The Cordova Times
VOLUME III. NUMBER 9. CORDOVA, ALASKA, MONDAY ~ “
-: : PRICE TEN CENTS.
“ BLOCKADE ON
SAY ALLIES
4 . . —
LONDON, Dec. 10.—The sinking of four more vessels has
been reported here. They are the Danish steamship Sigurd and
British steamers Averistan, Couch and Tanfield.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 10.—It is officially announced that the
Russian troops on the Roumanian front had captured two hun
died siege guns and five hundred prisoners. The Roumanians
continue to retire to the province of Wallachia. The Russian
troops in northern Roumania are also retiring.
BERLIN, Dec. 10.—A police state council is to be estab
lished in Polish territory, occupied bv the Teutons, to remain in
office until the elections have been held and a permanent ad
ministration formed. The council will reach decisions regard
ing the reconstruction of the country and the levying of taxes,
subject to the approval of the military authorities.
PARIS, Dec. 10.—The French government has decided to
prohibit the importation of print paper.
THE HAG PE, Dec. 10. German Socialist leaders are at
tending a meeting here with the Belgian minister of munitions,
and will attempt to stop the exportation of Belgian laborers to
Germany.
BERLIN, Dec. 10.—Germany has sent its answer to the
American government regarding the sinking of the steamer
Seaberk by a submarine, but the contents will not be known
until the note has been l’eceived at Washington.
ID) ID) /T 00
Eo E. UI1IUUI 1UU
Expectations of many people in this
part of Alaska will be more or less
upset by information furnished by
Captain Alears in his statements to
The Post regarding the government
railroad.
Withdrawal of the coal lands from
entry, followed by the policy of the
department of the interior of cancel
' ling all previous locations wherever
any technicality of the law had been
overlooked, effectually tied up the de
velopment of a large section of this
territory for many years. The cause
underlying this has been a subject of
much argument, which is neither here
nor there. The only thing we are
considering is that is was done, and
the development of the territory de
layed.
As a cure for this evil, which so dis
couraged private capital that it was
impossible to secure its aid, the plan
of a federal built railroad was evolved.
For a time this was opposed vigorous
ly by many interests which suddenly
declared in favor of it, and with the
passing of the railroad bill the outlook
for Alaska brightened.
There were some, however, who re
fused to take an optimistic view’ and
said there, would be a fly in the oint
ment.
They were right.
Had the original announcement of
the president designated that the gov
ernment railroad would be built from
a summer terminal at Anchorage to
the coal fields and Fairbanks, with
an additional track to Seward for
traffic during the winter months,
r" there would have been no room for
argument except as to the feasibility
of putting a terminal at Anchovage.
Had the government at that time
stated in plain terms that the mining
of coal in Matanuska would be dis
couraged until such time as the gov
ernment saw fit, the matter would
have at once been at issue and it
would have been easy to find out
what the people of Alaska and the Pa
ciflc coast desire.
Had we understood in the begin
ning that it w’ould be four years b«
tore the line would be completed cod
necting Seward with the coal fields
plans could have been made accord
ingly
But we were not told.
The president’s order designate<]
plainly that the railroad should b«
constructed from Seward to Fairbanks
and said nothing about any termina
facilities at Anchorage, but not many
months passed until something crop
ped up.
Captain Mears on his arrival on th<
inlet said “Summer coal docks will b*
built here.” That was enough ant
over night there was a rush to thai
locality, which resulted In the build
ing of a new town.
The first annual report of the Alas
kan engineering commission Is full
of references to "harbor facilities at
Anchorage.” There is a long report
from the geodetic survey on the pos
sibilities, probabilities and advisabili
ties of Anchorage as a harbor, "except
in so far as its waters may be ob*
structed by ice during a portion of
the year.” And in each reference
there is an attempt to belittle this ice
handicap, or cast doubt on Its extent
by Haying that the reimrts are con
flicting and that there are probably
times during every month in the year
when vessels could not reach Anchor
age.
Thus we see the commission playing
Anchorage ugainst Seward.
