· « TH. Plagt-»F
A. N. B. PUBUSHINQ COMPANY
SUBSCRIPTION BATES.
The Alaskan, six months, ...... $2.50
The Alaskan, per year . $4.00
Published every Friday by the a. N. B. Publishing Co., Petersburg
Entered in the Post Offlc* in Petersburg as Second Class matter.
YVK Alibi CON VIA CKO—
The recent demonstration of fa
voritism by certain members of the
Board of Equalization in the mat
ter of taxes of local property has
convinced us of their inability to
handle the matter in a fair and
equitable manner to all concerned.
Going back a couple of lears—the
defunct Petersburg Herald owed
the city in back taxes $376. more
or less. The property was uude-j
heavy mortgage and to save mort
gagee back taxes W'ere reunited ex
cept something like $76. This year
considerable feeling w'as shown by
some of the members of the Board
at the palpable discriminatory as
sessments in favor of certain hold
ings. After considerable argument
tne assessments were raised in pro
portion to oilier properties.
These facts have demonstrateu
their inability to handle the matter
of taxes. Therefore it is the be
lief of the Alaskan that a Tax Ex
pert should be secured in the fu
ture from the States, who with a
cminitee of two shall undertake to
assess taxes on ail property in the
community.
The matter of taxes is a perplex
ing problem in any community and
if not handled tend to drive away
business and home builders to the
detriment of the growth of the
town.
“MY HUMPY’S GONE
OVER TILE OCEAN
With apologies to “My Bonnie Lies
—GTer The Ocean.”
My Humpy’s gone ever the ocean,
My Humpie s gone over the sea,
My humpie’s gone over the ocean,
Oh, bring back my humpie to me!
Chorus
By Wazza Canneryman
Bring back, bring back, Oh bring
back my Humpie to me, to me,
Bring back, Oh bring back back,
O-O-O-Oh bring back my Humpie
Back to me.
PAYING THE PIPER
At the first sessions of the Legis
lature in 1913 at Juneau several
fishermen from Wrangell and Pe
tersburg presented themselves urg
ing that steps be taken to prohibit
the intensive fishing of salmon
then just getting into its full stride.
The statement was made that in
twelve years the cycle of depleted
fisheries would begin. -
Since that time the fishermen of
.L W A A tUI J f CliCJll tu
Congress and a few others have
been sounding the warning to the
industry, the Territory and to the
nation at large. They have been
condemned as being “radicals” and
wishing the destruction of the can
ning system; that their statements
were not true and that IT WAS IM
POSSIBLE TO DEPLETE THE
FISHERIES OF THE TERRITORY.
By 1916 the Bureau of Fisheries
began to hear the urgings of those
who wished to preserve this indus
try and they went as far as to ad
mit that these statements were be
ing made.
The Canning interests with their
official organs refused to admit the
truth of assertions of depletion
made by fishermen who had ob
served this matter. Even though
“Bob" Heckman and “Bob” Bell
admited before the legislature that
at that time depletion was well un
der way.
ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES
The run, or lack of run of sal-j «
mon this year has been attributed j<
to the dry season, the constant <
westerly and southwesterly winds; ]
the lateness of the season for all
hings, vegetation, etc., the late 1
spring, etc., etc.,. In the past the i
cause of depletion has been blam- i
ed on the “Indian fishermen going
up-streani with gunny sacks, on
tlio eagle, therefore the bounty;
on the seal; “helldivers,” seagulls,
and everything else but the traps.
The expected and hoped for run did
not materialize in ten days or even
iu twenty days and dually it must
be admitted that in tha words of
a ounueryman" there ain’t no such
animal” (lish).
CAUSE OF DEFLEXION.
The cause of depletion of the
salmon dsheries of Alaska is THE
TRAP.
The industry has blinded itself
to the fact, nevertheless it remains
as prominent as the proboscis on
the face of some, if not ail of the
cannerymen. Prior to the closing
of the Icy Straits district there was
no escapement of salmon to the
bays iu Frederick Sound. Tlie icy
SUaits district lias been closed but
a few days and now iisbennen point
to tlie fact that VVindiiam, lie bar t
liays, Port Houghteu and Seymour
Canal have plenty of fisli. There is
no denying, the more fences and
pots blocking the passage of the
salmon the less going to the spawn
ing grounds.
Such facts are the result of the
definite observation of men who
make their living by studing the
travel and habit of the salmon.
