ffiffUettriif Hu &Vem of cMoii ttutotic hland
Published every Saturday at Kodiak. Alaska
Yearly Subscription Rate $5.00
I Entered in the Postoffice at Kodiak, Alaska as Second
; Class matter under act of Congress of March 3, 187P
» THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
I Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Associate Editor
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use or republica
tion of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
this paper and also the local news published herein.
t Qiue Kodiak The Christmas Look
none uecoraung tor unnstmas
via again be the order of the day
here. We urhterrtMMi piags a re
afoot for the second annual con
test to decorate the exterior
of dwellings in Kodiak:
The- tSHwfjednp iotonsored the
•contest last- yebrought
eat some iwU^JrtjPijtferesUng
d^cornflng:- »ffcU. t;d gb
even further UBwCplB^tifere ^re
several trees in and about Kodiak
tliai would lend themselves beauti
:llv to dighls and would give de
.ighi '; On? ,such is a tree on
unison hut apove the dwellings,
which has been pointed out to us
a^«dmirai!y suitedby position and
8i*e- for lighting, kwfern Electric
•has offeredexterior lighting fix
tures and K%A 'will “connect the
**• -#<**# « 4 . (
power. All-^that remains is lor
sometime to take on the job of se
curfttg'limits, power costs, etc.
There" may be other trees that;
could be so utilized—thus giving1
to Kodiak a real holiday look—a'
good tonic for ail and a fine way
to demonstrate Community spirit.
Our To ci hot Industry Is In Your Hand*
I am very pleased with the pro
gress that has been made so far m
building a bigger tourist -industry
throughout Alaska. The-estimated
25% increase in tourist traffic this
year, over last, underscores the
fact that a calculated promotional
program pays off with direct re
suits. I am convinced that we car
continue at this rate of expansion
if we get together, pull together
and plan together. We must have
unproved accommodations to bet
ter care for our visitors, so they
will return to their homes as sales
men and not at sad talesmen.
It is well recognized that there
-has been a phenominal growth ol
tourism throughout the world ir
recent years, and Alaska can web
take advantage of the growing
travel market. In competing with
other areas for the tourist dollar
an even bigger promotional job
will have to be done by Alaska.
Inoreased- advertising in more*
media— worldwide publicity—a
stepped-up travel agent program—
more literature, displays, maps,
posters—motion pictures—special
community development programs
—all will be required.
Your membership in AVA will
help to put Alaska’s biggest adver
tising and publicity program into
effect. Remember—a membership
in AVA is a real bargain huy be
cause for every dollar you contri
bute, the Territorial Government
appropriates two dollars. Tourism
has the makings of being Alaska’s
number one industry. We are now
number four. Let’s start climbing.
Frank H. Waley
Managing Director
Alaska Visitors Association
((Herewith » ft reprint of part
•of an* editorial which appeared in
"the Progress fiMition of the Fair
banks News-Miner. Its message is
directed to- people ef the- United
States. The. people of Alaska too,
can benefit by its clear-cut think
ing on one of the most important
questions before us today—State
hood;)
Cur State Of Alaska
Alaska was waae astonismng
gains in population'in the past de
cade. In fact, the Territory has led
all States of the Union in percen
tage of population increase. As Ai
aska’s citizens have grown in num
ber, her cities have grown ip size
and become more modern. Modes!
skyscrapers arc found in all of Al
aska’s major cities, and most com
munities are carrying out exten
sive improvement programs.
In the past decade, literally
thousands of new homes have been
built in Alaska and they are occu
pied by families who are living the
year around in the Territory. The
days are gone when Alaska’s pop
ulation consisted largely of transi
ent fishermen and miners.
In short, Alaska is making rec
ord progress in the growth of its
permanent population and in the
expansion of its industry, business
and investment.
Unfortunately, Alaska has not
"grown up” in the eyes of the Fed
eral government. More than 200,
000 people who reside in the Terri
tory are still treated as colonials
we are denied voting rbpre
sentauon un Congress, self govern
ment and a voice in selecting
the President who appoints out
governor and many of our officials.
