MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR RIGGS
TO TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE
ONTRANSPORTATIONPROBLEM
The message of Governor Thomas
Riggs, Jr., to the territorial legislature,
in which he outlined a plan for a ter
ritorially-owned steamship line to
meet the increased transportation
charges, was as follows:
“Juneau, March 26, 1919.
“To the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives :
"I have viewed with apprehension
the recent increase in freight and pas
senger tariffs by the steamship com
panies operating between Seattle,
Wash., and the various ports of the
territory of Alaska. During the year
1918 rates were increased over and
above those obtaining in 19117, the
reason set forth being that war con
ditions had greatly increased operat
ing expense. Extensive hearings were
held on the subject of freight rates
in both Alaska and in the States. The
contention of the steamship companies
was upheld. On March 19 of this
year still further increased tariffs be
came effective.
“When will these increases cease?
War conditions, no longer exist.
Slowly the abnormal prices brought
about by abnormal conditions are
commencing to readjust themselves.
It would seem that new rates becom
ing effective should be lowered instead
of increased. Small competing lines
have been eliminated. The people of
the territory have not been advised
as to the necessity for a further in
crease in tariffs, nor do I believe that
such necessity exists. Federal agen
cies are either unable or are loath
to exercise restraining influences.
ii is eviuent to all of us that ter
ritorial development can not continue
when operating under the handicap of
almost prohibitive freight and pas
senger rates. If press reports are to
be believed, already the rates between
Seattle and Southwestern Alaska are
greater than rates across the Pacific.
At Nome the retail price of coal is in
the neighborhood of $35 per ton. While
1 was there last summer it was ru
mored that the price of this commod
ity would advance during the winter
to $40 p6r ton. Increased cost of coal
in Nome means the death of the com
munity as a winter camp. Only the
rich will be able to afford the com
mon comforts of life.
“In the interior of Alaska the peo
ple are already overburdened with
high rates, which are largely respon
sible for a gradual closing down of
low-grade placer operations. The pop
ulation is decreasing, and further de
crease in population will make it dif
ficult for existing river transportation
lines to find enough traffic to warrant
further operation.
“In my annual report to the secre
tary of the Interior I advocated:
“ ‘That the United States shall take
over for the period of the war and
until such time as conditions shall re
adjust themselves to a pre-war status
all transportation by steamships or
Tailroad lines to and in the territory
of Alaska, charging such freight and
passenger tariffs and maintaining
such schedules as will allow and en
courage the continued development of
the territory.’
“On my recent visit to Washington,
D. C., I urged this action, even though
war was then virtually at an end,
but it seems that legislation is lack
ing to enable the government to estab
lish lines of transportation to Alaska.
The secretary of the interior agrees
with me that the territory can not
come to full development under pres
ent conditions, and he would have
come to our assistance, particularly
in connection with the government
railroad, had he been legally able. I
do not believe we can obtain any as
sistance from the federal government.
If such a thing is humanly possible, we
must therefore endeavor, through ter
ritorial legislation, to come to the re
lief of the territory.
“At the present moment it does not
seem possible that we can appropri
ate sufficient funds to fully cover the
shipping needs of Alaska, but it is my
firm belief that we can start in a
small way by perfecting an organiza
tion to commence operations, and the
legislature can have introduced into
the congress of the United States a
bill authorizing the territory to as
sume a bonded indebtedness of
$5,000,000, or the amount thereof nec
essary, to purchase, charter and op
erate sufficient ships to take over
practically the entire ocean traffic of
Alaska. I believe that congress will
grant us the necessary authority, as
no federal expenditure will be in
volved.
i uo not preiena to oe an expert
in the shipping business, but I do
know that during the period that the
Alaskan Engineering Commission op
erated the old transport Crook, a ves
sel entirely unfitted for freight han
dling, engineering supplies and equip
ment were carried between Seattle
and Anchorage at rates per ton far
below company tariffs, and this with
only a one-way haul.
“This past winter, with assistance
in the department of the interior, and
after consultation with the United
States Shipping Board, estimating for
one ship only, on the freight offerings
of the Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion and south-bound freight of ship
pers discontented with present condi
tions, I found that this one ship could
be made to pay a handsome profit.
