SEWARD
The Gatezvay City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Record
Sezcard’s A III Feather Tort is Alaska*s Greatest Asset.
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES A HOOT ABOUT SEWARD. ALASKA
Vol. IX. No. 13
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY. SEPT. 2(i, 1952
Price 10 Cents
Supt. Reports 0*1
Seward Schools
By Carl R. Carlson
THE TOBACCO TAX
Every time you buy a pack of
cigarettes, cigars or tobacco, you
are contributing to the building
of Alaska's schools. In fact, the
smokers of Alaska have already
in the last three years con
tributed handsomely to t h e
school coffers.
In 1949, the Territorial Legis
lature, in seeking new sources of
revenue, learned that Alaska
was one of the few political areas
that did not tax tobacco. So that
Legislature placed a fairly stiif
tax on tobacco products (in
creased in 1951) providing that
funds derived from this source
should be used ‘‘for tile exclu
sive purpose of rehabilitation,
construction and repair of Alas
ka's school facilities.”
Since no provision was made
for distribution of this fund. Dr.
Ryan, Commissioner of Educa
tion at that time, called a Super
intendents' Conference at Ju
neau to work out a formula for
transferring these funds to the
various schools of the Territory.
This plan of distribution was a
rather complex one. aimed at
protecting both the small schools
(like Eagle, Pelican and Yaku
tat), and the large schools (An
chorage and Fairbanks). This
formula provides a small basic
allowance of $3,000 per year per
district. The remainder of the
fund is divided into two parts.
One part is distributed on the
basis of the average daily attend
ance of pupils of each district.
The other part is distributed ac
cording to the number of profes
sional employees (teachers, prin
cipals and superintendents). Dis
tributions were to be made twice
a year. This plan was accepted
by*the Territorial Board of Edu
cation and has been the basis for
the distribution of the fund.
The Seward schools have been
alloted a considerable sum from
this source. In the initial distri
bution in 1950. Seward received
$15,585.40. In 1951 the amount
was SI0.347.42. Distribution for
the last half of 1951 was $ 13.(500.
Another distribution is now due
for the half year ended June 30,
1952.
In Seward, this fund has been
used sparingly. Most of the pro
jects of remodeling the present
school building have been paid
for from the regular school bud
get. Most of the tobacco tax pay
ments have been accumulated to
apply to new school construction-r
Since Seward must build a new
school building soon, the Seward
School Board feels that the fund
should be permitted to grow, so
the Board will have a sizeable
amount available to apply to the
initial payment of the new build
ing. In this way the city will not
have to float as large a bond is
sue to pay for the new school.
Yes, the use of tobacco is of
importance to school finance.
But do not go out and overdo the
tobacco habit just to help the
schools. It is an expensive and
dirty habit; I know—I smoke.
DIST. COURT POSTPONED
District Court has been post
poned again. The date for the
Court to convene in Seward now
stands at October 29.
Are you a registered voter?
PUBLIC HEARING ON BOOST
IN WATER RATES
A public hearing has been an
nounced by the Utility Board
and City Council on a proposal
to set up a new rate schedule for
water use. The date is set for
October (i. at 8 pan.
The proposed rate schedule
doubles the rates for domestic
use with a proportionate or
slightly higher rate on commer
cial establishments. Rates on
some special businesses have
long been considered inequitable,
and the present proposal is de
signed to correct these inequali
ties. Rate schedules are given in
detail elsewhere in this issue.
Bond Issue Voters
Must Be On Tax Roll
A warning was given by the
Tax Assessor today to the effect
that when man and wife are
joint owners of property, the tax
rolls should carrj the names of
both individuals in order that
both can vote in a bond election.
The coming special election on
school, hospital and street pav
ing bonds will be a taxpayers
election. Unless both names ap
pear on the tax roll in the city
offices, in many cases a wife has
been denied the vote.
To be sure of your right to
vote, if you are a joint owner
with husband or wife, check
with Harry Southard before Oc
tober 14, to be sure that both
names are on the tax list.
Reception For New
Coastwise Manager
Mr. and Mrs. Vcrn Griffith
will be honored at a reception at
the Elks Club Friday afternoon
at 5 p.m. Mr. Griffith is the new
Seward manager for Coastwise
Line. He arrived in Seward re
cently from Portland, Oregon,
where he has served the com
pany for the past two years.
Mr. Griffith is replacing Frank
Shepard, who has been in the
Seward office for the past six
months and now returns to re
sume his work in the Seattle of
fice. He plans to leave by plane
October 1. Mrs. Shepard and the
children have aireaciy returned
to Seattle.
