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Published every Friday by the A N B. Publishing Co., Petersburg
Entered in the Post Office in P-iersburg as Second Class Matter
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
The Alaskan, six months... 12.60
The Alaskan, :>er year... $4.00
A. N. B. PUBLISHING COMPANY
FIGURES DO NOT LIE—BUT
Our contemporary told a mistake when it stated in its issue
of last week —“BUT the city uoes not owe seventeen tnousanu
dollars as stated by the critics; on the contrary it nas a balance
01 $*,uuu ana it win owe comparatively litwe, if any money at tne
end oi tne municipal year.”
Tne above financial statement is given by City Treasurer
Eisemore. He maxes tne assertion that when moneys aue cue
city are all paia in, the maeotedness of $17,000 will oe cut down
to approximately $8,uuo. The Locken administration went out
of office Reaving a balance oi $4,000 alter lacing problems every
bit as Dig as has iaced the present administration. inis meaiio
that the present administration nas liaa an annual uencit oi
$b,000. At such a rate tne Taxpayer cannot nope for any remn
from tne situation. As time goes on the problems become great
er and oecome more complex, uniess constructive effort is made
by civic minaea men, men with pride in their city and nope ioi
a bigger city, tne Taxpayers cannot hope for any progressive
growth or development oi t.ie city. Homebuilders will oy vir
tue of raised taxation be caused away; capital will think several
times .over oeiore investing in a tax naaen city.
ihe answer to the problem is the election oi men who are not
afraid to say YEo or NO and to stand by their guns till the lake
xiccisco uvcj.. wiMiy wasiiy puncy depending upon me good
will of trade will not be conducive to such an attitude. The tear
of loss or.business has no place in the direction of the city's af
fairs,, toy the next council.
. Earl Ohmer for Mayor, Robert Allen, L. F. Paul, Rasmus Enge
uiiu. ^/Axtuies Greenaa stand foursquare on such a progressive pro
gram. as . outlined. Insofar as personal desire for preferment as
councnmen, none of these men care for the office because it will
mean, a lot of worry and grief and take away from each individu
al personal pleasures, recreation and time. But realizing that a
change must be made these men have indicated they are willing
to use their best effort to put the city on a sound financial basis,
or to get it started that way before their term of office ends.
PROPOSED PROGRAM IF ELECTED
The;, men supported for city council, by this paper, if elected
proppse to put the affairs of the city on a sound financial basis:
institute a system of books whereby an absolute check will be
kept pn the earnings of the hydro-electric; its earnings budgeted
to take care of interest, principal, depreciation and sinking fund
for final payment on the plant and school building.. Improve the
in-take at the hydro-electric so that every revenue possible may
be utilized from that plant.
Retrench on . building operations in every way possible with
the idea of getting the city out of debt and to be in position to
institute construction of streets and water mains with the idea
of permanence.
Hold taxation to as low a level as is commensurate with the
urgent needs of the city.
Give every publicity to the actions of the council and its ex
penditures.
secure a proper valuation for assessment purposes and dis
continue the practice of hiring men to copy previous .tax .rolls.
Work with every effort to build up the community by attract
ing home builders and industry through low tax rates and power
convenience.
BRASS TACKS
. , --O—
We are again called to task for
publishing facts and in the cen
suring..,we are politely called
liars,....self-seeking poli t i c i a n s
with only personal grudges to
govern our conduct.
When we are governed by our
personal grudges, when we so
forget the principle of things in
our civic conduct as to be gov
erned by personal grudges we are
ready to quit voting. We will
move out of the way and not
bothb'f' With any political affair
of any'kind.
Self Seekers
Earl Ohmer, ^Robert Allen, Ras
mus'i&nfge* Charles Greenaa, L.
F. Patti,' afe ALL self-seeking
candidates. ‘ They desire election
as mayor and cOuncilmen to fur
ther ttieir own political fortunes
in PetfefSiburg, so says a picayun
ish mTnS! “'The criticism as voic
ed in qiir columns is the thought
of each and every one of these
men. And it comes only from
“personal grudges.” Shades of
Jefferson: Cannot a citizen cri
ticize administrations without
being Charged with hatred of
opposing catididates? Such an
attitude,’ without doubt, governs
the poll’Cy of our sublime and
versatile friend. But that is no
indication that we are of his cal
ibre.
ALL IS SILENCE
. .The eity had a total expendi
ture of $72,072; a balance of $4,
000 in the treasury therefore the
total revenue MUST BE $76,072
With no indebtedness..
. . In the minutes . of . the last
meeting of the City Council, Mr.
Hanseth moved, seconded by Mr.
Johnson .that .discounted .city
warrants at the Behrends Bank
be paid. CARRIED.
