FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1914.
NUMBER 26
WASHINGTON, April 8.—Ever since the passage of the
Alaska railroad bill the President has been closely examining
and studying all available data concerning the resources of the
territory and the available routes that will to the best
advantage and greater benefit open up that vast territory. At
first it was his idea to send a commission of engineers north to
look over the situation and report to him before making his
choice of routes. But he has gradually gotten away from that
notion. He has a large relief map of Alaska showing *the
proposed routes recommended by the railway commission
named under authorization of Congress in August 1912,
hanging on the wall of his office. This he has frequently studied,
in addition to all available matter that has been issued by the
various departments concerning the resources of Alaska. He
has also been in frequent consultation with Dr. Alfred Brooks,
who was a member of the railway commission and who is
regarded as having a more extensive and accurate knowledge
of Alaska’s resources and possibilities than likely any other
one man. Others have also been frequently consulted,
particularly Secretary of the Interior Lane, who is to directly
represent the President in looking after the gigantic project of
building not to exceed 1,000 miles of railway in Alaska. As a
result of all his investigation it was stated yesterday afternoon
that the President would not send another commission to
Alaska to locate routes but that he had practically selected the
routes himself. It was announced however, that the President
would not likely make public the routes selected until after
Secretary Lase visits Alaska as soon as Congress adjourns.
In the meantime he is selecting the men who will have active
direction of the construction.
WASHINGTON, April 14.—Now that the President has
practically decided on the routes for the government railroads
in Alaska he is exercising much caution in the selection of the
men who will be entrusted with the working part of the great
enterprise. Secretary Lane, when approached this afternoon
on the matter of commencement stated, “We expect to
announce the men who will make the surveys for the Alaska
government railroad lines within three weeks.” When
approached on the same subject Secretary of War Garrison
said: “I have been canvassing for available men in my depart
ment and hope to take up the question with the President
shortly. It is our intention to push the work on the railroads
as rapidly as possible.”
WASHINGTON, April 9.—Representative Falconer from
the state of Washington has introduced in the House a bill
providing for prohibition in Alaska. He has had complaints
from the territory regarding.the abuse of licenses in tbe sale
of liquor to intoxicated persons and of the activity of the
saloon element in the control cf the politics, so he has deter
mined if possible to make the territory dry, in accordance with
a petition which he received from Nome. When the legislative
assembly was created for Alaska an effort v/as made to change
the bill introduced by Delegate Wickersham and place the
regulation of liquor within the power of the legislature. This
the delegate objected to, declaring that more satisfactory
results would be attained if the power were allowed to remain
with Congress. The act as passed provides: “Nor shall
spiritous or intoxicating liquors be manufactured or sold,
except under such regulations and restrictions as Congress
shall provide.”
VALLEJO, April 9.—Orders have been received from the
navy department for the cruiser Maryland to sail from here on
May 15 for Alaska. She will go to Cook’s Inlet and there take
aboard the 900 tons of coal from the Matanucka field that Jack
Dalton has just freighted from the mine to Old Knik. This
coal was mined last summer under direction of George Evans,
an experienced engineer, and from all reports is of a good
quality and clean. It is believed that it will result in a much
better test for steaming purposes than did the poor quality of
Bering river coal that was tested last summer. It is expected
that the test of Matanuska coal will he made on the Maryland.
Some of the men on this cruiser who participated in the test
of the Bering coal express the opinion that another test of a
fair sample of the coal from that field would give much better
results.
MEXICO CITY, April 11.—For a time yesterday afternoon
it looked as though serious results would he precipitated
because of an unwarranted act upon the part of a Mexican
general. A launch from the gunboat Dolphin, flying the
American flag and carrying Paymaster Small and a detachment
of marines all uniformed hut unarmed, put in at Tampico for a
supply of gasoline. A colonel of the Mexican federals arrested
the paymaster and his men and paraded them through the
streets. It was only after a vigorous protest upon the part of
Rear Admiral Mayo that the men were released. As soon as
the occurrence was reported here President Huerta apologized
to Nelson O’Shaughnessy, secretary of the embassy. General
Zaragoza also expressed regret to Admiral Mayo that the
occurrence should have happened.
