God offers to every mind Its
choice between truth and re
pose. ..Take which you please,
you can never have both.
Emerson
■-« V*'.
The Seward 8eaport Record
is independent in every re
spect and none shall ever be
denied the right to use its col
umns for any legal purpose or
expression.
I
VOL. XI. NO. 14.
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1954
PRICE 10 CENTS
HALF MILLION DOLLAR SYSTEM
TO BRING POWER TO BIG AREA
At a joint meeting of the Sew-<
ard City Council and the Utility
Board held Tuesday evening the
green light, as far as the City is
concerned, was given to the con
struction of the distribution system
for electric power to persons living
in the area from the south fork
of the Resurrection River to Hen
ton’s Lodge at Mile 57, on the
Sterling Highway.
Following a recommendation of
the Seward Utility Board the City
Council okayed a resolution which
took the City out of the running
for a distribution system in the
same area. However, the City will
still sell power to the REA Co-Op
No. 17, which will serve the area
as the Kenai Lake Electric Assoc
iation.
Following the Utility Board and
Council action, the way was made
clear for a I5S1.000 loan from the
REA to build the distribution sys
tem which will eventually con
nect up with the Homer Electric
Association thus covering much of
the Kenai Peninsula. Ultimately,
it is believed, this entire system
will be buying power from the
Seward Hydro-electric plant which
has been planned for Cresc e n t
Lake. In the meantime the City
diesel plant will furnish the nec
essary power.
According to Phil Durant. Chair
man of the Seward Utility Board,
the action taken this week will
assure the Kenai Lake group of a
loan from the REA and likely by
late summer lines of the Co-Op
will be energized.
It is expected that the loan for
the construction of a distribution
system will be made by mid-Janu
ary and that work on the lines
will start as soon as weather per
mits in the spring.
Fire Damage Light
To Clear view Home
The Seward Volunteer Fire De
partment made a quick run to the
Clearview Addition on Wednesday
shortly before one p.m. to answer
a call to a vacant house located at
the corner of Marathon and Resur
rection Boulevard.
The house was an unoccupied
duplex in the Hickel Homes pro
ject and suffered small damage to
a wall as a result of a short cir
cuit. Workmen at the project had
extinguished the blaze by the time
local firemen made the run over
the icy streets.
Hamilton, Texas, Herald News:
“When a community asks for a
Federal grant for anything at all.
they ar£ asking the government
to give them back a part of the
money that has been taken from
them in taxes. This comes after
a large number of bureacrats have
taken a dip fllf unnecessary ser
vices.”
“The utilitarian skills and tech
niques of each generation are soon
outmoded. The search for wisdom
and virtue never is.” A. Whitney
Griswold, President, Yale Univer
sity.
Gene Boe was also a Seward
visitor during the holidays, taking
a vacation from his college studies.
Chamber Committees
Named by President
Committee appointments to car
ry on the activities of the Cham
ber of Commerce were named re
cently by President Win Ervin.
The names of Chairmen were the
only ones selected and the balance
of the committee membership is
to be chosen by the Chairman.
Those named and their committee
appointments were: Transporta
tion, Jack Jeffrey: Civic Develop
ment, Allen Turner; Economics,
Jack Roth; Public Relations, Vance
Hitt and Publicity, Jack White and
Bill Bonser. Membership and Pro
gram committee is beaded by Sol
Urie.
Any Chamber member wishing
appointment to any specific com
mittee is asked to see the Chair
man: also non-members are invit
ed to bring their problems to the
particular committee concer n e d
with their specific type of problem.
And, of course, for the best results
join the Chamber and make it a
better organization with the back
ing of a wider segment of the
community.
Masonic Lodge
Officers Installed
At recent ceremonies held De
cember 21st the local Ixidge F. &
A. M. installed the new officers
for the coming year. Installing
officer was Worshipful Master,
Leland Miller, and Installing Mar
shal was Harold Campen.
