HYDER - FIRST ALASKA TOWN THAT CAN BE 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
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VOL. 8, NO. 20.
11YDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1932
BY THE YEAR $3.00
PITTMAN MAKES NEW
MOVE FOR SELVER
A new move by Senator Pitt
man looking to the relief of sil
ver is presented in a bill recent
ly introduced in the Senate au
thorizing the purchase by the
United States of not to exceed
5, 000,000 ounces of silver per
month for monetary purposes.
The measure provides that
silver bullion produced by
mines in the United States may
be deposited at United States
mints for sale to the govern
ment at the current market
price. Payment for such pur
chases would be made in silver
certificates issued for the pur
pose in denominations of $10,
$5, and $1. Such certificates,
as well as all other silver cer
tificates heretofore issued,
would be legal tender in pay
ment of all debts, public or pri
vate. except where otherwise
expressly stipulated in the con
tract. and would also be re
ceivable for customs taxes and
all public dues.
The bill provides further that
silver bullion purchased under
its provisions shall be coined
into standard silver dollars and
subsidiary silver coins in suffic
ient quantities to meet all de
mands for redemption of the
silver certificates issued. The
coin, however, would not be
placed in circulation but would
remain in the treasury for pay
ment of outstanding silver cer
tificates on demand, thereby
avoiding the public’s objection
to the use of heavy silver mon
ey and retaining the present
currency system without alter
ation in any manner.
Explaining the intent of the
bill. Senator Pittman pointed
out that it would not inflate
the national currency although
enlarging the base for the issue
and circulation of currency.
The bill, he said, proposes that
the government buy American
produced silver when tendered
at the market price and pay for
it by the issuance of silver cer
tificates. The measure, he
pointed out, would add but lit
tle to the circulating currency
of the country. Under the act
the purchase of over 5 million
ounces of silver per month is
not permitted. At the present
time this limitation is unnecess
ary, he said, as mine product
ion does not exceed over 2,
500,000 ounces per month, ac
cording to department of com
merce and bureau of mines es
timates. At the present time,
therefore, if all the silver pro
duced in the United States
were tendered for purchase by
the government with silver
certificates, silver being only
about 30 cents per ounce, there
would only be approximately
$750,000 in silver certificates
issued monthly. This increase
to the present outstanding
$439,633,290 of silver certifi
cates would be infinitesimal
and negligible, he said.
Senator Pittman said that in
introducing the bill he did not
desire to have his action inter
preted as an abandonment of
his contention that an intennat
ional conference is essential
for the complete restoration of
the ^purchasing power and ex
change functions of silver mon
ey in international exchange.
Plea For Continuance of
Experiment Stations Fails
There has been great disap
pointment in Alaska over the
fact that the budget did not
contain an appropriation for
the continuance of the agricul
i tural experiment stations in
[the Territory.
When the agricultural bill
j was before a subcommittee of
the appropriations committee
j Delegate Wickersham made a
I strong plea for appropriation
for the maintenance of the
Matanuska station and this
j was rather looked upon with
■ favor by the members of the
committee, according to re
ports from Washington this
week. But efforts to continue
the station went for naught
when the chairman of the ap
propriations committee asked
I the subcommittee that no item
j be included in the general bill
; that was not recommended by
+ l\ii/I mul flint- vrn
. crease be made in the bill over
. the budget figures.
As a consequence, the bill
j was reported to the House
, without mention of the $35,000
j for Alaska.
i When it was under consider
ation in the House Delegate
j Wiekersham offered an
I amendment to include $35,000
for the Matanuska station but
it was defeated. The amend
ment was also urged in vigor
ous terms by Representatives
LaGuarda, Golton, William
; son, Simmons, Burtness, Levitt
i and Carter.
I -o
Forecasts Higher
Silver Prices
Enhanced prices for silver
: are forecast in a commodity
j purchasing policy bulletin is
i sued recently by the Standard
I Statistics company of New
|York, which says:
| “In view of the improved
I statistical position of silver,
moderate price strength should
be witnessed during the next
. several months.”
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Lumber Mill To Resume
| The Hvder Lumber Company
; is making preparations to re
j sunie operation of the saw
; mill about March 1, to replen
! ish certain depleted lines of
| lumber supplies, it was made
known this week by manager
| Roy McLeod. The big smoke
| stack, which is taken down
during the winter season, was
replaced early this w’eek and
i the mill equipment is being
; placed in condition. It is ex
I pected that the milt will con
j tinue in operaton for at least
three or four weeks. Wm.
Gray, owner of the plant, who
I has been in the south several
months,'is expected to return
j shortly.
-o
Chas D. Jones Reappointed
Marshal Second Division
The long delayed appoint
ment of a United States Marsh
jalforthe Second Pivision of
Alaska culminated recently in
the reappointment by Presi
dent Hoover of Chas. D. Jones,
present incumbent.
