VOLUME NO. VI.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA,
APRIL 1’ 1932
NO. 37
Soviets Building
54 Canneries
-x
The Big Five in the Alaska
salmon industry has had its own
way for a long time. They have
whipsawed the little producer,
fisherman and trapman until
they were dizzy and were pushed
out of the picture. They have
secured monopoly of Alaska’s
salmon resources, especially in
Bristol Bay by use of soldiers’
script and prevented any new
companies entering that field—
they have held exclusive mono
poly of Bristol Bay for 27 years.
By use of the Welch Bill—sup
ported by Henry O’Malley, they
ti ied to kick out of that section
three floating canneries with a
pack last year of less than two
per cent of the Bristol Bay pack.
The bill no doubt will be killed
by the committee on Merchant
Marine, Radio and Fisheries.
Just how long this exclusive
monopoly is going to be worth
anything is a question. The So
viet government has built in the
past few years 24 canneries with1
a capacity of 250,000,000 cans.
They plan construction of an
additional 59 canneries so that
they will be aiSie to can over
12,000,000 cases of salmon. With
more fish in Siberia, cheaper
labor, the Soviet government
back of the production—it looks
like the Alaska packers will
have to turn to the federal
government for a subsidy to con
tinue their own operations.
The plan of the Soviets is to
construct those 59 canneries
within the next year. The plans
include 8 shore and 16 floating
canneries in the Caspian Sea j
basin; 7 floating crabmeat can
neries and 14 shore canneries inj
the Pacific basin; and 14 can-!
neries in the Northern and Si
berian districts.
Bremen Again Breaks
Trans-Atlantic Record
The North German Lloyd liner
Bremen has broken her own re
cord by making the transat
lantic crossing from Cherbourgh
Breakwater to Ambrose Light
ship, New York, in 4 days 17 j
hours and 10 minutes, accord-j
ing to word received by Ernst E.
Glassel, Northwest representa
tive of the North German Lloyd
with headquarters in Seattle.
The vessel maintained a speed of j
27.3 knots. Her former time was
4 days 17 hours and 42 minutes.
Tne Europa of the North German
Lloyd still is the blue ribbon
ship of the Atlantic, having
made the crossing in 4 days, 17
hours and 6 minutes.
-x
Ex-Policeman Guilty
Prohibition Charges
-x
Ex-policeman and detective
Reynolds was found guilty of j
violating the prohibition laws
and will be given sentence on
the 11th of April. He plans to
appeal the case.
--x
PARTY LEAVES FOR W. COAST
The Famous, Capt. George
Betts took the following dele
gates to the C. E. convention at
Hydaburg: Mr. George Betts,
layworker in charge of the local
Presbyterian Church; Mr. and
Mrs. William Mills and daughter
Julia Joe; Mrs. Rachel Pera
trovich, Eli Katanook, Frank G.
Johnson, Harry Campbell and
Scotty Martin.
--—x
The Soviet political bureau is
considering raising of the maxi -
mum wage limit to nine hundred
rubles from three hundred. They
f.nd now that the equal wage
plan they have undertaken is a
failure.
New Vessel To
Have Test
Plans were being made fov
the trial voyage and speed tests
oi the new Interior Department
motorship North Star, nearing
completion in the yards of the
Berg Shipbuilding Company in
Ballard. The vessel was launch
ed January 18. Her engine has
been installed, her masts step
ped and the booms are now in
.place. A cold storage plant and
I fire protection apparatus are be
ing installed.
It is expected that the North
Star will be speeded over a trial
course between April 1 and
April 10. She is to sail on her
maiden voyage to Alaska May
15, commanded by Capt. S. T. L.
Whitlam.
The Interior Department
motorship Boxer, which the
North Star is to replace, pro
bably will be used as a hospital
boat in Alaska with station at
Juneau. She will cruise to vari
ous parts of the territory to
render medical attention to
natives.
-x
Attorney Smith I. W. W
Fame is Dead
Elmer Stuart Smith, Centralia
attorney and defendant in the
famoue I. W. W. murder trial of
1919, died in a Puyallup hospital.
Smith died just as the senate
committee considering the ap- j
pointment of Kenneth Mackin
tosh of Seattle to the circuit
court, was taking up his dis
barment from the Washington
bar which Mackintosh signed as
a ipember of the state supreme
court in 1925.
Smith was acting as attorney
for the I. W. W. at the time cf
the Centralia shootings, but
cleared himself of a charge of
conspiracy to murder. Later in
1925 he was disbarred on a de
cision written by Judge Mackin
tosh. He was reinstated five
years later.
The senate committee is now
investigating the disbarment
decision to determine if the
charges were adequate. Smith
has spent most of his time in
late years in efforts to secure the
freedom of the seven men sen
tenced at the trial.
Funeral services were held
in Centralia.
