HOT SPRINGS POST
-v
One Dollar Per Month.
HOT SPRINGS, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1909.
Two Bits a Throw
EX-JUDGE
ARRESTED
Tacoma, Jan. 22.—Merritt J.
Gordon, ex-chief justice of the
the Washington supreme court,
was arrested here yesterday
charged with the embezzlement
of railroad funds.
Judge Gordon was the counsel
for the Great Northern railway,
and it was due to him that Judge
Milo A. Root of the supreme
court was investigated. It was
claimed that Gordon paid Root
large sums of money for which
the latter handed down decisions
favorable to the railroads.
The arrest of Gordon so soon
after the retirement of Root has
caused a great sensation in offi
cial and political circles of the
state, and many interesting dis
closures are anticipated if Gor
don ever comes to trial, as it is
claimed by his friends that he
? used money to influence legisla
tion, and as a consequence can
not show just where he placed it.
Barrett Back
From Innoko
Win. Barrett, accompained by Ed.,
Keogh, arrived in Hot Springs Satur
day on their way to Fairbanks from the
Innoko. They remained in the city j
recuperating from their long mush
until Tuesday morning when they
started on the last stage of their jour
ney. They arc traveling light and
each man has. a team of seven dogs,
thus being able to make very good
time.
They report a very hard journey to
this city, as the snow in the Innoko
district is very deep and is continually
drifting over the trail making it nec
essary for travelers to snowshoe most
of the distanco to the Yukon river,
where there is more travel.
Mr. Barrett is much pleased with the
outlook of the camp from a mining
standpoint and is acquiring all the
ground he can on the creeks. He is
not, however, out to boo3t the camp,
prefering to leave that to othere, as he
is satisfied with the progress the camp
is making and does not desire to see
another stampede to the country like
the one that occurred last summer, the
only result of which was to give the
the country a black eye from which it
will be a long time recovering.
Many new creeks have been staked
this. winter and on the older streams
pay has been found much better than
was expected after lastsummer’s work.
The pay they are now finding is much
more regular than was formerly known
and would indicate the existence of a
regular paystreak.
Mr. Barrett reports business as hav
ing been very good with him and he is
now on his way to the outside where
he will order his stock for the coming
year. The perishables he will have
brought down from Laberge in the
spring, but the bulk of his stock will
be shipped in by wav of the Kusko
quim which he considers the best way
into the country.
While he Is on the outside his busi
ness in the Innoko is being looked
after by his brother John who is very
much pleased with the camp,
Mr. Keogh will remain in Fairbanks
only a few days when he will return to
the Innoko, taking in some machinery
supplies which are badly needed there
at present. He will also see to some
freighting which Mr. Barrett is har
ing done from Yukon river points.
Billy is as breexy and debonair as
over and when dressed in his Indian
mushing clothes is the’most striking
piece of frontier bric-a-brac seen in the
country since Bunch quit the lightning
express to Richardson. Billy was very
anxious to reach Fairbanks in time for
the anniversary of the Xanana club, of
which be is an active member, which
• is oeiebrated tonight.
An Era of
Good Feeling
For the past week there have
been no cases in the commission
er’s court, and there is evidently
at present an era of good feeling
* among the citizens of Hot
Springs. One case which was
slated for trial has been settled
* out of court, and there is now
nothing to disturb the usual calm
of this city’s peaceful citi?epsr
HIKES FOR VALDEZ
• 1 n ij- It"' :
Judge Silas H. Reid Will Visit the Coast to Interview an In
spector of the Department Of Justice Relative to
Charges Lodged Against His Honor
__,_ ,... _
Fairbanks, Jan. 22.—Judge Reid announced yesterday
that he would leave Fairbanks January 29 for Valdez
where he will meet a special agent of the Department of
Justice who has been sent to investigate the graft charges
which have been preferred against him.
This action on the part of Judge Reid has caused the
people of this city to express their resentment of the course
he is pursuing. His departure means that the present
juries will be dismissed, which will make it necessary to se*
| lect new ones when court again convenes, besides the delay
of many cases which have been set for the coming months
and for which the parties interested have secured all their
witnesses, and prepared for trial on the day set by the court.
The fact that Judge Reid deems it necessary to be in
Valdez to meet the inspector has given the charges under
which he rests at present a seriousness not before realized
by many of his adherents^ and the opinion is freely ex
pressed on the street that when he leaves on the 29th he
will not return again. Even if he does ultimately return
all who have business in the court are judging by last sum
mer's record, and are preparing for a long rest, as they do
not expect him back before the opening of navigation.
Olympia, Jan. 22.—The state legislature in joint as
sembly at noon yesterday ended one of the longest and
most bitterly contested struggles ever witnessed in the state
of Washington for a seat in the United States senate when
Wesley L. Jones was elected to succeed Levi Ankeny in the
upper house of congress. Mr. Jones is -a Republican in
politics, has been a member of congress continuously for
the past ten years, where he has made himself a conspicu"
ous and able figure,, and his election to the senate is a well
earned promotion. The senator-elect is a native of Illinois,
where he was born in 1863; after graduating from college
he read law and was admitted to the bar of Illinois, and
then removed with his family to North Yakima, Wash.,
where he has since made his home.
Republicans Elect a Democrat
Salem, Ore., Jan. 22.—Governor George F. Chamber
lain, Democrat, has been chosen by the Republican state
legislature to succeed Hon. Charles W. Fulton, of Astoria,
as United States senator from Oregon. This senatorial
contest attracted wide attention on account of the new law
of this state which give the electors a chance to vote for
' '^om they wish, and the members of the legislature are re
quired to merely ratify the choice of the people.
