FIFTH YEAR CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1915. NUMBER 33
EUROPEAN WAR
V V V V V VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV V V
WASHINGTON, May 31.—Germany’s reply to the
American note on the sirflring of the Lusitania has
produced a feeling of profound disappointment here.
Dissatisfaction at the faulty German answer to the
demands of the United States was reflected in govern
ment circles generally. It is the only subject of discus
sion throughout the city. The general fear expressed is
that the government may be precipitated into serious
complications. From what has leaked out it was confi
dently believed in inner circles this afternoon that
President Wilson will order the despatch of a second
note to Berlin within the next forty-eight hours,
containing the intimation that a prompt and decisive
reply expected. If this is done and the reply should not
be satisfactory there are all kinds of conjectures as to
the result.
BERLIN, May 31.—In the answer delivered to
Ambassador Gerard, in reply to the American note of
May 15, Germany withholds her final decision on the
demands of the United States in connection with the
sinking of the steamship Lusitania. This will not be
forthcoming for the present, unless another note of
insistant chaarcter is received fro mthe United States.
In its reply Germany declares that it is not its inten
tion to have submarines torpedo neutral ships, nor be
guilty of hostile acts in attacks by submarines or
aeroplanes. It is alleged that the Lusitania was armed
and carried munitions of v/ar. It is contended that
Germany was “acting in justified self defense in
seeking with all means of warfare at its disposition
to protect the lives of its soldiers by destroying
ammunition intended for the enemy.”
NEW YORK, May 31.—The editorial comments of New
York’s newspapers and the leading newspapers.of the country
indicate that Germany’s reply is unsatisfactory to the Ameri
can people. The general tenor of these comments is to the
effect that Germany scarcely seeks to excuse her act of
blowing up without a momnt’s notice the steamship that was
conveying more than 100 Americans. She maintains that the
Lusitania carried munitions of war, and this Great Britain has
denied. It seems evident that Germany believes itself within
its right in blowing up the Lusitania and if a more definite
answer is insisted upon it will not be of tbe kind that would
be most pleasing to the American people. While the editors
place great confidence in the cool judgment and exceptional
wisdom of President Wilson the feeling is general that the
circumstances will induce him to take drastic action. Some
of the newspapers insist that there is already sufficient
provocation for a declaration against Germany, and rather
intimate that it should be soon forthcoming. In the meantime
the greatest possible enxietv prevails.
SEATTLE, May 31.—At 2 o’clock on Sunday morning
the people of this city were awakened in alarm by an unusual
noise that for a time made many think that an earthquake had
shaken the Queen City. It developed that 15 tons of dynamite
on board a scow tied at the city buoy exploded. This had the
result of shaking the country for a distance of 50 miles around
and greatly alarmed the people. Glass was broken in many
residences while down town the large plate glass windows
were shattered. It is estimated that the damage done amounts
to nearly $100,000. The dynamite was consigned to Vladi
vostok, and was unquestionably set off by enemies of the
Russian government. The police are busily engaged in
PETROGRAD, May 26.—General Mackensen is personally
leading the Austro-German forces in the attack on Przemysl. ft
is announced late today that a terrific onslaught is in progress,
with a determination to recapture the fortress, which has been
isolated from the Austrian forces since the latter part of
■ October last. Months were spent in capturing this garrison
by the Russians. The strategic importance of Przemysl was
(1) That it commanded the passage of the San river in the
direction of that key to the Carpathians—the Dukla pass; (2)
that it commanded the great trunk railway line of Galicia from
Cracow to Lemberg; and (3) that it guarded the approach to
the Carpathian passes to the south, the Lupkow pass, and the
IJszok pass. Thus the fortress played a double function. By
threatening the Galician railway line it hampered a Russian
advance upon Cracow, which in its turn, is the outer gate of
Silesia, that highly industrialized region which is the Achilles’
heel of Germany. At the same time it barred a Russian advance
over the Carpathians into the plains of Hungary. This latter
was its more important function, for the political and economic
consequences of a Russian invasion in force of Hungary, the
reluctant and unreliable partner in the Dual Monarchy, as well
as its granary, would be enormous.
WASHINGTON, June 3.—The U.
