■Koitiak Mirror
Published every Saturday at Kodiak. Alask
Yearly Subscription Rate $5.00
Entered in the Postoffice at Kodiak, Alaska as Second
Class matter under act of Congress of March 3 1878
THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
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.
S\t‘ws of cAmtrica's L*st frontier
A Vital Necessity
iri'jn* can be no doubt Jack
Hjnckel, President of the Chamber
of Commerce, was right when he
tated in a speech before the
members of that group that the
of C. has been responsible for
many improvements in the City.
Going further than that, there
can be no doubt President Hinckel
end many others, have felt the
Chamber of Commerce's approach
to many of the problems of the
City has been half-hearted* and
lacking in enthusiasm and drive
is see their ideas carried out. The
'present members seem to have
idopted a new approach Slid are
ient on making this group a real
live organization.
The membership of the Chamber
any means at their command to
above anyone else, should seek out
any rneons at their command to
improve the City and its economy.
That woatd be only common
sense—for, from a selfish point of
‘lew, if for no other, it would be
money in their pockets.
A long list of improvements
rould be listed here, that are nec
essary for Kodiak. Though the
Chamber of Commerce, or any
other body, is limited in effective
ly bringing all the improvements
needed, into being, it. on the
other handt in our opinion should
concentrate on several vital ones.
One, of course, is the Small
Boat HalTior. Even though $500,000
is alfdcated, it is still necessary
to hammer away at this project,
to effect it construction in the im
mediate future.
The second project, the further
ance of which has been placed in
the very capable hands of O. A.
Torgerson and his Committee, is
the Co>ld Storage plant. We believe
this alone ranks above good roads,
beautifying the city, and many
other worth while projects, in as
sisting the economy of the City.
The two listed projects— the
Small Boat Harbor and the Cold
Storage plant, go hand in hand —
and may be the means of making
Kodiak the hub of the fishing in
dustry for this area and also the
Westward.
The latter must not be under
estimated. It someday is due for
greater development. Kodiak will
grow with it.
Too many of these excellent pro
jects, which we all know are bad
ly needed, have been discussed
over and over again. In fact they
have been in the talking stage long
enough. Pushing for them will
make them a reality.
Thrifty Birthday
This is an anniversary year of
which thrift is the birthday cake
and security it’s candles. It’s cele
brants are millions of Americans
in every conceivable occupation,
in every economic and social level.
They are the investors in series E
and H Savings Bonds.*
Fifteen years ago, in 1941, the
United States Treasury Depart
ment tentatively began a program
to raise money for national de
fense and as a brake against infla
tion by borrowing frbm as many
people as possible. This was the
birth of series E Bonds. It was the
■birth also of what was to become
the largest thrift program of all
time.
Treasury officials are human,
rumor to the contrary notwith
standing. arid none among them
could have foreseen, or even
dreamed of, 15 years ago, the in
credible growth of the Savings
Bonds idea until today it has be
come an integral part of the Am
erican way of life.
According to Treasury Secretary
George M. Humphrey more than
40 million Americans today own
more than $40 billion in series E
and H Bonds, the latter being add
ed to the thrift program in. 1952.
And of these bond owners more,
than 8 million are saving more
than $160 million a month through
the payroll savings plan by means
of the patriotic cooperation of the
huge corporations or the small
businesses where they work, and
of organized labor as a friendly
and persuasive association.
It was to be expected in the fer
vor of the World War II years
that a great many Americans
would buy Savings Bonds, and a
great many did. But when the war
was over, and the fervor gone,
they kept on buying them—that
it the astonishing thing, and that
is the astounding commonplace
these millions of Americans are
celebrating this year.
Our Weak and Flabby Youngsters !
writing m the American Maga
rine, John B. Kelly asks a startling
euestion: Are we becoming a na
tion of weaklings?
Mr. Kelly—who was U. S. Direc
tor of Physical Fitness during
World War II and was a famous
athlete in his own right—says that
‘ American youngster today are
weaker and flabbier than those in
many other countries, and they
are growing softer every year.”
