Valdez News
VOL. 1. NO. 18
VALDEZ. ALASKA. FRIDAY. JULY 14. 1950
PRICE 10c
VALDEZ WAGESWARON WORK-SHY VAGRANTS
Local Playground
dels First Dose
Of Lethal Bug Spray
Roy Eaton, entomologist with
the territorial department of pub
lic health, arrived in Valdez early
this week to start the summer’s
insect control work here.
A spray unit, operated by com
pressed air, is fogging the air
above the Valdez playground,
dealing death to all insects, and
to sand flies in particular, that
venture into the sprayed area. A
slight drawback to the plan is
that relief is only temporary, but
the spray unit is a permanent in
stallation and follow-up doses of
the insect-killer can be loosed
over the playground as needed.
Although the process is still in
its experimental stages, good re
sults have been obtained where
the spray has been used against
mosquitoes. Entomologists have
used the process to protect King’s
Lake camp at Palmer.
PAIR OF BROKEN RIBS
ONLY FLAW HERE IN
FOURTH CELEBRATION
Valdez, too, had a near-perfect
Fourth of July celebration. The
day was marred by one accident,
when Gordon Jurgens of the
Alaska Road Commission ball
team broke two ribs sliding in to
second base. Mr. Jurgens’ team
mates were crushed by his re
moval from the game, losing to
their Eagle opponents by a score
of 18 to 13.
Jurgens was starting pitcher
ftfr the ARC.
The Valdez celebration began
on Monday evening, with a dance
sponsored by the Eagles. On the
morning of the Fourth, all of
the day’s races and contests were
scheduled. The ball game was
the featured event of the after
noon’s entertainment.
Valdez weather was perfect,
and hundreds of visitors poured
into town to help city residents
enjoy their holiday.
Garbage Business,
New Residents Both
Increase In Valdez
Since the city of Valdez recent
ly served notice that all city res
idents must pay two dollars a
month for garbage service, the
city’s revenues from garbage and
trash removal have tripled, it was
announced this week by city clerk
Halley Gates.
The city council’s action was
taken under the territorial law,
- which gives a city the right to
charge for such services, either
by tax or by a monthly billing
plan.
The increase in garbage rev
enue also points to a decided in
crease in new Valdez residents,
Mr. Gates stated. He feels the
building, buying and real estate
boom in the city has reached its
greatest peak since 1905. In the
past two weeks, there has been
an average of 20 transfers of
Rita Dingman Is
Featured in Rotogravure
Section of Times
Valdez and Valdez’ public
health nurse, pretty Rita Ding
man, were a part of a special
nine-page feature of the Seattle
Times recently. The Alaskan pic
tures were a part of the Sunday
rotogravure section of the Times,
photographed by feature editor
Chester Gibbons on his recent
trip north with the Seattle Cham
ber of Commerce.
Mr. Gibbons built his feature
picture-story about the boat trip
north to Seward and south again
to Seattle, which so many state
side tourists take each summer.
Although the photographer visit
ed Anchorage, the Matanuska
Valley and Fairbanks in the In
terior, he found coastal towns and
scenes more photogenic, for the
most part, judging from the
Times’ section.
Miss Dingman was the visitors’
escort about the city of Valdez,
during their brief stay here.
CHIMNEY FIRE
DOES NO DAMAGE
Valdez volunteer firefighters
were given an opportunity to
practice their firefighting lessons
last week, when an oil stove in
the Joy Ripley home exploded.
The explosion caused a chimneyN
fire.
Hugh Tatro, a neighbor, saw
the smoke and turned in the
alarm. Little damage, other than
smoke and soot soil, resulted.
Second Alaska Highway
Is Being Considered
Southeastern Alaska’s residents
some day may have reason to
purchase the new motor car their
hearts desire.
A Canadian government high
way survey is now in progress, to
make preliminary studies for a
new highway between Alaska and
the states. The proposed route,
which approximates the original
“A” route recommended for the
Alaska Highway before the war,
will run about 100 miles inland
from Ketchikan, Wrangell, Peters
burg and Juneau. Construction
of lateral highways to reach these
Southeastern Alaska communities
would be a simple matter, accord
ing to the Alaska Development
Board.
