I
THIRD YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MAY 13, 11)13.
NUMBER 29.
Late Telegraph News
VALLEJO, May 13—The cruiser Maryland has been ordered
by the navy department to proceed to Alaskan waters. .. She
sailed yesterday from Santa Barbara, preliminary to sailing
north. . .It is understood that she will go direct to Southwest
ern Alaska, to resume the work of determining which are the
most desirable locatoins for a naval coaling station, and later
to go to Katalla and take on the 700 tons of coal that is now
being brought down from Stillwater river on barges. When
the Maryland was north last summer her work was interfered
with by a summary order to Captain EHicott to return to Brem
erton and prepare to take Secretary Knox and party to Japan,
where the Secretary was to -represent the President at the fU’
neral of the late Emperor. On that trip the cruiser spent
most or the time at Port Wells and Seward. Neither Cordova
or Valdez was visited, both of which towns will now be given an
opportunity to view one of the largest of Uncle Sam’s ar
mored cruisers, which cost $5,683,000 to build and requires a
small army of men to handle. .. Definite details of the assign
ment ore not knoWn yet, but it is believed that the cruiser will be
in Alaska for several weeks- It is expected that she will give
a test to the coal that she takes on from the Bering river coal
field. . .When she starts north it will not take her long to reach
Cordova as the cruiser has a speed of 22 knots per hour.
-0—O—' 0
WASHINGTON, May 13—Senator Key Pittman, chairman
of the committee on territories, has announced that as soon as
the hearings are finished on the Chamberlain bill for the con
struction of railroads in Alaska, that he will introduce a rail
road bill. When pressed for further information the Senator
stated, ‘‘I am not prepared to make any statement about the
measure at this time.”
--o—o—o
SEATTLE, May 13—Governor Strong, who returned to this
city from Washington on Saturday ,states that he had a con
ference with President Wilson, and that the latter told him that
he intended to visit Alaska. He further stated that he thought
it possible that he could leave for the west and north imme
diately after the completion of the Panama canal. The gov
ernor believes that much good would result from a visit by
the President.
-0—0—o
WASHINGTON, May 8—Late yesterday afternoon former
Secretary iof the Interior Walter L. Fisher was again before
the Senate committee on Territories that is giving a hearing on
matters affecting Alaska. In testifying lie made the broad
statement, “1 don’t care what is the attitude of the members
of congress concerning the coal fields of Alaska, they canno4
be opened under the present law.’’ In his previous testimony
Mr- Fisher has insisted that the present coal law does not fit
existing conditions and that it is necessary for congress to pass
a coal leasing law before the territory can be opened up. He
maintains that most of the past locations were fraudulent eith
er in location, subsequent agreements, or failure to properly de
velop the claims. He also opposes taking the question into the
courts. He believes in departmental rule.
■-O—0—o
WASHINGTON, May 7—The Senate committee on Territo
ries continued their hearing to-day on the Alaska coal trans
portation question. Former Secretary W. L. Fisher testified
He declared the responsibility for the present condition of
Alaska rests on the shoulders of Congress. He further stated
that he favored the government operation of railroads.
When Gifford Pine hot was before the committee Senator
Walsh, of Montana, asked him why the coal lands of Alaska
are now unavailable although a lew for their disposal continues
on the statute books. The witness was visibly embarressed
and after much hesitancy stated that provisions of the law unde;*
which President Roosevelt had suspended coal locations had
slipped his memory.