They cannot be evaded or denied
in any way. Destruction is due
to the intensive fishing of the
TRAP SYSTEM.
What other reason cau be set
forth by the industry that will be
anything like logical?
PRACTICAL, versus “ARM CHAIR
EXPERT FISHERMEN”
During the month of May The
Alaskan stated editorially that in
dications in the fishery industry
pointed to a very poor season; t'^e
lack of salmon in the Stikine Riv
er and the uncertain and peculiar
j run of king salmon had all the ear
I marks of the non-run of salmon.
The Empire pointed with pride to
| the heavy operations and expense
(of the Packers iu the spring pre
; parations for the canning of sal
: moil The packers themselves were
lulled into the belief of continued
big runs of salmon and by the re
ported “Amazing Increase” made
i by Secretary Hoover last August.
The season has vindicated The
Alaskan in its statements as re
I gards the unstable condition of the
| industry and lack of sufficient es
j capement of seed to spawning
giounas. i nose who lougkt the
destructive methods employed by
the canners were more the friends
of the industry in particular and the
Territory in general than the sub
sidized press which declared us to
be “radicals.” Instead of radical
ism we would declare The Alaskan,
The Alaska Fishermen and their
supportors to be of the real school
of conservatism.
Did the Bureau of Fisheries and
the industry heed the warning note
of Resident Practical Fishermen
rather than to “swivel-chair ex
perts”, the industry would be in
Car healthier condition today and
the future of the fishing industry
would be insured.
“IT IS A MYSTERY” (?)
Dr. Charles H. Gilbert of Stan
-°rd University, advisor to the Bu
'eau of Fisheries, and the man who
?ut science” in Alaska fisheries
s quoted as saying that ‘the failure
)f the salmon to appear on the
ioast is a mystery”. He was not
sure whether the “spawn failed to
latch or whether they matured and
latched and some ocean condi
ion, which is not known, prevented
he return of the fish, all he said
vas a matter of speculaicn.
The AlaBkan suggests that he get
f from Congressman Free some idea
| as what is wrong with our fisheries.
With the eocksureness with which
he presented certain alleged facts
to Congress last year, he should
be able to enlighten “our scientist.’’
It does not take science to poiut
to the fact of depletion—common
sense, if he had any should do that
for him.
‘‘ESCAPEMEN T SMALL’ ’
Commissioner O’Malley is report
ed as being deeply disappointed at
the escapement at Anan Creek
where only about 25,000 "salmon
had escaped to spawning beds; and
at Uiive Creek was even iess satis
factory.
We remember when the Alaska
Packers at Wrangell alone- put up
07,000 cases of salmon by the 1st
of August from Anan and a
large number of scowloads of sal
mon shipped to Loring at the same
time; Santa Ana cannery put up
the same year 35,000 cases of sal
mon from the same district without
the use of a single trap; Lake Bay
put up about 20,000 from that area
and the Kasaau. Chomley and Yes
| Bay canneries further drew on the
lauxuuo ou tarn.
To see 100,000 salmon in the la
! goon at Anan was a common sight
I witnessed by certain men now pro
minent in the canning world.
Haul's at the mouth of the Anan
creek were not satisfactory if less
than 10,000 and it was a common
sight to see hauls of 30,000 along
the Point Warde shores below the
creek. And the Commissioner has
the temerity to tell old time fish
ermen that an escapement of 200,
000 salmon is a satisfactory; escape
ment.
The “illiterate” native will tell
Doctor Gilbert that their is no mys
I tery in the non-appearance of the
: salmon, the only mysterious thing
being the fact that the fisheries ha3
lasted as long as it has iii spite of
, tile in'ansive trap fishing and the
Bureau of Fisheries.
BENNIE BENSON IS INDIGNANT
OVER FLAG CHARGE
Bennie Benson is highly indig
nant.
ft
Bennie is also hurt.
He is indignant because William
; Simpsom of Vancouver, B. C., says
[ he copied Simpson’s design for the
i Alaska flag.
: He is hurt because > Stroller
White, in quoting Simpson, referred
to him as a “breed” pupil at the
Jesse Lee Home.
Bennie says he would be proue
to be called an Aleut, or a white
boy, but the use of the tern
“breed” is too often employed a:
an obnoxious term.
