I THE RANCH 1
RIGHTS KEPT
LAND OFFICE RESERVES ROUTE
FOR RAILWAY, TELEGRAPH
AND TELEPHONE LINES.
PATENT ISSUED AT FAIRBANKS.
Action May or May Not Be Indicative
of Future Policy of Federal Author
ities in Regard to Grants to Alaska
Settlers.
Is it the policy of the federal land
office in granting homesteads in Alas
ka to reserve for the government all
right of way for the construction of
railroads, telegraph or telephone
lines? This question becomes perti
nent by reason of the granting by the
federal land office, with such reserva
tions, of a patent to a homestead in
the Fairbanks district.
The Fairbanks News Miner says:
“The Fairbanks land office has re
ceived the patent which gives to the
heir.- of Frank E. Jones the title to a
homestead south of the government
experimental farm near Ester. The
heirs are in the states at present.
“The patent is peculiar in one re
spect in that it reserves for the gov
ernment all right of way for the con
struction of railroads, telegraph or
telephone lines, in accordance with the
"As this homestead lies along the
right of way of the government rail
road. it is possible that this provision
was made on that account, and that it
may not be the policy of the govern
ment to make the reservation in all
patents.”
Jl’NGLE FARM OF '>0 ACRES.
Only Ranch in World Where Crops
Are Produced for Exclusive Use
of Wild Animals.
On a large tract of ground on the
outskirts of New York city there is
the only farm in the world where
crops are raised for the exclusive
use of wild animals.
Little is known even in the metrop
olis, about this curious jungle farm,
yet it covers about fifty acres, and
has been in existence for some time.
It has gradually become a veritable
clearing house for foodstuffs for more
than 5,000 capitve beasts, birds, and
reptiles hailing from all parts of the
world, who now live as one happy
family in the line New York Zoologi
cal park.
Until the establishment of the farm
the provision of a bountiful and varied
menu which would satisfy the resi
dents of the zoo and keep them in
good health the year round, was a
most difficult matter, particularly in .
winter; but the products of the farm
have solved this problem perfectly.
Not only do these include corn, car
rots, beets, cabbages, turnips, potatoes
and other good things that delight the
appetite of vegetarians among the
jungle folks, but the needs of the car
nivorous beasts are also looked after.
For this purpose, the farm contains
several big breeding houses in which
are raised large quantities of chick
# ens, rabbits, guninea pigs, rats, white
mice, pigeons squabs and pigs.—Ex.
SUSPECTED SPY
ESCAPES FROM JA!L
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICERS HAVE
NO TRACE OF FUGITIVE WHO
IS A GERMAN AGENT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Jan. 11,—
Adolph Bollman, who was under ar
rest here on the charge of being a
German spy, escaped from custody to
day. The authorities have not yet
been able to find any trace of the fu
gitive.
AMERICA TO 60
SHORT ON GRAIN
FOR HER ALLIES
NINETY MILLION BUSHELS OF
WHEAT NEEDED HERE WILL
BE SENT TO EUROPE.
PEOPLE MUST EAT LESS.
Food Administration Officials Say
Flour Will Be Scarce in May Be
fore New Cereal Crop Comes in
Next June.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 10.—
The food situation in Europe is held to
be so critical that the federal food ad
ministration is planning to release an
additional 00,000,000 bushels of wheat
to Europen allies despite the fact that
the normal export surplus was ship
ped by the middle of last December.
The American people will be asked
to make up this defiiency by refrain
ing from eating so much wheat food.
The demands of the European allies
for wheat have become so insistent
that Herbert Hoover, national food
administrator, has decided to take a
chance on a wheat shortage in the
spring to meet the European allies’
needs in part.
If American consumption is not re
duced, food administration officials
say a shortage of flour is likely to
be felt in May before the new wheat
crop comes in June.
FIRST NAVEL ORANGE
TREE IS DYING NOW
PARENT OF MANY CALIFORNIA
ORCHARDS IS NOW FORTY
FOUR YEARS OF AGE.
RIVERSIDE, Cali, Jan. 10.—The
original Washington navel orange
tree, planted her forty-four years ago,
producer of the first navel oranges
grown in the United States and par
ent of millions of trees now growing
in California, is believed to be dying.
Horticulaural experts have begun ef
forts to diagnose the disease that
threatens it in the hope of prolonging
its life.
This tree, the most noted in the cit
rus industry of the state, came orig
inally from Bahia, Brazil. It was
planted here in 1875 by Mrs. C. L.
