SEATTLE PAPER
TELLS ABOUT
ILLUSTRATED ARTICLE BY J. L.
McPherson is printed
IN TIMES.
WAS HERE FEW MONTHS AGO.
Account Is Given of Government Rail
road With Its Easy Curves and
Light Grades and Rich Country
That Is Rapidly Developing.
Development of this part of Alaska
and px*ogress on the construction of
the government railroad are reviewed
in illustrated article in a recent issue
of the Seattle Daily Times by J. L.
McPherson, manager of the Alaska
bureau of the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce and Commercial club. Mr.
McPherson visited here in September.
The pictures illustrating his article
in the Seattle Times depict agricultur
al scenes along the government rail
road and give a view of the town of
Wasilla. A good map of the railroad
route and of the country contiguous to
it is printed in the Seattle neswpaper.
Mr. McPherson’s article follows:
“Progress on the government rail
road in Alaska to August 31, 1917,
was as follows: Track laid, 122 miles;'
grading completed, fifty-three miles.
These figures do not include eight
miles of sidings and four miles of
spur.
“Coal fields have been tapped in two
places. Daily trains operate from An
chorage to the end of the track on the
main line and over Matanuska branch.
Tri-weekly trains run from Anchorage
to Potter creek on Turnaagin Arm.
The line has been well located with
easy curves and light grades and is
being constructed to carry a heavy
tonnage. Maintenance costs are ex
pected to be light.
“The reconstruction of the old road
bed from Seward north has progress
ed to the stage where it would have
been possible to operate daily trains
from Seward to Kern Creek had not
storms during September damaged
the road to a large extent. It was es
timated that the repairs will require a
month or more.
1 he extent of the work accom
plished in the construction of the road
can be properly judged only by going
over the line, as (the road is being
constructed in seven directions from
main centers, which are Seward, An
chorage, Nenana, and Fairbanks.
For Heavy Traffic.
“From Seward north the old bed of'
the Alaskan Northern railway, now
part of the government system, is be
ing rebuilt, many unnecessary curves
eliminated, trestles filled and the road
bed placed in such condition as to
carry heavy traffic. This work ex
tends to Mile 71, at Kern Creek on
Tumagain Arm. From Anchorage, at
Mile 115, track has been laid south to
Potter Creek, at Mile 101 on Turn
again Am, and the heavy rock along
the Arm between Miles 71 and 101 at
tacked at many points.
“This work, which is now- about 80
per cent complete, is the heaviest work
that will be encountered on the entire
line, many miles exceeding 150,000
cubic yards of rock excavation per
mile. This work is so nearly comple
ted between Seward and Anchorage
that it is predicted that rails will be
laid and connection completed betw-een
Seward and Anchorage by the middle
of next summer.
“From AnchoKigc the grade is prac
tically completed north to Mile 231,
six miles north of the Talkeetna river
and a distance of 11G miles from An
chorage. On September 10, track was
laid to Willow creek at Mile 187, and
» was being laid at the rate of a mile a
day, with the expectaion of reaching
Montana creek at Mile 220 before
snow would stop track laying.
“The present end of grading work
* north of Anchorage is at Dead Horse,
mile 247. In this distance of 132 miles
there are about four miles that have
not been started. The rest will be com
pleted this season.
“From Matanuska Junction, at Mile
151, the Matanuska trunk line has
been completed to its terminus at
Chickaloon in the Matanuska coal
fields, a distance of thirty-eight miles.
From this line a three-mile spur has
beeri laid to the Eska creek coal mine.
“From Nenana, where the govern
ment railroad crosses the Tanana riv
er, rail has been laid south for a dis
tance of ten miles, and roadbed will
be completed this fall for a distance of
about forty miles. At the Fairbanks
terminus five miles of construction j
will be finished southwesterly toward;
Nenana. The total length of the en-!
tire line from Seward to Fairbanks,
including the Matanuska branch, is
511 miles. This includese seventy-one
miles of the Alaskan Northern* rail
way, now part of the government sys
tem.
“Construction of the dredge at An
chorage was completed early in Sep
tember and dredging started on a
small basin to porvide for the mos
quito fleet. Early next season it is
planned to begin dredging in front of
the permanent wharf site, to which a
spur is now being laid.
New Terminal Buildings.
“Substantial and attractive terminal
and station buildings have been built
at Seward, Anchorage, Matanuska and
Nenana. At Anchorage a roundhouse
with twelve stalls, machine shop, pow
er house and commissary and head
quarters buildings have been erected.
“About 100 tons of coal are being
delivered daily to Anchoarge from the
government mine on Eska creek and
fifty tons from the Dougherty-O’Reilly
mine on Moose creek. The govern
ment is also opening a mine at Chick
aloon which will be shipping coal by
the end of the season. This coal has
been pronounced equal to Pocahontas
coal for naval purposes.