There seems little doubt that
a second route to the states even
tually will be completed. The
first link was forged last season,
when a road was constructed
which connected Whitehorse and
Atlin. The future extension will
lead from Atlin to Telegraph
Creek and then to Hazelton on
the Skeena Highway which leads
to the states.
The proposed new route will
make the distance between Alas
ka and the states shorter by sev
eral hundred miles.
1.125 Tons of Freight
Move Over Docks Here
In the past several days three
ships have docked at the port of
Valdez, bringing a total of 1,125
tons of freight over the city’s
docks. The Square Knot brought
700 tons, the Aleutian carried 35
tons, and the Chena delivered 390
tons.
SURVEY CREWS WORK
ON COPPER RIVER HY.
Chitina’s C. A. Nelson yet may
get some governmental help on
the construction of a suggested
Copper River Highway. Mr. Nel
son, dispairing of everybody’s
“let-George-do-it” attitude on the
highway, took matters into his
own hands several weeks ago, and
set a crew to roughing out a high
way on the roadbed of the old
Copper River and Northwestern
Railway. The road would link
Chitina and Cordova.
Last week, a party of territorial
officials arrived in Cordova to
fly over the porposed route of the
Chitina-Cordova highway. Upon
their return to Cordova, members
of the party said a 15-man survey
party would arrive in Cordova
tomorrow, to make a construction
survey of the route.
Nobody in the official party,
which was led by Frank Heintzle
man, regional forester, would
mention any particular reasons
for the survey. Cordovans aren’t
puzzled, though—they’re sure it’s
because the highway will be in
cluded in next year’s road budget
plans for Alaska.
16 Alaskans Attended
Oregon Colleges on
Scholarships Last Year
Sixteen Alaskan students went
to college in Oregon last year on
the Alaskan - Hawaiian scholar
ships established by that state a
year ago. Eight of the students
went to the University of Oregon
and another eight attended Ore
gon tate College. The Alaskans
who strayed south in search of
higher education came from
Ketchikan, Anchorage, Juneau,
Fairbanks, Annette and Fort
Richardson.
The Oregon scholarships are
open to any Alaskan student
whose parents’ annual income
does not exceed $9,000. The plan
was established by Oregon’s sen
ator Richard Neuberger.
“Alex" Transferred to Valdez
E. R. “Alex” Alexander, terri
torial highway patrolman now
stationed at Tok, will be trans
ferred to Valdez in the near fu
ture. Mr. Alexander plans to
move his family here very soon.
Prior to his assignment at Tok,
the patrolman was on duty in
Palmer and the Matanuska Val
ley, and befote that time he drove
for O’Harra Bus Lines between
Anchorage and Wasilla. At that
time, he made his home in
Wasilla.
Children Visit Mother Here
Loretta, Lyle and Jerry Hib
ner of Wrangell are visiting in
Valdez with their mother and
stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Zook.
New Choirs Planned
For Valdez Chapel
Rev. R. Teeter has organized
a new choir in the Valdez Chapel.
It is made up of 16 adult voices,
and includes soprano, alto and
bass sections.
The junior choir at the Chapel
also is to be organized soon. Fur
ther musical plans in Reverend
Teeter’s mind include the forma
tion of an instrumental section.
There are many instruments
available, he said.
SMETTERS LOOK
FOR THREE COWS.
BUT FIND FIVE
When the R. A. Smelters
family of Big Delia arrived in
Valdez last week to take de
livery of three cows consigned
to them here, they found five
bossies of varying sizes await
ing their new owners. One of
the cows had calved on the
trip north, bearing twins.
The Smelters also received
a horse on the same ship. The
family, which includes the
[ children Laddie and Mary Dar
1 lene, live on a homestead lo
[ caled 87 miles south of Fair
banks. They have lived on
their 160 acres there for the
past five years.
Sisters Move
Into New Apartment
Helen Long and Florence In
graham have moved into their
new apartment over the hardware
storage building. The sisters are
enjoying the spaciousness of their
two bedrooms, bath, living-din
ing room, and very modern
kitchen.
