The Cordova
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^ VOLUME III. NUMBER 12. CORDOVA, ALASKA, THURSDAY
PEACE PROPOSAL ONLY TOPIC DISCUSSED
t Allied Press Attacks
Intentions Of Germany
BERLIN, Dec. 13.—The definite proposals upon which the
central powers are prepared to make peace will be communi
^ cated to the allies if the German offer falls upon responsive
^ ears.
LONDON, Dec. 13.—The indications are that the various
allied governments will not act hastily in making a joint re
sponse to tin1 peace proposal. While each government might
indicate its general attitude, a consultation among the allies,
under the treaty binding them to joint action, will probably re
quire two or three weeks.
\\ ANlllNGTON, Dec. 14.—German diplomats here believe
that the answer of the allies to the German proposal will be an
inquiry, with the basis of the proposal as its foundation. The
diplomats see the wan ing nations well on to a conference.
BERLIN, Dec. 12.—The kaiser has notified the command
dig generals in the field of Germany’s peace offer, adding that
it is uncertain whether the offer will be accepted. Until that
uncertainty is ended Germany will fight on, the kaiser says.
BERLIN, Dec. 13.—Chancellor Bethmann delivered a
strong speech before the reiehstag, which was listened to atten
tively by the members and the thronged galleries. He conclu
ded' his speech by saying: “If, in spite of this offer of peace
and reconciliation, the struggle should go on, the responsibility
rests on the four allied powers who are resolved to continue to
a victorious end, but they will disclaim responsibility for this
before humanity and history.”
BLRLIN, Dec. 12.—Tin* chancellor told the reichstag that
Germany and her allies were conscious of their responsibility
before God, their own nation and before humanity when they
proposed peace to the hostile powers.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—Senator Chamberlain called on
^ President Wilson, and dining the conference said that he be
lieved the United States should support any movement looking
toward peace among the warring nations.
PARTS, Dec. 13. If a reply is made to the German note it
will be only after a consultation with the allies of France. In
responsible quarters they say Germany’s suggestion is a ma
i noeuvre designed for effect at home to impress the neutrals as
^ a test of public opinion in belligerent countries with the chance
for some reaction there. Germany’s suggestions are rejected in
authoritative quarters, as it is considered a repetition in a more
concrete form of the peace discussions originating in Berlin
repeatedly during the last fifteen months.
LONDON, Dec. 12.— (Delayed in Transmission.)—The
general impression is that the German peace offer will not
• likely bring immediate results, particularly if made on a basis
that Germany is victorious. The afternoon papers comment
sarcastically on the peace offer. The News says that inasmuch
as the Germans have abandoned their maximum of plunder
and as an avenger, in the shape of Lloyd George, is about to
inflict punishment Germany now desires to make peace. The
News says the chancellor’s declaration is almost blasphemous,
after the crushing of citizens of Roumanian and the deportation
of French and Belgians, as the kaiser and chancellor place on
the allies responsibility for continuing the war.
TOKYO, Dec. 13.—The peace proposal caused such a vio
lent slump that the directors closed the stock exchange.
LONDON, Dec. 13.—The Times rejects the peace proposal
on the ground that it bears no relation whatever to the objects
for which the allies are fighting.
PARIS, Dec. 14.—Tin1 newspapers of France call the peace
proposal a clumsy trap. The Petit Journal says: “In Germany
it is intended to convince the people that the government is not
responsible for a continuance of the war. Abroad it desires to
persuade the neutral countries that the allies are pursuing a
policy of ambition.”
- FISH INDUSTRY OF
ALASKA TO BE
LICENSED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. — All
branches of the Alaska fishing indus
try will be brought under the license
system, and prepared and manu
factured products taxed by the bill
which Is now being considered in the
house.
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EXPLOSION OF NITRIC ACID.
G. E. Beraud, assayer at the First
National Bank at Fairbanks, nearly
lost the sight of his left eye recently
by an explosion of nitric acid he was
using in assaying, and his clothlug
was badly burned.
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Have you seen the fine line of la
dies’ embroidered handkerchiefs at
Clayaon’s? They would make accept
able Christmas presents.
ASIATICS WILL
BE EXCLUDED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. — The
senate yesterday by a vote of 42 to
to 14, adopted the committee’s amend
ment to the immigration bill, which
would exclude Hindus and other Asi
atics, without mentioning them by
name. It also eliminates from the
bill all reference to a passport agree
ment.
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AND THERE WAS LiSiiT.
Miss Lizette Higgs, the four-year
old daughter of Lieutenant Higgs, of
the Alaska engineering commission,
recently threw the switch which
turned on the current of the new elec
itrc light system at Nenana.