Due, it was said, to local op
position, the reappointment of
i Jones was held up more than a
| year.
I
am will
HEAR ALASKA CLAIMS
That Alaska’s claims in con
nection with any future curtail
ment of the migratory bird
season will be given full con
sideration by the department
of agriculture, is the interest
ing announcement brought to
Juneau recently by H. W. Ter
hune, executive secretary of
the Alaska Game Commission.
Mr. Terhune recently spent
five weeks in the national cap
ital and urged upon the de
partment the advisability of
considering Alaska’s special
special needs in future restrict
ions on migratory bird hunting
He was assured that in case it
is considered necessary to lim
it next year’s hunting, Alaska
will be given every opportun
ity to be heard before action is
| taken.
o
, Alaska Mine fatalities
Very Few In 1931
The Alaska mining industry
j set a new record for safety in
1931 and there were only five
l mine fatalities during the year,
[ or two less than in 1930, ac
cording to the report of D. B.
Stewart, acting Territorial min
ing engineer. While complete
! records of non-fatal accidents
were not available, reports re
ceived by Mr. Stewart indicate
,there was also a material re
duction in that class of mine ac
cidents.
The record for 1931 is but
slightly more than one-half of
the ten-year average, which
was nine. Prior to 1922 the an
nual average over a seven
year period was 19, although
considerably more men were
employed during that period.
All fatalities occuring in 1931
were in the lode mining indust
ry—one at Kennecott, and five
at the Alaska Juneau. No
deaths were reported in either
the placer or coal mining in
dustries.
January Liquor Violations Few
Only 22 prohibition law vio
lations were recorded in the
First Division during January,
according to a statement re
ceived from the United States
Marshal’s office in Juneau by
W. C. Harding, local deputy
marshal.
Ten of the violations oc
curred in Juneau, 9 in Ketchi
kan and one each in Craig, Pet
ersburg and Haines. Fifteen
of the violators entered pleas
of guilty, while seven plead
not guilty and 7 were released
on bail at the time of the re
port. Fines assessed totaled '
$1,980 and jail sentences ag- j
gregated one year.
House Demos Lose Strength
i The democratic majority in
the House of Representatives
is now only four, as a result of
the recent deaths of Represent
atives Percy E. Quinn of Miss
issippi and Samuel Rutherford,
of Georgia, who passed away
within an hour of each other
early this month.
The Houes membership is
now as follows:
Democrats 218, Republicans
| 214, Farmer Labor 1, with two
vacancies.
1
WETS OPPOSE BONE
DRY LAW REPEAL
The bill introduced in the
House by Delegate Wicker
sham to repeal the Alaska
Bone Dry law, which conflicts
with the Volstead Act, was
given a second hearing before
the committee on Territories
on February 2, according to a
Washington, D. C., report. A
few days previous the attorney
for Bishop Cannon, noted dry
leader, prepared a statement
giving his objections to the bill
and had it filed wth the com
mttee. These were replied to
in detail by the delegate at
the meeting, which was also at
tended by Mrs. Ella A. Boole,
president of the National Wo
man’s Christian Temperance
Union, who spoke in opposition
to the bill, as did also the attor
ney, requiring further expla
nation and argument by the
Delegate. As some of the mem
u i uit tviuiimitt ti/uiu nvi
be present at the next meetng
on February 9th. it was decid
ed to authorize the chairman
to call a special meeting at an
opportune time, when a vote
would be taken on approval or
disapproval of the bill.
-o
January Gold Output $310,534
The Alaska gold and silver
output i n January totaled
$310,504 in value, according to
figures announced by Collector
of Customs J. C. McBride.
Of the indicated total, $304,
684 represents the value of the
gold, while silver produced
totaled $3,820. This was a re
duction of $380,554 as com
pared to December, when gold
and silver valued at $691,058
was shipped to the States.
-o
Urges Employment of
Alaska Schoolteachers
Commssioner of Education
W. K. Keller, in a recent letter
to the school boards of the Ter
litory, urges the employment
of residentAlaska school teach
ers.
The letter urges upon the
school boards the desirability
of considering Alaska teachers
first when filling vacancies
anu states that there are many
teachers now in Alaska who de
sire to remain in the Territory
and are anxious to be placed
in the Alaska schools next
year.
“I believe,” the letter says,”
that we are not only justified
in asking these teachers to re
main in the Territory, but that
we should assist them by con
sidering their applications for
positions first.
Mr. Keller says the economic
depression in the States has al
ready resulted in flooding the
Alaska mails with applications
from teachers who desire po
sitions only for a year or two
and who will then return to
the States. Consideration of
these applications in prefer
ence to those of our own teach
ers may result in placing severe
handicaps upon the present
Alaska teachers, he says.
Mr. Keller states that his of
j fice has on file many applicat
ions from teachers now in Alas
ka and and will send them for
examination to such boards as
may require teachers for their
local schools.
