“News oj oAmericas Last Frontier”
VOL. 1
KODIAK ALASKA, NOVEMBER 1. 1941
NO. 35
Council Refuses
Legion License
An application for a club liquor
jicense by the American Legion,
which had been tabled at a pre
vious meeting, was turned down
by the city council at the regular
meeting Monday
The refusal was one of many
actions upon numerous business
matters brought to the attention
of the city fathers in a session
that lasted over four hours.
Jack A lman appeared before
the council on behalf of the Le
gion and explained that the li
cense was requested to be used
in the new building constructed
by them as housing for an officers’
dub. The question was raised as
to the legality of approving the
license for an outlet near re
ligious property, and after some
discussion as to the need of such
a facility it was brougnt to vote
and did not get the four votes
necessary for approval.
It is understood the Legion
will lease their building for an
officers’ club despite the council’s
action.
A request for an increase in
wages for members of the city
police force was read by Charles
Hopp, chairman, police com
mittee, in a letter signed by
patrolmen H. A. Lundsten, C. A.
Rauen, Ray Cote, Cliff Summer
Jin and Police Chief Charles Cook
The police committee recom
mended four raises $25 each for
lundsten, Rauen, Cote and
Cook Action to have the com
mittee draw up an ordinance
after confering with the city at
torney to provide for the in
creases was approved. The com
(continued on page 13)
Second U. S. Destroyer
Torpedoed Off Iceland
Washington, — The depart
ment announced today theU. S
Destroyer Reuben James, carry
ing about 120 officers q,nd men
was torpedoed and sunk last
night while convoying shipping
west of Iceland. It is not know n
yet how many men, if any, were
lost.
This is the second destroyer
torpedoed in two weeks. The 1 b
S. Destroyer Kearny previously
reported 11 members missing
The Kearny did not sink, how
ever. (See picture page 3.)
34 Are Killed in Planes
In Aviation’s Worse Day
&—Oct. 31—Today was the
most disastrous day in the his
tory of commercial aviation. Th
irty-four were killed in 2 crashes.
A Northwest Airline plane
trashed and burned near Fargo
North Dakota killing 14. At 10:
30 p.m. an American Airline
plane crashed at St. Thomas, On
tario, killing and burning 20.
Thanksgiving Changed,
Base Payday Switched:
Christmas Only Remains
Announcement from the base
that payday will be changed from
the immemorial Wednesday to
unaccustomed Thursday, begin
ning November 6, caused a flurry
this week.
It is reported the move was
made necessary by the increased
amount of time it has taken to
write the checks. Even addition
al check-writing machines ob
tained had not remedied the sit
uation.
Merchants are changing their
store hours to conform. Town
employees are being informed of
new shifts—and new days off.
The mid-week dances may be
changed to Thursday night.
Thursday will also be banking
night at the base from now on.
It is not expected however,
that any employee of the base
will refuse to call for his check
because of the change.
Roosevelt changed Thanksgiv
ing; now the base has changed
payday; at the time we go to
press there has been no newT date
set for Christmas—it will still be
December 25.
Voters Approve
KEA Franchise
Last Monday, the special elec
tion held for the purpose of rat
ifying recent action of the City
Council, in awarding the fran
chise for municipal light and
power to the KEA (Kodiak Elec
tric Assoc. Inc.) was favorably
voted upon by a count 102 in its
favor, while 5 registered their
vote of protest of such action.
This action by the Kodiak
voters, gives the KEA, a non
profit organization incorporated
under the laws of Alaska, the
privilege to accept the $125,000
loan which has been alloted to
Kodiak, for the construction of
an electric generating plant and
transmission lines which will ad
equately serve the entire com
munity, as well as those persons
living outside the city limits, on
Mission Bay and Mill Bay roads
The KEA will also absorb the
plant and equipment of the
Community Power Co., now
serving a number of unit-holders
H. H. Waller, project engineer
has been advised that E. A.
Wright, regional director uf con
struction, under the public
Works Administration, is now
in Seattle waiting word of the
slecton results before taking de
finite action on the Kodiak pro
ject. Both men will confer upon
Waller’s arrival at his Seattle
office.
Under the KEA franchise, all
versons desiring to use electricity
(continued on page 4)
Rotarians Plan
Giant Xmas Tree
“A Christmas Tree for Kodiak'’
was the main topic of discussion
st this week’s luncheon of the
Rotary Club, who immediately
designated “Dick” Clifton,
school superintendent, chairman
of the committee assisted by
Frank Herman and Merrill Coon
It was felt that a suitable
place in the center of the city .be
found, where a large tree could
be erected and the club would
decQrate it with ornaments and
electric lights suitable for the
coming Christmas season. The
matter of distribution of pre
sents or gifts for the children
was taken up and it was decided
to leave this responsibility to
some other civic organization.
Telegrams were read relative
to the requested increase of per
sonnel for the local post office as
well as additional space for stor
age of packages and mail sacks
waiting transportation around
Kodiak Island. Postmaster A
King received authority last
Thursday to employ th ee ad
ditional clerks and the necessity
for increased office space was be
ing investigated by the depart
ment
Four new members were ad
(continued page 4)
Eider Strikes Reef,
Ship's Crew Saved
Juneau — JP — Rumor that
the Fisheries boat Eider, return
ing to Seattle from summer pat
rol work about Kodiak Island
sank last Friday morning when
t struck a reef off Greentop Is
land near Prince Rupert, was
confirmed here by Supervisor
Clarence Olson Details are mea
ger.
