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FOURTH YEAR.
CHITIXA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1914.
NUMBER 20
Paul D'Heirry. United States com
missioner at Chitina. and one of the
best known pioneers of the north,
died suddenly at Chitina at 2 o’clock
this morning. The news of the
death was conveyed to friends of
deceased in messages sent by Deputy
Marshal Woods, of Chitina. De
ceased had been ill for some time
but was believed to be improving
and his sudden demise came as a
surprise.
Paul D'Heirry’s death closes an
eventful life. Little is known in
Alaska of his early life beyond the
fact that he was born on the Pacific
coast about 60 years ago and re
ceived a brilliant education. As a
young man he was admitted to the
bar and also engaged in newspaper
work. During the Seattle boom in
the 80's he amassed a considerable
fortune and entered politics. His
brilliant intellect soon brought him
to the front and he was an acknowl
edged power in the affairs of the
state of .Washington until the panic
of 1895-6 swept his fortune away.
For a time he was assistant attor
ney-general of that state.
When the stampede took place to
Nome. D Heirry joined the argonauts
and engaged in mining there but
later accepted a position in the
I'nited States marshal's office there.
From Nome he went to Circle dis
trict where he spent a number of
years developing ground which he
believed would be a good dredging
proposition. Disappointed but not
discouraged he walked up the
Yukon river to Eagle and crossed
the great interior to the coast in
the dead of winter. Arriving at
Valdez he again engaged in news
paper work as editor of the Miner
and later occupied the same posi
tion on the Daily Prospector. He
was an exceptionally forecful writer
and being of a genial nature made
many firm friends.
Paul D’Heirry was appointed com
missioner at Chitina about one year
ago by Judge Overfield and has held
the position with credit to himself
and the department since his ap
pointment. The news of his sudden
death brought expressions of regret
from his many friends. He leaves
one married daughter and grand
son. who are believed to be living
in British Columbia.
The remains of Paul D'Heirry will
be laid to rest in the local cemetery
on Friday. Deceased was popular
among Chitina citizens and the busi
ness houses will close during the
funeral service.
GREAURi ON
SAX FRANCISCO. March 4.—The
great army of unemployed men who
have been camped near this city
broke camp this morning and
started their long march to Wash
ington, under the command of
‘‘General" C. T. Kelley. There were
24 companies with 90 men in each.
"General" Kelley declares that he
will have an army of 10,000 men
before he leaves the Pacific coast
states. i ne army was very orderly
and the officers say that tough char
acters will not be permitted to affili
ate with it. The march is being
undertaken to demonstrate to the
government that there is something
wrong with the present system
when so many men anxious to work
cannot find employment. Kelley
says he will have the largest em
ployment bureau in the world and
wiu be able to supply demands for
any kind of labor.
SEWARD MAX WANTS
DAMAGES FOR LAUNCH
E. A. Thede of Seward has begun
suit against the Alaska Steamship
Company for $5,000 damages, for
the loss of the Uncle Sam, which
was thrown on the beach at the
same time that the Dora went
ashore in the big blow last winter.
The case will come before the court
in Valdez early in April.
OFFICER IS TRANSFERRED
TO INTERIOR STATION
Major Wm. Brooke, of the 30th
U. S. Infantry, at present stationed
at Fort William H. Seward, has
been assigned to the First Battalion
of tne D. S. Infantry stationed at
Fort Gibbon, but will not leaye for
the interior post until after the
opening of navigation.
LATE TELEGRAPH
WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 26.—The Alaska railroad
bill was taken up by the conference committee this afternoon
with good prospect of being returned to the Senate and House
for final passage today. The Senate managers have announced
that they are ready to accept nearly all the House amend
ments except the mandatory provisions governing the con
struction of branches. One of the amendments attached to
the measure in the House provided that all branches and spurs
whether fonstracted by the government or by private parties
should be standard guage. The measure was discussed in
caucus last night and it is believed the way has been cleared
for a fiml disposal of the measure.