“Seward has during the last year
added many substantial improvements
in the way of business and apartment
blocks, residences and a large cold
storage fishing plant, constructed by
the San Juan Fishing & Packing com
pany.
“Anchorage, during its second year,
has taken on many signs of improve- j
ment and permanency and is now a'
modern town with lights, water, sew
ers, surfaced streets, a modern school
house, hospital, many stores and
apartment buildings and residences
and eighteen blocks of cement walks
twelve feet wide.
Settle in Anchorage.
“Sourdough Alaskans from all sec
tions of the northland have settled in
Anchorage. In September Anchorage
staged a three-day industrial fair that
would have been a credit to much
larger communities in the states. The
success of the fair assures its being
an annual event.
“Over 300 homesteaders have been 1
located along the line of the railroad j
in the Matanuska and Susitna valleys.
Pioneer farms line the railroad for!
many miles in this locality. During j
the last year these pioneer farmers!
have raised a supply of potatoes, tur
nips and other rot crops sufficient to j
supply the needs of the town of An-!
chorage and the large force engaged j
in railroad construction for the next j
year. The value of this year’s crop is J
estimated at $200,000.
“The Willow Creek gold mines dis
trict has enjoyed a prosperous year
despite the scarcity of labor and the
high cost of supplies. Many new prop
erties are under development.
Stimulates Prospecting.
“A recent discovery of bomite cop
per and gold ore in the Kashwitna
Taikeetna watershed has greatly sti
mulated prospecting in that section, as
the ore is some of the richest that has
been discovered in the Susitna region.
Prospecting for platinum in the Ka
hiltna, Cache Creek region, resulted in
finding this precious metal widely dis
tributed throughout this region.
“North of Anchorage small com
munities are building at Matanuska,
located at the junction of the main line
and Matanuska branch; at Wasilla,
the supply point for the Willow Creek
quartz district, and at Talkeetna,
which will probably be the principal
distributing center for the upper Su
sitna valley and tributary streams.”
ENEMY ALIENS IN JAPAN.
TOKIO, Nov. 31—According to an
announcement made by the authorities
the number of enemy subjects resident
in Japan at the end of July was 719.
The majority are German.
THE RANCH
GO TO VALDEZ
VIA SEATTLE
MATANUSKA VEGETABLES ARE
SOLD BY PUGET SOUND MER
CHANTS TO ALASKA TOWNS.
TRAVEL 2523 EXTRA MILES
Farm Products Are Shipped and Pay
Freight Over Ridiculous Route of
2905 Miles When They Are Con
sumed Only 382 Miles From Here.
Since the shipment of fifty-eight
tons of turnips to Seattle, by the
homesteaders in the Matanuska val
ley, it has developed that a large part
of the turnips were resold by the pro
duce merchants in Seattle and ship
ped to merchants in Cordova and
Valdez.
“The round-about shipment of these
turnips,” says a statement issued by
the land and industrial department of
the Alaskan Engineering commission,
“ is ridiculous when it is taken into
condition that the distance between
Anchorage and Seattle, by the direct
route of 1430 nautical miles, and be
tween Seattle and Valdez 1475 miles
by the inside route, making a total of
2005 miles that the turnips were
transported by water; whereas if they
had been shipped directly to Valdez
from Anchorage, the distance they
would have been transported by water,
would have been only 382 miles, the
unnecessary miles they traveled being
2423.
Cooperation Is Essential.
“It is evident that a system of co
operation between the merchants arid
farmers in Alaska must be worked out
to overcome this unsatisfactory condi
tion. The Alaska farmer must also be
given a favorable freight rate which
will enable Alaska products to com
pete in Alaska markets with products
grown in the states.
“The inauguration of freight rates
that will permit this competition will
contribute materially in advancing the
development of the territory with ade
quate transportaion facilties. The
spirited development of the resources
that the competition would stimulate,
KENNECOTT MINE RUNS FULL
BLAST AND SENDS OUT 7,
000,000 POUNDS MONTHLY.
VEGETABLES FOR WINTER
Young Hanagita and Chiltitu Rivers
Are Reported to Have Yielded Good
Returns This Season to Many
Prospectors.
A building boom has truck Mc-Car
thy and new buildings are springing
up in every direction.
The Kennecott mine is running full
blast and is sending 7,000,000 pounds
blast and is sending out 7,000,000 tons j
of ore per month under the supervision ;
of Superintendent Stannard.
The Ladysmith Smelting company
has purchased the Westover property,
which is one of the best developed cop
per properties in the district, and is
ready to ship ore to the smelter.
Residents at McCarthy and vicinity
raised sufficient vegetables this year
for their own use and to spare. In the
course of a year or so they will be
shipping to neighboring towns.
Fifteen Acres of Potatoes.
