Library & Museum
Juneau, Alaska
"News of cAmertca’s Last Frontier '
VOL. 15, NO. 35
KODIAK, ALASKA. OCTOBER 29, 1955
PRICE 10 CENTS
Seek Lower
Rail Rates
Seattle—(AP). A plea was made
before the Interstate Commerce
Commission hearings that the same
export-import rates be applied to
cross-country rail shipments of
merchandise destined for Alaska,
as applied to foreign shipments.
F. W. Debbiston, representative
of Maxwell H. Elliott, General
Counsel of the General Services
Administration, was the spokes
man. He said, “Both Government
and private shippers would save
thousands of dollars every year. It
would contribute tremendously to
the growth and development of the
territory. Debbiston came here to
conduct the Governments case at
the hearing.
In 1954, GSA asked the railroads
to grant voluntary lower rates. The
railroads refused. GSA then filed
a formal complaint with the Inter
state Commisssion seeking an ord
er for export-import rates for Al
askan shipments.
Debbiston said export - import
rates were sometimes as much as
50 per cent less than domestic
rates required now for Alaska
shipments.
Public hearings on the case will
be held Wednesday at the Olympic
Hotel by the ICC. Another hear
ing is scheduled at Anchorage No
vember 7.
Newsprint Price
Calls For Action
Seattle—(AP). Sen. Magnuson
(D, Wash.) declared that he be
lieves Alaskan’s newsprint produc
tion possibilities must be explored
immediately if the $5 ton price in
crease made by some Canadian
firms becomes general.
Sen. Magnuson, as chairman of
the Senate Commerce Committee,
wired all United States newsprint
firms. He asked that producers re
ply as to price intentions and pro
duction costs. His wire added: “As
you know, many of our newspap
ers, particularly the small ones,
are operating close to the break
even point. Further price increase
for newsprint could be disastrous.”
The Senator in his wire further
stated: “Before instituting inquiry
into the newsprint problem, in
cluding a proposal advanced dur
in gthe hearings in Alaska that the
Government immediately set up a
program developing pulp mills in
Alaska under American ownership,
in order to insure our newspapers
a stable supply at reasonable
prices. I would appreciate your
views as to what can be done to al
leviate the situation, at least tem
porarity.”
MRS. BLANKENBERG TO
LEAVE FOR OREGON
Mrs. Catherine Blankenberg
plans to leave Thursday for Cor
vallis, Oregon, where she will visit
her daughter and son-in-law, Herb
and Gail Norris. Herb is presently
attending Oregon State College in
s Corvallis.
Mrs. Blankenberg will also spend
some time in San Francisco before
returning to Kodiak during the
early part of January.
Importance Of Cities
Is Convention Theme
The League of Alaskan Cities
will go into Convention sessions at
Palmer, Alaska begining October
31 and continuing November 1 and
2. Keynote address entitled “Cities
in the Progress of Alaska,” will be
delivered by George Rogers of the
office of the Govenor.
Some of the subjects to be dis
cussed include “Roads for Alaska,”
headed by William J. Niemi, Chief
Engineer of the ARC, Juneau;
“Home Rule-It’s Theory and Prac
tice” and “Local Government in
Alaska’s Constitution.”
Under the heading of “Alaska
Cities Workshop,” the convention
delegates will discuss property
revaluation, volunteer fire depart
ment operation, sales tax collec
tions, municipal public relations
and other general municipal mat
ters.
H. Spencer Resigns As
Dock Superintendent
Harry Spencer, City Dock Super
intendent resigned that position
last Monday, his resignation to
take effect the 5th of November.
“Spence” as he is familiarly
called, has held the position of
wharfinger at the City Dock since
April, 1950. He was previously a
paint contractor in Kodiak.
He will now be employed by the
Aleutian Homes, Inc. as mainten
ance jnan.
The position vacated by Spencer
is now being advertised by the
City. Qualified local men may ap
ply. Applications received prior to
the regular Council meeting on
October 31, will be considered for
immediate employment.
Thorsheims Celebrate
Wedding Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Thorsheim
celebrated their twenty-fifth wedd
ing anniversary at the Montmartre
Saturday, October 22. There were
fifty guests in attendance at the
buffet supper, which proved an en
joyable affair.
The Thorsheims were married
October 19, 1930 in Kodiak. Many
of the original wedding group were
at the anniversary party, including
Ben Kraft as best man, Frieda
Blinn, Marian Fitzgerald and Mary
Higgins as bridesmaids.
The Thorsheims have lived in
Kodiak ever since their marriage.
Bryant Thorsheim is well-known as
a barber, a trade he has followed
here for more than 30 years.
Lights Out - New Ruling
Many people in Kodiak and out
side the. City limits were forced to
bring out their gas and kerosene
lanterns this week when KEA en
forced the new ruling which went
into effect October 1 that all pow
er and electric bills must be paid
by the 25th of the month.
Losses have been heavy, accord
ing to Ole Johnson, KEA manager.
