HYDER - FIRST ALASKA TOWN THAT CAN RE REACHED BY THE PACIFIC - YUKON - ALASKA HIGHWAY
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SPECIALIZING IN
MINING NEWS OF THE
PORTLAND CANAL
DISTRICT
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
$3.00 PER YEAR
IN ADVANCE
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VOL. 8, NO. 9
HYDER, ALASKA, DECEMBER 12, 1931
BY THE YEAR $3.Of
E. W. SAWYER WRITES
ENCOURAGING LETTER
The following interesting i
and encouraging letter from
Ernest Walker Sawyer, assist
ant to the Secretary of the In
terior, was received recently
by the Hyder Chamber of
Commerce.
“After much preparation and j
consideration, the formation of j
an Alaskan committee of the i
San Francisco Chamber of!
Commerce has been accom-1
plished.
“Alaska now has on the Pa
cific Coast three powerful al
lies. I refer to the Chambers of
Commerce of Seattle, Los An-1
geles, and San Francisco. !
These commercial bodies are j
all anxious to help Alaska in
her legitimate development, I
which for various reasons, has
been delayed.
“Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco are engaging in an at
tempt to aid your development
just as any hard-headed busi
ness man would, because the
leaders of those communities
have been convinced that
there are excellent opportuni
ties of development of in
dustry and trade in Alaska.
“It is needless for me to tell
you that the growth and de
velopment of Alaska has been '
only started. You know that as
well as I do. I believe that the
International Highway, when '
it is completed, will, together j
with other influences, in a j!
few years add 100,000 people [:
to your population. The High- ;
way has been found feasible ; 1
from an engineering viewpoint 1
and the alignment has been
established, but it is up to the !
people o^Alaska to keep ever- *
lastingly at it in order to sue- 1
cessfully complete the project. 1
"I believe that mining can be j *
expanded to five or ten times! 1
the present output. I have con- jJ
fidence in the reindeer oppor- *
tunities, and I believe the an- £
nual fur crop can be material- 1
ly increased. There is no limit '
to the possibilities of the tour- !
ist crop. There are many other '
things which are also worth-1(
while. *
“The problem is how to make
the best use of our three al
lies in early development of
these opportunities.
“Every Alaskan community
has its own problems and op
portunities peculiar alone to
that community. The territory,
as a whole, also has problems.
The machinery is now avail
able for your use. The com
mercial interests of Seattle,
Los Angeles, and San Fran
cisco, who are supporting this
movement, have as their rep
resentatives powerful political
representation in Congress.
“If you want the mining
laws in Alaska made the same
as in the States, then individu
ally and collectively solicit the
aid of these three groups so
that your Delegate has sup
port in Washington.
“If you think the Cable line
should continue to be operat
ed by the U. S. Signal Corps,
then solicit support from these
sources.
If you consider Alaska de
serves the profits of the seal
industry, then ask these three
l<
I (
Gives Hyder Flood
Project Publicity
Hyder’s effort to hasten the
Salmon River flood protection
project as a means of provid
ing- employment for local job
less as well as for protecting
the town is given wide pub
licity in a recent Washington,
D. C., news letter, which says:
“The Hyder Chamber of
Commerce is particularly anx
ious that Congress should take
favorable action at the coming
session to give protection
against the ravages of the Sal
mon river, and also to give em
ployment to the sixty or more
men who are now in that town
and out of work, largely be
cause the low price of silver
has resulted in closing some of
‘he mining properties. The pro
ject has been examined by
Major Malcolm Elliott, district
engineer, and his report was
forwarded on Sept. 15th to
he divisional engineer at San
Francisco. When the report
s forwarded to the Washing
ion office, and if it is favor
able, the matter will at once
->e taken up with the hope of
laving the Budget approve
he necessary appropriation so
hat it can be included in the
-livers and Harbors bill.”
powerful cities to come to
’our assistance.
“Alaska, as you know, has
10 vote in Congress to trade
vith Easterners for support of
Ylaskan measures. Seattle has
everal congressional votes,
5an Francisco has four or five,
tnd Los Angeles, under the
lew appointment, will have
line or ten-. *
“When you consider econom
e developments, remember
liese three cities have thous
tnds of members in their
’’hambers of Commerce. I be
ieve the Los Angeles Cham
>er alone has 12,000 members.
Ay suggesstion is that your
’hamber of Commerce have
n “Opportunity,” or “Develp
nent Executive Committee,”
vith your Secretary as a mem
ier, and that you prepare
veekly some statement of lo
al opportunities and address
he same to our three friends
or their consideration, help,
md advice and for presenta
ion to the members of their
Uaskan committee. In this
vay, these three organizations
vill keep on their toes and re
ults will be obtained.
“As you know, Los Angeles
dans an annual excursion to
Ynchorage to take place in
ally June, 1932, San Fran
isco is planning an annual ex
ursion to Fairbanks for late
line, 1932, and I have heard
ome talk of a Seattle excur-1
ion later in the summer.
