b
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Enterei the Postoffice at Kodiak, Alt.tca as Secoi,
Class ..r undei act of Congress of March 3, 1878
• 3L ANi> PUBLISHING COMPANY
J. L ditor and Publisher
> 'i>u Executive Secretary
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this paper and also the local news published herein.
c/\ews of (America's Last frontier
What Is Kodiak’s Long Range Outlook?
The observations of a Naval of
ficer on Kodiak following his third
lour of duty here and as reported
elsewhere in the Kodiak Mirror,
points up a question for the people
of Kodiak to think about. What of
Kodiak's long range outlook?” *
The question ties in with the
election coming up, the two issues
'o be voted on, that of annexation
and sales tax, and as the speaker
mentioned, the City’s water sup
ply, sanitation problems, fire fight
ng facilities, airport and modes of
’ transportation. The small boat har
bor should be included.
Kodiak has been described as a
‘picturesque’’ town, “photogenic,”
lovely,” “friendly,” “historical,”
and as Capt. Lidstone said, “hang
over town.” The latter designation
we know to be untrue, this condi
tion existing no more here than
in many other towns. It is easily
understandable how the writer ar
rived at such an apt phrase describ
ing the condition of many corres
pondents and magazine writers
who spend a day or two in Kodiak,
and are quite often in that state
most of the time while here.
Kodiak has passed through that
phase of her existance ,if it ever
existed, with the passing of the
war years, and immediate post war
years. No longer do we have the
transients from the States, who
earned for Kodiak the designation
of “hangover town.” That is liquor
under the bridge, so to speak.
Kodiakans today look to the fu
ture. Fishing, crab, salmon and
halibut still remains our principal
industry. The Naval Station, to
take Capt. Lidstone's slant, is an
important industrial development
effecting this community in so
many ways. Mining is destined to
be a factor in the growth of Ko
diak. This is now an assured fact.
We can look some day to develop
ments relating to our forests, as
one more source of supply for pa
per manufacturers.
The Captain’s observations show
ed a knowledgeable approach to
the question as to how to prepare
for the future deueloprhent of Ko
diak. It is a good tonic, something
like taking iron medicine in the
Spring, for permanent residents to
receive a valuatiorf of their town
from an outsider, especially one so
qualified to speak as Mr. Lidstone.
His enthusiasm and his dynamic
utterances served as a proper
media in evaluating Kodiak’s po
tentialities. He made it seem very
worthwhile to put forth a lot of ef
fort to prepare for the day Kodiak
can and will come into its own. He
made you feel you should be proud
of this little western Alaskan city,
nestled so picturesquely in one of
the many bays that dot this fjord
like island.
This is only meant as a quick
summary on the aspects of the long
range outlook for Kodiak. The sub
ject has not been exhausted by
any means. We might point out to
the good Captain, many of the
questions he touched on in his
speech are being reviewed, dis
cussed, and action started. The
question of the airport and the
small boat harbor are two of them
that have occupied committees for
some time.
In going to the polls next month,
it would be well for the voters to
bear in mind this long-range plan
ning. We need good streets and we
need the small boat harbor to
properly care for an expanding
population to come, our present
fishing fleet and small boats which
will always be an intregal part of
this seaport city.
May Capt. Lidstone when he re
turns in four or five years, or any
other visitor, be able to see sub
stantial progress ini the evaluation
of Kodiak from the foul designa
tion of “hangover town,” to that
of “Alaska's Westernmost progres
sive City.” »
Abolish The Fish Traps!
The people of Alaska voted to
abolish fish traps as far back as in
1948. This vital question is still
being kicked around in Congress,
almost ten years later.
Delegate Bartlett seeks to elimi
nate them in five years. Secretary
of the Interior wants ten years—
making it a very gradual process.
Under the bureaucratic system
of government in Alaska, the op
erators of fish traps have already
had almost a ten year moratorium
on this type of fishing, if the voice
of the people of Alaska counts for
anything. It doesn't count for
much, of course, only as a means
of expression.
McKay pokes holes, but not
very good ones, in the argument
that the traps should be- abolished
as a conservative measure. He con
tends escapements permitted allow
efficient salmon to spawn to
maintain runs in succeeding years.
This has not ftbred the case. Fish
.*f#
ing by other methods now employ
ed, such as purse seines, beach
seines gill nets troll lines and
other types of gear would undoub
edly permit a greater escapement.
The individual fisherman would
thereby benefit to a greater ex
tent, and the future of the industry
would be better assured.
There is no question, the indus
try, especially as applied to the
Alaskan resident fisherman needs
bolstering. In the face of a deplet
ing resource, which does not al
ways assure a return for hard
work, or sufficient to “tide” him
over for the winter, methods must
be found to increase by the means
at hand, a livelihood, at least.
Bob Bartlett’s proposal, limiting
fish traps to five years seems equi
table and just. Any other business
being closed out for the public’s
good, with assurance of five more
years of life, would regard it as
more tha& fair. It is downright
generous.
saving
.1. a Atka,
Aieu
-y Mrs.
