FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1913.
NUMBER 11
Late Telegraph News
CALUMET, Mich., Dec. 26.—Seventy-three persons,
mostly children, were killed on Wednesday night during a
Christmas celebration held by the strikers in Italian hall. The
festivities were at their height when someone thoughtlessly
yelled fire. The entire crowd, which was composed mostly
of Italians and Slavonians, stampeded for the exits. The hall
is up a long flight of stairs and the children and women were
trampled under the feet of the men.
An emergency call was sent to police headquarters and
was responded to by the entire force. The fear crazed
foreigners, when they realized that it was a false alarm
battled with the police for entrance into the hall in search of
their families. Hundreds of women and children received
serious injuries and were taken to the hospitals. The bodies
of the dead, many of them infants, were trampled almost
beyond recognition. The city authorities have taken entire
charge and are preparing the bodies of the dead for burial.
CALUMET, Mich., Dec. 27.—A fund of $25,000 raised for
the benefit of the stricken families from non-union sources has
been refused. The strikers say they do not want charity;
they want justice and will accept nothing else.
Scores of funerals were held today of the children who
were killed when the Christmas eve stampede from Italian
Hall took place. The strikers have received money from
western unions to pay for the funerals and refused to let the
the local authorities bear the expense. The whole city is in
mourning and business was suspended during the hours while
the funerals were being held.
GREENBAY, Wis., Dec. 27.—President Moyer of the
Western Federation of Miners passed through here on the
train this morning looking as if he had passed through a
threshing machine. His clothing was in rags and he was
suffering from a bullet wound which may prove serious.
Moyer charges that gunmen in the employ of the Citizen’s
Alliance in the Hancock strike district trapped him by sending
a false message to his hotel. The gunmen beat him over the
head with revolvers and one shot him in the shoulder. He was
dragged by the feet for nearly a mile and placed on board the
train with the warning never to come hack.
MILWAUKEE, Dee. 27.—President Moyer did not leave
his berth on the train when it passed through here. Reporters
were admitted and he said he had been attacked in his room at
the hotel in Hancock by a crowd of 25 gunmen. He had been
struck on the head, shot in the back and dragged through the
streets to the depot and put on the train. He is in the care of
a physician. The news of the attack upon Moyer has
generated a feeling of intense hatred by the strikers against
the Citizen’s Alliance and retaliation is expected.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 27.—No time will be lost
in launching the administration’s new banking system as
provided for in the currency measure recently signed by the
president.
The organization committee which is to launch the federal
reserve banking system has announced its plans for marking
the boundaries of the reserve districts and will proceed with
the selection of the cities where the reserve banks will be
located. It is proposed to hold public meetings in fourteen of
the largest cities and decide from the showing made which of
them are most entitled to the banks. The cities under contem
plation are: New York, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver,
Seattle, Portland, Ore.; San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston,
New Orleans, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Cleveland.
SEATTLE, Dee. 27.—The position of this city entitles it
to regard the establishment of one of the regional banks here
as assured'. Portland is the only competitor which is to be
feared. It is believed that two banks will be opened on the
Pacific, coast, one in some California city and one in Seattle.
Los ^(ngeles and San Francisco are both busy pulling wii’es
to land the bank.
J
/ MEXICO CITY, Dec. 29.—President Huerta has officially
announced that he will resign the presidency before the end of
Yhe year and that he will take the command of the federal
troops in the field in person. A cabinet meeting was held late
Saturday night and it is understood that Huerta’s favorite,
Enrico Gorostieta, has been decided upon as provisional
president until the elections next July.
CHIHUAHUA, Dec. 29.—General Villa, commanding the
rebel troops here, declares that President Huerta’s intention
to take command of the federal troops in person has no terrors
for him. He believes that the action of Huerta is due to a
desire to “get from under when the crash comes.” General
Villa announces that plans are nearly completed for the united
rebel army to begin the march to Mexico City.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Information has been received
from Mexico stating that President Huerta is soon to resign
the presidency and will take command of the federal troops in
the field against the rebels. Official circles are wondering how
the change in the affairs of Mexico will affect the policy of
President Wilson regarding Mexico.
i I.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 30.—Clay Tallman, commis
sioner general of the United States land office, in his annual
report to the president makes recommendations which would
materially affect the homestead laws now in force in the
territory of Alaska.