-x
New Fords Displayed
By State Dealers
-x——
New Ford Eights and Fours
were on display in Seattle this
week. The eight cylinder has a
ninety-degree V, sixty-five horse
power engine, bore three and
cne-fifteenth, stroke three and
three quarters, priced at $450
f.o.b. factory. The Eight aver
ages $50 more than the ours.
■-x
BRISTOL BAY OWNED
BY ALASKA PACKERS
-x
The Northwest Fisheries Com
pany of Seattle has leased its
Alaska canneries and fishing
rights to the Alaska Packers
Association and to the Alaska
Salmon Company. The mono
poly in that section is now
complete.
-x
SKAGIT FLOODS
-x
The Skagit River floods now
claims a total of 92,000 and it is
attributed to City Light of the
Diablo Dam Commission.
-x
You are a poor citizen if you
fail to vote.
-x
Dick Kuwata has put in a side
entrance to the rooms in his
building
City Electors Evince Most Interest In
Candidates Who Point to Platform
I
Last week we printed ex
j cerpts from a letter published
:by Mayor Ohmer relating the
plans to extend the hydro-eVr
i trie power plant’s capacity by
“an auxiliary power plant in
| stalled in several units.” We
omitted a short qualifying para-i
graph, but did so intentiona’ly
Tt is vehemently pointed out to ^
us that we had misquoted the
statement.
In advancing the idea of the
auxiliary diesel units a total of j
474 words were used. In qualify- j
ing this proposed extension 105,
words were used a part of which!
suggested the idea of improving;
I the high tension line by adding ’
new poles, iron pegs and cross,
arms.
The closing statement was
that “if the new council follows
the attitude of the old council,
I believe that the program will i
bt carried out about as out
lined.”
It is generally conceded by
those who have given this mat
ter serious, analytical study,
that the qualifying paragraph
was a back-door escape in
event there was any opposition
to the plan. That otherwise, the
extension of the plant by pur
chase and installment of the
diesel units would go on as had
been discussed by the council.
The matter having had more or
less favorable reaction in coun
cil, many believe that the new
council will take the matter up
and follow it out as about out
lined.
Reasons for Objections
There are several reasons for
objections which have been
raised. First: The high tension
line from the hydro plant :s
not hung on poles of standard
distances apart. The load there
X
fore, upon the line, during win
ter weather is beyond the
strength of the line thereby
causing breaks which might be
easily remedied at a small c| -t.
Second: Proponents of the
idea state that original cost of
the units will approximate $23,
000. There is no room in the
present auxiliary plant for the
size engines contemplated which
will necessiated construction of
a new building. By the time the
freight and transportation, new
building and installation are
counted up the cost will make
a mighty big hole in $40,000.
And still the high tension line to
the hydro will have to be taken
care of. So that the necessary
expenditures will total close on
to $50,000 for improvements and
repairs.
-x
SMALL TOWN POLITICS
There is a lot of political
hooey going the rounds of the
town. It is bitter and acrimoni
ous in some quarters and de
vious questionable tactics are
being used.
It is stated that in event Mr.
Locken is elected mayor of the
town he will forthwith close up
the library. Much has been said
of Mr. Locken but it has never
come to our ears that he has so
little regard or respect for Mrs.
Locken as to wipe out with a
stroke of the pen the culmina
tion of her effort to give to the
town a library. Mrs. Locken it
was who pressed the idea of
starting the library and worked
until it culminated in the pre
sent institution which is being
used by many citizens.
It is said in a class room to a
crowd of students that Mv
Locken will not permit comple
j fion of the gymnasium. This is
an absurd statement. The build
ing is started, and the material
is there and if there are any
funds in the treasury there is
not a bit of doubt but that the
building will be completed. It
would be a waste of money to
let the building go to ruin. And
Mr. Locken is sufficiently inter
ested in the youth of the town
to make effort to give them all
the facilities necessary to their
school work.
Mr. Clausen is made an issue
—or his job is. Why this should
have been given any thought is
a mystery to us. Mr. Clausen
has been the recipient of more
favors from Mr. Locken than
any other person in town. No
expression had been made that
a new city clerk would be hired
iii place of incumbent. Perhaps
there is a guilty feeling of hav
ing done Mr. Locken a wrong by
rushing order for printing of
election ballots with his name
emitted. Anyhow, no person has
a mortgage on any position be
it elective or appointive. We are
citizens of a republic and not a
kingdom and such occasions are
a part of a democratic govern
ment. So far as declaring that
he intends to fire Mr. Clausen,
Mr. Locken has not announced
any such plan. Rather he points
out that the council considers
the applications for city posi
tions, votes upon and elects or
rejects applications. That the
mayor is a chairman ruling up
on parliamentary questions.
Smoke is raised that some
one is to be appointed chief of
police in place of Mr. Carlson.