The new officers of the Lodge
are: Worshipful Master, George
Green: Senior Warden. Irwin Met
calf; Junior Warden, C. Raymond
Tressler; Treasurer. Delbert Rob
bins; Secretary, Thomas Howell;
Senior Deacon. Frank Blanchard;
Junior Deacon, Fr. Russell Clapp;
Senior Steward. William Esquibel;
Junior Steward, F. L. Griffin; Mar
shal. Harold Campen; Chaplain,
Guy Kearns; Tyler, David Mc
Millan.
Following the ceremonies the
group enjoyed a light lunch.
Sitka Jr. College
Seeking Contributions
With a gift of $1000.00 from the
Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska Lions Club.
Sheldon Jackson Junior College
at Sitka has launched a drive for
$15,000 from Alaskans as a con
tribution toward a Student Union
Building on the campus. A match
ing amount from the states sup
porters, plus lumber sawed in the
school mill, will guarantee a $50,
000 recreation building for the
students.
Students attending a boarding
school need such a club house
where they can entertain them
selves playing games, listening to
music, or just sitting before an
open fireplace.
The Mt. Edgecumbe Lions Club
is to be congratulated on their
good will in making the large in
itial gift. Each year the club as
part of its activity program, spon
sor athletic events, gives scholar
ships and has promoted several
school activities in the Sitka area.
SCHEDULED. FLIGHTS
WITH NO CHANGE IN PLANES
DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY
Anchorage - Valdez
Cordova
ON TO
YAKATAGA — ICY BAY
TUESDAY
ON TO
MIDDLETON ISLAND
THURSDAY
THESE ABOVE FLIGHTS DEPART
SEWARD 9:35 A.M.
For Information or Reservations, Call Main 99
■' ■' ■' ■■■— ■ i .—■
Gotut&ua Ainlined.
•fc Serving 'the Heartftinc^of Alaska Since 1934 £
Tools for
Korean Industry
Farm tool plants make up the most important of the small industries
which must be revived to build up Korea’s economy. From the
$300,000 set aside for the project by the United Nations Korean
Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) under its program for 1953, came
iron sheets, steel bars and welding machines to rebuild and equip
12 small farm tool plants. Above, two Korean workers assemble a
plough in one of the plants in Suwon. Lack of skilled manpower has
also made it necessary for UNKRA to provide on-the-job training.
Telegram to President
From Seward C. of C.
In an effort to maintain the high
level of service to ami from Alas
ka, The Seward Chamber of Com
merce this week sent the follow
ing telegram:
The President,
The White House,
Washington, D.C.
The recent CAB reported action
to curtail the States-Alaska run?,
of the Alaskan air carriers will
seriously harm the economy of
the Territory. These carriers, par
ticularly Pacific Northern Airlines
which has operated successfully
for twenty three years in Alaska,
have pioneered Alaskan flying
when risks were high and returns
were low. PNA now has low oper
ating cost, low government sub
sidy and high record of mainten
ance and safety. States-Alaska
air travel is essential to Alaskans
since losing the passenger boat
service and we urgently request
to have Alaskan carriers, whom
we know have our interests at
heart, perform this essential ser
vice.
Leaving it exclusively to inter
national carriers would mean re
legating to Alaska secondary equip
ment and services.
Seward Chamber of Commerce,
WIN ERVIN, JR., President
Copies:
Bartlett
P. N. A.
Anch. C. of C.
Brooking - Diesher
Birthday Celebrated
A joint birthday party was held
on Thursday afternoon for Philip
Deisher and Larry Brookins; who
were both born on the 30th of
December.
Fourteen young friends gathered
at ‘the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. B.
Diesher Thursday afternoon from
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to help Philip
and Larry celebrate at a luncheon
party. Games were played and a
short movie was viewed.
Those atending included: Chris- ,
tina, Florence Ellen Larson, Carol
Eades, Katherine Clapp, Roger
Heisler, Armand Loring, Douglas
Stanton, Scott and Jeff Roth,
Barty Stanton, John Kearns, Stevie
McSwain and Chris Diesher. Of
course, very much present were
the honorees, Larry and Philip.
