, The Cordova Daily Times
VOLUME TWO. NUMBER 430. COKDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 3, 1916. PRICE TEN CENTS.
H i. . '•
PETITION TO THE
PRESIDENT SENT
’ TO THE SENATE
>
WASHINGTON, May 2.—The jietition of the Cordova
Chamber of Commerce, sent to President Wilson, praying the
government to construct a branch line from Mile 29, on the
Copper River Northwestern railway, to the Bering liver coal
fields, was today submitted to the United States Senate and
referred to the committee on territories, which will hold a
hearing on the matter May 5.
The brief is an elaborate one, and insists that the govern
ment lias practical}- prohibited the construction of railroads in
Alaska by private individuals, pointing out that it is unjust
for Uncle Sam to build up one community at the expense of
another.
“The truth is,” says the petition, “the Bering coal field
has long been tin* subject of political controversy. The most
astounding lies have been invented about it and retailed to the
public for political purposes. The Ballinger-Pinchot quarrel
raged about it. The enemies of the Taft administration used
it freely as a weapon of attack in the Cunningham coal cases,
and the Controller Bay incident. Its use for such purposes
ought to have passed. The time seems to have come when it
should be put to its natural uses.”
The petition points out that the Bering river field, in which
e#coal is said to be just as good as that in any other field, is
nearest to the markets of the Pacific Coast, and that this coal,
as well as the oil from the same district, can be made available
by the construction of fifty miles of road. The coal from this
field is absolutely essential to the proper development of the
copper mining region, it is urged.
The government has gone to great expense in making pro
vision for the leasing of coal lands in the Bering river field, but
it Mws made no provision for hauling the coal. The distance
fr4L the Bering river field to Cordova is sixty-eight miles,
while from the Matanuska field, to which the government is
building its road to Seward, is 185 miles, and the distance from
the Nenana field to Fairbanks is 104 miles.
The cost for the first road is estimated at $1,000,000; the
cost for the Matanuska line is estimated at $7,(MM),000, and the
Nenana—Fairbanks road at $2,000,(MM). These estimates are
based on the supposition that the government will not deliber
ately parallel the tracks of an already existing road—the Cop
per River & Northwestern—for a distance of twenty-nine miles,
litji would enter into a traffic arrangement with it under the
interstate commerce laws. The connection could be built in
from three to six months, while three years will be consumed in
building either of the roads on which the government is now
working. Bering river coal, according to government engi
Cjneers, can be landed at Cordova for $1.42 a ton, while the Mata
nuska coal will cost $2,28 a tori.
CREW SENT TO COMMENCE
WORK ON FISH TRAP
The Carlisle Packing Company’s
cannery tender Cordova, with a pile
driver in tow, sailed this morning for
Government Itock, to begin construe
tion of a flshtrap. The piledriver crew
of eight men were taken aboard the
Cordova.
(Ate trap is already constructed for
tjjjrwtnpany. and one more will be
li before llie salmon run arrives,
^rhese trips, with the fish brought in
by the purse seiners, is expected to
keep the plant supplied during the
season.
Nels Hawkinsen, manager of the
company, is now superintending the
construction of a vesel unique in can-1
fwork. The boat will be driven
Or six-cylinder hydroplane motor
shed to an air propeller, and is j
expected to make better than Hi knots. I
When light the craft will draw but;
three inches, and will have a capacity I
of five tons.
•-:o:
George Blouen, of Chitina, is in the
city en route to Matanuska to look
over the new town which is springing
-up at that point. He has leased his
Intel at Chitina, but will return to
Cordova If the new town is not up to
bis expectations.
ANCHORAGE TO HAVE NEW
BANKING INSTITUTION
Dr. Julius T. Westerman, of Skag
way, and John Kennedy, are passen -
gers on the steamship Alameda, bound
tor Anchorage, where they will open
a branch of the Bank of Alaska, a cor
poration capitalized at $50,000, with
banks at Skagway and Wrangell.
