Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-11-24 | Page 4 | Blaze Rages in Seward, Alaska; Destroys Half of Trade Area

Blaze Rages in Seward Alaska Destroys Half of Trade Area SEATTLE Nov 24 AP Fire AP-Fire Fire of undetermined origin Sunday Sun- Sun Sunday day ay night and Monday wiped out half the business district of Seward Sew- Sew Seward ard rd Alaska southern terminus of the Alaska railroad Damage was not officially estimated Army signal corps officers said I the he blaze broke out at 11 1130 30 p. p m. m and was brought un under er control at 1030 a. a m. m Monday after destroying destroy- destroy ing ng all the buildings on the east eastside eastside side ide of Fourth avenue main business business business busi busi- ness thoroughfare for a two-block two distance Soldiers from Fort Raymond helped battle the blaze They were handicapped when the water main broke and a high wind sprang up I early arly Monday morning Fire f fighters fight fight- ers rs pumpe pumped water from the bay and used dynamite and bulldozers to o halt the blaze Included in the destruction were the he Alaska Steamship company office of- of ice flee the Gateway Publishing company company com corn pany the Arcade building Northern Northern North North- ern cnn Ba Bar Camerons Cameron's restaurant the Overland and Terminal hotel and cafe Hollingsworth's cleaning establishment establishment es- es and numerous apartments apartments apartments apart apart- ments in the business buildings No army supplies were reported lost ost Seward eward already was faced with loss oss of much of its business due to development of Whittier as a railhead railhead rail- rail head and the construction of a new southern railroad t to Anchorage site of Fort Richardson by a short water-level water route Seward has a a. normal population of about 1000 Because of defense activities the number has increased during the last year When the new railroad is finished finished fin- fin shed probably this year Seward will lose all of its importance as aport aport a aport port for tourist travel and freight movement to the interior