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Cordova Daily Times
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VOlTv. "noT73 = CORDOVA, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1920 PRICE TEN CENTS
•«
COAL AND OIL LEASING BILL
- SIGNED TOD AY BY PRESIDENT
■ CAUSES FLURRY IN CORDOVA
u
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—President Wilson to
4 day signed the bill providing for the
leasing of coal and oil lands of the
public domain.
Authority for the administration of
the new law is placed with the secre
tary of the interior. On oil lands the
leasing rate is to be 5 per cent of the
oil produced. This may be demanded
in <^I or cash, as the government may
elect. For this year, at least, the gov
ernment will probably collect royalties
in oil.
In Wyoming and California the naval
oil reserves are not made available for
public leasing under the bill, unless
the President so prescribes.
The United States Geological Sur
vey estimates that under the terms
of the new law more than 6,700,000
acres of oil lands are opened to lease.
At noon today a “flash” was re
ceived by the Daily Times from the
Associated Press announcing that
President Wilson had signed the coal
and oil land-leasing bill, throwing open
$p entry thousands of acres of coal and |
oil lands in the United States proper j
and many thousand of acres of oil j
lands in Alaska. These lands had been ;
tied up and withheld from develop
m e'ilt for many years.
As a result of this piece of needed
legislation a new ’ era is expected to
be inaugurated in Alaska, and Cor
dova, more than any other city of
the territory, should be benefited
greatly. This city is the natural gate
way to the known oil fields of the
Katalla and Yakataga region, access !
to which at present is only possible J
" “ "—
by means of small boats to Katalla
and by a dubious trail from the line
of the Copper River & Northwestern
railway at Mile 39. With the develop
ment of the coal and oil fields a rail
road is expected to be built to connect
with the present line.
While the known oil fields to the
eastward of Cordova are extensive,
and contain many thousands of acres
which are available for lease under
the new act, they by no means com
prise the whole of Alaska’s prospec-s
tive wealth in this great natural re
source. According to the opinion of
geologists, which is borne out by nat- j
ural indications, the whole coast of
Alaska from Cape Spencer to Cook
inlet and beyond, is an encouraging
field for oil prospectors. But so far
the only developed wells are those,
in the Katalla field.
As soon as the news of the signing '
of the bill was received here it was
communicated to A. J. MacConnell of
the Alaska Public Utilities, who took
occasion to inform the denizens of the
city of the welcome news by three
prolonged blasts from the siren onj
the Utilities building. Many members
of the fire department thought an
alarm of fire was being sounded and
rushed for their stations, but were
soon disabused of the error. It being
the noon hour, no interruption to
business was occasioned, and the good
news was eagerly discussed on the
streets.
An observing citizen who had not |
yet heard the news was heard to re-;
mark that everyone he had met on
the street seemed for some reason to
be in good humor, which was quite
true.
RUM REBELLION
.1 IRON REGION
BEING PROBED
i
IRON RIVER, Mich., Feb. 25 (by As
sociated Press).—Major A. V. Dalrym
ple, prohibition enforcement officer,
and his assistants have arrived here
to elear up the alleged violations of
^ the prohibition law. They have taken
no action as yet, and there is no ex
citement.
Will Probe Mystery
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—The bureau of internal
revenue will institute an investigation
into the rumored “rum rebellion” in
Michigan.
SEATTLE BANK
fcETS JUDGMENT
FOR LARGE SUM
*
—-• ■ -
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—The circuit court of
appeals yesterday handed down a de
cision upholding the superior court of
King county, Washington, in ordering
* the receiver of the insolvent Washing
ton-Alaska Bank of Fairbanks to pay
to the Dexter Horton National Bank
of Seattle a balance of more than
$27,000, plus interest, remaining from
foreclosure proceedings instituted by
the Seattle bank.
. -v
FILES CHARGES
OF COERCION
WITHCONGRESS
CHICAGO, Peb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—In a statement mailed to
members of congress, P. F. Richard
son, president of the American Fed
eration of Railway Workers, an inde
pendent organization, charges that of
ficers of the railroad administration
with intimidation, saying they con
spired with the American Federation
of Labor to force members of the craft
into the American Federation through
a form of conscription.
The name of Director Hines of the
railroad administration was included
in the charges, which declared that
threats to use force and violence had
been made.
