1REGT0R MUDOO SETS
ITU OUT! OF RAILROAD
IN IN TIE OF WARFARE
om the Alaska Railroad Record.
What William G. McAdoo. Director General of all rail
ads in the United States, regards as the duty of railroad
iployees while the country is at war, is set forth in a
rmal statement that was issued by him, undet date ot
ay 31, on receipt of information of a strike of raihoad
opmen at Alexandria, Va. The Director General s state
ent follows:
“The strike of certain shopmen, machinists, etc., in the
ilroad shops at Alexandria, Va., has created a very pain
1 impression on the public mind. 1 can not believe that
ese men know what they were doing. They are all em
oyees now of the United States Government. They are
>t employees of any railroad corporation, therefore this
as a strike against the Government of the United States.
is the first time in the history of our Government that
iy of its employees have attempted a strike against their
overnment. Such action is incredible. For the good of
ir beloved country and for the honor oi railroad men in
io service everywhere I hope that there will be no lepe
tion of what everyone must condemn as unpatriotic in
le highest degree.
Government Can Not l>e Coerced.
“The Government can not, of course, be coerced or m
midated by any of its employees. It is anxious to do
istice to all and will do justice to all as far as it is pos
ble to measure justice. Recognizing that there aie piob
hle inequalities in the recommendations of the Wage
ommission which should be impartially consideied and
ealt with, I appointed in my General Order No. 27, dated
lay 25, a board of railroad wages and working conditions
omposed of three representative labor men and tluee lep
esentative railroad men, whose duty it is to hear and pass
pon all petitions and complaints. Every class ot em
loyees or parts of classes ot employees who feel that the\
ave just ground for complaint under the wage decision
hould submit their cases promptly to this board and they
, ill be given -just and impartial consideration. The Amer
ean people have just been called upon to pay largely in
reased freight and passenger rates for the purpose of
laying in part the increased wages, amounting to more
han three hundred million dollars, awarded to railroad
•mployees.
What If Public Should Strike?
“Suppose they should strike against the Government
)ecause they do not think they are fairly treated in being
orced to pay these increases for the benefit of railroad
abor, what would happen to our country? Suppose that
•ailroad officers should strike because they dislike the or
iel's of the Government and should refuse to obey them,
what would happen to them? Suppose that railroad em
ployees should strike against the decisions of their Gov
ernment and hamper the operation of the railroads at a
time when transportation is essential to protect the hun
dreds of thousands of American boys now fighting on thi
battle fields of Europe to save the lives and property and
liberty of railroad employees serving here at home, what
would happen to our country ?
“The kaiser would probably get it. W'e can not all get
exactly what we want in this world, nor can we win this
war unless each and every citizen is willing to submit to
the laws of the land and to the decisions of those in au
Must Loyally Support Government.
“We railroad men particularly must give unswerving
and loyal support to our Government, no matter what our
individual views and disappointments may be, relying up
on a fair hearing of our complaints and the justice of
the cause and accepting patriotically the final decisions
of those in authority, who, under our laws, are charged
with the responsibility of making them.
“While in the German drive now going on the sons of
railroad men and the sons of Americans of every class are
dying on the battle fields of France to save America and
democracy in the world, shall there be found among us any
man or set of men who are unwilling to sacrifice some
thing of their personal views and individual desires to sup
port America’s heroes, who are making the supreme sacri
fice for us?
Highest Duty cf Patriots.
“I earnestly hope that from one end of this great land
to the other it may never be said again that any railroad
man, officer or employee, was so unpatriotic as to strike
against his own Government when it is in the midst of the
most perilous war of all history. It is the highest duty of
patriotic men to remain at their posts with the railroads
where they are so urgently needed for the safety of the
country, and to rely upon the board of railroad wages
and working conditions and the Director General for the
just consideration of their claims. I am sure that I can
count upon you to immediately urge upon your men by
wire the wisdom and patriotism of the course I have sug
gested.”
MUST GUARD AGAINST FOREST FIRES.
Department of the Interior,
Alaskan Engineering Commission.
Anchorage, Alaska, June 25, 1918.
Maintenance of Way Department.
Circular No. 60:
TO ALL CONCERNED:
At the present time there is great danger from forest
fires which may start from camp fires, smudges, careless
ly thrown matches, or lighted tobaccos, etc. The utmost
precaution must be exercised against leaving any smolder
ing fires, lighted cigarettes, etc., which* may ignite grass,
moss, or other covering or material.
