THE ANCHORAGE WEEKLY TIMES
ANCHORAGE PUBLISHING CO., PUBLISHERS.
CHAS. E. HERRON.
President
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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1918.
FAIR PRICE LIST FOR ANCHORAGE.
What is termed the “fair price list” is to be established in Anchor
age, to govern the price of staples in this community. A committee will
be named to have charge of the matter and a§ soon as the list is avail
able. it will be published, from time to time, in the columns of The
Times. The establishment of the “fair price list’’ removes all necessity
for the reestablishment of the commission commissary, and that subject
is thus removed from the field of local controversy.
The Times is of the opinion that the revised wage scale as given out
by the commission is hardly adequate to offset the cost of living in this
community as compared with outside wages and outside living costs.
We believe that the situation warrants a further increase, especially
with reference to common labor. We hope that those in authority in
railway matters here will take this view, at the conference to be held
tomorrow between a committee representing the employes and the com
mission officials. We believe that another upward revision would bring
a happy issue out of the present contention and meet with spontaneous
approval on all sides. We commend this suggestion to the commission,
in the hope that it may meet favorable consideration.
ALASKA AND PACIFIC COAST TRADE POSSIBILITIES
(By GEORGE IRVING)
The wonderful activity of the Pacific coast under what might be termed
the abnormal war situation, has, to a marked degree, had the effect of mak
ing some people doubt the continuation of good times after the war, and the
remark is often heard, even among men of large business, that upon the ces
sation of hostilities the reaction will be such as to cause financial and com
mercial panic. Such argument is not well founded in fact, for the reason that
it cannot be substantiated. Let us view the situation as it actually exists,
and from the facts arrive at a conclusion that can be justified. Sixty-five
years ago Commodore M. C. Perry opened the door to Japan, and the strides
that country has made during the period from then to now has surprised the
world. She was keen to take on the wavs of the Occident and her steady ad
vance has been wonderful indeed. In her material progress in almost all
lines of endeavor she has overlooked nothing which would tend to advance
her interests commercially and financially, as well as the building of a na
tion that today is recognized as a world power. What is so as to Japan, under
the most usual commercial conditions, will surely be the case with China,
Korea, Manchuria and Russia, to a degree that will be the realization of the
wildest dream of the most ardent optimist who has given any thought to our
future trade relations with the far east, now that allied interven
tion to stop German invasion of Russia is taking place, and the
citizenship of Russia (or a majority of same) are welcoming the allied forces.
China is taking an active interest and is sending her armies forward in con
nection with the allied movement. If this means anything, it means that the
Chinaman, the Korean, the Manchurian and the Japanese are going to be
come acquainted with the soldiery of the United States, and on the conclusion
of peace the people of the far East no longer are going to wonder and specu
late as to the class of citizenship that makes up our great and grand repub
lic, for they will have come in personal contact with the flower of our nation
which can have no other effect that to inspire in them respect for our boys
and an everlasting confidence in the country from whence they came; for to
day China and Russia recognize that in the United States they have their
greatest friend.
Now the question: “What does this mean for the pacific coast, Alaska
and our nation?” There can be but one answer: An increased and greater
demand for the prodifct of our entire country, and particularly from the Pa
cific and Alaskan coasts. China in 1914 had a population approximated at
360,000,000 people, scattered over an area of approximately 5,000,000 square
miles. The total number of her ships engaged in foreign trade flying the
Chinese flag prior to the war numbered only 265. This vast empire has never
been awakened to a realization of the magnitude of its natural resources, its
people have been content to live as they have lived for ages; they have not
sought, neither have they been enlightened in the way to take advantage of
the opportunities at their very door; by this association and intermingling
with the people from the diffei’ent parts of the earth the interest of the far
East in the business world is going to increase a thousand fold. It means
that the manufacturers of our eastern and Atlantic coast states, to avoid
expense of transportation across the continent, will, of necessity, come to the
Pacific coast in supplying the needs of the ever increasing trade of the far
East.
Seattle, Puget sound and the country adjacent thereto are miles nearer
Kongkong than San Francisco and Southeastern and Southwestern Alaska
are some 1400 miles nearer than Puget sound, with abundance of water power,
deep, spacious harbors, timber, fish, oil, coal, iron, gold, copper and every
natural resource needed by large business in manufacturing, to say that such
a condition will be overlooked does not sound reasonable.
