IQ GALL IQ COLORS
NORTHLAND, RESIDES RECRUITS AND
FUNDS, HAS ALSO MORE THAN 50,000
TONS OF COAL, AND THIS WILL
BE INCREASED.
MEN AND MONEY GO TO FRONT
Secretary of Interior Pays Tribute to Popula
tion of Territory Because of Its Energy and
Patriotism and Comments on Fact That All
Its Citizens Are Doing Everything They Can
10 Help Federal Government Win War.
Alaska’s response to the call to the colors was charac
teristically snappy, big and effective. The wireless mes
sage which told the pioneers of the far north that their
country had joined in the world war against Kaiserism
at once started men and money to the front and filled the
enterprising Alaskans with such practical patriotism that
every line of industrial, engineering, mining, agricultural
and hshing activity immediately was speeded up to the
top notch of energy and production.
One of the results of this common purpose to enthusi
astically back-up the country in its hour of stress appears
in a statement in a routine report to the Department of
the Interior that, for the lirst time in her history Alaska,
last year, produced over 50,000 tons of coal. In Pennsyl
vania this tonnage would be a trivial matter but the
fact that in 1017 the coal output of Alaska exceeded 50,000
tons is regarded by men who are helping to develop that
country as of peculiar significance. For one thing, they
say. it indicates that the Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion which, only three years ago, began building a govern
mr;' wned railroad from Seward to Fairbanks, which
with its branches and spurs will aggregate approximately
•‘>*>0 miles, already is in shape to haul the coal which has
bee:’ its principal objective; that what has been talked
about for years, has come to pass and that from now on
coal production will increase so that last year’s total will
be remembered only because it reached a tonnage suffi
cient to attract attention. It is predicted that this year
more than 100.000 tons of coal will be taken from the
mines and hauled on the Government railroad and that
in a comparatively short time the ships of the navy in
the Fac’fc ocean can get their coal from Alaska.
All o the coal mined last year was used in Alaska and
most of it by the railroad which hauled it. The fact that
the local demand was met by local production looked
upon as showing a net gain of more than 50,000 tons in
the tonnage for use of the United States and its allies.
n;ni it Deen necessary to snip mis coai irom tne i acme
Coast of continental United States, the entire cargo space
of two ships of the size of the U. S. A. transport Crook
would have been required for the whole season.
Another striking effect of the speed-up policy which
aH Alaska adopted when the nation sent out its call was
the great increase, during 1917, of fish food production;
the total values of fish products jumped from $22,000,000
to f42,000.000, almost double. In 1917 Alaska sent to
the United States more than 250,000,000 pounds of canned
salmon alone, an increase of 22,000,000 pounds over the
output of the previous year. During the same period
Alaska fishermen harvested from her seas and rivers
nearly 12.000,000 pounds of fresh fish other than salmon,
an increase over 1910 of more than 2,000.000 pounds and,
in the way of smoked, dried and other cured fish, Alaska
o:ported more than 0,500,000 pounds, an increase of some
thing more than 1.000.000 pounds over 1916. Altogether,
Alaska sent out of her borders in 1917, more than 268,500,
000 pounds of fish food, or more than 25,000,000 pounds
above her production in 1916.
Secretary of the Interior Lane, who has charge of
Alaskan affairs, commenting on the 1917 record made by
the Territory said:
“The results at this time, with a greater part of the
world hungry, are most gratifying. Alaska has an ener
gotic. patriotic, pioneer population which understands fully
what the war means, although so far removed from the
seat of action. Every citizen is enlisted in the effort to
increase production, knowing that the greatest good Alas
ka can accomplish is in making its treasures available for
the use of this country and the allies at this moment. The
r suits last year show the effect of organized, patriotic
m tion. This year will yield far greater results.”
Perhaps no railroad construction in the. world today
excepting that in the various theatres of the war, is
arousing as much interest and creating such large hopes
a.- the transportation line which the Alaskan Engineering
Commission is building under the direction of Secretary
Lane. The coal famine in continental United States put
the Alaskan coal fields in the spot light and the Commis
sion is bending its strongest efforts to make immediately
available for development by private capital as much coal
land as possible.
The United States Geological Survey, in a recent bul
letin, declares that the most important event of the year in
connection with coal mining in Alaska was the comple
tion of the Matanuska branch of the Government railroad.