Any forest fires that are beyond control should be
reported to this office as soon as possible. If it is dis
covered that any person has left a fire without taking the
proper precautions to prevent its spread, the facts should
be reported to this office for appropriate action. There is
a severe penalty for setting fire to timber and leaving fires
unattended.
Foreman and others in charge of work must see that
all structures, bridges, culverts, piles of ties and piling
and other Government property of an inflammable nature
under their charge are properly protected from forest fires.
Fire breaks should be dug, clearings made and back firing
resorted to wherever deemed necessary.
Please give this matter your immediate attention and
post this circular in a conspicious place where all em
ployees can see it and familiarize themselves with the in
structions.
F. A. HANSEN, Engineer of Maintenance of Way.
APPLICATIONS FOR
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES
NEAR PALMER STATION
From the Alaska Railroad Record.
Two applications for permission to make second home
stead entries for lands near Palmer, on the Matanuska
branch of the Government Railroad, were filed in the Unit
ed States Land Office at Juneau in the month of April,
1018, by George W. Winter and Arvid Bergstrom.
The homestead application filed April 12, 1918, by Fred
erick Stalder for 106 acres of land near Mile 18 on the old
Alaska Northern Railway, was allowed April 15. The land
embraced.in the application was previously excluded from
the Chugach National Forest under list No. 6-2062.
Four Applications for Homesteads.
In the same month four homestead applications filed in
previous months were allowed, and two register’s final
certificates were issued. The homesteamers whose ap
plications were allowed are Joseph H. Hoffman, of Sew
ard; Henry Couillard, of Moose Pass; Henry S. O’Con
nell, of Anchorage, and Bruno Agostino, of Eska.
Final certificates were issued to John Nash and George
J. Laughlin, both of Seward, Alaska.
Joseph M. Eakin, of Matanuska, whose homestead orig
inally embraced 820 acres, relinquished 160 acres on April
23, as follows:
Nl2 NE*4 Sec. 10 and N1/* NW% Sec .11, T. 17 N., R 1
IE
Released Land Is Filed On.
John A. Moore, of Palmer, relinquished his 320-acre
! homestead, all of which except the NE% SW% Sec. 9, T.
; 17 N., R. 2 E., was filed upon by George W. Winter and
! Arvid Bergstrom under second homestead entries.
George W. Winter, of Palmer, relinquished his original
i homestead embracing the NWVi SW % Sec. 26, T. 18 N.,
I R. 2 E., area 320 acres, and an application for the SW14
! of section 26 has been filed by Andy Seguin, of Palmer.
Arvid Bergstrom, of Palmer, relinquished his origi
nal homestead entry embracing NEVi and SE14 Sec. 27,
T. 18 N., R. 1 E., area 320 acres, and made a second entry
| as noted above.
Arthur Anderson relinquished his original homestead
j entry embracing NW !i Sec. 13, T. 18 N. ,R. 1 E., area 160
acres, he having made a second homestead entry March
I 22, 1918, for the SWVi of the same section.
Anchorage Division Notes.
At the Commission’s mine at Eska, 122 men were em
ployed and 1179 tons of coal were produced during the
week ended June 8, and 121 men were employed and 1124
ten;, of coal produced during the week ended June 15.
Prospecting was continued with the churn drill. The driv
ing of Eska West, Maitland Counter Gang and the pros
pect tunnel north of Maitland went forward.
A new clock with electrical attachments has been in
stalled in the train dispacther’s office in the General Office
Building. It will serve as a master clock, and will be con
nected with the whistle at the Power Plant in the Terminal
Yards. At stated times, morning, noon, and evening, the
i clock automatically will blow the whistle.
The rebuilding by the Telegraph and Telephone De
partment of the line along the Chickaloon branch has pro
gressed from Matanuska to Mile 17. Several poles have
been replaced near Mile ISV2. The line at the river cross
ing at Talkeetna has been rebuilt and it is now in per
manent shape for the summer.
Livestock belonging to dairies in Anchorage is in such
a healthy condition that not a single case of parturient
apoplexy (milk fever) has occurred here this spring, ac
cording to the report of Dr. A. J. A. Robillard, veterinary
surgeon, in the employ of the Alaskan Engineering Com
mission.
Forty men were employed during the week ended June
j 8, and the same number during the week ended June 15
' at the Commission’s coal mine at Cbickaloon. The work of
driving “F” Rock Cross Cut, Eight West and of sinking
the slope was continued.
Ditcher No. 1 has been temporarily tied up and its
crew has been transferred with a 60-ton Marion steam
i shovel to Castle to get out riprap for embankment near
| Mile 11 on the Matanuska branch line.
