CRITICISMS BY
BY ANCHORAGE
By WULLARDIE B. KETCHUM
Acting upon the suggestion of
Congressman Arthur M. Free of
San Jose, California, that Alaskans
have never come to Washington to
express themselves on Alaskan af
fairs, and in lieu of a closer proxi
mity to that august seat of Alaskan
government, the writer is taking this
means of expressing, in a small way,
something of what, and how, Alas
kans feel regarding the opinions so
miinificentiy set forth concerning
them by fly-by-night visitors to the
territory, particularly those who come
here by virtue of their place in gov
ernment politics, to "give us the once
over.”
In the first instance we
to be fair and just and agree with
Congressman Free in every particu
lar wherein he has, from our stand
point, stated facts. On the other
hand, we also want to use our pre
rogative as an “intelligent people”
in differing from him where we feel
he is not correctly informed.
We agree that a change of policy
regarding Alaska is most emphati
cally essential. We also agree that
the population of the territory is not
increasing. But, we want, also, to
know by whose manipulations this
•becomes a fact. Who is governing
Alaska? Is it Alaskans, or is it those
who are not even aware of the fact
that an intelligent people inhabit
Alaska? Who says what policy shall
govern Alaska? Can anyone state,
having once gone over Alaska, that
anything in it starts and ends no
where, with no purpose for existing?
Who built the Alaska Railroad?
Not Alaskan. When that mistake (?)
is brought up for discussion, it leads
back to Washington, where the peo
ple of Alaska have no voice. What
would Alaska have to do with any
policy outlined for her acceptance
by the powers that be, under the
present regime? Wh0a making the
statement that the United States
government is expending 53,000 per
year on each family living in the
territory, why not, also, show fig
ures setting forth amount taken out
of Alaska each year whereby the
largest corporations in the United
States are reaping immense reve
nues annually; cities are, as it were,
built over night, and the govern
ment is drawing large revenues from
the fur industry. Wlhy not be fair
and just? If the United States gov
ernment is not receiving returns from
many of the resources of the coun
try, then the fault is on the part of
the government. There is nothing an
outsider can tell the business people
of Alaska that they do not already
know, but it is possible that the
people of Alaska can tell something
of value to the present cabinet, now
discussing Alaska, were their ad
vice and suggestions sought. But
'these discussinos are carried on by
persons who do not even know the
type of people residing in Alaska,
and without any advice to the ter
ritory that such a discussion is to
be held.
No, Alaska is not a poor man’s
country but, if the industries are
merely coming to Alaska to use it’s
resources for the whole benefit of
the United States proper, excluding
Alaska, then their entry can do Al
aska no good. And no one is more
progressive than the writer, wrhere
progress is fair and just.
As to the canneries! vvno are
the people brought into Alaska to
work at the canneries? Are they
residents of Alaska or is it labor
brought from the states in order
that after the canning season is
over this same labor may return
to the states and there spend the
earnings accrued in Alaska? Is
this accidental or is it the result of
careful planning? How about the
natives of Alaska? Whose busi
ness is it to look after their wel
fare and not make absolute pau
pers of them? Why is there no em
ployment for them, that they may
become useful and self-supporting
thereby becoming better citizens?
Visitors to Alaska are no more
"surprised at the intelligence and
high type of people met here" than
are Alaskans at the type of intel
ligence manifested by visitors to
Alaska. Why, Alaska has a place
in the States called “Morningside”
where she has been known to send
people of a higher type of intelli
gence than is sometimes displayed
by her visitors. Just where, is
'it concluded, do Alaskans come
from? Are they born, bred and
educated United States citizens, or
are they a type of feeble minded,
degenerates who, like the Alaska
railroad, “begin nowhere and end
nowhere, and practically serve no
purpose?” Alaska people are just
as capable of “running things” at
Washington as any person there,
and the writer, having been reared
in very close proximity to legisla
tive bodies, knows whereof she
speaks and she is throwing no bou
at Alaskans, either..