Dr. Westerman is named in the list
of officers as vice-president, and Ken
nedy as assistant cashier. Andrew
Stevenson, of Skagway. is president of
the corporation. P. H. Ganty and W.
H. Henson, also of Skagway, are
named in the list of stockholders,
which includes many eastern men.
FEAR GREEK STEAMER
AND CREW ARE LOST.
\THENS, May 2. — The Greek
steamship Georgius, which sailed from
New vork two months ago, laden with
grain, has not since been reported, and
it is now feared she has been lost
with all hands. She carried a crew
of 25, and together with her cargo was
valued at $600,000.
-'—to:-•
.1. E. Barrett was a returning pas- >
senger on the Alameda, and will leave'
for McCarthy ou one of the next
trains.
I
PARIS, May 2. — The French army
is making steady gains in counter at
tacks now being hurled at the German
lines in front of Verdun, according to
the official communique issued by the
government today.
In a fierce attack last night on Ger
man positions southeast of Fort Doua
mont, the French captured the first
line trenches for a distance of 500
meters, and took 100 prisoners. In
the attacks on the north slope of
Headman's hill Saturday and Sunday,
the French claim to have taken the
German trenches over a front of 1,000
meters to a depth of from 300 to 000
meters.
French military men claim the Ger
man attack on Verdun Is no more to
be feared, and that it will be only a
few weeks until the allies have re
gained all the ground taken by the
Germans at such tremendous cost.
GERMANS DENY FRENCH GAINS.
BERLIN, May 2. — French attacks
on the Verdun front east of the Meuse
were repulsed with heavy losses after
hours of fighting at close quarters,
according to an official statement of
the government today. Claims of the
French gains are denied.
MORE RUSSIANS IN FRANCE.
MARSEILLES, May 2. — Another
contingent of Russian soldiers arrived
here today. This is the third body
of troops to land In France since the
beginning of the German attack on
Verdun. The vessels carrying the
troops were convoyed by British
warships. The number of sol
diers and the place of embarkation
are withheld from the public.
ADMIRAL FISKE ASSAILS
DANIELS IN LETTED
WASHINGTON, May 2. — Rear Ad
miral Flske today wrote a letter to the
senate, in which he vigorously as
sailed Secretary Daniels.
Fiske denies Daniels’ statement that
Fiske’s letter, in which the latter
warned the American people of the
necessity for preparedness, was not
received by the secretary.
Fiske’s letter, which was very point
ed in its reflections on Daniels, has
created a sensation in official circles.
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JAFFE COMPANY PLEADS
GUILTY AND IS FINED.
A telegram received from Valdez
yesterday afternoon contained tha in-j
formation that the Jaffe Company,!
of Seattle, plead guilty in the dis-J
trict court to the charge of shipping'
liquor to Chitina, which was not pro-1
perly marked, and Judge Brown fined
the firm for the offense.
AGRICULTURAL BILL
IS PASSED BY HOUSE]
WASHINGTON, May 2.—The house
today passed the agricultural bill, car
rying an appropriation of $24,500,000.
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PENNSYLVANIA STEEL
MUST GO IT ALONE.
_
TRENTON, May 2. — The federal!
;onrt today enjoined the Pennsylvania j
Steel Company from liquidating, oni
I he grounds that it was planning to
icll out to the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany for $2,000,000.
LONDON, May 2. — In a speech be
fore tbe House of Commons today,
I'remler Asquith said that tomorrow a
bill will be introduced providing for
general immediate conscription, thus
placing the whole of the military
strength of the Umpire at the disposal
of the government.
The proposal of the government to
go to such extreme measures so soon
after the passage of the first conscrip
tion act. which provides for the con
scription of only unmarried men, pro
tided a certain number was raised,
came as a surprise, and strong oppo
sition is expected from the labor
unions.