3. Geological Survey has sent out in
formation concerning details of the
Alaska surveys and investigations to
be performed this season as follows:
The United States Geological
Survey is dispatching 12 parties to
Alaska to continue the systematic
surveys and investigations that have
been in progress for the last 18
years. Of these parties three will
be sent to southeastern Alaska, one
into upper Chitina region, one to
Port Valdez; two will work in the
Turnagain Arm-Knik region; one
will make investigations in the
Yukon-Tanana region, and two in
the Ruby-Kuskokwim region, and
another will traverse the little
known area lying between the Ruby
district and the Tanana River. One
party will be engaged in genejal in
vestigations in different parts of the
! territory. These parties will sail
j from Seattle, or have sailed, so as t o!
take full advantage of the field sea- ;
son. All the men needed for the
work have been engaged, and the |
purchase of horses, supplies, and
equipment is well under way.
One of the most important of the
undertakings is the extension of the
I surveys in the Ruby district, on the,
: Yukon, and in the adjacent regions.
C. E. Giffin and G. L. Harrington
will undertake the surveys in the
Ruby district proper, which is now
an important gold placer camp. R.
H. Sargent and J. B. Mertie will
carry surveys southward to Takotna,
on Kuskokwim River. H. M. Eakin
will explore the region lying be
tween the mouth of Cosna River, a
tributary of the Tanana, and the
Ruby district. The only other work
in the Y.ukon basin is that of Eliot
Blackwelder, who will make, a
geologic examination of the White
Mountains, southwest of Circle.
The region lying between Knik
and Turnagain Arm, tributary to the
proposed government railroad, has!
been only partly mapped, and here
both geologic and topographic sur
veys will be undertaken. The prep
aration of the topographic base map
will be. undertaken by one party
under the leadership of J. M. Bag
’.ey, and the geology and mineral
resources will be studied by another
party under S. R. Capps.
B. L. Johnson will complete his
detailed study of the geology and
mineral resources of the Port Val
| dez district and will also investi
gate the. mineral resources of other
parts of the Prince William Sound
region.
Much of the Copper River region
has been surveyed in previous years.
There still- remains, howe.ver, the
upper Chitina basin, where no
geologic work has been done. This
work will be undertaken by F. H.
Moffit, assisted by R. M. Overbeck.
The detailed topographic mapping
adjacent to Juneau, in southeastern
Alaska, begun last year, will be con
tinued by D. C. Witherspoon. The
base map of this important gold
lode district is essential to an ex
haustive study of the district which
will be undertaken next year.
The mineral resources of the
Ketchikan district have been under
investigation at different times in
the last 15 years, and the results
embodied in reports. Detailed sur
veys of the two most important
copper-bearing areas of the Ketchi
kan district have, been made. Much
of the district has been geologically
mapped, but the work is still far
from being complete, and the inves
tigation of the geology and mineral
resources in this field is to be, ex
tended by Theodore Chapin.
The marked industrial advance
ment in southeastern Alaska has
created a great demand for infor
mation about the, available water
powers, which George H. Canfield
has been detailed to investigate. He
will carry on stream gaging in co
operation with the forest service.
The, hot springs of Alaska are of
importance, as many are used as
local sanitariums. As no informa
tion about them is available, they
are to be investigated this summer
by G. A. Waring, who will visit the
hot springs of Ketchikan and Sitka,
in southeastern Alaska; one near
Circle, and the Baker and Chena hot
springs, in the Tanana Valley; and
one in Seward Peninsula, about 60
miles north of Nome.
Alfred H. Brooks, geologist in
charge of the Survey’s Alaska inves
tigations, will be engaged in office
work until about the. end of June.
He will then leave for Alaska,
WASHINGTON, June 3.—Con
tracts have been awarded by Secre
tary of the Navy Daniels for the
ouuding of two dirigible baloons, the
urst evej ordered for the Untied
states navy. The first contract was
awarded to the Connecticut Aircraft
Company of New Haven, for $45,636.
This is regarded as the first step
towards the testing out by this gov
e.nrment of the value of the Zeppelin
type of aircraft, which has already
played a prominent part in the
European war. The pioposals call
for the manufacture of two dirig
ibles of the non-rigid type, which
will not be over 175 feet long by 50
feet high and 35 feet wide, capable
of carrying a lead of 2,000 pounds
or more. Uncle Sam's new dirigibles
must also be able to ascend to at
least 3,000 feet with a full load
without disposing of ballast and
must be able, also to come down not
slower than six feet pe,r second.