WASHINGTON, April 14.—Senator Lea created quite a
sensation in the Senate late yesterday afternoon when he
introduced bills that are regarded as extreme Socialistic
measures. He provides for the purchase of all the interstate
railways, the building of an hundred vessels to be used as the
American merchant marine, and for the creation of a commis
sion of 20 to supersede the present interstate commerce
commission. Another bill provides that the government shall
take complete control of the banking and transportation
4
JOHN E. ERICSOX <
FOR CHIEF ENGINEER <
-- <
WASHINGTON, April 9.— ^
Strong efforts are lieing made 4
to !iave John Ernest Ericson, ss
of Chicago, up|H>inted by ^
President Wilson as cliief 4
engineer of the government ^
railroad construction i n ^
Alaska. Since June 1S97 he 4
has been city engineer of 4
Chicago. He was born in ^
Sweden in Octolier 18.18 and ^
came to the United States in ^
1SSI as resident engineer for ^
tlie Clover Leal' railroad. A <
year later he was on the U. S. 4
government canal surveys, 4
and in 1N84 he went to Chi- <
cago as draftsman, becoming a
assistant engineer in 1889 4
and continuing to serve until <
1889 when he went to Seattle a
as assistant chief engineer to <
design the $2,000,009 water- a
works system for the city. A.
In 1899 lie returned to Chi- 4
cago and became assistant a
engineer on tunnel work, and ^
served as first assistant city ^
engineer from 1893 until <
1897. He is consulting engi- a.
neer for waterworks, etc., 4
for various cities. In politics 4
he is a Progressive Democrat, a
A
The Democrats of Cordova formed
a preliminary organization yester
day afternoon at City Hail, which
promises to develop into a strong
and influential organization. The
meeting was called to order by
Tom Price, precinct committeeman,
who stated the advantages of organ
ization. Temporary officers were
selected in the persons of Dr. W. W.
Council, president, and C. H. Schef
fler, secretary. An address on the
duty of Democrats and the necessity
of lending encouragement to the
splendid work performed by tfr
national administration fo: “ Alaska
was made by Arthur Lang, of Val
dez, the present obliging cleric of the
court. Several others also made
short talks. When the roll for
members was offered, the first man
to sign was Judge Chapin. He ex
plained that he had previously bean
a Republican, and that while he was
deeply appreciative of the many
good works performed by that
party, he believed that the present
progressive administration was de
serving of the support of the peo
ple generally throughout the coun
try. Particularly is it true, lie said,
with reference to Alaskans. He
considered that the effective work
on behalf of this territory, per
formed by President Wilson and his
followers, was entitled to the deep
est appreciation and that the loyalty
of all good Alaskans should bo ou(,
to the men who have made possible
progress, growth and prosperity in
Alaska. It was decided to hold a
meeting on Friday evening at the
same place and perfect the organiza
tion. It is expected that Judge
Drown and other prominent men
will address the gathering. Toni
Price was appointed a committee
to secure signatures to the list of
membership. The following have
thus far signed the roll:
S. P. Chapin, F. C. Schiller, M. C.
Thompson, C. P. Mickelson, K. G.
Robinson, J. L. O’Brien, W. L.
Milliken, F. A. Jones, C. S. Bratton.
E. A. Hegg, W. A. Steel, M. A.
Redfield, T. F. York, Thos. C. Price,
R. J. Boryer, James Smith, N. J.
Black, W. W. Council, C. H.
Sclieffler, E. E. Ray, A. R. Oilman,
M. Finkelstein, Ed. Kelter, Jack E.
Way, Jack O’Neill, John Reidy,
Aug. Spiele, C. H. Sage, S. T.
Brightwell, A. J. Adams, R. Gordon,
Phil F. McKanna, D. O. Kennedy,
Wm. O’Connor, R. R. Kerwood,
Edw. F. Medley, Geo. Hickman, A.
Schneider, C. H. Wilcox, Charley
Guy, Frank Esterbrook, W. L.
Smith.
-u-u-u
John Rustgard, United States dis
trict attorney for the Juneau divi
sion, announces that he will posi
tively retire from his present posi
tion on June 1st. He will open a
law office at Juneau. The Demo
cratic Club of Juneau recently re
solved that John be fired but it is
expected that he will not be dis-j
turbed until his term expires.
YUKON RIVER FLEET
HAS BEEN SOLD
SEATTLE, April O.—It
lias been officially announced
by Leon Sloss, of San Fran
cisco, president of the North
ern Navigation Company, that
the steamer possessions of his
company on the Yukon river
have been sold to the White
I’ass & Yukon Railway Com
pany. The eonsiderati n is
not announced hut it is sup
posed to lie in the neighbor
hood of S2,OOO.OOt*. The fleet
consists of 97 steamers and
barges. This will end the
rate war that prevailed last
season between the White
I’ass. which operated a line
of steamers between White
Horse, Dawson and Fair
banks, and the Northern Nav
igation company, which
operates between St. Michael
and White Horse. The
latter company was recently
awarded the * mail contract
for the ensuing four years.
It is now believed that the
reiKirt that the (itiggenheims
were also to he a party to
the purchase of these river
steamers was not well
founded.