This may be denied, but how can
denial be substantiated, for until the
idea of establishing a harbor there
was presented by Mears it was not
considered as anything but a base for
construction.
In the meantime, under the guise
of opening the coal fields, a coal leas
ing plan was devised by the depart
ment of the interior. This coal leas
ing plan is so hedged about by pro
visions that bona fide coal miners will
have nothing to do with it. The
leases applied for have been sought
l by interests which have never had
any experience in mining coal, but
which are taking a flier at it.
Thus we find ourselves at the end
of the second year of construction on
the railroad and the third year since
the bill was passed to build the road
and develop Alaska.
And Captain Mears speaks.
He informs us that the line along
Turnaguin arm cannot be completed
in 1917 and when pressed for details,
leaves us with the impression that
it will be in the fall of 1918—maybe
later.
Asked if the line to Fairbanks is to
be completed before the connecting
link with Seward is ready, he pooh
poohs such a question and comment)!
that it will be 1920 or 1921 before the
road Is completed to Fairbanks.
And his parting advice was ”wh>
stir this matter up?" He declared
that the commission was doing it*
very best, pointed out that the en
gineers employed were from a mom
the big men in the profession; that tt
spend money faster would be to wastt
it; declared that he would not b(
brought Into any controversy betweer
the merits of Seward and Anchorage
The Post does not desire to "stli
up" anything which should not bt
"stirred up,” but considers it a pub
lie duty to at this time lay before th»
people, as it here appears, the ful
situation without prejudice. —Sowar*
PoBt.
POSTAL SAVINGS
Postmaster Scheffler has been noti
fied by the department at Washington
to open a postal savings system at the
Cordova postoffice on January 2. This
decision on the part of the pastmaster
general is no doubt the result of a re
quest made by the local Chamber of
Comerce last spring, that the growth
and future outlook for the town jus
tlfied that body in asking that a pos
tal savings bank be established here.
Any person ten years or over may
open a postal savings account in his
or her own name by depositing one or
more dollars. No person may at the
same time have more than one acount
either at the same office or at differ
ent offices. The account of a married
woman is free from any control or in
terference by her husband. Post office
employees are forbidden to disclose
to any person except the depositor the
amount of any deposits.
A person may deposit any number of
dollars, and at any time, until the bal
ance to his credit amounts to $1,000
exclusive of accumulated interest.
Postal savings deposits are acknow
ledged by postal savings certificates
which are made out in the name of the
depositor and serve as receipts. These
certificates are not negotiable or
transferable. If certificates are lost,
stolen, or destroyed, new certificates
may be issued.
A depositor may at any time with
draw all or any part of his postal sav
ings deposits, upon demand, from the
postoffice where the deposits were
made. Wlthdraw-als may be made in
Iverson, through a representative or
by mail.
Postal savings certificates bear aim
pie interest at the rate of 2 per cent
a year. Interest begins on the first
day of the month following the month
in which the certificate is issued and
becomes due and payable at the explr
ation of each full year from the day
interest begins as long as the princi
pal remains on deposit. No interest
will be paid for a fraction of a year.
Amounts less than $1 may be saved
by purchasing postal savings cards
and postal savings stamps at 10 cents
each. A savings card with nine sav
ings stamps affixed will be accepted
as a deposit of $1 either in opening
a postal savings account or in adding
to an existing account, or it may be
redeemed in cash.
A depositor may exchange the whole
or a part of his deposits for registered
or coupon United States postal sav ings
bonds, bearing 2 1-2 per cent interest,
issued in denominations of $20, $100
and $500. When bonds are issued in
exchange for postal savings deposits
the balance to the credit of the de
positor is reduced accordingly, and he
may make further deposits until his
account reaches $1,000. A circular on
postal savings bonds may be had at
any depository post office.
The First Uank of Cordova has re
ceived a letter from the postmastei
general designating that institution as
the depository for the postal funds.
_a._
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
HEARS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS.
The board of equalization, at Its
meeting Saturday night, was attended
by several merchants and property
owners. Will C’layson asked for a re
duction in his tax assessment, which
he declared was too high; Finkelsteln
& Sapiro, the Northwestern Hardware
Company and a representative of the
Ostrander estate objected to the pro
posed increase in their taxes. The
1 ta>ard holds its final meeting tonight,
and next Monday the city council will
fix the tax rate.
