THE GLEAM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 16
Published every Sunday Morning in Juneau
H. H. McAYOY
Editor, Owner and Boss
While the Council has gone on
about a good many things lately the
Gleam wishes to congratulate the
city on the lighting system. Seldom
has there been seen a better service
than Juneau has at the present time.
In the city of Seattle it is not an
unusual thing to see the lights out
of both plants at the same time,
while not in two years has the light
ing system been out for more than
a minute. We have had frightful
winds and storms and men in the
electrical business must have worked
against terrific odds, yet we feel
that we have our lights.
The Gleam takes its hat off and
it’s been in a good many cities.
The various enterprises and exam
ples of civic pride that are evinced
in Juneau are remarkable for teir
whole-heartedness and ability. Take
for instance, the Juneau Fire De
partment, a purely volunteer concern,
since the writer has come to Ju
neau, has been called out hundreds
of times, and there has only been
one building destroyed by fire since
June, 1915, the month of our arrival,
It is remarkable with what concert
ed action the Juneau firemen work
when called from all parts of the
city to fight fires. It speaks vol
umes, not only for the willingness of
the fire boys to serve but fjr their
intelligence and ability. The Gleam
wishes to compliment the Fire boys
of Juneau and will say that no place
on the Pacific Coast or anywhere
else on earth is there a better or
more efficient fire brigade than here.
The City Council took a step back
ward last Friday night when it grant
ed a franchise for fifty years to a
gas company. The giving away of
city streets is a right that has be
come questionable. The Gleam would
rather see the Council vote a sub
sidy any time than give away her
streets to any person, for any object
or purpose. The streets of the city
are not to be granted nor given
away for private gain and The Gleam
while it adores George Irving, op
poses and regrets that he or any
other men should have an interest
in the property of the town without
paying for it. The Council acted
foolishly and should be awake to
the fact that franchises are precious
things and not to be frittered away.
By the time the Council meets
again the water works will have been
sold to the parties and one of the
parties who so earnestly opposed the
city’s purchase will be buying Christ
mas presents with his commission.
God will take care of the people.
P. C. McCormack, legislator-elect
from Wrangell, is a Capital City vis
itor. —
Chill Taku, one of the elder sons
of old Blustering Boreas, is among
the late arrivals. The prodigous
whistler has both friends ad enemies
in this community.
MUNICIPAL CHRISTMAS TREE
Continued from Page 1
ously offered to get the tree.
It will probably become a fixed
institution in Juneau from htis
Christmas on. The tree is simply
a decorative symbol of the Yule tide,
and other than lights, will have no
hangings of any sort.
Juneau has an ordinance to prohib
it the small boy hustler from gar
nering bits of copper wire. And in
the face of war prices, too!
V alentines
Established 1886
rrWe stand on our record for equity
of price and quality”
JEWELRY and GEMS;
SILVERWARE
PARISIAN IVORY
CUT GLASS
UMBRELLAS
WALKING STICKS
Holiday Goods
Arriving on Every Boat
We Invite You to Inspect Our Large
Xmas Display