FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1913.
NUMBER 10
ALASKA’S REVENUES TO DEVttOP TERRITORY
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 24.—Secretary Lane, of the
interior department, believes that Alaska is entitled to the
benefit of her own resources and that it is the duty of thei
government to assist in the development of the territory. In
his annual report to President Wilson he recommends the
adoption of a plan which will completely revolutionize the
system of handling the affairs of the territory.
His report says: “In my judgment the proper way to deal
with the problem of developing Alaska and its resources is to
establish a board of directors who would be accountable to the
president direct for their actions. They should have charge
of the work to be done. Into the hands of this board I would
give all the national assets of the territory to be used primarily
for her development and improvement. Her lands should be
developed and settlers encouraged to go there. The fisheries
conserved and hatcheries established to guarantee that future
generations should not lack the supply of food which is now
adding millions of dollars to the wealth of the country each
year. The Indians and Eskimos should be assisted in every
way and encouraged to become progressive citizens. The seals,
forests, mines, waterways and railroads should all be placed
under the control of this board. This board would of course
have nothing whatsoever to do with the internal affairs of the
territory as orgainzed by the Alaska territorial legislature.”
Late Telegraph News
SEATTLE, Dec. 21.—Steamer Jeanie is ashore at Calvert
Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound. Crew and mail safe on
shore. Steamer total wreck.
The above brief message received by wireless by the
Alaskan yesterday forenoon tells the story of the finish of the
first steam vessel which visited the place where the Cordova
dock now stands. The Jeanie was owned by the Alaska Coast
Company and left Seattle on December 15th with mail and
freight for Alaska points. She was expected to arrive here
shortly and was being anxiously awaited as she carried several
days mail, much of it being Christmas mail. Captain Heckman
was in command.
The Jeanie first made her appearance in Cordova bay 25
years ago next February. Her arrival surprised the few white
men who were here at that time. She was in the service of
Captain Noels, Goodall & Perkins, of San Francisco, and
carried the outfit for the cannery which was later established
at Eyak, of which Capt. E. J. Humphry was manager.
Wliile the s^ttamer was strongly built she was notoriously
harulo ilandle ana other vessels gave her a wide berth when in
the same vicinity. She ran into the little steamer Dix, off Alki
Point, near Seattle, several years ago and sank the Dix with a
loss of nearly 30 lives. During the past few years she has been
in the freight business and was the ship upon which explosives
were sent north.
The message to the local agent stated that the Admiral
Sampson, which had been placed on the Seattle-San Francisco
run, would take the place of the Jeanie and would sail from
Seattle on January 15.
__A_/V_A_
WASHINGTON, D. C’., Dec. 19.—Indications point to a
final vote being taken on the Alaska railroad bill in the House
on the second Wednesday in January. The bill was briefly
discussed in the House on Wednesday afternoon when Chair
man Houston, of the committee on territories opened the
debate and sought ineffectually for a ten-hour general debate
after which the measure was to be considered for amendment
and final passage.
In his opening debate Chairman Houston stated that the
government construction and operation of railroads in Alaska
was necessary to provide for the development of the resources
of the territory to their fullest extent. He predicted that when
the government had built the line from the coast to Fairbanks,
feeders would be constructed by private capital which would
cause many of the mines now partly developed to become
producers and furnish tonnage for the road. Other trunk lines
leading into the interior of Alaska could then be built with
the same result.
He quoted from the statement of Falcon Joslyn before
the committee on territories showing that the trade of Alaska,
both ways, was about $60,000,000 a year, with a population of i
less than 40,000 whites. “There is no doubt in the world that
400,000 or 500,000 people could be readily attracted to Alaska
in the next ten or fifteen years, and that its annual trade,
which is now about $60,000,000 would go to $300,000,000 or
$400,000,000 per year. Its gold output which is now about j
$17,000,000 would increase to three or four times its present
value. I believe that increase is entirely possible. Not only
that, but I believe that within ten or fifteen years, assuming
that the country is to be propertly developed with railroads,
the gold output of Alaska would equal $100,000,000 per year.”