BREMERTON, April 13—Reports
from the Mare Island navy yard
indicate that the repairs to the
armored cruiser Maryland will not
be completed for nearly a month.
At that time Commander Philip
Andrews will bring the cruiser to
this yard, where she will take on a
full load of fuel coal and proceed
to Controller bay, Alaska. At Con
troller bay there are two large
barges hauled up on the bank at
Chilkat, near Katalla. The Mary-1
j land will hoist these barges on j
| board and steam to the head of j
j Cock Inlet and take on boardj
approximately 300 tons of Matan-j
1 uska coal, which were rec#K«l$
transported from the coal beds to
I tidewater by .Tack Dalton.
The Maryland is then under
orders to make a series of complete
and exhaustive tests of the Matan
uska coal, which it is claimed is far
superior to that formerly tested by
the navy department. Claimants for
the value of Alaska coal for use ot
the navy have entered a protest
against the recent adverse decision
of the department in that they claim
the coal tested last year by the
Maryland had been exposed to the
elements for a considerable time
and was mixed with rock and dirt
in the careless sacking of it.
The Maryland has instructions to
be at the head of Cook Inlet by
June 1 in order that all the tests
required may be completed by
August, when the Maryland will be
called upon to convey the submarine
tender Alert and the newly desig
nated flotilla that is to be stationed
at Pearl Harbor. The submarines
comprising the flotilla will be the F
type, two of which were constructed j
i in Seattle.
-yw-U
SEATTLE, April 13.—The.steam
er Northwestern sailed for the north
last night at her regular hour. For
Cordova she had 25 cabin and 13
steerage passengers; for Valdez 11
and 9: for Seward 15 and 3. Among
the passengers for Cordova are;
Geo. Max Ester!v and F. A. Hotch
kiss, who will direct \\%rk on their
placer properties on Chittitu and
Rex creeks. Volney A. Richmond, |
manager of the Northern Navigation!
Company, will go by his stage line:
from Cnitina to Fairbanks. J. W.:
Forrester is returning to his duties!
as division engineer on the Copper j
River Ac Northwestern Railway.
Other Cordova passengers are: J. E.!
Sommer, James Chisholm, Hansj
Frydenlund, Henry Bellows, and J.
R. Hirst.
-o—o—o
HANCOCK, Mich., April 14.—The
miners who have been on a strike so
long at the Calumet copper mines
have taken a vote and declared to
call off the strike. Many efforts at
settlement had been made without
avail. At times the feeling rau
high and as a result of various con
flicts between the strikers and the
men at work or officers of the law,
many have been killed and injured.
CANDIDATES ELECTED IN CORDOVA
Councilinen:
E. V. Boyle, Mayor Henry A. Slater
J. E. Currier Clias. J. Goodall
Geo. C. Hazelet Edgar J. Davis
Thomas Davis
Treasurer of School Board:
Mrs. W. J. McDonald
VOTE FOR OOl’XCTLMKX. |
Citizens Progressive Ticket:
K. V, Boyle, 1:50
J. K. Carrier, 137
Chas. J. Gncdall, 121
Thos. Davis, 121
O. S. Bratton, 105
Dr. J. A. Vance, 5)9
F. A. .Tones, 5)4.
Taxpayers Ticket:
Geo. C. llazelel, 135
H. A. Slater, 127
Kdgar J. Davis, 121
Geo. Dooley, 118
K. A. Hegg, 115
F. Glassbrenner, 108
A. K. l.athrop, 107
Vote for School Director:
Mrs. TV. J. McDonald. 191.
Mrs. C. M. Rosswog, 181
VALDEZ FIGHTS HARD
VALDEZ, April 8.—What is gen
erally said to have been the hardest
political fight in the town was held j
yesterday in connection with the*
municipal election. There were all
kinds of tickets in the field for
eouncilmen, but what was known as
the Greater Valdez ticket pulled
through with but one exception. The
name of John Biggs was scratched
and instead A1 White was elected.
The vote of the women is regarded
as responsible for the election of
White and the high vote given Mr.
Patterson. The vote cast for the
successful candidates was, as fol
lows:
James Patterson, 402; Wm. i
Thomas, 393; John Lyons, 325;
Harry King. 319; J. C. Martin, 311;
A1 White, 306; E. E. Ritchie, 282.
There were 566 votes cast for j
council and 602 for school director. :
This contest was between C. E.;
Bunnel and T. J. Donohoe. The,
former was successful, receiving 306 i
to 220 cast for Mr. Donohoe.
NEW DEAL AT SEWARD
- »
SEWARD, April 8.—What is;
known as the Beachcombers ticket j
was elected by a veritable landslide.
The ' successful men for council
were: G. G. Boe, high man, Clias.
