Valdez News
City Council Adopts Building Control Ordinance
Business Volume Here
Skyrockets in ’48-’50,
Blst. Engineer Told
The great increase in trucking
operations over the Richardson
Highway during the past two win
ters led to a 100 per cent increase
in the volume of business in Val
dez in 1949 as compared to the
business of 1947, J. W. Gilson of
the First Bank of Valdez testified
at the April 20 small-boat harbor
hearing. Estimates available on
the volume of business for the
first half of 1950 indicate that
there will be a 50 per cent jump
in this year’s total over the 1949
figure, the banker said.
Those facts were presented be
fore Col. L. E. Seeman, District
Engineer for Alaska, who had
scheduled the public hearing to
determine the need for improve
ments in the Valdez small boat
harbor. Colonel Seeman was ac
companied to the hearing by L.
A. Stanley, H. L. Moats and re
corder Kathleen Kleindt.
The hearing was held in the
Valdez School, before a disap
pointingly small audience of local
business men, employes of gov
ernment services, local fishermen,
members of the Valdez city coun
cil, and airways officials. The
hearing also touched on the
waterpower and flood control sit
uation in Valdez.
Mr. Gilson’s report stressed the
fact that dock improvements now
under way, together with plans
for new home construction here,
point toward the continuation of
increased activity at the port of
Valdez.
Colonel Seeman was acquainted
with figures concerning Valdez’
population, industries, the hinter
land which looks to Valdez for
supplies and medical care, and
the number of boats now using
Continued on Back Page)
PALMER TRUCK STARTS
WEEKLY SCHEDULED
RUN TO VALDEZ
Another new service that will
more closely link Palmer and
Valdez was inaugurated this
week, with the announcement of
a weekly scheduled freight haul
between the two cities. The an
nouncement comes from Carl
Meier of Palmer Transfer, who
initiated the service this week.
Mr. Meier will leave Palmer
each Monday morning and will
depart from Valdez some time
Tuesday. If the volume of his
business increases enough to war
rant it, he plans to make a sec
ond scheduled run the latter part
of the week, he said.
The trucker will deliver pro
duce, milk, eggs, ice cream and
dairy products to Valdez markets
and to lodges, resorts and con
struction camps along the Glen
and Richardson Highways.
On the return haul from Val
dez, Mr. Meier expects to carry
general freight.
Valdez merchants who wish to
leave a freight order for Palmer
Transfer may leave a message for
Mr. Meier at either the Valdez
Dock office or the Valdez Hotel.
The trucker, as one service of
his new enterprise, will carry the
Valdez copies of the Valley Fron
tiersman. This will assure deliv
ery of the paper to Valdez late
Monday. The news dispatched by
Mrs. Jack Thatcher, Valdez cor
respondent, also will leave with
the trucker on his Tuesday re
turn trip.
Mr. Meier has been operating
a trucking business in the Palmer
area for the past nine years. He
began a Palmer - Anchorage
freight haul in 1941.
Mrs. Larry Herman and niece,
Miss Rowena Redmond, were
linner guests of Mrs. Fawcett and
Bill Hunt on Thursday, April 20.
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TWO ARE HURT
IN DOCK MISHAPS
Two injuries were reported on
the Valdez dock recently. Louis
Anderson, a dock worker, was
crushed against the side of a
warehouse by a jitney.
Mr. Anderson was hospitalized,
where examination and x-rays
did not immediately determine
the full extent of his injuries. He
remained a patient at Valdez
Community Hospital for further
observation.
The second accident involved a
crew member from one of the
ships discharging cargo. The man
was struck by a swinging cable.
He suffered a head injury, but
was not hospitalized. Dr. Ken
neth Ham treated the man for a
scalp would.
Valdez Contributes $178
In '50 Red Cross Drive
Valdez collected $178.28 in the
annual Red Cross drive here this
year, it was reported this week
by Mrs. Bob Jeris, drive chair
man. That figure fell short of the
$212 quota expected from Valdez.
However the latter figure repre
sented an increase of almost $100
over the amount allotted to Val
dez in 1949.
! _
! OUR REPORTER'S BEEN SICK
Mrs. Jack Thatcher was con
I fined to her home by illness this
j week. (Editor’s note: However,
i good reporter that she is, she
propped her notebook on her
knee and got the news off on
I schedule. We appreciate it.)
i
First Graders Are Guests
Of Other Primary Pupils
At School Party
Second and third grade pupils
of Mrs. Dolan’s at Valdez School
recently were hosts to the first
grade students of Mrs. Mable An
derson at an afternoon party. The
second and third graders served
punch and cookies to their guests.
As favors, the pupils received
colored eggs and Easter candy.
FIRE DAMAGES
ALLEN KITCHEN
A fire on April 16 damaged a
kitchen and storeroom in the
home of Ernest Allen, U. S. dep
uty marshall here. Damage was
placed at $1,500 by Mr. Allen.
Origin of the blaze is unknown.
