News of rnertca .MSt rrentier
VOL. 16 NO. 6
KODIAK, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 11, 1956
frRid& 10 cfiSTS
tAles tax V°teorf'lkrea
tnnex «>***»" ^ *
The City sales tax was voted in
by a margin of three votes, at the
special municipal elections held
last Tuesday. The outlying Mission
Road area, voted on for annexation
to the City, received a substantial
number of votes favoring it.
These two questions, both con
troversial issues in Kodiak for
some time, did not bring out the
l^rge vote anticipated. Only 231
persons voted in the sales tax elec
tion. There were 117 favoring it,
and 114 against. Thus it becomes
a law, and authorizes the City
Council to draw up an ordinance
putting it into effect.
It is planned to hold a prelimi
nary discussion on the subject at
Monday nights Council meeting.
Dates for public hearings, at which
residents will be given the oppor
tunity to offer their views7 as) <tb
what should be taxed, will be set
apd announced.
The annexation on the outer
Mission Road ar.ea became a reality
with a substantial majority in fa
vor of it. Voting in the City, pro
ponets piled up a total of 132
votes, with 26 voting against. 40
cast their votes favoring it in the
area itself, with 28 who voted
against.
There were several challenge
votes in the City elections. Many
who were not registered, sought to
vote, but were unable to do so, due
to an ordinance stating all prop
erty owners must be registered. In
many cases this does not include
the wife. In other cases, the ex
pectant voter was not registered,
not having voted in the last elec
tion.
The area annexed extends to
Alex Masoff’s property, and the
boundary is just south of the
Beachcombers. Thus is brought
into the City an area over a mile
long and an estimated increase in
population of over 400 persons.
Benson Is Honored
At Historic Meet
Ben Benson returned this week
from Fairbanks where he attended
the Constitution Convention clos
ing ceremonies. He received a
standing ovation when his presence
was acknowledged and he was in
troduced as the designer of the
Alaskan flag.
Benson and his two daughters
left last week to witness the sign
ing of Alaska’s Constitution. He
said it was a wonderful experience,
and an event he will never forget.
“The entire ceremony went off
like clockwork,’’ he stated. He paid
high tribute to the delegates, and
to William —gan, president of the
convention, for his fine handling
of the ceremonial program.
Benson had high praises for Ko
diak's Delegate, Jack Ilinckel, who
he said received the acknowledge
ment from his fellow delegates of
working feverishly and beyond his
duty in assisting in the framing of
the constitution. Several delegates
praised his efforts, and pronounced
his views sound and in mqst cases
right.
(Continued on Page 14)
KODIAK HOTEL SOLD
Word has been received that the
Kodiak Hotel has been sold. The
new owner, A. H. Muegge and his
wife, expect to be in Kodiak Feb
ruary 15.
The hotel was owned by the
Marshall Crutcher family.
J. Hinckel Home
Job is Finished
Jack and Tina Hinckel arri/cd
in Kodiak yesterday from Fair
banks, where the Delegate from
Kodiak participated in the signing
of Alaska’s constitution, adopted
after the delegates were in session
for seventy-fiv^ days.
Both Jack and Mrs Hinckel pro
nounced the signing ceremonies ‘‘a
memorable event,” which went off
smoothly. ;They were both-thrilled
in being a part of the event and in
being one of the large crowd of
people gathered for the occasion.
Both expressed great satisfaction
with the ovation accorded Ben
Benson of this city, who was pre
sent, when his name was called as
the designer of the Alaskan Flag.
They said it was a thrilling sight
to see the auditorium-packed audi
ence rise to its feet, in a standing
acknowledgement to Benson. He
shared equal honors with the Gov
ernor of Alaska, as they were the
only visitors introduced to the
audience.
Hinckel feels the delegates did
a good job on the constitution. He
said they worked hard and long
to accomplish the task in the al
lotted time. “It now remains for
the voters to ratify it,” he said.
This will be done at the time of
the primary election, possibly in
April. Jack further stated he
would be happy to answer any
questions people might have, re
garding the Constitution.
The memorable occasion culmi
nated seventy-five days of hard
work on the part of the delegates.
Further details on the Convention
and the constitution are included
in a special supplement furnished
by the News-Miner of Fairbanks
to the Mirror.