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The Daily Times Is a member of the
Associated Dress. Get the news.
EFFORTS [ "1
REDUCE HIGH
— g
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. — Efforts’
to reduce the cost of living through
increased production and better distri- j
oitbun of the country's foods are de- j
tailed in the annual report of Secre
tary Houston, of the department of ag j
cirulture. The report also devotes |
considerable attention to the pure food
law and urges on congress the need \
of strengthening it to permit stand- j
ardization of foods and drugs and in i
speetion of food and drug factories. J
Records of the department, the re I
port sets forth, show that except meat j
and dairy products the per capita pro- [
duction of the leading food communi
ties in the United States has remained \
about the same despite the rapid
growth of population. Statistics pre-1
sented cover a period of sixteen years, j
The population has increased in that
time 33 per cent. There is ground for
optimism, the report says, as to the
ability of the nation not only to supply
itself with food, but increasingly to
meet the needs of the world.
One of the principal aims of the de
partment has been to increase meat
production. The report shows a steady
growth since 1913 in the output of beef
and an advance in the number of
swine every year since 1899. More
extensive sheep raising is recommen
ded as a source of food. It is pointed
out that only one farm in seven in the
United States now supports sheep.
Fifty million sheep, it is said, could
be added to the country's flocks.
Stabilizing production is recommen
ded as one of the greatest agricultural
needs in producing food crops suffi
cient to meet demands. This can be
accomplished best, the report points
out, through better adapted or im
proved crop varieties, more systemat
ic and rational crop rotation and im
proved agricultural practice generally.
In many parts of the country more at
tention to live stock production is es
sential to enduring and economical
agriculture, the report declares.
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FULL SUPPLY AT!
With the weather severe, fifty de
grees below zero being registered,
Fairbanks faces the most serious fuel
situation in its history. The North
ern Commercial Company, which fur
nishes heating for the greater part
of the business section of the town,
which also furnishes pressure for the
municipal water system and also fur
nishes light and power, and which an
nually uses 9,000 cords of wood, had
only forty cords in the yards.
All the wood on hand is ten miles
from Fairbanks and conditions are
so that the wood men can only haul
one load per day, during the extreme
weather which has been in progress
for the past week.
Teamsters refuse to go to the woods
and several hundred houses are fae
ing serious problems.
Those who ha\e a few sticks are un
able to induce the wood sawyers to
work, so that these people, including
professional and business men, are
forced to resort to the buck saw.
Unless the cold lets up within the
next few days, there is certain to be
a great deal of suffering.
With billions of tons of coal in the
Nenana coal fields, the absolute ne
cessity of completing the government
railroad from Fairbanks to the coal
fields during the season of 1917 is
more than ever emphasized.
Thomas Riggs, Jr., said that if the
appropriation asked of congress this
session becomes available upon the
passage of the act and not at the first
of the next fiscal year, trains will be
running to the coal rieias next Oc
tober.
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ORE HANDLED BY TROLLEY CARS
By the completion of its new trolley
system the Treadwell mines are now
in position to take ore from any of
its workings to any one of the mills
of the company which may be in need
of ore.
P. 0. DEPT. ASKS
TELEGRAPH
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. — Post
master General Burleson's annual re
port declares there was a postofflce
department surplus of $5,200,non dur
ing the present year, and enumerates
as among the year’s accomplishments
improvement of the parcels post, ex
tension of city and rural deliveries
and development of the postal saving
system.
A surplus of $12,500,OOP is shown,
says the report, for three years of the
four the administration has been in
office, and it calls attention to de
ficits under previous administrations.
The department makes many recom
mendations for improvement of the
service, some of the most important
are those:
That early action be taken by con
gress declaring a government mono
poly over all utilities for the public
transmission of intelligence and that
as soon as possible the telephone and
telegraph facilities of the United
States be incorporated into the postal
establishment.
That $300,000 be appropriated now
for acquiring telegraph and telephone
utilities in Alaska, Porto Rico and Ha
waii.
Inal second class postal rates De
revised to make second class matter
pay more of its share of transporta
tion expense and that the one cent
rate he applied to all so-called drop
letters.
That public buildings erected for
postoffice purposes be standardized
and their their costs he commensurate
with the needs of the service.
That funds be expended in a num
ber of large cities for buildings not
of ornamental design, but designed
to accommodate the postal service be
hire more money is spent in smaller
towns where buildingw'are not H£Btl£il
ind can not be justified.
That changes be made in the present
building policy, which imposes a fixed
charge on the department that has
grown burdensome.
That the classified service lie ex
tended to include the position of post
master at offices of the first, second
:ind third classes.