The Survey places the coal production in Alaska in 1917
at 61,000 tons, valued at $300,000, with the largest pro
duction coming from the Eska Creek mines in the Mata
nuska field. Coal also was mined at the Doherty mine in
the Matanuska field, at the Bluff Point mine on Cook Inlet,
on Cache Creek and near Candle. The high grade coal
on Chickaloon River is now being opened by the Alaskan
Engineering Commission for its own use in the construc
tion and operation of the railroad, the coal lands in the Ne
nana field have been subdivided for leasing by private par
ties and the Government road is being pushed southward
to this field from Nenana on the Tanana River. It is be
lieved the railroad will reach this field and make the coal
available for river shipment this coming summer. An
interesting feature of the development of the country
through the building of the Government road is the trans
formation of a number of the pioneer gold hunters into
farmers. The adventurous men who plunged into the un
charted wilderness after the precious yellow metal now
are clearing lands contiguous to the railroad right-of-way
to raise potatoes, turnips, hay and other farm products.
The new railroad passes through an extensive agricultural
country and over a thousand homesteaders now are devel
oping that region. This would be an impossibility without
a railroad and the prospects for a decided increase in ag
ricultural activity ana for a considerable number of new
homesteaders filing on land this year are bright. The pro
duction of potatoes in the country tributary to the railroad
was between 1,500 and 2,000 tons last year and 200 tons
of turnips were raised.
The Land and Industrial Department of the railroad
has been conducting an effective campaign to have Alas
kan farm products consumed locally. Chambers of Com
merce and like associations of business men, farmers, rail
roaders, miners and newspapers were brought together by
the Land and Industrial Department to adopt plans of co
operation between the producers and consumers. The re
sult was a general agreement to purchase home products.
This action insures a continually increasing local market
for all farm output and it is confidently predicted that this
year will see almost an old-time rush of homesteaders into
the country traversed by the Government railroad.
Anchorage Division Notes.
To better facilitate the handling of freight, authority
has been granted by the Commission for the construction
: of an addition to the platform at the east end of dock No.
j 1, at Anchorage. The addition will be 16 feet, in length
! and covered with a shed roof.
I _
;
The production of the Eska coal mine for the week
ending March 23 was 979.60 short tons. There were 121
men on the payroll at the close of the period.
Ten Seattle fiat cars of the 700-series, with side boards,
! for coal service, have been completed at the Anchorage
machine shops and are now in service.
About 400,000 feet of logs have been placed at the mill
site at Mile 88, and operations will begin at the sawmill
in the near future.
Seward Division Notes.
| An extra gang is now engaged in putting logs along
I the bottom of culvert 1019, and in clearing right-of-way at
! a borrow pit north of Kern Creek, preparatory to install
| mg a steam shovel this spring.
During the week, contractors from Mile 66 to Mile 71
moved 4000 cubic yards of material, and from Miles 70 to
i 79 moved approximately 4100 cubic yards.
; _
Among the contractors who finished last week were
! the following: Petre & Co., for wood, and C. Noal & Co.,
I grading at Mile 79.
The total number of employees in Seward Division at
; the ciose of the week ending March 30 was 420.
PERSONAL.
G. F. Loetscher, clerk in the accounting department,
! left Anchorage today to join the Thirty-first Engineers.
R. S. Donaldson, formerly storekeeper at Talkeetna,
| has volunteered for active service with the Thirty-first
| Engineers.
P. W. McCarthy has been tranferred from the agency
at Houston to the agency at Matanuska, succeeding Mr.
L. G. Jackson, deceased.
Charles M. Sheehan, last season a brakeman on the
Anchorage lines, lias enlisted as a conductor in the Thir
| ty first Engineers for active service in France.
*
H. R. Munson, chief timekeeper at Anchorage, who is
: recuperating from an attack of yellow jaundice, spent a
vacation of three days in Turnagain Arm district last
week.
Irving H. Packard, machinist at the Anchorage ma
rine ways, left yesterday for Tacoma, where he will as
, suine the position of superintendent of a manufacturing
! plant.
* * * *
Charles H. Bennett, superintendent, and H. P. Rieske,
; xssistant superintendent of construction, both employed
last season at Talkeetna; M. S. Johnstone, district account
ant at Talkeetna, and A. H. Schaeffer, storekeeper at An
chorage, are now employed by Twohv Brothers, railroad
contractors, who are constructing a branch railroad near
Astoria, Oregon.