I was forced to abandon the idea,
however, for the reason that existing
lines, being deprived of this revenue,
might discontinue sailings for ports
west of Cordova, thus cutting off even
the present unsatisfactory service,
“The attorney general of Alaska ad
vises me that there is no legal reason
why the territory can not operate its
own steamships, and I firmly believe
that a line run by trained shipping
men will result in lower freight and
passenger rates, better service, better
mail deliveries, and at the same time
provide a sinking fund to pay off the
incurred bonded indebtedness.. A no
table saving in favor of territorial
versus private operation is found fn
the act entitled ‘To provide revenue
and other purposes,' approved by the
President February 24, X819, which,
under Section 213, provides:
“ ‘Gross Income Defined.— (b) Does
not include the following Hems, which
shall be exempt from taxation under
this title:
“‘(7) Income derived from any pub
lic utility or the exercise of any es
sential government function and ac
cruing to any state, territory, or the
District of Columbia, or any political
subdivision of a state or territory, or
income accruing to the government of
any possession of the United State*,
or any political subdivision thereof
‘‘It would also seem from what irf!|
formation can be procured from the
local customs house that there would
be no federal tonnage or other taxes
levied on any ship owned or oper
ated by the territory engaged in coast
wise traffic between United States
ports. The tonnage tax, as prescribed
in Section 2569 of the Compiled Laws
of Alaska, for ships registered in
Alaska, is one dollar per net ton per
annum, customs house measurement,
on each vessel.
“When in consultation In Washing
ton with officials of the postot'fiee de
partment, I was assured by them that
the department would assist any con
templated transportation venture in
the matter of mail contracts or even
subsidies to the utmost of their ability.
"I realize that I am advocating a
most radical and startling departure
from accepted standards. The first
impulse is to characterize the scheme
as impracticable. It is not imprac
ticable; it is distinctly practicable, and
will allow the territory to take on re
newed life. We should dig direct to
the root of our discontent. Every
other question sinks to insignificance,
for back of it all remains the basic
fact that unless relief Is afforded us
in our most vital need, moneys ex
pended on roads, schools, charities
and on all other constructive projects,
constitute merely stop-gap measures,
never to bear full fruit, for Alaska will
gradually lose population and revert
to a vast territory unpeopled save for
a seasonal fishing population along
the southern coast and the operatives
of a few great mines.
“I append hereunto, for compara
tive purposes, tariffs on certain items
as effective in 1917 and 1919.
THOMAS RIGGS, JR.,
Governor.
steamship Passenger Rates for Upper Deck Cabins Between Seattle or
Tacoma and—
Ketchikan . .*19}9 Crease
Skagway . oeVin ' ??8.00
Cordova . c(1nn *®-®® 7-°°
•Exclusive of war tax. I
Freight Rates Between Seattle or Tacoma and Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau
and Douglas
(Exclusive of terminal charges)
Fish, salt or pickled, in lots less than 15 tons.... $ 4.50 $ 9 50 ^'VToo
Same, more than 15 tons. 4 00 7 50 3 50
Hay and straw, D, C.ZZZZZ Hh50 12M 1.50
Same, S. C. 14.60 17.00 2.50
Lumber, less than 50 M feet, b. m„ and less
than 40 feet in length. 8.00 10.00 2.00
Meats (not including refrigeration). 17.50 20.00 2.50
Salmon, south-bound, in lots over 15 tons. 3.50 7.50 4.00
Ordinary freight not otherwise specified. 7.50 9.00 1.50
('oal . 3.50 4.00 .50
to to
5.50 2.00
•Exclusive of war tax.
Freight Rates Between Seattle or Tacoma and Cordova, Valdez, Latouche
and Seward
(Exclusive of Terminal Charges)
1917 *1919 Increase*
Coal in lots of over 100 tons.. $ 4.00 $ 5.00 $ 1.00
Ordinary freight . 12.50 13.50 1.00
Grain, 50 tons or over. 10.50 11.50 1.00
Ores and concentrates. 3.00 4.50 .
to to
5.00 6.50 1.50
•Exclusive of war tax.
Freight and passenger tariffs to Nome and St. Michael are not available.
War taxes are as follows: 3 per cent additional of the freight tariff; 8
per cent additional of the passenger tariff.
■ The tug Oneonta arrived at SewatK
recently with the barge Lawrence in
tow, making the trip from Seattle to
the Resurrection bay port in nine days i
to the hour. She was in command of :
Captain Christiansen and Captain
Harry Cook, the latter a navigator
from the Admiral line. The Lawrence
had 550 tons of rails, one coaling ma
chine, 10 tons of boat iron, 200 bar
t
rels of fuel oil and a quantity of mis
cellaneous freight.
