THE ANCHORAGE WEEKLY TIMES
•ANCHORAGE PUBLISHING CO., PUBLISHERS.
CHAS. E. HERRON.
President
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ANCHORAGE. ALASKA. THURSDAY. .JULY 18, 1918.
AS TO THE COMMISSARY.
There is considerable agitation among the employees of the Alas
kan Engineering commission looking toward the re-estahlishmnct of the
commissary at this point. This agitation is caused by the ever-increas
ing costs of the necessities of life, edibles especially. The high cost of
living is a world complaint. It is not merely a local condition. There
has been a steady increase in the necessities of life since the beginning
of the world war. The demand is greater than the supply, lienee the
raise in price.
Those who are urging the re-establishment of the commission com
missary in this community complain that, with the prevailing wage
scale, they can do little better than make both ends meet, due to the high
cost of living. Naturally, they wish to get goods as cheaply as possible,
and they cannot he Mamed for that. It's human nature. They figure
that if the commissary is re-established, they can procure foodstuffs
and tin1 like at a slight advance over outside wholesale prices.
Most of the employees of the Alaskan Engineering commission are
not property owners in this community. Most of them are not rate
payers at all. When construction work ends, they will pack thcii
trunks and make the big get-away. They are not concerned about how
the re-establishment of the commissary will affect—and vitally affect—
this town—this government town—we may say. And we can't blame
them for that. It's human nature. They are guided solely by self
interest. That is their impelling motive.
The town of Anchorage is a government town. Lots were sold at
public auction to the highest bidder. A goodly part of the proceeds
of this lot sale goes into the coffers of the government. The government
must treat these lot owners fairly and decently. For the government t
enter into competition with the business men who have come here in
good faith, purchased lots, erected buildings and, in many eases, in
vested their all in this community, would, we have no hesitation in as
serting. be manifestly unfair and inconsiderate. It would not be giving
the men who have made this town what it is. a square deal at all. It is
not the province of this great government to quash the small business
men. and put them out of business, thus destroying years of toil and
self-denial devoted to the accumulation of a few thousand dollars nives
t,, 1 a,......,i...... .. iwii,,
tablishment of this commissary means .just this—it means that many of
our business men will be ruined financially.
However much The Times may in* opposed to the rc-cstablishment
of the commissary, for the reasons stated, it is willing to admit that the
tlie employes of the railway project have a grievance. and that griev
ance is that tin1 warn* scale, in all departments of this big work, is
not sufficiently high to offset the high cost of living. Hut there is a rem
edy for this situation without recourse to the re-establishment of the
eommissaiy. All that neoeds to be done is to increase the wage scale all
the way around. Such a solution would hurt no one; it would be a just
solution of the problem.
And the merchants and business men of this town must be reasona
ble in their charges. There must be no increase in commodities just be
cause the wage scale will be increased, because that would bring about
the same condition complained of now. That would not be a cure at
all. In these wartimes, wo must.all be satisfied with reasonable profits.
It has been urged by those agitating the re-establishment of the
commissary that the stores are not charging uniform prices for their
goods. That is. you can purchase a pound of bacon at one store for so
much per pound, while at an opposition store they will charge you a
different price, either more, or less, as the case may be. They jump at
the conclusion that the store that is charging the most is holding them
up. This docs not follow at all. This is a conclusion founded upon a
wrong premise. The fact that the various stores charge different prices
for the same goods is the best possible evidence that there is no com
bine among the merchants. Otherwise, they would all charge the same.
Food prices on the outside are changing from day to day, except in
cases where the government has stepped in and made a fixed price. The
store that sells you a certain commodity cheaper than it can be ob
tained at other stores, probably bought that commodity when the out
side price was lower. The merchant that bought his goods at a later
period had to pay a higher price on the outside, and hence he has to
charge more than his competitor, for this particular commodity.
"When the commissary was established here at the inception of
the construction work, there was a reason for it. There wore no large
merchants in business here at that time from whom to purchase goods.
Necessity compelled its establshment. After the town was firmly es
tablished and the local merchants carried adequate stocks of merchan
dise. the commissary was discontinued. AVhile the commissary was in
operation, however, a considerable force was working in various im
provements in the townsito. The wages of those men are paid by the
lot owners, and yet they were permitted to purchase their supplies at
the commissary. Scarcely a man on the city force then was an owner
of a lot in this town. This condition has not changed now.