Again: Such conditions will guarantee that the ship building on the
Washington and Oregon coast will be continued, not as a war measure, but
as a matter of necessity to take care of the fast increasing trade.
The people of the far East are primarily fish consuming; Alaska fish is
being sent forward under war conditions and the Oriental trade is going to
become familiar with the Alaska sea product and when war conditions cease
there will be a constant demand for Alaska fish as well as other Alaskan
products. In view of these conditions there can be no other view taken than
one of extreme optimism as regards Alaska’s immediate future.
Southwestern Alaska and the Third division will undoubtedly play a very
important part in the supplying of these demands, situated as we are geo
graphically, with an inviting climate, rich in gold, iron, oil, copper and fish.
F.ig business cannot and will not overlook such advantages. In view’ of these
existing facts it does seem as though every Alaskan should stay by his
country, develop its natural resources and acquire unto himself un
der the possessory acts of congress sufficient rights that he may stand
in a position to reap the benefits that will accrue therefrom; foi
it may be depended upon that just as soon as the millions ol
people from the Orient who are now ignorant as to what this great wai
for democracy means (and democracy in all that the word implies is behinc
the gun until victory by conquest has been achieved) and as soon as they be
come familiar in the slightest degree with western civilization and repre
sentative government, and the beneficent results that flow therefrom, yoi
may feel assured that same will gladly be accepted, and immediately upoi
its acceptance will come the demand for each and everything which goes wit]
it to aid in the onward march of civilization. Therefore, the writer is one o
those who believe that the after war condition of the Pacific coast and Alaska
is going to be one marked by a period of activity and large business sucl
as the coast has never known, and Seattle is destined to be the first city o
the West. 1 * '
AN AMICABLE ADJUSTMENT SEEMS PROBABLE.
A committee representing the employes of the Alaska railway pro
ject and officials of the engineering commission had an extended con
ference yesterday and a discussion of the wage scale wras held, botl
parties to the issue meeting the situation frankly and fairly. The re
suit will not be announced until later in the week. The commissary mat
ter was amicably disposed of, the employes being satisfied with the es
tablishment here of the “fair price list,” under direction of the foot
administration.
For the benefit of the Cook inlet country, for the benefit of this
railway project, for the benefit of the employes and for the benefit o:
the engineering commission, The Times expresses the earnest hope tha
this wage scale matter will be adjusted amicably, to the end that wort
may continue without interruption. We believe, in the main, the dc
mauds of the employes should be met by the commission. We believ:
that public sentiment would unanimously endorse such a conclusion
We do not believe that it would be economy to enforce a wage scale tha
would not attract the employes to remain on the work. It is quite cer
tain that most of the employes will not remain on this work, if the)
can better their condition by going outside. If this happens, it will b<
fourrd that it will cost much more to reorganize laboring forces, if worl
should practically close down, than to give the men what they ask nov
and have them remain with us.
ANOTHER MAN’S SHOES.
(Juneau Dispatch)
The position which Mr. Sulzcr occupies in Washington must b
extremely embarrassing. His colleagues generally know that he is ar
intruder in the house of representatives, not elected by the people o
Alaska, and that he is entitled to neither the distinction nor the pa)
which goes with the office. -y«
At a time when the nation is asking its eitizerrs to “give until i
hurts,” he is drawing upw-ards of twenty dollars a day out of th<
United States treasury, and has drawn it for over a year, when he i:
not and never was entitled to a cent of the money.
Eventually the government will pay Judge Wiekersham his sal
ary for the full two years of the session of congress to which he was
elected. ,
The government also pays the expenses of the election contest
which Judge Wickersham has been in honor bound to carry on in ordei
to vindicate the people of Alaska and maintain their rights untram
elled. These expenses will.be large.
Mr. Sulzer has permitted -the political ring in Alaska to put hin
in an awkward position. The least he could do to make amends for hi;
1 folly would be to resign and cut off the needless and unjustifiable ex
j ponse to the government. How he can reconcile himself to sit aroun<
| and draw his pay until the tue of*the congressional boot is applied to hi:
anatomy, is too much for the ordinary mind.
When the motto, “(live until it hurts,” is the order of the day, Mr
Sulzer applies the theorv, “Take as long as vou can.”