Adolph Mathisen and John
Jensen are the only known ap
(Continued on page 5)
Steamship Company
Loses Suit for Relief
-x
Taking the position that the
congressional fund for the relief
and protection of destitute sea
men had for its object the relief
of seamen and not steamship
companies, Federal Judge Jere
miah Neterer in a formal deci
sion dismissed the suit of the
Alaska Steamship Company a
gainst the federal government
for $397.20. This sum represents
the cost of transporting thirty
five shipwrecked seamen from
Ketchikan to Seattle. The men
were from the steamship Depree
of the Alaska Steamship Com
pany, which was wrecked De
cember 15, 1929, near Port Mc
Arthur, Alaska. The crew was
taken to Ketchikan by the de
puty collector of customs and
there cared for until the steam
ship Yukon of the same com
pany arrived and transported
them to Seattle. Judge Neterer
holds that it was the duty of the
company to bring the men back
to Seattle and that under the
provisions of the act it is not
entitled to payment.
-x
POSTAL BILL PASSES
-x
The House of Representatives
passed a three-cent postal bill
whereby they expect to raise
one hundred and thirty six
million dollars. They also pass
ed a tax on stock commodities
and real estate and expect to
raise another ninety million on
this.
-x
Prince Rupert buyers paid up
to 13.80 for halibut this week.
-x-"
Sing Lee is having improve
ments made to his building.
-x
Vote now, kick afterwards. ..
$40,000 DAMAGES GIVEN
IN LUMMI FISIITRAP DISPUTE
Damages of $40,000 were a
warded the Carlisle Packing Ce
against the Pacific American
Fisheries by a jury in Superior
Court, Washington.
The plaintiff company brought
suit'for $99,000, contending that
the Pacific American Fisheries
extended a fishtrap near Lummi
Island to a location where it
j “blanketed” the Carlisle trap.
The case required nine days
| and many persons prominent in
the fishing industry testified, a
nong them former State Re
presentative E. A. Sims, Port
i Townsend, called as a defense
v/itness.
-x
Turn Domestic Mink
Loose in Woods
-x
Because of the low prices and
general stagnation of markets
for live or pelt mink numerous
mink farmers in and around
| Seward are preparing to release
| their pen-bred stock, hoping
they will remain near enough to
be recaptured when conditions
improve.
Many farmers who have ex
perimented with domesticated
mink say the animals readily re
turn to their home warrens
v/hen not foraging for field mice.
-x
COOLIDGE’S FRIEND
WON’T BACK HOOVER
-x
Former Secretary of Com
merce William F. Whiting, life
Tong friend of Calvin Coolidge
has refused to sign the Hoovei
pledge as a candidate for dele
gate in the Massachusetts presi
dential primary of April 26, ac
cording to the United Press.
Moke it over 400 votes this year
Rascob Will Pay
Notes for Demos
John J. Raskop pledged him
self to “make good on my in
dorsement” of $70,000 in notes
limothy J. Mara and Patrick F.
Kenny signed as their share of
the $1,000,000 fund to under
write the 1928 Democratic cam- |
paign deficit.
Saying he “personally indors
ed these notes purely as a mat
ter of accommodation to these
gentlemen,” Raskob, chairman
of the Democratic national com
mittee, asserted in a statement
he would pay any amount the
County Trust Company is un
able to collect.
The company is suing Mara
for payment on a $50,000 note
and Kenny on a $20,000 note.
In their answers to the suits,
Mara and Kenny, Yonkers con
tractors, asserted they signed
the notes as an accommodation
to the County Trust Company in
| furtherance of what they term
; ed a fraudulent scheme by the
trust company to conceal con
jtributions to the 1928 Democrat
! ic campaign fund.
-x
LEGION TO SLEEP ON
U. S. COTS AT MEET
-x-—
Tlie government may provide
sleeping accommodations for
20,000 men at the American Le
gion convention in Portland
Oregon, next fall.
The military affairs cimmittee
reported favorably the bill, in
troduced by Senator Steiwer, Re
publican, Oregon, authorizing
the war department to provide
20,000 cots and 40,000 blankets,
with sheets, pillow cases, bed
sacks and mattresses in pro
portion.
-x
Tooj ftzdv st aufl spjx
W. H. Holmes
Dies in Calif.
-x
Doc Holmes is dead. Long live
Doc Holmes. Coming to Alaska
[in 1903 he prospected in the
Fairbanks district later left fc»*
the Nome country where he was
associated in the operation of a
drug store with H. O. Butler. He
wandered into other sections of
the north following the illusive
gold and headquartered at Ruby
for several years. He was a real
sportsman, nature lover and
man.
A couple of years age he was
named by Alaskans for the of
fice of governor of the Territory.
