COOK INLET PIONEER
AND KNIK NEWS
VOL. 1
Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, August 21, 1915
XO. 11
Work on Government Railway
Progressing Without a Hitch
*
►
Work on the big government
railway project is progressing
without a hitch. The roadbed
from Anchorage out six miles is
completed, ready to receive the
rails. From thence on to Mata
nuska Landing, a distance of
some twenty-four miles, the work
is covered by small contractors
that is, groups of men combining
and taking a given piece of work
- all the way along as far as the
Landing. The Commission’s pol
icy of giving the men who do the
actual work the full benefit.elim
inating the middleman, or big
contractor, is working out very
satisfactorily. The force report
for the week ending August 14
showed something over 1300 men
on the payroll including 29 men
employed at the tie camp on Turn
again arm, and excluding the en
gineering force engaged in con
struction from this point to Mat
anuska Landing.
Save for the rock camp at Knik
river, the work is practically all
loose gravel, easily handled by
cars and temporary tracks. The
roadbed completed gives an idea
of what the entire system will be,
especially from Anchorage on to
ward the interior where similar
formations are encountered. It
will be an ideal roadbed.
The work on the big bridge
spanning Eagle river is well in
hard "rd will somi be completed.
It is planned, within the next
ten days, to begin construction or
the Knik river bridge. All of
the bridge work will be under
the immediate direction of Engi
neer Foglestone, an especially
capable man in this line.
Locating Engineer Kuney has
completed the location of the
branch line which leads to the
Matanuska coalfields, and with
his force is now working on the
main line up the Susitna valley,
and will connect with Locating
Engineer Bacon’s work. Bacon,
in turn, connects with Locating
Engineer Breck’s work, which
started in the Broad Pass coun
try. The locating engineers, all
of whom are experienced men,
are getting along in good shape,
Pack Will Total
13,000 Cases
The Deep Sea Salmon Compa
ny, operating a cannery at Goose
bay, Knik arm, will close the
fishing season the early part of
next month, with a pack es
^.timated at some thirteen thous
^and cases.
The pack, while not considered
big from the standpoint of can
neries that have been in opera
tion for years past, is at that
highly encouraging, when it is
taken into consideration that the
cannery was built this season,
I necessitating a late start in be
ginning canning operations.
August Buschmann is the gen
eral manager for the company
and is regarded as one of the
most experienced men in the
salmon canning business in Alas
ka. The company has an ideal
lo&tion for the purpose.
Civil Engineer Hubbell has
been surveying the site, prepar
atory to gaining title in fee to
the ground.
Miss M. Patton, an eastern
graduate trained nurse, is a re
cent arrival and is a guest at the
White House.
Sox, Sox, Sox, Newt Pilger
has got the Sox. x
according to reports which reach
Anchorage.
A team camp has been estab
lished at Matanuska Landing, for
scraper work between that point
and Knik river.
While here this week, Chair
man Edes went out over the line
for a considerable distance, in
specting the progress of things,
and during the week Commis
sioner Mears and General Super
intendent O’Reilly visited the
work in the region of Knik river
and Matanuska Landing.
Jerry Quinlan, the pioneer con
ductor on the White Pass & Yu
kon Railway system, is in line
for a conductorship on the first
train going out of Anchorage.
He is now employed by the Com
mission.
MATERIAL FROM PANAMA
The steamer Sinaloa, laden
with railway material from the
Panama canal zone, reached port
last Saturday. It had 1551 tons,
dead weight, for the Commis
sion. Included in the shipment
for this port was an 85-ton loco
motive, originally from the Cook
Works of the American Locomo
tive Company, and a 70-ton Bu
cyrus crane.
The Sinaloa flies the Norwe
gian flag and has been in com
mission but six months. It is
owned by the C. Henry Smith
Company of San Francisco. Cap
tain Sannaes is master.
The freighter Seward is daily
expected with additional freight
for the Commission.
NEW CONTRACTS LET
The following new contracts
were let during the week:
James Pavletich & Co.,stations
4810 to 4820. Grading.
Joe King & Co., clearing and
grubbing road from city dock to
Anchorage townsite.