However, Bennie strikes back a
Mr Simpsn something like Jacl
Dempsey shot that punch to t.h<
center of Mr. Sharkey’s warehouse
“I was not aware that Greai
Britain in addition to> claiming to
rule the waves, included the firma
ment with the Big Dipper and the
North Star." ■
Zowie- Mr. Referee count slow
ly. |
Bennie rallied from the sting of
Mr. Simpson’s aspersions of plag
iarism long enough to allow his
fighting blood to rise. He says the
children of the Jesse Lee Horae are
taught something different from
deceit and falsehood. He is not in
the habit of employing either. As
for Mr. Simpson, he has never I
heard of the gentleman, nor that!
there was anyone in Canada labor- j
ing give the Dominion a distinct-!
ive flag of its own. He has always I
seen the Union Jack serving; as the!
emblem of Britain’s “Domini ons be
yond the seas."
But Bennie is willing to do the
right thing by King George V.,
Emperor of India, Defender of the
Faith, Ruler of the Waves, Master
of the Jam Trust, Five O’clock Tea
and Cornish Pasties. If he can be
shown that he hais transgressed in
ternational law ,the covenant of
the League of Nations and the
Versailles treaty, he is willing to
offer his apologies to King George
to prevent wa,r. v
As Capt. Ualph Guthrie witvh a
squad of doughboys, raised the
flag and it was accepted by the
American Legion, Bennie believes
he has, as Mark Twain suggested,
“his gang” with flim if anybody
starts something.
| __
A ‘GIFT’ TO THE TAXPAYERS
The $400,000 a year loss which
[ the Rothschilds of London and
the Belmonts of New York have
been sustaining on their unfortun
ate Cape Cod Canal venture will
I'soon be a thing of the past—for
them. Henceforth the burden will
be borne by the taxpayers of the
i United States. But this is not all
of the goods news. Besides ridding
themselves of their notorious ‘dead
horse,’ the Rothschild's and the Bel
monts are actually to receive $11
500,000 from the Government foi
doing so! It is one of the neatesi
deals slipped through Congress ii
J a long time.
Twenty years ago certain bank
ers thought they 3aw a bonanzt
in a canal cut across the base o
the Cape, which would take sixty
live miles and lour hours’ sailinj
time from the Boston-to-New Yorl
sea route. True to instinct, tli
Rothschilds and the Belmonts or
sranized (lie Cape Cod Constructio
Company, wldcla built the caual, ae-j
cepting payment of $6,000,000 in;
bonds and $6,000,000 in stock of i
the Cape Cod Canal Company, i
which they organized to operate it. I
The financiers made a profit from1
the construction, but the canal it-'
self was a flat failure. Too small
for vessels of large draft, it camel
in time to be used principally by>
coal barges. * j
Agitation for Government pur-|
chase began almost as soon as it!
was discovered that the canal was
a financial Jonah. As a temporary!
war measure the Government took J
it over in 19 18, and lost $900,000
during the twenty months of fed
eral operation. Propoganda for |
Government purchase has been act
ive since the return of the canal to
its private owners. Repeated ef
forts were made to slip the pur
chase past Congress as a separate
piece of legislation. These failed,^
but at last the deal has been m.v•< ... i
plished as part of the Rivers andj
Harbors Bill. j
Not the least interesting feature!
of the transaction is that under j
Government ownership all tolls arej
to be abolished. Nearly two-thirds
of the income of the canal under
Government ownership all tolls are
to be abolished. Nearly two-thirds
of the income of the canal under
private operation was derived from
one concern, the Eastern Steamship
Company, of Boston. Tlii3 firm,
Senator Howell estimates, will save
apprximately $280,000 in in tolls as
! a result of the purchase. That
sum will now be paid by the tax'
payers of the nation. And the to
tal annual deficit which must be
met by the taxpayers is estimaAer
by Senator Howell at $850,000.
Dearborne Independent.
4
“TOO MUCH GEAR”
‘Gear to date has taken such
1 heavy toll of fi3h very few have
,i
1 reached the spawning beds and fu
ture industry in serious danger.”
‘ We are not classed with the li
te rate by certain politicians so we
m ust ask what is meant by ‘‘too
mi ich gear.”
Elsewhere we declare the cause
is the TRAP. We repeat it here
and quote:
"L ast year there was atotal of 676
trap- licenses issued from the U.S.