In his statement to the house, As
j quitlr gave as his reason for the in
troduction of the biil at this time, not
the immediate necessity for more
troops, but the desire to settle with
one bill the whole conscription pro
Idem.
The total military effort of the Brit
ish empire to date, according to fig
ures furnished by the premier, exceeds
.‘.000,000 men, not including the troops
of India, but including the contingents
from the dominions. The troops un
organized into efghtythrOe divisions.
PITTSBURG, May 2. — Pour men
were killed and thirty-five wounded,
four of whom may die, today when a
mob composed of striking machinists
attacked the Edgar Thompson steel
works at Bfaddock.
The mob, which was composed al
most entirely of foreigners, many of
whom were under the influence of
liquor, was driven back from the
gate leading to the yards Iu the
first attempt to storm the plant, by
deputies who used only their clubs.
Soon after, the mob, enraged at its i
first repulse, charged again, armed
with pickhandles and iron bars, at
tacked with determination, and the de
puties guarding the works, opened .
fire upon them with revolvers.
Before attacking the Thompson
plant, the mob had terrorized the1]
manufacturing section of Turtle Creek
and Monongahela valleys, attacking
numerous factories, driving out, the
workers and smashing all windows.
Rioting also Is reported by strik
ing machinists at McKees Rocks.
COL. RICHARDSON SAYS ROAD
APPROPRIATIONS SURE TO PASS
VALDEZ, April 20. — Letters re- '•
ceived from Col. Richardson say the 1
outlook for securing the appropria 1
tion of $650,000 for the construction 1
and repair of roads and trails in Alas- ■
ka is very bright. The appropria
tion has the approval of the secretary 1
of war, and Col. Richardson is confi- 1
dent the measure will pass. i
-:o:- 1
John Ciillis, who has been In charge '
of tlie naval wireless station at Whit
shed for the past two years, accom- t
panted by his wife, left lust night for ’
ntare Island, California, where he ex- i
pects to be located. During their stay
in Cordova Mr. and Mrs. Gillls made
many friends, wh owill regret to learn '<
of their departure from this city. . i
. _ l
KL PASO, May 2. — Generals Scott
and Funaton this afternoon resumed
the conference with Gen. Obregon,
who represents the Mexican govern
ment, and Is asking the withdrawal
of American troops.
Scott and Funston have signified
their desire for co-operation between
Carranza and the American troops,
looking to the rapture of Villa, but
will not even discus the proposed
withdraWal of the American soldiers
until tile bandit is either dead or cap
tured.
Obregon, ii is said by close observ
ers, lias orders to make a direct de
mand for the withdrawal of tile Ameri
can troops, but is one of the few men
in Mexico who realizes the futility of
such a course. Unless something hap
pens to clear the way for a solution,
a tieadlock in the negotiations, it is
said, is certain.
—-:o:-———
ALAMEDA SAILS FOR WEST.
WITH FULL LIST
Four hundred and twenty-five pas
sengers. most of whom are bound for
Anchorage, were aboard the steamship
Alameda, of the Alaska Steamship Co.,
Captain F. \V. (’linger, when she ar
rived at Cordova at noon yesterday.
Joe Large, purser, says that at Ju
leau more than fifty applications for
lickets through to Anchorage wePe re
’used on account of lack of accommo
latiou.
The following* passengers were for
Cordova: Mrs. (’. A. Histine, C. Mit
•hell, A. Beck and wife. F. Young, C.
L. Denting, Mrs. E. Brady, Mrs. M. E.
fohnson, J. E. Barrett. Mrs. M. A. Sny
ier, Mrs. P. A. Lamotte, Phillip La
notte, Mrs. J. N. Kagaroff, Fred GlaS
jrenner, A. C. Fisher. E. A. Fisher, J.
H. Gibson, It. Scott, Mrs. P. E. Mar
diall, Mrs. B. F. Marshall, J. ('. Wal
ter, Miss M. Burroughs, L. Dejongh.