Then again, if the commission had to pay the same freight rate as
the local business men, it could not undersell them to any appreciable
extent.
We are in favor of an increase in the wage scale in all departments
of the railway project, and we are in favor of a good liberal increase
1oo. The increase should not be confined to the mechanical trades and
in so-called common labor. It should comprehend an increase in the sal
aries of the engineering force, the clerical forces, and in all activities
allied with the project. This is not a poverty-stricken government thaf
must guard its dollars like a miser. It is a great, rich government thaf
can afford to pay a decent, living wage. In such matters, the govern
ment should establish a precedent. It should not follow along behind
the pace set by private enterprises.
We see men coming here in quest of laboring men. They would
not get them if the wages here were as good as those paid elsewhere.
The men go, not because they wish to, but rather because they can make
more money. That is the thing that is controlling.
THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM.
If the transportation companies, operating steamers on the Alaska
routes, are compelled to increase tariffs, in order to meet increased costs
of operation and pay a fair return on their investment, the tariffs
should be so adjusted as to encourage all pioneer development and the
building of new industries. Alaska has to import all she uses and the
present tariffs on inbound traffic are proving a heavy strain on living
and business conditions and a deterrent to new industries. Alaska’s
great resources of minerals and fish are of such vital need to the nation
that every effort should be made to stimulate the expansion of these in
dustries.
An adequate transportation service must be assured. On it the life
and growth of the entire territory is dependent. This is, however, no
reason why we should aequiesee in the entrance of Canadian-owned
steamers in this service. It is instead the reason why we should not
permit such service, for Alaskan development being dependent on
transportation, it is essential that Jhe nation have absolute control, that
the service may be properly regulated and such differentials applied as
will stimulate the growth and prosperity of the territory. This would
not be possible were foreign-owned vessels permitted to extend their ac
tivities in this trade. The extent to which these vessels have entered
the Alaska trade has resulted in a loss of traffic to the American lines
that had to be met by increased tariffs, that has resulted disastrously
to the territory. These foreign lines operated in connection with Cana
da! railroads, government subsidized, offer facilities and accommoda
tions which our independent lint's are unable to meet, resulting in a loss
of traffic to the American lines that is being felt in the curtailment of
service and the increase of tariffs.
This is a problem that vitally affects our government in its adminis
tration of American railroads, as the great bulk of the Alaska trafth
is made up of products of Alaska which find their market in great part
in the eastern states. The Alaska steamship lines are direct feeders to
the American railroads of most important freight commodities. Our
government is, therefore, vitally interested in seeing that this business
is fostered, so as to secure much-needed metals and food supplies and
to furnish requisite east-bound tonnage for the railroads. Any action
tending to the diversion of this business through Canadian channels will
result in a loss of traffic to both the American steamship lines and the
American railroads now under government control, and to the curtail
ment of the pioneer development of new properties and plants. The
j interest of the government, both from a national standpoint and that
of operator of the Amerean railroads, should dictate a policy that will
result in holding the Alaska business to the American lines, in foster
ing by every means possible the rational expansion of this business
through favorable rates On all food products, supplies and materials re
I quired by the Alaska people and that will encourage the pioneer devel
opment of new properties and plants, even though it is necessary to
resort to government aid or operation.
HUGH TALK ABOUT NOTIIIN(L
This part of Alaska has been slowed down this year because of the
belated appropriation for continuation of work on the Alaska railway
project. This appropriation did not become available for use until
July b. At this date the open season in Alaska is half over. In tin
very nature of things, the commission could not undertake any very
definite plans for the season’s work—could undertake no comprehen
sive work, at least—until the funds were made available by an appro
priation for tin- purpose.
Of course, the congress is very busy these war times in enacting ur
gent war measures, and of course every patriotic citizen is in entire
sympathy with the policy of giving war measures the right of way. But
| at that, there is a good deal of time consumed in the congress by mere
I talk—and much of it in a political way, too. This useless talk is not
confined to any particular party members. It is indulged in to the
| letriment of public business by members of both major parties. Per
i sonal attendance on the sessions will show this condition, and if one is
I not able to attend in person, a glance at the pages of the Congressional
> Record contains convincing proof.