Owing to the impossibility of obtaining a sufficient
i force of men waiters in the Mess Hall of the Commission
! at Anchorage, women have been employed to wait on the
tables.
The painting of the roofs of the dwelling houses rented
! by the Commission to employees has been completed. A
j new coat of paint has been given to the Mess House Build
ing.
The work necessary to complete all bridges between
Birchwood and Knik River and the first three bridges
| north of Matanuska on the main line has been completed,
j Walter DeLong, General Storekeeper, is preparing a
call for bids for the sprouting and sorting of 100 tons of
potatoes, which the Stores Department has at Matanuska.
Extra Gang No. 2 has completed the extention of track
for 600 feet to Montana and has moved to Caswell
Section No. 31 has been organized at Mile 195 with
Thomas Muzouri as foreman.
Seward Division Notes.
The reconstruction of bridges from Kern Creek south
was begun last week. Bridge No. 40 has been com
pleted. A new bridge camp is being organized at Twenty
Mile River.
During the week ended June 22 the steam shovel mov
ed approximately 5000 yards of material in the vicinity
of Kern Creek.
The snowslides at 54-A and 54-B are cleared away.
The track is clear from Kern creek to Mile 45.
The employees in the Seward division during the week
ended June 22 numbered 474.
Stationmen between Mile 71 and Mile 79 are making
good progress.
Track has been laid on the new grade between Mile 44
and Mile 45.
Clearing contractors in Mile 41 are making good
progress.
Steel has been laid about 1000 feet north of Virgin
Creek.
Openings have been driven from Mile 17 to Mile 27.
DISBURSEMENTS OF ANCHORAGE OFFICE.
Disbursements at the Anchorage office of the Alaskan
Engineering Commission during the week ended June 21
were $23,529.45. Salaries and wages were $8015.06; con
tractors, $11,509.91; purchases, $1643.41; compensation,
$350.61, and other expenses $2099.56.
LETTER TELES ABOUT
ALASKA BEDS IN THE
From the Alaska Railroad Record.
Interesting information relative to the beds endowed
by employees of the Alaskan Engineering Commission in
the Washington Hospital at Neuilly, France, is contained
in a letter to Mrs. Thomas Riggs, jr., wife of the Gover
nor of Alaska, from Mrs. Robert Bliss, wife of the First
Secretary of the United States Legation in Paris. Mrs.
Bliss visited the hospital at the request of Mrs. Riggs.
The campaign to raise funds to endow beds in the hos
pital was directed by Mrs. Franklin K. Lane, wife of the
Secretary of the Interior, and active interest in the cam
paign was taken by Mrs. Riggs, whose husband at the
time was a member of the Alaskan Engineering Commis
j sion, with headquarters at Fairbanks.
The letter from Mrs. Bliss to Mrs. Riggs says:
“It was very pleasant, indeed, hearing from you again,
and I have enjoyed going out to the Ambulance and see
ing the Alaska beds for you.
“Thei'e are 14 Alaska beds in all, the named ones being
given by Nenana, Talkeetna, Turnagain Aim, Fairbanks,
Matanuska, Seward and Anchorage.
“In one df the Anchorage beds was a French artilleur
who was badly wounded by gas and hit in the leg by a
shell at Lassigny on the 30th of March. He says his bat
tery of 75s ivas left intact, but an eclat de’obus went
through one leg and grazed the other, and owing to the
gas he had received, he had less vitality for recovery, so he
may be in bed for a long time.
Makes Puns About Anchorage.
“He was smoking bed cigarettes with infinite pleasure,
and cracking jokes and making puns about the name of
the town in whose bed he lay, and asked me to tell you
that he was immensely grateful to his absent friends for
giving him such a comfortable recovery as he wras mak
ing.
“In the other Anchorage bed was a chasseur with one
leg amputated at the thigh, alsc wounded at Lassigny by
the same shell which hit the first man. He was exceed
ingly nervy, but considerably resented his inability to go
back to the front and get one more Boche.
“The hospital has 700 beds and could, in an extreme
emergency, crowd in 1000 or even, I believe, 1030, and there
are 12 small auxiliary hospitals for convalescents contain
ing 1400 beds. But the hospital is far from full at pres
ent, as, despite the big offensive, the wounded were rela
tively few, and scarcely any have come into this region.
If we have a bad time in Champagne later, I suppose it
will fill up and then if I find any interesting personal notes
from the Alaska beds, I shall be glad to send them to you.
“The little secretary at the hospital who has charge of
the named beds, has sent to Nenana the latest informa
tion, but her letter could not have reached you, of course,
when you wrote me.
Poilus Interested in New Town.
