VOL. I
PETERSBURG, ALASKA OCTOBER 10 1926
NO. 13
Recent advices from Oslo report
extensive operations of the Norwe
gian whaling fleet. This fleet ac
cording to the report, carries on in
many parts of the world, with 3,000
employes at sea, and during the
li*24-25 season its catch amounted
to 597,690 barrels of whale oil.
The Department of Commerce is
suing a statement on this activity
declared:
The 1924-1825 whaling season
may be characterized as exception
i.lly good; a number of new com
panies were formed and 48 new
whaling boats were constructed. Op
erations were carried out in various
parts of the world by 31 companies
with 3,000 employees at sea and
1,000 employes in Norway. The to
tal value of this yield of 597,690
barrels of whale oil is estimated to
he about 90,000,000 crowns, as
against 65,000,000 in 1924, with an
addition of several million crowns
for the by-products, such as meat
and guana.
The Bureau of Education, De
partment of the Interior, has just
received word that, according to a
recent order of the Czechoslavakian
Ministry of Education, military
authorities in that country may use
the public schoolhouses for the in
struction of illiterate soldiers.
Press reports indicate that the
Japanese government is determin
ed to end the treaty with the Unit
ed States, Russia and Great Britian
banning pelagic sealing in the North
Pacific when the time limit is reach
ed December 15. News advices from
Japan state that in order to end the
agreement, Japan must notify the
other parties in writing a year after
which the treaty ceases to be af
fective. Should Japan refuse to be
party to a continuation of the pre
sent treaty, sealing will be virtual
ly unrestricted.
At the present time the Fouke
Fur Company of St. Louis is the on
ly benefiiciary of the restricted kill
ing of seal in the North Pacific.
That big industry which each year
brings a revenue of $500,000 has
also from the sale of blue fox pelts
an operating expense that bespeaks
mismanagement. The Bureau of
Fisheries last year cleared not much
moie than $15,000. over the gross
returns of 19,000 seal killed and
from Pribiloff Islands. However it
is to be expected. 'The history of
the Bureau of Fisheries in Alaska
has been one of mismanagement
and prostitution of those resources
which they are supposed to guard
tor the posterity of Alaska.
The gas boat Washington broke
her crankshaft while going north in
Frederick Sound. The boat is own
by the Alaska Consolidated Canner
ies at Tenakee. After towin for a
long time the crew saw two halibut
boats and tried to hail them but re
vtived no response. At the end of
five hours of towing they hailed the
Eunice from Kake and obtained a
much needed tow to Petersburg.
NEAR EAST RELIEF WORK
EXPLAINED
Mr. Selwood, who is lecturing
here in behalf of the Near East Re
lief Association, gave a very inter
esting talk on Monday evening in
the Variety Theatre.
He told of the work among or
phans in the near East and showed
pictures that illustrated the work
being done, as well as the needs of
thousands of other refugees.
Mr. Anderson of Juneau, played
a couple of violin selections accom
panied by Mrs. John Allen.
Try John Fanning for Arch Sa
ver Shoes for men, women and chil
dren. First class hosery on hand.
Senator George H. Moses, Repub
lican of New Hampshire> declared
recently after an interview with
President Coolidge, that there can
be no change in the fifth reservation
to American adherenc to the World
Court protocol.
“Any one who knows the origin
of the fifth reservation, and who is
acquainted with its parentage, both
real and putative, knows it will not
be changed, he said. "No reserva
tion drawn by John Basset Moore
and presented to the Senate jointly
by Claude Swanson and Thomas
Walsh is going to suffer much from
changing.”
Appearing by attorney, Mr. M. S.
Pobbs of Atlanta, Georgia, plead
guilty in the District Court for
having hunted in Southeastern Alas
ka in May, 1925 without having
obtained a non-resident hunting lis
eace.
Mr. Walker of the Biological Sur
vey states that Dobbs and Mr. Von
Lengerke of New York were guests
of Mr. J. H. Cann of Lisianski, and
while Von Lengerke obtained his
lnense in the proper manner, Dobbs
evaded botaining one, and that the
trophy which Dobbs killed had been
smuggld out of the territory. He
a’so states that when it became
known that the wild life protective
ofllcers were working on the case,
Von Lengerke endeavored to
st“aighten up the matter by taking
out a license for Dobbs. This me
thod of settlement was refused, and
when all available information was
at hand the case was filed by in
formation in the District Court.
Mr. Dobbs, through his attorney
paid the $50. non-resident hunting
1.cense fee and was fined $50. and
costs.
VTBW DOCTOR IN TOWN
Dr. Susie Standard arrived in
Petersburg from Seattle and has al
ready begun her medical practice in
connection with her husband Dr.
Lan Standard. Besides her regular
medical course, Dr. Susie Standard
took a year of post graduate work
and specialized in Eyes, Ears, Nose
and Throat treatments. The people
of Petersburg are very fortunate in
having a doctor who is so well
qualified to meet the medical needs
of our rapidly growing community.