Alaskans remain second class
citizens. The Territory is governed
as a colony of the United States.
The great potential of Alaska is
overlooked too often by officials
in our nation’s capital who know
nothing and care less about the
problems or the natural wealth of
Alaska.
Most Alaskans are convinced
that only Statehood can lead to
the full development of Alaska’s
natural resources. A State of Al
aska, governed by our own citi
zens who know the country and
its problems, can build the vast
North country into a prosperous,
well populated, industrial region
which will pour its wealth into
every State of the Union.
Alaska has everything that is
needed to build an industrial em
pire. It has unbounded forest re
sources, a tremendous hydroelec
tric generating potential, coal, nat
ural gas and minerals of every
type. What Alaska needs is people
) ogress Kuition I ells Story
(it Alaska’s Fast And Future
Fairbanks wins all battles with
the cold. There is a proposal to
build and rehabilitate Eskimo
Housing in Alaska. Alaska wood
pulp may be used for making
new paper clothing. The first
town meeting ever held in Alaska
was held at Sitka. The first news
paper in Alaska was issued Sep
tember 19, 1868. Judge J. Wicker
sham was the first delegate to Con
gress from Alaska. The first legal
hanging in Alaska .ocurred at
Nome, September 19, 1902.
These and many more unrelated
facts about Alaska were gleaned
from reading the Fairbanks News
Miner’s 7th Annual Progress Edi
tion, which was recently published.
There are 144 pages of interesting
reading unde* sections devoted to
.“Our Alaska;**’ Under headings
such as “Alaska’s Past Shows Neg
lect,” “Our Resources,".- ‘Land
'Holds Promise For the Future,”
T^nd of Legand, Scenic Wonder, ’
“Alaskan Cities, Typical Ilome
t U.S.A." “Ateskans-Typjcal
Americans” and “Territorial Fu
ture Is Bright,” the News-Miner
brings to its readers a thumbnail
account, though sketchy at,times,
of the past and future of Alaska
A circulating loop water system,
we learn, has been installed to
keep the water mains with flowing
water in Fairbanks. Water flows
at 20 feet a second to prevent
freezing. This has been a problem
in the far-north city. The cost of
$2,50 per lineal foot for installa
tion of the new system is tremend
ous but will no doubt pay off.
The edition is replete with pic
tures from many cities, towns and
villages that comprise this vast
territory. There is an interesting
picture of the first Fairbanks
grade school and teachers and pu
pils. The picture was taken May,
1905. There is also a picture of a
Russian bell which was cast in Ko
diak in the year 1796. Another
scene from Kodiak is Roundup
Time, showing a scene on a local
cattle ranch.
The first town meeting ever
held in Alaska, was called at Sitka,
twenty days after the American
flag raised following transfer of
the territory from the Russians
October 18, 1867. One Thomas G.
Murphy, who called, ttye .meeting,.;
was elected first president. He
drew up the first American chart
er in Alaska, better known as 'The
Sitka Compact, of 1867.” Murphy
was the first editor and politician
in Alaska. The first newspaper,
called the Alaska Times, was issu
ed Saturday, September 19, 1868.
It was handwritten, and sold for
25 cents a eopy. Later he acquired
a small printing press and type.
The historic section of the paper
was prepared by Mrs. Ruth All
man, wife of the former Jack All
man, one-time resident of Kodiak.
She is also niece of Judge Wicker
sham.
The first legal hanging in Alas
and development, and it has be
come apparent that development
will be realized too slowly so long
as Alaska is under an absentee
government, and her citizens are
denied representation in Congress.
Government of Alaska by Alaskans
is essential to the ultimate devel
opment of the North.
This 1956 Progress Edit'on tells
an amazing story of growth in A!
aska. But, we are firmly convinced
that Alaska's past acomplishmen‘s
are infinitesimal compared to wli„t
the future can bring if Alaska's
government is turned over to Al
askans .... and people of the
north are granted the full rights
of American citizenship!
ka occurred at Nome, September
19, 1902, when Fred E. Hardy was
convicted for murder. His final
request was that his remains be
put in a fur-lined coffin—he pre
ferred a polar bear skin!