If the president had not employed the “big stick,” the congress
would have adjourned ere this time, and let the very important new
revenue bill go over until the next session. This would have proved a
real hardship on the men in the business world who will be compelled
to bear the taxation burdens that will be imposed. If the excess profits
and other taxation methods are employed, as they will and should be
employed to provide war revenues, it is but right that the men who
will pay them have some light to guide them. To put this important
bill over until next winter and then debate it for several weeks or
I months before final passage, would have brought its enactment about
| near the time when the taxes are collectable. It is apparent that this
| would have worked a gross injustice on those who will be compelled to
| pay them.
THE RING IS ON THE RUN.
According to reliable advices from Juneau, the capital of Alaska,
when the democratic “camorra” heard the news of the ousting of
Charles A. Sulzer, the court-order delegate to congress from Alaska,
and the consequent seating of Judge Wickersham, elected by the people
to serve in that capacity, they “threw several eatfits,” to employ the
ancient figure of speech. The little bosses couldn’t stand the rebukes
of the enraged populace, whom they had deceived and mistreated, and
they retired to places of seclusion to discuss the denouement and its
natural effect.
The Juneau Dispatch, which has been the sturdy champion of the
people down in that section from the days of its establishment, declares
that the better element of the democratic party is very seriously con
sidering the advisability of bringing out another candidate for dele
gate to congress in lieu of Sulzer, as they do not wish to support him.
They feel that there is now no possible chance to elect him, since the
expose of the “ camorra’s” contemptible deal that placed him in office
for nearly two years. *
Employing that old chestnut—a mythical figure—to give expres
sion to his own views, the political writer of the Seattle Times has it
doped out that the contest between Wickersham and Sulzer will be
very close, wtih the chances in favor of the democratic candidate. The
Times’ spirit figure who appears in the form of “a former political
leader of national reputation,” informs us that the former followers
of Governor J. F. A. Strong are slowly coming over to the Sulzer
ranks, insuring an almost united democratic party behind the court or
der delegate. Of course, all this dope was handed out before the elec
tions committee back in Washington decided in favor of Wickersham.
Indeed, the mythical figure’s dope was predicted on the assumption
that Sulzer was the delegate and that the Wickersham contest was
merely a political play. Now that Sulzer is ousted and lacks the pres
tige of office, we expect to hearing something further from one of the
Seattle paper’s imaginary political prophets.
Kirkman creek, Yukon territory,
will be a busy mining camp this year,
according to the Dawson News. .
The Iditarod section of Alaska sub
scribed over $50,000 to Liberty bonds
in the drive in May.
A large acreage of farm crops has
been planted at Rock creek, Yukon
territory this spring, according to the
Dawson News.
The Japanese residents of Dawson
raised $83 to be expended for the pur
chase of tobacco and comforts for the
Dominion soldiers at the front.
—
Dawson gave the selective draft'
boys of the Yukon a great time before
their departure to join the troops at
Victoria.
Louis Hughes, Ed. Mackenzie and
Hal Noziglia, all Americans of Daw- j
son, have left that plape for the states,
to enlist in some branch of the United
States military service during the ’
war.
Dr. Alfred Thompson, Yukon’s j
member of the Dominion parliament,
will visit his constituency soon, ac-j
cording to information received at
Dawson.
Dan C. Campbell, a pioneer of
Whitehorse ,died last week a*, that
place, of pneumonia. He was 02 years
of age and came north with his wife
in 1S!)8. The latter died in 1911.
On account of Oie shortage of food
i many dogs have been killed in the
| Iditarod section since the close of win
1 ter.
j Great preparations have been in
progress in the Ruby district for an
I active mining season. Work was well
under way when the last mail to ar
rive started from that place.
Fred Fonzo, formerly deputy Unit
ed States marshal at Skagway, has
purchased the gas boat Scout from
A. C. Lightfoot of Haines and will
j use the craft in connection with his
| mining operations at William Henry
bay.
Word has been received at Dawson
' that Lieut. Arthur Campbell, former
ly of that place, recently, reported as
having been killed in France, is
alive ,though he was seriously wound
ed. It is said that he was recovering
from his wound when heard from.
Owing to a reduction in the appro
priation there will be one less teacher
in the Dawson public school next
year.