That the department be authorized
to bond its employees so that the gov
ernment may he protected more ade
quately and that relief may be af j
forded officials and employees of the
service.
That $100,000 be appropriated for
experiments in aerial transportation
:>f mail.
That legislation lie passed to enable
the department to organize postoffices
no a more businesslike basis, and to
standardize the salaries of supervis
ary employees in an equitable manner.
Growth of the parrel post will cut
the cost of living to the city dweller,
the report declares. The service is
now handling ninety million packages
i month. Liberal changes in its re
gulations have done much to bring
ibout its extension, it is declared.
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HEY, THERE, BILL! ♦
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All local and visiting Elks are ♦
requested to register their ♦
names with t’has. M. Uosswog, ♦
at the postoffice store ♦
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SPOKANE LEFT
SEATTLE ON
SEATTLE, Dec. 13.—The Pacific
Steamship Company’s excursion boat,
the Spokane, sailed for southwestern
Alaska yesterday, taking the regular
run of the Admiral Evans for one trip.
Her passengers for Cordova are Miss
Alice Huffman and Mrs. Jas. Holmes
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MUTE BOY GOES INSANE.
Harold Anderson, a ten-year-old deaf
mute, has been adjudged a dependent
at Wrangell and committed to the
custody of the board of guardians for
destitute and dependent children at
Juneau.
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EYE INJURED BY PIECE OF WOOD.
W. G. Sotham, associated with Cap
tain Alexander in the Engineer mine
ut AtUn, was brought to Juneau re
cently for treatment, having suffered
a serious accident to his right eye.
caused by a flying piece of wood.
LOOKING AFTER
NEW YOHK, Dec. 13. — Believing
that the many problems that have
arisen in foreign trade merit the ear
nest consideration of American busi
ness men, James A. Farrell, chairman
of the National Foreign Trade Coun
til. has issued a call for the fourth
National Foreign Trade convention, to
be held at Pittsburg, January 25-26-27
The convention will be held in co
operation with the commercial and in
dustrial organizations of that city,
through the Pittsburg Foreign Trade
Commission, and all Americans en
gaged in or desirous of entering over
seas commerce are invited to partiei
pate In ‘‘a practical and constructive
discussion of policies and practices
necessary to meet keener competition
which the United States may encoun
ter in world markets after the war."
Conditions in foreign markets, mea
sures necessary to safeguard Ameri
can foreign trade, and the foreign
trade aspects of the American tariff
system: co-operation in foreign trade
development; the American merchant
marine; foreign investment of Ameri
can capital; and the problem of the
smaller manufacturer and merchant
will lie matters for discussion.
The council, which is a non-political
and non-partisan board of fifty prorni
nent merchants, manufacturers, bank
era, farmers and other producers of
natural commodities, will present to
the convention a report on "World
Trade Conditions After the European
war,” the result of a year of re
search.
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UPSETS STUCK
NEW YORK, Dec. 12. — (Delayed
in Transmission.) — The stock mar
ket became immediately unsettled on
receipt of the peace proposal. The
munitions and other companies profit
ing by the war, were most affected,
the itethlehem Steel stock dropping
twenty six points. The peace news
had a reverse effect on cotton, which
rose in price $3.50 a bale.
t'l I It'AGO, Dec. 12. — (Delayed in
Transmission.) — Wheat fell with a
rush today, taking a sheer drop of nine
i ents a bushel. Corn and oats also
fell, while provisions rose slightly.
PRICE OF NEWS
PRINT BEING
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. — At the
t
conclusion of the federal trade com
mission hearing, on the part of the
papers on the price of news print, the
manufacturers propose to meet a com
mittee of the National Newspaper
Publishers' Association to work out,
if possible for the commission's ap
proval, a |ilan for an equitable distri
bution, in districts, of print paper.
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PIONEER OF NOME IS DEAD.
George Hall, a pioneer Alaskan, who
had not been outside the territory for
twenty years, died recently at Nome.
His funeral was attended by practl
cully everp person in the city.
INSTALL PUBLIC HORSE TROUGH.
A public spirited citizen of Juneau
has requested permission from the
street department of that city to erect
a horse trough on Front street for
the benefit of the numerous equities
of that city.
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PATIENT FOR MORNINGSIDE.
Advices received at Fairbanks state
that liarry Lappin has been adjudged
insane by a jury In the commission
er's court at Nulato, where he has
been a citizen for the past ten years.
OTTAWA, Dec. 14.—The Canadian torpedo boat Grilse
was lost in the north Atlantic, with the entire crew. A ma
jority ulthe men enlisted from British Columbia.