Although defeated for the office
of governor in Texas, his home
state, it was'largely through his
efforts that that state went for
Hoover. He was in line for poli
tical reward and desired very
much to be Alaska’s governor
but the national administration
did not care to have a liberal
minded Alaskan in office. Presi
dent Hoover nominated Govern
or Parks instead. The failure of
Doc Holmes to get the nomina
tion was a distinct loss to the
Territory. In his death, it has
lost a real friend.
-x
Death of Long Lance
Is a Mystery
-V
County authorities were un
decided on whether to order an
inquest into the death of Chief
Buffalo Child Long Lance, of
Los Angeles, 36-year-old Indian
author, who was found shot to
death in the palatial home of
Anita Baldwin, daughter of the
late “Lucky” Baldwin, mining
magnate.
A revolver which police said
belonged to Chief Long Lance
was found near the body which
bore a bullet wound in the head.
Although authorities said the
Indian had ended his own life,
Frank A. Nance, county coroner,
said he was waiting word from
a physician who was called
when the body was found.
Chief Long Lance, who enter
ed Carlisle Indian School in 1909
after appearing in Buffalo Bill’s
Wild West Show, had been a
frequent visitor at the Baldwin
estate. He was a friend of Jim
Thorpe, noted Indian athlete,
who told authorities he had re
ceived a letter a week ago from
Long Lance in which the au
thor gave no intimation of
worry or despondency.
Servants at the Baldwin home
told police Long Lance had been
drinking heavily.
Long Lance was appointed to
West Point Academy, resigned.
Joined the Princess Pats of
Canada and was a Capt. in the
World War serving with dis
tinction.
-x
DO YOUR DUTY
-X
The Petersburg Post of the
American Legion delegated Geo.
W Beck to paint a sign urging
the citizens of the town to re
gister and vote. The sign is
painted on sheeting fifteen feet
long and is stretched across
front street so that all who run
may read.
-x
IOWA G. O. P. PLEDGED
TO HOOVER CAUSE
-x
Iowa’s delegation of twenty
five members will go to the Re
publican national convention
instructed to vote for the nomi
nation of hte state’s native son,
President Hoover.
The state convention, which
was concluded yesterday, also
commended his administration
end pledged the support of Iowa
Republicans to his reelection.
-x
Civic pride demands your vote.
A. P. A. Leases
LNorthwest Rights
-x
I Fishing rights in four im
portant salmon districts of
Alaska have been leased for the
coming fishing season by the
Northwestern Fisheries Com
pany of Seattle to San Francisco
(interests, it was learned re
cently.
The Uyak, Kodiak Island, and
the Chignik, Alaska Peninsula,
j areas of the Northwestern Fish
jeries Company will be taken
lover by the Alaska Packers’ As
sociation. The Nushagak rights
will be turned over to the Alaska
Salmon Company. The Naknek
rights will be transferred to the
Bristol Bay Packing Company.
Because of a heavy carry-over
of salmon from last year the
Northwestern Fisheries Com
pany decided to lease the Bris
tol Bay and Western Alaska
fishing rights to San Francisco
interests.
P. H. McCue, manager of the
Northwestern Fisheries Com
pany, said his company will not
operate its Alaska canneries th!
year.
However, canneries of Libby
McNeil & Libby and the Pacific
American Fisheries Company in
Alaska will be operated this
year. A total of six ships of
these companies will be over
hauled in the plant of the Todd
Dry Docks, Inc., and made ready
for the cannery season.
-x
ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING
Walter Gamble, who killed
Lyle G. Davis near Chichagof
last fall, was arraigned before
Judge Harding. Grover Winn is
his attorney and they were to
enter pleadings by Monday.
-x
Seal Migration Is
Now Under Way
-x
The annual migration of the
huge Pribilof Lsland seal herds
from southern waters to their
summer breeding grounds in the
Arctic is under way, according
to Capt. Arthur Cocks who dock
ed his North Pacific liner, Loch
goil, Seattle.
“We saw many herds of the
seals as we came down the
coast,” he said. “They seemed to
be travelling in herds of a dozen
cr more and were very plain to
be seen in spite of the rough
water as they traveled with their
heads sticking out.”
The seals are protected by th >
American and Canadian govern
ments.
-x
World Olympic
In Bridge Whist
A world Olympic in bridge
starts today, sponsored by the
New York Times which has re
ceived a complete copy of the
hands to be used by fifty thou
sand players. Joseph Vance
said that the copy is obtainable
from Broadway speculators at
ten dollars per copy. Mr. Cul
bertson who recently achieved
considerable noteriety by his
bridge battles, is betting one
thousand dollars to one that no
cne will total sixty per cent of
par in the entire event.
ALASKA MINE SHIPS
QUARTZ TO TACOMA
Thirty tons of quartz from
.the Eva mine on the northern
division of the Alaska Railroad
! is enroute to th eTacoma smelt
er. It was the first shipment of
the ore and one of the new de
velopments creating additional
tonnage on the rail line.