"If you will send me copies
if your “Opportunity” letters
will at times perhaps be of
ome assistance. Permit me to i
uggest also that you encour- j
ige the leaders of you com
nunity, who may visit in these
ities, to call at the office of
he Chamber of Commerce
md supply first-hand infor
nation to those in charge.
“You will find these gentle
nen familiar with Alaska and
inxious to cooperate.
“I trust this activity will be
•f benefit to you.”
PARKS RECOMMENDS
FLOOD _PROJECT
Governmental improvement |
of Salmon River with the ob-|
ject of giving flood protection !
to Hyder was recommended by
Governor George A. Parks in
his annual report to the sec-!
retary of the interior, press
summaries of which came to ; i
hand this week. Recommend-'
ations for similar improve-; |
ments of Dry Pass, Gastineau i i
Channel, Sitka harbor, Wran-j;
gell and Petersburg harbors 1
were also made.
Among numerous additional j <
recommendations made by the 1
governor were repeal of ex- j
isting restrictions limiting lo- t
cation of placer claims; an M
open season on all small fur- <
bearers in all sections where (
possible without endangering <
the supply; opening of the Yu- j s
kon river to limited commer- j I
cial fishing by bona fide resi- j 1
dents, and approval of the new ! s
10-,vear road program of the c
Alaska Road Commission. j'
Although he did not make
recommendation regarding
liberalization of the curtailed
season for hunting wild fowl,
the governor declared that
“the restrictions that are plac
ed on shooting in Alaska
should not be more strict than
those imposed in British Col
umbia or Yukon Territory.’’
He also recommended that the
territory be divided into two
zones, with open seasons that
will more nearly meet local
conditions.
1
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H
Bill Create
; v
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k
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“Pcorman’s Court”
What may be termed a 1
“poorman’s court of appeal,” J v
is provided for in a bill pre- ^
pared by Delegate Wicker-; 1
sham and which will be in
troduced when Congress con- *
venes. The bill would create p
a Supreme Court for the Ter- c
ritory of Alaska, a Chief Just- 1;
ice to be appointed by the i
President to preside over the ^
court, the other members to be
the four judges of the district j
court of Alaska. It provides j
however, that no district i
judge shall sit on the hearing!
in the Supreme Court in any j ^
cause tried before or decided !
by him.
The Court shall meet twice
a year at Juneau. Appeals in
all criminal misdemeaor cases,
and all civil cases when there
is less than one thousand dol
lars involved shall be heard in
the Supreme Court. Now there
is no appeal in such cases, and
the purpose of the new bill
is to allow such appeals to the
Alaska Supreme Court so as to
provide fo r an appeal in such
small cases. And the case shall
be heard on the original rec
ord, which shall not be print
ed but be presented on type
written briefs, and with the
smallest amount of expense.
These provisions are made in
the interest of small cases by
men who cannot afford to pay
the enormous printing bills
and other high fees now nec
essary to an appeal to the
United States Circuit Court of
Appeals in San Francisco.
in
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i u
E
! o
!h
I S'
CONGRESS FACING
ENORMOUS PROBLEMS
Facing a condition described
L>y president Hoover as “sec
>nd only to a war emergency,”
he seventy-first Congress con
vened Monday noon in Wash
ngton.
Although the Congress is
confronted by domestic and
vorld responsibilities of far
peater enormity than any of
ts predecessors in recent
’ears, the political aspects of
he situation are at present
eceiving the main attention
if both Congressmen and the
During the present session
he democrats will control the
louse of Representatives with
! 19 members to the republi
ans 214. There is one Farm
r-Labor member and one
eat vacant. Forty-eight re
publicans will represent that
party’s membership in the
enate, in which the demo
rats will number forty-seven, j
nth one Farmer-Labor mem- '
er to provide possible com
lexities. While both parties
ave slim majorities in each j
ouse, the question of control
i the senate is further com-,
plicated by the fact that the
epublican majority is made
p of a progressive group
rhich will vote with the dem- j
crats when it may suit their
olicies.
The first act of the House
'as the election of Represent- i
tive John N. Garner, Texas
emocrat, to the speakership,
lamer was given 218 votes,
lertrand Snyder, republican,
eceived 207, and George;
neider, insurgent republican, j
eceived 5.
Press reports indicate that
le administration republicans
ill center their efforts on 1
utting through Hoover’s legis-1
itive program.
Hoover’s message, read to
ongress Tuesday, was not im- j.
ressive, according to radio:
omments, and was decided
’ pessimistic in tone.
rapping Season
Opens Dec. 16
The open season on mink,!
md otter, weasel, fox, lynx,!
rnskrat; .marten and beaver
ill commence December 16. |
he open season on all the j
ar-bearers named, except
uiskrat, will continue until
anuary 15, a period of one*
ionth. In the case of musk- i
it, the season will not close
ntil April 30.
The hunting of beaver is
rohibited on Chicagof and;
aranof islands and the limit!
n both marten and beaver!
as been set at ten for the
?ason.
-o-.
iegler Candidate
For Delegate
A. H. Ziegler, Ketchikan at
>rney and member of the last ■
vo territorial legislatures, has
nnounced his candidacy for
le democratic nomination for
laska delegate to Congress
t theApril primaries.
