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CHITINA. ALASKA.
Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL XAUT O. STEEL
Editors, Managers sad Proprietors
O. B. BENNETT, City Editor
ADVERTISING RATES:
Made know n upon application. They
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vice given.
Application has been made to the post
office department for the entry of this
newspaper as second-class matter at the
postoffice at Chitina, Alaska, under the
act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
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Office: Hotel Chitina Building.
CHITINA, SATURDAY, Feb. 11,
LET US MINE
OUR OWN COAL
DO HOLLAND AND BELGIUM
NEED AN ALLIANCE?
The British are not the only ones
that are suffering from the German
war “scare.” The “scare" has spread
to other countries, especially Holland
and Belgium. These two countries
are showing the trepidation of the
English about Germany.
In the past it has usually been
the fear of being drawn into a war
that should arise between France and
Germany. At the present time Ger
many is widely credited with a de
sire to extend her dominions at Hol
land and Belgium’s expense, as that
is the only way she can extend her
coast line and become the master
of the outlets of the River Rhine.
General von der Boeck in the Beu
tsche Reval (Berlin) discusses the
possibility of a military alliance be
tween the two countries. Now the
general’s article is, in the main, a
"resume” of a notable publication by
a Dutch writer, R. A. Klerck, who
is esteemed by his countrymen as a
gifted writer, and a man especially
well versed in military matters.
This article has been greatly ex
ploited by the anti-German military
press of France. The work deals
with the neutrality and independence
of Belgium, and the means by which
she can secure them by an alliance
with Holland.
The first point debated by Klerck
is whether from a historical stand
point an alliance could be formed by
these two states. He reaches the
conclusion that it would be possible,
as there are essential obstacles in
the way. Difference of race and ex
traction he finds would not hinder
the alliance, as that would leave both
countries independent. The main
question is whether the neutrality
of Beglium, enjoined by treaty, en
titles it to form an alliance with an
other power.
This Dutch writer maintains that
Belgium need by no means relin
quish its permanent neutrality by an
alliance formed in order to protect
that neutrality. Although Klerck
believes he has proved historically
that there is no barrier to a “rep
prochement,” General Boeck believes
this conclusion would be valueless il
it could not at the same time be
shown that from a political and mil
itary standpoint it is to the interest
of both states to form an alliance.
Now the question whether a “Ger
man peril” does really hang over
Holland and Belgium has been freely
written on by many French, Dutch
and Belgium writers. There has al
ways been a “German peril” exist
ing over those two countries, ever
since the great victories of Prussian
policy in the ’60’s of the past cen
tury, j w««V
Of course the over-zealous mem.
bers'of the Pan-German League have
assisted this to become a regular
“belte noire” to the people. The most
suitable means to preserve the na
tional existence of both countries
would be a purely defensive alliance
that would materially reduce the
dangers that threaten them.
Influential voices have been raised
in both nations against such an al
liance, but for the present it would
suffice if the military authorities on
both sides would, by agreement, pre
pare for any sudden contingency.
The military strength of the two
states now number nearly 400,000,
and in time might become a power
that would be regarded as a "quan
tite negligeable" by the other great
belligerent powers.
Both countries are passionately de
voted to their reigning families. Es
pecially Holland, as their queen and
little princess are objects almost of
popular veneration.
Belgium has been the scene of one
of the deciding battles of the world's
history, and who can say in the fu
ture whether it will not again be
so. t
RICHARD GALLAND.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION
URGED FOR ALASKA
The insufficiency of aids to naviga
tion in Alaska has been pertinently
brought to the attention of the pres
ent Congress by the shipping inter
ests of the Pacific Northwest. The
Alaska Steamship Company, the Pa
cific Coast Steamship Company and
the Alaska Coast Company have
jointly petitioned the congressional
delegations from the state of Wash
ington to unite in securing appropri
ations to erect aids that are most
needed along the customary routes
of travel.
While the establishment of these
aids is of vital importance to ship
ping, the public is also directly inter
ested. The absence of the aids, with
the appalling losses of life and prop
erty incidental thereto, not only re
tards commercial progress, but
works a positive hardship to the com
munity at large. Insurance on ma
rine risks have increased to an al
most prohibitive degree, and there
are many delays in transit which
could be avoided if the coasts and
channels were properly equipped
with lighthouses and other naviga
tional aids.
Such losses ultimately fall upon
the shoulders of the shipper and con
sumer in the shape of greatly in
creased freight charges.
