Cincinnati Paper
Tells of Benefits
of Alaska'Road
(Cincinnati Enquirer)
With our attention directed con
stantly to conditions of foreign coun
tries and to the older sections of our
own country, it is still very interest
ing to turn occasionally an eye to
ward our comparatively new and very
promising territory of Alaska, the
latest from which, according to the
Anchorage Times, gives the surpris
ing and cheering news that the por
tion of the government railroad from
that important center of the building
of it to the great Matanuska coal
fields will be in operation this month.
Certainly the government engineers
are justifying Frank Carpenter’s en
conium of them, in which he remark
ed the absence of red tape in their op
erations, after calling attention to the
fact that among them are men who
have helped to build some of the great
railroads of our west, as well as that
kind of work in Panama.
There has certainly been no unne
cessary delay in this work on rail
roads in Alaska, which was not au
thorized until March 11, 1914. Under
the act of congress the roads were
not to exceed 1,000 miles and the cost
$35,000,000. This includes the pur
chase of the Alaska Northern, of 35
miles, for $1,125,000. The distance to
Fairbanks, the northern terminus, on
the Tanana river, is 472 miles. There
are in all 500 miles contemplated at
present, including the branch to the
Matanuska coal fields, which will be
opened from Anchorage this month—
as early as the 15th has been predict
ed.
In addition to the good news from
the south of Alaska we have assur
ances that before next winter shall
block work for some months there will
be rail connection, private and gov
ernmental, out of Fairbanks to the
Tanana coal and gold fields.
Thus, long before there shall be
direct communication along the 472
miles between Seward and Fairbanks,
there will be supplies of coal on the
docks at Anchorage, Seward and F: )j r
banks. The greatest need of Alaska
is coal at the furnace door. The coal
of this territory lies in vast deposits
ready to be mined as soon as there
shall be transportation for it. This
secured, Alaska will advance with
great leaps. Then \\ill be possible
much more and cheaper transporta
tion along the great rivers Yukon
and Tanana. The great expense of
wood for fuel, for steamers on the riv
ers, for heat for homes and hothouses
and for work in gold mining will then
give place to the cheaper and more ef
fective combustion of coal. The north
of Alaska and the Canadian Yukon
country from Bering sea to Dawson
will thrill in response to the new life
from this fuel. There will be a great
revival and increase of business on
the Tanana. There will be a great
brightening of Alaska’s prospects.
Secretary Koch
to Gather Data
A. S. Koch, secretary of the An
chorage Chamber of Commerce, leaves
on tomorrow morning’s train for an
extended trip to the Matanuska
farming country, the Moose creek
coal and the Willow creek gold camps.
His visit to the Matanuska valley will
be with the intention of gathering
data relative to the farming condi
tions of that section: take pictures of
the homesteads and farms for the ad
vertisement of the valley and show
what may be done in this part of
Alaska in the line of agriculture.
Mr. Koch will spend some time in
the region of Moose creek also, gath
ering data to be used in connection
with the Chamber of Commerce and
ascertain the status of the coal situa
tion in regard to the supply for the
local market. From Moose creek Mr.
Koch will take the trail through the
farming community, getting a line on
the number of farmers, their produc
tion and possible output for this and
next year’s crops, together with all
information necessary to answer the
hundreds of letters of inquiry that
come to the Chamber of Commerce
with reference to the Matanuska and
Susitna valleys.
His zi.at to the goid camps in the
Willow creek district will also be up
on the lines of advertising Anchorage
and it is his intention to get a fair
compilation of the operators of this
district in regard to their output,
number of men employed and pro
posed development contemplated for
next season.
Arrangements have been made
with different parties interested in
these localities to meet Mr. Koch and
this trip should be of vast benefit both
to the Anchorage Chamber of Com
merce and the industries of these lo
calities; the idea of co-operation is
fast taking hold of this community
and every effort has been made by the
local body to foster the movement.
An exhibit will be gathered from the
different sections to be sent to the
Northwest Land and Products exposi
tion to be held in Seattle October 4th
to the 14th.
Mr. Koch is taking this trip on his
own initiative and at his own expense
and will unquestionably result in
much good for the Anchorage Cham
ber of Commerce and the community.