I ETROGRAD, Dec. Id.—The Germans have begun the re
tirement of some divisions from Roumania, transferring them
to other tronts, and the situation in Roumania is now more
avorable for the allies.
A 1 HENS, Dec. Id.—It is officially announced that Ad
miral Fournet, in command of the allied squadron in Greek
waters, has been replaced by Admiral Gaucher.
LONDON, Dec. Id. I| is officially stated that the total
German casualties, including the colonial and naval losses, com
piled from German official lists, is nearly 4,000,000.
. * . * *' _
PETROGRAD, Dec. Id.— The Russians have captured a
line of Teuton trendies on the heights south of Agasualia, in
Trotus valley, Roumania.
WASHINGTON, Dec. LI. Germany’s replv to the Ameri
can inquiry on the sinking of the American steamer Lanao, off
Cape Vincent* Oitohcr 2H, contends that the sinking was ju-ti
fied, because the vessel carried contraband of war and was not
an American ship, but owned in Norway.
BERLIN, Dec. 12. In the Wallnehia district the Rmmian
ians were reinforced by the Russians, attempted to make a
stand, but are again retreating. Four thousand Roumanians
were taken prisoners yesterday.
BARTS, Dec. Id.— General Nivdle, defender of Verdun,
has succeeded General Joffre. The change is popular, as Ni
veil’s mother is English.
The press is moderately enthusiastic over the formation of
the new cabinet. Seven ministers in the new cabinet belonged
to the old cabinet.
KILBflNE-WELSH
NEW YORK, Dec. 13. — Johnny Kil
bane and Freddie Welsh are scheduled
to fight for twenty rounds at Havana
if Harry Pollock completes his plans
for the match.
I T STEM TIOE
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12. — Warn
ing against a threatened migration of
the iiopulations of western Asia to
the United States is contained in the
annual report of Commissioner lien
eral Anthony Caminetti, of the im
migration service, just made public
The war and conditions immediately
after its close will stay the stream
for a time, but steps to head it off
must be taken before transportation
interests begin to cull the field for
the business, the report declares.
Immigration from the far Orient,
too, is a problem still unsolved, the
report sets forth. The systems here
tofore devised to deal with it does not
promise much improvement, and ma
chinery for enforcement of the Chi
nese exclusion act is not adequate or
well adapted, It says. Arrangements
for the admission of Japanese, it is
declared, should be amended to fit
conditions better.
"The Chinese exclusion law," says
the report, "should be so modified as
to make use of the same administra
tive methods and means as are em
ployed in enforcing the general lmrni
gratlon law; and the Japanese ar
rangement should be so changed as
to eliminate therefrom those excep
tions that have a tendency to broaden
as to reduce materially the efficiency
of the other fairly satisfactory plan
Hindu immigration, which would be
permitted more freely under a recent
supreme court decision, will be taken
care of in the Burnett immigration
bill pending in congress.
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All local and visiting Elks are re
quested to register their names with
('has. M. Rosswog, at the postoffice
store.
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Daily Times office.
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I
In one of the recent articles on
j Alaska, Frank <5. Carpenter, the world
j renowned writer, who visited Cor
j dovu a year ago, says that a company
j is being organized at the present
I time to establish log hotels at Skag
wav, Dawson, Fairbanks and Seward,
j These will be lor the purpose of ac
commodating in first class style the
! tourists whom they hope to steer
\ northward. The plan is to advertise
I the trip down the Yukon and up to
Fairbanks, thence to the coast over
the government railroad, with a stop
over of a few days in each four places
alawe mentioned, so that the visitors
may study conditions and see all the
sights.
While Mr. Carpenter's article does
i not state definitely as to when this
plan is to be put into execution, the
j intimation is that the hotels w ill be
established as soon as the railroad
| is completed.
i The company is to work in con
| junction with the transportation com
panies and even induce the govern
j ment to advertise the beauties of the
1 trip over the railroad from the in
' terior to the coast.
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ALIENS BARRED
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WASHINGTON, Her. 14. —Thou
sands of aliens who have returned to
their native land to engage in war
have been barred from returning to
the United States by the amendment
to the immigration bill adopted by the
senate yesterday.
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MARTIN CREEK SHOWING UP
Reports received at Fairbanks state
that Martin creek, a tributary of Ko
komo ereek. is showing up good pros
pects. Prospectors working on the
creek have drifted thirty feet and
ha\e found pay prospects all the wav
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SWEETS MADE BY THE SWEETS.
The girls of Ihe Penelope Club of
the Douglas public school recently
held a candy sale, which netted the
club $20. The money will be turned
over to the domestic science equip
ment fund.
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Canadian Torpedo Boat
And Crew Are Sunk