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Seward’s A ll-fV gather Fort is Alaskgfs Greatest Asset.
Only newspaper In the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
Vol. X, No. 40
SEWARD, ALASKA, fRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1954
Price 10 Cents
DOCK APPROPRIATION GRANTED
Gen. Noyes Promises
Company Status For
National Guard Unit
Members of the Seward Unit,
Alaska National Guard, were
promised full company status by
General John J. Noyes, Com
mander of the National Guard
in Alaska. The unit will become
Company C of 207th Inf. Batt.
(Sep.) and will be instituted in
the near future.
Institution -of Company C is
expected with full military cere
mony while the Seward unit is
at camp between May 22 and
June 6.
General Noyes expressed him
self as being well pleased with
the local group considering what
they have had to work with, and
said it was one of the best he has
seen in his recent tour of in
spection. He was especially
pleased with the officer potenti
ality. Three men are now taking
officer training. Sgt. Gar Smith,
Harold Mathews and John Dis
ney will go before the examining
board for officers’ examination
before too long a time. They will
then be commissioned second
lieutenants.
The local group held a recep
tion for Gen. Noyes during his
stay here. The affair was held in
their small armory near the
Sanatorium Rehab Center. The
unit is proud of three new en
listments, William Robinette,
Ronald Smythe and Don Ennis.
Rhode To Show
"Alaska Afield"
Cecil Rhode, Alaska wildlife
photographer, was in Seward
last week arranging to show his
new motion picture, ‘ALASKA
AFIELD', at the Highschool
auditorium on April 10, at 8 p.m.
Rhode who has lived on the
Kenai Peninsula since 1937 is
well known throughout the terri
tory as one of Alaska’s outstan
ding big game photographers.
His earlier film production, ‘Ala
ska Wildlife on the Kenai Penin
sula’, has been shown twice in
Seward and was well received
by local audiences. The new film
is another portrayal of our ani
mal life, but is all completely
new footage never before shown
here.
During the past 8 years Rhode
has devoted all his time to pro
fessional motion picture photo
graphy. Based at his cabin on
Kenai Lake near Cooper Lan
ding, he prefers to make fielcf
Cecil Rhode
trips back into more isolated
areas in an attempt to secure
studies of the game in its natural
habitat as unmolested by man
as possible.
For several years the Rhodes
have taken the film on a tour of
the States where it has been
shown to such audiences as the
St. I/ouis Zoological Society,
Chicago Museum of Natural His
tory, Milwaukee Museum and
over television stations. For the
past year he has been spending
much of his time shooting foot
age for Walt Disney Productions
of BuTbank, California and plans
on continuing with this work for
another year.
The new film has been com
piled from thousands of feet shot
over the past 5 years. Included
are sequences of moose, goat,
sheep, caribou, bears, small game.
bird& and activities such as
fishing and clam digging. Accor
ding to Rhode, the most unusual
footage in the present picture is
probably of Alaska Peninsula
brown bears. He was fortunate
in being able to shoot the anim
als feeding on a salmon stream
(Turn to Page 4)
Del. Bartlett Asks
Rate Hearing
Delegate Bartlett called upon
the Federal Maritime Board this
week to hold hearings without
delay on the 7Vi per cent freight
rate increase now in effect on
shipments to Alaska of the Alas
ka Steamship Company and
Coastwise Line. “I submit,” the
Delegate stated, “that the people
of Alaska are entitled to a mea
sure of protection from the Fed
eral Maritime Board which they
will not receive without immedi
ate hearings.”
The two companies filed a 10
per cent rate increase with the
Maritime Board to become ef
fective February 10. The tariff
was suspended until March 12 by
the Board. Later the companies
filed a petition for permission to
file on not less than one day's
notice amendments to their ex
isting tariffs naming increases
not to exceed 7*2 per cent. Per
mission was granted to this re
quest with the understanding
that the companies would under
take to maintain the burden of
proof to show that the increased
rates are just and reasonable.
