03 Jun 1949
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 31 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Alaska Petersburg Press
Location
Petersburg, Alaska, United States of America
Date
Jun 03, 1949
Page
1
Rando Thoughts from Another Town Council meeting is cancelled for lack of a quorum. Councilman Jensen was in town seeking a special session but commitments kept others away. The town delays a sales tax program which could have started June 1, costing at least 3500 dollars. recruitment for public works remains tight and mayor Carl is missing.
Lt Gen Water Bedell Smith, former ambassador to Russia, told the New York Chamber of Commerce that Stalin once said the West does not want war but values peace less, arguing Russian people have political goals and a secret police more efficient than in czarist times. He, now commander of the First Army, warned uprisings against the Soviet regime are unlikely.
Hughes engineers develop a twin jet helicopter codenamed XH-17 designed to haul tanks and artillery up to ten tons. The craft would be as large as a railroad boxcar with 136 foot rotor span powered by five J-35 engines. Cost details are confidential with design rights paid to Kellett Aircraft. The Hughes monster, a 60 foot flying boat, remains at Long Beach awaiting tests.
An audit shows Alaska Steamship Co and Northland Transportation with affiliates earned 1.858 million dollars during May 1947 to December 1948 under interim shipping arrangements with the Maritime Commission. Executives Skinner and Anderson each drew 46 500 in salaries. profits were split across chartered and private vessels with ties to Alaska Terminal and Ketchikan Wharf. Congressman Jackson pushed for a House inquiry into stevedoring, terminal work, and ship repairs with further hearings planned by the Merchant Marine and Fisheries committee.
U S Engineers plan to invite bids for a Nome Alaska seawall project. The 12 to 18 foot high, 3,350 foot long wall runs along the beach east of the east jetty. Two options: rock mound Derrick stone wall or steel sheet pile wall backfilled with rock. Work to begin in 1949, with initial phase due by September 1949.
Clarence Wick of Wick and Hilgers Portland Oregon spent a few days this week in town to supervise progress on the new Trading Union store. He departed south on Wednesday.
Edward Mortrow, formerly of Petersburg, died last Saturday in Ketchikan General Hospital. He will be buried in Bellingham, Washington, according to the Ketchikan Mortuary. Remains were sent south on the steamship Denali. No other details are available.
Local fishermen report halibut quotas nearing completion with about 25 million pounds caught. Area boats average three trips this year, some four or five on smaller crafts. crews may move to larger vessels as midnight deadline approaches. Earl Ohmer comments on the activity and shift westward.
At the May 26 meeting C A Harris described a compost recipe using garden soil shrimp shells kelp seaweed and sod to cover the pile. He warns flies will infest an uncovered pile and the fertilizer may fly away in spring. Members note Arctic Seedling potatoes at Oscar Sandvik’s home and urge early calls. The group shares a root maggot warning affecting cabbage cauliflower radishes and beets with a two week plant treatment after reaching one and a half inches high.
Secretary Francis P. Mathews addressed 790 Naval Academy graduates urging against indecision or defeatism across the armed services. He discussed upcoming unification legislation, insisting it would not alter core naval power or American sea supremacy while strengthening defense authority.
Walt Peterson and George Nicholson caught twenty inch cutthroat trout at Sec ret Cové near Rue Heintze's area. Memorial Day anglers reported good fishing at Petersburg Lake and several trout derby entries are expected next week with fish on display at Wasvick and Torwick's store.
Wrangell reports Abe here this week and Melvirt Brady and Lindy prepare for a transition. Mrs Brady is expected to join, with Lindy planning to move as the replacement takes over permanently.
Union leader Harry Bridges said the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union will continue to fight a Juneau court verdict against it, even if appeal fails. He warned the Taft Hartley Act suit could force the union out of business and spoke amid perjury indictments. Bridges spoke to a Portland group and planned a second meeting in Seattle.
Spencer Hestad and Dickie Harris were named fishermen of the week in the Elks Junior Trout Derby. Each caught a Dolly Varden trout at Sheldon's cannery, with Harris winning a one dollar fishing tackle certificate for the larger fish. Grand prize details to be announced. judging based on length.
Delegate Bartlett of Alaska said the House Rules committee is ready to act on the Alaska Statehood Bill and submit it to the House for action. He told a reporter the committee is prepared to move ahead.
