The Cordova Daily Times
Only Afternoon Paper In Alaska With Associated Press News
VOLUME III. NUMBER 111. t CORDOVA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917. PRICE TEN CENTS.
CALL ISSUED FOR 500,000 VOLUNTEERS
EXPLOSION WAS
PLOT BT SOI
CHESTER, Pa., April 11. — High
officials of the munitions corporation
say the explosion that killed one hun
dred and sixteen persons was the re
sult of a diabolical plot, conceived In
the mind of a demon in human guise.
The bomb that did the deadly work
was manufactured from a shell in the
plant by an employe, so the officials
declare.
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PUNISHMENT
JUNEAU, April 11. — Two bills
were introduced in the house today,
one providing for the abolishment of
capital punishment in the territory,
and the other prohibiting the sale to
or use by minors of tobacco in any
form. The bill providing for the or
ganization of a national guard in the
territory has been tabled, being im
properly drawn. A memorial to con
gress was introduced recommending
the amendment of the federal election
law of the territory so as to permit
the canvassing of the vote for mem
bers of the territorial legislature by
canvassing boards in the various divi
sions. An amendment providing that
the general eight hour law shall not
go into effect until after October 1,
following the close o fthe cannery sea
' - son. This afternoon the session of
the house was devoted to the discus
sion of school laws. In the senate
Heckman Introduced a bill making it
a misdemeanor to advertise intoxicat
ing liquors in the territory after the
prohibition bill shall go into effect.
The morning session of the senate
was devoted principally to discussion
of allowances to be made to aged pio
neers, but action was finally deferred
until tomorrow.
A.
< DAMAGE SUIT RESULTS IN
j VERDICT FOR COMPANY
In the case of Tom Bush vs. Copper
River & Northwestern Railway, which
was an action for $10,000 damages for
alleged personal injuries sustained on
the railroad, the jury decided in favor
of the defendant, and also rendered a
special verdict to the effect that the
plaintiff did sign the release of claims
which the defendant introduced in
evidence.
Judge Brown issued an order for
Otto Kanitz to show cause why he has
not complied with a former order of
the court, compelling him to pay for
the maintenance of his former wife’s
child.
The case of the United States vs.
Canoe Pass Packing Company is on
trial today. The defendant is charged
with wilful waste of fish.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL
ELECT OFFICERS TONIGHT.
The fire bell will ring at 8 o’clock
tonight, but do not get excited, as it
1b only a gentle reminder to the mem
bers of the fire department that they
are requested to be at the city hall
and participate in the annual election
of officers. This is a matter of con
siderable importance to the property
owners, and as most of the business
men of Cordova belong to the depart
ment, it is their duty to be present
tonight and give expression to their
~ —choTce of fire chief. This “wlir prove
both gratifying to themselves and the
new chief. Let there be a rousing
turnout.
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A second shipment of ten tons of
gold ore was sent out recently from
the Primrose mine, in the Kenai lake
district, by Charles Hubard, to the
Tacoma smelter. The ore Ib of such
high grade that it pays well even with
this expensive method of treatment.
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Marcus K. Brigham, a nineteen
year old employee of the AlaBka-Gas
tineau Mining Company at Thane, was
crushed to death recently while em
ployed in removing a portion of the
crusher. About ten tons of ore went
through the crusher, killing him al
most instantly.
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♦ WASHINGTON, April 12.—The war department will issue instructions to recruiting officers, which in effect call for half a mil- ♦
♦ lion volunteers to fill the regular army and existing units of the national guard. All recruits enlisted since the.declaration of war ♦
♦ and’ those to be enlisted hereafter will be notified that they will be discharged at. the close of the war, putting them in the status of ♦
♦ war-time volunteers. . ♦
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WASHINGTON, April 12.—A colossal campaign to break the German submarine blockade and keep the entente plentifully supplied with
fodd, clothing and munitions has been determined by President Wilson. As the first physical stroke against America’s foe, the United
States will provide a great fleet of merchantmen to invalidate the undersea campaign. Every detail lias been completed and by fall the
campaign will be in full swing. Light, wooden ships of two thousand tons and upward' will be constructed by the hundred, American ship
yards taking the preference over other contracts.
