SHIPBUILDING PROJECT
TO BE INVESTIGATED
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—President
Wilson today directed Attorney Gen
eral Gregory to investigate the much
discussed Hog Island shipyard con
tracts at Philadelphia, and if there
has been criminal abuse of public
funds prosecutions are to follow.
Immense Sum Involved.
About forty million dollars of gov
ernment money is involved in the
Hog Island project, in which the Amer
can International Corporation, headed
by Frank A. Vanderlip, president of
the National City Bank of New York
City, figured.
Officials think that nothing worse
will be uncovered in connection with
the island project than inefficient man
agement and reckless expenditures.
The construction of the Hog Island
shipyard facilities was estimated to
cost the government $21,000,000. It is
now asserted that the cost will be
between forty and fifty million dol
lars.
WILL EXPLAIN
PEACE TREATY
(By Associated Press)
LONDON, Feb. 14.—An important
phase of the peace debate will begin
in the German reichstag on February
21, when Chancellor Von Hertling will
discuss the treaty of peace recently
negotiated with the Ukraine.
The speech of the German chancel
lor will be in the nature of a reply to
the recent utterances of Lloyd George
and the Italian premier, Orlando.
BOOZE WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR OLD-TIMER'S DEATH
A Fairbanks dispatch of February 9
says that Jerry Quinlan, a well-known
old-timer, has arrived there from1
Brooks to serve six months for a vio j
lation of the dry law. This is the
first conviction in that section since
the territory went dry on the first of
the year.
Quinlan took a quantity of liquor to
his cabin and got drunk and set the
cabin on (ire. A man by the name of
McHugh was burned to death. Quin
lan was unable to rescue him, and
was slightly burned. i
-«
DEATH AT SKAGWAY
Mrs. Rose Baker-Brown, wife of
George Brown, and daughter of A. J.
Baker, senior, died suddenly at Skag
way. Her parents are prostrated. The
mother was taken to the hospital, hav
ing suffered a stroke of paralysis as
the result of the death of her daugh
ter. She is not expected to survive.
VESSEL * MLB
B( IIBBEIII II SEA
The steamer Northwestern tied up
at the local dock at 6 o’clock last even
ing. Her Cordova passengers were:
F. G. Noyes, Mrs. R. Tamany, Thos.
Davis, Verne King, Miss W. M. Charon,
P. S. Truckey, John E. Drake, G. W.
Ragodale, A. McKenzie Mrs. McKenzie,
P. Harkenrath, Angus McDougall, Geo. I
Kennedy, Mrs. Geo. Kennedy, Irving j
Gawker, A. Benson, John Enlund, Mrs.
John Enlund, Mrs. P. L. Simpson, C.
Brosk, Neil Brady, H. Levin, A. Clin
kenbeard, R. E. Capers, John Barrack
and four steerage.
The steamer Northwestern met with
a slight mishap after leaving Ketchi
kan. Her steering gear parted at
Charcoal Point but the vessel was only
delayed two hours in splicing the
break, according to Capt. Hunter.
Charcoal Point is situated in Tongass
Narrows, immediately north of Ketchi
kan and on the same side of the Nar
rows. This is the point where the
City of Seattle ran ashore three years
ago and lay for several days on the
mud. Part of the point consists of a'
rocky reef with wide mud banks on
Both sides.
-♦
Mrs. John Gillis came in from Mile
14 yesterday afternoon to spend a
couple of days with Cordova friends.
JOE MURRAY DISCUSSES
EIGHT-HOUR QUESTION
Joseph H. Murray, member of the
house of representatives from this
division, has returned from a trip to
Juneau, where he conferred with of
ficials of the Alaska Road Commission,
in the interest of the new territorial
bridge at Nizina, and left this morning
for his home at McCarthy.