He recommends that the area of entries subject to home
stead usage in Alaska should be reduced to 160 acres for each
homesteader. The area required to be placed under cultiva
tion should be reduced to one-fortieth of the entire area at the
end of the second year and to one-twentieth at the end of the
third year. Absence for six months each year from the home
steads should be permitted and further that the right to make'
a homestead entry in Alaska should exist notwithstanding the,
fact that the applicant may have acquired title to a homestead
in any of the states or other territory.
The recommendation of the commissioner-general would
abolish the maximum entry clause of the law which provides
“that every person who is qualified under existing laws to
make homestead entry of the public lands of the United States
who has settled upon or who shall hereafter settle upon any
of the public lands of the United States situated in the district
of Alaska, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, with the intention
of claiming them under the homestead laws, shall, subject to
the provisions and limitations hereof, be entitled to enter
320 acres or a less quantity of unappropriated public land in
said district of Alaska.”
Under the existing laws the settler is required to make a
continued residence on the homestead for three years unless
granted leave of absence by the registrar and receiver, such
leave of absence however shall not be deducted from the actual
residence required by law.
The recommendation concerning the reduction of the area
necessary to be placed under cultivation would reduce the
area more than one-half. The law now provides that “the
entryman shall, in order to comply with the requirements of
cultivation herein provided for, cultivate not less than one
sixteenth of the area of his entry, beginning with the second
year of his entry, and not less than one-eighth, beginning with
the third year of the entry, and until final proof, except that
in the case of entries under section 6 of the enlarged home
stead law double the area of cultivation herein provided shall
be required.”
JUNEAU, Dec. 26.—District Attorney Rustgard is in
receipt of an opinion by the attorney general in which he holds
that the territorial legislature cannot impose any additional
duties on federal officers including commissioners, marshals,
clerks, fish commissioners or deputies. This ruling will make
void and of no effect the poll tax and license laws as passed
by the territorial legislature. It is believed that a special
session of the Alaska legislature will be called to repeal the
laws and to enact others in accordance with the ruling of the
attorney general.
The territorial laws provided that the commissioners or
other federal officials should collect the poll tax and license
moneys. These officials were required to furnish an extra
bond double the amount of money which they were liable to
receive from the various sources. Many citizens objected to
the poll tax and a case was tried before Judge Brown while
holding court at Juneau. Judge Brown ruled that the
territorial law was valid and the enforced collection of the
poll tax was proceeded with. The question has caused con
fusion in all parts of the territory. Big fishing companies and
their employes have refused to pay the poll tax, having been
advised by their attorneys that the clause in the local laws
making the moneys payable to the federal officials was
unconstitutional and would not stand the test. Attorney
General McReynolds was asked for an opinion and ha^
declared the local laws in conflict with the laws as passed by
congress. The territory finds itself in the position of having
moneys due from taxes and licenses with no officials in
authority to receive them and a special session of the local
legislature may be necessary to remedy the defect.
PRESIDIO, Texas, Dec. 30.—The first skirmish between
the federal and rebel troops at Ojinaga took place this morn
ing and resulted in the federals being routed. The rebel army
under command of General Ortaga attacked the left position
of the federals under General Francisco Castro. The latter
was recently placed in command bv President Huerta when
he removed General Mecado for having met defeat in a
preious engagement.
The federal troops were scattered in all directions. Many
of them attempted to cross the border into Texas but were
driven back. Others who refused to leave have been placed
under arrest. The war is one of extermination as neither sides
are taking prisoners.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 30.—Dispatches have been received
from General Castro at Ojinaga that his command had
suffered reverses by an overwhelming army of rebels
numbering 4,000 men. The rebels are reported to be taking
no prisoners and horrible deeds of cruelty are being enacted.
LONDON, Dec. 29.—The news that President Huerta is
to resign and take command of the federal troops is regarded
as paving the way to a speedy settlement of the Mexican
trouble. It is believed that America will reward the change
in the executive heads by reestablishing more pleasant rela
tions between the countries and will also mean closing of!
the source of arms and ammunition from the rebels.