“The Poilus were very much interested to hear that Ne
nana is the newest town in North America, and said it
made them feel quite old in comparison, anti that they
; couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live in a place
: where they could not think back 100 years. Thev were
very much amazed by the idea of an American lady going
about in a dog-sled and said it was much better than the
mud of danders, but that now that wouldn’t matter, as all
they had to do, if they got stuck in it, would be to un
buckle their artificial limbs and leave them behind. Tell
i your friends at Nenana that this grim humor is the order
of the day. There is nothing these amazingly brave men
won’t say about themselves and they really don’t seem
j to care what sacrifices they make, provided they are sure
of ending the Boche for all time.
“I wish you could see them. In fact I wish every hu
| man being could see them.”
_
REGISTRANTS RESPOND TO EXEMPTION BOARD’S
CALL TO MILITARY SERVICE.
Ninety-nine registrants, under the military selective
conscription law, reported Monday at the office of the
: Anchorage Exemption Board, and were formerly inducted
into the service. Their food and lodging expenses are now
defrayed by the Government, and they are expected to
leave here in the near future for their training station,
Fort William H. Seward at Haines, near Skagway, Alaska.
The quota of Anchoroge under the first call to the
colors is 184.
Eleven registrants, who are still recorded at the office
of the Exemption Board as residents of the Anchorage
District, failed to report and their names were turned over
to the office of the United States Marshal, whose instruc
tions are to apprehend the delinquents and deliver them to
the military authorities.
Seventy-four of the registrants included in the call are
recorded now as residents of the States. Most of these
have reported to Exemption Boards at their present place
of residence and notices that the remainder of these regis
trants in the States have reported to Boards there are ex
pected by the Exemption Board here.
Among employees of the Anchorage Division of the
Alaskan Engineering Commission who reported in the first
call are: v
Spiros Apostolan, George Frank Baker, Umbberto
Barei, John Balios, George Balon, Nichlas Bogi’ess, Sevrin
Bradland, Einer Waldmar Carlson, Marengli Celeste,
Christian Clausen, Fielding Conley, Gus Costacos, Michael
Combolos, Nazzarene Crace, Angelo Crema, John H. Dahl,
Alfred Danielson, Gustav Danielson, John Dolan, George
Burness Fisk, Francis Flynn, Dan Gagule, Dimitrios
Gailenios, Mike Gibson, Nelson Theodore Gilbertson, Ador
Gustafson, John Heer, Arvid Hamren, William Hansen,
Carl Leander Johnson, George Krtinich, Alexander T.
Kupoff, S. Ivibizoff, S. Kyllonen, M. C. Larsen, H. A. Long,
Oscar Lund, Mike Lymbar, Christian P. Madsen, Sam
Maloff, Sam Marende, William McGatty, Dan Mclnnis,
Robert Nakki, Necolaus H. Neklason, Axel Nelson, Gust
Nikites, Eno Ojakangas, Joseph F. Pampamin, J. Radich,
John Rogulich, Alex Sagoff, Tom Sarvich, Stofan Svilar,
I. Simonson, Erick Sippala, John Sopoff, Nick Speropolis,
George Tokoff, Zora Urumoff, Anthony Verna, George
Vlahas, Eser Wikhom, Sam Yelich, Ernest Zinetti.
PILE DRIVING WORK IS STARTED FOR NEW DOCK
' TO BE BUILT BY COMMISSION.
Pile driving work was started Saturday for the new
dock to be built northwest of the Marine Ways by the Alas
kan Engineering Commission. The pile driving crew has
been organized as Bridge and Building Gang No. 6 with
Charles Barricklaw as foreman.
The dredge Sperm is proceeding with its work of dredg
ing the harbor.
LAND AT MOOSE TO
BE SUBJECT TO ENTRY
WITHIN A FEW DAY
From the Alaska Railroad Record.
Lands in the vicinity of Moose will be subject to entry
and settlement in a few days.
The notice given by the United States Land Office at
Juneau, Alaska, under authority from the Commissioner
of the General Land Office and pursuant to Executive Or
der No. 2850, of April 26, 1918, describes the lands as fol
lows:
“Lots 1, 2, 3 and 5 in the S% of Sec. 1, as per supple
mental plat of said Section approved November 2, 1917;
Lot 3 (or SE14 SW^4) Sec. 2; and all that portion of Sec.
12 North of low water mark of the Matanuska River ac
cording to the official township plat approved May 1, 1916,
all in T. 18 N., R. 2 E., Seward Meridian.”