URGES OKLAHOMANS
TO RATIFY SUFFRAGE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—President Wilson has
sent a communication to the Okla
homa legislature requesting the rati
fication by that body of the woman
suffrage amendment to the federal
constitution.
LONDON, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—A Moscow wireless message
says that Rostov, on the Don, has been
retaken by the “reds.”
FEDERATION OF LABOR
WANTS MEMBERS TO
MIX UP IN POLITICS
M ASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—The American Federa
tion of Labor’s political committee has
requested central labor unions through
out the country to meet on March 28
to select committees of five to conduct
community labor campaigns for the
purpose of electing to office those
friendly to labor and of defeating their
enemies.
UNIVERSAL TRAINING
IS OMITTED FROM
COMMITTEE REPORT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—The house military
affairs committee h^is accepted the
program of the Republicans, and will
omit the universal military training
provision from the army reorganiza
tion bill. s
The committee reported the bill fa
vorably, without recommendations re
garding military training.
I
NEW YORKER APPOINTED TO FILL
POST OF SECRETARY OF STATE
RECENTLY VACATED BY LANSING
-_*_ .
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—President Wilson to
day announced the selection of Bain
bridge Colby of New York to succeed
Robert Lansing as secretary of state.
The selection of Mr. Colby came as
a surprise, as many thought that As
sistant Secretary of State Polk would
be named for the position.
Mr. Colby had an interview with the
President today, and later said to the
newspaper men:
“The President impressed me with
the great confidence he reposed in me,
and I hope I shall not prove inade
quate to these great duties.”
It is expected that Assistant Secre
tary Polk will resign on account of
his health.
Bainbridge Colby, who formerly was
a member of the United States Ship
ping Board, and is 51 years of age. He
was one of the leaders of the Roose
velt Progressive wings of the Repub
lican party, and supported Woodrow
Wilson for President in 1916 when
Roosevelt supported Hughes.
LIQUOR SALES
ON COASTWISE
SHIPSSTOPPED
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25 (by As
sociated Press).—Collector of Customs
Davis announces that liquor may not
be sold on strictly coastwise vessels
plying between coast points, regard
less of whether or not they are outside
the three-mile limit.
It is reported that liquor is being
sold on boats plying between Portland
and San Francisco while at sea.
PLANS FLIGHT
FROM SEATTLE
TO SAN DIEGO
SEATTLE, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—Major Smith, an army flyer
who arrived here on Friday last from
the South, is planning to attempt a
one-day flight from Seattle to San Di
ego, a distance of twelve hundred
miles, on Friday or Saturday next.
The aviator plans to stop at Eugene,
Red Bluff, San Francisco and Fresno,
and expects to average more than one
I
hundred miles an hour.
MINISTER OF
HANCEQUITS
mm CLOUD
BERLIN, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—Mathias Erzberger, minister
of finance, resigned yesterday.
The resignation of the cabinet min
ister came as the climax to sensational
testimony in a libel suit‘against Carl
Heafferich, formerly minister of the
treasury, which left no alternative ex
cept resignation.
The testimony was to the effect that
Erzberger smuggled private funds into
Switzerland.
PRINCE ALEXANDER
AND PREMIER ARE
HURT BY ASSASSINS
LONDON, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—An attempt to assassinate
Prince Regent Alexander of Serbia
and Premier Protlich, in which both
were wounded, is reported from Bel
grade.
i
ATTEMPTS TO
BURNSCHOOL
-KILLS OWNER
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 (by Asso
ciated Press).—Miss Florence Housel,
aged 50, owner of Huntington Hall, a
school for girls, at Pasadena, was shot
and killed last night in her room by
an assailant who attempted to set
fire to the school by burning excelsior
in the kitchen. The father of Miss
Housel, aged 80, extinguished the fire
and found the body of his daughter.
Later officers found the body of W.
H. Bowen, husband of the housekeeper
of the school, in one of the class
rooms. It is believed that Bowen
killed the woman and then committed
suicide.
FISH QUOTATIONS
SEATTLE, Feb. 25.—Prices for fish
at noon yesterday were as follows:
Halibut, 12c; sablefish, 5c; red and
ling cod, 4c.