A further consideration, but, one which fortunately will not exis
I long, is tin* fact that Mr. Suker can hardly enjoy the respect of his col
| leagues who have heard of the method by which he obtained his seat.
The men who are willing to throw one of their own party out o.
j office oil the ground that he was not elected and yet stooped to aecep
| a tainted certificate, can hardly respect Mr. Suker, or co-operate witl
him in legislative work.
ALASKA GETTING FREE ADVERTISING.
Alaska is getting some good free advertising these days. Jt is 1101
easy to get prominent space in the great metropolitan dailies of thit
country, but we observe a recent number of the New York Times, in tin
opinion of many people the foremost newspaper publication in the Unit
cd States, if not in the whold world, makes a lengthy editorial commenl
on Alaska. Under the caption, “Alaska’s Development,” The Timet
editorially says:
Alaska has not been forgotten or neglected by the government al
Washington. This is shown in a long letter from Secretary Redfield ot
I he department of commerce to Governor Riggs concerning plans foi
development of the Territory’s resources. It was not foreseen when
$7,200,000 was paid for Alaska in 1867 that we should ever receive
from her soil and waters in one year nearly fourteen times the pur
chase price. The latest available reports point to imports of $81,875,
000 from the territory in the ten months ending with last April and
only $14,500,000 of this total was gold. Other leading products were
fish and copper. The government’s aim is, first, to make the territorial
waters safe for navigation. New vessels for survey, lighthouse, and fish
eries work have been built or published. There will be more lights along
the coast, with a new central station, and probably a small shipyard foi
construction and repairs. As fish are a very large part of the exported
output, much attention will be given to development of the fisheries.
The number of experts employed to give instruction in curing and pack
ing is to be doubled, and salmon streams will be improved by removal
of obstructions. Twenty of them will be guarded by watchmen in mo
tor boats. A special investigation of streams, to promote conservatior
of the supply, is now in progress. At some point on the coast the de
partment hopes to establish a fisheries experiment station. Private
hatcheries may be acquired and operated by the government. “Witl
proper publicity and instruction,” Secretary Redfield says, “the her
ling industry can be made to rival that of Norway and Scotland,” and
the department is committed to this task. By-products of the sealin',
industry, wasted until a short time ago, are now saved by the depart
ment, which converts them into oil and fertilizer.
“The government’s plans promise a-steady increase of the tern
tory’s exported food products. Large additions will be seen when th<
new railway makes enormous deposits of coal accessible. In the neai
future our imports from Alaska may rise to $200,000,000 a year, a quifi
satisfactory return for an original investment of $7,200,000.
The dispatches from Washington hold out the hope that the navj
department is now considering the matter of the expenditure of the mil
lion-dollar appropriation to be employed in the mining of coal in th
Matanuska fields for the United States navy.
CHARLIE PETERS
DIES ON ALASKA
The sad news reached Anchorage
this morning of the death of Charlis
Peters who died on the steamer Alas
ka that left here Saturday night.
The word was received by Judge
Leopold David from U. S. Commis
sioner Whittlesey, of Seward, to the
effect that “Charlie Peters found dead
in his berth this morning. Dr. J. H.
Romig reports that Mr. Peters died
of uremic coma.”
Mr. Peters left here on the Alaska
en route to Rochester, Minn., for treat
ment under Mayo brothers. He had
been sick for several months and his
end was not unexpected. Necessary ar
rangements have been made to ship
the body back to Anchorage on the
Admiral Schley for burial. Mr. Pet
ers had a large circle of friends in
Anchorage and in all Alaska who will
mourn his death. Announcement of
the funeral wtll be published later.
NEW POSITION IS CREATED
FOR HELPING NORTH
; SEATTLE, July 10.—(By Mail)—
• M. J. Elmendorf, a Seattle man, has
been appointed consulting engineer
for the United States bureau of mines
for the northwest, as a war measure
to increase the production of coal and
other essential minerals, particularly
in Alaska and Washington.
He has been a mining engineer in
. the west for the last twenty-five years
and is well known in the north.
W. J. Elmendorf is well known in
Juneau. E. J. White, chief of the pub
licity bureau of Alaska, says he does
not believe a better man could have
been secured. Mr. Elmendorf in 1910
was in charge of the Arctic Chief mine
at Whitehorse and during 1911 he
moved to Stewart city, on Portland
canal and remained there four years
examining large quartz deposits for
an English syndicate. He maintained
an office in Seattle and has been con
nected with some of the largest min
ing deals in British Columbia and the
i west for big New York and other min
ing capitalists. He is practical and
knows the conditions intimately, net
alone in Washington and Alaska, but
' i all over the west.—Juneau Empire.