Hot cakes or mush served from 6
i. m. to 11 a. m. at Llndlg’s Grill
vith all meat or egg orders, without
ixtra charge. 29-2t
If you change your address, do not
notify the carrier boy—report your
new address to the office.
___|
Read the Daily Times ror the latest
and most reliable world news.
Electric Wiring
and Repairs—
JOHN G. YOUNG
Leave Orders at Cordova
8heet Mfctal Works.
Phone 143
Sore Throat, Colds
Quickly Relieved By Hamlin's
Wizard Oil
Hamlin’s Wizard Oil is a simple
and effective treatment for sore
throat and chest colds. Used as a
gargle for sore throat it brings quick
relief. Rubbed on the chest it will
often loosen up a hard, deep seated
cold in one night.
How often sprains, bruises, cuts
and burns occur in every family, as
well as little troubles like earache,
toothache, cold sores, canker sores,
stiff neck, and tired aching feet
Soothing, healing Wizard Oil will al
ways bring quick relief.
Get it from druggists for 30 cents.
If not satisfied return the bottle and
get your money back.
Ever constipated or have sick
headache? Just try Wizard Liver
Whips, pleasant little pink pills, 30.
cents. Guaranteed.
FOR SALE I
FOR SALE
Choice business and residence
property.
FOR RENT
Furnished and unfurnished
apartments and cottages.
INSURANCE—
Fire and marine, life and ac
cident.
BONDS
Fidelity and surety.
CORDOVA ABSTRACT &
REALTY COMPANY
ROOM 1 ADAM3 BUILDING
LAUNCH WAIF I
Running between Katalla, Cor
dova, Valdez and Latouche.
Trips made whenever weather
permits.
MATTHEWS & ARNOLD
Cordova
The City Beautiful
Help to keep it so by using a
Garbage Can. Plenty of them at
CORDOVA
SHEET METAL WORKS
Phone 143
MEET ME AT
THE
“HORSESHOE”
POPULAR RECRE
ATION PLACE
Where we can always find our
friends
Finest Billiard and Pool Tables
In Alaska
BEST GRADES OF STAND
ARD BRANDS OF CIGARS
JUST RECEIVED
A LARGE SHIPMENT OF
LIVE CHICKENS
Excellent Roasters
FRESH EGGS
FOR SALE
JOE FREY
Phone 22
Alaska
Barber
Shop
Has been removed to Kenny
Holden’s pool room, where the
best of service will bfl given.
Two chairs, with Frank Cun
ningham and Ben Sherman,
formerly of Fairbanks, always
on the job.
CHUTTER &
INGALLS
Producers—Selling Agents
Fresh, Frozen, Salt
and Mild-Cured
FISH
!
Correspondence and Consign
ments Solicited.
COLMAN BLOG. SEATTLE
[
FOR SALE
New Boat Hulls
Fish and Clam Power Boat
Hulls now ready at shop on Sec
ond street, next to jail building.
E. D. LACY
OSBORNE BROS.
JEWELERS AND
OPTICIANS
WATCH REPAIRING
JEWELRY TO ORDER
CORDOVA, ALASKA
llliillllllllllllll
1 MINING MACHINERY MARINE ♦ HARDWARE CANNERY SUPPUES I
I MARINE ENGINES |
I IN CORDOVA STOCK * 1
NEW CLAY ANDERSON MILLER NEW PACIFIC i
m
The World’s Recognized Fishermen’s Engines, Medium and Heavy Duty, Four-Cycle, Extended Bases
NOTICE.—We are making new additions to our Machine Shop in Cordova, which before April the first will be complete, and comprise the fol- jj
lowing new equipment: One 18-inch Monarch Lathe, 16-foot bed; one 13-inch South Bend Gap Bed Lathe; one Wilmarth & Morman Universal |
Grinding Machine; a Vulcan 60-ton Hydraulic Press; one Buffalo Boiler Plate Slitting Shear; a Buffalo 4-inch Furnace; one Oster Pipe and Bolt- |
Threading Machine; a Becker-Brainard Milling Machine, 20x80-inch table; one Baker Key Seater; two Buffalo Upright - Geared Drilling and 1
Reamine Machines; a Universal Wood-Working Machine, and many, other electric and universal hand machines, including an Ox-Weld Acety- I
lene Welder and Detroit Electric Hardening Furnace. , I
i I
HARMON MACHINERY COMPANY, INC.
CORDOVA. ALASKA I