The Cordova Daily Times
VOLUME ONE. NUMBER 291. CORDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1915. PRICE TEN CENTS.
CHAIRMAN EDES
Chairman W. C. Edes. of the Alas
ka Engineering Commission arrived
in Cordova this afternoon on the
steamer Evans. He is on his way to
Washington to confer with Secretary
of Interior Lane as to the govern
ments plans for railroad construction
in Alaska next year, and he is very
k^optomistic in reference to securing
the needed appropriation for pushing
this work to completion.
“There will be great activity all
along the line next year,” said Chair
man Edes. "There is no reason to
believh that congress will not grant
the appropriation asked for by Secre
tary Lane for the work ($12,000,000)
which will insure immediate progress.
The zone of construction will extend
from Seward well up toward Broad
Pass. It is our intention to put the
k Alaska Northern in shape for the use
^ of standard equipment. There will
be construction work along Turnagatn
arm and north from Matanuska.
“To Insure the success of the com
mission’s efforts and also those of
Secretary Lane in behalf of Alaskan
development, the united support of
Alaskans is desired. Of course this
project has some enemies of the out
side. We knew this when we started,
but it is my opinion that efforts to
discredit it will not get very rar, pro
vided the secretary is given the prop
er support by those tp whom the de
velopment of Alaska means most.”
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MURDER MPT.
» •
\
JUNEAU, Nov. 17—Edward Krause
of Petersburg, who was arrested in
Seattle yesterday charged with the
kidnapping of William Christie, is
also under suspicion of having mur
dered Captain James O. Plunkett of
Juneau. The circumstances sur
rounding the disappearance of Chris -
tie tally closely with the facts of the
Plunkett murder and the typewriting
on the faked letters explaining the
abscence of the missing men has been
subjected to examination by experts
and found to be from the same ma
chine. The authorities propose to
make a rigid investigtion and if evi
dence can be secured connecting
Krause with the killing of Plunkett
he will be indicted for the crime.
FUNKS WANTS RIGGS
STATIONED IN INTERIOR
FAIRBANKS, Nov. 16—The Com-|
mercial Club held a special meeting ^
recently and passed resolutions ask-^
ing Secretary Lane of the interior|
department to keep Thomas Riggs as :
the representative of the railroad en-1
gineering commission at this end of
the work. Some rumors had been
afloat that the transfer of Riggs to
some other part of the field was in
tended and the people have decided
to do all in their power to have him
retained here.
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Vags Sent Up for Three Months.
George Car£o and Thomas Cathcart
were arrested on the charge of va
grancy and in a hearing before United
States Commissioner Medley found
guilty and sentenced to each serve
months in jail. j
Special to The Times By Associated Press.
L<>\1)<>.\\ Xov. 17—The Bulgarians have kept up their
desperate attacks along the whole line in southern Serbia and
their capture of Kruseso, six miles west of I'rilip is announced.
The French and British troops are in imminent danger for if
the Serbian* further west and north should be outflanked the
allied troops would have to retreat still further. The key of
the situation is the Brabuna Pass, which is held solely by
Serbians, and where the Bulgarians have directed their strong
est forces. The Serbians at last reports were in dire straits
and it was feared that they would be compelled to abandon
theii* positions. If is believed that they have already done so far
no news has been received today concerning the fighting there.
j!f the Bulgarians force their way through the Brahuna Pas
the road to Monastic will be open before them.
PARIS, Xov. 17—Premier Herbert Asquith, Minister o
Munitions Lloyd-George and Balfour arrived here today t<
hold an important conference with the French cabinet. Tin
ministers hope to effect better working relations with Franc*
| before they return home, especially rgarding the operations o
jtho various armies holding the line in northern France.
BERLIN, Xov. 17—Twelve thousand Arabs have joine*
the British forces who are operating in Mesopotamia. Tin
British are now within a few miles of Bagdad.
DEMOCRATS SAY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY MOST GO
At a meeting of the Democratic Club, held last night at j
the City Hall, resolutions were adopted asking for the removal J
of William N. Spence as United States District Attorney for
the Third judicial division of Alaska. He is charged with
being lukewarm to the Democratic organization when not
opposing it; with supporting Wickersham as Delegate at the
leas election; is incompetent and a meddler in affairs which
do not concern his office; has cast discredit upon the Demo-;
cratic party since coming to Alaska.
It is further charged that Spence has brought ridicule j
upon the dignity of his office by his constant and unremitting,
efforts to fill every available salaried, place with a relative
whenever possible, apparently considering the degree of re
lationship more of a qualification that fitness. His carpet
bagging methods are denounced and a strong appeal made tor
the appointment of Alaskan Democrat to his office.
The Democratic Clubs at Seward and Valdez have sent
an appeal to Washington, urging the removal of Spence, as hej
lias failed to identify himself with the Democratic party in j
Alaska, but has associated with the bitterest opponents of the
organization, and is also unfitted for the position. Some of j
those opposed to him have compiled a list of his relatives who
have secured positions intimating, no doubt, that they secured I
them through his influence os District Attorney. 1 he follow
ing list has been supplied the Seward Gateway which is pub
lished merely as a matter of information on a question which
is now causing much talk:
W. N. SPENCE—Appointed United District Attorney for|
the Third Division, Territory of Alaska from Mitchel County
Second Congresional District, State of Georgia. Date of ap
pointment, March -J7th, 1914. Date of confirmation, Date o
taking office May 1st, 15*14.
HILLARD G. RENNET, NEPHEW-Served as clerk b
the United States Attorney at \ aldez from August, 15*14-, b
May 18th, 15*15,' salary $1,800 per annum.