Bartlett maintains that al
though it is stated the burden of
proof lies with the carriers, it is
the Alaskans who use the car
riers who must pay the increased
costs. Public hearings should not
be delayed because if it is found
the rates are not just and reason
able Alaska shippers will be fur
ther burdened by the trouble and
expense of claiming refunds on
the increased rates now being
paid.
BARTLETT BIRTHDAY
DINNER APRIL 20
Bob Bartlett Day will be cele
brated in Seward April 20 by a
dinner to be held in the Method
ist Church basement at 7:30 p.m.
The dinner is sponsored by the
Democratic Club of Seward and
is opeh to Delegate Bartlett’s
many friends in both parties.
The date, April 20, is chosen
because of its being the Dele
gate’s birthday. All Democratic
candidates in the Third Division
are expected to attend. Repre
sentatives from Cordova, Kodiak
and Juneau have accepted invi
tations.
Seats are available for about
130 people, which means that
tickets must be obtained early.
Cost of the tickets is $2.50 each,
on sale by Jack Werner. Ray
Lee, Harry West or Irwin Met
calf.
ANCHORAGE AND
FAIRBANKS GUESTS
AT ELKS BALL
Seward Elks celebrating their
annual Purple Bubble Ball last
Saturday were hosts to a number
of guests from Anchorage, Fair
banks and Homer.
The ball was described as the
“best ever held” by local mem
bers. Jules Radinsky and his
orchestra supplied the music
which “was out of this world”,
we are quoting from the young
Elks and their ladies.
Among out of town guests
were M. Skaats, William Renfro,
O. B. Itell, Tom McElroy, Oscar
Dalberg.
Foss Lowder, Joe Bielawski,
Frank Wuman, Frank Dixon, R.
D. Lewis, and others. Several
were entertained at breakfast in
homes of Seward Elks before un
dertaking their homeward jour
ney.
Seward Elks are invited to
the Maypole dance in Anchorage
to be held in the Elks hall there
May 1st.
CHALLANGE FROM
NEBRASKA
Jerry the Barber received a
telegraphed challenge from Sew
ard, Nebraska this week which
read: “Being dean of Seward,
Nebraska barbers, I hereby chal
lenge you to a liars contest dur
ing your stay in our city,” signed
A. G. Lee.
Jerry says he needs help in
making up the biggest lie. Get
busy, you liars and help Jerry
win that contest.
EASTER BAKE SALE
BY NURSES
District No. 2, Alaska Nurses’
Association will hold a bake sale
April 17, the day before Easter,
at the Blue Shop.
The sale will include breads,
rolls, pie, cake, baked beans, and
salads, and will open at 11 a.m.
Standard Oil To Spend
$400,000 Here
This Year
Contractor bids for the $400,
000 expansion and moderniza
tion of Standard Oil Company of
California’s Seward Terminal
were opened in Seattle March 31
at the offices of the Company.
Award of the contract is expec
ted to be announced in about a
week.
Among principal features are
a modern steel warehouse, 90 x
190 feet, replacing the present
wood frame structure. It will
have a concrete floor to permit
forklift trucking and will be
equipped with a barrel recon
ditioning unit.
A concrete seawall is to be
constructed to provide more use
able space. Boiler facilities are
to be replaced with new equip
ment with a capacity of 200
horsepower, double that of the
existing plant. New employee
facilities are also provided in
the plans. Construction of new
dock facilities has already been
finished.
The Seward Plant, located at
the tidewater terminus of the
Alaska Railroad, serves a num
ber of Standard Oil Company of
California bulk plants as well as
government projects and major
contractors throughout the in
terior of the Territory.
PATTERSON NAMED DOCK
SUPERVISOR
William G. Patterson was
named general supervisor of sta
tions and docks of The Alaska
Railroad, effective April 1. The
order announcing his appoint
ment was released Thursday.
