The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, September 22, 1939, Page 12

12 DR. GRUENING REVIEWS TWO ALASKA BOOKS Governor-Designate Likes Guide, Deplores Franck Travel Volume Governor-Desig- nate Ernest ruening’s acquain- tance with Alaska and of nis straight-shooting and hard-hitting qualities is given by two book re- views published recently in Saturday Review of Literature. Dr. Gruening reviews the lent Federal Writers' Project Guide To Alaska,” already reviewed by The Empire, and traveler Harry PFranck's namby-pamby commercial pot-boiler “The Lure of which is about as bad as any book about Alaska could be Dr. Gruening, Director of the Di- vision of Territories and Island Possessions of the Department of the Interior and who has been ap- pointed to succeed Gov. John Some idea of tate to praise the good book and damn, in polished and incisive lan- guage, the bad. Here are the two reviews: A Guide to Alaska. By Merle Colby. (Federal Writers’ Pro- ject.) New York: The Macmil- lan Co. 1939, 427 pp., with in- dex. $3. This is the most important gen- eral and descriptive book about Alaska in print. It comes as near to being the definitive work about that vast and varied area as is possible in a compact, readable, one-volume study. Complete, au- thoritative, - profusely and excel- lently illustrated with -photographs and line drawings by F. Lo Pinto, and superbly written, this book supplies the traveler and tourist, the student and general reader, with information long eagerly sought, but hitherto nowhere avail- able. The work is admirably organized It discusses and corrects popular errors about Alaska, treats its his- tory, topography, resources, com- merce, transportation, ethnic com- position, government, and then subdividing the territory into regions, gives detailed but never excessive data, descriptions, and anecdotes of each. Trips and tou:s with the cost of each are listed. A bibliography on Alaska and maps round out this unique combination of guidebook and encyclopedia But lest the reader gather that we are dealing with but a dry and | perhaps tedious compendium, let it be recorded that this book stands out above all for its literary quality. Its author, Merle Colby, has brought to his task his novel- ist's perception and his craftsman- ship and particularly his love for, and understanding of the frontier.| The result is a permanent record of that dwindling section of the| world wherein still dwells the pio- neer. |ann | the red | aged Confer on the | | Alaska,” | A Polish military mis sures. Poland’s main army, which rative are many space permits men- few. Mr. Franck thermometer drop- degrees at Bettl Alaska’s lowest | T i5—176 degrees rsuch a travel inaccuracies tioning only speaks of the | ping ' below—80 and Wiseman corded temperature at Tanana fifths of the whites are males.” T 1930 census | ratio is 2.28 to 1, not 4 to 1. Mata- nuska Colony had 201 original fam- ilies, not 245. “More than 10,000 acres are now under cultivation’ in the Matanuska Valley. It is le: than half that area. He that the = Copper Railroad $17,000,000. Tt 000,000 Alaska Railroad ha ly more than a million in until last year The the Alaska Railroad more than a million in but three years of the 14 of its operation, 1925, 1926, and 1930; its steadily diminishing deficits in the six years from '31 to '36 aver- a quarter of a million doi lars, and in the years '37 and '38 there has been a profit—a highly creditable showing. The North Star is referred to three times as a revenue cutter. It is no part of the U. S. Treasury Coast Guard service, but conducted by the Di- vision of Territories chiefly the benefit of the Office of In- dian Affairs in Alaska. Cook’s In- let tide is given at 60 feet — 38 feet is the highest recorded dif- ference between flood and ebb tic na a say cost The been fact that has lost The Lure of Alaska. By Harry A. Franck. New York: Fred- | erick A. Stokes. 1939. 