While in Juneau Mr. Murray appear
ed before Governor Strong in the hear
ing over the eight-hour law and its
workings. Me said in part: “The peo
ple of my section of the country be
lieve in the eight-hour law and want
it enforced. We specifically deny the
right of the governor, the council of
national defense and the secretary of
the interior to set aside or modify
any of the eight-hour laws as passed
and as applied to the underground
workers in the mines. We highly
favor the eight-hour law passed by the
last legislature and do not wish it set
aside. At the worst it should only be
modified to allow workers to put in
overtime and then only in case of the
gravest necessity and for the greatest
good of the whole country. There is
no shortage of labor in my section of
Alaska, with the possible exception
of possibly a few skilled mechanics
above ground.
“The law should not be suspended.
It might be modified as a case of
necessity, but so far I have heard no
reason advanced at this hearing for
even that much of a concession. If
modified the order of modification
should be arbitrarily worded so that
the present wage scale should con
tinue as the basis of wages for eight
hours and that everything over that
time should be classed as overtime
and paid for.”
-«
BAD LUCK FOLLOWS
INTERIOR DREDGE MAN
Robert Goebel, for some years con
nected with the dredge of Riley and
Marston, in the Iditarod, was in Cor
dova yesterday, on his way to the In
terior. He was a passenger on board
the Northwestern, and will go by way
of Seward. At the railroad terminus
he will take a dog team for the
balance of the trip.
Misfortune seems to have dogged
the footsteps of Mr. Goebel in the im
mediate past. Some time ago he was
the victim of a serious accident on
the dredge, sustaining several frac?
tured bones. He went outside after
becoming convalescent, and there the
bones were reset and he was an in
valid for a considerable period. Upon
his recovery he purchased an expen
sive automobile and engaged in the
transportation of passengers between
Seattle and Camp Lewis. A few weeks
ago an irresponsible Jap driver of an
automobile going in ap opposite direc
tion at a great speed collided with the
machine of Mr. Goebel, causing dam
age estimated at about a thousand dol
lars. Mr. Goebel himself escaped with
a few scratches.
“The accident induced Mr. Goebel to
again turn his steps to the North,
where there is more room, and he will
resume his former position with the
dredge at Iditarod.
-*
ENEMY BANKS
LONDON, Feb. 14.—It is impossible
to liquidate the affairs of the London
branches of enemy banks during the
war, says Sir William Plender, if this
includes collection of all other than
enemy assets and repayment of ad
vances made by the Bank of England.
(By Associated Press)
PARIS, Feb. 14—The American bat
teries yesterday participated in the
artillery bombardment in connection
with the extensive French raids in
Champagne, according to an official
announcement.
|
The American gunners were said to
have given most effective assistance
to the French.
This is the first mention of Ameri
can batteries being on the Champagne
front.
From German Source.
BERLIN, Feb. 14.—The French at
tacked on the Champagne front yes
terday and obtained a footing in ine
German salient.
8EL9UN VESSELS USED
TOTflnmilK
(By Associated Press)
HARVE, Feb. 14.—More than 2,000
boats of all description have been
siezed by the Germans in occupied
Belgium. Information just reaching
the Belgian authorities here shows
that many of these boats have been
used for the transport of war mater
ial during (he heavy Flanders fight
ing.
-♦
The twenty-fifth annual report of tht
Alaska Packers' Association, issued
February 9, 1918, for the 1917 season
says the capitalization of the companj
remains the same, viz., $7,500,000 au
thorized capital, divided into 75,00(
shares of the par value of $100 each
The present issue is 57,508 shares
leaving 17,492 shares in the treasurj
of the company.
At the close of 1916 the insurance
fund showed a credit of $2,896,73548
its interest income on investments
amounted to $163,867.74 for the year,
and in addition the fund earned
$3,024,970.39.
From the interest income a dividend
of $2 per share was paid.
The amounts charged for dividends,
losses, expenses and taxes aggregate
$1,514,595.67.
The insurance fund now amounts to
$4,570,977.94.
The association’s pack of salmon for
the season was as follows:
Cases.
Sockeye . 51,455
Red.1,015,697
Coho . 11,739
Ring. 216,355
Cham .. 35,690
Total .1,346,292
Five thousand eight hundred and
forty-two barrels of salt salmon were
included in the pack also.
The continued strong demand for
all food products enabled the associa
tion to dispose of its 1917 pack at
good prices.