Cellars Making
Camp to Camp
Canvas for Sulzer
Apparently of average intellect but
unquestionably misguided and chasing
a phantom, still he seemed sincere in
his convictions that Chas. Sulzer
would be in the running but in enter
ing such a strong Wickersham hold as
Anchorage and vicinity he is prone to
admit that he made a mistake.
Harry Cellars, of Western Fedeya
ion of Miners fame is making a camp
to camp visit in the hopeless cause of
Mr. Sulzer; most everyone likes to
wear a button, but in the case of the
Sulzer button Mr. Cellars is having a
hard time to get rid of them and “See
Doc” is only waiting to get a bargain
price on the output. The prime rea
son for this lack of enthusiasm in
regard to buttons is that they adver
tise the wrong man, nor are they in
any way artistic, the color scheme is
not in harmony, nor does it attract
the natives. True there are nine An
chorage citizens wearing these Sulzer
buttons but they are of the origin
that confidentially admit that green
would have been much more appropri
ate. ,
Mr. Cellars has just come in over
the trail from Seward and will prob
ably visit the mining camps in this
vicinity in the interests of Chas. Sul
zer.
In an interview this morning in the
office of The Daily Times, Mr. Cellars
would not give out any definite plans
of the democratic party pertaining to
the local campaign but said that he
was simply making a hand-shaking
tour at this time. It was hoped by
fhe Daily Times that an outside sup
porter of Sulzer would be sufficient
inspiration for the local democrats to
pull off that “old-fashioned democrat
ic rally” but this is evidently not the
ease for no mention was made of the
date. But it may mean that the
brains of this button campaign are
keeping their plans a dark, hidden se
cret and will yet spring a surprise.
At this time The Daily Times wants
to reiterate its assertion that it stands
ready at all times to give the local
democratic party sufficient publicity
and in the way of advice in the dispo
sition of buttons would suggest the
change of the name and the color
scheme.
Large Seizure of
“Wet Goods”
The seizure of 4,800 bottles of whis
key and 5,000 quarts of beer at Point
Campbell last night was the result of
several weeks’ close observation of
the owners and really good detective
keenness.
The liquor has been confiscated and
brought to Anchorage and will prob
ably be allowed to run wild within a
few days. The unlawful shipment of
liquor into this section has been close
ly watched and this is only one of sev
eral shipments that are under scru
tiny by the officials.
MURDER OF KODIAK
CHILD IS ALLEGED
(Seward Gateway)
Tessie KotofF is now in custody at
Ivodiak on the charge of murdering
her illegitimate child at Kodiak on
the day before yesterday. This in
formation was conveyed to Marshal
Brenneman by a telegram from Dep
uty Carl Armstrong. The child was
found wrapped up in a cloth and hid
den in a barrel. -An examination, it
is said, showed that it had been suf
focated and the commissioner has
iield the mother to answer. Assist
ant District Attorney Whittlesey has
lirected that the body of the child be
kept for further examination.
CLAIM BOUGHT FROM RILEY
TURNS OUT TO BE BONANZA
(Fairbanks Citizen)
Mining men who have visited the
works of Ringdahl & Co., on No. 11
below, creek claim, on Cleary creek,
are authority for the statement that
the richest pay ever known to exist
on old Cleary, even, in her palmiest
days, is now being mined there. In
fact, it is stated that it is no trouble
at all to get pans running from $5 to
$25 anywhere in the drift. It is there
fore expected that the operators will
take out something like $100,000 dur
ing the mining season.
The good pay in question was sup
posed to have been worked out.
Therefore, when last year H. Ring
dahl and his three partners, namely,
A1 Raymond, John Carlson and John
Carey, made an offer of $5,000 for the
ground to Henry Riley, the former
well known mining man, and banker
of Fairbanks, it was accepted. And
the miners secured several other pie
ces of mining property in their bar
The exact extent of the pay is not
known, but it is believed that at least
two years’ time will be required to
work it out. Ringdahl & Co., are
stated to be preparing to open up on
a large scale now, having done all of
their own preliminary work.