306 pp. | $3.50. Mr. Franck has browsed all over the world and written about his meanderings, Such travel narra-| tives naturally cannot and do not lay claim to completeness and au- thority. Still, this latest title sug-| gests a somewhat more definitely self-appointed task than the many | previous versions of “Va.gabondmg} through So-and-So Land.” The| choice of Alaska was timely and| happy, since as contemporary trav- | el abroad grows less attractive, the attention of Americans turns in- creasingly to their own land, a trend which the Federal govern- ment is seeking to foster. The theme is challenging. Alaska is a geographic empire, the great- est habitable wilderness remaining on our planet. Superimposed on the map of the United States it would touch the Atlantic and Pa- cific Oceans, the Mexican and Can- adian borders. Within this im- mense area are the loftiest peaks of North America, the highest in the world rising directly from the sea, thousands of miles of sensa- tional fjord-indented coast, the vastest glaciers, the largest areas of virgin forest in the temperate zone, active volcanoes, abundant wild life, the unique totem-pole cul- ture. It is the last frontier. Among Alaskans survives the American genus; pioneer: the struggle to| wrest a living from nature in much of Alaska still takes precedence over conflict with one's fellow man Of these fundamentally alluring aspects, Mr. Franck's book reveals littie. One searches in vain for de- scriptions of the stupendous scen- ery, of the unique contrast of sea and high mountains, of untrod for- ests, of myriad lakes and water- falls, of the brilliant colors of massed flowers. There are data about game, but no sense of the thrill of seeing several thousand ! caribou leisurely cross the trail| within a stone's throw, of moose | and bear leaping away into the brush, of mountain sheep and| eagles aloft. Casual references are made to some aspects of the fron-| tier spirit’ (“The Friendly, hospi-| table room-for-all-atmosphere of Alaska”) but Mr. Franck has really missed Alaska’s epic quality. Less important a shortcoming in| | abundantly “Oats, rye and barley produce moe in some parts of Al- aska” than in the States. Alaska partisans wish it were so! Amoag Franck's various plaints is that fow’ good order, is reported ready to keep (‘.l'x'm;‘my reocc ¢ ) a determined stand in southeast Poland. Gen. Norvig Neugebauer is victured (center) with two aides. Americans, for | THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, FRIDAY, SEPT. 22, 1939. War Plans | p 1. 1. N. Cablephoto 1 fon arrives in London to coordinate British, | French and Polish offensive and to report on Poland’s defensive mea- | on advice of allies has retreated in preoccupied in East by | | | non-residents, who go to Alaska have to pay $50 for a| hunting license, twice the cost to| an alien. The reverse is true: the| alien has to pay $100. Mr. Franck credits Anderson and Taylor with| the first, Hudson Stuck with the| second, ascent of Mt. McKinley. On | this still controversial issue he should have consulted Edwin Swift Balch’s objective “Mt. McKinley and Mountain Climbers' Proofs.” Mr. Franck's “The Lure of Al- aska” is far below his “Roaming in Hawaii,” which with some suc- cess conve 1 atmosphere of those lovely isles to the rcader That is the essential requirement | of a travel book. Mr. Franck has done and can do a lot better. - - THREE-WAY TIE OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 22—A bull dog in a bullpen is as dangerous as the proverbial bull in the china \op, three Omaha policemen learn- ed Officer Jesse Kuncl tried to put a prisoner in the bullpen. The man’s dog protested. In a general free- for-all Kuncl emerged with a bite' on the ankle, Officer Robert Cra- ren with a bite on the hand, and | Officer Frank Yost with a I)A(H}"‘ snagged uniform. The dog went to the humane so- ciety, the prisoner stayed in the pen, and the officers sought a doc- tor and tailor. .