He cites the results of a scientific
study of more than 7,000 children,
aged 6 through U, m this country
and ,m Europe. Almost 58 percent
of the American youngsters failed
in one or more of six basic
strength and flexibility tests, as
against 8.7 percent for the Euro
peans.
Why should this be the shocking
case, when, as Mr. Kelly says, our
children “get better nutrition and
medical care than those of most
other countries?” The answer
seems to be that our children are
leading increasingly sedentary
lives. They ride instead of walk
ing—they devote more time to the
Minnetonka Here
From Long Beach
The U. S. Coast Guard Cutter
Minnetonka, from Long Beach,
California, arrived last week. The
ship, sleek and trim, was moored
in Old Women’s Bay. Commander
R. M. Dudley is in command.
The Minnetonka, named for a
lake in Minnesota, is here to take
the place of the USCGC Sedge
while that ship is in the Arctic,
and will remain here until mid
September. Her main duties will
be SAR Missions and law enforce
ment.
She departed Monday to patrol
and assist in the Salmon Derby
Regatta at Seward, one of the most
colorful coastal celebrations of
the Alaskan season. This is in con
nection with the ship’s responsi
bility for safety and life saving
during such events.
Another duty that the ship will
preform while in Kodiak is the
promotion of boating safety. She
is committed to enforce all regula
tions requiring safety devices on
small craft, and the proper regis
tration of all small boats.
While here her officers boarded
small craft moored at the various
docks for inspection.
SPENCERS TO LEAVE
Harry E. ajid Lois Spencer and
their two children, Patty Jo, age
6, and Gene, age 4, expect to leave
Wednesday for Tampa, Florida.
The Spencers are long-time resi
dents of Kodiak. ittfrry arrived
here in 1942, and worked as a civil
service employee on the Naval Sta
tion as shipping and receiving
clerk until 1945.
He was Wha.finger at the Ko
diak City Dock for six years, re
signing that position in October of
1955. Since that time he has been
employed by Aleutian Homes, Inc.
Lois has been in Kodiak for the
past eleven years.
While in Tampa they will visit
their respective parents. They
have no definite plans as to where
they will settle permanently. In
an interview with Mrs. Spencer,
she stated that they will live
wherever they can obtain the best
medical care for young Gene, who
is a victim of C. P.
CITY HOSPITAL NEWS
, Patients admitted to Griffin
Memorial Hospital during the
past week include Charles Beard
sley, Donald Lawhead, Freda Reft,
Verner Lewis of Kelso, Washing
ton and Harry Host.
Also admitted were Mrs. Juanita
Elwell, Gladys Lucille Olsen, age
6, of Afognak, Mrs. Lois Balcom,
Wanda Reed, age 7, Donald Rob
inson age 8, Pauline Peterson, age
7 and Mrs. Florence Unger.
Patients discharged included
Robert Thompson, Mrs. Violet
Spearns, Gerald Granville, Ernest
Henry, Mrs. Lottie Warner, Jess
Blinn, Donald Lawhead and Mrs.
Hazel McArthur.
BIRTHS
There was one new baby at the
hospital this week.
William Pierce, III, 7 lbs. 6'i
ozs., was born on August 8 to Lois
and William Pierce Balcom, II.
TV set than to sport. So, in this
case, the blessings of “the more
abundant life” can be a danger.
The problem is soluble. Mr.
Kelly believes that schools should
grade students in physical fitness
just as in other subjects—and in
sist on passing marks. To quote
him again, “Our pioneer forebears
made this nation what it is be
cause they possessed great physi
cal strength as well as mental and
spiritual hardihood. We can be
come just as strong if only we try.”
Texas Beef < 'n I he Hoof Arrives
Seventeen Texans, the beefy
kind, arrived here by the power
barge, Bobbie, Thursday. Strange
ly enough, they didn't brag about
Texas, or tell you how big it is. In
fact, they were the most docile
Texans ever seen in these parts.