Mr. Patterson formerly served
the railroad as traveling freight
and passenger agent. He has
been with ARR since July, 1940.
His new job is the direct super
vision of all freight and passen
ger stations and of all docks op
erated by the railroad and ap
plys to all station and dock pro
cedures except the actual opera
tion of trains.
The new office is expected to
speed up handling of freight, not
only in the Seward terminus, but
at all points in the railbelt.
EXCISE TAX REDUCTION
MEANS TRAVEL SAVING
Passengers on Alaska Steam
ship Company vessels will save
from $10 to $20 on a roundtrip
as the result of the reduction in
Federal excise tax which became
effective April 1, 1954, R. C.
Rose, general passenger agent of
the line, said today.
Travelers receive the full ben
efit of the tax reduction on trans
portation which is from 15% to
10% of the basic fare.
Persons who have purchased
tickets and paid the tax at the
old rate for transportation be
ginning April 1 or later will re
ceive a full refund covering the
difference in tax, it was pointed
out.
HOBBY SHOW AND SILVER
TEA NEXT THURSDAY
A hobby show and silver tea
will be sponsored by the Seward
Women’s Club next Thursday,
April 8, in the City Council
room. Tea will be served from 3
to 5 and from 7 to 9 p.m.
Anyone who has a hobby he
would like to exhibit on that
day is asked to call Mrs. Ruth
Malin by April 5 for information.
The Woman’s Club announces
installation of officers at the
meeting of May 7, which is the
date of their annual Spring Ban
quet, which will be held this
year in the Methodist Church.
REHEARSALS START FOR
JUNIOR CLASS PLAY
Rehearsals have started on the
Junior Class annual presenta
tion. This it is to be “Tish,’’ by
Mary Roberts Rinehart.
This is one of Mrs. Rinehart’s
most widely heralded stories,
made into a play. Long regarded
as America’s most esteemed
novelist, Mrs. Rinehart has turn
ed out one tremendous success
after another. But it is “Tish”
that has brought the most en
during popularity. It is scream
ingly funny.
Watch for more information
on this play which is to be pre
sented at the high school two
nights, May 7 and 8.
SPRING CONCERT
The High School Chorus and
Orchestra, assisted by the 7th
and Sth grade girls' chorus will
present a concert in the high
school gym on Friday. April 9.
at 8:00 p.m.
The concert is complimentary
and the public is cordially in
vited. <
Reporter's
Notebook
Sam Griese, well known in
Seward and the Nash Road sec
tion, was a patient in Seward
General Hospital this week.
While driving to town, Mr.
Griese felt ill, and fearing a
heart attack, stopped his car
alongside the road. A passerby
brought him to the hospital.
Clark Peterson of Anchor
Point caught his hand in a power
saw last Monday. He sustained
severe injury and was brought
in to the Seward General Hos
pital for treatment. He expected
to return to his home by Friday.
Women of Sacred Heart Ca
tholic Church will meet at the
home of Myra Lcsko, Monday,
April 5 at 8 p.m.
John R. Reynolds and Mabel
Monette Davis were married in
a civil ceremony by Commis
sioner Anna B. Southard in her
home last Sunday evening. Their
attendants were Peggy Beissner
and Orville R. Tollefson. After
the wedding, the party held a
reception at the Nobby Club.
Don’t forget the roast beef din
ner at the Methodist Church Sat
urday night io9 the benefit of
the Alaska-Nebraska furid. Home
made pastries such as lemon pie
are also on the menu. All for $2.
CIVIL DEFENSE
FIRST AID STATIONS
READY FOR SHIPMENT
Word was received today by
Civil Defense Director Col. C. E.
Johnson, that two complete first
aid station units are now in
Anchorage awaiting shipment,
or to be picked up, for Seward.