The friends of the territory believe that the measure will
be signed by President Wilson before a week and that
engineer? will be sent north at an early date to look the
situatioi over with a view of selecting a route to the coal
fields. Colonel Goethals, who is in the city, has declared him
self as pleased that the work of developing Alaska is being
undertaken by the government at the present time. He lias
stated that the building of the Panaxha canal has served to
develop a crew of workers who have no superiors in the world
and that the organization perfected in Panama would be of
immense value in rushing the work of constructing the rail
roads in Alaska to completion.
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Feb. 26.—Dick Ryan, the Alaska
railroad promoter, whose plans to build a railroad from
Comptroller bay to the Bering river coal fields were brought
to naught through the withdrawal of the coal lands, appeared
before the House comixiittee on territories today and
discussed the Ferris coal land leasing bill. Mi'. Ryan declared
that he spoke for prospective lessees of Bering river coal
lands. He objected to the measure declaring that it would
intei'fei'e with the valid existing coal claims which had not
been cancelled by the government.
The Ferris measui'e, which has the support of Secretary
Lane, covers the following points:
First—A federal survey of all coal lands in Alaska.
Second—Reservation by the government of 5.120 aer*;., f
coal laud in the Bering River field, and of 7.680 acres in the
Matanuska field, a total of 12,800 acres.
Third—The mining of this reserved government coal
acreage under the President's direction for xise in government
works, in constrxicting and operating the proposed government
owned railrad in Alaska, for xise by the navy, and as a check
on monopoly.
Fourth—The leasing of all the l'est of the ' unreserved
Alaskan coal fields to individuals or corporations on a royalty
na sis.
Fifth—This unreserved land to be leased in blocks of from
40 to 2,560 acres.
Sixth—No person or corporation to be allowed to have
any interest in more than 2,560 acres under penalty of tine or
imprisonment for violation of this prohibition.
Seventh—The royalty for mining from the unreserved
Alaskan coal lauds to be 2 cents a ton per month, and in
addition an annual rental at the rate of 25 cents an acre for
the first year. 50 cents an acre for the second, third, fourth and
. fifth years, and after that $1 an acre for twenty years.
Eighth—Every twenty years Congress is to readjust the
leasing terms and conditions.
Xinth—The income from royalties and rentals to be paid
into a special fund for Alaska development, and particularly
for helping pay for the cost of building the government
railroad.
WASHINGTON, 1). C.. Feb. 28.—It is confidently expected
that the Alaska railroad bill will be signet! by President
Wilson before the clo^e of the coming week. When the
conferees adjourned yesterday no real progress had l>een made
in adjusting the differences and it was feared that final action
on the measure might be delayed for some time. The way for
speedy action on the measure was paved at a Democratic
caucus last night in which the party leaders participated.
During the conference the Alaska measure was discussed from
every angle. Today the situation is changed, the conferees of
both houses manifesting a willingness to speedily adjust the
differences. The Senate conferees have agreed to eliminate
the bond issue provision and to accept the House appropriation
of $35,000,000 for the construction of the railroads. The House
conferees yielded to the Senate on the provision that branch
lines and spurs need not be any particular guage. Practically
all differences have been adjusted and the final conference
will be held on Monday next, after which the bill will then go
to the House and Senate for final action. It will then be
prepared for the president’s signature. As the measure now
stands appropriations for construction of the railroads will
be made annually by Congress as is the case with the Panama
canal. The friends of the measure are delighted with the
prospect of the bill being signed by the president at au early
date, and confidently believe that construction will begin early
next summer.
SEATTLE, Feb. 28.—The agreement of the conferees
to the plan of permitting the president to lease the existing
railroads in Alaska during the construction of the government
railroads is taken as a great victory. The first construction
work to be undertaken by the government will be the building
of the trunk line from Chitina to Fairbanks and the construc
tion of the railroad to Bering river coal fields over the routes
recommended by the railroad commission who inspected the
routes to interior Alaska in 1912. The appropriations carried
by the measure is sufficient to construct both lines. It is
understood that the route of the railroads were determined at
a cabinet meeting held last Saturday.