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, May 7—This afternoon the Senate confirmed
the nomination of Robert W Jennings, of Juneau, to be judge
of the First judicial division of Alaska . . The nomination was
made on April 17, and Judge Jennings will immediately suc
ceed Thomas R Lyons, whose term of office has already ex
pired The nomination of Lewis Erwin ,of Fairbanks, as
United States Marshal for the Fourth division, was referred
to the Judiciary committee
-Q-O-O
SEATTLE, May 12—Governor Strong, wba arrived on Sat
urday, enroute from AVashington to .Juneau, is hopeful for no
tion favorable to the northern territory. In discussing the
Chamberlain-AVickersliam bills for the construction by the gov
ernment of 1,000 miles of railroad in Alaska, the governor
says: ‘T believe that the bill will he passed practically in its
present form, or in some slightly amended shape that will ac
complish the same result. 1 am hopeful that the measure will
be passed at the special session of congress, although this is
not assured. The President is evincing a keen interest in
Alaska, and in Secretary Lane has a rational adviser. Both
are anxious to see Alaska developed. The policy of the past
administrations has been such as to prevent the development
of au important industry and to dishearten the people.’’
-yj-yj-yj-■
WASHINGTON, May 12—In the telegram sent by Secretary
liryan in the name iof President Wilson, he urges Governor
Johnson to kill the recent bill passed by the legislature ex
cluding alien ownership of land. The Secretary points out
that “the legislature can reconvene at any time that the welfare
of the state seems to require positive action.” He then adds,
“the President will be pleased to co-operate in any systematic
effort to discover any evils existing in connetcion with the
land ownership of aliens.”
DISTRICT COURT HI CORDOVA
Cordova, May 7
The personal injury ease of James
Heney vs. C. R. & N. W. Ry. Co.
was concluded this morning and
went to the jury before noon.
A motion for a new trial was filed
case of Mathilda Snyder vs. Edw.
Keltner was refused by Judge Over
field . A request on the part of
Attorney Cobb for the plaintiff, to
be permitted to file a brief on cer
tain aspects of the case, was dis
posed of with the reply that the court
considered that the cause had been
given a fair trial.
Judge Overfield has received word
from Judge Lyons that it will not
be necessary for him to go to Ju
neau at the present time to hear the
motion for bail in the case of the
government against McDonald. The
reason is given that District Attor
ney Rustgard and his assistant are
now at Ketchikan attending a term
of court. As soon as they can get
through and be able to be present at
Juneau, Judge Overfield will be
wired to go there and hear the mo
tion, which he has consented to do.
In the meantime a session of court
will be held at Valdez commencing
on Monday morning next, to which
time it Had been adjourned. Under
present arrangements Judge Over,
field and the floating court will sail
for the westward on the revenue cut
ter Thetis^ on July 15, expecting to
return to Seward about two months
later.
A motion for an ew trial was filed
by defendants in the case of Geo
C. Hazelet, trustee, Chas. Goodall
and J. E. Currier vs. The Arctic
Lumber Company.
A few motions remain for the
court to take action on before the
special term of court at Cordova
will be adjourned. The court offic
ials will return to Valdez on tlie
steamer Sampson, which is expected
to sail from Cordova on Sunday
next.
When court convened this after_
noon the McCarthy liquor cases were
taken up by Judge Overfield.
Marshal Charles and Justice of
Peace Dose and Guard Lindquist had
presented their statements on Satur
day, upsupported by any of the resi
dents of McCarthy. Their evi
dence was general that conditions
were worse than ever before seen in
any other part of Alaska citing the
fact that three or four characters
who are known in various camps had
been given liquor in the saloons con
ducted by Oscar Breedman and Peter
Johnson. This afternoon .reput
able citizens of Alaska like M. V.
Lattin, Charley David, E. W,. Bates,
and Oscar Fish, all of whom had fre
quently visited the saloons in ques.
tion, testified that they had prac
tically never seen any unusual con
ditions in the places referred to and
that they usually closed at night
about ten o’clock. One of the wit
nesses stated that he had seen sa
loon conditions much worse at Chit
ina, Cordova and Valdez Attorney
Ritchie for the defendants stated
that he had a dozen more witnesses,
but that the evidence would be along
the same line. The court ruled
that it would not be necessary to
hear any more cumulative evidence.
Deputy Marshal Charles was called
and asked whether he was not a
frequent visitor and drinker at the
saloons in question, running up bilK
for liquor, one of which remains un
paid. He was also asked whether
or not he had personally bought li_
quor for one or more of the men he
had found it necessary to “siwash.”