The policy of the association to as
sist in the development of Alaska has
been continued, and expenditures ex
ceeding $250,000 for the year were
made in the territory.
The insurance fund has increased
$1,789,258.46, from which a dividend
of $115,016 has been paid.
The profits for 1917 were $1,308,
269.41.
The taxes paid and accrued against
the earnings of the association during
1917 amounted to $2,491,777.80.
A dividend of $2 per share was paid
from the interest income of the in
surance fund.
Quarterliy dividends of $2 per share
have been paid during 1917.
BILL! ASKED
(By Associated Press)
^WASHINGTON, Feb. 14—Chairman
Sljirley of the house appropriations
cAnmittee today reported to the house
the urgent deficiency bill, which ap
propriates one billion dollars for vari
ous purposes. This is the largest ap
propriation bill of the kind ever con
sidered in the history of congresB,
The bill provides for the immediate
needs of the war, navy and other de
partments. Almost eighty million dol
lars are asked for mountain, field and
siege artillery, in addition to the bill
ion dollars already spent, and con
tracts for $779,000,000 more are pro
vided for.
lErnmissH
(By Associated Prew)
OTTAWA, Feb. 14—Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, former British ambassador to
the United States, died suddenly of
heart failure here today.
Sir Cecil retired in favor of Lord
| Reading, who was appointed special
I ambassador last month, after nearly
| five years’ service in Washington.
) 1
I *
(By Associated Press)
CAMP LEWIS, Tacoma, Wash., Feb
14.—Army officers have been forbid
den to discuss the ‘‘benzine board’
! cases. To date one colonel, three ma
jors, eight captains and two scor<
lieutenants have been called befort
the board, and many have been placed
! on the retired list, having been found
to be “square pegs in round holes.”
Because of the new order it is now
(impossible for the public to learn any
^ thing about the cases.
HOES FLtf'm TERROR
FROM KimS
(By Associated Press)
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 14.—It is re
i ported here that Russian soldiers are
committing shocking acts of terrorism
in the Aaland islands, in the Gulf of
, Bothnia. Swedish residents have fled
from the other islands in the gulf.
FORT REISS SMS
TIME SUNK TH
(By Associated Press)
PORT BLISS, Tex., Feb. 14 —Ameri
can soldiers will soon be swimming
out here, on the edge of the desert,
as freely as if they were camped on
the seashore. The big post swimming
pool, which is being erected by the El
Paso War Service Board for the use
of the soldiers of the fort and sur
rounding camps, will be completed at
the end of this month.
The pool will include a bath house,
a large plunge and showers. The build
ing will be in keeping with the bunga
low style of architecture which pre
vails at the fort. An ornamental lat
tice work will enclose the pool and it
will be covered with vines and flow-ers
this summer. The water will be heat
ed and the men will have the privilege
of using the swimming pool without
charge.
SINCERITY OF TROTZKY
DISTRUSTED BY HUNS
(By Associated Press)
DATELESS.-—German newspapers
indicate that there is great uneasiness
over the Russian situation. In Ger
man and Austrian official circles there
is considerable uncertainty concern
ing Trotzky's future attitude.
Demobilization Doubted..
One Berlin newspaper says that the
announcement that the Russian army
was being demobilized was a sham
maneuver.
It is reported that the Germans are
assiduously building defenses and
bringing fresh troops to the western
front. The Associated Press corres
pondent at French headquarters says
the Germans have 195 divisions, com
posed of 2,340,000 men, on the western
front between the North sea and
Switzerland.
SOUTHERN COII MEN
INC IINOER INDICTMENT
(By Associated Press)
, KNOXVILLE, Tenn.,. Feb. 14 —The
federal grand jury today returned
twenty-three indictments against forty
seven defendants, including coal
operators, dealers and brokers of East
Tennessee, charging violation of the
food and fuel control bill.
--♦
BOZEMAN, Mont., Feb. 14.—High
school students of the state are now
to be organized, under the direction of
Professor M. J. Abbey of Montana
State college, for food production work
next summer.
They will be asked to promise to
raise half an acre of potatoes, an
acre of corn or wheat, a vegetable gar
den large enough to supply a family,
or to can home vegetable supplies, or
raise a pig, a calf, or a small flock of
chickens or sheep.