GEORGIA SILVERWOOD DIES
Georgia Silverwood died sudden
ly, January 16, at Sautee, Georgia.
She was buried in the Methodist
Cemetery there.
She is survived by a son, George
Cook, who lives in Michigan, and
her husband Percy. The latter liv
ing in Sautee. Cause of death is
not known.
Mr. and Mrs. Silverwood and her
son lived in Kodiak a number of
years. He was employed on the
Naval Station.
Gladys and Felix Aubuchon of
Anchorage were visitors in Kodiak
this week.
Mrs. Aubuchon is owner of
Carol’s Dress Shop, and was here
primarily on business connected
with the shop.
Area Waters
Offer Jobs
“I believe one of tbe best things
that could happen to Kodiak’s
economy would be the develop
ment of some of the latent fishery
resources of this area.” This state
ment was made by Roy Lindsley,
who js in charge of the Fish and
Wildlife Service here, in a speech
before the Toastmaster Club this
week. !J v
Lindsley went on to say, “I do
not visualize Kodiak as ever being
another New Bedford or San Fran
cisco, but I do think we could give
Wrangell or Petersburg a run for
their money. I’m not talking ab.out
salmon production, for Kodiak al
ready produces more .salmon than
most any other district, in Alaska,.
What I’m speaking of.js,.its unde
veloped spegies.” , |
The FWS manager then went on
to say: Kodiak Island is surround
ed by an extensive shelf that is
rich in fish life. There are several
un-utilized species, in these waters
that show considerable promise for
commercial development. Shrimp
is the first one that comes to mind.
Fish and Wildlife Service research
vessels have found an abundance
of shrimp in certain parts of this
region. Local fishermen have also
located large quantities of them in
almost every bay they have exploit
ed. The small “pink” shrimp seems
to be the most abundant. It is this
species that forms the basis for
the shrimp industry in Southeast
Alaska. As you probably know,
Wrangell and Petersburg each op
erate two and sometimes three
plants employing 25 to 50 people
apiece almost the year around.
This is a very nice payroll, indeed.
I see no reason why Kodiak
could not be doing the same.
“In addition to shrimp,” Lind
sley went on to say, “good quality
bottomfish are plentiful in Kodiak
waters. Our King Crab trawlers
could easily catch an unlimited
amount of them at any time of the
year. Therefore, a filleting opera
tion would seem entirely feasible;
at least a plant or two to supply
Alaskan demand. I feel sure that
fresh fillets would sell readily in
Fairbanks and Anchorage, and
here, too, in preference to the fro
zen fish now imported from the
States.
“Lack of time precludes my dis
cussing several other promising
species. But I should mention that
ful in this area, and they have good
tanner crabs and clams are plenti
commercial potential. Scallops may
have possibilities, too.’’
Lindsley pointed out that the
FWS operates a technical labora
tory in Ketchikan, financed jointly
by the U. S. Government and the
Territory. One of the primary func
tions of this laboratory, he said, is
to help develop new fisheries by
providing technical knowledge on
processing to operators. He said
there was also a Fishery Market
ing Specialist stationed at the lab
oratary who is ready at all times
to help with the marketing end of
the business.
“I know that I am especially
enthusiastic on this subject,” Lind
sley continued, but said, “I don't
(Continued to Page 11)
It’s Thumbs Down
On Customs Here
The poissibility of Kodiak se
curing the services of a customs
inspector in the near future, ap
pears slim, it was learned at the
Chamber of Commerce meeting
Thursday.
Merrill Coon, President of the
Chamber, read correspondence he
had received relating to the sub
ject, from Walter B. Heiselj Col
lector of Customs. Heisel pointed
out that there was n6t sufficient
volume of business that .cOuld be
expected to warrant a customs of
ficer. President Coon stated he
was going to explore the possibili
ties further. He gave as one solu
tion the appointing of a local man
to act as representative.
resolution was adopted by the
group, which will be sent to vari
ous departments of the Navy, com
mending Adm. Kenneth iCraig as
d»e Commandant of the 17th Naval
District here, and recommending
that , he be stationed here . tor
another tour of duty, If he so de
sires.
The Chamber is preparing a de
scriptive booklet on Kodiak, which
is now in the hands of the printer.