Only prompt and efficient ac
tion by the Valdez volunteer fire
lighters saved the Allen home
from more serious damage. The
alarm sounded at 2:20 p.m. and
the fire was completely con
' rolled at 3:30.
John Kelsey, acting fire chief,
directed the fire fighting opera
tions. Mr. Kelsey temporarily
heads the volunteers during Don
ald J. Williams’ absence in the
! states.
VALDEZ VOTE GOES
DEMOCRATIC, AS DOES
REST OF 3rd DIVISION
Valdez voters registered pre
dominantly Democratic senti
ments at last Tuesday’s primary
election. Balloters strayed into
Republican ranks only twice —
once to favor Gunnard Engebreth
for the Senate and again to re
member its own Andrew Day.
Republican candidate for the
House.
Valdez voters favored incum
bent E. L. Bartlett, Democrat, for
delegate to Congress by 113 to 30
ballots cast for his Republican op
ponent, Aimer J. Peterson.
In the race for commissioner of
labor. Ross Kimball got the Dem
ocratic nod with 43 votes. In
cumbent Henry A. Benson polled
28 votes for the Republican nom
ination.
Gunnard Engebreth. Republi
can, got 62 votes for the Senate
nomination. Victor Rivers, Dem
ocrat, was credited with 73 votes.
In the wide-open scramble for
House seats, the top seven Demo
crats in the Valdez voting line up
this way:
William Egan 122. Stanley Me
Cutcheon 71, Jack Scarvenius 60.
Chester Carlson 45, Jack Con
right 38, J. A. McCracken 34, Pat
Cannon 25.
Republican leaders in the vot
ing for the House positions were:
Andrew Day 52, M. D. Snod
grass 29, Victor Gill 28, Will
Chase 27, Richard Call 18, Archie
McLane 18 and Lee McKinley 17.
Honor Society Group
Plans Projects
WASILLA—The National Hon
or Society chapter of Wasilla
High School has begun a ‘lost and
found department’ project. The
junior chapter of the Honor So
ciety has made their project that
of papering and remodelling the
nurse’s room in the Wasilla
School.
FOX-FARMERS VISIT
Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Fletcher
recently visited in Valdez for a
few days. The Fletchers, long
ime Alaskan residents, now live
on Fairmount Island where they
are engaged in fox-farming.
Valdez Gives $73 to ACCA
Valdez has given $73.75 to the
Alaska Crippled Children’s As
sociation in January and Febru
ary of this year, it was reported
this week by the ACCA treas
urer. The figure reported repre
sents membership fees and con
tributions.
TRAIL MAKES HISTORY IN '50
The mid-April openirfg of the
Richardson Highway between
Gulkana and Big Delta marked
the earliest date in history that
the road has been opened to
spring traffic. The Richardson
made history last winter, too,
when it was kept open to year
round traffic from Copper Center
to Valdez.
BUILDERS MUST GET
SPECIAL PERMIT
FROM CITY COUNCIL
With an eyebrow lifted toward
the “boom town” buildings that
have mushroomed in several
Alaskan cities during recent
years, the Valdez city council last
week took the first step toward a:
municipal building code.
Council members adopted an
ordinance which requires a per
mit for: (1) any new construc
tion, (2) any additions to exist
ing structures, and (3) the mov
ing of any existing structures
to a new location.
Council members emphasized
that they do not wish to hamper
| new construction, but they would
like to apply some measure of
! control that will prevent the erec
tion of shanties and “temporary'
! structures” in business and resi
| dential areas. It was pointed out
; that these so-called “temporary’-*
| buildings in other towns have*
! proved great obstacles to the
! town’s planned development.
Requirements of the ordi
i nance provide that any Valdez
j resident planning to build, as
outlined above, must appear be
fore the council and explain his
plans for building. After listen
ing to the plans, the council will
approve or disapprove a build
ing permit.
Violation of the ordinance will
be considered a misdemeanor and.
is punishable by fine.
School board members ap
peared before the council to ask:
approval of the hiring of an
added grade teacher for next
term. Estimates of the expected"
population of Valdez School
next fall now total about 140
pupils, an increase in attend
ance of 60 over the present
term's total.
Council members questionecf
l.he board concerning the progress
>f Valdez High School toward ac
creditation. It was pointed out
fhat although that factor does not
necessarily insure a good school,
it is a point that parents weigh
strongly when considering their
children’s high school education.
Board members said they
would hire only fully accredit
ed teachers hereafter. It was
felt that other barriers would
not be difficult to overcome.
A member of the council sug
| gested that in the future the hir
i mg of husband and wife teaching
| teams be avoided, in the interests;
of harmony within the school.
The school board promised to
I Veep that factor under considera
I tion.
Council members again hint
ed broadly that they would ap
preciate feminine assistance on
May 25, when Seattle Chamber
of Commerce members wilf
visit here. It was suggested
that a buffet supper, with typ
ical Alaskan foods contributed
by Valdez businesses and cooked
with the unsurpassed skill of
(Continued on Back Page)