G. L. Sommerlein, one of the em-<
ployes of the land survey at Nenana,
underwent an operation for appendi
citis at the engineering commission
hospital at Fairbanks,
BALLAST CARS
IN RUN MY
SEWARD, August 8.—Two ballast
cars that were left on the main line at
Mile 6, on the Alaska Northern rail
way, ran away and ran into a Brown
ing crane in the local railway yards.
No one was injured. Had the Crane
not been on the main line the cars
would have crashed into the new dock
now under construction and leaped
into the bay. The train crew is held
responsible and has been suspended.
COMMISSIONER
DAW UPHELD
VALDEZ, August 8.—Judge Brown
has decided against Mrs. Alafar Dun
lap, of Anchorage, in the habeas cor
pus proceedings instituted by her at
torney, L. V, Ray, of Seward. The
judge upholds the action of Commis
sioner David, of Anchorage. Attor
ney Ray says he will probably ap
peal the case from the commfssioner's
court, forcing a trial of the case on
its merits before a jury, when the
regular court term convenes here.
Shough Has
Faith in Camp
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Shough are
down from the Willow creek district
and are stopping at the White House
for a few days.
Mr. Shough has some very valuable
quartz property that joins the Mabel
on the south and has been working on
the property for four years. He has
the tunnel driven 200 feet now, with
the intention to cross the big ore body
at the contact. The ledge on this
property is from 60 to 100 feet in
width and has been opened at differ
ent places for a distance of 3,600 feet.
Wm. Martin and George W. Palmer
are interested with Mr. Shough, who
owns the control and is desirous of
disposing of his interests.
Mr. Shough is a miner of consider
able reputation and says he has no
doubt of the future of the Willow
creek district.
LET THERE BE LIGHT ON
FIRE ISLAND, SAY MARINERS
The time of the year has come
when the captains of the gas launches
and power boats making Anchorage
their home port are thinking of ‘light,
more light." This is especially true
of the boats plying between Anchor
age and Turnagain Arm points and
some arrangements should be made
to let the light shine continuously
from the beacon on Fire island.
At the instigation of the Alaskan
Engineering Commission, a flash light
was placed on the lower end of Fire
island and this light is under the su
pervision of the lighthouse depart
ment of the government. The keeper
is stationed at Ketchikan and at pres
ent is using the absent treatment in
reference to the lights on Fire island.
This process does very well in the
case of Cupid or an unpaid bill but
is hardly satisfactory in the particu
lar case referred to.
In the absence of fish wives and the
gray-haired grandfathers, who have
passed their usefulness to man the
oar, there will be no beacon light on
Fire island from this source, and ap
parently the matchless keeper at
Ketchikan is waiting until the Pioneer
or Brighton or some other local boat,
that makes it possible, to have daily
business connections with Turnagain
Arm points, runs ashore or batters
themselves to pieces against the nu
merous rocks that abound on this
treacherous coast.
Many an interesting story has been
woven around the light houses of the
storm-strewn shores of the eastern
coast, giving a thrilling account of
how the keeper’s daughter with the
last sulphur match .sent the beacon
light flashing over the white-capped
sea just in time to savg her sweet
heart’s fishing boat and the day’s
catch of cod, from being dashed to
pieces against the ragged rocks.
There possibly would be no oppor
tunity to come back with an Alaska
romance, with a similar setting, for
the lighthouse on Fire island was not
erected with the view of housing a
keeper and anyhow, the chances are
he would not have been fortunate
enough to have possessed a daughter,
but if the lights were kept trimmed
and burning, they might save some of
the local boats from disaster; in any
event this light would be a great ben
efit to the local gas and power boats
plying between Anchorage and Turn -
again Arm points.
The captains of the local boats have
signified their willingness to assume
the responsibility of keeping this light
or lights burning, provided the gov
ernment will furnish the necessary oil,
and this is a matter that needs the
immediate consideration and attention
of the proper authorities.
The lighthouse tender Kukui, Cap
tain Gregory, dropped anchor at this
port this morning.
Engineer Zug
to Investigate
Road Matters
John Zug, assistant engineer of the
Alaska Hoad commission, returned
yesterday on the Tjbmc from a trip
of several days in the lliamna coun
try, where he inspected the trail from
the head of lliamna |bay to the Indian
village.