Two king salmon were entered this week in the Salmon Derby. Conner Kinnear caught both on light fishing tackle, one weighing 14 pounds 7 ounces at the Narrows end by the bell buoy, the other 14 pounds 1 ounce at Point Frederick. A weekly entries list will be published.
May 1949 saw 6.02 inches of precipitation. The high reached 71.0 degrees on May 26, and the low fell to 28.2 degrees on May 1.
The Telephone Franchise was signed at City Clerk's office on Wednesday by Lloyd Swanson, with Mrs Lillian Swanson yet to sign. City official C A Krantz noted the pending signature.
Jamies Weeks, longtime resident of Sitka, passed away recently according to the Sitka Pioneer. The notice lists no further biographical details in the fragmented text.
Senate blocked the 15 million dollar Alaska housing program from the Second Deficiency bill. An ongoing Housing and Home Finance Agency investigation will report soon, after which Delegate Bartlett said the money would be added to the Third Deficiency bill. Magnuson urged approval but was defeated. McKellar said committee lacks facts for funding.
A Seattle dispatch reports the Alaska housing funds, authorized by both houses but not yet appropriated, trigger a Senate conflict. Senator Magnuson denounces an aids trip to Alaska as duplicative after Raymond M. Foley backed the program. Alaska’s February housing act aimed to access a 15 million federal revolving fund with a 250 thousand state appropriation.
The Petersburg Emblem club held a May social meeting with Mrs. Ragnar Stokke and Mrs. Tony Schwamm in charge. Prizes went to Mrs. Per Sather in bridge and to Mrs. Richard Beal and Mrs. Ernest Sarff in pinochle. A luncheon was served. President Mrs. Harold Sisson reminds members of the June 14 annual election. dues must be paid to vote.
Ballard flew south yesterday to handle business for the Trading Union in Botlas. The trip aims to advance ongoing commercial negotiations and strengthen regional ties over the coming weeks.
Plans for a town Fourth of July gala by the Volunteer Fire Department advance with posters to be printed and placed publicly. Chairman Ed Hagerman outlines the program and notes a potential change in parade judging, with up to twenty volunteers chosen randomly to judge entries. Jim Taylor oversees parade lineup at the canneries and will set judging rules later. A tennis court project prompts discussion on construction and possible weekly work nights.
The House Armed Services subcommittee backs Delegate Bartlett's bill to authorize a 7.668 million construction program for the Alaska Communication System. Projects span maintenance offices family quarters and utilities at Adak Anchorage Bethel Cordova Kouzbue Mile 33 Petersburg Portage Kodiak Anchorage Big Delta Cathedral Bluffs Cape Fanshaw Cold Bay Ellison Field Fairbanks Haines Juneau Lera Point Mitchel Point Naknek Narrow Point Nome Port Agassiz Skagway Thane Ketchikan and Seattle with specific allocations listed for each site.
In San Francisco a federal judge may order eight reluctant witness es to testify before the Grand Jury that indicted Harry Bridges, CIO Union president, on perjury and conspiracy charges. Frank Slaby again refused to testify, with his attorney seeking to quash subpoenas. The judge postponed action, and the Grand Jury recessed until Monday.
Last Saturday around noon firemen fought a cross fire in a vacant lot opposite the hospital, likely started by children with matches. Early Thursday morning crews responded to a small blaze on the Royal City boat caused by an overheated stove, skipper Harold Hofstad.
The Supreme Court held that the Secretary of the Interior may include tidelands in the Karluk Indians of Alaska reservation but may not grant exclusive fishing rights. The ruling revises Alaska Fisheries regulations and sends the case back to district court with a 30 day window for new action while maintaining an injunction against the fishing ban.
Fish landings detail halibut amounts by boat and captain for the week ending May 27. To Thompson entries include Dannie D 7000 Ira II 40000 31A678 3100 Falcon 4500 31G188 2600 31B13 1200 Hazel S 7000 Midway 17000 To Kayler Dahl items list RBo t's 30000 Surf 16000 Raider 6000 Lois W 14500 To Ohmer Sherman 6000 Katie 7500 Aprlivering to Coop Pearl F Vv ai
Junior church for children of all ages continues through the summer at 9:45 a.m. Sundays. Mrs. Wilmer Oines leads in June with a single group format replacing the regular Sunday school while earthquake themed text is used.
All Boy Scout parents planning a trip to White and Eagle River must register by June 7. The $2.00 fee and forms go to Ronald Sarff. direct inquiries to him.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.