To all of which he replied in the af
fir. ative. Oscar Breedman was
on lie stand and testified at length
tha, he did not personally sell liquor
i ; toxicated men and that his bar
tender was instructed not to so
ell. Breedman testified that he
Has the only person interested in
his license, and that the grocery
store and roadhouse were conducted
by Breedman and Church.
At the conclusion of the hearing
Judge Overfield took the matter un_
der advisement.
Cordova. May 8.
The jury in the personal injury
case of James Heney against the
railroad company went out yesterday
at noon. They remained out all
night and at ten o’clock this morning
reported to the court that they were
unable to agree and asked that they
be discharged. This Judge Over
Held was loth to do and he advised
the jury to muke another attempt
to arrive at a verdict. It is thought
likely that if an agreement is not
reached by to-night, and that if the
jury again asks to be discharged,
their wish will be complied with.
Of course it is not known how the
jury stands, but the report gained
circulation this morning that eleven
were in favor of awarding Mr. He
ney damages. while the twelfth
stood out for a verdict favorable to
the defendant.
Later—At 4:30 o’clock this after
noon the jury returned a verdict of
$2123 for the plaintiff.
Cordova, May 3
The district court will convene to
morrow morning 'before final ad
journment of the session. A dl
! voice case and,several motions will
be heard including" motions for new
I '
trials in two cases. They are Janies
Heney vs. C. It. & N. W. Ity.
Co., and George C. Ilazelet, trus
tee, vs. Arctic Lumber Company.
In the action of Max Kahn vs. Al
len^ Breedman and Dooley, demur
rers of the two latter will be argued.
In the personal injury case of
Mrs. Iteed, administratrix and Dan
S. Reeder, both against the C. R. &
N. W. Ry. Company, Judge Over
field made orders denying motions
upon the part of tj-.e defendant for
new trials. In both cases he al
lowed sixty days for filing bills of
exception^ and in the meantime
granted stay of execution. He al.
so granted exception to the special
panel of trial jurors.from Valdez and
Seward
Cordova, May 10
At 11:30 o'clocl this morning
Judge Overfield adjourned the spec
ial term of court that convened at
Cordova on Thursday, April 10. The
court officials, juro.'s and witnesses
will return to Valdez and Seward on
the Sampson to-morrow morning.
A new trial was denied defendant
in the personal injury case of Jas.
Heaney vs. C. It. & N. W. Ry.
Company.
In the case of Geo. Hazelet, trus
tee, Chas. Goodall and J.^E. Cur
rier vs. Arctic Lumber Company,
the court signed judgment after de
nying a motion for a new trial. The
stipulation of plaintiff was agreed to
that engineers Price or Malcom
should establish the north line of
the lots in question
After hearing the reasons of the
plaintiff in the case of Bernice
Hutchinson vs. Samuel Hutchinson,
the court granted a divorce, which
was uncontested by the defendant.
In stating that the evidence was suf
ficient for him to grant a decree, the
Judge sought to impress upon the
divorcee the seriousness of the mat
rimonial tie, and the care that should
he exercised in future relations.
In accordance with a resolution
passed by the Council at its last
meeting. the judiciary committee,
composed of Capt. Lathrop, Geo. C.
Hazelet and E. V. Hoyle, had an in
terview with Judge Overfield Satur
day night relative to the question of
liquor licenses The Judge in
formed them that he would not he
guided any more by the Council than
| he would by a church or any other
[organization in the granting of new
licenses. The petition signed in
February by 70 of the business men
of Cordova, praying that no addi
tional liquor licenses be granted for
Cordova until the population has
reached the unmber of 2,500 was
submitted to his honor. He stated
that he was in accord with the de
sire to restrict if possible, the num.
her of licenses and that if any new
applications were received by him
and they contained the names of any
of the men who had* first placed
themselves on record as opposing
new licenses (hat he would disre
gard the names so contained on a
new applicant. He made it clear
however, that the law permitted
very little latitude on the part of
the court. It was intended as a
measure of local government, and
when a petition was presented with
the requisite number of names, and
there was no protest against the char
acter of the applicant, it would nat
urally follow that a license would
issue.