Crawford, J. O. Batton, E. H.
Chamberlain, C. F. Hewett, J. L.!
Graef and John Noon. The Citi- j
zens ticket contained the names ofj
W. M. Sauers, Geo. Sexton, H. J. ;
Vaughan, T. W. Hawkins, H. V. |
Hoben, F. L. Ballaine and V'. A.j
McNeiley. These are among the
most prominent business men of the
town who have always had consider
able to say in the running of munici
pal affairs. But the tide had set in
against them and they could not
resist the demand for a chahge.
-o—o—o
JUNEAU’S ELECTION
JUNEAU, April 8.—The contest
yesterday did not prove to be as
close as was generally predicated.
The Citizens ticket was successful
in electing five members of council,:
as follows: John Reck, J. R. Willis.
C. W. Fries, William Britt, and
William Geddes. They had an l
average plurality of one hundred.
The People's ticket, gotten up by
farmer Mayor Emery Valentine, and
containing his name for council,
was defeated with the exception of
F. W. Olland and Geo. F. Miller
The “Socialist ticket had an average
vote of 180. For the school board
\V. W. Casey defeated two women
aspirants.
-o—o—o
FAIRBANKS, April 9.—There
was a lively interest in the election
held here on Tuesday and the result
showed that no clique dominated
the voters. For council there were
21 candidates in the field, divided on
the different tickets as follows:
Business Men’s, 7; Socialists 8;
Citizens 5; Independent. 1. The
successful candidataes are as fol
lows: Murray Smith, mayor; F. 3.
Gordon. Peter Lorentzen, Dan Cal
lahan, Dr. R. R. Myers, Geo. M.
Smith, Andrew Xerland. Of these
men Murray Smith, Gordon and
Xerland ran on the Business Men's
ticket, while Lorentzen, Myers and
Geo. Smoth were on the Citizens
ticket. Dan Callahan ran as an
independent and was elected for the
ninth successive term. The total
registration of voters was 964, with
a total vote cast of 875. There
were 203 women registered and all
but nine of them cast a ballot, they
showing much interest throughout
the day. The highest vote cast for
Mayor Smith, was 527, and the
lowest vote cast was 37 for a
Socialist. The hignest vote cast for
any of the Socialist candidates was
118. For clerk of the school board,
the election was held yesetrday and
there were two women candidates.
The women were kept busy driving
around in automobiles and taking
voters to the polls.
SKAGWAY, April 10.—The wo
men were active in the municipal
election orr Tuesday and were in
evidence everywhere. They indulged
in many of the methods so long in
vogue among the men politicians,
with some slight innovations. They
furnished many with lunches, passed
out cigars,, had...fawg&es to convey
voters to the polls and circulated
sample ballets of their ticket.
The women largely united in an
effort to break the old ring tha.t has
been ruling the town for years past.
As a result the entire non-partisan
Union ticket was elected as against
the Taxpayers ticket, the men oa
that ticket having been in power for
the past six years. J. M. Tanne'-,
who has dominated the council for
ten years past was defeated, as was
also his first lieutenant Henry
Friedenthal. The new council is
composed of the following:
James Kennedy, mayor, manager
of W. Clayson's clothing store, born
at Juneau, and brother of George
Kennedy, of Cordova; William Hat
son, who conducts a meat market;
Alex. C. Blanchard, chief clerk and
auditor of the White Pass & Yukon
railway; William R. Hillary, cashier
of the railway; George Magee, clerk
in railway office; Howard Ashlev.
master mechanic of railway; Oscar
Selmar, barber. AH these success
ful candidates are married men with
families. Many of the prominent
women of the town worked from the
opening of the polls to the closing,
rustling votes for the winning
ticket, which stands for progressive,
clean and moral government.
-o—o- —o
George B. Grigsby was at the
head of the successful municipal
ticket and will be mayor. The fol
lowing were elected to the council:
G. B. Grigsby, W. H. Webb, Andy
Anderson, H. H. Mollev, Henry
Bourough, Philip Murphy and A. W.
Orland.
-o—o—o
The following are the recently
elected couneilmen at Ketchikan: D.
Smith Harris, mayor; Everett Pau;i.
F. E. Ryus, M. J. Heneghan, W. H„
Patching, Peter Shark, H. L. Fed
erson.
WASHINGTON, April 14—Yes
terday afternoon John Lind, who
has been the President’s personal
representative in Mexico since last
fall, arrived in this city. He will
have a long conference with the
President and go over the entire
Mexican situation.
VERA CRUZ, April .10.—'There
has been considerable fear expressed
for the safety of the American
women in this city and it was
thought best that they be safely
placed. As a consequence they were
taken aboard the United States
battleships that are in this harbor