of lArnerua asr Frontier
VOL. 16
KODIAK, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 18, 1956
PRICE 10 GEN
Consultant f
On Area Uv ^ ock
Dr. C.W. Vrooman, Livestock and
Agricultural consultant, spoke io
members of the Rotary Club, at
their luncheon Tuesday, and gave
some of his observations of the
cattle industry in Alaska, and of
Kodiak in particular.
Vrooman is retained by the Al
aska Agricultural Experiment Sta
tion as a consultant, and is making
a survey of the livestock industry
in Alaska, studying the problems,
methods and conditions under
which cattlemen operate.
A significant statement made by
Vrooman, as pertains to Kodiak,
was that grass fed cattle grade
prime. “I have tasted some of the
beef raised here, and found it
equal to any I have tasted any
where.” He said the color of the
fat running through beef is not
important. “You have a good pro
duct, the problem is one of hand
ling and marketing. He said the
handling of the beef probably ac
counted for some instances of poor
quality of beef having been re
ceived.
“Going into the cattle business
represents a considerable invest
ment,” he said. “200 head of cattle
is the minimum needed to support
a family. Machinery and equip
ment needed would be in the
neighborhood of a $60,000 invest
ment. Thus you see the difficulty
would be to find many cattlemen
ready to make that kind of an in
vestment.
“There isj, a market here in Al
aska,” Vrooman said, “but slaugh
terhouse and proper freezing fa
cilities must be built, and the meat
cared for properly, before reach
ing the market.’ He advised home
consumption of local beef. “You
have an excellent product here.
The development of a new indus
try is good for all of you. Building
up this industry is going tp effect
your food budget-meat is a high
item in family expenditures.
Freight costs boost it still higher.”
The speaker touched on a num
ber of other problems that have
to be met locally, and answered
questions from his audience. He
was asked afterwards if sheep
would do well here. He said he saw
no reason why they shouldn’t do
well. “But sheep require more at
tention than cattle, however,” he
said.
Other guests present at the meet
ing were. R. E. Wunderlich. Dick
Chase, H. P. Gazaway, Norm Sut
liff and Vinnie Root.
RUTH CLAYDOX RECOVERING
Ruth Claydon, former manager
of the Junior and Miss Shop, who
has been confined to a hospital in
San Francisco the past several
months, has been discharged from
the hospital.
Her rendition is said to be good,
although she will receive periodic
checks to determine future re
covery'.
Dr. and Mrs. A. Holmes John
son will leave for Anchorage and
expect to be gone for a few days.
Catherine Carter and son Rich
ard, returned Thursday, after a
short trip to Anchorage.
:lks lodge officers
TO GO TO ANCHORAGE
The officers of the local Elk’s
Lodge will conduct the ritualistic
ceremony at the Elks lodge in An
chorage next Tuesday, when a
class of initiates will be brought
into the mainland City’s lodge.
John Gibbons, Exalted Ruler of
1772, and the following officers
will make the trip to Anchorage:
Esteemed Leading Knight Bud
Metzgar, Esteemed Loyal Knight
Pete Ramaglia; Esteemed Lectur
ing Knight Eldon Lester. The Es
quire Dick Berg completes the
group of initiating officers. Tim
Gilmore, Club Steward, will also
make the trip.
Marge Gibbons, Nita Metzgar
and Lila Lester will accompany
their husbands. They expect to
remain over for the Fur Rendez
vous events, returning next week.
The Secretary, of the Lodge, Bob
Dawson, will also attend. A meet
ing of all lodge secretaries in the
territorial association has been
called by the Deputy Exalted Rul
er at the request of the Grand Ex
alted Ruler. They will meet in An
chorage Tuesday.
Rotarians Gather
At Annual Dinner
The Rotarians gathered together
for their annual dinner last Mon
day, which was held at the Elks
Club. A program of speeches and
music and skits was enjoyed by
the attending Rotarians.
The dinner was attended by the
wives of Rotarians. Also present
as guests of the Club were Capt.
and Mrs. Drane, Lt. and Mrs. R.
S. Culp, Verne and Mrs. Draper
and Lt. Phil Dexter.
Capt. W. M. Drane was speaker
of the evening. He gave an enter
taining account of “The Second
Most Unforgettable Character I
Have Known.” He amusingly re
counted his experiences with a fly
er aboard a carrier. The flyer was
superstitious, which added to some
of his other deficiencies, furnished
many episodes which were trying
at the time, but afterwards could
be laughed over.
