STAGNANT ALASKA
Coal parties in imitation of the Bos
ton Tea Party are being introduced
into Alaska. The people are greatly
dissatisfied with their treatment by
those in authority over them, and there
is much ground for their complaints
and protests. Alaska is a land of
mighty economic opportunity, but it
does not grow. Its population in 1900
was 63,592 and in 1910 it was 64,356.
The country needs laws that will per
mit its development on terms that will
be reasonably profitable to those who
invest their capital in it. In his mes
sage of last December, President Taft
said:
“A great many millions of dollars
have already been expended in the con
struction of at least two railroads, and
if laws be passed providing for the pro
per development of the resources of
Alaska, especially for the opening up
of the coal lands, I believe that the
capital already invested will induce the
investment of more capital, sufficient
to complete the railroads building and
to furnish cheap coal not only to Alas
ka but to the whole Pacific coast. The
passage of a law permitting the leas
ing of government coal lands in Alaska
after public competition, and the ap
pointment of a commission for the gov
ernment of the territory, with enabling
powers to meet the local needs, will
lead to an improvement in Alaska and
the development of her resources that
is likely to surprise the country.”
Here is at least the outline of a prac
tical scheme. Why nothing is done no
one knows. The issue is not at all
new. For a number of years stagnation
has prevailed in Alaska in spite of oc
casional efforts to secure the passage
of laws that would lead to immediate
activity and result in widespread bene
fit. From some quarters there has come
a vociferously expressed fear that if
anything is done to disturb in any way
the condition of stagnation a grasping
horde of coal barons and copper kings,
railway barons, lumber lords and other
variety of fiscal nobility will make
some money by processes that will in
crease the wealth of thousands. The
rabid conservationists would lock up
Alaska’s measureless wealth until the
crack of doom rather than let those
who alone are able to make that wealth
available take their toll, whether large
or small, for the risk of their capital.
Laws making possible the utilization
of Alaska’s resources would be worth
more to the country than two or three
such tariff bills as that now under dis
cussion in the house.—New York Sun.
BAD MEAT AT FAIRBANKS
During the past week action was
brought by the district attorney
against a meat corporation here for
having in its possession 84 tons of meat
alleged to be impure by the United
States inspector of food and drugs. The
marshal under instructions seized the
meat, some of which, it is claimed, is
three years old. It seems incredible
that any corporation would so ruthless
ly endanger the lives of the hundreds
dependent upon it for their particular
line of food, for it stands to reason
that wholesale ptomaine poisoning
would have resulted from the consump
tion of the rotten food.
Meat that has been kept for a period
of three years can not possibly be fit to
eat and when a market sells such to its
customers, it is simply obtaining money
under false pretenses, and a prosecu
tion should follow on that ground, even
though the health of the individuals
in Alaska is so perfect that even de
cayed meat would not require a prose
tion for manslaughter.
The excuse that meat will keep in
difimtelv if frozen is no argument with
the Alaskan, for everyone knows that
meat that has been frozen even six
months becomes so dry that it is scar
cely fit to cook, and to argue that it
can be kept two or three years and
then sold over the counter as first class
is nothing less than downright swindl
ing.
Nature has^upplied an abundance of
wild game, but heretofore th~ligance
of the meat trusts, together with the
vigilance of our peace officers, have de
nied us what nature had prepared for
us.—Alaska Citizen.
GOING OF THE EDWARDS
The departure of Rev. and Mrs. G.
N. Edwards from Douglas this week is
the occasion of a great deal 01 regret.
Mr. Edwards leaves the Congregational
church in much better condition than
he found it. During his three years
hero the Congregational church has
come to mean something in the life of
the community.
Very few women who have lived hero
have received so large a share of the
affection of the women of the island
as Mrs. Edwards, and she will be much
missed by hundreds of friends.
D STREET FOE A SLIDE
The Douglas Winter Sports Associa-'
tion, at its meeting last night, was
strongly in favor of a skiing slide, from
some place on the hill back of the
school house, and down D street to
Fox’s store at the corner of D and Sec
ond streets.
“If we could secure that much for
skiing grounds this winter,” said a
young Norwegian, “so that we could
show the young folks what the sport
is, we would have no trouble in getting
all we wanted next year.”