“That is the country which we are asked to open by providing
railroad facilities,” declared the chairman in closing his
debate.
Representative Fordney, of Michigan, opened the debate
in opposition to the Alaska railroad bill. He said that he was
not opposed to the government giving aid and assisting in
every way to provide for the opening of the territory but he
was opposed to government operation of the Alaskan roads.
Representative Lenroot, of Wisconsin, said he bad become
convinced it was necessary that the government should step
in and break up the Alaska Syndicate, which, he declared had
prevented the promoters of other railroads in Alaska from
raising money with which to construct roads. He believed it
necessary that the government should construct and operate
the trunk lines, to interior Alaska in order to prevent any
monopoly from being created and to provide for the develop
ment of the resources of the territory by keeping control of
and fully developing the transportation facilities.
(JUjttitta Stator Utaljra
f 0« a ifternj (Hbriatmaa
Superintendent Corser, of the C. R. & N. W. Railway has
announced that extensive improvements would shortly begin
which would greatly increase the warehouse and shipping
facilities at the Cordova dock.
A few weeks ago a committee of citizens waited upon Mr.
Corser in reference to providing better shipping facilities for
the growing halibut business. They discussed the matter of
furnishing accommodations on the dock where the fishermen
could land and pack their fish in ice for shipment to the
outside markets. Mr. Corser informed the committee that the
company was considering plans which would soon be
announced and which he believed would prove satisfactory to
all concerned.
The present warehouses on the dock which are used for
the company business will be removed and new ones having
nearly double their capacity will be erected. The new ware
houses will be 40x120 feet and 40x140 feet. At the south
westerly end of the dock a warehouse 30x60 feet will be erected
for the exclusive use of the fishermen. All modern conveni
ences for the reception and packing of the fish will be
provided. The railway track from the crossing to the dock
will also be redecked.
According to the new plans the freight and business
warehouses will be at the far end where the large steamers
will dock. The warehouse at the southwesterly end will be
givn over entirely to the fishermen and will provide a safe
place for small craft where they will not interfere with the
large steamers. The halibut business of this section promises
to assume considerable proportions and Cordova is the natural
headquarters for the trade. As a result of last year’s opera
tions it is believed that between thirty and forty halibut
vessels will be engaged in the business next season.
Fishing operations last summer demonstrated that
extensive halibut banks exist off Middleton Island. Schooners
have been prospecting for several months along the shores of
the islands and mainland of Prince William Sound and it is
understood they have met with such success as will make
Cordova one of the principal fishing points of Alaska. The
facilities for packing and shipping the fish as provided by the
company will serve to encourage this industry which means
much to the business interests of the city.
That the uptown passenger depot would be maintained at
its present location but that all local freight for interior points
would be handled from the dock has been announced by
Superintendent Corser of the C. R. & N. W. Railroad. The new
plan of handling the local freight will go into effect after the
big warehouses which are soon to be constructed at the docks
have been comjdeted.
Some time ago the matter of having the depot moved
from its present location at the foot of Front street to the foot
of C street agitated the Cordova public. A meeting of the
business men was called for the purpose of securing a general
expression of sentiment regarding the proposition. Mr.
Corser was present at the meeting and stated that while his
company would prefer to keep the station at its present loca
tion they were anxious to please the public and would make the
change if the business men decided that it was for the best
interests of the town that the change be made. A petition was
circulated and received the signatures of the business men
generally. It favored leaving the station at the foot of Front
street. .
The system as now prevailing, of receiving local freight
for interior points at the passenger depot has served to delay
the departure of trains beside adding extra expense for its
handling. The facilities for caring for freight at the station
are limited and the change would have soon become necessary
as the interior trade is constantly growing. The erection of
the big warehouses at the dock will provide ample room and
will prove a convenience to shippers as they can deliver their
freight for interior points at the warehouse at any time
previous to the departure of the train from the dock. Baggage
will, however, be handled from the station, as at present.
