THE ALASKA PROSPECTOR
Vo1*7 Valdez, Alaska,^April 23, 1908. - NO 12
NEW COAL LAND
BILL INTRODUCED
Alaska Entrymen May Yet
Be Able to Realize on
Their Holdings.
GARFIELD DRAFTS MEASURE
Northland Clause Provides for
Purchase or Lease of 2,50o
Aere Tracts.
Washington, April 22—There in yet.
a chance that the coal lands of Alas
ka may be thrown open for opera
tion as the result of action by the
present congress. The house com
mittee today received from Secre
tary Garfield a general coal land bill
in which is a clause making pro
visions for the Alaska lands, and it is
considered probable that t his bill will
receive favorable action.
The Alaska clause provides that
present bona lida entrymen may com
bine with the locators of contiguous
property, the entire tract so formed
not to exceed 2,f)60 acres. It is further
provided that this tract may be
worked by the original entrymen or
may be placed in the hands of a cor
poration and mined by the latter.
The bill also provides that individuals
or corporations may purchase or lease
2,560-acre tracts, the sale price being
fixed at $10 an acre.
Similar to Cale Measure
Seattle, April 22—Former Oommis
nioner of the General Land Ofllee, It.
A. Ballinger in an interview today
declared that the general coal land
hill now in the hands of the house
committee embodies many of the
ideas contained in the Cale bill, so
far as Alaska is concerned. Mr. Hal
linger pointed out that the purpose
of the bill is to permit existing entry
men to sell or lease their land, while
the Cale bill only provided for a sale
deposit. With this exception, ac
cording to Mr. Ballinger, the Alaska
clause is practically the Cale bill.
GRAFTERS TRY
TO KILL WITNESS
Oakland, April 2'i—Friends or emis
aries of the Han Francisco grafters
attempted by the use of dynamite
last night to kill former Supervisor
James Gallagher, whose testimony
for the prosecution lias been very
damaging to the defense. Gallagher
and his wife were occupying the
homo of H. Schencli, Gallagher's
brother-in-law, in this eity when the
attempt was made and the house was
blown to atoms.
How the occupants escaped instant
death is a miracle, but escape they
did, with the exception of several
bruisos for Gallagher and his wife
and more serious injuries for Dr. Guy
Hohench.ason of the owner of the
houso. The latter, while badly hurt,
is expoeted to recover.
Tho attempt at assassination has
created great excitement in this eity
and in Han Francisco and detectives
and polleo officers are making a sys
tematic efTort to apprehend the per
petrators of the outrago, That tho
act was ill advised from any point of
view in the general opinion and it is
considered as ovidenco that tho de
fame Is in fear of the outcome of tho
trial of Tlroy L. Ford.
Gallagher has been the main wit
noss against Ford who is tho biggest
game tho prosecution has gone after.
Ford has always been one of the
most- popular club men of Han Fran
cisco and there was general rejoicing
when the first trial ended in a disa
greement.
Tho detectives aro searching for
sovoral men who It Is said were seen
recently In conference with detectives
in tho employ of the United Railroads,
tho company of which Ford was an
official. There Is a strong suspicion
that these men aro the dynamiters.
Gapt. Hmyth of Fairbanks thinks
ho has perfected nn airship.
LAW WANTED TO
PREVENT SLAVERY
Juneau Woman Urges Neces
sity of Putting Stop to
Sale of Girls.
AMERICANS ARK C.l'll/rY
Seattle Society Is Appealed to in
Behalf of Southeastern
Alaska.
Seattle, April '21—The Children's
Home Society of this city has heen
called upon to assist in obtaining
congressional legislation that will
prevent the mothers of Alaska from
soiling their (laughters. The matter
has been brought to the attention of
the society by Mrs. (J. It. Reynolds
of Juneau, who assorts that condi
tions in southeastern Alaska are un
speakable.
Mrs. Reynolds dealt with the ques
tion at length and electrified the
members of the society by declaring
that this bartering in human Mesh in
not confined to tlie natives but is also
to certain extent practiced by Ameri
cans. She said, however, that the
Russians arc the worst and that
nearly every Russian girl is sold into
what is practically slavery before
she is fourteen years old.
The society will take immediate
steps to have some law enacted that
will make the practice punishable.
WARSHIPS GOING
TO SCARE GASTRO
Venezuela Refuses to Per
mit Minister Russell to
Send Cablegrams.