Alf Madsen is chairman of the
committee handling the publishing
of the booklet.
Dick Berg, City Clerk, was unani
mously voted as the Chambers rep
resentative to go to Washington,
D. C. later this spring, to present
the City's need of a small boat har
bor. He will appear before the
House appropriations committee
and others.
Dr. Bob Johnson reported on the
drive for AVA memberships. He
stated they were coming in slow,
but people contacted were taking
out memberships. Ernest Harding
will assist him in the securing of
memberships.
Local Rotary Club
Dinner on Monday
Rdtarians will gather with their
wives next Monday night at the an
nual dinner of the Club, which
will be held at the Elks Club.
The program will get under way
at 7:30 p. m., and will include
speeches and other features. Capt.
Kenneth Loveland is in charge of
the program.
The local Rotary Club is a mem
ber of Rotary International. This
world-wide service club celebrated
its golden anniversary last year..
There are over 8,400 Rotary Clubs
in 89 countries, with a tital mem
bership of some 400,000 business
and professional men. Rotary ac
tivities throughout the free world
are based in the same general ob
jectives as those of the local club*—
the development of fellowship a
mong business and professional
men, the betterment of communi
ties, leading boys and girls into
good citizenship, the promotion of
high standards in business and pro
fessions, and the advancement of
international understanding, good
will and peace.
Rev. John Molletti is president
of the local club. The roster of
members include: '
William Bocast, Ben Kraft, Ro- ;
(Continued on Page 14)
Along The
Waterfront
Cold weather has crimped the
style of boat operators and crab
fishermen, but there has been
some activity at most of the can
neries.
Fritz Deveau skipper of the King
Fish was apparent high man
among the cralj .fi^harVnen. He un
loaded over 18,000 lbs. at the Is
land Seafoods. Pete Olson, skip
per of Parks No. 6 brought in
11,000 lbs. Pete Deveau, manager
of the Island Seafoods reports a
lessening of activity the past few
days due to the sudden cold snap ,
and the winds. Incidentally, Pete
as a Councilpian is meeting up
with a lot of “crabs” of another
species, since the passage of the
sales tax proposal.
Bob Resoif of King 0rab, (nc.,
reports fair'' activity. The Sea
Mount came in with about 4000
lbs. John Katglikof-is-the owner.
Pat Mullen with thfe Roxanna
dumped 3200 lbs. for processing.
The Linda Mae came in with about
4000 lbs. She is skippered by Alvin
Sargent. Jerry Gugal with the
GPC 18 brought in a nice catch of
8,788. Lloyd Cannon was lop man
for this cannery with a nice load
of 1200 crab weighing approximate
ly 10,000 lbs.
Bob Von Scheele’s name was not
mentioned in last weeks report on
those working at Alvine and Gib
sons. He returned to Kodiak a
couple of weeks ago, after a vaca
tion in the States. The Von
Scheeles drove up the Alcan high
way in their new car, and found it
:he best of the entire highway trip
from California.
Dave Murphy, skipper of the
Western, has a new 165 GMC
Diesel on its way up for installa
ion in his boat.
The Le-Roy from Wakefield was
n. A crew member had an illness
n the family. He was brought in.
fhe Le-Roy, an ex-halibut boat
lamed Foremost, departed for the
iing Crab grounds at Alitak.
Ed Pearson reports very little
ictivity at his boat works, due to
he cold weather. The Alvines are
lusy enough, but are fortunate to
lave a building in which to
work.Remember, Spring and
summer are getting closer all the
lime.
5UTLIFF MAKES TRIP
*FTER 17 YEARS HERE
Norm Sutliff returned late last
week from a trip to the States. This
was his first vacation "Outside” in
17 years. He was gone about two
weeks.
He attended a lumbermen's con
tention being held in Portland
^bout 1500 lumber dealers from
Lhe West Coast and Alaska were in
attendance. He also spent some
time in Seattle.
Asked as to his impressions of
he cities visited after an absence
}f 17 years, he said they looked
aretty good. But he was glad to be
tack in Kodiak, and wasted no time
after he finished his business
here, in catching a plane for the
eturn trip. He visited 0. A. Torg
trson in the hospital and spent
;ome time with Bob Acheson, who
vas in Seattle at the same time.