The lighthouse service expended
$5,000,000 for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1910, of which $1,339,
000 went for the construction of ad
ditional aids. Of this latter sum
Alaska received a paltry $60,000,
less than five per cent of the total
appropriation. This ridiculously
small sum was supposed to cover
the wants of three thousand miles
of coast line, used annually by 1,
600 ships, with cargoes valued at
$31,000,000, and transporting 50,000
passengers to and from Alaska.
This apathy and neglect on the
part of Congress is inconceivable, in
view of the many laws that have
been enacted for the protection of
life and property. Employers are
held responsible for injuries and ac
cidents to those employed. Railroads
are required to maintain efficient sig
nal systems and to comply with many
regulations for safety. Ships have
to be equipped with life saving ap
pliances and their boilers and hulls
are subjected to rigid inspection. The
statute books are replete with laws
for the prevention of accident, both
by land and sea. Notwithstanding
this solicitude for the public welfare,
the government has failed to perform
its duties and obligations as far as
Alaska is concerned. This neglect
would not be tolerated in any pri
vate concern and were any employer
to subject his employes to the same
relative risks as are entailed by rea
son of lack of navigational aids in
Alaska, he would be denounced by
the community for criminal negli
gence.
The marine disasters in Alaska are
out of all proportion to the volume
of shipping employed. In the last
ten years there have been forty-six
total losses. For the calendar year
1910 there were seven total losses,
valued at $625,000; three accidents
in which the ships were salved at a
cost of $140,000, besides casualties
of a minor nature.
The bureau of lighthouses has ap
proved, after a thorough investiga
tion by a competent authority, many
additional aids and the establishment
thereof now rests with Congress.
Among the most important aids
therefor may be mentioned: Light
houses and fog signals at Cape St.
Elias, Cape Spencer, Cape Decision,
Ressurection Bay, Ruby Island,
Smith Island, Point Helen and Point
Elrlngton; acetyline beacons at
Ocean Cape, Zaikoff Point, Seal Is
land, Lone Tree Point, Walden
Rocks, Vichnefskl Rocks, Cape Strait,
Turnabout Island, Tenakee Inlet,
Grave Point, Point Hugh, Lewis
Point, Ostoi Island, Rose Island, Mid
dle Rock, Serguis Point, Wyvill Reef
and Whitestone Narrows, besides
several buoys and post lights. This
list is by no means exhaustive, but
includes aids that are of immediate
and imperative necessity to Alaskan
navigation.
DISTRICT COURT CONVENES
AT CORDOVA MONDAY
On Monday next the district court
will convene at Cordova, the ses
sions to be held at the city hall. The
U. S. marshal and clerk of the court
have opened offices at the Windsor
hotel, for the accommodation of the
public. The only criminal casein
the calendar is that of U. S. vs. Jack
White and Tom McGuire, who are
charged with larceny at Tiekel last
August, and they will likely demand
separate trials. Most of the busi
ness to come before the court con
sists of law and equity cases, the
calendar for which is as follows:
Equity.
No. 287—Al. Low et al. vs. Katalla
Co., a corporation; Maloney & Cobb,
R. J. Boryer.
No. 507—R. R. Hunter vs. Chas.
H. Cameron et al.; E. E. Ritchie, Os
trander & Donohoe.
No. 284—Herbert Johnston vs.
Michael De Val; Heid & Love, R. J.
Boryer.
No. 456—Josephine Chase Love
vs. Joseph F. Diggs et al.
No. 398—Al. Low et al. vs. The
Katalla Co.; Maloney and Cobb, R.
J. Boryer.
Law.
No. 489—frame Bealer vs. Alas
ka S. S. Co., a corporation; E. E.
Ritchie, R. J. Boryer.
No. 491—E. D. Vaut vs. Henry
C. Feldman; C. M. Frazier, J. H.
Cobb.
No. 288—G. W. Hardman vs. Ka
talla Co. et al.; Maloney and Cobb,
R. J. Boryer.
No. 430—Victor Olson vs. The Ka
talla Co.; Wm. T. Love, R. J. Bo.r
yer.
No. 487—Chas. Goodall vs. Nor
man Macaulcy et al.; C. M. Frazier,
Brown & Lyons for Borden.
Appeal.
No. 428—James Hartney vs. Alas
ka Transfer Co. and A. E. Lathrop;
C. M. Frazier, Ostrander & Dono
hoe. .
COAL IS NECESSARY
FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT
_
“Alaska and the Opening of Her
Coal Fields’’ was the subject for dis
cussion at a recent meeting of the
Seattle Commercial Club, after the
following report of the legislative
committee had been approved:
“We respectfully protest against
imposing our government restrictions
upon the prices of coal produced by
Alaska operators, thereby placing
those operators at a disadvantage
with competitors in the states and
foreign countries. The coal of Alas
ka is as of much value to a resident
to be used for convenience and com
fort as an export product.