J. W. Wilson & Co., piling Ek
lootna river bridge.
McPherson & Frasier, con
struction of the city dock, An
chorage.
Chas. E. Herron, sawed switch
ties, Anchorage.
Adolf Grisell & Co., stations
5030 to 5040. Grading.
Mess House to
Feed but Few
The Commission has issued a
bulletin to the effect that on and
after the 23d inst. the mess house
will be used solely to accommodate
the clerical staff and certain offi
cials of the Commission, and that
all other employes will be ex
pected to make their own per
sonal arrangements for boarding
themselves in the new town.
Commissioner’s Court
August 18- John A. Fields was
held to the grand jury to answer
to a charge of grand larceny.
The charge of assault with a
dangerous weapon against Carl
Frederickson and Paul Blackburn
was dismissed.
August 21—George A. Gates
and Attorney Jerry Murphy are
in town from Knik in attendance
before the probate court to close
up the affairs connected with the
estate of C. D. Hunter, deceased.
William A. Sherman, adminis
trator, is here from Knik on sim
ilar business connected with the
estate of John Travis, deceased.
Since the arrival of the last
boat, Newt. Pilger’s is “shirt
enly” the shirt headquarters for
Cook Inlet. x
THROUGH COMMUNICATION
TO OUTSIDE ESTABLISHED
The telephone line connecting
Anchorage with Seward will be
completed today, permitting thro’
communication from this port to
the outside. The work was done
under the direction of L. G. Jack
son, superintendent of telegraph
and telephones for the Alaskan
Engineering Commission.
To connect with Seward, a line
was constructed from Anchorage
Brown & Hawkins
to Erect Handsome
Business Block
A modern, two-story building
70x100 feet, will be erected this
fall on the corner of Fourth ave
nue and E street by the Messrs.
Brown & Hawkins, the big whole
sale and retail merchants. The
ground floor will be devoted to
store purposes exclusively, wdiile
the upper story will be fitted
with elegantly appointed offices.
In addition to the general mer
chandise business, the firm will
establish a large tinsmith and
plumbing shop, for the accom
modation of patrons.
This statement was made to
the Pioneer by Chas. E. Brown,
a member of the big firm, who
has been in Anchorage since the
arrival of the steamer Alliance.
Mr. Brown said the firm had not
determined whether the building
would be of brick or concrete,
but that it would be modern in
all respects and that it wrould be
built on the premises mentioned
this fall.
Glacier Bear
Up Ship Creek
Three glacier hears were sight
ed in the mountains at the head
of Ship creek one day last week,
by a party of prospectors com
posed of W. R. Julian, Ray Grin
ned ■ and Jack Flannigan. Two
of the rare animals were seen at
the summit of one of the high
ridges of the mountains. The
bear made no attempt to make a
getaway and could easily have
been killed by the prospectors,
had they so wished. While com
ing down the mountain another
bear was seen.
The prospectors also sighted a
female mountain goat and a kid
in the same locality.
The glacier bear is among the
rarest of animals native to the
northland. It is said that but
one of these animals is in cap
tivity.
Fox Farm in Ochetna
Conrad and partner have es
tablished a fox farm on Goose |
river, in the Big Ochetna country
and are meeting with fine suc
cess in the rearing of young
foxes. To start with, they had
two black, three silver grey and
several red foxes. This year’s!
litter of young ones, from the va
rious breeds, increased their;
stock several fold. Pat Murphy, i
a well known freighter, caught a
beautiful young silver grey fox
in the same locality and took it
out to Chitina.
Pure Paints Pilger’s. x
FOR SALE Team of horses,
new Weber wagon and new har
ness. Inquire Crescent, comer
Fourth and C streets.
to Kern creek, located at Mile
72 on the Alaska Northern rail
way system. The line leading
from Kern creek to Seward, long
unused, had to be restored to its
former fitness, but is now in
commission.
The benefit to Anchorage that
will grow out of the construction
of this line can scarcely be over
estimated.