CONCERN TO
The trail over the glacier from the end of the track to
Ghisana via the Hazelet route will be kept marked and made
as safe as possible during the winter even if it is necessary
that the entire command of the 30th U. S. Infantry stationed
at Fort Liscum have to be requisitioned for that purpose. This
information was conveyed to the Cordova Chamber of Com
merce in a message received from the war department on
Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after the corc'-'u/ of the trail to the diggings
complaints began coming " jie chamber that some person
or persons were maliciously destroying the stakes which
marked the trail. The relief cabins of the government had
also been broken into and the emergency supplies consumed
or wasted. The chamber took the matter up with Colonel
Richardson, president of the Alaska Road Commission, and
asked him the proper mode to follow to prevent a repetition
of the offense. Colonel Richardson understands the situation.
He knows that the trail was made as safe as possible at con
siderable expense to the people of Cordova, and that safety
of the lives of hundreds of people would be endangered during
the next few months if steps were not taken immediately. The
colonel is now in Washington as will be seen by the following
message which is self-explanatory:
Washington, D. C., Dec. 24, 1913.
H. A. Slater, Pres. Cordova Chamber Commerce:
In reference to your telegram regarding trail the secre
tary of war directs that you be advised to take the matter up
with the civil authorities and that the comma"'1' a*
Fort Liscum has been authorized upon request of the unneu
States marshal of that district to provide a detail for the
purpose if he shall find it necessarv.
W. P. RICHARDSON,
Pres. Alaska Road Commission.
As advised by the department the chamber has taken the
matter up with the civil authorities and has communicated
with Marshal Brenneman, and speedy action may be expected.
The Canadian routes to the diggings are patrolled by
Mounted Police who serve as guardians for the public safety
from maliciously inclined-persons. The soldiers stationed at
Fort Liscum are equally competent to act in that capacity and
would welcome the temporary respite from barracks and
routine duty. The companies stationed there at present are
a splendid body of men. Should Marshal Brenneman decide
that it is necessary to requisition their services they may be
depended upon to give a good account of themselves aqd
travelers to the diggings will be assured that the trail will be
well marked and that caches along the route will be safe.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 31.—Governor Strong’s first
annual report to President Wilson lias been received. lie says
that the government should build the railroads in Alaska. He
does not believe that private capital can afford to construct
the roads and wait for the development of the territory’s
resources to furnish tonnage without charging very high rates
which in turn serve to retard the development. With govern
ment ownership and operation of the roads an impetus would
be given mining properties along the road which would cause
branch lines to be constructed by private capital.
Governor Strong also recommends that the Chugach
forest reservation be abolished and reports that entirely too
much land had been appropriated by the forestry department.
The restrictions of the service has made it so difficult for
miners and others to secure permits that they have used out
side lumber in preference to the home product. He also
recommends that the Aleutian islands reservation be reduced
in size.
The report reeommmends that immediate steps should be
taken to conserve the fishing resources of the Alaskan waters.
He believes the use of fish traps should be regulated. Hatch
eries, under government supervision should be established at
various points along the coast. That more fish inspectors be
employed as the number at present are inadequate for the
purpose.
The governor believes that tike telegraph and cable tolls
for private business are exorbitant and should be reduced.
That some method be devised whereby the Indians could
get title to their lands is also urged. The Indians are fast
being crowded from the bays where they have caught their
supply of fish in the past. The Indians are without recourse
when their fishing grounds are appropriated by canneries and
other private concerns.
More lighthouses should be built along the Alaskan coast
and larger appropriations for this purpose should be made at
the earliest possible time.
The report also shows that while the production of gold
from the placers has fallen off during the year that gold
bearing ledges have been developed in many parts of the
territory and that the output from this source will soon reach
a high figure annually. The production of copper has increased
and many copper properties are now reaching the stage of
development where they will soon become producers and add
to the wealth of the nation.
Minor changes are urged in the game laws of the territory
to make them conform to the conditions there.
Once in a while an heiress marries her father’s coachman
or chauffer, but she generally gets a divorce before the
astonished hubby has a chance to clip any of her coupons.