I
—
LOWEST LEVEL YET
ATTAINED AT TREADWELL
TREADWELL, July 16.—(By mail)
What is reported to be the lowest lev
els ever attained in the history of
hard rock mining in Alaska were
reached yesterday in the Ready Bul
lion mine and ore today is being
hoisted from a shaft 2,800 feet deep.
In the old workings of the Mexican
mine and other properties of the Unit
ed Treadwell workings, ore was being
blocked out at a distance of 2,700 feet
from the surface, but the depth now
arrived at in the Ready Bullion is re
ported to be the lowest levels so far
operated in the north.
MISSING TRAPPER NOT FOUND.
Unsuccessful in their quest for the
missing trapper, Trinko, G. C. Gwin
and party returned to town early this
week. On their return journey they
encountered their own troubles in
crossing the Nizina river. The bridge
had been destroyed and the channels
I were booming. Upon their endeavor
| to make the crossing George Rust was
; rolled from his saddle and had he not
; been a cool-headed swimmer would
have met his fate. He was kicked by
his horse before reaching land.—Mc
Carthy News.
(Nenana News.)
The employment office in the office
building of the Alaskan Engineering
commission is quite a busy place now
adays, and many men may be seen
signing up for work along the rail
road.
The new location which is known as
the D line, is being prepared as rapid
ly as possible and actual construction
work will be rushed as fast as condi
tions will permit.
Locomotive No. 5 and the Brown
hoist have day and night crews, while
the dragline will have three crews
working two shifts of eight hours each
and one of three hours, with a five
hour interval for any overhauling and
repairing that may become necessary
as the work progresses.
It is expected that double crews will
soon be put on for working the loco
motives 270, 272 and the Lidgerwood
unloader.
All of the necessary materials and
supplies are now being assembled at
an advantageous point on the right of
way for the uninterrupted continuance
of the work of railroad building and
the camps along the line are now the
scenes of much activity as a new impe
i feus appears to have been given rail
road work recently.
The services of all the men that will
be necessary for railroad work have
not been availed of, but they are being:
steadily signed on as conditions war
rant and it is confidently expected that
a large force of men will eventually be
: on the payroll of the commission.
The Brown hoist has been very busy
| night and day for the past week or so
j getting together the ties, logs, bridge
‘ and culvert material, gathering them
j up from points along the old location
| and bringing them to the new.
i TWO ALASKANS GO
INTO BUSINESS IN
CITY OF SEATTLE
(Juneau Empire)
J. F. Anderson, a pioneer of Skag
j way, and A. B. Wilson, one of the
j owners of the Gastineau Bar before
j Alaska went dry, have formed a part
| nership and engaged in the restaurant
| and soft drink business in Seattle,
j They are located in the Lyon building
! on Third avenue, near James street, in
j the quarters formerly occupied by Fe
| lix Brown and J. B. Powell.
The water was eighteen feet higher
on the Yukon this year than ever be
fore recorded. The ice at Birches was
piled to a height of 45 feet along the
shore. Nulato and Koyukuk were
badly damgaed and much other de
struction was done at various points
on the lower river. The Koyukuk riv
er at Betties was higheY than ever be
fore known by the oldest native.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
Department of the Interior, U. S.
Land Office at Juneau, Alaska, July
12, 1918.
Notice is hereby given that Sophus
Anderson, of Wasilla, Alaska, who on
May 22,1914, made homestead applica
tion No. 02450, for SEVi NW^4 EV2
SW& Lots 2, 3, 4, Sec. 18 and NE14
NW14 Lot 1, Section 19, Township 17
N., Range 1 E., Seward Meridian, has
filed notice of intention to make final
three year Proof, to establish claim to
the land above described, before H. W.
Wilmoth, notary public, at his office
at Wasilla, Alaska, on Sept. 16, 1918.
Claimant names as witnesses: Fred
Edlund, August Swanson, both of Wa
silla, Alaska: Pete Murray, of Mata
nuska, Alaska; Gee. Grennan, of Va
sil la, Alaska.
C. B. WALKER, Register.
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