All this is by way oi introduc
tion to the scow load of Texas
cattle on their way to Sitkinak.
The scow pulled in to the City
Dock for supplies, after a voyage
of three weeks out of Seattle The
cattle, three bulls, three calves and
eleven cows, seemed to have
weathered storms at sea and the
ocean trip very well. In fact, one
of the calves was born on the way
up. He displayed a marvelous dis
position, nudging whoever was
near, for a little petting. Even
the bulls, usually considered dan
gerous took to stroking like a pet
dog.
These are no ordinary cattle.
They are ar special breed being
brought to KoHiak, or more spe
cifically, Sitkinak, by Jim and
Dan Scarborough. Their official
name is Santa Gurtrudis, a famous
breed of cattle developed by the
King ranch' in Texas. Dan Scar
borough was aboard seeing the
cattle were fed and had enough
water to drink. He said this breed
of cattle have been tested several
times and have been found to
withstand cold better than any
other. He and his brother are just
getting started in the cattle' busi
ness here. They have about fifteen
head of shorthorns and a Here
ford bull, but plan to breed and
stock the King ranch cattle ex
clusively. They have one bail'
aboard, a prize among the King
ranch bulls, who cocked his ears
back and forth as Dan was saying
some nice things about him. These
are all fine looking cattle. The
Scarboroughs dream of thousands
of head on their ranch in ten
years, ought to be inspiration
enough to keep them working to
wards it.
We asked if he had lost any cat
tle on the island last year, we had
in mind bear and the severe win
ter, Dan replied: “Yes, and I hate
to admit it, but they were Hilled
by my dog.” He then went on to
say the dog, a Husky, and part
wolf, would walk the cattle every
morning; One of the cows collar
sed. In butchering* it Dan threw
the dog some of the raw meat. The
dog. getting a taste of it, proceed
ed to kill three more in a days
time.
None of the cattle were killed
by bear, as there are no bear on
the island. As for the severe win
ter, the cattle weren’t bothered
too much by that, as there was
only one foot of snow in the area,
and the grass was above that. It
sounded like an ideal place to
raise cattle.
The Scarboroughs thinks the
market is unlimited, both locally
and on the mainland, for beef.
There is the new military base
nearby, which is under construc
tion.
KATY ROGERS VISITS
Mrs. Katy Rogers will leave to
day for a visit with her daughter
and son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Nels
Peterson, and their children in
Anchorage. She will be aecom
panied by her grandson, Danny
Peterson, who has been here for
several weeks. Danny will remain
in Anchorage with his parents.
THE METZGARS AND WOLFS
AT BELLINGRATH GARDENS
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Metzgar and
Mr. and Mrs*- John Wolf were in
Mobile, Alabama Jiily 20. accord
ing to a communication just re
ceived.
They visited the Bellingrath
Gardens, internationally famous
for one of the world's largest cam
elia collections. It is also famous
for mass blooming azaleas.
POLIO SHOTS TODAY
Polio shots will again be ad
ministered at the Health Center,
this time the second shots.
Next Saturday. August 18, shots
will be given from 10 to 11 a. m.
for children 6 months to 14 years.
The six months shots have just
been released.
Mrs. Claude Thomas Hanks was
awarded the Safe Driving citation
this week, according to Chief Vick
ery of the Police Departmeht.
Mrs. Hanks resides on the Naval
Station. She receives a pass to
the Orpheum Theatre.
PRIEST IS VISITOR
Reverand A. D. Tourighy.'S. J..
has been in Kodiak the past week
to assist Father Tolbott of St
Mary’s Catholic Church with his
work. .< t.
A 21” TV set will be given away
at the Public Dance to be held at
the Elks Club August 18.
No insurance was carried on any
personal effects.”
So read a story on the front page
ot last week’s Mirror.
For a small sum of money com
plete insurance coverage could
nave been had from my sponsor
ft pays to be insured where you
get so much protection for so little
money.
Ba*nk of Kodiak
KODIAK,ALASKA