- 1 ■ O-O-o ' ' ■
NOGALES, May 12—For a time a
fierce battle raged outside of Guay
ames in which four hundred were
killed. Fifteen hundred federals
were taken prisoners by the state
troops, who are in revolt
THIS FOHACHELORS
Mrs. Cora A. DeLong, of Cros
well, Michigan, has read of the sad
plight of the single men of Alaska,
and her heart bleeds in sympathetic
distress for them. She writes to
say that shte is ready to throw her.
self into the breach and be the me
dium through which the honest bach
elors of Alaska and good industri
ous girls of the East might be
brought together. She herself is
a widow, but for twenty years she
has not ministered to the vagaries of
ordinary man. If she were a little
younger she would be inclined to
again offer herself on the shrine of
the matrimonial altar, and diminish
the distress of some saddened and
lonely heart in the northland. But
she lias decided that she will simply
be the “medium” to bring longing
hearts together through the “Mutual
Benefit Circle.” She believes that in
Detroit there would be a general
feminine response to the lure of gold
and affection that is so insistently
calling for appreciation from even the
mountain tops of Alaska The bea
con lights that they are holding a
loft could easily be seen for thous.
ands of miles through the “mediuih.”
And for the great service that Mrs.
DeLong would render lonely man she
would exact “at least one hundrul
dollars—not less—from each single
man.” And she will supply all
nationalities. So “if the single men
of Cordova or vicinity should respond
at once with a draft on any na 'onal
bank, by the time navigation opened
again there might be many happy
hearts in Alaska that are not known
now And when the boys send
her the hundred she incidentally
wants a “personal description of your
ideal.” She volunteers her good
work by reason of an article that
was sent from Seattle and published
in the Detroit Times, as follows:
“Alaska needs more women. In
order to stimulate the desire of the
fair sex to move to Alaska the first
legislature, silting at Juneau, unan
imously passed a very liberal equal
suit rage law, giving the women of
the territory the right to vote the
same as men.
“One reason why the law was
passed is so that it may bring more
women to Alaska. Alaska has
wealth beyond the avaricious dreams,
and abundance of gold, coal, timber
and fish, but what do all these rich
es amount to when the country is
short of women.
‘ The northerners can get along
without coal or timber un‘i! the ul
tra-conservationists Teel rea !y to lot
these hardy northern pioneers help
themselves. They don'e mind d0
degrees below zero without a fire, but
Christmas in the mining camps with
out women is a heartbreaking affair.
“At Ruby last fall there were *,000
men, 35 women and 12 children.
The miners planned an Xmas tree,
and the few children were loaded
with presents of gold and money.
“What is the use of gold dust, the
timber, fishes, birds and the wild
flowers if there were no women with
whom they could share and enjoy
this opulence on natural resources?
“Not one of the sixteen represen
tatives and eight senators to the first
legislature is married, and there is
naturally a feeling of sympathy for
women. Governor Walter E. Clark
has intimated that he doesn’t care a
sour-dough flapjack about equal sui
frage, but if he dares to veto the
measure his life would not be worth
a moment’s purchase.
wliile many married men find
work in Alaska and provide good
homes for their families, the major
ity, in fact four-fifths, of the male
population, is composed of young sin.
gle men, miners, fishermen, bankers,
merchants, steamship men, federal
employees and laborers.
' wetchikan is reported to have
400 young men who have come from
every state, but can induce no gi'-la
to come to the finest coast village
in Alaska.