. .With a revenue of of $72,072
and a balance of $4,000 in the
Treasury, what is the idea of or
dering payment of . discounted
bonds?. This is high finance per
the figures advanced by our con
temporary which we cannot un
derstand.. Perhaps we will get a
special late .political .sheet to
cover this statement.
BUILDING LAW SUITS
The much talked of dirt road
in south Petersburg is a whiz.
The road builders came along,
dug a ten foot ditch alongside
filled with the dirt from vbgkq
the dirt road for a fill on the
street; tore up Sales’ garden,
toppled over Cornelius Jacob
son’s house and left it a wreck;
cut considerable property from
lots, confiscating land without
due process of law. In some
spots water action is undermin
ing the street and shooting the
dirt back into the ditch.
From present condition of the
finances of the city the road
cannot be completed this year.
When the McCarthy party was
here members of the Commer
cial Club were ashamed to offer
the party a ride over this street.
This street was financed by the
START YOUR SINKING FUND
.Depreciation on .the .hydro
electric is not being taken of at
this time.. It is paying its way
after a fashion.. But it is the
butt of every improvement that
is made.. It pays the bills.
. .A sinking fund should be start
ed soon to take care of the final
payment of $40,000 which must
be made in a lump sum.. This
cannot be done under the pres
ent policy .of .careless extrava
gance.. A policy of conservative
retrenncment is aosoiuteiy ne
t
cessary or the city will have to
face a very embarrassing finan
cial situation.
nydro-electric, an institution
which is supposed to take care of
its own finances.
JUST SOME FOOLISHMENT
-o
“Advancement of election day
is advisable because there are
many, particularly in the north
ern divisions who are compelled
to leave for the states on busi
ness at the end of the seasons
work and who, while among the
heaviest tax payers are not per
mitted to exercise their right of
franchise. It even appears that
it would be still better if Con
gress should set the time for
the general election in early
September instead of October as
suggested in the legislature.— I
Chronicle. ;
- SEPTEMBER MOURN
The Chronicle should advocate \
that all Territorial elections be
held in Seattle, expenses to be
paid by the Alaska Chamber of
Commerce of Seattle.
Even the hidebound conserva
tive admits that the advance
ment of election date to Septem
ber will mean the throwing down
the bars of our franchise and
permitting wharf rats and what
not, including non-resident can
ners, to dominate and dictate
our political affairs. That they
will illegally claim residence in
Alaska and Washington at the
same time is not to be doubted.
They have been above the law in
other instances; they will be the
same in this instance. Voters in
Alaska—voters in Washington.
Fine business for Washington .
OWN YOUR OWN HOME
-o
By E. S. Hungerford.
From the beginning we are
taught that we are American ci- ,
tizens, to love and reverence our
our country, its government and
its institutions. We are drilled in
various subjects at school, one
of which is of especial interest.
Our country’s history. We fol
low with eager interest, we thrill
with pride to think that our
forefathers were new with back
bone; we exalt when we read of i
the hardy spirits, who, after ,
striving for years to get a satis- !
factory form of government, fin- !
ally, rise in rebellion and cast !
off the shackles of tyranny. !
We follow the flood of covered 1
wagons westward, and in spirit, I
are with the pioneers who had !
listened to the tales brought <
back by hardy hunters and trap- !
pers. Tales of an immense 1
country to the westward, broad -
valleys, virgin forests; unused •
and free for the taking.
The Cxy of land! land! Free -
land! went up, heard to the four <
corners of the world. The tide *
of settlement began to flood. <
I The only prize offered was land \
and the privileges and benefits ]
to be derived from the owner- i
ship thereof. But it was suffici- ]
ent. ]
This wondrous prize drew: ♦]
westward, not only the hardier j
spirits from the eastern colon- j
ies but the best blood from Eu- j
rope. People who were willing to j
sever the ties of home and kind- j
red and all that they held dear, j
that their children might own j
land and derive the benefits
therefrom. To help in the de-j
velopment of this great coun- ]
try and become loyal citizens!
and landowners.
Wars were waged, other wars
threatened, purchases made, al
ways that we might have more
land. There was never a ques
tion as to what this land was
for. It was for people to live on,
of course. To own and love, to
build their homes upon.
In the incredibly short time of
seventy years, was built up this
great nation, practically as it is
today, a cohesive unit, bound to
gether by their land, protected
in their rights by their repre
sentative form of government
The mightiest and richest na
tion the world has ever seen.
With never a question as to the
proper use for the public land
or the private citizen’s right or
fitness or ability to own or de
velop any piece of the public do
main he might desire so that he
might build himself a home for
his family hold up his head
among u. 1 ation of land owners
and thu? snare in the national
heritage
A noble ambition, a worthy
country, well worth any man’s
fealty.
