Big Wholesaler
Gives His Views
H. T. Fowler, the big whole
sale merchant of Everett, Wash
ington, who recently established
a ibranch warehouse in Anchor
age, after looking over the situ
ation, said, upon his return home,
to the Everett Herald:
“From the Alaskans’ viewpoint
the building of a railroad by the
government was essential to de
velop A laska. The population of
Alaska has been decreasing until
they have lost one-third of their
population. Alaskans claim the
attitude of the government in
withdrawing coal lands and other
resources is the cause.
“All those publications tending
to poison the public mind and to
array class against class have
relished and cherished by many
Alaskans. Why? It is a coun
try of hazardous undertakings
the last desperate plunge to re
gain fortunes and then, when
disappointment comes, many be
come bitter and easily attribute
their failure to some dark scheme
that they fancy has been plotted
by capitalists. An old-time Alas
kan of some prominence told me
in all sincerity that the Guggen
heims and their allies were buy
ing up the best gold properties
and then locking up the mines to
prevent overproduction of gold.
“You can scarcely talk with an
Alaskan who does not really think
that the president was affected
with oversight in not putting
them on the commission they
would really take some lesser po-.
sition. No one seems to point to
any serious mistakes of the rail
road engineering commission ex
cept that they have too few good
jobs. Chairman Edes, of the
commission, is clothed with great
authority, but this should worry
no one. Mr. Edes is a noted
engineer. He is not a politician
and I can’t think he is very
strongly attached to any political
party. He is an ardent admirer
of President Wilson. Mr. Edes
si a man of ripe experience in
railroad construction and is nat
urally trying to surround himself
with men known to be capable.
It distresses him visibly when
lome persistent Alaskan whose
occupation has been that of cook,
comes up with a large number of
endorsements of prominent pers
onages urging the fitness of the
aforesaid hasher for some promin
ent position. Edes will run it
right or quit.
“Mr. Edes has his headquart
ers at Seward, where there is
no activity at present. Mr. Mearsj
is the active manager of con
struction at Anchorage. Mr.
Means was with the Great North
ern railroad company and later
active at Panama railroad con-,
struction. Mr. Mears is in the
qrime of active leadership. He
handles the many perplexing
puestions with ease and dispatch.
His experience at the Panama
canal makes this undertaking look
simple.
“A small dock has been con
structed, but large steamers can
not land and must transfer to,
barges which unload at the small
dock. Less than half a mile of
track has been laid to date and
there is no locomotive. A few
cars with supplies are moved by
horses. Quite a number of small
contracts for grading have been
let. It is only 38 miles from
Anchorage to the Matanuska coal,
the finest in Alaska. Most of the
grading on this line will doubtless
be completed this year If given
sufficient appropriation to com
plete the line, with a dock at An
chorage, the coal can be made -
available in 18 months.
“Seward boosters claims An
chorage will be frozen up three
months every winter—they also;
whisper that the powers that be
are interested in Seward. There
is 120 miles extra haul over a bad
grade to Seward. So far as the
coal is concerned Anchorage has
an advantage.
“Seward is beautifully located
and is quite a promising appearing i
city with best property claimed to
be worth $200 per front foot.
Those that stop off at Seward
find no activity there and soon go
on to Anchorage, where there is
a city of tents about 3,000 men,
1,500 of whom work for the rail
road. The city to be is being
surveyed. It is hoped to have
permanent locations available in
July. Whether the lots will be
sold by the foot at auction or
lots drawn was not determined
when I left.
“Cook’s Inlet reminds one of
Puget Sound. It is about two
hundred miles long and wider
than the Sound. A vast expanse
of level csuntry surrounds Cook’s
Inlet and extends up rivers en
tering this Inlet. As you view
the white mountains in. the dis
tance with the snow much nearer
the water line than on Puget
Sound, you are reminded that you
are far north. The weather is
beautiful.”
Sunny Knik is a beautiful place in
which to spend a few days and when
there, the Pioneer is a nice comforta
ble hotel in which to stop. Frank
Cannon, proprietor.
NOTICE!
The Board of Medical Examin
ers of the Territory of Alaska
will hold the July examination in
Seward, Alaska July 6, 1915.
Signed,
I)rs. Romig and Sloan,
Members of Said Board
Notice
Notice is hereby given that the '
partnership heretofore existing
between J. J. Ross and C. D.
Ryther is dissolved by mutual
consent. C. D, Ryther assumed
all outstanding accounts up to
June 26,1915.
Signed J. J. Ross,
The Painter.
“INSIDE INN”
Harris & Kowse, Proprs.
Cigars, Tobaccos, Cigarettes
NUTS and CANDIES
Fruits of All Kinds in Season i
—
A RESORT FOR GENTLEMEN
Anchorage, Alaska
^Illlillllllll!l!!lli!l!ll!llll!l!l!l!!lll!l!l!ll!ll!lll!!llllllllllllll!!!llllll!!ll!!!lf'/^
1 Make Our Bank Your Bank I
. 4 Per Cent Paid on V
:y Savings Deposits )/
I Bank of Seward, Seward, Alaska |
Northern Drug Company, Inc.
Cordova and Anchorage, Alaska
Drugs, Chemicals,
Cigars and Tobaccos,
Confectionery and Stationery,
Talking Machines,
Photo Supplies, Etc,
Broad way, An chorage
The Herning Family
Continue to Dispense
General Merchandise
At the Old Stand in Knik
Whatever You Want We Have
Whatever We Have You Want
Knik Trading Com’y
0. G. Herning, Manager
As mute evidence that Knik Arm is navigable during the win
ter, the above picture shows the popular launch Traveler, Captain
S. S. Cramer, owner and master, on one of its mid-winter trips.
The Traveler is on the Anchorage-Goose Bay-Knik run.