mr. Marquis visited the San
atorium, classes in first aid, and
spent several hours with the
board of directors of Seward
Chapter. He was pleased with
the quiet efficient work this
chapter is doing and gave ad
vice on questions that have come
up since the last visit of an area
office representative several
years ago.
Mr. Marquis is making his
first trip to Alaska. He cited a
number of misconceptions of
Alaska that are common in the
States. He was amazed by what
he called the "tremendous dis
tances" of Alaska, and the
amount and kind of work Alas
kan Red Cross Chapters are do
ing.
The potential for natural dis
asters in Alaska and Seward is
great, the visitor declared, and
the national organization is
deeply interested in havin a good
working team in every district.
The local Chapter found his visit
and contact with the Stateside
Area Office stimulating and en
couraging.
ILIAMNA ON FIRST
VOYAGE OF YEAR
Now enroute to Alaska on her
first voyage of the year, Alaska
Steamship Company's steamer
Iliamna sailed Feb. 18 carrying
in her cargo eleven 40-foot trail
er vans—the largest number yet
taken north on a company ves
sel.
These vans, all stowed on
deck, are owned by Garrison
Fast Freight, Inc. and are em
ployed in connection with the
Alaska Line through military
and civilian cargo service be
tween Seattle and the Interior
of Alaska via the Richardson
Highway.
BEAUTIFUL BEDSPREAD
ON DISPLAY
A bedspread of lustrous velvet
is on display in the window of
Werner's Furniture store. It is
the product of 20 years collec
tion and 5 months of 6 hours a
day solid work.
It was made by Carrie Kiel
cheski and donated to the Catho
lic women’s organization to be
relayed to some lucky person
at St. Patrick’s Day party,
March 17.
The spread is made of 12
shades of gleaming velvet, with
a flounce of purple velvet, all
lined in cream color silk. Two
pillow covers match the spread
to make an elaborate ensemble.
This work of art, taking 900
hours to make, is well worth the
trip down Fourth avenue to see.
COMMITTEE TO REFUND
CONCERT TICKETS
The Winter Concert Commit
tee has decided to refund money
paid on season tickets for the
concert which was cancelled last
month.
The refund will amount to
$1.50 on adult tickets and $1.00
on .children tickets when pre
sented at the door next Thurs
day night at the time of the
Zabaleta concert. Last Month's
concert with Frances Magnes,
violinist, was cancelled when
the artist was unable to reach
Seward because of bad weather.
NEW PRESIDENT FOR
COASTWISE LINE
Election of William J. Bush as
president of Coastwise Line
steamship company was announ
ced this week by Wm. J. Sexton,
chairman of the board of direc
tors following a meeting of the
board.
At the same time, Sexton an
nounced election to the board of
directors of B. L. Haverside, San
Francisco financier. Sexton con
tinues as chairman of the board.
AVA's Mr. Billiken
Invades Japan
Mr. Billikin, grinning mascot
of tlie Alaska Visitors Associa
tion has invaded Japan, the ex
otic land of the cherry blossom
and kimono-clad lady, and cap
tured the heart of a school
teacher whose only knowledge
of our beautifrrl Territory, dates
back to an old and slightly mis
leading Paramount Picture com
medv.
Attracted by the happy little
man who smiled up at her from
an ad in Holiday magazine
Hazymae Wanatabe, of Simoko
kura, Kinucima, Kawati, Tontigi
Japan, wrote the Alaska Visitors
Association telling of her desire
to learn more of Alaska.
EMBLEM CLUB TO
ELECT OFFICERS
Lady Elks will meet March
5 at 8:30 p.m. for the election
of officers of the Emblem Club.
Plans will be formulated for en
tertaining visiting Emblem Club
ladies from Fairbanks.
SEAHAWKS SPLIT SERIES WITH PALMER
The Seward High School Sea
hawks split their last home
games of the season with the
Palmer Moose Friday and Sat
urday nights*
In the Friday night game Sew
ard came from behind, trailing
23 20 at the end of the frist half,
to go ahead in the third quarter
and win going away 53-44. In
the last quarter with a little over
two minutes to play and leading
47-44 the Seahawks displayed
the best ball handling seen on
the local court this year, when
they held the ball for a minute
and fifteen seconds and then
broke loose to score the clinch
ing basket. Palmer tried desper
ately to score but Seward quick
ly added two more baskets be
fore the game ended. Gene Boe,
elected C&ptain for the season
just before the game, after scor
ing only two points in the first
half, led the Seward scoring with
19 points. Pete Wagner followed
closely with 18. Don Ingalls led
Palmer with 15 points. Kenny
Bahr played a fine floor game.