Mrs. H. H. Billman presented a
humorous skit in which she clever
ly depicted the “flighty” type of
matron, introducing a vocal artist
at an afternoon musicale.
Bob Johnson, Jules Radinsky and
Dick Haddock furnished several
musical numbers, which were
thoroughly enjoyed.
A highlight of the evening was
the presentation of a ten year pin,
signifying ten years of service in
Scout activity, to Verne Draper,
skipper of the local Sea Scouts.
The presentation was made by
Lt. Phillip Dexter, Regional Direc
tor of the Alaska Boy Scout Coun
cil, who complimented Draper for
his accomplishment, and for the
work he is now doing as leader of
the Sea Scouts. The Sea Scout
group is sponsored by the local
Rotary' Club.
Ken Loveland was chairman of
the program committee. Rev. John
Molletti is President of the local
Rotary Club.
Karl Brunstad left for Seattle
Saturday.
Voice Opposition
Fisheries Control
Washington—(AP). Representa
tives of labor, conservation and
government expressed opposition
to proposals to transfer control of
Alaska’s fish and game resources
to the Territory.
The opposition, presented at a
hearing conducted by a House
Territories subcommittee, was bas
ed on witness’ belief that such ac
tion is “premature” or would lead
to possible discrimination by Al
askans against non-residents now
working in the seasonal fishing in
dustry.
As an alternative to outright
transfer, the committee received a
substitute proposal from the De
partment of the Interior to give
Alaska control of its game and
sports fishery at once, but reserve
control of the commercial fishery
in the federal government until
the Territory had demonstrated
its ability to assume its regulations.
Elmer Bennett, Interior Depart
ment Attorney, told the committee
the two-step approach to Alaskan
juristiction over its fisheries, is a
relatively “new position” for the
department. Similar bills have
been in the past opposed by the
department with no suggested al
ternative.
Fish and Wildlife Director John
L. Farley said he feels this is no
time to change the program which
is in a “critical period” because
of the declines in the salmon
yield.
The question of possible discrim
ination against non-resident fisher
men was raised by Wallace Arm
strong of Seattle, who represents
Locals 79 and 239 of the Machin
ists Union. He said he found a
strong feeling in the territory of
“Alaskans For Alaskans” and that
they “might regulate us out of a
job.”
VISITORS REGISTERED
AT KODIAK HOTEL
Many visitors have been in Ko
diak the past week. Among those
registered at the Kodiak Hotel, ac
cording to the Manager, Mrs. Wol
ling include:
Dick Bing, who represents Bailey
Cover Co., at Anchorage; S. M. Mc
Cracken, Anchorage; Jesse Boyer
of the Department of Education,
Juneau; Rodney Smith, Alaska Na
tive Service, Juneau; Alford K.
Young, CAA, Anchorage; Ralph
Palmer and Len S. Roberts, repre
senting the Tacoma Steel and
Equipment Co., Tacoma, Washing
ton; Hal Grindle, FHA representa
tive, Anchorage; Martin C. Elliot,
CAA, Anchorage; R. K. Chase of
Chase Photo, Anchorage; Harry M.
Boyd, Anchorage; Gordon Munger,
Seattle; H. C. Brown, Palo Alta.
California; Harry Elsin, Seattle:
Glenn B. Walker of the Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Co., Anchor-age:
Baxter Felch, Seattle; Mr. and
Mrs. Vic Paul and children and
Harold Bennett, Seattle.
Ken and Marion Massey left for
Seattle earlier this week.
Massey was employed at the
Beachcombers since coming here
from Chicago some months ago.
He expects to remain in the State
of Washington.
SEA SCOUTS TAKE OVER
CITY OFFICIALS JOBS
The Sea Scouts took over the
various duties of City officials for
one day. They assumed office Tues
day and became familiar with the
operation of the City’s functions.
At Monday night's Council meet
ing, the Scouts were present. Jer
ry Jonas acted as City Clerk pro
tern in the absence of Robert
Keefer.
City Clerk pro-tem read the min
utes of the last regular meeting
which were approved by the acting
Council members and Mayor.
Mayor Johnson advised repre
sentatives of the Sea Scouts of the
importance of their activities in
Sea Scouting and reconvened the
meeting with the regular Council.
The following Scouts filled the
various offices as follows:
Mayor, Daniel Toshwak; City
Clerk-Treasurer, Robert Keefer;
Chief of Folice, Roger Williams;
City Manager, Leo Bromfield; Fire
Chief, Thomas Eslinger; Patrol
man, Walter Cohen; Night Patrol
man, Tommy Shuyak and Council
man, Robert Smith.