The units contain 17 boxes of
supplies, 200 boxes of blood
units, 12 folding cots, and 12
folding litters. In all there is a
two-ton truck load of supplies
ready for Seward. They will be
brought down next week.
In addition to the above men
tioned supplies, an instructor is
available to instruct nurses in
on the scene administering of
blood plasma to accident victims.
SCHOOL CHORUS
TO ENTERTAIN
The High School Chorus will
give a performance Tuesday,
April 6th, at 8:30 p.m. in the
Masonic Temple. The group is
composed of thirty-six boys and
girls under the direction of Mr.
Berg, high school music in
structor.
Lodge officers announce this
performance will be for Masons
only since seating capacity is
insufficient to take care of the
general public. Refreshments
will be served to all present at
the close of the evening.
This will mark the first public
appearance of the chorus this
year, but they will give a pro
gram for the public April 9th
at the school auditorium. Also
they plan to travel to Anchorage
to participate in the annual
Music Festival.
ASSCO FIRST BRISTOL BAY
SAILING MAY 25
The first Alaska Steamship
Company sailing of 1954 for
Bristol Bay, Goodnews Bay and
Bethel is set for May 25, W. J.
Manahan, company general traf
fic manager, announced this
week.
Cargo for this vessel will be
received at Pier 42 from May 10
to May 21.
A second sailing for Bristol
Bay and Bethel is set for ap
proximately August 10, cargo re
ception dates for which will be
announced later, Manahan point
ed out.
The Alaska Line is the only
company offering freight service
to Bristol Bay, Goodnews Bay
and Bethel.
Gen. Noyes Guest
C. of C. Tuesday
General John C. Noyes, Alas
ka National Guard, was the guest
of Seward Chamber of Com
merce Tuesday.
The General informed C of C
members that there is a good
possibility for an armory here,
of which the city would have to
furnish about one fourth of the
cost. Although he did not speci
fy, it is understood that value of
the approximate two acres of
land on which the armory would
be built can be construed as a,
part of that cost.
Ray O'Hara was asked to con
sult with Gen. Noyes on the pos
sibility of having this building
in Seward. Specifications for an
armory here would call for
12,000 square feet of floor space,
to include a kitchen, rest rooms,
office space, storage space and a
large drill floor. «*
The building would be made
available (when not in use by
the Guard) for community use.
Cost of construction is shared by
the U.S. Government, the Terri
tory and the city in which it is
built.
1500 MOTOR VEHICLES
IN SEWARD
A recent report of the Alaska
number of cars in several dif
ferent cities. For some reason
Seward was omitted from the
list as published in neighboring
newspapers.
As a matter of curiosity we
consulted the Commissioner’s
office to see if we had any cars
in Seward. The number we re
ceived as a conservative esti
mate was 1500.
The reason Seward was not
included in the original list was
probably because somebody slip
ped up here, when requested td
supply the information asked by
the ADB.
P-TA OPEN HOUSE AT
SCHOOL SATURDAY
All parents are urged to at
tend the regular meeting of the
P-TA Saturday night at the
school. A short business meeting
will precede an open house, at
which time parents can visit
classrooms and talk to the teach
ers. Refreshments will be served.
Health Program
Members of the P-TA Health
Committee have been helping
Miss Lottie Hirsh, Public Health
Nurse, with vaccinations and im
munizations. This work will con
tinue through April. If your
child needs and has missed shots
please send a note of consent to
the Health Center with him on
Thursday afternoon. Innova
tions can not be given without
consent. The P-TA takes this op
portunity to thank Miss Hirsh
and mothers who have helped
with this health program.
BOWLING ALLEYS SAFE
An unusual accident threaten
ed damage to Seward’s only
bowling alleys Monday night,
but they escaped damage, ac
cording to Gordon Black, owner
of Dreamland Bowl.
A City League game had just
finished when two loud explo
sions shook the building. Those
present thought at first that it
was an earthquake. Running to
the basement, however, it was
discovered that the entire north
wall of the basement had col
lapsed in two pieces, causing the
explosive sound and trembling
the building.