“Seward has 400 single men. Val
dez at least 500, and Cordova. Wran
gell, Juneau, Sitka, jeldovia, Tan
ana and Copper Center, are unable to
hold dances without the married
women having to be generous enougn
—pn(>rs for the unmarried men
for the evening
“All these prospero”'- hard-work
ing, good-hearted, g, nerous, hand
some, healthy cp■’ temperate young
men would be ic-er to see an equal
number of marr’rp'iible young wo
men come north to be their wives.
Seventy thousand dollars was paid
the 500 employees of the Alaska
Gastineau Mining Company at Ju
neuu for the April pay roll. It ex
ceeds the March pay roll by $10,000.
HEWS OF NEIGHBORHOOD
Judge Overfield lias complied with
the desires of a large number of
miners and prospectors by creating
the White River Recording Pre
cinct. He lias also appiinted Ho
Commissioner and ex-officio Re
ratio E. Morgan as United States
corder of the district, with headquar
ters at Wiley, at the mouth of the
Solo river a tributary of the White
y
river and about two miles from the
middle fork • of the White river.
The district created includes a part
of the Copper Center and Chitina
recording precincts covering the
White river and its tributaries to
the divide on Scolai pass, Euchre
mountain, Chisana river. Snag riv_
er and Reaver river and its tribu
y
taries.
In his order creating the White
river recording precinct, Judge Over
field decrees that the district shall
begin at a point on the boundary
line between Alaska and the Yukon
District, Canada, at Mt. Wood;
then along the boundary line between
Alaska and the Yukon district, Can
ada. to a point at the intersection of
the line dividing the Third and
Fourth Judicial divisions of Alaska;
thence along the said division line
between the Third and Fourth ju
dicial divisions of Alaska in a west
erly direction to a point where the
Tanana river crosses said line;
thence in a southerly line along the
watershed dividing the Nabesna rlv.
er and its tributaries on the west
and the rivers flowing into the Tan
ana on the east of said watershed;
thence to Regal Mt.; thence in a
southeasterly direction to Scolai
pass; thence in a southerly direc
tion to the point of beginning.
-U-1)—u
All who have ever been in the
interior of Alaska are more or less
familiar with Frank Manley’s hotel
and natorium at Hot Springs, prob
ably the most costly edifice of the
kind in Alaska. It was complete
ly destroyed by fire late one after,
noon recently, together with a major
portion of its contents. The flames,
which originated from a defective
flue in the dining room, had gained
considerable headway before the fire :
was detected, and with the inade- j
quate fire-fighting apparatus at hand j
it was impossible to save the build
: ing, which was practically reduced to
j ashes within an hour The loss is
j estimated at $125,000, the buildings
j being valued at $100,000 and the de
stroyed furnishings at $25,000. Mat
Reis and wife, who were in charge
of the hotel saved the greater por
tion of their personal effects and .
some of the hote 1 fixtures. The j
hotel was built in 1906 and was open i
to the public until the fall of 1911.1
— -o—o—o
The expected annual trouble is
now being experienced at the Chit-,
ina trestle bridge, that crosses the
Copper river. Five bents have
gone out since Saturday. To.day |
the ice is still running and the water |
continues to slightly rise. Carpen- j
ter crews are on both sides of the
bridge prepared to start the work
of rebuilding so soon as the elements
will permit. The weather about I
Chitina is mild, about twenty de
grees warmer than it is at Cordova.
It is possible that two or three more
j bents may be carried away. Last
I Spring eight bents went out, and no
j trains were able to cross the bridge
jfor eight days. In 1911 the bridge
I was tied up for twelve days. It is
figured that after the work of re
pair can be started that four or five
days will be necessary to get every
thing in good order again, so that
trains can run on the Kennicott
branch.
-o—o-—o
The Alaska Road Commission at I
Valdez states that the work of the
Commission for the balance of the
year will consist mroaly < f woik
planned last year and the coraplet.
'.■•g of work already undertaken, and
the repair and maintena ,<v of roads
and trails now built. The work is
scattered over all parts of the terri
tory. One of the mo*t important
pieces of construction will be the
bridge across the Nizlna river, the
material for which is new at McCar
thy. The bridge across the Uel
kana has been about completed and
the Klutina bridge will bo rebuilt
At Nome a bridge was built across
the Nome river at a cos' of $6,000.
