OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
64 th Year No. 126
NOME, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1963
Per Copy 15£
Nome C of C Calls for All-Out
Campaign for Nome-Fair banks Road
The regular Monday noon Cham
ber luncheon, presided over by
Pres. Frank Couch, heard reports
from two members and discussed
the coming annual Chamber
dinner.
The dinner, to be held this com
ing Saturday night, will be pre
ceded by a socal hour from 6:30
to 7:30 p.m. It will be in the North
Star’s Seaview Room, and all mem
bers and guests are advised to
phone for reservations. There will
be a surprise program which, ac
cording to President Couch, may
be another of those “masterpieces”
created and produced by the Cham
ber’s Fun Raising Committee.
Maurice Kelliher brought one
of the 12 golden painted cans to
the meeting. It was painted with
the words “One for the Road.”
These cans are scattered through
out the business houses in Nome,
explained Kelliher, to attract do
nations to a fund for the promo
tion of the Nome-Fairbanks Road.
Superintendent of Schools Vic
Charles reported on the recent
school board meeting held in Cor
dova. He stated that their street
and sidewalks are torn up due to
activity surrounding the installa
tion of a new sewer and water
system there. He also stated that
several new buildings are going
up in the location of the burned
out area. The members voted to
have their next annual meeting in
Anchorage, with Nome as a sec
ond choice.
Jim O’Sullivan reported on his
recent trip to Juneau as a mem
ber of the Governor’s Advisory
Committee representing North
western Alaska. This meeting, held
Oct. 15-16, is the first for this new
five-man committee. Attended by
Governor Egan and Commissioner
of Highways, D. A. McKinnon, the
meeting was for the purpose of
explaining the recent $400,000
Congressional allocation for a study
of the surface transportation needs
of Alaska. With representation of
NW C of C Elects Officers
Tho newly elected board of di
rectors of the Northwestern Alaska
Chamber of Commerce met Mon
day evening with members of the
outgoing board. The five elected
members, plus chamber president
Frank Couch, designated the fol
lowing terms for their board. Dr.
Fenstermacher and Pcarse Walsh,
three years, Don Hoover, Otto
Schultz and Bob Harwood each
two years.
The board of directors also
elected a president, vice-president,
secretary and a treasurer from their
combined group. These new offi
cers will be announced at the
Chamber banquet, Saturday night.
It is reported that this new
board will concentrate primarily
on promotion of the Nome-Fair
banks Road, and the publication of
new brochures illustrating tourist
attractions in our area.
SUPPORT SCOUTING
CONTRIBUTE TO
THE BOY SCOUT
FUND RAISING PROGRAM
t e Bureau of Public Roads and a
consulting firm present, the meet
ing was designed further to ac
quaint these gentlement with the
character of a study which the
State feels will put us in a favor
able position . . . transportation
wise . . . with the other states.
It was felt by Mr O’Sullivan that
this is the point where Nome must
make its big drive for support of
the road. President Couch respond
ed by commenting that he was sure
the new board of directors would
make this their Number 1 promo
tional interest of the Chamber. It
was further declared that Kotze
bue would undoubtedly lend their
support as the opening of this por
tion of Alaska by road will cer
tainly serve to promote all of
Northwestern Alaska.
Senator Bronson spoke on the
activities of the Legislative Coun
cil. He commented that Kendall’s
ouster was most justified in order
to maintain the dignity of the
Council. He reported further that
Senator Taylor’s charges were jus
tified and that he — Bronson —
| had seen evidence of Kendall’s
high temper.
Another point brought out by
Bronson was that of the economic
plight of natives made jobless as
a result of the mining company
shut down. He declared that there
are now 110 people unemployed,
and partly as a result of the lack
of employment in the mining field.
In a meeting with Governor Egan
and BIA Area Director Bennett,
the problem was aired with view
| of attempting to locate work or
j relocation for people rather than
welfare.
SAVOONGA BOY
SUFFERS EYE INJURY
Dick Galleher, owner of Munz
Northern Airways made an emer
gency flight at 10 Monday night,
taking 8 year old Hiram Okhtoki
yorik of Savoonga to the Alaska
Native Hospital in Anchorage.
