FIFTH YEAR CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1914. NUMBER 1.
COAL LEASING BILL FILLY PASSES HOUSE AND SENATE
WASHINGTON, OCT. 15.—THE ALASKA COAL LEASING BILL IS NOW PRACTICALLY A LAW. THE REPORT OF
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WAS ADOPTED IN THE HOUSE LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE BILL WILL BE ENGROSSED
TOMORROW AND FORWARDED TO THE FRESIDENT FOR HIS SIGNATURE WHICH WILL BE ATTACHED IN SHORT
ORDER. WHEN THE REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE IT WAS ADOPTED WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION. THUS
ENDS ANOTHER GREAT VICTORY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALASKA. WITHOUT THE PERSISTENT INSISTENCE
OF PRESIDENT WILSON AND SECRETARY LANE THE COAL LEASING BILL WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE GONE OVER
TO THE NEXT CONGRESS AFTER THE FIRST REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITEE WAS REJECTED BY THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, OCT. 14.—ALASKA WON ANOTHER SIGNAL VICTORY LATE THIS AFTERNOON, BECAUSE OF THE
INSISTENCE OF PRESIDENT WILSON. THE COAL LEASING BILL, WHICH WAS AGREED TO BY CONFEREES YESTERDAY
IS ABOUT TO BECOME A LAW. THE CONFERENCE REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE AND WAS APPROVED.
THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT THAT WAS AGREED TO BY CONFERENCE COMMITTEES, BUT THE FIRST WAS REFUSED
BY THE SENATE. UNDER THE LAST REPORT THE GOVERNMENT PROFITS FROM ANY LEASES THAT MAY BE MADE
WILL BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN ALASKA. THE BILL WILL
BECOME A LAW THIS WEEK.
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PROGRESS OE THE WAR
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LONDON, Oct. 20.—The war office last night
announced that fierce fighting has been continued
in France and along the Belgian line for several days
past. At the start of the German onward movement
the allies were in some instances compelled to
give way. But they soon recovered their forces
and have since been gradually pressing forward
and punishing the enemy. As a result it is stated
that the Germans have been driven back 30 miles.
The German advance in Northern France toward the
sea coast has been effectually halted and the Ger
mans have again evacuated the city of Lille, for the
third time.
PARIS, Oct. 20.—The French have again
reoccupied the city of Armentiers, located in the
n orth of France and near the border line. They also
repulsed the Germans in their attempt to cross the
river Yser to enter the only section of Belgium that
now remains in absolute control of the Belgians.
TOKYO, Oct. 20.—The Japanese cruiser Taka
chiho was sunk by a German mine in Kiachau bay
yesterday. Those aboard had no time or means of
escape before the cruiser disappeared into the
waters. As a result 271 perished. A typhoon also
struck Kiachau, drowning 20 Japanese who were at
the waters edge.
LONDON, Oct. 20.—The British cruiser
Undaunted captured a German mine layer in the
North Sea, which was disguised as a hospital ship.
CETTINJE, Oct. 20.—It was reported here last
night that the French had sunk an Austrian sub
marine in the Adriatic Sea.
PARIS, Oct. 17.—The result of the actions
during the past day or two in France has been
decidedly favorable to the allies. The Germans
* made an attempt to pierce the lines of the allies near
the coast, but they failed, the right wing advancing
and the enemy retreating. The Crown Prince and
< - his forces are in a precarious position. Relief for
Verdun and St. Mihiel is early predicted. Late this
evening the war office announced that the allies had
made decided gains in the neighborhood of the
regions of Arras and St. Michiel.
LONDON, Oct. 17.—The admiralty announces
that the British cruiser Undaunted, accompanied by
the torpedo boat destroyers Lance, Lennox, Legion
and Loyal, engaged four German torpedo boat
destroyers this afternoon. It occurred off the Dutch
African coast and all four of the German boats were
sunk.
ROME, Oct. 17,.—The spread of cholera in
Hungary is something awful and the mortality is
' frightful. In one Northern Hungary city 10,000
cases of cholera have developed.
PARIS, Oct. 15.—The return movement of the
enemy yesterday was not the success that the Ger
* mans had evidently hoped for. They found the
allies not altogether unprepared for a move of this
kind. Some of the advance forces were compelled
to retreat but they were soon strengthened with
reinforcements and have succeeded in preventing
the Germans from gaining much advantage. Some
sharp battles are reported and it is expected that
there will be considerable loss on both sides before
the enemy is again driven back.
LONDON, Oct. 14.—Reports this afternoon
throw some light in the recent maneuverings of the
German forces in France, Today there has been a
^general advancement and word comes from many
battlefields that fierce action ;s again witnessed.
This would indicate that the Germans are attempt
ing to repeat the rapid sweeping movement which
five weeks ago took them almost to the gates of
¥ ris. They have been preparing for this move for
several days past, hoping to drive the allies from
their path and killing and capturing large numbers.