_
CAN NOT SENIJ LE1TEKS IU
ALIEN ENEMY TERRITORY
_
Office of Second Assistant Postmaster General.
Washington, March 1, 1018.
Notice has been received that the different offices of
: the International Red Cross in Switzerland are receiving
letters from the United States in great numbers contain
' mg written inclosures, accompanied with requests that
such inclosures be mailed in Switzerland and addressed
to persons named in enemy countries, especially written
inclosures intended for civilians residing in Italian terri
tory occupied by the enemy.
Inasmuch as these written inclosures are not transmit
ted out of Switzerland it is hereby directed that postmas
ters and postal officials give publicity, as far as may be
possible, to this notice in order that correspondents in
the United States may learn that the International Red
Cross is not available as a channel through which to send
communications of the kind herein described to civilians
or others residing in enemy territory or the territory now
occupied by enemy forces.
OTTO PRAEGER,
Second Asst. Postmaster General.
EMPLOYEES BUY WAR-SAVINGS STAMPS.
War Savings Certificates to the amount of $1,840.57
have been placed among the employees of the Commission
by Mr. M. M. Thompson, timekeeper at Camp 88, Turn
again Arm District.
The certificates were purchased by the following em
ployees of that district: Lee Frazei’, T. R. Meredith, Thos.
Torphy, M. M. Thompson, Dave Cessna, Lee McLaughlin,
S. A. McDonald and P. W. Cohen.
When settlement was made with Nels Anderson & Co.,
stationmen, from Turnagain Arm district, the following
members of the gang purchased War Savings Certificates
to the amount of $250 from Special Disbursing Agent G.
C. Hammond: John Bayard, Nels Ostrom, John Anderson,
E. A. Klatt and Albert Stone.
NENANA WOMEN KNIT FOR SOLDIERS.
Following the examples of other Alaskan towns and
thousands of towns throughout United States, the
women of Nenana have started a knitting campaign for
the benefit of the American soldiers in France.
Mrs. R. H. Hildebrand and Mrs. G. Fenton Cramer have
been appointed representatives of the Red Cross to look
after the work in Nenana.
RECORDS SHINM
MR! FEU SLACKERS
NUMBER OF THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO
FAILED TO REGISTER IS ONLY 5,870,
AND OF THESE MANY WERE NOT
ENTIRELY TO BLAME.
TEN MILLION RESPOND TO CAU
Figures on Those That Subsequently Neglected
to Report for Physical Examination Are Ex
pected to Be Comparatively Insignificant
When Returns Are Received from All Dis
tricts, and Anti-Draft Agitators Were Not
Very Numerous.
From Alaska Railroad Record.
In his report to the Secretary of War on the operation
of the first draft under the selective-service act, Provost
Marshal General Crowder says:
During the interim between the enactment of the se
lective-service law and registration day the Department of
Justice and local peace officers throughout the Nation, es
pecially the police department of the larger cities, feeling
somewhat apprehensive of the spirit in which this novel
and untried method of raising our armies would be accept
ed, exercised the greatest care in providing for ample co
operation with the selective-draft officials for the speedy
and effective registration of eligibles, which was, in fact,
the first step in the mobilization of the National Army.
Few Threats in Resistance.
During the fortnight preceding registration day an oc
casional threat of resistance was reported, but on June 5
nearly 10,000,000 males of the designated ages were suc
cessfully registered. So willing were the registrants to
demonstrate their approval of the new order and to support
the Government in the emergency that throughout the 62
Federal district jurisdictions, practically the entire United
States, up to December 1 we find a total of only 5870 ar
rests made or reported by the Department of Justice for
failure to register.
Policy of Leniency.
The authorities early assumed an attitude of leniency
toward all those who, after arrest, exhibited a willingness
to register, and extended the locus penitentia as far as
possible, believing that the purpose of the law was to se
cure a full registiation rather than full jails. Consequent
ly 2663 of those apprehended were released after having
registered and prosecutions begun against 2095, of which
1645 cases are still pending. It is noteworthy that of
those released or prosecuted, 3236 have actually been reg
istered, and in the final analysis but 0.00026 of males be
tween 21 and 30, inclusive, have failed or neglected to
register.