-•
OFFER PIONEERS HOME SITE.
The Nome Chamber of Commerce
has received a petition signed by
about a hundred citizens of Candle
asking for the establishment of the
projected Pioneers' Home at Kruzga
mapa Springs on the site offered by
George D. Schofield, late Republican
| candidate for attorney general of the
territory.
-4
EIGHTEEN FEET OF ANTIMONY.
It is reported that Ben Norvil has
made an important strike of antimony
and silver at the head of Fortymile
river. Samples sent to the states for
assay gave returns of $125 per ton of
antimony and a good percentage of
silver. The lead is said to be eighteen
feet in width.
•-♦
But in the meantime go to the Bon
Ton orchestra dance on Wednesday
night.
SITKA WIRELESS PLANT
IS OUT OF COM MSISSION
Cordova is today practically cut ofl
from communication with the outside
The cable has been broken for some
time, but we are informed the Burn
side is now on the scene of the inter
ruption. It is unable, however, to
make any headway on the repairs, as
there is a bad storm raging at sea.
Since the break the radia stations
have handling the commercial and
press messages. And now news comes
that the Sitka plant has been burned
out, and no wireless business can be
handled. Just how long It will be be
fore this part of Alaska will be in
touch with the great outside is not
known, but it is believed that when
the present storm breaks the Burnside
will be able to promptly repair the
cable.
JURY TO
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11. — Attorn ■ >
General Gregory has ordered a grand
jury investigation of the high cost
of living. He will begin Immediately
in New York and Detroit, and is con
sidering other investigations through
he middle west.
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EMBARGO PLACED
Chicago, Dec. 11.—-The eastern rail
roads have put an embargo on the
shipments to the Atlantic coast, af
fecting the munition makers in the
middle states.
--♦
ABOUT PEOPLE
The Klks held a well attended meet
ing at the city hull yesterday after
noon.
Miss Carrie Thompson has accept
ed a clerical position with the North
ern Drug Company.
The school children are today hav
ing their ewes examined by Dr Robert
Simpson, of Juneau.
The first rotary for the winter went
out this morning. Last year the first
rotary left here December 9.
The meeting of the Young Peoples'
Society, called for tonight, has been
postponed until Monday evening, De
cember 18.
The Loyola Social Club will enter
tain on Wednesday evening at a amok
er, to which a number of friends have
been invited.
On account of an accident to the
engine at the Cordova Power Com
pany's plant, the lights will be off af
ter 5 o'clock until tomorrow.
The Admiral Evans, which left here
Friday for Seattle, was under shelter
between the two Islands off Katalla
last night on account of the heavy sea.
The Admiral Watson, which was
due to arrive here yesterday morn
ing, has not as yet put in an appear
anee, and is evidently waiting for the
weather to clear.
The steamer Mariposa was held up
for a time, after leaving here, cn ac
count of a severe storm, but the Cor
dova reported her under steam and
making some headway yesterday.
The freighter Cordova arrived in
port this morning with a cargo of
lumber, 350,000 feet of which was con
signed to the Copper River & North
western railway.
Deputy Marshal Jos. MiUap came
down from McCarthy. He brought
Mollie Parks, who will be takeu to the
Morningside sanitarium on the next
southbound steamer.
•
mill* i I1L.IV I IIIIIIU
ARE TO OPEN
OP HERE
That the future of Cordova neve
looked more promising, is evidenced
from the fact that every vacant place
of business on First street has been
rented during the past few weeks, and
a number of new concerns intende lo
eating here.
The Ross building, with its three
store rooms, was recently sold and
the present occupants ordered to va
cate hv January 1. John Rawson has
rented a store room under the North
ern hotel; the Boss Bakery will move
into the Wilson building, and The
Mecca has a new location in view. It
is understood that a large mercantile
company from Tacoma will open up in
the Ross building.