In the game Saturday night,
Palmer finally beat the fighting
Seahawks in an overtime game
47-45. Seward led in the game
until the fourth quarter. Just
before the end of the third
quarter the Seahawks lost both
Gen Boe and Pete Wagner on
fouls and Palmer soon caught up
and went ahead. However, the
Seahawks didn’t give up and
stayed right in there. Finally
with Palmer ahead 43-40 and a
little over a minute to play,
Henry Blacthford came into the
game and almost immedaitely
sank a long one-handed shot to
put Seward one point behind at
43-42. Palmer took the ball and
tried to stall the game out but
with time just about running out
Henry Blatchford stole the ball
dribbled once and shot but was
fouled just as the buzzer ended
the game. Under terrific pres
sure Henry missed the first foul
but came through like a veteran
on the second shot to tie up the
game 43-43 to send it into over
time. In the overtime, how
ever, the experience of the Pal
mer team paid off. They scored
a basket and two free throws
while Seward, again with
Blatchford scoring, managed to
score only one basket. When the
final buzzer sounded the Sea
hawks were trying vainly to get
one more shot at that basket.
Kenny Bahr, playing his best
game of the season led the Sew
ard scoring with 13 points, fol
lowed by Boe with 11.
The Seahawks lost five games
in the Railbelt this year by 2
points, any one of which could
have been won if the boys had
had a little more experience and
perhaps a little more support
and encouragement. Also three
other games were lost only in
the last minute of play.
The Western Alaska High
School Activities Association
Tournament will be held in
Fairbanks beginning March 9th
and running to the 13th. The
Seahawks will leave here via
Cordova Airlines Monday March
8th. Most of the games in the
RaiJibclt this year have been
close and Coach Daberg feels
that with the right breaks Sew
ard could very likely come out
on top in that tournament. The
boys are just beginning to find
themselves and could be a very
tough team in that tournament.
Give the boys some encourage
ment and show them that you
are behind them all the way.
Alaska Music Trail
Presents Harpist
Next on the Alaska Music
Trail concert series will be one
of the world's greatest artists
who has chosen that rarely
heard instrument, the harp, as
his medium for expression.
Nicanor Zebaleta, native of
Spain, and most widely recog
nized in France, the country of
many harpists, began his career
as a child prodigy, making his
first public appearance at the
age of nine in San Sebastian
where he was born, and from
this early beginning, a phenom
enal position in the music world
has been attained by Nicanor
Zabaleta.
Following his brilliant Paris
debut, many recitals were given
in New York, Washington, Phili
delphia, Madrid, Buenos Aires,
Rio de Janeiro and throughout
central America. As soloist with
the major symphony orchestras,
he has played with the New
York Philharmonic - Symphony
in Lewisohn Stadium; with the
NICANOR ZABALETA, Harpist
Philadelphia Symphony and the
national symphony orchestras of
Venezuela, Chile and other
South American countries. His
success as soloist with the phil
harmonic orchestras of Madrid
and Mexico City were Artistic
triumphs.
Many composers of Europe
and America have written music
especially for the harp and ded
icated their works to Nicanor
Zabaleta. Unlike many harpists,
he is not content to perform mu
sic transposed from piano com
positions but has researched into
musical libraries the world over
containing the harp composi
tions of the 18th century when
his instrument was in high favor
for all musical events. Today,
there is a great revival for harp
playing, but as yet few great
consert artists to be heard. It has
even reached into the realm of
Jazz because of the adaptability
of melodious tones and variety
of rythms to modern music.
.The Zabaleta concert here will
be on March 4 in the Methodist
Church.
P.-T.A. — and You
Officers and organization:
Since the work of the Parent
Teacher Association includes a
variety of activities, officers are
selected because they have
shown a desire to work toward
Parent Teacher goals. They
work together to serve the local
group in its program of child
welfare and to intergrate local
projects with both state and na
tional programs whenever pos
sible. The usual officers make
up the executive board of the
PTA. I( also includes a historian
and parlimentarian. The presi
dent directs meetings but does
not express an opinion on mat
ters under discussion. He ap
points committees and votes in
case of a tie. The Historian
keeps a record of the activities
of the association and has this
available for local or national
officers on request. This history
includes not only activities and
programs but also officers, bud
get reports and special business
programs undertaken. The duty
of the Parlimentarian is to ad
vise on questions of parliment
ary procedures. In many cases
this officer is a professional and
not a member of the association,
this office is not filled in Sew
ard.