Engi a eer office of the War Depart- ;
mentr of which General J. G. Steese
is the Alaska head. Up until about
three. : weeks ago there had been 700
odd licenses issued for this year,
and, according to Lance E. Hen
drickson,, inspector for the depart
ment, it is expected at least 876
licenses will be the mark this sea
son. 4 \ |
The Icy Straits section fishermen
do not report evian wages made by
their operations this sumnier yet
a number of canneries have put up
their packs; the fishermen, Admir
alty, Baranoff* an d Kake fishermen
have not in the main paid their
grub accounts ,let alone pay fot
supplies for fish! lug; we would
* - J
shout with pride could at least one
crew operating for Petersburg say
they had made wages this summer;
Wrangell businessmen are wonder
ing how they will be able to carry
the lishermen through the winter
and the “City that packs the most
salmon in the world” did not put up
up as much as one cannery alone
used to pack in normal years.
On the other hand the most ol the
salmon pack in this year is the re
sult of trap fishing.
.»hen “too much gear” can mean
but one thing—too many TRAPS.
FREE TRANSPORTATION GIVEN
MANY PUPILS IN WYOMING j
I --
■j It was stated eraly in the spring!
j of this year by the Bureau of Edu-j
' cation that about one-eiglith of i
- the total school population of Wy
i joining—6,225 pupils—were trans
] ported at public expense to and!
-j from school during 1925-1926. Ap
!• | proxiinately one-third ol the rural
pupil population of the State is!
-(thus transported. JL was further;
>| stated that 27 new routes have
tj been established since June 1925,
3, bcause of the consolidation of small j
- schools.
l ..
I
I’KWSYIAAM B Alii iOT
ORDERED IMPOUNDED,
IjjI one thing—TOO MANY TRPSj
Orders have boen issued tu the j
Sargeant-at-Arms oi" the Senate
to impound all ballots cast in the
Pennsylvania Senatorial election of
192G, it was announced orally at
the oflice of Senator Watson (Rep) ;
Indiana, ranking member of the
Committee on Privileges and elec
tions
It is to this committee that the j
Senate has referred the contest |
tiled by William B. Wilson, Demo-!
cratic candidate in the 19 2G elec
tion, against William S. Vare, Rep.,
to whom a certificate of election
has been issued by the Governor of
Pennsylvania. This announcement
was made after the membership of
the Privileges and Elections Com
mittee had been polled by mail and
a majority had expressed approval
of such procedure.
INFORMATION WANTED
Information is desired by rela
tives of J. Lallemand, formerly of
Canada, coming to Alaska about
25 years ago. Any information
■would be appreciated by the Gov
ernor’s Office, Juneau.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
August 4th, 1927.
VACATION OF PRESIDENT
TO END IN SEPTEMBERF
President Coolidge expeels to re
turn to Washington early in Sep
tember although the exact date ha’s
not been determined. It was said
that Mr. Coolidge does not. contem
plate a visit to Yellowstone Na
tional Park or Plymouth, Vt., be
fore his return to Washington.
We will have our
Canning Peaches
on
Saturday’s Boat
$1.70
Per Crate
Modern Grocery
Buy at Star Bakery and Save Money
Fresh Doughnuts, Cup Cakes, Coo'd
and Cinnamon Rolls
Always on Hand Fresh
STAR BAKERY
AMERICA FIRST arrives in Pe
tersburg Friday morning, leaving
for Juneau via Kake and way porta
about noon.
H A HOW TRANSPORTATION
COMPANY
JACOBITZ TAXI
DAY & NIGHT SERVICE
Stand at Arctic Hotel
Phone 35
ALASKA CAFE
George Kim, Proprietor
Meals at all Hours
Good Services, Fair Prices
We Solicit Your Trade
Btffltmmtttmnsst
When in Town Stop at
ARCTIC HOTEL
First Class Rooms
Reasonable Rates
CARL ROGER, Pro.
Home Service Mending
of Laundered Goods
We give full value for your
money.
H.OYAMA, PRO.
Sanitary Market
A Roast you'll like :::
The Very Choicest Beef :
Mutton and Pork
| Vegetable in Season J
SITKA HOT SPRING
HEALTH RESORT
Rate $3.00 per
day and up
Dr. Goddard, Pro.
Built
Attractively
You car, get
X
the latest de
signs in
Sash, Doors
& Millwork
diiectfrow the
manufacturer
at monej-sar
ing prices
Write today
fir FREE il
lustrated tat•