- LOLA’S BEAUTY SHOP | Will be closed from Sept. 11 about Oct, 15. to t ;m CAN SEE WITHOUT OPENING THE OVEN DOOR! JO11Se Electr THE WM’WITH “LOOK-IN" DOOR ano OVEN LIGHT Come in! .. . See this newest Westinghouse Eléctric Range. It’s the talk of the town! Flip a switch . . . see the food in the lighted oven . . then you’ll agree that here is a grand new contribution to the convenience and enjoyment of baking and roasting the modern electrical way. See the Victor’s “exclusive Kitchen-proved features «..its Corox Economizer . . Economy Cooker . SuperOven — found only in Westinghouse Electric Ranges. See its many other advanced features, too . . « designed to save your time and lighten wour work. Parson’s Eleetrie Co- 140 South Seward EVERY HOUSE NEEDS WESTINGHOUSE 0Old Eskimo Village Is | Found Now Report of the discovery of an Es- kimo village believed to be more than 2,000 years old has been brought to Seattle by Helge Larsen, It revealed a culture different in Copenhagen, Denmark, says a re- cent Post-Intelligencer. The rare archeological find wa unearthed near Ipiutax, at Poir Hope, on the northernmost coast of Alaska It re many found ealed a culture different ni respects from that hitherto either in Alaska or Green- land, Larsen said. He said that the more than 200 primitive dwellings had central fire- places, rarely found in more modern Eskimo villages, and that stone lamps, common in later culture: were entirely missing The dwellir in four rows, k ed the characteristic long entrance Ageways, he related. Larsen was accompanied on the expedition by E. P. Rainey and Louis Geddings of the faculty of the Uni- versity of Fairbanks. Some of the relics were removed to the University of Alaskaa’s mu- seum. - BIERMAN LOSES NINE STARTERS; CAN STILL SMILE By the AP Feature Service MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22.—Ber- nard William Bierman, pigskin pro- fessor at Minnesota, seems to be en- joying his football more at Minne- sota this fall than ordinarily. The two Golden Gopher defeats last year convinced the rabid home fans that there just isn’t any such thing as an unbeatable outfit. So everybody settled down to get- ting a little more fun out of the game and perhaps that took some pressure from Professor Bierman thus accounting for his attitude. Anyway some of the folks size up the situation that way. Bierman may be more than just philosophi They reckon he may be count- ing on winning lot of football games With a record of 43 victories and eight defeats, four Big Ten titles and three mythical national erowns t Minnesota, Bierman could be excused for setting his sights right straight down the win column. Looking at a thing from a cold, impersonal viewpoint you find that the 1938 Big Ten champs lost two starting guards, a starting end, a starting tackle, the two top centers, and three starting backs. That's a For Best SHEAFFEP@PE"O:mGnce Use It lows freely dries quickly onc not cl A BARGAIN AT OMLY ! S165. ASK AB OUR EASY PURCHASE PLAN Telephone 161 IRN420.. G | ne out of eleven. And six other cttermen also graduated. A great collection of backs is avail- ible, including a sophomore half 1amed Bruce Smith, who is getting lots of Ballyhoo. The ends rate well and so do the centers. The ackles and vanguards present the genuine guess. Captain Win Ped- erson heads the tackle unit which prove its class, but the guards are just plain unknowns. The conference fight this year is xpected to center around North- western, Michigan, Purdue and Ohio State. Minnesota plays them all along with Wisconsin and Towa. Nebraska and Arizona supply the non-conference flavor to the sched- ule, R BRITISH SET OCT. 1 AS DAY OF PRAYER LONDON, Sept. 22—The Arch- bishop of Canterbury “with the ap- proval of the king” announced that CiviL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS The United States Civil Service, Commission has announced open coempetitive examinations for the positions listed below. Except for the various grades of engineering draftsmen for work on ships, appli- | cations must be on file in the Com- | mission’s office in Washington not | later than November 11, 1939. Engineering draftsman (for work on ships): Chief grade, $2600 a year; principal grade, $2,300 a year; senior grade, $2,000 a year; full grade $1.800 a year; assistant grade $1,620 a year. are included. Applications will be rated as received until further no- tice. Applicants for grade must not have passed their forty-fifth birthday, and for the other grades they must not have passed their sixtieth birthday. Chief engineering draftsman Sunday, October 1, “has been ap-| (mechanical), $2,600 a year; also pointed as a day of national