Over the past several years, every
month there is the usual list of de
linquent accounts. In order to curb
this tendency, and by way of secur
ing much needed revenue for the
(Continued to page 12)
Alaskans Attend
Fisheries Meetings
The Territory will be represent
ed by Alaskans at the forthcoming
meeting of the International North
Pacific Fisheries Commission at
Tokyo, Japan, during the latter
part of October and the first part
of November. The member na
tions, hte United States, Canada
and Japan will report on the work
being done this year, the signifi
cance of the findings, and a sug
gested outline for future investiga
tions.
Alaskans who have left to attend
this meeting are Clarence L. An
derson, Director of the Alaska De
partment of Fisheries; . C. Kallen
berg, Alaska Fisheries Board mem
ber from Dillingham; and Larry
Fitzpatrick, commercial fisherman
of Juneau. These men are advisors
to the American Section of the
Commission. Also attending will
be R. R. Parker, Senior Biologist
with the Alaska Department of
Fisheries, who is an advisor to the
biology section of the commission;
and John H. Clawson, Internation
al North Pacific Fisheries Com
mission member from Anchorage.
Alaskans are vitally concerned
with the expanding high catches
of the Japanese salmon fleet in
mid-Pacific, as well as the king
crab fishery in the Bristol Bay
area, which is harvested by both
American and Japanese fishermen.
This year’s Japanese catch was
50,503,069 salmon in the Aleutian
Islands area of the North Pacific.
The Japanese canned 59,850 cases
of king crab which were taken on
the eastern Berring Sea banks.
Develapement Board
Has Biennial Program
The Alaska Rural Development
Board adopted a formal plan of or
ganization, mapped out a program
for its biennial operations, and
named George ogers, Economist on
the Governor’s staff, as acting Eex
ecutive Director on a part-time
basis. This announcement was
made following a series of three
business meetings held in Juneau
on October 3, 19 and 24 and one
meeting with representatives of
several Federal agencies on Octo
ber 19.
The Alaska Rural Development
Board was established by the 1955
Legislature for the general pur
pose of “promoting the improve
ment of the health, welfare, securi
ty and economic well-being of
Alaskans residing ip rural and re
mote areas of the Territory.”
The Board is granted broad pow
ers and assigned certain duties and
responsibilities promoting this
purpose. Among them are conduct
ing economic and social investiga
tions, initiating programs for
broadening and diversifying area
economies, expansion of employ
ment opportunities and improve
ment of living conditions through
education and training, participa
tion in public works construction,
and coodrinating administration of
special public assistance in times
of emergency.
The Board is composed of the
Govenor as chairman, the Commis
sioners of Labor, Health and Edu
cation, the Directors of Public
Welfare and Civil Defense, and the
Superintendent of Public Works.
A clerk at this large supermarket near Oakland begins the big 30b
of cleaning up following an earthquake Sunday night (Oct. 23) that
jolted the San Francisco Bay Area. This scene, at a Danville market,
was typical of what greeted grocers in the East Bay area when they
opened for business the following day. (AP wirephoto)
Sales Tax
Is Favored
Levying of a sales tax was ap
proved by the Chamber of Com-;
merce members who met Thurs
day
It was the concensus of opinion,
of those present that a sales tax
would equalize the cost of street
improvements necessary in the
city. Funds made available for
roads by this means would be
borne by those who use them, in
cluding transients and residents
alike.
This means was also suggested
for building a small boat harbor.
It was felt, in any event, the levy
should be for a specific purpose,
rather than a means of raising
funds only. Mayor Ole Johnson
stated the City Council is consider
ing bringing this matter before
the electors in the near future.
Alf Madsen, as chairman of the
pamphlet committee, presented
some suggestions to the group for
having printed brochures publicis
ing the City of Kodiak. More book
lets similar to those printed sever
al years ago will be made again
for distribution.
Another idea presented to the
Chamber by O. A. i orgerson me*
with considerable favor. He out
lined a plan for adoption By the
business men of the City to be
used to stimulate business on Fri
day nights. This matter was refer
red to a committee.
Hinckel• And Smiths
Drive Down Highway
Jack and Tina Hinckel drove
down the Alaskan Highway with
two former residents of Kodiak
They and Bill and Hazel Smith left
Anchorage on the 28 of September
and spent ten days enroute to Se
attle.
Their first stop was the famed
ghost town of Chitna. It was truly
a ghost town according to Hinckel,
who had been there on a previous
visit years ago. The hotel was clos
ing the next day, probably perma
nently, he said. It was an experi
ence well worth while and enjoy
able for the party.
The rest of the road was sur
prisingly good, according to the
Hinckels, and the traffic light
They arrived in Seatlle on October
9, after a leisurely trip, taking pic
tures and enjoying the scenery.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hinckel went
to Seattle and Portland for medi
cal checkups. The Smiths are now
located at Ocean Lake. Oregon,
where they will stay until they be
gin their planned world tour early
next year.
Rickie Slater was host to 15
young “Davy Crocketts” at his
home last Saturday afternoon
marking his seventh birthday. The
boys enjoyed a lunch of hot dogs
before going to the matinee at the
Orpheum Theatre. After the movie
they returned to the Slater home
for ice cream and cake.