It’s not an easy matter to build
an airship under such rigid qualifi
cations. Not only must tli6 craft
have a speed of 25 miles or so per
hour but must be able to keep up
such speed for at least two hours.
She will carry a car with an en
closed body, sufficient to carry four
student observers in addition to a
crew- of four men.
Auouier unusual itaiuit; ui iue
new navy airships will be their
ability, as specified in the proposals
of contractors, to rest lightly on the
water without damage and also, to
move through the water at slow
speed. When completed, the new
dirigibles will be set up at the. navy
aeronautical station, at Pensacola,
Fla., where a number of trials will
be made to see that the aircraft
comes up to all requirements. Some,
of the stunts they must perform are
interesting.
The first test will be for speed,
with the dirigibles loaded to
capacity. She will make five runs
over a measure course and navy offi
cers will thus be enabled to check
up accurately on her real speed.
The second test will show the craft’s
ability to “climb” from the surface
of the water up to and beyond the
specified altitude at full speed.
Once in the air, her height will
be taken with a barograph and she
will begin the descent in an effort
to make the. six-feet-a-second re
quirement specified in the contract.
After these tests are made, the air
ship will be required to fly steadily
for two hours at a speed of 25 miles
per hour or more. She must, during
this trial, maintain a reasonably
true course across a 15-mile puffy
wind. In this same 15-mile wind,
the dirigible must be brought to and
moored to a mooring mast, released
after one. hour, resume flight and
then return to the housing shed.
The final test will be for leakage.
The conditions of the contract
specify that the big balloon must not
leak more than 1 per cent a day.
The navy department is throwing
upon the contractor the responsi
bility for training a pilot and crew,
drawn from the navy ranks, who
will be taught to manage the big
air-craft. Until the contractor has
given them a thor6ugh course, in
aeronautics, $2,000 of the contract
price will be withheld.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 3.—Vari
ous gentlemen of good repute who
are said to own property rented for
immoral resorts, but who have, so
far avoided any publicity in this
regard, are trembling in their boots
this week. The Church Federation
of Indianapolis is unlimbering a
large calibre weapon in the form of
a new law that churchmen say will
put the red light business on the
blink.
The new rule law is very similar
to the one in effect in the District
of Columbia and in several states. It
allows any citizen or the county
prosecutor to begin injunction pro
ceedings. These proceedings are
directed at the owner of the prop
erty. "Pitiless publicity” that will
cause the. owners of bawdy houses
to run to cover in case they are sail
ing under false colors is expected to
follow when the churchmen get
down to work. The renting of
property in the. flourishing tender
loin here has been a profitable busi
ness for years, poorly constructed
houses drawing big monthly rental.
Terre Haute, which is said to have
the largest redllght district in the
world for a city its size, is facing
much the same proposition.
STEAMER HASJEAVY LIST
Cordova was alarmed this morning lest the steamer
Seward and .its valuable cargo of copper ore should be lost.
The vessel had been in port taking on 800 tons of copper ore
from the Bonanza and Jumbo mines, after having taken over
3,000 tons from Latouche and Ellamar. She sailed from here
last night at 10 o’clock on her southbound voyage. But as
she entered the ocean proper her cargo began to list. The
vessel was turned around and it was intended to again put
into Cordova. But when about -(> miles out at Point Gravina
the list became so serious that the Seward -cut out a wireless/
call for assistance. This was heard by the steamer Admiral
Evans which was discharging freight at Katalla, and by the
steamer Mariposa near Seward. Both vessels immediately
wired that they were on their way to render assistance. The
steamer Cordova that was in Cordova harbor also got the word
at 10 o’clock this morning and immediately started off. At
noon she had reached the Seward. A report that the vessel
had gone on a rock and had a hole stove in her proved to be
unfounded. The only trouble was the shifting of the cargo
and the consequent danger of trying to navigate her with the
heavy list. This afternoon the Seward was brought back to
Cordova in tow of the steamer Cordova reaching the dock
shortly after 3:30 o’clock. Here the cargo will be shifted.