There were some cases of persons aiding those subject
to registration to evade or to attempt to evade the law.
and on charges of this nature 180 arrests were made, oi
which 34 were convicted and heavy sentences usually im
posed; 21 cases resulted in acquittals. There are still pend
ing 98 cases of this kind.
After the registration came the call for the physical
examination of registrants for military service in the order
of their liability. To the Department of Justice and local
police officials fell the duty of locating the whereabouts
and apprehending those civilians who had not responded to
this summons. The Department of Justice, up to Decem
ber 1, had reported to it 14,212 registrants who had failed
to appear for physical examination at the various local
boards throughout the United States. Of this number 149
were arrested, and 813 were transferred to the military
authorities to be dealt with under the rules established for
cases of this kind. The final data on this subject will un
doubtedly show that the number of those who willfully re
frained from reporting is comparatively insignificant.
Of the 156 district and 4557 local boards organized and
established throughout the country for the execution of
the selective-service law, the Department of Justice notes
few bona fide complaints and reports a negligible number
of prosecutions against members thereof.
Antidraft Agitators Penalized.
Of individuals indulging in antidraft propaganda
throughout the country, 343 prosecutions are reported,
with heavy penalties imposed in practically all cases where
convictions resulted, there being 105 of these cases now
pending.
In a few Federal districts efforts have been made to
bring before the courts for review on writs of mandamus
or habeas corpus, the action of the local and district
boards in holding registrants to service. These cases have
usually involved claims for exemption from the operation
of the selective-service law by reason of alienage, and
attempts were made to have certain adjudications of selec
tive-draft officials repudiated by court order.
Courts Supporting Boards.
The trend of decisions in these cases, however, has been
to support the findings of the local and district boards in
instances where full and fair hearings have been afforded
to the registrants, it being generally held that the juris
diction of the board is the proper one for the determination
of these questions, and that the court will not interfere
where a registrant has been given an opportunity to be
heard. All courts have generally been of the opinion that
ample time for the presentation of claims for discharge or
exemption was provided by the regulations, and that a
claimant must establish his case within the time prescribed.
POSTAL NOTICES SHOULD BE SENT TO
EDWARD N. HURLEY, CHAIRMAN OF
UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD
AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
MANY NEEDEDWBUILD SHIPS
Registration Does Not Bind Signer to Accept
Employment from Government and Inasmuch
As Alaska’s Quota Is Only 1,000 Men, It Is
Hoped Every Qualified Person Will Make
Return to Authorities and Be Subect to Call
if Wanted.
From Alaska Railroad Record.
(By R. E. Robertson, Alaska Federal Director.)
In connection with the enrollment of men in the U. S.
Public Service Reserve, a special postal card has been
furnished to the Public Service Reserve enrolling agents
in Alaska. These cards, which are called “Hurley” postal
cards, are to be filled out and returned to Mr. Edward N.
Hurley, chairman, U. S. Shipping Board, Washington, D. C.,
by shipbuilding mechanics only; that is, men who are skill
ed blacksmiths, boiler makers, ship carpenters, dock build
ers, electrical workers, foundry workers, machinists, paint
ers, plumbers, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, copper
smiths, ship fitters and structural iron workers.
The purpose of these cards is to find out how many
mechanics there are in the United States who are skilled
in the lines mentioned and who are willing to enter the
service of the Government in these classes of work which
are adjuncts of the shipbuilding trades. The Department
j of Labor hopes that every man in the country who is skill
j ed in any of these lines will immediately register for
I service.
However, the Government does not relegate enrollment
simply to men skilled in the lines of work mentioned, as
it is going to be the policy of the Government in making
the enrollment to specialize: 1st—All classes of mechanics
that can be used in the construction of steel and wooden
ships; 2nd—All other classes of mechanics; 3rd—Expert
gas engine and automobile engineers and drivers; 4th—
Experienced lumber men, both mill and woods men; 5th—
All persons who are able and willing to serve in agricul
tural work; 6th—Young men who are willing and can
i pass an examination as aviators; 7th—All others who de
| sire to be enrolled in the service.