Reports indicate that G. B.
rigsby and Anthony J. Dia
tond, Valdez attorney, may
Iso be candidates for the
arty nomination.
| Walker Does Good
• Work For Territory
Ernest Walker Sawyer, rep
resenting Secretary of the In
| terior Wilbur, has returned to
Washington and feels much
encouraged over the feeling
I created in San Francisco fav
| ora’ble to Alaska. The Chamb
er of Commerce has establish
ed an Alaska branch, similar
| to that in the Seattle Chamber,
; and is already arranging for a
| big excursion to Fairbanks
npvf Miimmpt*
Mr. Sawyer is particularly
interested in the proposed In
ternational highway, being a
member of the American com
mission. He states that a joint
meeting of the conference was
recently held in Victoria, at
which time it was decided that
the Highway is entirely feas
ible from an engineering view
point. The alignment through
Hazelton, Dease, Teslin,
Whitehorse and Dawson to
Fairbanks is reported to be
practicable. At a meeting of
the joint committee to be held
in Washington in January the ;
economic advantages of this |
Highway and the advisability |
of early construction will be
considered.
The distance by located line
from the peace arch at Blaine, I
Washington, to Fairbanks is
2225 miles and 145 miles more ,
to Seattle. From Blaine to
Hazelton is 815 miles, (com
pleted in 1929), Hazelton to!
Yukon Boundary 610 miles,1
(virgin country), across Yu
kon to Alaska boundary 530
miles, Alaska border to Mc
Carty 180 miles, from Mc
Carty to Fairbanks 90 miles.
The entire expenditure neces
sary to construct a well grav
eled highway to the heart of
Alaska is about $14,000,000.
It is considered that the Yukon
section requires complete re
grading for its total of 530
miles, at an average cost of
$7,500 per mile, or $3,970,000
plus $600,000 for the bridges
in that section. The section
from Hazelton to the Yukon ;
border is estimated to cost j
$13,000 per mile including!
bridges, totaling $7,930,000 j
for British Columbia. The
Alaska section is estimated at
$10,000 per mile or a total of
$1,800,000.
o
Wickersham A Candidate
James Wickersham, Alaska j
delegate to Congress, has an- j
nounced his candidacy for re-i
nomination in the republican j
primary next April in a letter
to the editor of the Stroller’s
Weekly, in which he says:
“In the meantime Congress
will be in session and I will
attempt in good faith to carry
out the pledges contained in
my platform upon which I
was elected last year, and
also further such other merit
orious legislation for the ben- [
efit of Alaska as shall be pre-j
sented to Congress.
“I shall appeal to the voters
for their continuous support
upon the record to be made
by me in that effort, and upon
the successful services per
formed by me in my prior
work for them in Congress.”
-o-•
J. Prout of Premier returned
from a trip south.
WANTS TO SWAP
ALASKA PANHANDLE
A proposal of the Chamber
of Commerce of Rome, N. Y.
to trade the Alaska Panhandle
to Canada for Canadian land
lying south of the St. Lawrence
river caused some amusement
in Ottawa this week, in addit
ion to drawing interesting com
ment in other quarters.
Canadian officials pointed
out that the Dominion con
stitution was not framed to
permit such a trade, which
would mean taking land away
from one province to give it
to another.
Charles D. Garfield, Alaska
secretary of the Seattle Cham
ber of Commerce, was quoted
in press reports as declaring
that such a trade would be
preposterous, as from the po
tential wealth of this portion
of Alaska the United States
could take enough to purchase
ihe coveted eastern land with
out missing it.
The Ketchikan Chronicle
quoted business men of Ketch
ikan as saying facetiously that
the Rome proposal was “too
late, as, due to the low price
of fish, negotiations are al
ready under way to give the
country back to the Indians ”
■o
Tcm Marquam A Suicide
Thomas M. Marquam, of
Fairbanks, shot and killed him
self in a New York City room
ing house on November 23, ac
cording to late advices.
He had no valuables or let
ters to indicate his identity on
his person or among his ef
fects, with the exception of an
auto driver’s license issued in
Washington in 1930, which
gave his name and the address
of a rooming house where he
was then living.
The undertaker who took
charge of the body used the
license card to learn where
the relatives of the deceased
might be located. The land
lady of the Washington room
ing house gave the names of
Fairbanks friends who had
formerly written to Mr. Mar
quam and his identity was
thereby established.
Mr. Marquam was a resident
of Alaska about 35 years and
was at one time mayor of Fair
banks, where he resided in
later years. Later he was a
candidate for Alaska delegate
to Congress and visited Hyder
during his election campaign.
Following his defeat for the
office by Dan Sutherland, he
went to Washington in con
nection with his having failed
to comply with a law requir
ing that candidates file a state
ment of their election expens
es and never returned to Alas
ka. He checked out of a Wash
ington hotel the latter part of
January 1931, with a request
to hold his mail, but none of
bis friends or acquaintances
in Washington could ever get
any information from or about
him since that time and he
never wrote for his mail. He
was about 58 years of age.
--o
N. H. Stevens returned Sat
urday from a visit of several
weeks in Ketchikan.