Frank Ivanson had fifteen acres of
oats this year •which would have yield
ed 100 bushels to the acre if allowed
to mature. Sufficient hay was raised j
for stock, and while her people make
no claims that McCarthy is anything
other than a mining camp, it is making
quite a showing in the agricultural
line.
would create an enormous tonnage for
boats plying to Alaska.
“It is hoped that before the market- i
ing season for next year’s crops ar- j
rives that some line of cooperation will i
be reached between the merchants,
homesteaders and steamship compan
ies that will prevent a like occurrence
in the handling of agricultural pro
ducts, and that will enable the home
steaders to dispose of their products
directly to the merchants in the var
ious towns along the Alaska coast, in
stead of shipping them from the
states.
ANCHORAGE MAN
WRITES OF CASPER
CHARLES WARK SAYS WYOMING
OIL CAMP HAS EVERYTHING
BEAT FOR HIGH PRICES.
Charles W'ark, one of the pioneer
business men of Anchorage and the
former owner of the Hotel Anchorage,
is located at Casper, Wyoming, and is
doing a lively business with cash reg
isters and typewriters, according to a'
letter reecived by James Johnson the
clerk in Baxter’s Cigar Store.
Mr. Wark reports that conditions
resulting from the oil boom approxi
mate those existing in the early placer
stampedes and that prices are higher j
than he has ever known them to be in [
any frontier camp. Rooms in all of,
the hotels cost from $2.50 up, while
beds in private families may not be
had for less than $1.50 per day. He
has a space six feet by eight feet,
which he uses as an office and for
which he pays $50 per month. There
are in the neighborhood of 9,000 per
sons the town and the population!
is being daily increased by arrivals!
from every section of the United j
States.
Mr. Wark reports there are manyj
former residents of Anchorage there. !
BULLION COMES FROM MEXICO, i
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 3. — A large
smelting company has shipped to the
United States 5,730 bars of bullion.
This shipment, it is said, is the first
of any size sent out by the company
from its Mexican smelters in several
years.
TWO ANIMALS STAND AROUND
AND WATCH MINER FIX HIS
CABIN FOR WINTER.
NEAREST GUN IS FOUR MILES.
Four-Footed Visitors Stroll Around
During Afternoon and Then Show
Up Again in Evening and Do Not
Manifest Any Fear at All.
The other afternoon, while Joe Mur
phy, was busily plying a mattock, dig
ging moss, with which to fix up his
cabin, on 28 Goldstream, preparatory
to resuming his prospecting on his
ground there, he thought he heard
somebody coming up behind him on an
old wood road. Joe turned to see who
it was. Two moose—one a yearling—
stood about fifty feet away.
The surprise was mutual; that lo
cality hadn’t had an occupant since
Joe finished his last hole to bedrock
there last spring, until he returned a
few days ago. The moose didn’t show
any fear. Joe hadn’t a rifle on the
place—when he prospects, he pros
pects—all he can think of is picks,
shovels, windlass-cable, and other lit
tle aids to sinking deep holes.
Nearest Neighbor Fouf Miles.
The nearest neighbor was four
miles, either direction. Joe has been l
in the Far North- long enough to knov
that no self-respecting moose woulc
mope around, waiting for somebody
to go a long distance after a rifle tc
3hoot him with. Besides, Joe had t<
jet that moose while the getting wa.
good, before it froze or became cover
ed with snow. And there stood this
coming long winter’s meat—waiting
But this persevering prospector is
used to hard luck; it’s Joe’s middle
name. He sank his first deep hole 01
28 Goldstream, twelve years ago; the
one he is now putting to bedrock wil
make a round dozen prospect hole:
across that wide flat, which average
3ome 150 feet in depth—besides sever
al hundred feet of drifting.
Paid Wages For Help.
He has had to pay wages to a mai
to help him, and he has a very effi
cient prospecting boiler and hoist, anc’
he has to get out during the summe*
months and earn the money.
Joe turned his back on his twe
moose visitors and continued digging
the nice soft moss. About dark Joe
quit and started for home. Just be
fore he got to his lonely cabin his gaze
fell on the two moose again; they saw
Joe also, but strolled leisurely to
wards the track, until they disappear
ed from Joe’s lingering gaze. Joe is ir
town at present after boiler fixtures
He says he thinks his two moose wih
stick around his cabin—but chances
are Joe will forget about taking out s
rifle when he takes his prospecting
paraphernalia out.
CENTRIST PARTY LEADER DE
CLARES NEW MINISTRY RE
SPONSIBLE TO REICHSTAG.
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.
Teutons Continue Their Successes on
Italian Front and Roman Troops
Have to Retire to Establish New
Lines.