Fowler, Smith and
Others Start on
Big Improvements
A concrete business block will
be erected this fall on G stieet,
between Fourth and Fifth ave
nues. It will be used for store
and office purposes. A concret-.
sidewalk is now being’ laid for
the accommodation of the pro
posed structure, as well as ad
joining properties. The walk
extends from lot 2, facing Fourth
avenue,and leads around the cor
ner up G street and around the
corner to lot 11, facing Fifth
avenue. The property is in block
40. H. T. Fowler, J. H. Smith
and others are the owners of the
lots which will be improved by
substantial buildings and are lay
ing the concrete walk.
Light and Power
Are Discussed
At a meeting of the Chamber
of Commerce last night, a reso
lution passed without opposition
praying the Alaskan Engineer
ing Commission to install an elec
tric light system and a telephone
system In Anchorage. Judge
Condon introduced the resolution
and in speaking to it, emphati
cally declared himself to be in
favor of the government owner
ship of public utilities in this
town. Such a policy would, he
declared, keep the town out of
petty political fights and quar
rels. He cited cases of other
Alaskan towns that were squab
bling over these matters, where
as if the government operated
them, they would be removed
from the realm of local politics.
The question of fire protection
came up for- discussion, culmi
nating in the appointment of a
committee by President Smith
to act in harmony with the fire
committee, and confer with the
Alaskan Engineering Commission
with respect to the proposition.
Without opposition the secre
tary was voted a salary of $25
the month, in consideration of
his duties, which are growing to
such an extent that much of his
time is required.
There was a big attendance at
the meeting.
The Midway restaurant is now
located on Fifth avenue, adjoin
ing the McDonald apartmdnt
house in course of construction.
LADIES
I wish to announce that I am
now located in the very center of
the business district of new An
chorage and have a fine line of
ladies’ goods, etc. Ladies sweat
ers just received. Also a nice
line of art draperies and ladies’
shoes, (Hannan’s). Gstreet,be
tween Fourth and Fifth.
Mrs. F. A. Stevens
Just received at Pilger’s a
big shipment of shifts. x
Second Sale oi Lots Proves
Confidence of Purchasers
One hundred and fifty-eight
lots sold at an aggregate figure
of $22,000 was the record o'
achievement at the second sale
of lots in the town of Anchor-.
conducted under the ausi wt T
the government, The auc ion
began at 2 o’clock Saturda af
ternoon and closed Monday
ing, there being no sale Sv ay.
The gratifying feature' - i.e
second sale was the faich dis
played by bidders in the m w
town. As an ins'wee of the
confidence in the town’s future,
lot 7. in block 15. Inch v is bid
in by <W. Johnson at ti t
sale, for the sum of $5r >. but
which the bidder declined to
take, was again put up at tin
second sale and knocked down to
A. Wilson for the mi of $1.loo.
Lots 5 and (I, i block 12, were
sold for $510 and SI,lot) respect
ively. The suere. sful bidder,
Geo. de Leon, ha Jnce'bought
from E. .!. Warner lots 3 and 1
in the same block, and plans the
erection of a big hotel building.
Excavations will be compb ed
this year and the tructure er -ci -
ed next season. The site is
adapted to the purpose.
Upon completion of the sale,
Superintendent of Sale Christen
Jack Robarts to
Erect Building
Jack Robarts. a widely known
and energetic interior man, has
purchased from tin- Messrs. War
ner and Campbell lot 4, in block
41, and proposes to erect thereon
a fine building 42 |x 100 feet, lb
will install a swell howling al!o\
and pool and billiard hall. A store
will occupy a portion of the
ground floor, while the upper
story will be devoted to hand
some apartments. The plans en
tail a heavy expenditure, as tin
building, as well as interior dec
orations and fixture-, are to be
modern and up-to-date.
Mr. Robarts departed enroute
to Seattle on the steamer Watson
to purchase equipment, etc, To
the Pioneer, he expressed great
faith in the future of Anchorage
and is willing to back his judg
ment by a con.-hlei able cash ex
penditure.
Pleasant Informal Musicale
Commissioner ;r d .Mrs. Mears
gave an informal f , ask-ale at Ha ir
home Satan!: , • :,i.r. ami a
delightful ti.ee enjoyed.