Wiliam Taylor for many years a
resident of Wrangell died on the
2&th of September. He leaves a
widow, two daughters and two
sons and many friends to mourn the
passing of his spirit from this earth.
Will Taylor was a pioneer in every
sense of the word. He came here
over thirty years ago, married, built
his home and raised his family and
invested his all in the country.
He with Capt. Lem Churchill, also
of Wrangell, another pioneer had
the first mail contract from Wran
gell to the West Coast of Prince of
Wales.
Never a husky man, he had a kind
ly determination that carried him
ovo? many hard places in his life
in Alaska with never a murmur on
his part. Kindly to all men and
generous to a fault, “Bill’ carried
his religion close to his pocketbook
with hands ever ready to open the
purse strings.
He was a member of the Redmen
and Pioneer’s." At the grave the ri
tual of the Redmen was read over
the remains of a departing and well
loved brother.
PH! WAR ST®
li WASH n
R. S. Regar, Third Assitant Post
master General, has announced that
effective immediately, unregistered
1D20 and 1921 war savings stamps
are no longer to be paid at post of
fices but are to be forwarded to the
Post Office Department in Washing
ton for redemption.
Mr. Regar also stated that unre
gistered certificates of the 1920 and
1921 series which have been paid
by postmasters before receiving his
instructions, or which are paid in
en’Ot before October 20, 1926, may
be remitted or deposited as postal
funds in accordane with existing in
structions to postmasters. I
Special attention was also direct
ed by Mr. Regar to the fact that
25-cent thrift stamps, should not
be forwarded to the department,
but should be cashed with postal
funds.
Last Friday, just as the paper
was going to press, the news came
that a thirteen pound boy had
arrived at the home of Earl Ohmer.
The linotype was so startled as a re
cord of such weight that it refused
tc v ork any more that day so the
paper was not able to publish the
glad tidings in full.
The young man has been named
rJames Lewis, and Earl asserts that
he will soon be able to go out
shrimping. We are willing to bet
that Earl used his shrimp scales in
stead of the regular medical scales,
to weigh the new Commodore of
the shrimp fleet.
nRES. SIZZALLO REMOVED
The regents of the University of
Washington have demanded the re
signation. The reason being that
the regents are of the opinion that
State politics should be given lesser
place in the affars of the college.
Dean David Thompson will be
asked to be temporary president.
UNION OIL
CUT!) RATES
RECORD CUT IN PRICE OF GAS
Mr. John C. Holten, agent for the
Union Oil Company of California,
station in Petersburg received the
iollowing telegram from his com
pany:
“Effective immediately. Reduce
your price on red and blue three
cents per gallon making red bulk
deliveries fifteen and one half cents
and bule thirteen cents; aviation
red, twenty-six cents.
Press report from the States in
dicates a cut-rate war that will be
of no mean magnitude. The first cut
of prices brought gas down from
twenty to seventeen and one-half
cents; the second cut in the week
bringing it down to thirteen and a
half cents.
But for the competition of Union
Oil in Petersburg it is quite prob
able that the old rates in Peters
burg would stand. Yet there are
some in Petersburg who have ex
pended considerable energy trying
to swing business away from Union
Oil here. But then that is in keep
ing with their business policy—to
cut off their nose to spite their
face. That is one way that Peters
burg cannot build itself up.
The Department of the Interior
ha« announced its regulations gov
erning the exportation of timber
from Alaska. Under the regula
tions supply for mills will be al
lowed to be cut and sold on national
forests and public lands, if the tim
ber supply for local use is not en
dangered. The new law is Public
Law No. 100, Sixty-ninth Congress.
The regulations set forth the con
ditions upon which sales for export
from Alaska may be made, quanti
tity restrictions for manufacturing
purposes, methods and terms of ap
plication, requirement of publica
tion notice, procedure as to exam
ination and appraisal of the timber, 1
the contract bonding for such tim- ]
ber sales, the safeguarding against j
forest fires and other precautions j
against waste.
KETCHIKAN TEACHERS RAISE
MONEY FOR HOSPITAL BED
A ball was given recently by the
teachers of the public schools of
Ketchikan as a benefit for the Or
thopedic Hospital in Seattle. The
attendance was fine and the sum
of $315.25 cleared over the ex
penses of the evening. This money
is going forward as the contribu
tion of the ^Teachers of Ketchikan
and will make possible the main
tenance of a bed for children in this
hospital.
The work of this hospital is most
excellent and quite a number of I
Alaskan children have benefited
from the care and attention receiv
ed there.
WORK STARTED FAIRBANKS
POWER HOUSE
Work of thawing the ground for
the central power plant of the
Fairbanks Exploration Company
was started recently. Steam neces
sary for this work was furnished
by a locomotive. The whole area
j to be used for a foundation will be
| thawed by the steam process.