BERLIN, Nov. 6.—While the Aus
tro-Germans have forced their way
across the Tagliamento river, Ger
many at home has quietly crossed
her Rubicon. In five days she has
changed from an autocracy to a dem
bcracy, declared Mathias Erzeberge,
Centrist party leader, in an interview
with the Associated Press today.
He said the necessity of gaining the
consent of the reichstag leaders to
Lhe recent appointment by the kaiser
bf Count George Von Hei*tling was
the first instance of its kind in Ger
many, and made the German ministry
for the first time in history responsi
ble to the reichstag instead of solely
to the kaiser.
Austro-German troops have won
:he Italian line along the Tagliamento
river. The Italians evacuated the en
tire line to the Adriatic sea. Confla
grations indicate that the Italians are
retiring through the upper Italian
plains between the mountains and the
sea. They are retreating from Fella
/alley to Colbricon, north of Sigana
/alley.
Retirement Admitted.
ROME, Nov. 6.—Italian troops were
compelled to evacuate the territory
in the mountainous area of northern
Italy in order to establish a new line.
The. crossing of the Tagliamento
river at Pinzano by a considerable
force of the enemy should not be a
surprise. This resulted from the hea
/y pressure the Austro-Germans con
centrated on the Italian left wing,
rhe Tagliamento river is only one of
;he series of defenses. The main pur
bose of the Italians was to retard the
idvance of the Germans and gain time
n order to reconcentrate the Italian
'orces. The Tagliamento river served
;his useful purpose and the enemy is
iow facing another main line defense.
What line the Italians will choose can
lot be indicated, but General Cadorna
s using strong measures to restore
;he efficiency of his troops and these
methods seemingly are having the de
sired effect.
NEGRO TROOPS
ARE ON TIL
FORJURDEB
SIXTY-FOUR ENLISTED MEN OF
TWENTY-FOURTH INFAN
TRY ARRAIGNED.
RESULT OF HOUSTON RIOT
Specific Charges Against Soldiers
That They Killed Captain J. W.
Mattes, of Illinois Artillery on
Night of August 23.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Nov. 2.—The
court-marital trial of sixty-four eif
listed men of the Twenty-fourth Negro
Infantry, charged with murder, grow
ing out of the riot at Houston on the
night of August 23, began here this
morning.
The rioting in Houston occurred
while the third battalion of the twenty
fourth infantry was guarding new
buildings being erected at Camp Lo
gan. During the afternoon of August
23 a report was circulated in the negro
camp that Corporal Baltimore, of the
battalion had been shot and killed by a
Houston police officer. This was said
to have been directly responsibe for
the trouble.
According to the testimony of the
participants the negroes obtained their
lilies and a quantity of ammunition
after retreat the same evening and
after dark started toward Houston.
These negroes, according to the state
ment, and they opened fire on an au
tomobile in which an American was
riding. He was said to have been the
irst one killed. Continuing toward the
city the negroes partially concealed
.hemselves and fired into houses and
along streets.
Riot Calls Turned In.
Riot calls were turned in, police and
army patrols were rushed to the scene
and while attempting to quell the riot
ers Captain J. W. Mattes of the sec
ond Illionois infantry was shot and
killed and his body is said to have
been mutilated. An army ambulance
also was fired upon. The rioters were
finally rounded up, returned to camp
and later the entire battalion of 600
men were disarmed by troops. Subse
quently sixty-four were arrested and
placed in the county jail. A blanket
charge of murder was made against
these men.
Orders were issued the following
day for the battalion to return at once
to Columbus, N. M., and the men al
leged to have been implicated were
taken along under heavy guard. They
were sent to the fort at Fort Bliss and
confined in the stockade.
Inspector General John L. Chamber
lain of the army made a special trip
to Columbus and Houston in order to
ascertain the facts at first hand.
This was followed by the appoint
ment of an army board of inquiry,
composed of three officers of the
twenty-fourth infantry, of which the
battalion stationed at Fort Houston
at the time of the rioting was a part.
The board prepared several volumes
of typewritten evidence obtained from
the negroes. This board of inquiry
with Captain Homer Preston presid
ing, held its sessions within the stock
ade where the negroes were confined
and examined each of the prisoners.
Many of these were in leg irons and
under a night and day guard by eight
cavalry men who were armed with
loaded rifles and stationed in lookout
towers.
The accused were brought early this
week to San Antonio for trial.
The extreme penalty in the event of
conviction of mutiny in war time is
fixed by the articles of war at execu
tion before a firing squad or if the
crime is held by the court to have been
exceptional henious the court may ord
er the convicted soldiers hanged rath
er than shot. Hanging is considered
more ignominious than shooting in the
United States army.
LONDON, Nov. 3.—Officers in the
newr tank corps are to have a new
badge emblematic of their work. The
selection of the emblem has not yet
been made, but among those consider
ed are a mailed fist, a tortoise, and a
rhinoceros.