Lambertville, New Jersey, Bea
con: “Former President Herbert
Hoover recently said, ‘A nation . . .
thrives or perishes upon what it
believes to be true. If our youth
is rightly instructed in the faith
of our fathers; in the traditions of
our country: in the dignity of
each individual man, then our
power will be stronger than any
weapon of destruction that man
can cjevife v. - The ^great doftj
njentp if, tmt heritage are, not
fropa . Kayl Marx, they are the
Bible, the Declaration of Indepen
Kindergartners Party
Staged for Parents
Mrs. Mary Gilbert's kindergarten
groups were hosts last week to
parties for their parents. The
morning group held thei rparty on
Wednesday afternoon and the aft
ernoon group gave their party on
Thursday afternoon.
Under the direction of their
teacher, Mrs. Gilbert, the little
groups sang Christmas songs and
ably handled their favorite recit
ations for the beaming parents
present.
The little class mates exchanged
gifts before a gaily decorated tree
in their room and Santa Claus was
on hand to delight the small ones
and pass out the traditional treats.
The parties were acclaimed a
big success much enjoyed by both
the big and little ones present.
SITES “REAL COST”
AS THE BIG THING
The number of dollars or pounds
or rubles or any other currency a
worker earns is not in itself im
portant. What is important is
what they will buy. Thus, the
price charged for any commodity
should be measured by what is
known as "real cost”—that is. the
amount of time that must be work
ed to earn enough to buy it.
A recent comparison, based on
Bureau of Labor statistics, on
"real costs” in the two metropol
ises of Moscow and New York City
is striking and important. In Rus
sia, all the means of production
and distribution, with a few unim
portant exceptions, are state-own
ed. There is no competition, in
any recognized sense of the word,
on either the manufacturing or re
tailing level. In this country, by
contrast, factories are free to pro
duce what they think the people
want, stores are free to stock it,
there is intense competition all al
ong the line, and the consumer has
complete freedom of choice.
How do the two diverse systems
compare, in actual results? In
Moscow, the average worker must
work 117 minutes to earn the mon
ey to buy a pound of choice beef
and 168 minutes in the case of a
dozen eggs—in New York the fig
ures are 22 minutes and 21 min
utes. In Moscow’, the worker must
put in 42 days of time to get
enough money for an overcoat and
32 days for a table model radio—
in New York the respective figures
are 3 days and 13 hours. The dif
ference is similarly great with
other foods and products.
You might keep this in mind
next time you go shopping—and
mentally give free enterprise a
little of the credit it deserves.
words intended for all the people
but we think that Mr. Hoover had
the parents of the country prim
arily in mind when he uttered
them. Certainly, it is upon the
basic truths that .we teach the
{outh of this nation, first in the
pme and then in the schools
at will preserve us as a free
lire.” " .* ' ‘ *
Christmas Decorations
Awarded Prizes
Three brave judges ventu red
forth into the wind and cold last
Friday afternoon to try and pick
the best four Christmas decora
tions out of the many which were
displayed this year by local house
holders.
In first place was the decorated
trees and Santa and Reindeer dis
play in front of the Seventh Ave
nue home of Mrs. Grace Nyreen
and children, which brought them
a prize of $40.
The task was no cinch but the
three went on their way and
chose the bright star on the hill
side as the second prize decoration
which had been set up by Oliver
Amend. This decoration brought
Amend some help with the Christ
mas bills to the tune of $30.
The third choice of the judges
was the window display of J. E.
Carli in the Clearview Addition.
The winner consisted of two win
dows decorated with Christmas
Tree. Cross and Shepherds, Sheep
and the Star of Bethlehem. A $20
prize went to the Carli's.
The Fifth Avenue Home of Emil
Elbe was the next winner. It was
trimmed with boughs and had
lights strung up around the out
side. Fourth prize money was
$10.00.
Displays awarded Honor able
Mentions included those of Vance
Hitt, Mary Gilbert, Skeets Whit
more, Dr. J. B. Deisher, R. Fyle,
Robert Stanton, Art Gray, Ernest
Brooking and A1 Campton.
Judges of the contest were three
comparatively new comers to town,
Henry Chrostowski, Dorothy Cur
tin and Verne Laird.