It is the aim of Mr. Corser to so concentrate the handling
of freight as will work for greater efficiency in the service
without interferring with the passenger trains.
of ton 10 n
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 19.—The Alaska railroad
bill divided the time of the upper house with the currency bill
Wednesday afternoon. In order to get through with the
currency measure and permit of its coming to vote further
consideration of the Alaska bill has been postponed until next
Wednesday. Friends of the Alaska measure believe the bill
will pass.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 23.—A cablegram has been
received from Admiral Fletcher, at Tampico, stating that the
rebels have renewed hostilities there and were preparing to
capture the City. American and foreign battleships are pro
ceeding to Tampico from Vera Cruz to be in readiness to land
troops if foreigners are molested.
CHIHUAHUA, Dec. 23.—General Villa, commander of
the constitutionalist troops in this section, has ordered the
execution of any person found looting the homes of either
Mexicans or foreigners. Six of his own men who were
convicted of having looted the home of a wealthy resident of
this city were shot in full view of the troops as a warning to
others.
0 JIN AG A, Mexico, Dec. 23.—General Mecado, the federal
general who suffered defeat by the rebels recently, has been
relieved of the command of the federal troops in the northern
part of Mexico. He will be succeeded by General Francisco
j Castro.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 24.—The branch of the Central Bank
of London in this city and the Mexican National Bank have
closed their doors as a result of several days run on their cash.
The banks have deposits amounting to more than $30,000,00(>
but are unable to realize on their assets quick enough to meet
the demands.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 24.—President Huerta has declared
that every day shall be a legal holiday until the 2nd of Jan
uary, 1914, in order to save the other banks from closing their
doors. The withdrawals from the Mexican National and
London banks amounted to more than $7,000,000 in three days.
The announcement that the cabinet members were con
sidering the plan of confiscating all pi*opert.v has caused a
panic among the depositors of the banks. Hundreds who have
been standing in line before the banks which were forced to
close their doors were crazed when informed that the banks
had suspended payments.
-o—o—o
Private information has been received in Cordova to the
effect that the government contract for carrying the mail from
Chitina to Fairbanks has been awarded to the Northern Com
mercial Company. This is good news for the people of
Alaska, and especially for the people of the interior as they
are anxious that whoever handles the mail should do so
expeditiously, and this the N. C. Company are in a position to
do. The life of the contract is for four years from July 1, 1914
and the bond required was $130,000.
A rumor had been circulated in Valdez some weeks ago
to the effect that the contract had been held up because the
company had refused to enter a bid for carrying the mail via
that town. The rumor was without foundation and the mail
will go through Cordova, as usual.
The contract calls for two mails per week of 800 pounds
each from October 1 to November 23; from November 24 to
March 20, three mails per week of 1,600 pounds each and from
March 21 to May 31, two mails per week of 800 pounds each.
Fully 95 per cent of the winter mail of interior Alaska
goes through Cordova and few persons are aware of the
enormous amount of work which it entails. All first class mail
is promptly forwarded each trip and should there be any
margin of weight the specified amount is made up from second
class matter. The third and fourth class matter is handled by
special contract. A short time ago a shipment of 12,000 pounds
was sent from Chitina to Fairbanks on a special contract made
with James Wilson, the Valdez freighter. Much of the ship
ment was holiday goods and the government was evidently
anxious that the people of the interior should not be
disappointed.
The N. C. Company is splendidly equipped to handle the
mail and passenger service between Chitina and Fairbanks.
They have had years of experience and have hundreds of
thousands of dollars tied up in equipment. They have made it
an object for competent stage drivers to remain in their
employ and now have a force of men who will get the mails
over the roads when less experienced men would quit.