. cgular
.uiiiA ..a Aleu
.jfK Society
iih s ol. She
-centiy irom Un
-a jtay With two sons living
. v.^iuuing the persistent
o. xoikiore about weaving
water, which she stated was
wiioimormation, as to her know
gained from her mother, also
a weaver before her, such under
water weaving was never done. She
did explain how water was used in
preparing and curing the grasses,
and also how water must be used
to soften the grasses, after storing,
before they can be worked without
breaking and splitting.
In comparing Attu and Atka
work, she said the Atka grass was
smaller and whiter, but that Attu
work was finer, tighter and with
better edgings. The traditional de
signs in color were handed down
and the advent of the Russians in
Alaska brought new patterns, es
pecially the crosstitch type. Dyed
grass for motifs was replaced later
by Japanese silk, still used. Mrs.
Shapsnikoff has experimented with
rayon and nylon thread but says
it is not so good as the silk.
When asked how many weavers
were left, she said she had no idea,
but “not many.” The natives of
Attu were interned in Japan dur
ing the war, and afterward, when
27 of them were brought back they
were resettled at Atka, leaving
Attu without a native village.
The two types of grasses, and
samples of her work and a begin
ners work were shown, the latter
illustrating patterns made with
variations in the weaving. She said
the practice of covering bottles
and other objects with weaving
was introduced by the early trad
ers.
As a supplement to her talk
Norman Saxton, local student,
showed a covered piggy bank and
other samples of Kodiak type
weaving, which he had learned
from Mrs. Fedosia Inga, at Old
Harbor.
Mrs. Howard Sloniger, local CAA
employee, presented color slides
taken on Woody Island, Kodiak,
and at other CAA stations in Alas
ka, and a Kodiak wildlife film was
shown by Kim Clark, of the Fish
& Wildlife Service.
An old Russian tea kettle, Rus
sian sadiron and other objects of
early local times from Afognak
were displayed by Mrs. Eunice
Neseth.
The program was in charge of
Mr. Curtis Saxton and Mrs. Neseth.
The society meets on the third
Tuesday of each month and guests
and prospective members are al
ways welcome, Society President
Zora Wilson announced.
semi annual insepection
for older vehicles
All private vehicles registered
on the Naval Station, manufactur
ed ten or more years ago, will
hereafter require a semi-annual
safety inspection, according to the
Security office.
This action was made necessary
due to the more frequent failure
of safety devises on older model
cars, according to the directive.
There will be an inspection sta
tion in the Public Works garage,
and all private vehicles manufac
tured in 1946 and earlier must be
inspected during the week of Janu
ary 30 to February 3. ^
V
, ut tO 19
i L»ancft
For the young and the young in
heart, a valentine will be waiting
ai .a K*uve Association
club the Navai Station on the
night ol Saturday, February 11,
at a uance sponsored by the St.
Mary’s PTA. Dancers will choose
a Sweetheart of Kodiak, as well
as two attendants, from among the
lovely ladies present, each of
whom will receive a special valen
tine.
Although aimed at the younger
set, everyone who likes to dance
is invited. Attire will be informal,
but long dresses and all the glam
our available, are not discouraged.
A special bus will run from Ko
diak to the FRA club to provide
transportation for townspeople,
and admission will be by ticket or
paid at the door. Tickets will be
on sale soon at the Frontier Shop
and at the police station in Kodiak,
as well as individuals on the base,
at $1.00 each.
■sr* 'V-v'-s.':
Lt. Richard Huxtable, CG, is
general chairman, with Lt. Joseph
Sherlock, CG, Ltjg Ernest Fuller,
CG, and Chief John Ortblad CG,
on the committee. Mrs; Fuller and
Mrs. Sherlock will handle the dec
orations while Chief Jim Gunn,
and Tony Reed are in charge of
publicity.
GIRL SCOUT COMMITTEE
TO MEET THURSDAY
The regular meeting of the Gill
Scout Community Committee will
be held January 26, at 8 o’clock in
the Home Economics Building of
the High School.
All interested leaders and adults
are urged to attend as it is planned
to discuss and look at the Girl
Scout Hut.
They must have additional help
if they are to have a Summer camp
this year, so those interested
please attend this meeting.
POLICE SLOGAN
It is better to call a halt to reck
less driving than to call an ambu
lance because of it.
The carburetor in your car or light truck "breathes
in” air which carries specks of carbon and gum that
stick to carburetor walls. These deposits choke off air
to the engine—cause 1 out of 3 repair bills. "Detergent
Action” Chevron Gasolines stop carburetor deposits
with the very first tankful!
End rough idling, stalling, boost power, save gas
. . ."Detergent-Action” restores the carburetor in your
car or light truck to factory-clean condition... and keeps
it clean while you drive.Yours in both Chevron Supreme
and Chevron Gasoline.
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
OF CALIFORNIA
Bank Locally
This bank is a home-town institu
tion just as local as the neighbor
hood stores you patronize.
The only difference is that our
merchandise is SERVICE and we
want to serve you well in all of
your financial transactions.