PETROGRAD, Oct. 14.—M. Diamondy, the
Roumanian minister, in a formal statement, declares
that Russia and Hungary are engaged in a power
parley. It is with reference to the ceding of Tran
sylvania, and guaranteeing to Hungary national
severance soon. In return Hungary is to withdraw
her troops from Cracow.
OSTEND, Oct. 14.—It is evident that the Ger
mans intend to try to capture this city. They are
reported as approaching by three roads. General
Von Kluck is endeavoring to cut the line of the
allies at Angle, Ypres, Dixmude and Dunkirk. It is
expected that a fierce battle will result, as the allies
will exert every possible effort to rebuff the invader.
LONDON, Oct. 17.—A dispatch received this
morning states that the Germans have taken posses
sion of that city. The advance movement on the
Germans yesterday indicated that it was but a matter
of a few hours before they would capture Ostend.
This locality was earlier the scene of a hard fight
between the German’s right and the allies left, in
what is known as the battle of the Aisne. Reports
reaching London say that the German imagination
has been fired by the taking of Ostend and that the
cry is now not only on to Calais, but on to Boulogne.
LONDON, Oct. 17.—Forty thousand Belgian
refugees, largely from Ostend and Antwerp have
arrived at Dover, Folkstone and other English ports
during the past three days. They are very bitter
against the invaders and declare that they will never
return to their own country so long as the German
flag floats over Belgium.
LONDON, Oct. 16.—Advices received here
from Rome state that Italy continues her mobilizing
and that in a few days without counting the large
forces in Tripoli, Italy will have ready for war
1,310,000 men, divided into thirty army corps.
Factories manufacturing big guns are working day
and night to bring the Italian cannon up to the full
war ecpiipment. These are expected to be ready
within the next three weeks.
THE HAGUE, Oct. 16.—Advices this after
noon are to the effect that the Russian advance in
East Prussia has utterly failed. The latest attempt
to again secure a foothold in Prussia was repulsed
yesterday and this morning. The Russians with
eight army corps from Warsaw and Ivangorod made
a desperate attack on the German forces in East
Prussia, but the latter had been largely reinforced
and succeeded in driving the enemy back with a
large loss.
AMSTERDAM, Oct. 15.—This afternoon it
was reported that the Germans were in possession
of the city of Bruges, due east of Ostend and not
far distant.
ROME, Oct. 15.—A telegram from Berlin states
that the authorities there admit that the total
German losses up to Saturday are 325,000. An official
list*was published a month ago giving the number
of losses in killed and missing, up to September J
as 115,000.
VENICE, Oct. 15.—According to reports which
are reaching this city cholera is making rapid
strides throughout Hungary. The progress of the
disease is causing great alarm and may have serious
effect on the war conditions.
TSINAW, Oct 14.—German and Japanese
aviators are tiffs afternoon engaged in a battle 9,000
feet high. Just before this wire was sent the Ger
man machines were disappearing in the clouds.
PETROGRA D, Oct. 13.—The Russian armored
cruiser Pallada was torpedoed in the Baltic Sea last
evening by a German submarine. The cruiser sank
so quickly that there was no time for any of the
crew to make an escape and all were lost.
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 20.—Suen Iledin, the
noted explorer with the German army, upon invita
tion of the government, relates in a private letter his
observations. Among other things he says that the
Germans claim to have 350,000 French, Russian and
Belgian prisoners.
MOTHER LODE IKE
James J. Godfrey, president of the Mother
Lode Copper Mines Company cacompanied by his.
wife, arrived on the steamer Alameda from Seattle,
and left on the train this morning for Shushanna
Junction, going from there to the company’s mines.
President Godfrey states that work will be con
tinued through the winter with about 40 men, not
withstanding the effect of the European war on the
copper market and the stringency of the money
market. He further states that it is the intention
to get out about 1,000 tons of copper ore and to sjled
it out to the railroad for shipment to the smelter.
Before his departure for the interior President
Godfrey said:
“Since arriving here T have received a tele
gram from Superintendent Parks, stating that our
Pittsburg cross-cut has intersected the main vein,
giving us .‘>80 feet of vertical depth on the Mother
Lode fissure. The uncovering of this new ore body
not only proves the Mother Lode to be a great mine
but it also proves the permanency of the chalcocite
deposit of the Chitina watershed. It further affirm
atively answers the question which has agitated
mining engineers since the discovery of this camp,
namely, will the phenomenally rich outcroppings of
chalcocite or copper glance in this district continue
at depth? The result of our recent work practically
assures the future of the Copper River valley as the
greatest high-grade copper producing section in the
world.”
Mr. uodtrev states tliat the copper producing
mines throughout the country have curtailed their
output over 50 per cent and that some of the low
grade properties have temporarily closed down. He
states that it is the general belief that when the
European war is over there will be an unprecedented
demand for American copper, of which we usually
export annually 700,000,000 pounds. It is to pre
pare for this day that the men who have invested in
Mother Lode are willing and anxious that develop
ment work should be pursued continuously so that
big bodies of ore might be blocked out and be ready
for extensive shipment at the opportune day.