Tibbetts, who obtained it from the
botanical gardens in Washington.
MAXIM'S WILL
CREATE NEW ARMY
SMALL. EFFECTIVE FORCE WILL
BE USED TO RESTORE ORDER
THROUGHOUT NATION.
LONDON, Jan. 12.—The Maximilist
government in Russia is attempting to
create a new Russian army, according
to the Petrograd correspondent of the
London News. The new army will be
smaller than the present military es
tablishment.
Foreign Minister Leon Trotzky, in
an interview with the News corre
spondent, said that the government
planned to use the army, not to wage
war against any foreign countries, but
to restore order throughout Russia.
SHIPS CONSERVE FOOD
The Admiral steamship line has
; joined the food conservation move
ment and will observe a meatless
| Wednesday and a wheatless Sunday
j on its vesesls. Night lunches on all
j the Admiral boats will be discontinued
at once, according to a statement
made today by the agent of the line
here, Miss Ruby De Graff.
In the top of a new toaster for gas
stoves is a recess in which eggs can be
boiled.
KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME.
Publicity matter, concerning food
articles shipped from the states to
Alaska, compiled by R. A. Gunnison,
food administrator, will prove to be a
wonderful revelation, as to what Alas
ka can do, not only in the way of con
servation of food, but as to the enor
mous amount of money that can be
kept in the territory by producing this
food instead of importing it.
Mr. Gunnison finds that during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1917 there
was shipped from the states to Alas
ka 4,622,294 pounds of fresh beef. At
twenty-five cents per pound, this
would require that $1,155,573 in cash
be sent from Alaska to the states.
Aside from this there was shipped 1,
112,256 pounds of bacon and 1,162,962
pounds of ham, besides $307,858 worth
of other meat. The ham and bacon
shipped to the states would require
that almost another million dollars be
sent to the states.
Then there were 1,797,752 pounds of
; butter, 6,830,166 pounds of canned
! milk, and other eatables in proportion.
Now all this food can be produced in
Alaska, just as well as in Finland, a
country similar to this in climatic re
spects, but not one-half as productive.
| In these items alone which have been
| mentioned, there could be kept in
j Alaska each year the sum of more
| than $4,000,000. But these are only a
; few. Mr. Gunnison mentions many
others, too many to mention here. He
says that the customs records show
that 8,619,972 pounds of sugar was
shipped to Alaska during the year
ending June 30, 1917. That is 143
pounds to the person, figuring the
population of Alaska%t 60,000.
And yet experts like Prof. Holmes*
and others who have examined our
' soil, declare that Alaska will be one
of the great sugar beet countries of
the world. No place on earth can
I excel it for tubers of all kinds. Then
I why stand we here idle? Why not go
jjito the vineyard and work? Aside
from producing all this food wealth,
we have from $20,000,000 to $40,000,
, 000 worth of fish to can each season.
Why not get busy ?
To save these enormous amounts of
food one need not deny himself. He
has only to buy him a few old sows, a
few chickens, a cow or two, plant
beets, potatoes, wheat, and supply
himself. Here is something for the
farmers and stock men of Alaska to
I think about: There is no better dairy
; country in the world than right here
on Cook inlet. Poultry of all kinds
grow here as well as in any of the
states. Let’s not only help to supply
the allies in the army, but feed our
selves with everything that we need to
eat. Get a few acres of land ready.
The long summer days of sunshine in
; Alaska will do the rest.
Farming in Alaska, in any new
country, in fact, is much like going
to war. It takes a great deal of
“preparedness.” But make a “drive”
at it. Begin early in the spring. Send
for the cow, the chickens, the old sow,
a few turkeys, and rather than deny
ourselves, let us supply ourselves. We
have gold, let’s keep it at home. Alas
ka produces more wealth per capita
. than any other people in the world,
| yet the United States is feeding her,
' the same as she is feeding Belgium,
i It is not WASTE in Alaska that
i makes us a burden to the nation just
I at this time, it is NEGLIGENCE, IN
I DIFFERENCE, and “WHAT’S THE
USE.”
If you l-aise spuds, raise hogs to
| eat them. Then you will always have
! a market. Why should Alaska ship
| 8,G19,972 cans of milk from the
| states when it could just as easily be
j canned in Alaska. If you must raise
l turnips, raise cows to eat them. There
is no better cow feed than turnips.
Send for a cow. Start a co-operative
dairy. Get busy. We know you are in
the trenches. The weather is fright
ful, but the boys in France want the
milk and butter we are consuming;
they want the eggs we are eating. Get
busy.
