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FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1914.
NUMBER *25
WASHINGTON, April 3.—It was announced this morning
that the full limit of the federal bank reserves would be
inaugurated. The board that included Secretary McAdoo and
Secretary Houston, recently toured the Unitetd States and
held public sessions at which the bank representatives were
given opportunity to set forth their claims for regional banks.
After hearing all the arguments pro and con they have decided
that twelve banks should be established and they were
announced in the order named: Boston, New York, Phila
delphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis,
Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco. The latter
city will include the territory comprised in the states of
California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and part
of Arizona. In all the bank reserves are included 7,542 banks,
whose combined total capitalization is nearly two billions of
dollars. The total subscription of six per cent amounts to
over $110,000,000.
CHICAGO, April 7.—Frederick H. Newell, director of the
reclamation service, is preparing plans for the settlement of
Alaska. He declares that the real development of that terri
tory will begin with the construction of government railroads.
He says that there is a vast farming territory and that with
the advent of the railroads that settlers will begin to pour in
from all parts of the United States. In answer to the argument
that they could cheaper and easier open up other sections of
country the director maintains that the glamor of going to a
new country which is now so generally talked about will out
weigh other arguments and as a result the immigration will
be larger than is generally expected. Director Newell also
predicts that the development of immense coal fields and gold
and copper mines will materially increase the mineral output
of Alaska.
SEATTLE, April 3.—While there is considerable disap
pointment in this city that a reserve bank was not established
further north than San Francisco, it is generally accepted that
a branch will be located at Seattle. It is believed that this will
practically answer every requirement and give this city an
additional rating as a financial center.
WASHINGTON, April 1.—The great fight on the Panama
tolls question that has been waged in the House for two weeks
past, came to an end last night, resutling in a decided victory
for President Wilson, who had the opposition of some of the
strong leaders of his party. *
The vote was 248 to 162 on the Sims bill. This measure
provides for the repeal of the tolls exemption clause of the
Panama canal act, which exempts American shipping from
canal tolls.
TORREON, April 3.—An eleven days battle ended last
night at 10 o’clock with decisive victory for General Villa, who
has been directing the constitutionalist forces. The federals
made stubborn resistance, with the chances against them from
the beginning. They did not succumb until many had been
killed and wounded on both sides.
JUAREZ, April 3.—General A ilia wired President
Carranza as follows: “Our forces are in full possession of
Torreon, the remnants of the federals leaving Torreon in
flight.” It is further reported that the constitutionalists had
1,500 men killed and wounded. Over 1,000 of the federal
soldiers are known to have been killed, but it is not known how
many were wounded.
WASHINGTON, April 4.—Yesterday afternoon before the
House committee on territories, Delegate Wickersliam, among
others, gave his views on the fisheries question. He declared
that the world’s salmon supply would be ruined if the methods
now prevailing in Alaska were extended to the Pacific coast
and other districts. He advocated a bill that would regulate
the fisheries of the country.
SEATTLE, April 7.—Louis Christensen, chief* of the
field division for Alaska, of the land office, arrived here this
afternoon. He states that all pending criminal cases against
Alaska coal locators, in which there is a chance of conviction,
will be prosecuted as soon as they can be placed on the docket.
Some he believes are likely to be tried in May. He would not
indicate just which cases would be dropped and which would
go to trial.
SEATTLE, April 7.—A dispatch received here from
Washington states that the government engineers who will be
in charge of the construction of railroad building in Alaska,
will burn Alaska coal in the building of the railroad. W. G.
Whorf, of Seldovia, who recently received patent to 65 acres
of coal lands is now arranging with Secretary Lane to furnish
the government with a large amount of coal as soon as railroad
construction begins.
❖ ❖
❖ STEAMER MARIPOSA DUE SUNDAY ^
❖ --— ❖
♦ The steamer Mariposa sailed from Skagway at ^
♦ 10:30 this morning. She should reach Cordova on ^
^ Sunday afternoon, unless delayed in discharging ^
^ freight at other ports. ^
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Jack Dalton and the ten men
who worked and returned with him
from the Matanuska coal fields are
about town today receiving con
gratulations of their friends over
the good work they accomplished in
i freighting the 900 tons of coal to
tidewater. As chief of the expedi
tion, having entire charge of the
arrangements for and actual freight
ing of the coal Mr. Dalton has been
handicapped from the start because
of the unreasonable opposition upon
the part of J. W. Swift, the disburs
ing officer. The latter threw every
obstacle in his way to prevent the
successful carrying out of the work,
even going so far as to refuse to pay
the bills for labor and other ex
penses contracted by the chief.