Mr. Godfrey states that there is a general
feeling outside that Alaska is on the verge of a big
development. The passage of the coal leasing bill
and the granting of patents to individual locators
is a positive indication that soon the coal of Alaska
will be utilized for smelter and other industrial
purposes in Alaska, as well as for home use. He
further predicts that Cordova, which is the gateway j
to the copper, coal and gold belts of the interior
will be among the first towns to receive the benefit
of the new policy of the present administration.
LONDON. Oct. 15.—The Hamburg-American
steamship Markmonnia was sunk this morning off
Sumatra, by the British cruiser Garmouth. Most
of those aboard are reported as having been lost.
BERLIN, Oct. 15.—It was officially announced
this afternoon that the battle to the east of Wir
ballen, in Russian Poland, continues favorable to
the Germans. The fighting has been raging since
October 4. At times it has been rapid and fierce
and a number of men have been lost on both sides.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ifi—The German embassy
here today received the following official message
by wireless from Berlin: “Official headquarters
report that near Antwerp 5,000 prisoners have been
taken. Also that among the booty are 500 cannon,
4,000 tons of grain, plenty of wool, metal and cattle.
The harbor works at Antwerp are undamaged.”
ROME, Oct. 20.—In order to increase the export
of cereals into Italy the King has issued a decree
materially reducing the import duties on cereals.
, This order is to remain effective until April 1st next.
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“Jack” is dead. To the people of
the. upper Copper River country, to
the “Mushers” who have passed
Long Lake between Chitina and Mc
Carthy. “Jack” was known as the
black dog who has been a faithful
companion of Burke, the Long Lake
agriculturist and pioneer of the
Copper River country. He. kept
vigil at his master s lonely cabin,
following him on all journeys, wait
ing when his master met convivial
companions, nosing his hand when
he grew weary on his way, a mute
appeal to resume the march to a
place of safe,ty. During the sunless
days of winter when the ther
mometer was registering 60 below
or during the long days of summer,
when there is no night, he never
flagged in his care for the master
who always cut “Fifty-Fifty” with
him. When the larder in the cabin
at Long Lake was wrell filled, dog
and master fared alike, and when
uhe rigors*of winter or the floods of
summer made trails and railways,
ilike, impassable and the. provisions
ran low, it was still “Fifty-Fifty.”
Since the Katalla Company com
menced to build a railway in the far
nortn Burke has been a well known
character in the country; a faithful
'riend and an honest enemy; a dyed
:n-the,-wool Democrat, born so,
which time or reverses have never
changed, whether his party has been
in power or out, preaching their doc
trine and believing in their tenets,
unchanged and unchangeable. At
his cabin at Long Lake, from whose
door hangs an nospitable latch,
string for all that are in need of its
shelter, warmth or a share of the oft
Mines scamty*-provis1ons, Jack has
done his part with his maste.r in
extending hospitality. For eight
years they have been inseparable
companions. Now Jack is dead and
the pioneer thinks, by the hand of
a poisoner; which we hope, and be
lieve is not true.
Jack was buried early on this sun
shiney Sabbath morning, under the
shadow of towering spruce, near the
lonely cabin that has sheltered his
maste.r for so many years. His grave
is marked by a rough board, bearing
the following epitaph:
“Here lies the body of my faithful
dog Jack.
In the tortures of Hell I hope and
pray
The fiend that poisoned him will
go and stay.
SOURDOUGH.”
Long Lake, October 18.
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NEW YORK, Oct. 17.—The State
Supreme court has ordered the offi
cers of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Railroad to show cause why
a receiver should not be appointed.
The charge is made that the road
has been partially wrecked by ques
tionable high finance.
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* WASH IXCJTOX, Oft. 20.—"I *
* am very anxious to lielp *
* Alaska," was the statement k
k made by President Wilson to a *
k delegation of Pacific ('oast k
* Senators and Representatives. *
k They called upon him to ask ■*
k tliat he urge Congress to pro- k
k vide surveys and other public *
k works for Alaska. He was k
k cordially responsive and added, k
k "These matters have been culled *
k to my attention recently, and k
k 1 want to do all I can to get k
k them." A general discussion k
k then followed and all agreed *
k with the views originally ex- k
k pressed by Secretary lledtield k
k as to the immediate necessity *
k for aids to navigation in k
k Alaska. And it is safe to assume *
k that the next Congress will he k
k asked to provide for surveys of k
k the entire coast line out to 1 (*(> *
k fathoms. Also that wire drags k
* he used to locate pinnacle k
k rocks. Among other things to k
k he asked for will be an appro- k
k priation for new vessels for k
k coast survey for service in k
k Alaska and on increase in the k
k force, as well as for new light K
k houses and tenders in Alaska. k
k k
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