Digital Bob Archive

MAY 1918 - PART 3:

B.M. Behrends was appointed Alaska Chairman of the American Red Cross and George T. Jackson was named chairman of the Second Red Cross War Fund drive for the Juneau area. Virtually every organization and many business firms on both sides of Gastineau Channel participated. Fund-raising events included a Liberty Dance at the Arctic Brotherhood Hall, sponsored by the Alaska Labor Union, and a Hard Times Masquerade Ball at the Douglas Natatorium. There was a big Red Cross rally at Perseverance, attended by many from both Juneau and Douglas. Two special trains were run to carry the crowd from Thane to Perseverance via the tunnel. Dinner was served in the big company dining room and it was followed by speeches and entertainment. Among the speakers was M.S. Whittier who explained the work of the Red Cross. The speeches were followed by songs from the Juneau Quartet.
A total of $1500 was raised during the rally. And $103.60 was contributed by what the papers referred to as the \"colored population.\" That portion of the drive was directed by Mrs. D.W. Thompson and Mrs. E. Mosby, and contributors included Walter Collins, George Finley and Oscar Whiteside, each of whom operated a shoe shine stand, and by Mose Merryweather's Colored Club.

Charles Goldstein, one of the leading fur buyers of the area, was offering $25 to $30 for lynx, $30 to $75 for fox, depending upon the kind and quality; $12 to $16 for otter; $3 to $8 for mink and $6 to $22 for Canadian beaver. Goldstein was also the president of the Juneau Commercial Association and he called a special meeting to consider ways to make Juneau a more important center of the fishing business. What prompted the meeting was a small news item that said more than 300 fishing vessels were based at Prince Rupert, B.C., and that more and more American halibut fishermen were selling their catches there.

Members of the Southeast Alaska Fish and Game Club voted to change the name by eliminating the word \"Southeast\" and to expand the scope of its operations. A.J. Sprague, manager of the club's hatchery on Front Street, reported that he would soon plant 15,000 Eastern brook trout fry in Sheep Creek and that he hoped to get at least five million salmon eggs from area canneries this season.

Children of the Mendenhall School, taught by Mrs. Louise Milnes, displayed some of their work, including maps, drawings and wood carvings, and put on a program of songs and recitations for the closing exercises. Taking part in the program were Covie and Richard Burr, Cressie Donner and Arthur, Ellen, Robert, Ruth and Charles Stewart.

Judge John J. Finnegan of Seward was appointed by Governor Thomas Riggs, Jr., to be the executive officer in the governor's office. He is a member of the Seward law firm of Finnegan and Morford and a former U.S. Commissioner at Seward and Chisana.

Construction of cannery buildings on Willoughby Avenue was commenced on May 17 by W.A. Estes. They were to be ready for the season opening on July 1.