RUTH SPENCE, DAUGHTER—Served as clerk to th
United States attorney at Valdez from May 151th, 15*15, b
August lt5h, 15*15, salary $1,800 per annum.
. WILLIAM R. BENNETT. NEPHEW —Served as clerk t
the United States attorney at Valdez from August 10. 15*15 am
is still serving, salary $1,800 per annum.
TOY SPENCE, DAUGHTER—Teacher in Valdez school
for periods (pr. years) 15*14, 1915 and 1910, salary $100 pe
month.
RUTH SPENCE, DAUGHTER—Teacher at Unga govern
ment school for year 15*15-10, salary $175 pier month.
MISS RENNET, NIECE—Pnderstood appointed to teacl
school at Knik or Anchorage as soon as she returns from Ungi
in November. Salary not known.
BENNET SPENCE, SON—Worked with the Railroa<
Commission during the summer of 1915 with one of the sur
vey parties. Salary not known.
HILLARD G. SPENCE, NEPHEW—Worked in the office
r*fthe Railroad Commission at Seward and Anchorage for :
short time, salary not known. He went with the Floating cour
ns a bailiff and did not receive much compensation.
IT3
P
ii
With an utter disregard for the public Postal Inspector
Neil, upon his recent visit to Alaska, laid down some new rules,
the enforcement of which would have worked a hardship, as
well as a great inconvenience, upon the patrons of the Cordova
office and the local postmaster refused to put them into effect.
This government “gum-shoe” man insisted that no business
be transacted at the postoffice after office hours, from 8 a. m. to
5 ]>. m.; that no stamps shall be sold or money orders written or
paid, and no registered letters be given out or received' after
regular office- hours. The order was even more sweeping and
included the distribution of mail from the boats and trains,
which lie concluded was unnecessary, if not received before
the office closed.
It was pointed out that such a radical change from the
system of accommodating th epublic at all hours would be re
sented by the patrons, and so long as the employes were willing
to do this extra work gratis surely there could be no objections
on the part of the government. But nothing doing with His
Highness. Let the public kick, that’s all the good it would d(
them. If any protests were sent to the Department they wouh
be throwiHnto the waste basket, or words to that effect. Aik
this is the man whose parsimonious recommedations is reduc
ing the clerical force and cutting the salaries of those remain
ing to a minimum were taken at their face value in Washing
ton.
While no specific order was issued in Cordova, by Xeil
against the posting of bulletins or notices in the postoffices, Ik
mumbled his disapproval of this practice, but not within tin
hearing of the postmatec. At Seward, however, he asserted his
authority, and tlutfi some, bv making a clean sweep of the walls
He personally tore down all the notices, governmental, legal
judicial, municipal, and etc. Among the many documents des
troVed' was President Wilson’s proclamation calling on Ameri
cans to be neutral in regard to the war in Europe, which was
printed in four languages. ___
SPECIAL SHOW AT EMPRESS TONIGHT
HEADQUARTERS
ATCAPTAL
WASHINGTON. Nov. 17—The win
ter headquarters of the Alaska En
gineering Commission will be estab
lished in this city with Chairman
| C. Edes of the Commission in charge
' j assisted by Thos. Riggs, .Tr. The
* third member of the commission.
■ Lieutenant Mears. will remain in
[’ Anchorage for the winter. Both Edes
and Riggs will be called into consul
| tation with Secretary Lane concern
| i Ing the government's future plans for
the Alaska railroad. It is said that
the secretary will ask Congress for an
appropriation of eight million for tha
work of the commission next year,
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IIPR SELLERS
AT
i '■■■■■ —
p j Advices were received by the Cni
j ted States marshal's office at Valdez
from Anchorage, that two women and
^ five men had been gather'd in by the
^ authorities for selling liquor without
licenses. The women were Mrs.
Crawford and Mrs. Dunlap, and Mur
ray. Eckert. Bateman. Stamey and
1 Lloyd were the men. All seven en
tered pleas of guilty but have not re
, ceived sentences. The authorities
j 1 are determined to stamp out the ob
noxious traffic in liquor in the new
' government town and it is announced
j that the land office agent has already ,,
! started action against those convicted
for cancellation of their lots purchas
' | ed at the Bale of lots last sumnit r.
The question of the cancellation of
1 the land holdings of those convicted
I j for selling liquor without license!. or
j otherwise breaking the law, will bo
| j passed upon by the Juneau Land otfi
i ce until such time as the Anchorage
land goes t6 patent, when violators of
the law will be tried before the dis
trict court as in any incorporated
1 town or other portion of the territory,
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IJUNEAU EMPIRE TO
HAVE BUILDING OE OWN
JUNEAU, Nov. 17—The Juneau
Daily Empire is to have a new build
ing erected to house its rapidly grow
( ing plant, and the structure will he
built for the paper by R M. Behrends.
The constantly increasing circulation
and advertising of the Empire has
made this step necessary and the
management is determined to make
; the paper equal to the demands of
the present and future prosperity of
the capital. The paper is now entiro
; j ly controlled by John W. Troy, its
| editor aifd manager.
CABLE IS AGAIN PELUK
AND SERVICE INTERRUPTED
The government cable is again out
of commission, the break ocurring be
tween Sitka and Seattle. Just how
serious it is or as to the whereabouts
of the cable ship Burnside no informa
tion is obtainable, consequently it is
Impossible to say how long the lino
will be down. In order to bo
without telegraphic new he Daily
Times lias wired Kairban >> furnish
us with its service, which is receU ed
over the Dominion line.