Construction work on the apart
ment has just been completed.
Claude File and Bob Jares were
the carpenters.
Soldier Fishes for Halibut,
Lands Six-Foot Octopus
Most astonished soldier vaca
tioning at the Seward Recreation
Camp recently, was the lad who
tussled with what he thought was
a good-sized halibut on a fishing
trip. After a considerable strug
gle, the G. I. hauled in his prize
and found he’d hooked an octupus
with a six-foot tenacles spread.
r
Iviauae rite weis
Gym Floor Contrct |
Claude File was awarded the
contract for laying the new ma
sonite floor in the Valdez Gym
nasium, the Valdez school board
announced this week. Mr. File
already has begun his job.
Youngsters and parents alike
are hoping that the new floor
will be ready for use in another
10 days.
STANDARD OIL
GETS NEW TANK
Construction on a new tank
for Standard Oil Company is
scheduled to get under way here
next Tuesday morning. The work
is being contracted by Morris &
Knutson.
ALASKA WEEKLY AGENT
LEAVES FOR CORDOVA
Mrs. Erna Taylor, conducting
a subscription campaign for the
Alaska Weekly, was in Valdez
for the past week. She left for
Cordova on Wednesday’s boat.
Director of Nurses Is Here
Miss Florence Eby, assistant di
rector of nurses for Alaska, was
a Valdez visitor this week. She
arrived last Monday and expect
ed to be here until Saturday.
Alfred Ghezzi of Alaska Freight
Lines, Inc., spent several days in
Valdez this week. He was here
on a business trip.
CITY NO LONGER
TO BE PARADISE
FOR ROAMING HOBOES
Valdez is taking down the
“Visitors, Welcome” legends that
long have made this city a mecca
for vagrants, alcoholics, ne-er
do-wells and panhandlers. The
city is insisting on a better qual
ity of summer migrants, in the
future.
For days, a number of men
have been seen weaving down
the streets, panhandling, and ob
structing traffic on the sidewalks.
All have been offered employ
ment and all have refused.
At first, the vagrants were con
tent with shacks constructed on
the city dump. When allowed to
come and go unmolested there,
they moved into Valdez proper,
the city council was told recent
ly. The climax came when some
of this debris of humanity in
vaded the City Hall and moved
into the newly-renovated council
chambers on the upper floor.
The city jail was taken over
by wanderers who sought shelter
for the night. “Now, isn’t that
going too far?” a member of the
police committee asked as he
snapped a padlock on the cell
door. There was a sleeping visitor
within, even as the councilman
fastened the lock.
Seven of the vagrants barri
caded themselves in a cabin,
within the city limits, and with
a rifle defied eviction. They were
evicted. ,
“Guess the city means busi
ness,” one was heard to say.
“Naw, they never do anything,”
the mastermind of their number
replied. That ringleader is an ex
convict, according to Federal au
r thorities.
But the men learned that the
-city could and would do some
thing. Blanket warrants, signed
by annoyed citizens, were hand
ed to deputy marshal Earnest
Allen and two arrests followed.
The defendants were tried and
found guilty in the court of Com
missioner Margaret Harrais 1"
Monday morning. The pair a ‘
now serving respective jail sen
tences of 20 and 30 days each,
in the Cordova jail. They also
are serving out $100 fines each,
at the rate of two dollars a day.
The effect was immediate on
thfe rest. However, warrants still
are ready to be served on any
who are found panhandling, tres
passing, intoxicated in a public
place, or making threats with a
dangerous weapon.
“It went too far. They were
given plenty of warning, given
plenty of chance to go to work,”
a spokesman for the city council
said. “There has been some ac
tion now, and there will be more.
And already some of these ‘winos’
have two strikes against them, in
prior convictions.”
The city council has felt that
heretofore Valdez has had no
need for a full-time policeman
nor for a municipal magistrate
with full powers. In past years,
when the Third District Court
was located in Valdez, Federal
justice handled the city’s law
breakers, as it still does when
required.
However the city council now
is discussing the employment of
a full-time policeman, or even
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