Another little known fact, also
gleaned from its pages, is tliat
goats were harnessed to haul
sleds over the snow during the
gold rush days. Every means possi
ble were devised to haul freight
in those days, and one of the min
ers came up with this one.
Many more facts are given of
the.past, present and future of this
great land, which some day is des
tined to come into its own—as the
future State of Alaska.
Coming And Going
The PNA office is a busy place
these days, with many passenger?
leaving and arriving. Among, the
marly leaving were Ben Kraft
Jeanette Schwarts, Jerry Dodd, Ed
ward Brendeniuhl, George and Sa^
ly Buxton, Neil Sears, Alf and
Maxine:. Madsen, Charles O. Hir
ACROSS
1. A matrix
5. Metal container
8. Poems
IX Croat lake
tX Before
14. Exist
16. Grade
It. Native of
America
18. Highest note
18. Beast of burden
20. Incident
21. Short. letter
23. Unit
24. Steps over fence
26. Cavity
77. Musical syllable
30. Pay attention to
31. Companion
3X Ireland
S3. Affirmative word
34. Spread to dry
36. Staff of Ufe
St. Ocean
37. Armed conflicts
38. Compound ether
41. A marsh
4X Small explosion
46. Alien
47. Story
48. Christmas
4t. Auricle
60. Bewildered
61. Coneumea
52. Attempt
63. Pormer Russian
ruler
DOWN
1. Nothing tart
X Aloud
X Prayers
X River la Scotland
X Stop
X Limbs
7. Bore
X Yellowish freon
X Cube , <.
10. Man’s nan*
11. Dispatched
17. Lease
IX Dined
22. Aged_
23. Lubricate
24, Bashful
26. Golf mound
26. Cushion
27. Viola!* property
rights
28. Narrow inlet
29. Conjunction
31. Vegetable
32. Make a mistake
34. Gull like bird
35. Sack
36. Closet tightly
37. Fret
38. Slave
39. Portico
40. Waste allowance
41. Endure
43. Olive genua
44. A fruit
46. Obtain
47. Make lace
McBEAR
WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL
Whether on business or pleasure
the safe and most convenient way
to protect your travel funds is to
KODIAK, ALASKA
schy, Helen Seleen, Betty Spring
hill, William Miller Knute Solberg,
Rev John Molletti, David Moms,
Frank Erbes, Paul Stover, Bud and
Oneita Metzgar, John, Martha and
Cheri Cushing, Jim aac* Iren0
Brightman, Peter Ramagha, Tim
othy Gilmore, Eldon Lester, Rob
ert Dawson, Ted Malone, Iver Ma
lutin, Tanya Gunderson and Eu
genia Strigga.
Also outgoing were G. C. Brad
ford, Elizabeth Katchatag, Vt
ginia Koppinger, Nick Pestrikoff,
Harold Moats, Albert Cushing,
John Gregioroff, Eddie Julian, Les
Greening, Lethia King, Margaret
and Merle Heitman, Leland Frank
lin, George Kraft, George Berg,
Barbara Shute and Joan Terry.
Among those arriving, were
Gregory, and Mary Ciesielske. Ken
neth McKenzie. Eugenia Strigga,
C. R. Bargerson, Robert Bechtol,
Jerry Dodd, Edward Dolan, O.D.
Olney, Wm. Smokers Dr. William
Mills, Merrill Coon, L. M. Probst,
Les Greening, 'Al, Emily and Mary
Cratty, Wfll Troyer, Gil Jarvela,
Dr. E. E. Bach, Philip and Arlene
-JfUls and infant. Mr. and Mrs.
Cjirtstofferson, Henry Sandpiper,
!»£# Norton. Mr. Chichenoff, V.J.
Vincf Arthur Reeves, Betty Van
Wormef, Bob Logan and- Forrest
Last. ‘ Vi