Cashier Honored
Mary E. Sorum, cashier at the
Bank of Kodiak, was honored Feb
ruary 9 by the President, O. A.
Torgerson and the employees at
the bank, on completion of eleven
years of service at the local bank
ing institution.
Mrs. Sorum, who is the wife of
Lester Sorum, an employee at the
garage on the Naval Station, began
working for the bank shortly after
she came to join her husband. Dur
ing this time she has filled almost
every position in the bank, having
been advanced to the office of
Cashier in 1951.
She was presented with a gift
from the bank in appreciation of
her years of service. Torgerson
paid her high praise, and said:
"Her services are valued by the
bank's management because of her
thorough knowledge of details. We
hope she will be with us at least
eleven more years.”
THREE SMALL BOAT HARBOR
CONTRACT AWARDS MADE
Seattle—(AP). Manson-Osberg,
contracting firms in Seattle were
low bidders with the offer of
$736,990 for entensive small har
bor improvements at Petersburg,
Wrangell and Metlakatla. The gov
ernment estimate was $708,754.
The work was authorized by Con
gress in 1954, and involves the en
largement of existing small boat
basins at Petersburg, Wrangell
and the construction of one at Met
lakatla.
Bids were opened in Seattle,
Thursday, February 16.
The work on the three small
boat basins is to be pushed for
ward during the coming season
and completed by next September,
according to the Alaska District
Corps of Engineers.
Some of the outgoing passengers
via PNA this week included Billie
Wiest, Walt Sewell, Glen Robin
son, Teddy Malone, June Juelson
and Esther Newman.
Along The
Waterfront
Skippers of boats don’t like to
think about storms, because they
usually mean trouble. But along
the waterfront there seems to be a
quiet which we hope is the one
before the “storm.” By “storm”
we don’t mean 90-mile gales, tur
bulent seas, and consequent ha»
ards of boating. We mean activity,
of which there is little. But there
are signs though and there are
rumblings and portents that pre
sage future activity. Here and
there we hear of lumber arriving
for boat building and repair. We
hear McConaghy, Superintendent
of Halferty’s cannery, is due in
soon. The Western Tradev, a
freighter that plies these waters is
due in soon, on her way to Sand
Point. She is out of Seattle.
The canneries were quiet this
week. At King Crab, Inc., Bob
Resoff reports two boats' with
loads. The KFC 5, skippered by
Harry Kanigan, brought in 740
crab weighing 7028 lbs. The Tonki
Cape developed trouble and Mike
Mullens transferred his catch to
the Miss Arctic.
Pete Deveau reports it pretty
quiet at the Island Seafoods plant,
with just enough activity to keep
out of mischief down there. The
Eldorado, skippered by Louie Wick
brought in 16,000 lbs. Oscar Dyscn
brought in the Suzie Q with 19,000
lbs.
On the subject of crab, it might
be of interest to note the February
issue of Sunset magazine contains
quite a spread on King Crab, how
to prepare it, etc. This truly Alas
kan delicacy of the sea is appar
ently coming into its own on
Stateside tables.
The Janet F, Laverne Wakefield
skipper, came in for a load of
diesel fuel for Port Wakefield. The
Cape Uganik, Rudy Lawrenceson,
skipper, has been tied up to D &
A dock most of the week. The Le
Roy, captain’s name Servold, was
in and has gone. A1 Nixon was in
earlier this-week from Crooked Is
land
Rocky Stone, Superintendent at
the Baptist Mission, is probably
the busiest boatman in these parts.
Being also something of a cattle
man, he makes a trip twice daily
to Woody Island where the Mis
sion’s cattle are ranged, to bring
them feed. This is no easy chore
in view of the weather at times.
NIGHT CLUB OPERATOR
LEAVES FOR TIIE STATES
Bob Blair, former owner of the
Beachcombers, popular Mission
Road night club, left yesterday for
the States. He recently sold ihe
night spot to Mildred Markham.
Blair purchased the Beachcomb
ers from Eldon Lester. Since its
beginning during the War, the
Beachc ombers has been popular
with the after midnight crowd,
drawn there by sometimes excel
lent food, other times by varied
entertainment. It has proved a
place for spontaneous fisticuff en
counters in the early hours of the
morning.
Blair plans to reside in the State
of Washington, but did not state
his future plans.