MISAPPLIED ADAGE.
“I amassed by industry the fortune
which you squander in idleness,” said
the reproachful father.
“Well,” replied the gilded youth,
“that’s the rule. Business before
pleasure.”—(Washington Star.)
WHEAT CONTROL
HELPS FARIEH
GOVERNMENT BY FIXING PRICE
OF CEREAL STABILIZES AND
CHEAPENS FLOUR.
SPECULATION IS ELIMINATED.
Tiller of Soil Now Receives More
Than 40 Per Cent of Money Paid for
Bread While in 1916 He Got Less
Than 20 Per Cent.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 11.—
The food administration has prepared
a chart showing the course of the
price of flour since the inauguration
of the administration and also show
! ing the price received by the farmer
for four and one-half bushels of wheat
plus the freight to the mills. Min
neapolis has Wen taken as a repre
sentative milling center, although the
charts of the other milling centers
show practically the same result.
From Farmer to Miller.
Approximately four and one-half
bushels of wheat are required to make
one barrel of flour. The reports of
the department of agriculture show
that the farmer received for the 1916
harvest between $1.45 and $1.50 per
bushel for the harvest, taking the
country by and large. Therefore, with
the freight charges included from the
wheat-raising section to Minneapolis
the realization of the farmer and the
necessary freight would amount to
slightly over $7 for four and one-half j
bushels of wheat from the 1916 har- J
vest. It is true that the price of 1916 i
harvest wheat rose steadily duringj
the year, but the farmer had, in bulk, !
parted with his wheat before the large |
prices were received.
The government fair price of wheat |
| established early in September for j
1917 harvest, together with the freght
charges to Minneapolis, amounts to;
roughly $9.qi> for four and one-half j
bushels of wheat. The price of bulk ]
flour at the Minneapolis mill of about I
$10.25 per barrel shows that the mil
ler is now receiving about 75 cents a
barrel, which must include both his
operating expenses and profit.
Stability of Prices.
It is interesting to note the rapidity
with which the price of flour descend
ed to the stabilized position establish
ed for wheat and the regularity with
which the two prices now progress.
The stabilization of wheat, conse
quently of flour at the mifi, has en
abled the stabilization of the whole
sale business in flour, and already the
result has been reflected in the price
of bread where the cash stores in the
states have adopted the standard loaf
and are now selling it in many cities
from six to seven cents for a full one
pound loaf.
Farmer’s Share Doubled.
It is also of interest to note that
: the farmer is receiving over 40 per
I cent of the money paid for the cash
| loaf, whereas in 1916 he received un
der 20 per cent of the price of the
, loaf, this being the result of stabiliza
tion of prices and the total elimina
| tion of hoarding and speculation in
j this industry.
HOUSE VOTES FOR
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
RESOLUTION GIVING BALLOT TO
FAIR SEX NOW GOES TO SEN
ATE FOR ACTION.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
National woman suffrage is a step
nearer as a result of the house of rep
resentatives having adopted the reso
lution authorizing the submission to
the states for their ratification of an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States granting suffrage to
women.
The resolution will now go to the
senate. If adopted there, which is
confidently expected by its advocates,
it will be referred to the legislatures
of the states and if ratified by two
thirds of the commonwealths it will
become a part of the constitution.
CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS VEN
TURE WAS SUGGESTED BY D.
F. DUNAGAN, TEACHER.
BAKING TAUGHT AT SUSITNA.
Natives Are Increasing in Number
Except in Two Villages, Which
Were Visited by Epidemic of
Measles Last Year.
Indians in the village at Tyonic on
the west shore of Cook Inlet are mak
ing a success of their cooperative
store, said Arthur H. Miller, superin
tendent of native schools for the
southwestern district of Alaska of the
federal bureau of education, with
headquarters in Anchorage.
“The idea of the co-operative store
there was advanced by David F. Dun
agan, the teacher,” Superintendent
Miller explained, “and with his idea
and assistance the natives have taken!
!
an active interest in the plan and at
present have a thousand dollars’
worth of stock in the enterprise. The
profits of the store go into the busi
ness and are credited to the natives.
A new school building is being erected
at Tyonic at a cost of 84,000. There
are 125 natives there.”
Superintendent Miller reports satis
factory conditions at the Indian vil
lage at Susitna and Miss Katherine
Kane, the teacher in charge of the na
tive school there is introducing a
course in domestic science and is
meeting with success. She is endeavor
ing just now to teach the native wom
en the art of bread making. There
are between seventy and eighty na-1
fives at the Susitna village.