No man need hesitate about enrolling simply because
j he is not skilled in the lines for which the “Hurley” postal
; cards are used, as the Reserve welcomes every patriotic
| citizen who wishes to serve, whatever his qualifications, in
| eluding laborers of all kinds—artisans, engineers, profes
sional men. The men especially needed, besides those skill
ed in trades which are adjuncts to shipbuilding, are me
chanics, artisans, skilled laborers of all kinds, men who
can work with tools.
As its name implies, the United States Public Service
Reserve is not an agency to secure immediate employ
ment for its members. It aims to have on hand a reserve
of available men who, while staying at their posts in the
industrial life of the country, stand ready to go when the
Government notifies them that they can be of greater
service elsewhere. In cases where the Government asks
men to change employment, it will do so only after ade
quate consideration of the interests of their present em
ployers. At the present time the Department of Labor
is making provision for an extension of the U. S. Employ
ment Service in order to place in jobs those men who want
immediate jobs. The Department of Labor is committed S'
to the policy of supplying war industries first, and, so far
as it can, from the ranks of the unemployed. When quali
| fied men out of jobs are not to be had, and only then, will ^
1 it seek to get men to shift from one employment to an
other.
j Enrollment does not bind the person enrolling to accept
! a job from the Government, although it is hoped that he
will do so if a job is offered him. Neither does enroll
ment bind the Government to offer a job to the regis
trant. At the time a registrant is offered a job, he will
be informed as to the wages and other working conditions,
so he will then know whether or not he is in position to
accept. Registrants will be furnished with a membership
card and also with a bronze button, as soon as the latter are
received from Washington.
Inasmuch as Alaska’s quota is 1,000 men, it is hoped
that every qualified person will immediately register.
Registration has been somewhat delayed by reason of the
failure of supplies to reach the enrolling agents through
out Alaska, but now that they have arrived it is thought
that a large enrollment will be had.
There are enrolling agents in practically every com
munity, and men should enroll with the enrolling agent of
their town. Enrollment may be had with the following
persons: A. E. Lathrop, Anchorage; A. E. Gurr, Douglas;
Homer O. Banta, Haines; C. M. Van Marter, Ketchikan;
Thomas S. Elsemore, Petersburg; F. J. Vandewall, Skag
way; B. D. Stewart, Sulzer; Arthur G. Shoup, Sitka; W.
H. Warren, Wrangell; Ernest Kirberger, Kake; G. J.
Lomen, Nome; Walter Johnson, St. Michael; R. S. Dim
mick, Candle; N. H. Coombs, Council; Lars Gunderson,
Haycock; Frank Waskey, Fortuna Ledge; Thomas S.
Scott, Cordova; R. V. Watkins, Kennecott; L. V. Ray,
Seward; E. E. Ritchie, Valdez; John A. Clark, Fairbanks; Jt
Howard J. Atwell, Brooks (Tolovana Diggings); E. Coke T
Hill, Ruby; Geo. W. Pennington, Nenana; Harry L. Twad
dle, Tanana; R. E. Robertson, Juneau.
LIVE ON VEGETABLES.
Dr. Ugen Ishizuka, a well known
dietarian, who recently made a trip of
observation in Korea, Manchuria and
other parts of Cl\ina, ascribes the
docility and indolence of the Koreans
to their predominantly vegetarian
diet. To make them more alert and
active, he urges, it is necessary to en
courage the use of much more animal
food among them.
The radish is the article of food
most relished by Koreans, who call it
the wild ginseng and eat it raw. Bu*
the most remarkable thing about their
love of vegetable food is the tremend
ous amount of cayenne pepper that
they take. About one-fifth of the vege
tables on sale at markets is red pep
per.
Instead of soy sauce, the Koreans
use the juice of salted fish. For pickles
they use a mixture of salted radish,
Chinese rape, onions, rocambole and
cayenne pepper. This preparation has
an excellent flavor and is eaten at
every meal. An average family keeps
enough of this preparation to last a
year.
An alarming number of Koreans are
suffering from parasites, chiefly due,
in Dr. Ishizuka’s opinion, to the crabs
they eat in great quantity.—East and
West News.
NOT THAT KIND.
“Here you are, son,” said the face<4
tious man to the messenger boy. “Take
this note to No. 1415 Umpty-ump
street and see if you can’t give me a
correct imitation of Mercury.”
“Aw, quit cher kiddin’,” answered
the lad. “I ain’t no thermometer.”—gr
Birmingham Age-Herald.