LONDON, May 29.—Advices from Berlin state that Count
Revenlow publishes an anazing article in which he declares
that Germany does not care for American bluffs or needs.
ROME, May 29.—An Austrian submarine and flotilla of
destroyers were sunk at Zebenico by Italian dirigibles. Two
Austrain submarines made an attempt at an attack off Venice
but were chased away. An Austrian hydroplane was captured
off the coast and her crew were taken as prisoners. ;
ROME, May 29.—It is denied that the Pope is planning
to leave the Vatican. At present he has no idea of any such
move.
LONDON—A British “tommy” home from the front on
leave told how his pet bird dog on sentry duty with him
“pointed” two Germans in time to save him from walking
into a trap.
PARIS—A French private back ffbm the front related
how an English newspaper woman in Belgium stopped in a
road while German bullets were flying and nonchalantly
powdered her nose, then walked calmly to safer quarters.
LONDON—A young English officer back for a week from
the water-soaked trenches in France apologized to his host for
a bad cold saying he “caught it” after arriving in London
by taking a bath.
LONDON—British officers at the front call a German field
howitzer a “Whiz Bang, and a light field gun, “Little Willie.”
BERLIN, May 29.—Russian airmen have been busy in
East Prussia and have dropped bombs on Johannisburg doing
some damage.
————————— -__
RAILROAD ACTIVITY TO THE WESTWARD
Among the passengers on the
Mariposa yesterday were. William C.
Edes, Mrs. Edes and her neice, Mi33
Helen Burnham. They were on their
way to Seward, where, they will take
up their residence for the summer.
Mr. Edes is chairman of the Alaska
Engineering Commission and while
he will have his headquarters at
Seward he states that he will make
frequent trips to Anchorage, where
the government railroad work is
under the direct charge of Lieut.
Mears, another member of the com
mission. Chairman Edes states that
the first train to be operated by the
government in Alaska will be a
gasoline car that carries about 16
passengers, and it will . run this
summer from Seward to a point
about 40 miles to the interior, over
the Alaska Northern tracks. This ’s
about the only work that will be
done by the Alaska Engineering
Commission this summer, so far as
the transportation of passengers is
concerned.
Construction wrork on the railroad
will be carried on during next win
ter, but most of it will be confined,
to making rock cuts. Apart from the.
grading of between 20 and 25 miles
of road and the construction of a
few trestles and bridges, little work
will be done this summer. On this!
subject Chairman Edes sizes up the
present plans of the commission as |
follows:
■''Tr.er we will devote most
of our time to getting ready for
work on a big scale next year. We.
are building bunk houses and mak
ing other preparations to take care
of the men. Much of the work to be
done next winter will be on contract
by station men. We are now making
better arrangements for landing ma
terial at Ship Creek, and this sum
mer we will build some temporary
I wooden bridges. It would cost too
much money to rush the work on a
big scale before we are ready for it.
Most of the material that will be
shipped this summer will be in the
form of lumber.
“There are no more jobs in
Alaska—I mean railroad jobs—and
I sincerely hope that the. stampede
I which started into the country has
; been stopped. It will take some
time to get construction started on
a big scale, and many who have
gone, north expecting to be employed
on the railroad will be disappointed.
It’s a long way between stations in
Alaska, and those who are tramping
over the country in the expectation
of finding railroad camps are going
to suffer.”
Riggs at Fairbanks
A wire, from Fairbanks states that
Thos. Riggs, Jr., another member of
the Alaska Engineering Commission,
arrived there on last Wednesday
night on the steamer Reliance, ac
companied by 12 surveyors. The
men will begin at once to make a
permanent survey between Fair
banks and the head of Nenana can
yon, for the route through Broad
Pass to Ship Creek. The commis
sioner when interviewed said there
was no question about Fairbanks
getting the railway route, but that
the route from Nenana to Fairbanks
had not been announced definitely
because the preliminary surveys al
ready run were not satisfactory.
Lines last season were run down
both sides of the Tanana river to
the mouth of the Nenana, and thence
up the Nenana to Broad Pass. It is
possible that the route instead of
following down the Nenana all the
way may strike across country from
the. lower Nenana canyon and follow
much the same route as the Kan
tishna trail, which was an old
Indian trail.