Quick work in placing timbers
and jacks under the wall, which
incidentally, is also under the
bowling alleys, saved the alleys
from distortion. Cause of the ac
cident is not known, but it is
thought that a frost boil might
have formed under the wall.
CLASS OF 12 RECEIVES
SCOTTISH RITES DEGREE
Twelve candidates from Sew
ard were initiated into the 32nd
Degree of Masonry this week by
a team from Juneau.
The Scottish Rites team from
Juneau included J. W. Leivers,
Arthur Hedges, K. G. Merritt,
Howard Stabler and Marshall
Erwin, who made the special
trip for the ceremonies.
A banquet was served in the
Masonic Hall on Wednesday
night before the final meeting.
This brings the local number of
32nd Degree Masons to approxi
mately fifty.
Corps of Engineers
Calls Bids For
Whittier Docks
A call for bids for construc
tion of permanent docking fa
cilities at the Army Port of
Whittier to replace the docks de
stroyed by fire a year ago, was
to be issued by the Alaska Dis
trict, Corps of Engineers, Apr. 1.
The bids are to cover a com
plete dock installation. A margi
nal wharf approximately 1,000
feet long will be built of steel
pile and concrete. Dredging will
be necessary, estimated at 270,
000 cubic yards. An in-transit
storage building 830 by 100 feet
is to be built of reinforced con
crete. Some 6,500 feet of railroad
track will be needed, and under
ground and overhead utilities
are to be included in the bid
figure.
• Bids on the project will be
opened April 30, at 11 a.m. in
the Seattle branch office of the
Alaska District, Corps of En
gineers, 4735 E. Marginal Way.
Anchorage C. of C.
Endorses Rehab.
Anchorage Chamber of. Com
merce has not changed its stand
in support of Alaska Railroad
rehabilitation and Seward dock
facilities. This statement was
made by A. G. Hiebert, this
week in a letter addressed to
Win Erwin, president Seward
Chamber of Commerce.
He refers to a resolution from
the Seward Chamber last year
and a letter to the Anchorage
Chamber asking endorsement of
the resolution in support of the
rehabilitation program.
‘It was officially moved by
Jack Anderson and seconded by
Ed Dimock that we support this
request,’ Mr. Hiebert writes.
‘The motion was passed by the
Board. This action was taken at
the February 27, 1953 meeting
of our Board of Directors.’
At a meeting of the Board
held March 22, the Board had
asked Mr. Hiebert to inform the
Chamber of Commerce and the
people of Seward, that their
position has not changed, ‘it is
extremely unfortunate,’ the let
ter continues, ‘that recent un
founded publicity has disturbed
the normal friendly relations
between our two communities.’
LADY ELKS FORM
EMBLEM CLUB
Emblem Club No. 250 of Sew
ard was officially instituted on
March 26th at 8:30 p.m., with
the initiation of fifty-four Sew
ard ladies. Two ladies from other
Emblem Clubs also demitted into
the Seward club. After a short
recess the installation of officers
followed the impressive initia
tion ceremony. Eighteen women
were installed into their respec
tive offices with Mrs. Pat Bogan
holding the honored position of
president. The services were gra
ciously conducted by a team of
four Fairbanks ladies. They were
Virginia Bruland, Jessie Ander
son, Marian Thrum, and Mari
anne Schanafelt, who arrived in
Seward Friday morning. They
were met at the plane by a dele
gation of Seward ladies and
taken to lunch by Kathy Ryan
and Claire Gilfilin.
A banquet honoring the Fair
banks visitors was held at the
Elks Club Friday evening prior
to the initiation and installation.
The tables were attractively dec
orated with candles and bou
quets of gold and purple flow
ers, the Emblem Club colors.
Sixty-four persons were served
a delicious dinner of turkey with
all the trimmings, catered by
Buster Clarke.