General Goethals, builder of the Panama canal, will supervise the construction program, which will involve a total of 3,000,000 tons the
coming year. The ships are to cost $>300,000 each, will be equipped wit h oil burning engines and carry crews of thirty-six. The first ship will
be ready in si xmonths, and during the following year the number will pass the thousand mark.
WASHINGTON, April 12.—British and French delegates will arrive within ten days for a war council. The Britishers will be Foreign
Minister Arthur Balfour, Admiral Dachir, General Bridges and' the governor of the Bank of England. The French delegates will be headed
by former Premier Viviani.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12.—It is reported that German submarines are operating off the Mexican coast, which has caused the issuance
of warning to American shipping.
WASHINGTON, April 12.—National transportation facilities on the principal railroad's of the United States during the war will merge
voluntarily and be operated under the general direction of a central executive committee of seven, co-operating closely with the government
in handling troops, military supplies and general merchandise. Fairfax Harrison, of the Southern railway, is chairman of the commission.
WASHINGTON, April 12.—Carranza has given positive assurances that the use of the oil supplies of the Tampico fields and other Mexi
can resources would not be denied the United States or Great Britain. The Mexican oil is the principal fuel for the British and French war
ships.
WASHINGTON, April 12.—The American government is assisting the Russians to strengthen their position and lessen internal troubles,
and bring the Russian latent forces against Germany. The enemy is making a heavy effort against the Russians, and the other allies have
asked Russia to get financial assistance first.
Ill
♦ BRAZIL OFFICIALLY SEVERS ♦
♦ RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. ♦
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* RIO DE JANEIRO, April 12.—The severance of relations ♦
* by Brazil with Germany has been officially announced this af- ♦
♦ ternoon. ♦
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• _P ^ ♦
♦ BULGARIA MAKES OVERTURES ♦
♦ FOR SEPARATE PEACE. ♦
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♦ ROME, April 12.—It is reported that the Bulgarian minis- ♦
♦ tor at Borne hns made overtures for separate peace to the on- ♦
♦ tente ministers. ♦
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DECISIVE BATTLE AT ARRAS
JF'' . '
LONDON, April 12.—The war office expects the battle at Arras to develop into the greatest struggle of the war. The present British of
fensive is being conducted'according to plans completed in February. The British losses in the first two days’ battle has been only half of the
loss in the corresponding period of the Somme offensive.
CAIRO, April 12.—The British continue to gain successes in the vicinity of Guza, Palestine. The cavalry occupied Turkish territory to a
depth of fifteen miles, consolidating strong positions and taking many prisoners.
LONDON, April 12.—The Germans apparently are fortified in positions upon which British assaults drove them back, and offer desperate
resistance to heavy British pressure. The German counter attacks were beaten off for the time required for the British to bring big guns and
'establish communications before attempting another great stroke.
LONDON, April 12.—The. British today captured two important positions in the enemy’s lines north of the Vimy ridge, and are now
astride the river Souchez. A large number of prisoners were taken. Although the weather is wet and stormy the battle still rages.
PARIS, April 12.—It is officially stated that the French troops drove the Germans to the southwestern edge of upper Coney forest, on the
new front below St. Quentin’s, capturing several important positions.
LONDON, April 12.—Thousands of yards of trenches south of Farbus wood, southeast of Vimy, were captured by the British today. The
British took eleven additional guns yesterday in a fight between Croisselles and Scarpe river.
, PETJtOGRAD, April 12.—The government has ordered all reserves of 191G harvest of coni and cereals fit for fodder to be placed at the
disposaL of the state. The entire reserves of 1917 harvest, except seed and peasant requirements, are also appropriated.
BERLIN, April 12.—The food situation is dominating all other considerations, and further diminution of bread ration is expected on
April 15. _
i CREW HERE ; 0 BUILD RADIO PLANT (
ft ‘S' rij •*-* ~ 0 r s~ -* m
The collier Saturn steamed into port about 9:30 o’clock this morning, bringing a cargo of material and large force of men with which to
complete the construction of a central radio station for the government at Miles 7 and' 14, along the Copper River & Northwestern railway.
This will be one of the four .large naval plants on the Pacific coast, the others being located at Bremerton, San Francisco and San Diego.
The work of completing the transmitting station at Mile 14 and the erection of a receiving station at Mile 7 will be rushed this summer.