Meetings follow the usual pro
ceedurcs and effort is made to
keep them breif and interesting.
This is done by careful planning
and thru committee work. Com
mittees are working machinery
of the PTA, it is these commit
tees who plan and promote the
activities of the group. Thru
concentrated work they can
more effectively study problems
and plan programs. They submit
reports in a complete and con
cise manner and appropriate ac
tion can then be taken by the
group. Persons are appointed
(Turn to Page 4)
Public Information
From Longshore
Union Local 1-82
The membership of Local 1-82
wishes to voice their objection
to a double barreled missive
directed against them and
against a Seward citizen who is
employed via the Local 1-39
I L W U hiring hall. The
derogation appeared in the
February 1st issue of the An
chorage Daily News, therein
placed as an United Press dis
patch from •Washington, D. C.
anent the appointment of one
Homer Boe, Seward Longshore
man to the opposition of Labor
member of the Territorial Em
ployment Security Commission.
The News item, which in truth
it cannot be called, contained a
libelous quote from an American
Federation of Labor official,
who thus far has remained an
onymous, in effect that Mr. Boe’s
appointment pertended a threat
to American Security because
of his being employed on
the Seward waterfront where
the I L W U holds labor
jurisdictional rights. We cannot
presume the infamous quote to
have any other import or intent
than was clearly given—a slur
to our Union and a slur to Mr.
Boe.
We want to express our appre
ciation to the Seward Chamber
of Commerce for their open let
ter to the Secy, of Interior,
Douglas McKay, in which they
voiced their objection to the mis
sive and announced their sup
port of Seward citizenry and
it’s labor units. More can be said
in behalf of our Union which
subsequent paragraphs will re
veal. Although the Chamber of
Commerce letter admirably de
fended Mr. Boe, we feel obliged
to expatiate thereupon.
To say that Mr. Boe is a citi
zen of excellent quality, up
right in character and honest in
his efforts, is only to support the
consideration respected him by
Governor Heintzelman who
made the appointment. We of
this Local stand critical of our
Governor for not having defend
ed his appointee in the face of
defamatory assault made by
that malicious AFL huckster
who peddled his unwholesome
wares in the political bazaar and
from all appearances found an
audience.
In defense of our Union—
there are a number of facts per
haps not known by much of the
public and most certainly being
ignored by many of those who
are acquainted with labor groups
and their policies.
1.
In the autumn of 1952 the
United States Coast Guard
‘screened’ the Seward water
front workers as a Port Security
measure. This was a lenghty,
costly and tedious procedure. Of
all the workmen so processed
in Seward there was not one who
was rejected as a security risk
and each and every longshore
man was given a Port Security
Card identifying him as, an Am
erican citizen having undergone
the Security examination.
Whether or not we approve of
Security examinations is no
point at this time; but, if wre are
going to have them, why not
move the examination up the
street and into the core of the
community, or, is it presumed
that the sinister fungus of un
Americanism is always to be
found among the ranks of labor?
2.
This Local has an record, as it
has had in the past with the Na
tional Labor Relations Board,
non-communist affidavits signed
by all of the elected officers of
the Union. This is one of the
many requirements under the
Labor Management Relations
Act that must be fulfilled in ord
er to maintain the services of the
NLRB. Our Union is in full com
pliance with the respective pro
visions of that act.
3.
This Union has, as far as we
know, the lowest International
per capita dues of any other in
the nation. Our Local Union
dues also, as far as we know,
are lower than any other. Said
dues being levied as the mini
mum required for the mainten
ance and support of the Union
and the building from which it
operates. Much could be said
about the whole exhorbitant ex
traction of dues and assessments
by some Unions to support their
white collared agents and para
sites but we are not given to
the menial practice of public
criticism of labor groups, even
though they regard themselves
as competitive labor. Our opin
ion is that the only competition
existing in labor is the difference
in productive achievement under
a standardized wage, safe and
(Turn to Page 3)