Mr. Shepard told the inter
viewer that he would like to ex
press his appreciation for the
many kindnesses and friendli
ness he found in the people of
Seward. His stay here was a
happy one and he hopes to re
turn in the future.
SQUARE DANCE CLUB
STARTS WINTER SEASON
The Gateway Swingers, a re
organized club of s piare dance
enthusiasts, announce regular
meetings for Friday nights at the
Elks Club.
The first hour of the dance,
from {1:30 to 9:30, will be devot
ed to student instruction. From
9:30 to midnight will be the reg
ular dance with both square and
round dancing numbers.
Persons interested in this kind
of amusement may contact Dr.
R. M. Wagner or Sgt. Powers at
the ACS office.
Nellie Lawing (Alaska Nellie),
is reported improving slowly in
Seward General Hospital. She
has been a patient there since
September 12.
Popeye? ES And E!ey
Found Safe On
Ugak Island
Word was received here Fri
day morning that Torn Fdoy was
salt1 in Kodiak. Tho elderly man
had been missing with the Pop
eye 11 since September 10 when
it disappeared tor the second
time on its way from Pirate’s
Cove near Whittier to Seward.
At that time it was found
beached in Puget Bay, and after
repairing a fouled propeller Eley
once more started for Seward.
He failed to arrive and the sec
ond intensive search began by
U.S. Coast Guard and boats from
Seward.
A story was broadcast Friday
morning. Sept. 20., that two
hunters found the little Popeye
11 aground on Ugak Island. The
U.S. Marshal wired Seward that
Mr. Eley was safe in Kodiak
and that the Coast Guard has
closed tht' search.
According to stories, little food
was left, four potatoes and a
tank of water. Eley is about 65
years of age. according to his
nephew. Hay Selerovich of this
city. The Seferoviches and Mrs.
Eley had nearly given up hope
of his survival after nearly a
month of anxious waiting.
Ugak is a very small island at
the easternmost tip of Kodiak
Island. If the Popeye II had
drifted a short distance to the
eastward or between Ugak and
Kodiak Islands, it is probable
that it would never have been
found. How he managed to stay
afloat through the storm and
high winds of the past two weeks
remains to be learned.
In the meantime. Seward peo
ple have watched the search
with sympathetic interest, and
now rejoice with Mrs. Eley at
the good news of her husband s
safety.
FIRST SHIPLOAD OF VANS
COMES THROUGH PORT
The Ocean Van Lines’ motor
ve.-si 1 "Gadseii” docked at Sew
ard Army Dock Thursday with
the first train load of sealed
vans.
The huge aluminum bodies are
loaded aboard '.'adroad flat cars,
each one almost the size of a
box car. They are sealed .it paint
of departure and not opened un
til they reach the ir destination.
This avoids extra handling of
contents, damage and pilfering.
This is the first cargo of its
kind to pass ov r S ward docks.
MRS. BARTLETT TO BE
ENTERTAINED AT TEA
Word has been received here
that Mrs. E. L. Bartlett, wife of
Delegate Bob Bartlett, will be in
Seward Thursday, and will be
honored at tea at the home of
Mrs. Irwin Metcalf, top floor of
the Federal Building, Thursday
afternoon from 2 to 5, and again
in the evening from 7 to 9.
LEGION AUXILIARY PLANS
HALLOWE'EN PARTY
The first party of the season
for the American Legion Auxil
iary will be held October 30, the
Hallowe’en season.
The party is public, to be held
at the Legion Club. Everything
good is promised including food
aplenty. Entertainm nt will be
Alaska's favorite game with ap
propriate awards.
PETITIONS FOPl CITY OFFICE
.NEAR DEADLINE
Monday, September 2t), at 2
p.m., is the deadline for tiling
petitions lor city elective offices.
Several petitions are about
town awaiting signatures, but at
press tune none had been filed
for city council. Mildred Kirk
patrick is filing for return to the
School Hoard. Dick Myers and
John Rosness both have petitions
out for Utility Board. Other than
these, it looks like a last minute
rush for filing.
Little Known Here Of
Deceased Woman
Little is known here1 about the
family of Jean Raymond, found
dead in a Portage cabin Wednes
day.
Records of past employment
here list a Charles Walters. Spo
kane, Washington, as a brother,
and Edward McConnell of Rich
mond, Virginia, also as a brother.
Acquaintances state that she
had a daughter. Camille Virginia
Raymond, also of Spokane, but
several seem to think that the
daughter has married recently
and no one knows her married
name.