WAGES PAID IN
SEATTLE TO ALASKA LABOR
In a recent edition of the Seattle
Times it was stated that the 1926
total of wages paid IN SEATTLE
to cannerymen, FISHERMEN and
crews of cannery vessels will total
$2,500,000, an increase from 20 to
30 percent compared with last year.
One of the big salmon packing
firms estimated that its payrolls in
Seattle this year will total $1,250,
GOO or 30 percent more than 1925.
Another company in the north es
timated that its PAYROLLS IN
SEATTLE for 1926 will total $1,
100,000, or 20 percent more than
last year.
The arrival of ships from the
Alaska canneries has meant a
busy season for Fred M. Lathe, U.
;. Shipping Commissioner, and his
staff with offices in the Grand Trunk
d' ck building. Mr. Lathe paid out
$1 60,000 in a single day. The pay
rolls handled by the shipping com
missioner’s office for cannerymen,
fishermen and crews of three ships
I totaled $550,000.—Chronicle.
NEW YORK GETS
In an effort to stop the diversion
of from 400,000 to 500,000 gallons
of industrial alcohol monthly to il
legal channels, 150 additional pro
hibition inspectors and agents will
be added to the New York force is
an announcement from the east.
The new men, authorized in the
supplemental appropriation bill by
Congress, will be taken on immedi
ately and their activities centered in
stopping the diversion of denatured
alcohol and the flood of “high-pow
ered beer” now prevalent in New
York
In a report submitted to the Act
ing Prohibition Chief, it was shown
that 15,000 “speakeasies” are op
erating in New York, selling “hard”
liquor and beer.
The school board recommended
tothe Council that the General Hos
pital Building be fitted up for use
as a school building to take care of
entering pupils. The Board ad
vises that every bit of available
room in the new school house is oc
cupied along with the building in
which the first grades are housed.
The Council on motion has com
mittee appointed to prepare the
building and have it ready for use
of the pupils at an early date.
The officers of the Salvation
Army who were using the building
as a day nursery were notified of
the change so they are now looking
for a suitable location to carry on
their work
Hans Wick in charge of the road
construction on Point View street
reported to the Council that the
street will be completed by next
week. Upon completion of this
work he will oversee work on the
water dam which was under discus
sion at a previous meeting '
The matter of steamers going
through the Narrows at full speed
had been taken up with Col. Steese.
The Colonel recommended that the
Council take the matter up with the
steamship companies direct.
Chester Holm’s request to build a
garage to project on the street was
under advlement. Permission to
build was granted with the proviso
that it be removed on notice from
the Council.
Other minor routine matters were
passed upon before adjournment.
- *
POOR RELATIONS
Distant relatives sometimes be
come close relatives—if you aren’t
feelin gwell and have a fat bank ac
count.
IMPROVE PLANT
Portlock, in 1919, was selected
by a group of halibut boat owners,
as an ideal location for fishing,
packing and shipping. This, after
much ^ investigation had been car
ried on. The result was an organi
zation was formed called the Alas
ka Sea Products Association, with
a capital stick of $250,000. The
stock was sold to boat owners and
fishermen in Alaska and Washing
ton, some 1,200 stockholders being
in the company.
The management then purchased
the sawmill property operates by
the port Chatham Lumber company
v/ilich was mergea into the new as
sociation. Construction of the
plant at Portlock was completed
the following year, in 1920. The
construction called for a cold stor
age paint with a daily freezing ca
pacity of 30,000 pounds of fish, and
manufacturing 15 tons of ice; a
clock, a machine shop, store as well
as other buildings representing in
value more than $200,000. The
plant was complete and ready for
operation by fishing season.
Lack of proper experience re
sulted in loss, discord and finallythe
association wound up in receiver
ship and bankrupt sale by 1925. All
property and possessory rights be
ing purchased by the Alaska Consol
idated Fsheries, Inc.
Extensive repairs and altera
tions have been made by this com
pany. Old foundations being re
placed with concrete piers
The operations of the past season
nave been entirely successful and to
the satisfation of its president J.
Kildall. A first mortgage issue is
being undertaken to cover all obli
gations and to raise sufficient
working capital to allow unhamp
ered operation early next spring.
The natural location and harbor
makes Portlock the best fishing cen
ter to the Westward.
SOME WHO LACK CITIZENSHIP
Harry Hull, Commissioner Gen
eral of Immigration, stated recently
thac because of the imigration law
in the past there are many cases
of men holding offices of public
trust in this country who lack
what might be called a fee simple
title to American citizenship.
He said that recently a man hold
ing an important position found
that technically he wa3 without a
clear title to citizenship. Mr. Hull
did not indicate identity of this in
dividual but said there were un
questionably many other similar
cases.
The status of men whose citizen
ship is in doubt does not give them
one iota of right to enter into the
political affairs of a country. We
have just such “citizens” in Alaska,