The steamer Alaska sailed for Se
ittle at 8 o’clock last night, after hav
ng loaded 1,500 tons Kennecott
•opper ore for the Tacoma smelter
ind 500 cases of tlie Lighthouse Pack
ng Company’s clams. The outgoing
lassengers were John Gillis and wife,
’harles 1. Range. Lee Butler and w ife,
iohn Heffernan, Nels Hansen, Henry
’itz and Curly Welsh.
The freighter Latouohe arrived in
lort yesterday morning after discharg
ng 25 boats and a quantity of lum
>er for the Clarke-Graham cannerv,
vent to Orca, where 1,200 tons of
reight were consigned to the cannery
here.
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i/ALDEZ WILL BE WET AT
LEAST ONE MORE YEAR.
VALDEZ. April 30. — The enumer
itors appointed by the commissioner
o take a census of the town on the
piestion of the sale of liquor in Valdez,
•ompleted their work this afternoon
ind rendered their report to the court.
Four hundred and ninety persons
•xpressed their choice on the question.
)f these 330 persons were in favor of
[ranting liquor licenses; lOfi expressed
heir disapproval and 54 did not care
rhether or not licenses were granted.
As tnose without choice in the mat- j
er are counted a sagainst licenses, the ;
ote stands 330 for license to 160 i
igainst. or more than 2 to 1 for ‘‘wet.’’ i
-:o:
Miss M. Burroughs, of Leander, •
California, arrived yesterday on a visit i
o her sister, Miss Cecilia Burroughs.
I
WISH POLICE
; ! IN
IRELAND
BELFAST, May 2. — Rebels today
ambushed a convoy of police in motor
cars in the county Meath, killing ten
and wounding eighteen. It is rumored
the entire party, which planned and
executed the ambuscade, has been
captured, but confirmation is lacking.
DUBLIN, May 2. — Rebels embark
ing for England today to stand trial
for treason, say they assembled Easter
Monday expecting only practice ma
noeuvres. When they arrived at the
meeting places they found arms and
ammunition and were told to hold their
positions until May 2, when foreign
troops would land to help fight the
British.
The story of the Irishmen is credi
ted by officials here, but it is claimed
they were hoodwinked by their lead
ers. as it is pointed out. it is impos
sible lor (lermanv at present to make
any serious attempt to land troops in
Ireland.
The city is quiet today, al thorough
fares being strongly patrolled by gov
ernment troops. It is supposed many
of I he Sinn Feiners w ho escaped cap
ture have hidden their arms and again
joined the peaceful population, but
await ouly a favorable opportunity to
renew the strife.
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PHILIPPINE BILL
DEFEATED IN
WASHINGTON, May 2. — The
house of representatives today de
feated the senate Philippine bill with
the Clark amendment, which provided
for the Independence of the islands
at the end of four years. Instead, the
Jones bill, which allows the Filipinos
a greater measure of self government,
was substituted.
Speakers in opposition to the bill
asserted that if the Filipinos were
granted independence in four years
from now, it would mean that civil
war would be raging on the islands in
less than one year later, and that un
less we wished to see them fall into
the hands of Japan, it would be up to
us to wage another war to again
pacify them.
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CONCRETE THEATRE BUILDING
FOR ANCHORAGE
('apt. A. E. bathrop returned yes
terday from a business trip to Se
nile. While there he let the contract
for the erection of a two story con
crete building at Anchorage, to be
ised as a theatre. It will have a seat
ing capacity of 800. and the cement
md furnishings for the new show shop
ire coming north on the Admiral
Kvans.
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l
CLAIRVOYANTS BARRED.
BERLIN. May 1. — The military au
horities haVe placed a ban on fortune
elliug. It appears that women and
>irls with husbands and sweethearts
it the front have been mulcted by
■rystal gazers, palmists and card
■carters who claimed to be able to tell
vhen the war would ond, whether men
vould be killed, lose an arm or a leg,
;ain the Iron Cross or suffer other
rtes.