The Bank of Alaska, with its home
office at Skagway, has leased the
ground floor of the Borden building,
and will install a bank there,, the safe
and part of the fixtures having al
ready arrived.
Dr. Charles Daggett, of Seward, has
leased a suite of rooms in the North
ern hotel, and will move here shortly
and open a dental parlor.
The City Kxpress and Transfer Com
>any, owned by Joe Stanton, of Valdez,
I and Mike Johnson of Chitina, is the
latest new business venture engaged
in by outside people.
An enterprising firm from Anchor
age is making an investigation here
as to the opening for another lumber
yard, and the probabilities that it will
locate here and be on the ground for
the building boom that is likely to take
[dace next spring.
Cordova is also to have another
moving picture show, the spacious
store room in the Northern hotel build
ing having been reserved for that pur
pose and will be transformed into a
modern play house, to be thrown open
to the public next month.
There are also rumors of consoli
dations of local concerns, and from
present indications Cordova has at
last entered upon that tidal wave of
prosperity that its residents have been
looking forward to for several years.
—♦
That winter work on the Alaska
government railroad in the vicinity of
Nenana is now going on full tdast, is
the report of Commissioner Thomas
Higgs, Jr., in charge of the railroad
work in the interior, who expresses
himself as being very well pleased
with the work which has been aoeoin
plished to date. He seems to be par
ticularly gratified with having been
able to get the commission's power
plant at Nenana in operation, so that
the town is now electric lighted in
stead of being in darkness as before,
with the exception of coal oil lamps
and candles.
Mr. ltiggs reports that the railroad!
for about half a mile south of Nenana j
Is now practically completed. And
through the half mile and for some
distance further out the piledriver is
engaged in putting in ptles for bridges.
On the north side of the Tanana river
opposite Nenana the steam shovel Is
working, making a out in the bluff
The dirt and rock taken out is being
moved about a thousand feet and put
into a fill.
-«
UNCLE SAM TO BOTTLE
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10. — A bill
has been introduced in congress to
establish a monopoly of radio com
munication between ships on the At
lantic ocean and shore stations.
--«
JUNEAU TAKES IN TIDE LANDS.
At a recent election held In Juneau
the people by a vote of 109 to 22 voted
in favor of taking the adjacent tide
lands into the city. Forty or fifty
families occupy the lands to be taken
in.
-♦
PRAYER BOOK IN ESKIMO.
Father La Fortune, a missionary at
Nome, has translated the prayer book
of his church into the Eskimo tongue
for the benefit of the natives. The
booklet containing the prayers were
printed by the natives at Nome.
-+
Those who want a good time to
snappy music, with the best crowd,
will attend the Uon Ton dance.
BIG BATTLE
SOMME FRONT
BLRLIN, Dec. 10.—Violent artillery fighting occurred on
the Somme front Friday. The night attack near Lostrouslev
vas repulsed.
BLRLIN, Dec. 10.—In the strong Russian attacks in the
Carpathian forests the Russians gained ground, but they suf
fered heavy losses. Seventy thousand Roumanians and one
hundred and eighty cannon have been lost since December 1.
WASHINGTON, Dec. lb—Great Britain has been asked
by the state department for the status of the liner Arabia, which
was sunk by a German submarine.
• -■ ,j» -
PARIS, Dec. lb—A dispatch from Zurich says that King
< onstantine’s health is. causing considerable anxietv, as be is
suffering on account of an old wound in bis side.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—Ambassador Sharp, at Paris,
has notified the state department that tig* allied blockade m
Greece began on Friday.
LON DO X, Dec, 10.—A Potrogrnd dispatch quotes tli*
Novoo Vremya', tn denouncing the policy of the entente toward
Greece.
LONDON, Dec. 8.—Purchase by the government of all es
sential imported foodstuffs, and the commanding of the eon
trol ot home products and of ships and the placing of -upplies
on the market at reasonable prices was advanced at the national
conferences of the trade unionists.