A cocktail party for the local
Elks Ladies and those visiting
from Kenai, Homer and Anchor
age, also honored the Fairbanks
ladies. This was held in the home
of Mrs. Jacque Roth on Satur
day from 3 to 5 p.m. The tables
were attractively decorated with
flowers. About forty women at
tended the party during the aft
ernoon.
After a very busy weekend the
ladies attended the Purple Bub
ble Ball Saturday evening with
their husbands.
The first official meeting of
Seward Emblem Club No. 250
will be held Friday evening at
8:30.
me enure amount, $z,uuu,uuu,
asked for completion of Seward
dock facilities was granted yes
terday (Thursday) by the House
Appropriations Committee. This
means that work will begin this
season on construction of the
project.
The Alaska Railroad appropri
ation was cut to $7,494,000,
which represents a reduction of
$4V£ million from the entire
amount requested for rehabilita
tion of the Portage-Seward line
and the Seward dock. The House
report still must be acted upon
by the Senate, and there is a
possibility that the $4 Vi million
might be restored to the budget.
There is little danger, however,
that any further cuts will be
made.
In speaking of the appropria
tion, Frank E. Kalbaugh said,
"Since the committee included
the request for $2,900,000 for
completion of Seward dock, the
project will proceed as sched
uled.
"However, the deletion of $4 Vi
million from our budget will re
quire the deletion of certain fa
cilities planned for Seward. It is
too early to determine which of
these facilities will be deleted,
but a complete re-study of our
plans will have to be made by
the engineering division."
A number of engineering im
provements slated for this year
will have to be postponed if this
$4 Vi million cut is not restored
by the Senate. They will prob
ably include relining of tunnels;
construction of roadway build
ings; raising of grade and line
changes to reduce curvature in
grades.
The drastic cut made by the
House Appropriations Commit
tee was a part of the cut made
in President Eisenhower’s bud
get, and part of a general cut of
$15 million in the Interior De
partment budget. The House
committee recommended a cut
of $2,940,000 from the request
for Alaska Road Commission
construction projects.
Total Off fee of Territories ap
propriations was set at $25,978,
471 for all territories, compared
with a request for $40,924,000.
Appropriation for the present
fiscal year was $43,236,300.
Editorial
By MEK
WITH THE COMING of spring
breakup and the 1954 construc
tion season, our attention is
called to a situation that seri
ously affects the welfare of our
neighbors in Kenai and down
the Peninsula to Homer. We are
thinking of a six-mile stretch of
unimproved road, the missing
link between Cooper Landing
and Henton’s.
Many have wandered why this
small stretch of road should be
left in this beautiful Kenai Lake
area when on both sides of it
there is good highway. The six
miles includes the dilapidated
Schooner Bend bridge. A lovely,
picturesque structure, but utter
ly worthless with its 10-ton load
limit.
The bridge prohibits hauling
of construction materials to the
defense projects at Kenai. It
prevents economical freighting
of supplies to Homer and way
side communities. Why has noth
ing been done about it?
Upon inquiry, we find that the
Bureau of Public Roads has had
the money, approximately $800,
000, earmarked for this project
for over two years. The project
is being held up for right-of-way
permits, and apparently by a
very few land owners. If the
fund is not used this year, there
is a very definite possibility that
it will be withdrawn.
The Bureau has the right of
eminent domain, by which the
project could be accomplished
and legal aspects scrapped out
at a later date.
Why not exercise this right,
build this much needed bridge
and the six-mile missing link so
that Kenai Peninsula residents
will get a fair break with the
rest of the railbelt?
It is our opinion that Irving
Reed, Highway Engineer for the
Territory of Alaska, should con
sider the best good for the most
people and proceed with con
struction this year. It is also our
opinion that the Seward Cham
ber of Commerce should support
the Homer Chamber or initiate
a program for immediate con
struction and alleviation of a
critical situation.