prayer.” | —————— FALL DANCING CLASSES Now enrolling. Phone Dorothy S. Roff, Red 119, 315 Third St. adv. = OCTOBER FOOD SAVINGS THIS AD GOOD SATURDAY, MONDAY and TUESDAY, September 23, 25, 26, Inclusive! BEING SOLD APPLES FIG BARS FRESH FANCY | 000 a year. PIGGLY WIGGLY ALWAYS P 0T AT‘,ES FINEST U §. NO. 1 YA 25 v s 79¢-50 ... CASABA MELONS - GRAPEFRUI ORANGES omer BULK CARRO principal, $2,300 a year, senior, $2,- The optional branches are: Air conditioning, heating, re- frigeration, plumbing and power plant. Applicants must not have Various optional branches | the assistant | passed their fifty-third birthday. Galley designer, $3,800 a year, U. S. Maritime Commission. College education and-or experience in de- signing galleys for large ships or kitchens for large institutions are required. Applicants must not have | passed their fifty-third birthday. | Air carrier inspector (radio), $3,- 800 a year, Civil Aeronautics Au- | thority. Technical aeronautical ra- | dio experience is required, except for partial substitution of college study in electrical or radio engin- eering. Applicants must have reached their twenty-eighth but must not have passed their fifty- third birthday. Head scientist-astronomer, to he director of the Nautical Almanac at the Naval Observatory, Navy De- partment, Washington, D. C. The salary is $6,500 a year. Applicants must have received the Doctor of Philosophy or equivalent based on major study in astronomy and mathematics. In addition they must have had certain experience in practical and theoretical astronomy, or in teaching astronomy and math- ematics. Applicants must not have passed their fity-third birthday. Junior domestic attendant (seam- stress), $1,320 a year, Bureau of Home Economics, Department of Agriculture. Certain high-school e e e e A study, or a dressmaking course in a technical or trade institution, and commercial dressmaking experience are required. Applicants must have reached their eighteenth but must not have passed their thirty-fifth birthday. Full information may be obtained at Room 311, Federal and Terri- torial Building, Juneau, Alaska. - BOY MOVES BED, MISSES LIGHTNING SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Sepf. 22— All summer long, Leroy McKenzie, fifteen, had been sleeping on the porch of his home, Then his neigh- bor, Bobby Turner, invited him over to spend the night . While Leroy was away, lightning struck the porch bed. All that was left of the bed clothing was ashes. - PIANO INSTRUCTION Experienced instructor now en- rolling piano students. For infor- mation call Mrs. C. Robert White, Blue 660. adv, Lo The Book ALASKA, Revised and Enlarged, Now On Sale; $1.00, Il HAS THE FINEST SELEC TION AND QUALITY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT THE MARKET AFFORDS. BELOW IS JUST A SAMPLE OF THE ITEMS AND PRICES THAT CAN BE HAD AT YOUR PIGGLY WIGGLY. SWEET P”TAT”ESNMD Ml-;l{ll}M SIZE 3. 29¢ BANANAS V(]ULDEN RlPE—ifiT SOLID .. FINE SOLID JONATH! GIANT SIZE CHOCOLATE FLAVORED _ NUBORA SOAP POWDER 43 GRANDMA'S—FRESH and TASTY! HOME MADE COOKIES -~ 25c MALTED MILK B B lrpound tin 39(: LIBBY IR—tall tins . - 2 for 250 LIBBY'S PINEAPPLE JUICE - 3ss- 28 PINEAPPLE TIDBITS - 3 25c MILD LOAF AMERICAN CHEESE - - vowa 19¢ CATSUP . - .. Gallon tins 69& KIMA GEMS—DON'T CONFUSE THE T FANCY ARIZONAg v TS NEW CROp_MEDIUM SIZE WITH THE CHEAP POTATOES i Per pound bc NS OR DEp cious GEM NUT OLEQ 2 e 45 4-29¢ e e 49¢ 3 pounds 29c FANCY ALASKA PINK SALMON ~ MACARONI - SPAGHETTI LARGE CELLO. PKG. lgc CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP 2 tall tins ch 323 NALLEY'S HORSERADISH MUSTARD . 10¢ PIECE and STEM MUSHROOMS - Large 8 oz. tins 3gc ALASKA PACKE]?DCRAB. THE IDEAL BLEACH SANI CLOR Half gallon jug ch LIBBY’S FANCY SPINACH - 2 e ws 39c GRAPEFRUIT ..Large tins 2 for ch NUTT BROS. COOKIES 3 dozen o each package 330 0000000000000 SCHILLINGS SLACK TEA- I/?"nn pk;.?gc 1 tb. ”'-775c LIBBY'S SMALL SWEET PICKLES >« 13¢ FT and FRESH MARSHMALL PHONES 16724 OWS —_— Per pound lgc TEA GARDEN GRAPEJUICE SLICED BEETS Full quarts 49c FINE QUALITY OUT GHEEN BEANS 2~~~ uwrs SPAGHETTI «« MEAT FOR QUICK LUNCHES Z tins 39c BUTTER == i 0000000000000 Qv T30 PHONES 1624 L e