Albany Jan. 22.—The legislature on joint ballot yes
terday elected Elihu P. Root, secretary of state in President
Roosevelt’s cabinet, to succeed the ancient Thomas B. Platt,
New York’s famous “easy boss.” Mr. Root has been a
prominent figure in state and national politics for many
years, and has held a number of appointive offices. He
was a member of the Alaska boundary commission, was sec
retary of war from 1899 to 1904, and on July 7, 1905, was
appointed secretary of state to succeed the late John Hay.
Hartford, Conn., Jan. 22.—United States Senator
Frank Bosworth Brandagee, Republican, was yesterday
elected by the state legislature to succeed himself. In 1905
Senator Brandagee was elected to fill the unexpired term of
the late Orville H. Platt.
Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 22.—On joint ballot at noon yes
terday the Pennsylvania legislature elected Boise Penrose,
Republican, as his own successor as United States senator
for six years, the term beginning March 4 next. This is j
Senator Penrose’s third election to the position, having sue-!
ceeded Don Cameron in 1897.
Concord, N. H., Jan. 22.—Jacob B. Gallinger was for
the fourth time elected United States senator by the state
legislature today. He first entered the senate in 1891 as
Henry YV. Blair’s successor, and has been a member of tha*
body ever since; he is 72 years of age.
Raleigh, Jan. 22.—The North Carolina legislature yes
terday reelected Hon. Lee Slater Overman to the United
States senate for the six years’ terra beginning on March 4.
This is Senator Overman’s second term. He is a Democrat.
Denver, Jan. 22.—The Colorado state legislature in
joint session yesterday elected J. D. Hughes to succeed H.
M. Teller, the Centennial state’s “grand old man,” as
United States senator for the term beginning March 4.
I Salt Lake City, Jan. 22.—United States Senator Reed
Smoot, the Mormon Republican, was today re-elected to the
United States senate.
Jefferson City, Jan. 22.—William Joel Stone, Demo
crat, was re-elected United States senator yesterday by the
state legislature. Senator Stone was first elected to the
senate to succeed George G Vest in 1903.
Guthrie, Okla., Jan. 22.—Today the state legislature
elected United States Senator Thomas F. Gore, the elo
quent blind Demooratic statesman, to succeed himself. His
new term of six years begins March 4.
Favors Postal Savings Banks
Washington, Jan. 22.-'Postmaster-General von Meyer
in his annual report to congress strongly urges the estab
lishment of a postal savings bank. The good results to be
obtained by ' such a branch were given at length by the
postmaster-general, who cited the success which had at
tended their introduction in foreign countries.
It is not thought, however, that a bill will stand much
chance of passage in the new Congress as the banking in
terests are solidly arrayed against such a measure, claiming
that the introduction of these banks would withdraw all
the saving of the people from general circulation, thus cre
ating a great money stringency in the country.
For the World’s Championship
Chicago, Jan. 21.—Frank Gotch has come to terms with
the Turkish wrestler, Yussuff Mahmont, and a match be
tween these two will take place within a short time. The
Turk has a great string of victories to his credit, and the
wise one are placing their money on him. Gotch, however,
feels confident that he will retain the championship.
BONAPARTE
WONT TALK
Washington, Jan. 22.—Attor
ney General Bonaparte today re*
fused to testify before the special
congressional committee relative
to his absolving the Tennessee
Coal & Fuel Co. and the Ameri
can Steel Co. for their merger,
which was conceded to have been
contrary to the federal laws.
At the time Bonaparte released
| this merger from prosecution it
was supposed that it was done in
order to gain evidence by which
other convictions could be se
cured, and the inquiry by con
gress is now made as a result of
Roosevelt's message to congress
in which he asks for a secret ser.
! vice corps to investigate the con*
grefsmen.
The refusal of Bonaparte to
testify has caused a sensation,
! and much curiosity is expressed
as to the next move of the com
mittee.
Freight Sugar
to Fairbanks
Robert Schaber of Rampart passed
through Hot Springs Thursday on his
way to Fairbauks with two and a half
tons of sugar which he is freighting to
the latter city for some oi the Fair
banks merchants.
Sugar is very short in the upper city
and is being freighted from Circle and
Valdez as well as from Rampart. The
grocerymen of that city fell far short
in their estimates of the consumption
of this commodity for the coming year
and as a result it is very scarce and
the price is now in the neighborhood
of thirty cents per pound.
Even at that price it is impossible to
buy it in large quantities as the mer
chants are selling only a limited
amount to each person.
Mail Limit
is increased
Word was received at the local post
office this week from C. R. Corbusier
that arrangements had been mado
whereby 400 additional pounds of mail
would be sent to Hot Springs on the
stage due this evening.
It is very probaole that this extra
weight is second class mail which has
been stalled in Fairbanks for the past
few jveeks and most of it is no doubt
destined for Nome and lower river
points. There are now nearly two tons
of lower river mail in the Fairbanks
office, for the t delivery Of which the
postal authorities have made no pro
visions, and this first extia consign
ment may be regarded as an indication
that the government has realized the
inadequacy of its present service and is
taking steps to improve it by increas
ing tho weight limit.
Good Prospects
on Hosiana River .
Alec Nicols was a passenger on the
stage Monday for Fairbanks where ho
will spend the remainder of the winter
after a summer’s work on the Hosiana
river.
Mr. Nicols is representing a number
of persons in a large tract of land there
which is held for dredging purposes,
and he is muce pleased with the out
look of that section at present. He
says it is only a matter of once getting
capital interested when the .whole dis
trict will be opened up, and is bound to
show immense values.
Population
Is 31,000
The annual report of the sec
retary of the interior was re
cently made public and contains
the statement that the.permanenfc
population of Alaska is 31,000
people, with 7000 transients. The
report follows close on the report
of Gov. Hoggatt, from whom
much of the information gleaned
by the secretary of the interiQy
was obtained.