The boy had been shot in the
eye by a B-B gun, and was brought
to the M-M-M Hospital in Nome
for treatment as an outpatient.
According to Dr. Fenstermacher,
attendant physician, the boy may
very likely lose sight in the eye.
It is hoped, commented the doctor,
that this serious incident may serve
as a warning to parents allowing
their children complete freedom in
the use of guns.
Area Engineer Here
Mr. L. E. Hough, Area Engineer
for the BPR out of Fairbanks, is
in Nome. He is making his regular
monthly inspection trip for the
purpose of checking progress of
road construction in company with
Bert Hyde. The only contractor
still working is Alcan Pacific. They
are currently working in the Tisuk
Bluestone area, and plan to fold up
for the winter within a short time.
There will be some work left in
that portion for the 1964 season,
comprised mostly of bringing the
road up to grade, stated Mr. Bert
Hyde, District Engineer for the
State.
Alaska Senators
Push for Gold
Subsidy Measure
WASHINGTON UP — A bill to ;
subsidize gold mining in the United
States was strongly supported to
day before a Senate Interior Sub
committee by Alaska Senators
Gruening and Bartlett, and a
spokesman for miners in Colorado’s
Cripple Creek area.
The bill, sponsored by Gruen
ing and Bartlett, would compen
sate gold miners for the difference
between present-day production
costs and costs in 1940. The gov
ernment froze the price of gold
at $35 an ounce in 1934 but pro
duction costs have risen steadily
since that time.
Max W. Bowen of Colorado
Springs, Colo., testified that the
measure would allow gold mines
to operate profitably in most of the
western states and Alaska. He said
it would benefit both small and
large operators. Bowen is execu
| tive vice president of the Golden
j Cycle Corp. and a spokesman for
Cripple Creek miners.
Bartlett said the gvernment has
driven all but what he called “the
most hard-headed hard rock miner
out of business.”
Gruening. the chairman of the
subcommittee, told his colleagues
the measure would overcome ob
jections to previous bills because
it would have no effect on the
price paid for gold.
Russian Catch Falling Off
WASHINGTON UP — Senator
Warren G. Magnuson reports that
the Russian catch of bottom fish
in the North Pacific and Gulf of
Alaska dropped to 500 million
pounds this year ... 100 million
pounds less than in 1962.
Magnuson, the chairman of the
Senate Commerce Committee,
which has jurisdiction in the na
tional fisheries field, says this
reflects the “exhaustive tech
niques” used by the Soviets with
huge trawler fleets, cannery ships
and tenders.
Magnuson said the Russians pull
up every fish in sight, and ‘‘as a
result it may take years for some
of these areas to be replenished
. . . if ever.”
The Senator said further that
the Russians tok between 50 and
75 million pounds of king crab
each year in that area.
Teachers Ask for
Definition of Punishment
The Nome School Board, with i
president Paul Mandeville in the j
chair, met last night. A run down i
on the state school board association
meeting recently held in Cordova
was given by Ash Craft, Doris
Wilke and Bob Schick, who had
attended the convention.
Seven teachers and two prin
cipals were in attendance to air a
protest of the board’s new policy
ruling on corporal punishment.
All teachers plus the principal and
Superintendent Vic Charles were
heard. After an hour of debate
it was concluded that the school
board had not intended that the
teachers would have no disciplin
ary authority but only that the
“corporal punishment” as defined
by the board — whipping —
would be administered by a prin
cipal exclusively.
Superintendent Charles brought
up the matter of the 1964-65 budget
and this was discussed at some
length.
Sharon Bell, physical ed teach
er, requested the board’s assistance
in the financing of a bowling course
in conjunction with her physical
education classes. Some 60 stu
dents will take part in a 6 week
bowling activity at the rate of
50 cents an hour — a special rate
OK’d by Aukruk Lanes. Member
Ash Craft moved that the activity
of bowling be made a part of the
physical education curriculum. By
so doing he has assured the par
ticipants that the school will bear
the expenses incurred. It was orig
inally anticipated by Mrs. Bell
that the students would have to
carry a large part of the cost.
Corn to Hungary
WASHINGTON UR — The Com
merce Department has issued a
license for export of 1,200,000
bushels of corn to Communist
Hungary.