WASHINGTON, I). 0., Feb. 27.—Radical amendments to
Secretary Lane's Alaskan coal lease bill, which was introduced
in the House by Representative Ferris, have been presented by
Delegate Wickersham, of Alaska. One amendment provides
that the leasing system be applied only to the Bering river and
Matanuska coal fields, the coal of which is of a bituminous
nature; that lignite and other inferior coal fields should be
exempted from leasing and opened to public entry. It is also
recommended that the extremely rich Bering river coal
deposits be developed by tonnage under high royalty charges.
WASHINGTON, D. 0., Feb. 27.—The Senate and House
conferees indulged in a general discussion of the differences
between the Senate and House bills without reaching a settle
ment of any of the House amendments. “We are proceeding
very slowly,” said Chairman Houston, “But it will not take
very long. The senators are holding out for the bond issue
believing that the better way to finance the railroads. They
fear that the measure as passed by the House would prove
faulty depending as it does upon revenues derived from the
sale of lands in Alaska.”
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 27.—When the conference
committee meeting which had been considering the Alaska
railroad bills closed this afternoon it was announced that they
were as far from reaching an agreement as ever, though the
House conferees had yielded on the proposition that branch
roads need not be any particular guage. The senators refuse
to entertain any proposition which will eliminate the bond issue
feature of the Senate bill.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 28.—The House conferees
have dropped the House amendment requiring that the
president purchase any existing railroad lines before work on
the new system of government constructed railroads in Alaska
is started.
WASHINGTON, I). C., March 2.—Officials who are in
close touch with President Wilson have declared that he is
dissatisfied with the Alaska railroad bill as it now stands. He
is opposed to the unlimited power bestowed on the nation’s
chief executive for the disposal of the railroads and may
hesitate to sign the measure if submitted to him in its present
form.
WASHINGTON. 1). March '2.—Under the terms of the
agreement reached today between the conferees of the Senate
and House considering the Alaska railroad bill, the president
will be left with practically a free hand. The conferees from
the Senate have accepted the House provision for cash appro
priations from the national treasury for the purpose of
constructing and operating the railroads. An agreement w<h
also made for a modification of the provision requiring the
president to purchase the existing roads before starting to
build extensions or connections running from the end of the
present operating lines to interior Alaska. The law as it now
stands will permit the president to purchase the Copper River
& Northwestern railroad and Alaska Northern railroad if he
sees fit to do so. It will also permit of construction work
beginning on the trunk line from Chitina to Fairbanks,
through traffic arrangements with the Copper River & North
western Railroad while negotiations are pending for the
purchase of the existing railroads. The question is also left
to the president to decide whether the government trunk lines,
as well as the branches and spurs, be standard or any
particular guage. Chairman Houston has declared that the
bill will be passed by both houses and be in the hands of the
president before next Saturday.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. March 3.—It is admitted in
official circles that a crisis involving the Monroe Doctrine has
followed the refusal of General Carranza to permit the
American commission to examine the body of Benton, the
Englishman, until after Britain has treated directly with him.
President Wilson has intimated that General Villa has
acknowledged the authority of General Carranza but would
not permit the American commission to examine the body of
Benton. It is realized that a crisis depends upon the position
taken by Great Britain. That country has recognized Huerta
as president of Mexico and has never officially recognized the
Mexican Constitutionalist government in any way. To do so
now. or to treat with Huerta directly, would be a violation of
the Monroe Doctrine and would be resented by the United
State'. It is regarded as a case where diplomacy will be
required to avoid straining relations between the Unitd State*
and the European countries.
WASHINGTON, D. March 3.—It is rumored in official
circles that both Britain and Germany are pressing for a
settlement of the controversy which will enable a thorough
investigation of the deaths of Benton, the Englishman, and
Bauch, the German subject, who is reported to have been
hanged at Juarez. The German was reported to be still alive
and imprisoned but the German consul has been unable to
secure any information concerning him after he was arrested
on the order of General Villa.
LONDON, March 3.—Lord Grey announced today that no
immediate action would be taken in connection with the dead
lock between the United States and General Carranza over the
investigation of Benton’s death. He delared that Great Britain
wished to avoid complicating the situation existing between
the United States and Mexico but that if Britain failed to
obtain satisfaction through the United States the British
government reserved the right to procure reparation whenever
it was able to do so.