Jack Dalton was employed by Dr.
J. A. Holmes, director of mines, to
have entire charge of the expedition.
He outfitted largely at Seattle and
came north with supplies, horses
and men on the steamer Gen. Hub
bard, arriving at the head of Knik
arm on November 18 last. He had
all his supplies landed before the
high tide of Nov. 25. The first
thing necessary was to build a road
45 miles and bridge many small
streams, to the head of Eslia creek,
which is about 21 miles below
Chickaloon, where the mine is
located and the coal was piled.
From Chickaloon to the Matanuska
river, a distance of three miles, a
road was also constructed.
It was found necessary to resack
about 60 per cent of the coal, and
for that purpose Mr. Dalton had
taken north 8,000 sacks. He then
started in to freight the coal, using
54 horses and heavy No. 5 bob
sleds, on which from 3 to 7 tons
were hauled. The successful trans
fer of 900 tons of fine Matanuska
coal to a good landing above Old
Knik was completed on March 6.
The coal had been mined last sum
er by George Evans, a mining
engineer of capability, and Mr. Dal
ton says that it is clean and fine
quality, selected with care. It Is
now ready for shipment south, but
in the meantime is placed on high
ground and well covered, so that
the elements cannot affect it.
Mr. Dalton has been notified that
A. H. Fay has been sent by Dr.
Holmes to Knik to relieve Mr. Swift
and take charge of all the govern
ment property used in freighting the
coal. This includes about 45 horses
and sufficient feed to last during the
summer. Mr. Dalton had made
provision for hauling the coal out
by wagon this summer if anything
had prevented him from getting it
out over the ice roads. Mr. Fay’ is
now to the westward and it is ex
pected that he will arrange to ship
the coal commencing the middle of
May with small vessels from the
head of the arm. If the Maryland Is
sent north Mr. Dalton says she can
get as close to the coal as Ship
| Creek, where the water is not
turbulent.
In coming out Mr. Dalton and
ten men, with seven horses, decided
to take an easy route. They came
across from Old Knik to Chitina in
11 days. From the mines to the
divide there was scarcely a percep
tible incline and from there on to the
Copper River country it was a com
paratively level country, with no
snow to speak of, and what there
was, being very light, t was such
an easy route that Mr. Dalton de
clares that he could not lieip but
be impressed with the idea that this
was certainly the easiest and best
way to bring out the Matanuska
coal over a railroad.
Mr. Dalton figures that the cost
of the expedition, in mining and
freighting the coal, with necessary
expenses, would not exceed $65,000.
Although he had been informed by
Dr. Holmes that $84,000 had been
placed to the credit of Disbursing
Agent Swift, the latter for several
months past has refused to pay bills
submitted by Mr. Dalton, claiming
that he had no available funds. Mr.
Dalton went responsible for many of
the accounts and reported the mat
ter to Dr. Holmes. The removal of
Mr. Swift would indicate that his
conduct has not been satisfactory
to the department at Washington,
and it is likely that a full investiga
tion will follow.
-o—o—o
CHDICAGO, April 7.—Cy War
man, the noted author and journal
ist, died in this city this morning.
He was 59 years of age and of recent
years had made his home at London,
Ontario.
The steamer Admiral Evans
reached Cordova last evening at 5
o’clock and four or five hoars later
sailed for Valdez and the westward.
Returning she will not put into
Cordova, but will sail direct from
Kodiak to Juneau. Considerable
delay was caused by reason of the
breaking of her low pressure tall
shaft, the accident occurring after
going through Icy Straits and when
off Cape Edwards. On board the
vessel when the accident occurred
were Supt. August Buschmann and
30 members of the cannery crew of
the Deep Sea Packing Company of
Cape Edward. The Evans landed
them at Dundas Bay and then
slowly put back to Juneau, traveling
at the rate of two or three miles an
hour. A new shaft was sent up from
Seattle and repairs were made at
the Treadwell mine. She was
enabled to proceed on her journey,
leaving Juneau Saturday morning.