The crew is reported at Prince
Rupert. It was annuonccd salvage
may be attempted.
The Eider was piloted by Cap
tain George Skarbo who has had
over 20 years of experience in
Alaskan waters. Also aboard
were Victor Leak, engineer, Ed
ward Davis, radio operator, Bill
King, seaman, George Thompson
cook and J. W. Walch. who is
well-known here. Mr. Walch was
formerly assistanc dredge super
intendent at the naval air station
The Eider was formerly the
Idaho, a gas screw halibut boat,
built about 1914 in Seattle. She
had been converted to diesel be
fore being assigned to the run as
a patrol boat for the Bureau of
Fisheries. She was 76 tons gross.
Before leaving this area the
Eider had towed Speedboat 8
from Sand Point to Kodiak to
replace her for the winter game
patrol.
Hospital Benefit Dance
And Bazaar To Be Held
On Friday, November 7
Ladies of the Guild are looking
forward to a week of busy activ
ity in winding up the work on
the many features of the Griffin
Memorial Hospital Bazaar and
Benefit Dance at Blinn’s hall
.November 7.
The ticket sale will continue
during the week and Mrs. C. W.
Crawford, ticket chairman, ex
pressed the hope that everyone
cooperate in their purchase.
The proceeds from the dance
will be given to the Griffin Me
morial hospital to aid in its work.
Besides the ticket sale reven
ue will be obtained from a var
iety of booths and concessions
which will be operated during
the dance.
The features include a Russian
samovar, a coin-decorated apron,
a turkey, sale of cakes and a
plant exchange. (See story page
12.)
By the time Friday arrives
everything will be in readiness
for what is expected to be one of
the most successful dances of the
season.
Seattle—-?—Major General
Blethen, 62, publisher of the
Seattle Times died at his home
here tonight after a prolonged
illness.
He was a prominent figure in
newspaper and army circles. He
was a World War Colonel in the
artillery.
Tolls On Highway
Declared Legal
Fairbanks-?— Judge Harry
E. Pratt of the U. S. District
Couit, Fourth Judicial division.
Alaska, sitting at Fairbanks, to
day handed down a forty-three
page decision declaring the Kich
ardson highway tolls legal.
The case was argued here last
month. Members of the Tanana
Valley Trucker’s association
brought suit against the govern
ment to test the validity of tolls
imposed on freight brought over
the highway from Valdez to
Fairbanks.
George Folta, attorney-at
large, Alaska, for the interior
department, represented the gov
ernment. John L.McGinn,counsel
for the truckers, said today they
will appeal to the circuit court of
appeals.
The case is a culmination of
years of fighting against tolls by
the highway truckers.
Judge Pratt contends, after
eliminating other points, “the
ultimate complaint by the de
fendant is that imposition of tolls
takes away their profit as cairiers
and only reason is freight rates
of the Alaska railroad are such
truckers cannot operate at a pro
fit and no law guarantees the
right to make a profit.”
KODIAK
A Year Ago This Week
January 22 was set as the day
)i registration for Alaska by Ma
or Gould .inspector ofthe seleet
ve service for the entire Pacific
aorthwest territory. Places for
registration have not been desig
nated yet.
The city council passed an ordi
nance prohibiting livestock from
ruuning at large, to go into effect
in 60 days
Charles Cook, well-known
hunter’ miner, trapper and trad
er was appointed chief of police,'
fire chief and fire wamlen at the
last city eouncil meeting.
The steamer Alaska, which re
cently went aground on a reef in
Arthur Passage, will arrive in
Seattle under her own power to
morrow.
James Stewart, the movie,
received notice his number was
drawn in the selective service lot
tery.
The first marriage within the
Naval Air station reseveration
occurred this week. Evelyn It.
Tbaine became the’bride of Wil
liam Haivala.
Von Scheele Given
Kodiak Mail Contract
Robert von Scheele, owner
captain of the powerboat Char
lotte B., has been notified by
Chief Clerk March of the U. S.
Postal Dept, that he was a
warded the mail contract for the
Kodiak Island run, effective
November 1st.
This contract, for a year, calls
for two round trips encircling the
island, a month and calls will be
made at all the villages and
camps enroute. Bids for the ser
vice were requested September
2nd and “Bob” received his of
ficial notice of award last week.
Four Charged With Vagrancy
Four members of the city pol
ice force raided a dwelling on
Beach road early Friday morn
ing and arrested Mrs. E. Barlette
owner of the residence. Sunpy
Kuntz, Mickey Ingram and Ahna
Fields, on a charge of vagrancy.
The dwelling was located ad
joining the “restricted district”
and was included in the area
which the City Council refused
last Monday night, to make an
addition to such restricted area
due to complaints being made by
local businessmen.
City Magistrate Naught on
levied fines of approximately $50
on each of the parties involved.
South America has nearly twice
the area of Europe but only one
sixth the population.