Mrs. Raymond has lived in
Seward for the past several
years, doing odd jobs, usually as
cook.
The body is in an Anchorage
funeral home.
Girl Scout Council
Elects Officers
The Adult Council. Seward
Girl Scouts, which meets the
third Monday of the month,
elected officers last week. Mrs.
J. B. Diesher is the new presi
dent; Mrs. Victor Mahan, vice
president; Mrs. Francis J. Phil
lips. secretary, and Mrs. George
Everitt, treasurer.
The Council discussed the past
year's activities and look for
ward to greater accomplishments
during the next season.
Mrs. Maurice Curry, a trained
director on Girl Scouting, and
who is now a Seward resident,
is acting as training consultant,
coaching leaders and giving as
sistance in program planning.
Committee chairmen will he
appointed at the October 20
meeting.
PTA MEETING SATURDAY
FIRST FOR THE YEAR
The first regular meeting of
Seward Parent-Teacher Associ
ation is scheduled for Saturday.
September 27, in the high school
building.
One of the first subjects for
discussion will be letting a con
tract for construction of the
combined tennis court-skating
rink on the school grounds.
Another subject which will
undoubtedly receive attention is
the coming bond election for
school, hospital and paving.
WORKMAN HURT AT SAN
JUAN DOCK FRIDAY
Chet Burns sustained slight
injuries in a fall while at work
Friday on the San Juan dock.
Burns was working unloading
cement when he fell, striking his
head and back on a timber.
lie was admitted to Seward
General Hospital, but his inju
ries are reported as slight.
the Seward federal jail were still
at large late Saturday with a
posse of Seward citizens assist
ing officers in searching the wide
area between Seward and Moose
Pass.
The two prisoners black
jacked Don Wil on. guard at the
jail at about 12:30 Saturday
morning and broke a drawer to
obtain pistols and ammunition.
They also took about $250 from
the jail office.
Wilson was hit on the head
with a heavy wrench tied in
a sock and wrapped in a towel.
One of the men had asked for a
blanket and when Wilson un
locked the cell to give it to him,
the men rushed him. They left
him tied, hands and feet, but he
managed to get loose in a short
time and the alarm was given.
Wilson remained on duty at the
jail until relieved about noon.
He was evidently not seriously
injured.
The escaped men are Chester
LeRoy Oughton and Frank Oli
ver, and are described as “ex
tremely dangerous" by Deputy
Marshal Irwin Metcalf.
Oughton is charged with the
murder of Jack Perlovich of
Mountain View, who was shot
in the back last April 3. Oliver
was being held on a charge of il
legally possessing government
property.
About 50 other prisoners re
mained in thr jail without at
tempting to escape, although
they could have left with the
pair if they had chosen to do so.
Oughton and Oliver stopped
at a liquor store for liquor, then
chartered a Northern Cab and
went to Moose Pass. On the re
turn they took the driver pris
oner and tied hint ftp in the back
seat. They then headed C^rth.
again, but on reaching Moose’
Pass found a road block and had
to turn back toward Seward.
Martin Sop.r of Moose Pass
fired two shots at the vehicle.
'the pair abandoned the taxi
near the ranger station at Mile
24. and leaving the driver in the
back seat, made for the brush.
The driver worked his bonds
loose and drove the car back to
Seward, arriving at about 5:30
a.m. and reported to the marshal,
who immediately deputized sev
eral volunteers and headed for
Mile 24.
Most law officers and volun
teers havt been on the job ever
since news of the escape broke,
Metcalf reported, but Saturday
evening were being relieved by
uint r volunteers.
Metcalf is personally offering
S1U0 reward for apprehension Ox
each ot the prisoners. He warned
that both are extreme iy danger
ous and would be quick to use'
their guns.
Road blocks are being main
tained at the second bridge out
of Seward on the highway, at
about Mile 21, at Moose Pass,
Soldotna, and Girdwood. All
cars are being inspected on en
tering or leaving the area.
Oughton, who has a criminal
record, is five foot two, has
brown hair and a long, hooked
nose. He is 45 years old. Oliver,
37, is about live foot six, round
faced, and has a receding hair
line. One of the men is believed
to be wearing a gray suit. They
were carrying a barracks bag,
but no food, it was reported.
Oughton was arrested in an
Anchorage bar two days after
Perlovich was murdered as he
(Turn to Page 6)
OCTOBER 17
SCHOOL CARNIVAl
SAVE THE BATE!