“We would also respectfully pro
test against the leasing of coal prop,
erties by the government, this restric
tion tending to retard development
by the prospector and man of limit
ed means. For this same reason the
exaction of a royalty will tend to dis
courage only those who have not
large financial resources thereby re
stricting and holding out no induce
ments to those who must be the pio
neers of the great Northwest, for cap
GEO. DOOLEY
General Commission Merchant
Agent: "T(~^^pqmAgent:
Armour’s Hot Drink Supplies Fire Extinguishers
Kahn Bros. “Monogram" Royal Typewriter Co.
“What We Haven’t Got We Get”
New and Second Hand Goods Bought and Sold
ALASKA STEAHSttlP CO.
Fastest and most commodious st—rs sailing between
Cordova and Seattle.
Sails from Seattle— i Sails from Cordova—
Jan. 24_ ..ALAMEDA_ Feb 2
Feb. 1.VICTORIA.Feb. 9
Feb. 8...ALAMEDA.Feb. 16
Feb. 16..VICTORIA.Feb.24
This company reserves the right to change schedule or
steamers without notice.
Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg.
Baggage op freight) will not bo received at dock later r,him one
hour before sailing time.
R. J. BARRY, THOMAS J. TALLENT
Ticket Agent
ital can only follow the pioneer. The
exaction of a license for the privilege
of prospecting is un-American and
foreign and at variance with the en
couragement given by the American
people to the hardy miners who are
seldom recompensed for the years of
toll and privations that they endure.
The assertion of Eastern advocates
of conservatism that there can be a
monopoly of c oalsupply in Alaska
Is refuted by the opinion of all min
ing men and experts who have visit
ed the territory, and that the coal
lands of Alaska embrace thousands
of acres and the coal deposits are es
timated to supply the country for sev
eral hundred years is staled by the
same belief.”
The committee further recom
mended that a copy of these resolu
tions be sent President William H.
Taft( the Washington representative
in Congress, Senator Knute Nelson,
author of an Alaska coal bill, and
Senator Carter, of Montana, and all
other congressmen interested in Alas
ka legislation.
If you have good furs and want
to realize 100 cents on the dollar for
them, see Perry Jacobs. He will give
you a square deal. 12-17-tf
How is that for track laying? Two
miles of steel in one day. The boys
at the front are sure going some
these frosty days.
Chitina
News
Stand
TOILET ARTICLES,
AM) DRUGS
CIGARS, TOBACCOS, and
MAGAZINES
PRESCRIPTIONS CARE
FULY COMPOUNDED.
A. G. MOREY, Proprietor
Chitina, Alaska.
Chitina
Pharmacy
All tli* Latest
MAGAZINES & PERODICALS
Cigars, Tobacco’s, Confection
ery and Soft Drinks
POOL AND SOLO TABLES
Barber Shop in Connection
Yon can play or read while
awaiting your turn
AL CHURCH & TOM BRADY,
Proprietors
Buy Your Clothing at the Home
Store and Save the Freight
We Will Sell You Everything
AT CORDOVA PRICES
FINKELSTEIN & SAPIRO
CORDOVA MEN’S OUTFITTERS
Cliitina, Alaska.
i i i i tt i i riri -r « ■ ■
Just Op
Billiards - Pool
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
Bowling Alley
TIBBS BROS.
Send Your
Job Printing
To the
Chitina Leader
OWL CAFE
FINEST MEALS IN TOWN
ROOMS FOR LADIES
NICE CLEAN BEDS IN CONNEC
TION.
Noodles and Chop Suey
FEED STABLE
HAY AND GRAIN
FOR SALE
First Class Accommoda
tions for Stock, Steady or
Transient. : : : : :
H. CHAMBERLAIN, Prop.
Log
Cabin
Restaurant
GOOD COFFEE
Babbage
The Old Sour-Do ugh
Watchmaker and Jeweler
OP AMERICA.
LAH'ASTtP. PA.
In Chitina Pharmacy, Chitina,
ED. S. ORR STAGE GO.
Leaves Chitina
TUESDAYS,
FRIDAYS
and SUNDAYS
Carrying Passengers Express
and U. S. Mail
Office in Hotel Chitina
444444444444
:: Chitina Bakery
:: & Coffee House
4 ►
GESSNER & STANGNETH
«• Proprietors
FRESH BREAD
; Cakes and Pastry
• - Always on Hand
4 ►
4 ►
• > Main Street, — Chitina.