“There are about 5000 natives in the ;
southwest district and schools have
been established and are maintained
at Copper Center, Susitna, Tatitlek, |
Tyonic, Iliamna, Akhiak, Chignik, Un
alaska, Atka, Fort Moller, Kalukak, j
Ugashik, Choggiung, Koggiung, and
Togiak,” said Mr. Miller.
A hospital is maintained at Kanaka
nak under competent doctors and
nurses. Dillingham bay is the center
of the native reindeer industry in the
southwest district.
“A great many Alaskans, especially
residents of Anchorage,” declared Mr.
Miller, “are under the impression that
the natives are decreasing in number
and that every year sees fewer na
tives in attendance at the various
schools. This is en-oneous. It is true
that the natives at Knik and at Su
sitna have decreased owing to an epi-!
demic of measles in those settlements j
last year; but in the other villages the;
natives are increasig in number.”
Mr. Miller will leave here in a few;
days for Knik where he will investi- i
gate the conditions relative to arrang- !
ing a school for the natives there and j
will later visit the school at Susitna. j
COPPER PRICE IS
SET AT 231-2 CENTS
FIGURE IS REACHED BY AGREE
MENT BETWEEN GOVERN
MENT AND PRODUCERS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
Twenty-three and one-half cents per
pound is the price that has been set by
the government for copper for the
next four months, according to an of-;
ficial announcement made here today, j
The price was reached by agree- j
ment between government officials j
and copper producers.
THE TROUBLE.
“Has Bliggings an ear for music?”
“Yes. The trouble is that he won’t
limit himself to his ears, but insists
on trying to use his voice.”—Wash
ington Star.
SPEAKING OF STRESS.
“Those Germans in the trenches
must endure great hardships.
“They must. I’d almost rather be
chancellor.”—Exchange.
EyPSlf SPELLS;
KAISER’S DOi
WOMAN FORTUNE TELLER IN
1849 FORETOLD DESTINY OF
HOHENZOLLERN HOUSE.
ALL COME TRUE SO FAR.
Statements Were Substantiated by
Figures in Connection With Years
and Set Forth Events in German
History.
In 1849 the present kaiser’s grand
father, Prince William of Prussia,
was wandering incognito through
some of the provinces of the Rhine.
He was at that time very unpopular,
owing to his attitude toward thfe Ber
lin revolution of 1849, and therefore
had little thought of ever coming to
the throne.
At Mayence a gypsy woman offered
to tell his fortune and addressed him
as “Imperial Majesty.” Not a little
amused, the prince asked, “ ‘Imperial 4
Majesty,’ and of what empire, pray?”
“Of the new German empire,” was
the reply.
He i jjuired: “When is this empire
to be formed?”
The gypsy took a piece of paper
and wrote on it the year 1849. Then
she placed the same figures in a col
umn beneath:
1849
1
8
4
9
1871
In 1871 the empire began.
“How long am I to rule over this
empire?” asked the prince.
The gypsy repeated the mathemati
cal operation again, taking the num
ber 1871 and adding the same figures
in the column:
1871
1
8
7
1
1888
In 1888 he passed away.
Then the prince asked: “How long
is this empire to last?”
And the gypsy, taking the figures
1888 and repeating the same opera
tion:
1888 *
1
8
8
8
obtaining the re- -
suit: 1913
Time has proved the first two
clauses of this strange prophecy to
be true; as to the third, the present
war began in 1914. And many think
that 1913 may prove to have been the
last year of the Hohenzollem empire.
BIRCH IS ELECTED
TO SUCCEED ECCLES *
MINING ENGINEER HEADS ALAS
KA STEAMSHIP AND COPPER #
RIVER RAILROAD.
SEATTLE, Jan. 12.—Stephen Birch,
president of the Kennecott Copper
corporation, yesterday was elected
president of the Alaska Steamship
company and of the Copper River and
Northwestern railway to succeed the
late S. W. Eccles, of New York, who ^
died December 30 a^ St. Augustine ^
Florida, where he had gone on account
of his ill health.
Mr. Birch is a mining engineer by
profession. Formeidy he was retained
in the service of the Havemeyer in
terests when they were operating in
mines in Alaska.
TAKING NO CHANCES.
“I notice the kids are behaving bet
ter at school.”
“Yes, there may be no danger, and
then again there may. The teacher
is carrying a swagger stick.”—Louis
ville Courier-Journal.
/