Ps
E
11
BOMBAY. India, Dec. 9 — Since the
beginning of the wax- the United State
has. roughly speaking, doubled hei
export trade with India, and the pos
sibilities of greatly increasing this
business are good, according to Brit
ish and Indian trade experts with
whom a correspondent of the Asso
ciated Dress has discussed the sub
ject. The statement regarding pros
pects is, of course, made on the hy
pothesls that any trade agreement
which the Entente Allies may make
arter the conclusion of peace will not
act as a bar to American activities.
Coincident with the increase in Am
erican trade has been the virtual
shutting off of German and Austrian
imports into India and the great de
crease In most of the imports from al
lied countries. That Germany and
Austria will not regain, at least for
many years to come, the trade which
they had established is accepted here
as a foregone conclusion. Further, it
is pointed out that most of the En
tente Allies will not be in a position
immediately after the ending of hos
tilities to resume their pre-war ex
ports, due partly to the demands
which will be made for the reconstruc
tion period at home and partly to the
disorganization of their industries.
These conditions, it is said, will give
the United States a chance to make
a substantial increase in her trade
with India, provided she strikes while
the iron is hot.
The United Kingdom has, and does,
hold the bulk of the trade with India,
and officials declare that she will
make a strenuous fight to maintain
her position. Germany, for
years prior to the war was next to the
United Kingdom in the matter of ex
ports to India, and Austria, while fall
ing far below Germany, did no incon
siderable business. The combined
German and Austrian export trade
with India in the fiscal year 191314,
ending April 1, totalled £11,304,000
pounds sterling, or 9.2 per cent ol
India's whole importation. Business
men here, maintaining that German
and Austrian trade with India is dead,
are speculating as to what nation will
take the place of these central allies
The markets which Germany and A us
tria have relinquished, and which are
said to be open now to the strongest
bidder, are shown in the following
tables, giving the principal articles
exported to India in 1913 14 by these
nations, with the values in pounds
sterling:
Germany.
Apparel. 104,000
Chemicals. 84.000
Cotton manufactures. Includ
ing yarn . 945,000
Cutlery. 82,000
Dyes . 622,000
e - * V
| Glass and glassware . .. 191.mm
Haberdashery and millinery. 186,040
Hardware. 482.000
Instruments, apparatus . 102,000
Liquors. 138,000
Machinery, etc. 288,000
Matches. 17.000
Metals 2.573,000
Oils. 216,000
Paper and Pasteboard . DvI.Ooo
Salt. 62,000
Silk manufactures, including
yarn, etc .. 149.000
Sugar. 12,000
Toys and requisites . 77,000
Woolen manufactures, includ
ing yarn, etc. 716,000
Other articles.1,195,000
Totals. .8,444,000
Austria Hungary.
Apparel. 55,000
Hoots and shoes . . 21,000
Cotton manufactures . 184,000
Cotton twist and yarn 41,000
Class and glassware . 583,000
Haberdashery and millinery. 149,000
Hardware.. . . 223,000
Matches. • 64,000
Metals. 115,000
Paper and pasteboard . . . 88,000
Sugar. 922,000
Woolen manufactures, includ
ing yarn, etc. 77,000
Other articles. 388,000
Total. ...2,860,000
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SALMON IN GLASS CANS.
T. E. I’. Keu-an, Henry Brie and
G. l>. McDonald, of southeastern Alas
ka, have formed the Alaska Coast
Fisheries Compr.ny. and will engage
in a general fishing Industry. The
company will make a specialty of put
ting up salmon in glass cans
-♦
TOLOVANA IS LOOKING UP.
The Fairbanks News-Miner states
that no camp in the interior has a
brighter future than the Tolovana.
Five miles of pay is said to have
been located and the mining men are
' confident that great undiscovered
! areas of rich gold bearing ground w ill
^ tie uncovered next year.
-♦_
RIGGS MAY COME OUT.
Lieut Riggs, of the Alaska engineer
ing commission at Fairbanks, is e*
j pected to make a trip outside this
I winter and will come over the rail
road route from the interior to An
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LARGE DEPOSIT GRAPHITE
Ray l). Clark reached Nome re
cently from his graphite property in
the Imurak basin. He has a large
deposit of high grade graphite, and
during the past summer has mined
about 100 tons of the mineral.