This policy of public lands was
carried on without question and
a? a private citizen’s right unii
1908, when under Roosevelt’s im
•\*v%*vvy ^ch*******4
pulsive sponsorship was passed
a bill of questionable worth. A
bill striking at the very founda- j
tion of our national develop
ment. Sponsored by impractr •
al dreamers, supported by spe
cial interests, a bill which in the 1
few years of its existence has.
proven a bad bill. A bill styled
“For the Conservation of Natur- j
al Resources.”
(To be Continued.)
-o
A BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY
-o
“When I take the oath of
office as United States District
Judge it will be as an Alaskan
and I shall perform the duties
of that office as an Alaskan,’
declared Judge Justin W. Hard
ing, whose nomination 'for Dis
trict Judge was confirmed re
cently and was guest of honor
at a Juneau Chamber of Com
merce luncheon.
Judge Harding declared that
he realized the grave- import
ance to the people of Alaska is
the United States District
Judge. The rights of the peo
ple to life, liberty and pursuit
of happiness, he said, is depend
ent in large measure upon the
ability and integrity of the
court, and its fairness and im
partiality.
He said there are always two
| sides to a question before th
court, and he called attention
I to the difference between the
Satisfaction Always
^ Guaranteed
pr A complete line of men's
furnishings for work or
dress. A fine line of
(Goods for women
V
AT FENTION !!
I
Boat Owners
£ We can take care of general repair in wood and caulking
t and all the blacksmith work on any boat up to 100 feet in
S length at
Petersburg Marine Ways
J. C. Holton & Ed. Walwick
Model Bakery
All Electrical Equipment
The home of Fancy Cakes and Pastry
A Complete Line of Bekeiy Gocds always on htrd
rnmTnrnnmiinnr
For Durability Insist On “TONCAN” Metal!
Klercer S\\x&vos
portraits
Landscapes
Alaska
Views
COPYING AND ENLARGING
TINTING AND COLORING DONE IN OIL
l FRAMING DONE TO ORDER
;!;
i.
!
:
■k
!
?
Service Tirsi
H
: A
Oxo-Acetylene ■
Cutting & Welding Sheet Metal Work
H
Pipe Fitting And §
Z
GENERAL
BLACKSMITHING
Johe R. Kolstrand.
Front Street.
Petersburg, Alaska
Matal For Your StovePipes
position of one who represents
only one of those two sides and
the court which stands between
the two. He only knew one star
to guide a court, and that was
absolute fairness. He said he
could only promise to be fair
and do his best as a lawyer in
making decision and, in most
cases, turn the matter of decid
ing as to the facts over to the
jury.
In summing up this phase of
his talk, Judge Harding said he
bore no malice toward those
who had charged that he was
not an Alaskan. He said it was
legitimate political argument
before his confirmation by the
Senate, but he said, “it is a cold
cinder now.” He declared that
he had become an Alaskan by
adoption—the only way one not
born here could do so. He said
he would never have come to
\laska if he had not liked the
Territory and the people that
live in it. He declared that he
will take the oath of office as
Judge of the District Court as
an Alaskan and perform the
duties of the office as one.
Thomas B. Rhone, M. D.
Physician and Surgeon
Office Resident
Pavves Bldg. Arctic Hot**}
John Fanning
SHOE STORE
Dealer in
Complete line of Silk Hosiery
Best grade of Shoes for men,
women and children.
Best Quality Goods
at very low price*
Shoe repairing neatly done.
C*«8n>I«C»•*••*«**<
Buy at Star Bakery and Save Money
Fresh Doughnuts, Cup Cakes, < ooS
and Cinnamon Rolls
Always on Hand Fresb
STAR BAKERY
AMERICA FIRST arrives In Pe
tersburg Friday morning, leaving
for Juneau via Kake and way ports
about noon.
HAHO TRANSPORTATION
COMPANY
ittgnaauwtt«mmtmw»»Hn»»ima
, DRS. C. M.&R. L. CARLSCN [
Optometriste and Opticians
§ 218-19 Commercial Building
| KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
Advertise in THE ALASKAN.
• O OOO C^OOOOOC'OXy^OX>XO82C0»»»^
Home Service Mending
of Laundered Goods
We give full value for your
money.
H. OY AMA, PRO.
tiC?0'O<‘^Or>OO'<^0_O'OO^OCB
Sanitary'Market
A Roast you’ll like
The Very Choicest Beef
Mutton and Pork
Vegetable in Season
rtTTTrnTTmTTTtTTtTTTTTTfrTTIIlfrillllimilllii ff
Built
Attractively
You CM* get
the latest de
sign* in
Sash, Doors
& Millwork
diiectfrcuuhe
man^fact rer
at money tar
ing trices
U'riu udaj
fir FRE/i il
tustraud tat