Mr. Zug will be iji Anchorage the
balance of the mo^th, making his
headquarters at the Crescent hotel,
and will make trips to the surround
ing country in the nterest of better
roads. However, ie will pay more
particular attention to the feeders in
the Matanuska faming section and
make a general examination of the
conditions of the «untry that a)'11
be reached by the railroad this year.
The season is so far advanced that
there will not be nuch work done at
the present but by making a careful
examination of cond tions at this time
Mr. Zug can determine the practica
bility of future road | and great im
provements are promised for the fu
ture road conditions of this part of
Alaska.
Mr. Zug said this morning that- he
had received no instructions from
headquarters in regard to the cut off
road from mile 27 on the Knik-Willow
creek road to the railroad connecting
at Farrington Siding but that this
matter would be taken up later.
Mr. Zug will leave within a few
days for the Matanuska country and
also visit Palmer’s Canyon in response
to the petition asking for a bridge at
that place.
DREAD MALADY
SHOWS INCREASE
NEW YORK, August 6.—Within
the past 24 hours 52 infants have died
from the effects of infantile paraly
sis. One hundred and eighty-eight
new cases of the dread malady have
been reported to the health depart
ment.
Opportunities
for Aviation
W. J. Stewart came over from Knik
yesterday on the launch Swan and
will remain in Anchorage permanent
ly. Mr. Stewart has just returned
from a trip to the Willow Creek
country where he has some valuable
quartz property in the vicinity of the
Gold Bullion mine.
Mr. Stewart is an ardent student of
aviation and has had considerable
experience in this line and believes
there are wonderful opportunities for
this new industry in this country.
Jack Frisbee, of Knik, is visiting in
Anchorage for a few days.
Big Tractor to
Handle Freight
Fred Spengler, who until recently
has been employed at the Wm. Martin
mine in the Willow creek district, has
sprung an innovation on the traveling
and freighting public that promises
good results. They say it takes a che
chaco to put new ideas into the
country and offer new suggestions
and in the case of Mr. Spengler it
seems that he has supplied a long
felt want that will be both remunera
tive and a blessing.
Mr. Spengler conceived the idea of
bringing a caterpillar tractor into
this country to handle the heavy traf
fic between Knik and the Willow creek
mines; he immediately put his idea
into execution and this morning the
freighter Wellesley brought a 75
horse power Holt caterpillar tractor,
together with requisite equipment for
freighting.
This machine will be operated be
tween Knik and the Willow creek
mines, Matanuska Junction and rail
road points; also between any other
accessible points in the vicinity where
volume of freight will justify instal
lation.
With the increased freight ship
ment's made possible by further de
velopment of the Willow creek mines
and the farming country in the Mata
nuska valley Mr. Spengler will prob
ably ship in his other machine just as
soon as the additional run of business
demands increased service.
The caterpillar was unloaded at
ship side onto a barge this afternoon
and will be towed to Knik by the
launch Swan.
I. N. Bennett will have charge of
the mechanical end of the machine
and Mr. Spengler will be business
manager; this is the first machine of
this kind to be shipped into the coun
try and will no doubt be a winner
from the first trip. Mr. Spengler is
to be congratulated upon his fore
sight and The Daily Times predicts
success for this new undertaking.
Emil Hurja left
week’s trip to the
fields and will be
days gathering dat.
with his joumalisti<
yesterday for a
Chicaloon coal
ie a week or ten
in connection
work.
Believed Seized
Wet Goods Came
From Juneau
' In Kansas the game wardens keep
bird dogs to spot quail and other de
lectable game birds that are occa
sionally shipped unlawfully; the
south uses the bloodhound to track the
criminal; the police departments of
several foreign countries use differ
ent breeds of dogs to bring the un
lawful to justice, but it takes the keen
scented officials in the local marshal’s
office to unearth the hootch. ,,
Why anyone would deliberately
care to go so far as to get a monopoly
on the whiskey and beer trade in An
chorage is beyond conception and it
is ridiculous for them to imagine they
could get by with 4,800 bottles of
whiskey and 5,000 bottles of beer. It
is strange how really intelligent men
sometimes try and pull this raw stuff
and work overtime trying to beat the
laws of the country; the methods they
often resort to are cunning, some
times successful, but more often they
are caught; just at the tune when ev
erything looks propitious they are ap
prehended and doomed to failure, pen
ury and justice. The long arm of the
law eventually “gets them and it is
right; law and order must be upheld.