Aboard the Evans is S. C. David
son, and 28 men bound for the plant
of the Seldovia Salmon Company, at
Seldovia: Otto Sutter and 36 men
for the cannery of the Fidalgo Pack
ing Company, at Port Graham; 55
Chinese cannerymen were on for
Yakutat. Also aboard the Evans
was Capt. H. S. Pupuy, master of the
Yukon river steamboat Gen. J. W.
Jacobs; Ike Rosenthal and four men
for his mining properties back of
Seward; James S. Craig, of the
Granby Smelting Company, and wife
for Valdez; L. V. Deeper and G. N.
Priest, for Katatla; W. W. Whitney
and W. W. Estes, for Fairbanks; D.
Lane, for Seward; P. D. Blodgett,
J. M. Blinn and C. M. Clay, of the
Kadiak fisheries, of Kodiak; G. W.
Thomas, F. E. Parker and William
Benson, mining men bound for Fair
banks; Thomas Lynch and wife, who
are going to the Kuskulina. The
following is the complete passenger
list for ports in this section:
For Katalla—G. M. Priest and L.
V. Leeper.
For Cordova—W. Benson, G. W.
Thomas, H. D. Witz, C. B. Roberts,
D. L. Alexander, T. J. Craven, H. S.
Du Puy, Mrs. C. L. Foster, Mrs.
Thos. Lynch, Thos. Lynch, Mrs. J.
H. Morris, Mrs. Price, J. W. Bixbv
and 15 steerage.
For Valdez—W. W. Estes, O. L.
Carter, E. B. Sprague, Master King.
Mrs. H. King, Mrs. John Cook, Roy
Hoats, F. Gustofson, Jas. S. Craig,
Mrs. Craig and 20 steerage.
For Ft. Liseum—Capt. C. J. Met
calf.
For Seward—C. P. Hay, Dick
Lane, Emma Lippur, Leona Chur
chill, Lizzie Churchill and 20 steer
For Seldovia—F. C. Davidson,
Mrs. Davidson, S. J. Lidstrom, Ike
Rosenthal, P. J. Vinn, G. E. Eisen
graber, Mrs. Eisengraber, Thos.
Pyle, P. D. Simpson, Mrs. Z. M.
Zinches, cannery crew of 26 first
class and 40 steerage.
For Port Graham—Otto Sutter,
H. Janson, A1 Dano, cannery crew
of 38 first class and 30 steerage.
For Kodiak—P. D. Blodgett, Chas.
Clay, Jack Blinn and J. Demmarick.
-o—o —o
Reports from Valdez today state
that there is exceptional interest
taken in the election and that a
large vote is likely to result. For
school director the fight is between
T. J. Donohoe, who is now attend
ing court at Cordova, and C. E.
Bunnell. For councilmen a large
number of men are running and
various tickets are in the field, as
follows:
People’s—E. E. Ritchie, Harry E.
F. King, J. C, Martin, Wm. Thomas,
Jas. H. Patterson, Charles M. Day,
John Lyons.
Fusion—Al. White, John Lyons,
Harry King, C. C. Rudolph, Jas.
Patterson, Chas. Day, Wjn. Thomas.
Progressive Democratic—Antone
Dalstrom, R. P. Ferguson, C. M.
Day, Adolph Smith, James Patter
son, Albert AVhite, Harry F. King.
Greater Valdez—E. E. Ritchie,
Harry E. F. King, John Biggs, Jas.
H. Patterson, William A. Thomas,
John Lyons.
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, April 7.—John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., testified before a
congressional investigating com
mittee today and said that he owned
forty points of the stock of the
Colorado mines. In answer to an
inquiry concerning his own inac
tivity as a director in the company,
said that the duties were performed
by others who were thought compe
tent, adding, ‘‘and my conscience
acquits me.”
SEATTLE, April 4.—Will II. Parry, former newspaper
man and later city comptroller, who has been representing the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce at Washington, returned last
evening from a lengthy stay at the national capital. He has
been at the head of a large army of workers who labored with
great diligence, faithfulness and effectiveness to secure
substantial results for Alaska. Various Seattle and Alaska
men have labored day and night to convince senators and
representatives of the need for remedial legislation for Alaska.