Bills Provide for Labor
And Old Age Protection
Copies of two interesting
House measures, one providing
that the prevailing rate of
wages shall be paid all labor
i ers and mechanics on public
works, and the other designed
to protect labor in its old age,
' have been received by the Her
ald through the kindness oi
Alaska Delegate to Congress
James Wickersham.
Doth measures were intro
duced by Representatve Will
iam P. Connery, jr., of Massa
chusetts. The wage bill pro
vides for the extension to
Alaska a n d other United
| States Territories of the provis
j ions of an Act of March 3, 19
31, relating to the rate of wag
I es for laborers and mechanics
i employed on public buildings
j of the United States and Dist
j rict of Columbia by contract
| ors or subcontractors and pro
j vides that every contract oi
! subcontract to which the Unit
I ed States, District of Columbia
or a Territory is a party shall
contain a provision to the
effect that the rate of wage?
paid to laborers or mechanics
employed shall not be less than
the prevailng rate of wages in
the town or district. The bill
provides a penalty of $5 per
day for each day of violaton.
The old age protection bill
proposes to appropriate $10,
000,000 from the national
treasury to be apportioned
among the States to aid them
in giving assistance to persons
over 65 years who possess no
property valued in excess of
$5,000 and have no child or
I other person responsible for
j their support and able to do so.
Both measures have been re
. ferred to the Committee on La
bor.
-o
Shanghai Fifth City of World
With Shanghai at present the
; center of the Sino-Japanese im
! broglio, it will interest local
! readers to learn that the city is
1 rated as the fifth greatest in
1 the world and that world trade
students predict that it will in
this century become the great
est. Its present population
is placed at more than 2 mill
; ions and it is the principal port
for China’s 450 million people,
as well as the gateway to the
Orient.
The city stands on the banks
| of a muddy stream called the
Whangpoo and about 15 miles
off the famous Yangtze-Kiang.
It includes six areas: the Old
City, Nantaeo (southern sub
urb), Cbapei (northern sub
jurb), Pootung (eastern sub
iurb), the French concession
j and the International Settle
ment. The first four amalga
mated in 1925 a s Greater
Shanghai.
i Shanghai is the comercial,,
|manufacturing and banking
and banking center of the Far
1 East and houses the Chinese
1 branches o f huge British,
American, German, Frenc h
and Japanese' firms whose
names are household words
throughout the world.
-o
Emil Davis, representative
of the Portland Canal Power
Company on Davis river, was a
visitor in town today.
RECORD SNOWSTORM
VISITS DISTRICT
A snow storm which is said
by many old-timers to have
been the worst in the camp’s
history, descended on the Ry
der district this week, halting
all highway traffic between
Hyder, Stewart and Premier
and nearly burying everything
beneath a deluge of snow. The
storm broke Sunday night with
a strong wind from the upper
Salmon valley and continued
practically without interrupt
ion until Wednesday, by which
time all roads outside of town
had been rendered impassable
and foot traffic in town was
confined to narrow canyons
along the sidewalks, the sides
of which in many places were
considerably higher than the
heads of pedestrians.
By heroic labors with the
caterpillar tractors, superin
tendent T. H. Evans of the Bu
reau of Public Roads managed
:o Keep the roadways in town
cleared sufficiently to permit
travel between the upper and
lower sections but was com
pelled to work a double shift
Tuesday night to maintain an
open passage along Premier
and International Avenues.
By Wednesday morning most
of the smaller buildings in the
forest townsite were all but
| buried under the steady deluge
of falling snowflakes and in
many instances it was possible
to snowshoe completely over
the roofs of dwellings. In
other instances only the roofs
of buildings remained visible
over the surrounding snow.
An unusual feature of the
| storm was consderable drifting
| of the light, frozen snow, some
| thing seldom seen in this sect
' on. Estimates of the amount
of snow falling during the
storm range from five to six
feet, although up to 11 feet is
reported on the ground at some
points in the uppe rtownsite.
! Numerous snowslides occurred
along the steep slopes on both
i sides of the valley and their re
verbrant rumblings were al
most continuous during Tues
day and Wednesday. Snow
| slides along the upper Salmon
1 are said to have buried the
load in places under huge
snow masses which will require
many weeks of melting to re
; move.
Although the snowfall was
undoubtedly one of the heavi
est ever known in this locality,,
there was little material dam
age done so far as could
be ascertained. The light and
telephone systems continued
their functions as usual, al
though the light company en
countered an oil famine at the
Dunwell plant and was unable
to transport the necessary fuel
oil, resulting in the service be
ing suspended between mid
night and 7 a. m. for several
days.
—— -o
MRS. DALE AUTO VICTIM
Mrs. E. L. Dale, of Hyder,
became the victim of a near
serious accident through being
struck gy an automobile while
getting on a Seattle street car
a few days ago. Although
knocked dew
sustained no severe injury.