There may be some question in re
gard to the legality of liquor ship
ments and this case may be the one
to bring out the law. Up to date no
one has claimed the liquor, nor is
there any definite clew as to who
shipped it into the country. To
whom did the liquor belong and from
whence did it come, are the questions
that bring forth comment in connec
tion with the confiscation.
It is generally believed that the
“wet goods” came from Juneau and
were conveyed to Point Campbell by
lone of the fishing crafts that have
[their headquarters at the southeast
ern Alaska metropolis. About one
month ago, according to information
given The Daily Times, an unfamiliar
power fishing boat was seen at Tome
[Campbell. The occupants of the boat
declared they were seeking a site for
the establishment of a cannery.
The story did not ring true; the ap
pearance of the boat aroused suspi
cion and is what finally led to the
discovery of tie cache and the con
fiscation of the booze.
Several parties have been under
| surveillance for some time but no ar
I rests have been made in connection
with the case, which comes Under
Section 240 of the penal code and the
punishment for infringement is se
vere. The recent Jaffe case tried at
Valdez came under this ruling, in
which'the law says any liquor shipped
falsely manifested and labeled and
consigned to a fictitious name is sub
ject to confiscation with a severe pen
alty attached to the shippers.
The liquor in question is held at the
government dock and will be later
; taken to Valdez.
NO AMERICANS
WERE ABOARD
WASHINGTON, August 8.—Act
ing Secretary of State Polk has beer,
officially advised that there were no
Americans aboard the Italian steam
ship Letimbro, which was sunk in the
Adriatic sea by an Austrian subma
rine recently. Hence, the case is clos
ed, so far as the United States is con
cerned.
Wm. Guggenheim
Sues Brothers
NEW YORK, August 5.—A suit for
: $10,000,000 for alleged damages, with
William Guggenheim of the Guggen
heim family of copper mine owners as
plaintiff, against his five brothers,
was argued in the supreme court in
Brooklyn recently. The defendants,
Isaac, Daniel, Solomon, Morris and Si
mon Guggenheim, contended through
counsel that there was insufficient
proof, and asked for*a judgment un
der which the action would be dismis
sed.
William Guggenheim alleges that
his brothers concealed from him ser
tain details about the affairs of the
Chile Copper Mining company, attd
that he suffered a loss to the amount
of $10,000,000.
Justice Benedict reserved decision
on the motion made by the defend
ants.
ALASKAN PIONEERS
HAVE BEEN PLACED
ON PENSION ROLLS
(Juneau Empire)
Gov. J. F. A. Strong today received
notification from Sitka that the board
of trustee" of the Alaska Pioneers'
Home have granted old age pensions
to four men and two women, pioneers
of Alaska and all over the age of 70
years. There are now 91 persons in
Alaska receiving assistance from the
territory under the provisions of
chapter 64 of the Session Laws of
Alaska, 1915.
The new pensions granted were to
Elisha H. Skeen, of Ketchikan, $10 a
month; Benjamin Spinney, of Ruby;
Robert Roberts of Fairbanks, James
Boyle of Nome, Eliina Person, of
Nome, and Adeline F. Simpson, of
Fairbanks, $12.50 a month each.
OSS IN WAR
BERLIN, August 8.—The five hundred and seventieth
casulty list, published today, shows that in killed, wounded
and missing the’Germans have lost two million, nine hundred
and sixty-four thousand, two hundred and forty-nine since the
world war began. ,Xf ?
• LONDON, August 8.—It is officially announced that since
the British offensive began at Somme duly 1, the cost for shells
averages ten million dollars a day. .July 1, the day of the ini
tiation of the big offensive at Somme, the British cost for am
munition was fifty million dollars.
British Take 3,000 Turks.
LONDON, August 8.—A detachment of British cavalry,
operating in the Port Said zone, by a well executed flank move
ment, captured a brigade of three thousand Turkish troops yes
terday, according to official advices issued by the war office
today.