Mr. Parry states that the tide of sentiment has finally set in
and that since the passage of the railroad bill it is easier to
convince the congressmen of the necessity for coal legislation
and other requirements. He feels greatly encouraged over the
outlook for Alaska and thinks that now nothing can stop the
speedy development of the northland.
In giving credit where credit is due Mr. Parry says, “Our
chief dependence and strength was the aggressive friendship
of President Wilson and Secretary Lane.” He further says
that the support and interest of the President was largely
brought about through the work of C. G. Heifner, who repre
sented the Wilson forces in the state of Washington and made
a fight for Wilson at the Baltimore convention. He further
states that Falcon J'oslin, of Fairbanks, enjoys the confidence
of both the President and Secretary Lane, and that they relied
largely upon him for definite facts and figures concerning the
resources and probable development of the territory. Many
senators and representatives from the coast states and other
sections of the country made it a personal matter to see that
the railroad bill passed, while the Delegate from Alaska used
his voice to good effect.
Mr. Parry is very optimistic over the future of Alaska aud
believes that Congress will speedily adopt many measures that
will result in the early development of the territory and people
her shores and the interior with thousands of men who will
develop the resources and make of the north a prosperous and
inviting section for investment and settlement. He does not
seriously regard the report submitted recently on the test of
Bering river coal that was made last winter. He considers
that there is much evidence to prove that the coal taken out
was of an inferior quality and that its* exposure to the tides
and salt water during many months had the effect of still
further depreciating its value. He believes, that a fair test of
good coal from the Bering fields will be authorized later on and
that the result will be entirely different from the recent report.
Mr. Parry says that the matter was referred to in the
Senate a couple of months ago. During a discussion of the
Alaska coal Senator Clark, of Wyoming declared that while
the chemical tests have shown that the Bering river coal is
better than the West Virginia product, the actual naval tests
aboard the ship show that the Bering river field actually falls
down in supplying coal that the navy can use. Senator Jones
of Washington, in reply, said that the Alaska coal tests
promised to result in a scandal; that from advices he had
received from the scene of the tests there is evidently a
conspiracy in which government agents, or the government
agent, endeavored to avoid a fair test of the Alaska coal by the
navy. He stated that he had received a letter from a former
member of congress, who tells him that the coal used in the
naval tests aboard the cruiser Maryland was not properly
gathered, and did not furnish a fair sample of the product of
the Bering fields, and that the report of the naval officer in
charge of the test, who says he is not satisfied with the test
and hopes to make another to bear out the contention of his
informants.
WASHINGTON, April 3.—Consideration of the proposed
legislation relating to the fisheries of Alaska, has been post
poned to the next session. Several bills providing for the
regulation of the industry and its taxation, are now pending.
The Bureau of Fisheries has asked that nothing be done at
present, as it is desired to secure more information upon which
recommendations can be made. The advisability of granting
this request is recognized by the floor leaders and it is under
stood that no action will be taken until after an investigation
is made by Assistant Commissioner E. Lester Jones. He will
at once start west and will thoroughly examine into the
conditions in Alaska.
SEATTLE, April G.—Governor -1. F. A. Strong arrived in
this city from Juneau on Saturday evening, and continued on
his journey eastward this evening. He is accompanied by
Mrs. Strong and they will first stop at Denver, to attend the
sessions of the conference of western governors, to convene on
Tuesday. From there they will go to Washington. Governor
Strong has been summoned to the national capital by Secre
tary of Interior Lane, who desires to consult him on matters
pertaining to Alaska, including inadequate representation at
the Panama exposition at San Francisco. In an interview
yesterday the governor said: “There should be a separate
Alaska building at the exposition, so that there might be a
creditable exhibit under one roof and not scattered through
the government buildings.” It is also important that provision
be made at once for funds necessary to collect the exhibit in
Alaska. If the exhibit is not gathered this summer and early
fall it will be too late.
WASHINGTON, April 4.—A bill for workmen’s compen
sation for employees of the government has been agreed upon
by the House judiciary committee. It provides for fixed
payments to workmen who may have been injured and for the
families of employees who may have been killed in the course
of their work. This conclusion was reached after a long fight
before the committee.
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