Why not do something to popu
late Alaska, you see so readily
her needs and the difficulties that
are confronting her? No intelli
gent person or nation (and nations
are made up of persons) is above
learning from others, so, why not
take a lesson from Canada and col
onize Alaska, thereby placing a
thrifty, capable class of people
along the Alaska Railroad, and
elsewhere, to make the railrod and
other districts of Alaska, a paying
proposition? Don’t say the resour
ces are not here for such an enter
prise for Canada and the Scandina
vian countries had no such gifts
from Providence as has Alaska,
when agriculture and other indus
tries were first developed there. And,
when I say colonize, I am not speak
ing of those “take the way of least
resistence” people who want to make
iheir stake in Alaska and then go
and live in California where they
will never have to face bracing cold,
or a winter sunset, but I am speaking
of full blooded Americans and other
nationalities who are builders and
workers. And there are innumer
able other lines along which Alaska
can be developed and made in
dependent of the annual bestowal of
charity in the sum of $3,000 to each
family of us (somehow I have never
recieved my remittance) by her fos
ter parent, whereby she was “bought
and paid for, to have and to hold.”
Now, let us brace up and do some
thing for Alaska, at Washington, as
well as in Alaska, or else stop talk-,
ing about it.
Now, one can only hope that to
bear out the suggestion of Con
gressman E*ree that Alaskans voice
their sentiments at Washington
(which amounts to the same thing
when addressing one of her law
makers) he will see fit to asknowl
edge that voice when raised, no mat
ter by what Alaskan.
And it is not too late to build
roads in Alaska in connection with
the railroad,—that is done in other
communities and countries,—why
not in Alaska? No country ever
managed to get along with the one
or . the other alone. Let Alaska
have the use of her own resources
and revenues, as do other countries,
and she will ask no quarter of any
one, and she will show a develop
ment second to none and superior
to most.
CONCRETE PIERS FINISHED
The bridge crew B & B7 has finish
ed work on the two large concrete
piers, having sunk 20 feet in the river
bed for a foundation for the large
steel bridge over Dry creek near
Healy. Steel will be put on the
bridge within the next ten days.
MINERS LEAVE FOR INTERIOR
J. C. Knapp, John Bagoy and O. J.
Wicklander left Anchorage the first
of the week for McKinley park, from
which place they will mush 112 miles
across country to the Kantishna min
ing district. They have leased the pla
cer claims of Eli Barrach, located on
the Taknat river ir the Kantishna dis
trict from which property good clean
ups have been secured.
GRAIN GETTING RIPE
With careful attention given to their
growth, the varied grains at the Alas
ka Experimental Farm near Fairbanks
are at their best now for this season
of the year.
The capital of Alaska—Juneau—
was named after Joe Juneau, a half
breed French Canadian, who died dur
ing the gold rush. Later the body was
taken down to Juneau for reburial.
One the day of the second funeral it
rained in torrents, and all business
houses closed all day and went to the
funeral.
Inspector Pronounces
Local Dairy Best Ever
Robert Jay, inspector for the U. S.
department of Agriculture, arrived in
town on the last boat, and yesterday
made an inspection of the herd of the
Seward Dairy, which he found in ex
cellent condition. “The dairy was one
of the most sanitary i have found in
my trip north," said Mr. Jay, “and
the cows were in fine shape and free
from any taint of tuberculosis. The
people of Seward should encourage
Mr. Leirer, the proprietor, as he is
running a model establishment,”
Mr. Jay will be in Seward a few
days, leaving later for Kodiak, thence
to Anchorage and interior points.
ANCHORAGE STRAWBERRIES
APPEAR SEWARD MARKET
Anchorage strawberries are in the
local market; large, juicy and deli
cious, and they are being retailed at
35 cents per box.
It is reported that a large crop of
berries is being harvested by ranchers
near Anchorage, one rancher picking
sixty quarts a day.
Seward berries are also ripe and are
being retailed in the local markets.
Frank Cunningham and wife left to
day for their fox ranch near Cordova,
with a boat load of supplies. Mr.
Cunningham announced that he would
do all his trading in Seward hence
forth, as he was getting good prices
quoted on supplies.
A purse containing $50 floated to
the feet of Miss Anna Gerry -while she
sat on the lake beach at Evanston, 111.
Deserted and placed in a coal scut
tle, a four weeks old baby was found
outside a lawyer’s office in Berlin.
i rs
SEWARD LODGE NO. 1425, L.O.O.M.