TROOPS OF REGULAR ARMY ARE
SENT TO SCENE OF MURDER TRIAL
TO AVERT POSSIBILE TROUBLE
MONTESANO, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—Acting on the request of
Prosecuting Attorney Allen', Governor
Hart has appealed to General Hunter
i
Liggett, commander of the Western
department, that regular army troops
be sent to Montesano.
Mr. Allen said the request was made
to prevent the increasing drift of rad
icals, coupled with vague threats
which had reached his ears. The ac
tion was dictated, he said, by a desire
to secure a fair trial and to protect
the interests of both the defense and
the prosecution. No evidence of
trouble had been noticed, he said, and
he had reason to believe that the ru
mors of trouble were idle and unfound
ed, but he was taking the proper steps
to forestall the possibility of trouble.
He said also that the presence of
the troops would quiet the rumors of
a possible jail delivery.
Vanderveer, attorney for the de
fendants, said the prosecution’s re
quest for troops was propaganda. He
said there was no need for troops and
there was no sign of trouble.
Troops Authorized
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25 (by As
sociated Press).—General Liggett has
authorized federal troops to be sent
from Camp Lewis, at Tacoma, to Mon
tesano. He said the number would be
left to the judgment of the camp com
mander.
For Use Only if Required
SEATTLE, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—Speaking over the telephone
from Olympia yesterday, Governor
Hart said the troops would not be
sent to Montesano until the situation
warranted it. He said he would ask
the commander at Camp Lewis to send
them when required.
Prepared for Any Emergency
TACOMA, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—A detachment of federal
troops will leave Camp Lewis on a
special train for Montesano. Major
Arthur Casey, the commanding offi
cer, refused to state the size of the
detachment.
x
The men will be equipped with ball
ammunition, and significance is at
tached to the fact that a medical de
tachment, with medical supplies, will
accompany the troops.
Troops with riot experience have
been selected for the trip.
The troops are being dispatched at
the request of Prosecuting Allen, who
fears that outside “wobblies” may at
tempt to rescue the prisoners charged
with the Centralia murders.
Trial Is Resumed
MONTESANO, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—James A. Ball, the thir
teenth juror, has been seated in place
of Juror Parr, who is ill. The trial
of the men charged with the Armistice
day murders was resumed this morn
ing.
Barnett, one of the defendants, was
recalled to the stand and testified re
garding his movements on the day of
the shooting. He said he was in the
hotel lobby, and that he had no time
to hide his rifle under a billboard half
a mile from town, as the state charged.
S. A. Hand, who walked down the
street with Barnett after the shooting,
said Barnett appeared to be calm, as
if he had taken no part in the shoot
ing.
FIGHTERS AND
WRESTLERS IN
GOOD EVENTS
_
SEATTLE, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—Billy Spade of San Francisco
fought Morrie Lux of Kansas City to
a draw here last night.
Alex Trambitas of Portland was
awarded a decision over Buck Holly
of San Francisco at Los Angeles.
Frankie Denny of Seattle won a de
cision over Jack Robinson at San Fran
cisco.
Earl Craddock won a wrestling bout
at Sioux City, Iowa, in two straight
falls from Gus Karavaris.
AMERICAN POSITION
ON ADRIATIC QUESTION
FORWARDED TO ALLIES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—President Wilson’s an
swer to the note of the allied powers
on the Adriatic question has been for
warded.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—In a speech here last night
Senator Poindexter of Washington de
clared that President Wilson was am
bitious to become the leader of a
league of nations with the constitu-'
tion of a world republic.
EIGHT PRIVATE
YACHTS BURN
I SHIPYARDS
NEW YORK. Feb. 25 (by Associated
Press).—Fire last night burned eight
private yachts and three buildings in ^
the Robert Jacobs shipyards on City !
island.
For a time the fire threatened Sir
Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock IV, chal
lenger for the America’s cup, and the
Vanity, which is a candidate for the
honor of defending the cup. ,
The loss is estimated at a million
dollars. A change in the wind saved
the Shamrock and Vanity.
FARMERS WANT 1
RAILWAY BILL'
TO BE VETOED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (by Associ
ated Press).—George Hampton, man
aging director of the Farmers’ Na
tional Council, has asked President
Wilson to veto the railroad bill on the
grounds of public policy.
A delegation of farmers will call on
the President tomorrow and explain
the opposition of the organization
more fully.