Beta Sigma Phi
Fetes Member
Iota Chapter of the Beta Sigma
Phi held a surprise “going away”
party for one of their members
this week on Tuesday evening.
Corua Kuth Stubmefleld who is
a member of the local Chapter,
and is planning to move to Anchor
age and will be transferring to one
j of the Chapters there. The local
j group staged the “farewell hand
: kerchief party in her nonorT
The group gathered at the home
of Mrs. Rachel Puckett on Third
Avenue and a most enjoyable eve
j ning was had by all with Corda
: Ruth receiving many very pretty
handkerchiefs from her sorority
sisters.
Hostesses for the party were:
Dolly Blume, Elsie Brossow and
| Irene Griffin.
__
Chief of Police Quits
: Local Constabulary
According to a report from City
Hall this week. Chief of Police
Bob Jackson submitted his resign
ation. effective at once.
Reason for the sudden resigna
tion was given as Jackson's desire
to resume his education outside.
No new Chief has been named
City Manager O'Hara said, how
ever. they have under consideration
an application of Carter Seymour,
formerly Chief of the Kodiak Po
lice Department.
One of the brown bears kept at
the Portland, Oregon Zoo dug his
way out of his cage to freedom.
He roamed the woods until he was
discovered by visitors. His keeper
had no trouble rounding him up.
An offering of meat and the bear
went back in his cage.
In the wilds, bears htbernate at
this time of year when food is
scarce, and sleep through the win
ter. but this bear gave up his
freedom for a meager handout.
Man is often like the Portland
bear. He fights his way to freedom
from oppression and slavery and
then gives up his hard won vic
tory for a few pittances from gov
ernment. Like the bear he accepts
the dole of his keeper and the
gate slams behind him with a jar
ring finality.
AIR MAIL SERVICE BOOSTED
CHAMBER MEETING INFORMED
A good turn out of about two
dozen members and guests were
present Tuesday noon when Presi
dent Win Ervin called the meeting
to order.
One of the best reports of the
day was heard from the President
himself, who told the group that
the Phone to the Physical Therapy
Center at the San. was now com
pletely installed and in working
order. In order to make a call to
the Therapy Center you must call
ACS and they will connect you.
The phone does not connect with
any other part of th eSan., how
ever.
Installation of the prone was
done by the Power House gang
under the supervision of Jay Car
roll.
Other business taken up includ
ed a report on a wire sent to
President Eisenhower regard i n g
air service to Alaska. The Cham
ber has gone on record as oppos
ing any cut in service or substitu
tion of an outside airline for the
present carriers.
A letter from the office of Del.
E. L. Bartlett was also read in
which he acknowledged recent
Chamber support of the certifica
tion of Northwest Airlines for the
States-Alaska service.
ARMORY
City Manager O'Hara confirmee,
i the press and radio reports that
the size of the National Guard
Armory would be sufficient to ac
commodate a regulation Basket
ball court. Also the City Manager
reported that there was included
in the plan seating capacity for
about 600 persons.
FOURTH OF JULY
It was suggested by Frank Rob
erts that it wasn't too soon to
start thinking, about the Fourth
of July celebration. A big tourist
attraction, Roberts said, merited
considerable Chamber support and
planning.
COAST GUARD
A reply from the Coast Guard
regarding the recent Chamber re
Eastern Stars Install
New Officers for Year
At a recent meeting of the Order
of the Eastern Star, new officers
for 1955 were elected from the
membership. On Thursday even
ing of this week they were instal
led at a public ceremony which was
held in the Masonic Temple at
8:00 p.m.
The new officers include: Marie
Green, Worthy Matron: P.P. Geo.
Green, Worthy Patron: Lenore
Robbins, Associate Matron: Del
bert Robbins. Associate Patron:
Marjorie Bogard, Secretary: P.M.
Florence Harding, Treasurer:
Frances Clark, Conductress; Nan
cy Blanchard, Associate Conduct
ress; P.M. Arreta Howell, Chap
lain; Nell Schnocker, Marshal;
Helen Case, Organist.