John V. Ostrander succumbed to
his illness at 8 ocloek yesterday
morning in Olympia, front cancer of
the stomach. The sad news was re
ceived yesterday in a message from
Sam Blum by T. J. Donohoe, law
partner of the deceased. The news
of his death brought expressions of
regret from his wide circle of friends
as late reports front Seattle indi
cated that Mr. Ostrander was gain
ing in health and had been able to
leave the hospital for apartments in
a hotel.
Mr. Ostrander has resided in the
north almost continuously for IS
years and was one of Alaska’s best
known pioneers. He was born in
Washington state 54 years ago and
had been married to Mrs. Ostrander
for 33 years. He received a public
school education and then stud’ed
law in Portland, Ore. After being
admitted to the bar he opened law
offices in Dayton, Wash., in 1871,
and practiced there until being ap
pointed registrar of the land office
at Olympia. Wash.
In 1896 Mr. Ostrander began his
career in Alaska and ever since has
identified himself prominently with
the best interests of the community
where he chose to make his home, in
1896 he was appointed commis
sioner at Juneau by President Cleve
land. . During the reign of Soapy
Smith at Skagway in 1898, Mr.
Ostrander wr« sent to Skagway to
clear up t! '' ’ tuation and restore
confidence in the administration of
justice. Becoming enthused with’
the mining spirit he resigned and
went to Dawson where he engage!
in mining for two years. In 1901
he returned to Seattle but the call
of the north was not to be resisted
and in 1902 he took up his residence
in Valdez. Always of an energetic
nature he formed a partnership with
S. Blum and Geo. Robbins in organ
izing the Copper River Lumber Com
panv, meanwhile practicing law.
Ten years ago ' the deceased
formed a law partnership with Thos
J. Donohoe which has lasted through
ail the years with an - increasing
friendship. He was one of the six
persons originally interested in the
Cordova townsite and still owns a
one-twelfth interest as well as a
large number of lots. Friends esti
mate that his holdings in Cordova
are worth $50,000. He was also
interested in the Fidalgo-Alaska
Copper Mining Company and ownod
considerable real estate in Seattle.
Mr. Ostrander was a member of
the Masonic order and a Shriner.
Mrs. Ostrander will have the sym
pathy of their wide circle of friends
in Alaska in her sad bereavement.
TWO LIVES LOST IN
SHUSHANNA SLIDE
Recent arrivals from Shushanna
bring news of a tragedy which took
place on a tributary of Shushanna
river whereby two men lost their
lives in a snow slide. The men were
Charles Anderson and Kenneth
Whitehorn. The former was of
Swedish parentage and had formerlv
worked for the “Little Guggs.” on
Flat creek. Iditarod. He was 22
years old. Whitehorn was an Eng
lishman. 32 years old, and had
formerly lived in Dawson, Iditarod
and Ruby camps.
The men left Shushanna on Feb
ruary 6 on a hunting and prospec
ting trip. They passed Robert
Agnew and a party of four others at
the Russian Kid's cabin, and ex
pected to come back to that point
to camp for the night. When they
failed to return after several days
Agnew and his companions started
out to search for them fearing that
some accident had happened. After
going up the Shushanna for about
eight miles they found one of the
Tr>issing men's dogs tied to a tree.
The animal was nearly starved.
Anderson and Whitehorn's tracks
led up No Name creek and the
searching party followed the trail up
a narrow draw. There they found
an electric “bug” which the hunters
had used as a means of lighting
them back to camp after dark. They
had not proceeded much further
when they saw a human foot pro
truding from the snow. The body
was dug out and was found to be
that of Anderson. The miners
secured shovels and soon located the
body of Whitehorn. They had been
caught in the narrow draw by a
snowslide and carried to their
deaths. The bodies were found on
February 22nd. The snowslide
(took place on February 7.
Agnew and his companions took
the bodies to the Russian Kid’s
cabin and notified Deputy Marshal
Frank HofTman, at Chisana, who
left for the scene with the coroner.