Pupils of the grade schools were or
ganized along these lines last year,
and many of the high school girls of
the state already are members *-«l
bread-making and garment-making
clubs, organized under the direction of
the state College.
The state board of education has of
! fered a total of 460 scholarships in
state institutions to boys and girls who
win in county contests in food produc
i tion lines.
-*--—•
ANCHORAGE RESIDENT
PLEASED WITH CASPER
I “Billy” Peterson, an old-timer of In
terior Alaska, who for the past three
.years has been engaged in freighting
at Anchorage, was a passenger for
the westward on the Northwestern.
Mr. Peterson has just returned from a
Wisit to the oil fields of Wyoming, and
he has become so impressed with the
possibilities of Casper that he intends
to return to Anchorage, close out his
business there, and accompanied by'
his family, remove to the new Wyom
ing town.
"Billy” says that Casper has become
a city of 12,000 to 15,000 inhabitants,
j and that it is enjoying a veritable
| boom, though there is a probability
i of its being overdone in a business
way. Exorbitant prices are demanded
for everything, and accommodations!
are of the most meager character.
Doubled up in one room with another j
wayfarer, Mr. Peterson w-as compelled
to pay $6 for a night’s lodging, which
he considers rather stiff.
Mr. Peterson’s family remained in
Anchorage w'hile he went on his quest
of new fields.
--.—
!
(By Associated Press)
BOZEMAN, Mont., Feb. 14—To help
increase the country’s supply of meat,
boys’ and girls’ poultry clubs will be
organized in every county of the state
next spring under the direction of the
state college here.
Especial emphasis will be laid on
the importance of back yard flocks, it
is announced, with the expectation of
effecting a large increase in eggs and !
poultry meat and a corresponding con
servation in other foods.
(By Associated Press)
BALTIMORE, Md„ Feb. 14.—The
government shipbuilding program is
being seriously hampered by a strike
of the carpenters in the shipbuilding
plant of the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany at Sparrow Point and the Balti
more Dryuoc t and Shipbuilding Com
pany’s plant. Two hundred men failed
to report this morning at each plant.
The men refused to discuss the
strike situation, and the plant officials
said they did not know the cause of
the trouble.
AT
•-4
FISH PRICES.
—
At Ketchikarf.
KETCHIKAN, Feb. 14—Prices for
fish today were as follows: Halibut,
17 5-8c; sable, 4c; red rock, 2c.
At Seattle
SEATTLE, Feb. 14 —Prices for fish
at noon today were as follows: Hali
but, 22c; sahje, 6c. w«. j
|-i-—i-U '
DESTITUTION IS CAUSED "
; OMARI WORK
(By Associated Press)
WATERFORD, Ireland, Feb. 14.—All
Waterford is in mourning as the result
of the biggest catastrophe that has
befallen this Irish east-coast city in
thirty years through the loss of seven
ty of its men at sea. The victims
were in two steamers which left an
English port but were never heard
from again. They left 400 women and
children so destitute here that relief
funds have been started in all parts of
the country.
MomiiiSilfiE
IN SPECIIE SESSION
(By Associated Press)
HELENA, Mont., Feb 14 —The Mon
tana state legislature met here today
in special session as the result of a
proclamation recently issued by Gov
ernor S. V. Stewart.
Subjects for consideration will in
clude legislation to permit counties to
be bonded to furnish seed and feed
for needy farmers; to provide a mor
atorium for United States soldiers and
sailors, to legalize the State Council
of Defense and provide funds for its
maintenance; to provide for home
guard companies; to pass sedition and
sabotage laws; to pass an absent
voters’ law for soldiers and sailors and
to consider the ratification of the Na
tional Prohibition amendment.
-•
PROTECTING ELK
(By Associated Press)
POCATELLO, Idaho, Feb. 14—A car
load of yearling elk from the Garden
er, Wyoming, region, reached here re
cently and has been taken to the Poca
tello forest section, where it is hoped
to develop an elk herd. A heavy tine
is provided for anyone molesting an
9lk in this state.