Meets every first
and third Tues
day each month
at 8 p. m., at
Qdd Fellows
Hall. All visit
i n g members
welcome.
PETER N. ANDERSON, Dictator.
M. A. HORNER, Secretary.
SEWARD LODGE NO 219, F. & A. M.
A Stated communications first
'^raV'and third Wednesdays of each
/^r\month; visiting brethren wel
come, J. P. Hannon, W. M.; Harold
Painter, Secretary.
RESURRECTION LODGE NO. A-7,
I. O. O. F.
Meets every Thursday at
8:00 p. m. in Odd Fellows'
Hall, next to the postoffice. Visiting
brothers welcome. Fred Martinides,
N. G.; Chas. Lechner, Secretary.
IGLOO NO. NINE, PIONEERS OF
ALASKA
Meets every Second and Fourth Fri
day nights in Odd Fellows’ Hall; John
Flowers, President; Coll A. McDou
gall, Secretary.
SEWARD CHAPTER NO. 10, ORDER
OF EASTERN STAR
Meeets the second and
fourth Mondays of each
month in Odd Fellows’
Hall at 8 p. m. Visiting
members always wel
_ 2ome; Goldie Blue W. M.
Mrs. Viola T. Swetmann, Secretary.
SEWARD REBEKAH LOGE NO. 6-A,
I. O. O. F.
Meets the first and
third Mondays of
each month in Odd
Fellows Hall at 8:00
p. m. Visiting mem
bers are always wel
come. Mrs. John
Rosness, N. O.
Alaska Interior Silver
Black Foxes, a limited
number of 1925 pups will
be sold this season. If you
wish good foxes to start
your ranch with. Let me
furnish you your breeders
Price $500 per Pair f. o. b.
Kasilof, Alaska
KasOof Silver Fox Ranch
Louis Nissen, Propr.
Kasilof, Alaska
Cal M. Brosius
Nails, fifty varieties, Automobile Glass,
Glass, Locks, Hinges,
Stockholm Tar,
Hyd. Lime,
Plate Glass,
Colors,
Chimney Brick,
Varnish,
Corner Bead,
JSJirrprs,
Medusa,
White Atlas,
Keens,
Metal Lath,
Cedar, Oak, Maple,
Arch Brick,
Fire Clay,
Plaster Paris,
Hickory, Iron Bark,
Beaver Board,
Gal. Cor. Iron,
Pulleys,
Flooring,
Fir, Spruce, Maple,
Ceiling,
Rustic,
Roof Pitch,
BBI. Lime, Paints.
Glass Cutting,
Terps, Oils,
Fibered Plaster,
Stains, Putty,
Corner Lath,
Belting, Cement
Doors, .v
Windows,
Lumber,
Fir Lath,
Fire Brick,
Spruce Finish,
Mouldings,
Z-Lath,
Plaster Board,
Mahogany,
Roof Paper,
Building Paper,
Asbestos Paper,
Shingles,
Sash Rail,
Fir Finish,
LIBBY-OWENS WINDOW GLASS, Single and Double Strength,
Standard Oil Products, Rubber Matting, White Sand,
ASBESTOS STRIP SHINGLES, HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS,
METAL BASEMENT SASH AND FRAMES,
Sidewalk Coal Hole Covers Sidewalk Walk Lights, Etc.
CALM. BROSIUS
BUILDING SUPPLIES
C.M.B.
CAL M. BROSIUS
Builders’ Supplies
i
When things Look
BLACK Phone the
Seward Steam Laundry
Telephone Main 148
HOTEL ANCHORAGE
F. I. REED, Proprietor
Rooms with Bath. Sample Rooms in Connection
Strictly Modem * Prices Reasonable ;
Steam Heat Good Service |
HOT AND COLD WATER IN EVERY ROOM
Bus meets all trains and boats ]
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA ]
HOTEL SEXTON
GEORGE SEXTON, Proprietor
SEWARD'S HOMEY HOTEL, WHERE THE OLDTIMERS
MEET
VAN GILDER HOTEL
HOT AND COLD WATER IN EVERY ROOM
STEAM HEAT
J# S. BADGER
HOTEL SEWARD
OSCAR DAHL, Proprietor
HOME’S, COMFORTABLE ROOMS AND BATH
Convenient to Depot and Dock