Star Points were: Helen Lam
bert, Adah; Frances Jones, Ruth;
Ruth Malin, Martha; Bessie
Kearns, Electa, and Reba Mahurin,
Esther. •
Ethel Lindley was elected Ward
er; Willard Makurin was elected
Sentinel.
A program of beautiful music
was given by local musicians dur
ing the Installation Service. Re
freshments were served following
the ceremonies.
The installing officers were:
W.M., Gladys Bogard. Installing
Officer; P.P., Irwin Metcalf, Wor
thy Patron; P.M., Margaret Lech
ner, Chaplain; P.M., Arreta Howell,
and P.M., Eda Myers Installing
Marshals, and P.M., Beryl Wahner,
Organist.
‘
quest for a Coast Guard Cutter to
be stationed in Seward was read.
The letter informed the Chamber
that disposition of the ships was
up to the-Commander of the 17th
Coast Guard District and that such
requests should be routed through
him.
CIVIC IMPROVEMENTS
It was suggested to the Cham
ber by Jack Jefferey that the City
consider supporting the Christmas
decoration program by giving pre
ferential power rates during the
Christmas season; also that more
be done to decorate the streets
for the Christmas season. A report
from the Christmas contest com
mittee was also received, and will
be found elsewhere in this issue.
NEWS COVERAGE
In a slight revival of the subject
of more adequate news coverage
in the Anchorage papers, Mr. Hans
Autor of the Kenai Company stated
be was a personal friend of the
editor of the Anchorage News and
would be happy to send in any
local news. Persons having items
they believe to be of interest are
asked to call Lincoln 385 to con
tact Mr. Autor.
MAIL SERVICE , » jjj 'A
Dave Swanson, Cor»vaj£i\iftn
figent in Seward, reported 'that
twice a day mail service via Cor*
dova Airlines had been inaugurated
on December 27th* The mails now
close at 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 o’clock
p.m. daily, Postmaster Larsen told
the Chamber.
Memorial Services
For David I. Dyer
Local people were shocked this
week to hear o£ the passing of
David I. Dyer, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Irwin Dyer of Seward. Folks
in Seward had been rooting for
David ever since it was learned
’j'eafiftr this fail that the had a
I dangerous heart condition and
! would have to go outside for a
j very special sort of heart opera
I tion Three weeks ago David un
derwent the operation in Chicago
and came through with what had
been presumed to be a full success.
However, last week on Thursday,
December 23rd. he died while en
route home by train with his fam
ily. Despite emergency treatment,
he could not be saved.
David was born in Seward Jan
uary 4, 1938, and attended local
grade and high school here. He
was a member of the Senior Class
this year.
During the past summer, David
worked at Metcalf's Cash Grocery
and the U.S. Forest Service, and
the Kenai Lake Ranger Station,
and Portage Glacier.
He was a member of the Seward
Memorial Methodist Church.
Memorial Services were held
Friday afternoon at the Methodist
Church with a private interment
service following at the Seward
cemetery.
A memorial fun d will be estab
lished in David's honor and a gift
of some sort presented the High
School in his name. All friends
and neighbors are asked to place
the money they might have other
wise spent for flowers, in this
fund.
Survivors, ‘besides his mother
and father, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin
Dyer, include a sister Sharon.
Seahawks’ Schedule
HOME GAMES
Feb. 4 & 5—Anchorage.
GAMES AWAY
Jan.. 14 & 15—Anchorage.
Jan. 28 & 29—Palmer.
Feb. 18 & 19—Fairbanks.
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING IS ECONOMICAL
Don’t be fooled by the “economy” of flier advertising schemes. They
are not cheap, and they don’t keep your message before the pros
pective customer.
Ever See the Streets Littered With Fliers?
Or the Waste Basket in the Post Office Full of Handbills?
The circulation of a Newspaper and the articles of interest it con
tains assures that the public will hang on to it—and your ad.
A Newspaper Advertisement of this Size
Would cost you $6.89 per issue, and would carry your message to <
more than 600 Seward and Moose Pass area homes. The pdstage
alone on such a mailing would cost you $9.00.
THE SEWARD SEAPORT RECORD
Is the answer to yoUr advertising problem.