The corn in question is valued
at slightly less than $2 million.
The export license was the first
granted for the shipment of grain
to East European nations since
President Kennedy approved the
sale of subsidized farm products
to the Soviet bloc two weeks ago.
Ludwig Krawarik of Austria re
ports that cows have sufficient
emotions to burst into tears. But
we never knew one to cry over
spilled milk.
Deerim* School Suffers Bla/e
Deering residents were awak
ened rudely at 2 a.m. last Sunday
morning by a fire at the BIA
school.
The fire, which started from
causes unknown, destroyed *:ie
light plant and building in which
it was housed, the ice house and
stored supplies, a warehouse and
contents, plus 90 drums of oil. 50
drums of gasoline and various
NOTICE TO TRAVELERS
Bert Hyde, district highway en
gineer, advises that the Safety
Ferry will be officially closed for
the season at 8 p.m. on Sunday,
October 27, 1963. It is possible,
cautioned Mr. Hyde, that freezing
temperatures will require its clo
sure before that time.
other petroleum products. The j
school building, standing about 30 J
feet distant ,\vas burned along ap- i
proximatelv eight feet of its ex
terior wall. There was no damage
to the interior.
Villagers and teachers fought the
fire with available extinguishers
and a bucket brigade, saving the
school building and other prop
erty. There were no injuries.
According to Dale Hollings
worth, BIA Area Field Represen
tative, an auxiliary light plant has
been flown in. On a visit to the
scene with Joe Chase, Plant Man
ager, the damage was surveyed
and estimated at $10,000. Plans are
being made to replace the burned
and damaged buildings, equipment
and supplies.
(ills Bjornstad
Passes al 83
Early Tuesday, Mr. John Gustaf
Bjornstad, age 83, passed away in
his home. Gus was bom in Walden,
Sweden, on December 6, 1880. He
migrated to the U.S. and became
an American citizen in Seattle
in 1906. His first visit to Alaska
was in 1907 as a seaman. Coming
during the Gold Rush, he visited
many parts of Alaska, and worked
at various jobs such as dredging,
carpentry and aboard ships.
In 1927 he married Ella Johnson
at St. Michael where they lived
until 1931, when they moved to
Nome permanently. Gus first
worked in Nome as a watchman
for Chester Milligan at the Sunset
dredge. Later he was employed,
and for many years, by Lomen
Commercial Company as a carpen
ter. During the period of the sec
ond world war he worked for the
Federal government doing various
jobs involving carpentry. Mr.
Bjornstad finally, and until his
retirement three years ago, en
tered into the realty business. He
was a very active member of the
| Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 1,
i from 1907.
Mr. Bjornstad is survived by
his wife Ella and three daughters.
Mrs. Bertha Wichels of Washing
ton, D. C., Mrs. Margaret Ellis of
Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. Katherine
Scott of Nome, in addition to three
brothers in Sweden. There are six
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held in
the Lutheran Church on Thurs
day, Oct. 24. at 12 noon.
VISITING C-A-P OFFICIAL
DRILLS LOCAL SQUADRON
First Lieutenant Margaret Cook,
Co-ordinator of Cadet Activities
for the Alaska Wing of the Civil
Air Patrol, visited the Nome Cadet
Squadron Monday evening.
Lieutenant Cook talked to the
cadets at their regular meeting,
concerning CAP activities, schol
arships, training, and opportuni
ties. After the regular meeting it
was found that she had been a
former drillmaster. The cadets
then volunteered themselves to be
drilled by the lieutenant for 45
minutes. She was highly compli
mentary of Nome’s cadets arid the
Squadron, and praised the cadets
for their attention and response
in meeting, and their proficiency
in drill.
WEATHER BUREAU REPORT
Mostly cloudy today, tonight and
tomorrow, with few light snow
flurries. North-westerly winds, in
creasing to 25 miles per hour.
Low tonight 18, high tomorrow
26.
Nome data last 24 hours as of
7 a.m. today: Temperatures: high
est 26, lowest 21. Maximum wind
24 miles an hour from the North
west. Sunrise at 7:18 a.m., sunset
at 4:17 p.m.
» The Harpoon «
School teachers rearmed.
Students — offensive _
suffer possible blow.