Participating > • , arnim
were the 1 tost ess. • - se.sse.
a sweet soprano . i-i. Miss. K!
inor Lyoi - <1 pi
anist, and Mr. 1). K Vint, who
has a fine barilo ire. From
inent guests of eningwctv
Mr. W. Kde . <■’ man «Tthe
Alaskan Knginee: ing Oomrais
sion, and Mr I . Sin<* >!, pri
vate secretary to Ii r l'.ankiin
K. Lane, secret an < ’ the In
terior.
From official sources «- rues the
report that the government will
reserve 7,fitxT aciesof . al lands
in the Ma'fcmuska fields; 5,500
acres in the Bering river field
and one-half of the aggregate
area in the Nenana fields. Frank
M. Johnson, superintendent of
swrveys in the interior depart
ment, is now in the MaUuuiska
fields, looking over the situation.
FOR SALE Ton of food sup
plies a good assortment of fu st
class articles for sale in the
Ochetna district. Also. 1000 feet
of hydraulic hose. Outfit is lo
cated in a good trapping and
prospecting country. Will be
sold reasonable. Call at this
office.
sen announced that those who
had no lots upon which to build
could pitch tents or build tempo
rary abiding places in a plot of
ground just outside the townsite
pr per, and set aside by the for
e-try for the purpose. Deputy
Marshal Wardell will have chary*
of locating persons desiring to
take advantage of this opportun
ity. which is a happy solution of
the problem of caring for those
who wish to remain but have no
ground upon which to build.
NEW BUILDING PERMITS
Among the applications for
building permits issued this week
were the following:
Lot 10. block38. N. E.Ohlsson.
general merchandise, 18x20
f rame.
Lot 6, block 64. Dehon and
Ramsay, laundry. 20x150. frame.
Lot 8; block 20. W. ,1. McLeod,
pool hall. 28x40. frame.
Lot 0. block 29. Rudi Marcella,
pool hall, 22x50, frame.
Lot 6, block 31. Jake Young,
20x38, two-story.
Lot 4, block 32, C. M. Murphy,
18x68, bachelor apartments.
Lot 7, block 45. A. Wilson,gro
cery store, 16x36, frame.
Lot 6, block 55, ,1. Lofstrom,
24x30, frame.
Empress B’ock
•\dcins Tow?
The Empress block, Captain
Lathrop’s line business property
at the corner of Fourth avenue
and 11 street, is nearing comple
tion and tenants are moving in
and getting located. The North
ern Drug Company, of which V.
A. Schmitz is manager, has the
choice corner and is fitting up a
first-class' drug store. Mrs. T.
1). Curlew, with a nifty line of
ladies' furnishing goods, has the
adjoining store facing on Fourth
avenue. T. IX Corlevv, with his
brokerage business, occupies the
adjoining store facing on 11
street. Newt. W. Pilger, with a
general merchandising business
is temporarily located in the store
next to Curlew’s place. The re
maining store is occupied by the
Alaska Steamship Company and
the Alaska Transfer Company
for dice purposes.
1 C. Rainey has the contract
for putting, in the front of this
line business block. It will be
almost entirely of plate glass.
Ray C. Carson, who has a com
plete line of glass, will furnish
ihfc ue: . vary product.
Alien completed, the Empress
block will be a distinct credit to
the town, and Captain Lathrop
is to be complimented for his
progress fineness”and foresighted
noss in molding such a substan
tial. commodious structure.
Jackson-Fiuhnrt Wedding
Miss Inez iFluhart was mar
ried to Mr. I,. G. Jackson Mon
day afternoon, Judge Leopold
David performing the ceremony.
The bride, a charming young
lady, hails from Columbus, Ohio,
and arrived here on the steamer
•Admiral Watson, which reached
port Monday morning. The groom
is the superintendent of tele
graph and telephone lines forthe
Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion, and is held in high esteem
by a wide circle of friends. Dur
ing construction days of the
Alaska Central railroad, under
the Poland regime, Mr. Jackson
held a responsible position.
i’ilger’s, near corner Fourth
and H.