The restoration of the lands will be made under the
provisions of the Act of September 30, 1913 (38 Stat. 113)
and departmental regulations thereunder dated May 17,
1917 (46 L. D. 121.)
Advantage Given Homesteaders.
“It seems desirable,” declares the notice of the Land
Office, “to open the lands for disposition to home-seekers
in advance of others, which appears to have been contem
plated in the drafting of Executive Order No. 2850.
“June 29, 1918, is fixed as the date on which the lands
will be subject to homestead entry only, subject to the
rights of bona fide settlers who established settlement
prior to the date of withdrawal of February 16, 1916, and
who have continuously maintained residence since that
time.
“Applications to enter will be received at any time
within 20 days prior to the date of opening, and all appli
cations except by those possessing valid settlement rights
filed within the 20-day period, including those filed at the
time of the opening of the Land Office in Juneau at 9
o’clock a. m., June 29, will be considered simultaneously
filed and will be disposed of as directed by the regula
tions of May 22, 1914 (Circular 324—43 L. D., 254).
All Forms of Entry.
“July 6, 1918, the unappropriated lands covered by this
restoration will become subject to settlement and all prop
er forms of entry, selection and location. Warning is given
by the Land Office that no settlements initiated prior to
July 6, 1918, except as provided, will be recognized but
all persons who go upon any of the lands and perform any
act of settlement prior to 9 o’clock a. m., July 6, or who
are on or are occupying any part of the lands at such hour
except those having valid subsisting settlement rights
I initiated prior to withdrawal from settlement and since
maintained will be considered and dealt with as trespass
ers, and they will gain no rights whatsoever under such
unlawful settlement or occupancy; pi’ovided, however, that
nothing herein contained shall prevent persons from going
upon and over the lands to examine them with a view to
thereafter appropriating them in accordance herewith.
“Persons having prior settlement rights will be allowed
to make entry in accordance with existing law and regu
lations.”
WEEKLY FORCE REPORT
Anchorage Division.
The number of employees of the Anchorage Division as
shown by the payrolls Saturday, June 15, was as follows:
Engineer in Charge . 35
Terminal Shops and Yards . 54
Tracks, Bridges and Ballast .,. 433
Receiving and Forwarding Agent . 44
| Machine Shop . 67
Marine Ways . 131
! Store Department . 101
Employment Bureau . 13
Transportation Department . 60
i Disbursing Office . 8
Accounting Department . 13
Base Hospital . 14
Townsite Office . 14
| Telegraph and Telephone Department . 36
| Mining Department . 161
: Turnagain Arm District.----- 194
Talkeetna District . 13
j Location Surveys . 27
i£-l 1423
Stationmen and Laborers . 115
Gyand total employees, Anchorage Division.1538
STATION GANGS MAKE GOOD PROGRESS IN WORK
ON TURNAGAIN ARM.
Before August 1, station gangs, if they maintain their
present forces, will complete their contract work between
Mile 79 and Mile 82 in the Turnagain Arm District, ac
cording to the report for the week ended June 22 submitted
by F. A. Hansen, engineer of Maintenance of Way. With
in a few days the finishing of the grade between Mile 87
and Mile 91 will be completed and ready for the laying of
track.
Repairs are in progress to Bridge No. 18, between Mile
83 and Mile 84. The work is going forward satisfactorily.
The steam shovel at Mile 86 is achieving good results.
The fills between Mile 85 and Mile 86 are now protected
and safe from storms.
The pile driver at Bird Creek has completed 26 bents
on the south approach and the crew is dismantling the
abutment, which was pulled out of shape by ice and high
tides.
Two hundred yards of material were necessary to make
good the damage done by high water to the Big Rabbit
Creek bridge.
Fifteen thousand three hundred yards of gravel, taken
by steam shovel No. 1 at Mile 118, have been distributed
along the Turnagain Arm line for ballast.
FuH lift has been given to the track between Mile 91
and Mile 95%.
Bridge and Building Gang No. 1 has finished the work
necessary to complete all bridges on the Turnagain Arm
line to Mile 91.
FISHING LICENSES ARE ISSUED TO RESIDENTS OF
ANCHORAGE.
Licenses, authorizing the following persons to engage
in the business of catching and distributing salt water
fish, have been granted by the United States Food Admin
istration, and the respective parties may obtain them by
calling at the office of the District Federal Food Admin
istrator, Room 7, A. E. C. General Office, Anchorage:
S. A. Calver, Otto Glatz, Samuel Ingram, Julius Kal
ender, Henry Ladehoff, Ray Linton, John Oberg and Fred
C. J. Peterson, all of Anchorage.