Chief Machinist Hickey and Gunner Holton, together with thirty-three civilians and fifteen naval men will remain here, and thirty more
workmen will arrive a little later. Masts are to be erected, machinery installed, stations and cottages for the officers and men built. It is
expected that the new plant will be in operation by October, when the Whitshed station will be transferred to the new location. A speeder
will run between Cordova and Mile 14, and these places will also be connected by telephone. When in operation, the station will be in charge
of a district superintendent and an assistant superintendent, with twenty-five men under them.
The Saturn left San Francisco seven days ago, and encountered some rough weather. The collier will remain here about a week and
then return south for another load of machinery and more workmen. Three trips in all will be necessary to transport the machinery for the
new plant
The officers in. charge are Captain Frank Luckel, commander; Surgeon Robert L, Nattkemper, Chief Machinist Hickey, Gunner A. J. Hol
ton, Master M. H. Nash and an auxiliary complement of seventy-five officers and men, there being among the list twenty five members of the
U navy and thirty-thtfee; yard workmen. _ ^ ___ ___
WICK ILL FILE
CONTEST NEXT
Under a recent Washington date
line the Juneau Dispatch says:
The records of the canvassing board
and hearing before the federal court
In connection with the Alaska dele
gate election have reached Washing
ton, and James Wickersham an
nounced today the necessary papers
will be filed Monday.
“I will contest the seat of Charles
A. Sulzer with vigor and determina
tion, and am confident it will result
in a victory for the people who gave
me a majority of the votes cast at the
November election In the territory.
The contest papers will be filed on
Monday,” said Judge Wickersham at
the Congress hotel last night.
Washington Is so terribly excited
over the war situation that little or
no attention has been paid newcomers
here. The Alaskan delegate is not
even mentioned in an obscure way
in the hotel arrivals, and it may be
weeks before the Alaska contest re
ceives attention.
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PROSPERITy IN
tr *
T 1
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12. — An
exceptionally large output of food
stuffs is in the twelfth federal reserve
district, as far as can be judged now,
is predicted in the general bulletin
just issued by the Federal Reserve
Bank of this city. Mercantile, agri
cultural and mining conditions are re
ported as favorable and in general the
year is described as giving promise
of prosperity for the entire district.
Both the lumber industry and ship
building have increased their output
the latter being described as "expand
ing enormously.”
Three-fifths of Utah wheat is fall
planted and Idaho reports good pros
pects in the section where there was
practical failure last year, according
to the bulletin. In California it is es
timated that barley acreage will be
increased from 650,000 to 800,000 and
the crop from 450,000 tons to 900,000
tons. Hops and alfalfa will be con
siderably displaced by potatoes, beans
and sugar beets.
Clearings for the nineteen principal
cities of this district during February
were 32 per cent greater than for
the corresponding month last year.
Seattle, with an increase of 50 per
cent, followed by Salt Lake City with
35 per cent and Los Angeles with 30
per cent.
The following note of warning is
sounded: “ There is impressive evi
dence of the important need for the
maximum possible production of food
stuffs during the current year, with
the certainty of extraordinary demand
whether the war continues or not.”
_A._
AMERICAN WON HONORS AT
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
OXFORD, Rngland. April 12. — A.
0. Fite, of Nashville, Tennessee, has
recently won a prize of ten pounds of
fered by Christ Church, Oxford, for
the best literary essay in French by
one of its members. Other Americans
who have lately won prizes at Oxford
University are B. H. Branscontbe, of
Birmingham, Alabama, who won a
prize of fifteen pounds for translation
from the Greek Testament, and Clyde
a similar prize in modern history.
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IBACH LAUNCH IS PICKED UP
BUT AGAIN GOES ADRIFT.
Deputy Customs Collector George
Kennedy has received a telegram from
the Juneau office, advising him that
a halibut schooner picked up the lost
launch of our townsman, Joseph
Ibach, about sixty-five miles south
west of Middleton island. All of the
provisions and personal effects of Mr.
Ibach were taken off the derelict by
the schooner, which started to tow the
launch to Juneau. As rough weather
prevailed, the line broke and the
launch again went adrift. Mr. Ibach
intends starting out today in search
of his missing boat.