Announcement has been received at
Skagway of the recent marriage of
Miss Mary Florence Miller, formerly
of Whitehorse and Skagway, and
George D. Magee, formerly connected
with the White Pass force at Skag
way.
Dawson has taken action to provide
for organized receptions to return
ing soldiers from the front in France,
and for the purpose of doing for them
whatever the occasion warrants. The
action is the result of considerable
criticism of the attitude of the people
in Canada toward returning soldiers.
O. Hinton Henry, a Fairbanks news
paper man was found guilty of crim
inal libel for writing a letter to the
attorney general saying that all of
the associates of United States Attor
ney Roth are all “pro-German.” He
was sentenced to one year in jail and
will serve out the sentence.
J. S. McDowell, in charge of the
wireless station at Eagle, and Miss
Adele Scheele, of Eagle, were recent
ly married at that place. The bride
is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W.
Scheele, pioneers of Eagle.
t
\
E
THAN ILL!
NEW CAMP IN THE INTERIOR IS
RAPIDLY COMING TO THE
FRONT.
MANY OUTFITS ARE WORKING.
Latest News of the Camp "Is Brought
by A. G. Pauli, jr., Who Is Now on
His Way Outside to Enlist in the |
Army.
(Cordova Herald)
The placer mining camp at Tolo
vana, in the interior of Alaska near
the Fairbanks district, now has about
thirty plants, employing between 250
and 300 men, in full operation, and
should produce over a million dollars
this year, is the assertion of A. G.
Pauli, jr., who arrived in Cordova July7
4, from that camp. Mr. Pauli is a pros
pector and mine operator who has
spent the past twelve years continu
ously in Alaska. He was one of the
first men to reach the Tolovana during
the strike in 1915 and, securing with
his brother some rich property7, has
remained in the district until the pres
ent time.
As in other mining camps in the
territory, a lack of labor has been the
greatest handicap, Mr. Pauli declared,
but it has not assumed serious propor
tions as yet. Ten or fifteen men have
enlisted, a goodly number were taken
ing the draft and others left the camp
early7 in the spring. But now men and
outfits are arriving every day7 to work
the various properties, and a big year
is looked for at the district.
4
Among the large operators at Tolo
vana are Dave Cascaden, Tom IvlcKin
non, Ernest Peterson and Gus Peter
son. The latter two are brothers, and,
according to Mr. Pauli, are reported
to have each taken out over 88,000 last
year. These operators, and many oth
ers, will work this year with full
crews.
The camp is chiefly a placer propo
sition, Mr. Pauli said. The dirt prob
ably averages about $1 a foot, though
much of it will go $2 to the foot. He
also declared there was room for
much more extensive prospecting than
has yet been done.
But although the mining to the
present time has been mostly placer,
the district offers probably the great
est field for hydraulic, sluicing and
dredging that is known in Alaska at
the present time, Mr. Pauli asserted.
The chief reasonithat this lind of work
has not already been started is the
high transportation charges that are
levied on freight. A rate of eight
cents a pound is charged from Fair
banks to Tolovana, and a tramway
from Tolovana fifteen miles long ex
acts three cents a pound.
When cheaper transportation is
available, Mr. Pauli is certain that the
camp will become one of the largest in
; Alaska. Some of the low-grade
ground runs about sixty-five cents and
this should be a bonanza for a large
dredging or hydraulic concern. Such
mining will require an immense capi
tal, but the ground warrants it, in the
belief of Mr. Pauli. He said that a
man representing the Guggenheim in
terests had been in the district during
the last year with the supposed pur
pose of looking over the possibilities
of dredging.
Lucky, Amy, Gertrude, Ruth and
Olive creeks and Fannie Gulch are
the chief producers in the district at
the present time, Mr. Pauli reports.
Mr. Pauli and his brother, F. E.
Pauli, reached the camp during the
strike. They staked some ground and
struck pay. They have three plants,
two of which are now working, em
ploying forty men. F. E. Pauli left
the district a short time ago and en
listed. Mr. A. G. Pauli is now on his
way to Maryland where he expects to
enlist. The property is now in the
hands of A. G. Pauli, sr., a merchant
in Tolovana city, and his wife, who
are the parents of the two brothers.
Interior rivers are reported bank
full of water by those who have re
cently arrived on the coast.