MORE ABOUT
Story of Seward
(Continued from Page 1)
upset, so that a great deal of
the work was being done far
from the actual railhead, further
increasing costs.
Through the remaining days
of the 1906 building season, the
work dragged on at a mere
snail's pace. The spring of 11)07
opened with little to brighten
Seward's prospects. Despite the
usual puffed-up press reports
that the railroad would use
2000 men. it was a matter of
common knowledge that ere ws
would acuta: y bt reduced, and
that an unemnn.wm. nl pmolm
might take toe pn.ee o._ a labor
shortage.
Then, in March, 11)07. came
the big general stock market
crash on t lie New York Ex
change. Although little was said
about ibis in tiie local Seward
press, it undoubtedly had a pro
found effeet on the remaining
finaneial backers of I'm railroad,
who were now nearing the end
of their financial resources. The
news that - the loop area had
finally been passed brought little
enthusiasm. The camp at Mile
49 had been the railhead camp
since October, 1905. and nearly
two years had been used up in
passing from Mile 49 to Mile 63.
During 1906 and 1907 had
occurred the most controversial
events in all Alaska history: the
withdrawal of coal and oil lands
from private entry. We have
covered this in some detail in
previous chapters, and it only
remains for us at this point to
make a small change in our pre
vious conclusions. W hile it is
true that Frost and Osborn,
with other great corporations,
were banking heavily on Mata
nuska coal to re vivify invest
ment in Alaska railroad con
struction, and while it is true
that a large number of coal
claims had been staked out oy
these same corporations tor
their own exploitation, still it
now seems very doubtful indeed
that the railroad from rnsvarj
could have b cn completed as a
private enterprise under any
circumstances.
In other words, there is ex
cellent reason to believe that
failure would have came any
way, even if the coal claims had
remained undisturbed. W h i 1 e
this conclusion is bound to raise
objection from many of Sew
ard's old-timers, who led a brave
and determined fight against the
c ml closure orders, still the fact
r nr-'ns that the railroad limply
I n i the means to raise fur
ther millions, no matter what
the final reward might b
Frost and Osborn were just
beginning to tact' a who'1* 'Ties
of costly legal battles, of only
with the United States, blit with
their own shareholders as well.
F. August Ileintze. a n n t h e r
heavy backer of the Alaska ven
ture, had not only taken a terri
fic beating from th Gisggen
heims in Montana, but had been
convicted of embezzling the
funds of his own bank. The
bond holders of the railroad,
after investing some four mil
lions in building less t tan 70
miles, now found themselves
in 1 lie awkward position of being
unable to raise even ton cents
cn the dollar in further loans,
h ruly, the Alaska North' rn was
a white elephant. It is doubtful
if any responsible corporation
would have accepted it as a gift
the w-v matters stood back • •
1007. 1900 and 1009. when work
dually simmered down t> a
more matter of maintenance.
(Next week: to nts the
Town Itself. 1906-i909.'
Haul it yourself with U-Drive
Jeep Siaiio i Wagon. Phone
Main ' 4 or Main 5 >
Seahawks Win First
Game of Season
Seward's Seahawks came out
of tile iirst game of the season
last 1 hursday wilu a score oi
43 lie They played the 8Utn
Engineers as a farewell to tnat
group.
“Although tiie boys looked
rather ragged and slow in their
passing, which of course is ex
pected this early in the season,
1 was pretty well satisfied with
their performance," Coach Dal
berg states. “They stayed organ
ized throughout the- game and
although their shooting was not
too sharp they worked for and
got pl< nty oi good shots. Back
board p*ay was at tunes weak
and we will ha\ to spend a
good*deal of lime in practicing
on that aspect af the game. All
in all the boys showed demote
promise of developing into a
smooth working quintet. We are
lacking in height, but hope to
overcome that handicap by hard
work and bust le,“ the coach
commented.
L. wis led t!i ■ scores with Id
points. followed by Sanders
with 11. Tiie game was close
until the final quartir when the
Seahawks finally gat to hit.mg
and the Engineers slowed down.
THREE LOCAL EOYS TO
REPORT FOR INDUCTION
Arthur Sanders. Jr.. Kenneth
Gordon Woed and Garold 3.
(Doc) Hall have been ordered
to report far induction Tuesday.
November 6. at Fort Richardson.
WHICH WAY?
We hear that Howard Amidon
got lost by taking the wrong
turn at Mile 38 last week end
with a load of passengers in
iiia laxiea'o. Hr. Amidon wants
the road commis.'ion to put a a
signs to guide nee. risks a'.ong
the i aid. Good idea, Mr. Ami
ri on!
PASSENGER SERVICE
from Seward
S3 DENALI
Thursday
Nov. I
Cordova
.1 uneau
Petersburg
Wra ngull
Ketchikan
Seat tie
j 3S BARANOF
Thursday
Nov. 8
Sitka
Juneau
i Ketchikan
Seattle
i
i
i
FREIGHTER SAILINGS
FROM SEATTLE
SS VICTORIA
November 1
Seward
MV COASTAL MONARCH
November 2
Valdez, Seward, Cordova
MV SUSITNA
November 7
Sitka, Seward, Valdez
For Information
PHONE MAIN 125
W. W. Sipprell, Gen. Agl.
Alaska Salmon
Competitive Market
Salmon caught in Territorial waters and packed in Alaska
canneries this summer have ’necn traveling during the past
few weeks.
Now these salmon, packed in brightly labeled cans,
are on grocery shelves all over the world—competing with
other foodstuffs.
How well this commodity fares in ihe highly competi
tive market is important to all of us because the salmon
industry historically has been the backbone of Alaska s
HEAR SAM HAYES, noted radio commentator ..,
every Sunday over your favorite Alaska station
write today for your copy of ‘ Welcome to Alaska,
a colorful 12-page booklet crcmmed with information
about Alaska. Or drop us a card end we'll send this
booklet to friends or relatives outside. Address
inquiries to Box 893, Ketchikan. /
life
Alaska Salmon Institute
£ F A T T I F
KETCHIKAN — JUNEAU
Meets 2nd and 4th Mond
I.O.O.F. Hall - Adams £
N. G . Art MeKeough
V. G , George Kipsgarc.
See., Tom Jones
SEWARD PO
No. 5
Meets
t st-?rd Wed of :
Lg ion C
SEWARD
B. P, O. ELK!
1773
Meet 2nd & 4th Wed. of I
OPEN DAILY 5:00 P.b
United Brotherhood (
CARPENTERS and JOIN
Seward Carpenters' Union
Meetings at Lutheran Chi
Affiliated With A F of 1
Meeting 2nd Tuesday of M
W. C. Knaak — Preside]
R. M. Bevan - Fin.-Sec. & Bu
International Longshorer
and Warehousemen's Ui
Local 39
Meets First Tuesday of Each
7 p.m. — Union Hall
President — John Rost
Telephone Polk 166
McRae Cencrel
Products
Box 621
SEWARD. ALA.SKA
Patronize Home uidusir
I Call—
ANDY'S
CSL DELIVERY
© STOVE OIL
© FURNACE OIL
As you want ii.
When you want ii.
Madison 143
Patronize Home Indutsh
Expert—
WATCH REPAIR
and
ENGRAVING
C. E. Orlandt
Jeweler
Established 1916
TANNIIs
Send us your furs and skin
tanned. Quick, etlicient.
workmanship. We return
finished skins
Valcauda Fur
National BJcg. Seattle
menu
PIC & #£P
Telephone Adams
Pickup vSi Deli
Cleaning P
Alterations
Hat b