Russians Routed By Turks.
CONSTANTINOPLE, August 8.—.V report issued by the
.Ottoipan government today says that in the Mush sector, in
Turkish Armenia, a detachment of Russian troops were de
feated by the Turkish troops.
Germans Regain Lost Ground.
BERLIN, August 8.—A German official report today says
that the German troops operating against the British at Po
zieres, yesterday recaptured lost ground, after desperate hand
to-hand lighting.
German Attacks Repulsed.
LONDON, August 8.—The German attempt to regain lost
ground in the region of Pozieres has met with failure, says an
official report today.
French Claim Repulse of Germans.
PARIS, August 8.—A French official report claims the
repulse, by the French forces, of the German attacks at Valoed
and at Thiaumont.
Two Vessels Submarined.
LONDON, August .-—Lloyd’s today announces the sub
manning of the British steamer Spiral and the Norwegian
steamer Aranda. No report is made as to the safety of the
crews.
• Aerial Attacks Futile.
BERLIN, August 8.—A German report today says the
French aerial attacks in the western front are meeting with
very little success.
ACTING PRESIDENT CARRANZA
WILL SOON RETIRE FROM OFFICE
|
MEXICO CITY, August 8.—Provisional President Car
ranza, of Mexico, will retire from office, following the general
election that will be held under the auspices of the constitu
tionalists,-in the near future. Till is the announcement of
Aguilar, minister of foreign relations in the Carranzista cab
inet.
i-_ .... .- ■ - ■
Passenger traffic to Alaska the
first six months of the year, ending
June 00, broke all former records, ac
cording to estimates compiled. Be
tween January 1 and June 30, pas
sengers going to Alaska numbered
17,000, included all classes of travel
on American and Canadian steamship
lines. This surpasses the previous re
cord, it is estimated, by more than
1,000 persons.
Alaska Editors
Give Views on
Current Topics
FARMING NEAR JUNEAU.
• (Juneau Dispatch)
“When I make my pile I will go
outside and farm,” is often heard in
Alaska. Many of these are still wait
ing to make their pile. Others, how
ever, are making tneir “pile” by farm
ing in Alaska. And they have no de
sire to go elsewhere. They find farm
life both pleasant and profitable. ]
Near Juneau are evidences of this ,
fact. Along the Salmon crek road are <
dairy and chicken ranches which will \
compare favorably with the best and ,
most modern on the outside. In some ,
instances scientific methods are being ]
employed and a model farming com- j
munity is developing‘just without the ,
city of Juneau. ]
STATEHOOD AND POLITICS. 1
(Petersburg Report)
The platform adopted by the Sew- ]
ard convention demands statehood for
Alaska.
Thel'e are many obstacles in the
svay of getting statehood for Alaska,
and there is small chance of Alaska
becoming a state until some time in
the dim future.
One of these obstacles is that same
Seward convention.
So long as one man or one little
clique is able to absolutely dominate
and control the actions of the con
tention supposedly representative of
>ne of the two principal political par
ses, the less such conventions have to
io the better it will be for the peo
ale of Alaska.
MORNINGSIDE.
(Skagway Alaskan)
A thorn in the side of all true Alas
cans—Morningside. Those who stand
?or and believe in Alaskan institu
tions for Alaskans, manned by men
)f our own territory who know the
conditions through the past experi
ence are better fitted to cope with our
conditions than people who have the
autside intelligence about the condi
tions that exist in Alaska. The logi
cal place for a sanitarium for the care
>r the insane in Alaska is in Alaska
and not in the states.
HEADED FOR ALASKA.
(Juneau Dispatch)
, An Associated Press item to the
Dispatch says that much more housc
lold goods than usual are being ship
>ed to Alaska and these indicate that
he population is in creasing. This is
rue. Moreover, the population now
coming to Alaska is of the perma
lent kind. The people are not most
y stampeders looking for placer
nines with a view of making a quick
stake and leaving. They are large
y earnest men and women who desire
0 better their conditions, who realize
hat there are many opportunities in
1 great undeveloped country like
Vlaska and who want to become im
>ortant factors in empire building.