W. J. Rowe, a local transfer man
hauled all the material for the bridge
a distance of four miles without com
pensation.
••Dad” Ingram says that while the
Legislature was practically unan
imous in tlie desire to repeal the in_
iquitous road lax that has been so
partially collected in Alaska, there
was a general desire to Impose a
poll tax that would be fair and col
lectable. As a result a new law
enacted provides that every mala
person in Alaska, excepting sailors,
soldiers. Insane persons or territo
rial charges, volunteer firemen,
paupers, or revenue cutter seamen
•
over the age of 21 years and under
the age of 50 years, must pay an
annual tax in the sum of $4 Can
nery workers are not exempt. The
tax will be taken from their salaries
by tlie cannery owners. The United
Slates Commissioners of each pre
cinct are made supervisors of the
poll tax act. The treasurer of tha
territory will be the collector, with
tlie co-operation of other officials.
Failure to pay will constitute a ml».
demeanor and fines will be levied.
Since Col. Swanitz arrived at Sew
tru he has been busy making pleas,
lilt announcements as chief engi
neer of tlie Alaska Northern Railway
Company. One of the most im
portant is the statement that the
passenger rate on the line will be
reduced from 20 to 12 Cents the
mile; that the express business wi.l
be eliminated save in instances of
packages or parcels, and that regular
freight rates, substantially reducing
the express charges heretofore pre
vailing, will be established.
Col. Swanitz says the money to
complete the Alaska Northern rail
way system to the Matanuska coal
fields and to Susitna is available for
use just as soon as the federal gov
ernment raises the embargo on Alas
-ka coal. Until that time there is no
incentive for the railway owners to
do furU v construction work. The
passage of the Booher coal leasing
bill, no' pending in Congress^ will
solve the problem and result in the
speedy completion of the line. Just
as soon as weather conditions will
permit the road will be opened and
the large auto placed on the run.
it will be necessary to repair several
pf the bridges before a heavy train
may pass over. Repairs to the
railway dock have already been start.
?d.
The Prospector is authority for
tile statement that the plans of the
Road Commission for the Valdea
dyke provide for an outer protec
tion of raffia work of woven brush,
and the natives of Tatitlek have al
ready offered to do the work and
have even furnished a bid which it
is believed will be very satisfactory.
The natives first secured plans from
the engineer officer of the Cominis,
sion. Lieutenant Edgertou, and prac
ticed for some time to see how long
it would take them to do the work,
then they brought samples to the
Commission and offered a bid, which,
is said to be very acceptable. The
plans of tiie Commission have not
been made public, but Colonel Ricu
ardaon informs the Prospector that
he intends 'to build file most sub
stantial dike possible for the amount
of money allotted, which is $55,000.
-o—o—o — ■
A recent dispatch from Fairbanks
states that Ur. Brown, the bureau
of education physician, has taken
charge of the tight against the epi
demic of diphtheria which has brok
en out at Nulato. Diphtheria an.
titoxin is being rushed from Ruby
City and Fort Gibbon. Dr. Brown
wired to District Attorney Crossley
that three deaths have resulted and
that there are now seven cases being
treated. He expects he can enforce
quarantine witli the aid of the mar
shal's office.
--U-o
There is great rejoicing at Doug
las because of the recent announce
ment tHat the two thousand employ
ees will be put on an eight hour
day, starting with the first of June
when the mills fire roome, Compres
sor rooms and other sttrfoce work
ings will start on the eight hour duy,
with two shifts working. On or be.
fore July 1 the underground work
ings will go on eight hour shifts with
two shifts working.
A. F. Dentidoff has been appoint
ed postmaster at Kodiak to succeed
H. P. Cope; deceased. Dr. Sil
verman and several other residents
of the westward town were applicants
for the position.