The committee also recommended
erecting dams on the baseball grounds
and making an artificial pond there. It
is believed that this could be done
without very much expense, and would
make an ice rink that would be con
venient, and would insure the sports
becoming very popular.
The city council has not been con
sulted about either of these proposi
tions, but the matter will be taken 'up
with those officials at once.
Next Friday night, it is desired that
every one, both men and women, who
desire to join in the sports this winter,
should join the club. The admission
fee is one dollar. The officers will be
elected and the organization of the club
completed at that time.
TOO MANY, HE THINKS
Here s a job for a foot loose type
writer pounder. It pays $60 a month
and keep. Typewriter jobs where board
and clothes are thrown in with the
wages are hard to find, and in some re
spects this is the chance of a life time.
Henry Wolf, ship’s writer of the
Rush, has quit his job.
“Its a very good job in a whole lot
of ways,” Henry says, “but it has its
draw backs. The main trouble is there
are too many bosses. There are nine
officers on board the Rush, and they
play ball with the ship’s writer. Heard
that old adage too many cooks and the
broth? Well, too many bosses spoil
the job.”
There are ship’s writers on revenue
cutters, however, who find the berth
of ship’s writer exactly to their liking,
and have remained with the same boat
for many years.
NEW PHYSICIAN
Dr- Egginton arrived in Juneau on
the steamer Jefferson with the intention
of locating in this vicinity. The doc
tor comes well recommended both so
cially and professionally. Just prior
to leaving the states he held the posi
tion of state pathologist in Iowa. He
has also had much experience in the
east, being at one time in charge of
the male patients at the Stamford,
Conn., sanitarium. He was once a Pen
nsylvania University foot ball player. ,
OUT FOE WHAEFINGEE
Jack Henson, Collin Blaine and Leo
Young are all applicants for the posi
tion of city wharfinger at Douglas. It
is not probable that any action will be
taken by the city council until there
is a full meeting of that body. This
cannot be held until Mayor O’Connor
returns.
STE. EUSTLEE INSPECTED
The steamer Rustler, of the Juneau
Steamship company, passed an examina
tion by the steamship inspectors last
week, and has leceived a new certifi
cate.
DEDEICKSEN NOW PILOT
Capt. Dedricksen of the United States
survey boat Gedney passed an exami
nation as a first class pilot in south
eastern Alaska waters last week, and
has been granted a certificate.
€ itKr & Smith
CARRIES NYAL’S FAMILY REMEDIES
AND THE A. D. S. PREPARATIONS
PRESCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY
COMPOUNDED. YOUR
MONEY BACK IF
NOT SATISFIED
AIK
Ok from $t.
Drug Store
#
LARGEST
AND MOST
COMPLETE PHON
OGRAPH DEPARTMENT
IN S. E. ALASKA. EDISON,
VICTOR AND COLUMBIA MA
CHINES AND RECORDS, BESIDES
ALL THE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
DoujIasflMa
MAKING A RIVER BED
The Treadwell company is hydraulic
ing a river bed aeross the beach made
by the tailings waterward from the 300
mill, has constructed a net work of
flumes, and hopes this winter to take
care of the tailings with less trouble
than ever before.
During the winter, when the water
is scarce, not enough water can be
spared for washing away the tailings,
and the flume fills np very promptly,
stopping the flow.
Dost—A nugget stick pin, at the Con
gregational social last Wednesday night'
or on the way. The finder will please
Weekly Sourdough, $3.00 a year.
“ESTATE”
OAK HEATING STOVES CANNOT
BE BEATEN
One cannot be too careful in buy
ing a stove in this climate. After
years of experience, I have come to
handle the ESTATE OAK because
it is peculiarly adapted to the Al
aska winters. They are little giants
to heat, and cannot be beaten for
economy.
Mil
T«u$i
For a Good Smoke Try Douglas
henry cur
BY CABEFULLY BUYING
a small stock I can sell better Shoes
for less money than other stores
DENNY OBFANUS
St. Ann's Boad
A Good Stock of Heating
STOVES
Always on Hand
Julies
Jenson
Comer Second & D Streets
You’ll find the best Stock of
Tobaccos at the Douglas News
Stand.
R. R. HUBBARD