Washington, April 22—President
Roosevelt has issued orders to the
nuvy department instructing that
war ships ho immediately dispatched
to Venezuela and by the power of
iirmn, if need ho, com pell President
Castro to permit the sending of cable
grams hy Minister Russell. While it
is realized here that relations with
Venezuela are strained to a tension
never beforo reached, it is believed
that Castro will recede from his
position in time to prevent a declara
tion of war ,
Hinco Secretary Garfield announced
that until the claims of this country
against Venezuela are settled the
United States shall he closed to im
ports from the former country, Presi
dent. Castro hrs done all in his power
to hamper communication between
Minister Russell and the home gov
ernment. The latest, move was to in
tercept cable messages sent by Minis
ter Russell.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AFTER PAPER TRUST
Now York, April 22—The white
paper trust wan made the object, of
drastic action on tho part of tho di
rector* of the Associated Press at the
annual meeting of that organization
today. A rcHolution was pattHcd de
manding that the government take
HUeh action as will rosult in desolving
tho paper comhination.
Tho government coiihuh bureau also
came in for criticism, tho meeting
demanding an invoHtlgation of the
allegation) that the bureau has been
furnishing congress with falso figures
in order to favor tho trust.
Alaska Good for Farmera
Hoattlo, April 20—That Alaska is
specially adapted for agricultural per
nuits in a small way is the statement
made hero last night by <!. i). Ueorge
son, special agent of tho department
of Agriculture, who Is on his way
north, Oeorgeson expresses the be
lief that farmers will find certain
part* of Alaska a profitable Held for
their labors.
HASEY DEFENSE
HAS FINISHED
Lawyers for Man on Trial
Say They Are Sure of
Obtaining Acquittal.
.luncau, April 2*2—A ft or calling in
its own behalf several government
witnesses whose testimony was snch
as to cause it elation the defense in
the Hasey trial closed its case Tues
day evening. Lawyers for the de
fense declare that they are certain of
a verdict of acquittal and say that
the testimony of the government
witnesses alone is suilicieiit to es
tablish the innocence of their client.
The government today began the
examination of its witnesses in the
rebuttal and it is probable that it will
use t hem all. A verdict is not looked
for before the latter part of the week.
SENATE SCORED
BY ROOSEVELT
""
President Is Much Angered j
at Action With Regard
to Naval Bill.
Washington, April 2!1—President
Hoosevelt is angry at. the annate be
cause of the fuel that the upper house
has reduced to two, the number of
| battleships provided for in the new
naval bill. The president has de
clared that (lie action of the senate is
la tranvestyon legislation and that
| it is legerdemain for the sole purpose i
| of making t he naval program ridicu
lous.
The president has announced his
determination of vetoing the bill un
less it is so amended as to provide for
the construction of four battleships.
ELEPHANTS HOLD
CITY IN TERROR
Riverside, Cal., April 17—Stam
peded by the explosion of one of the
Standard Oil Company's lingo oil
tanks the elephants attached to Sells
Bros, circus ('barged wildly through
this city this morning, trampled Klla
Clibbs to deat h, injured four other per
sons and almost totally wrecked the
interior of the Cllenwood hotel into
which thov charged.
For two hours the frantic elephants
had the town at their mercy hut they
were dually subdued by t heir keep
ers and other attaches of the eirens.
TAFTS MANAGERS
EXPRESS CONFIDENCE
Washington, April 23—Taft's polit
ical managers express tho utmost con
fidence in tho outcome of the nation
al repuhliean convention. They
assert that they now have within
twenty votes of enough to give Taft
the president al nomination on the
second ballot.
Ford oti Trial Again
Han Francisco, April 21—Tiroy L.
Ford one of the most prominent
"hlgherups" in the graft, scandal Is
again 011 trial. The llrst trial remitted
in a disagreement. Tho only feature
of the trial so far Is the testimony of
former Supervisor Coleman, who
testified that, he had boon promised
immunity in return for his evidence.
Campbell Ibuinerman Dead
London, April 23—Lord Campbell
Ilanncrman died last night. The
court will go Into mourning for thirty
days out of respect for the former
premier.
WbalerH Arc I^arly
Unalaska, April 7—Three whalers
are In port here 011 their way to tl»o
Arctic. Tills Is the earliest date of
arrival here of whalers for a number
of years.
GLUM FAILS TO
GET ENDORSEMENT
Faction Headed by Post
master and Wickersham
Has Falling Out.
Fairbanks, April 10—The Wicker
sham faction split yesterday at tin*
primaries to elect delegates to tin*
Ketchikan republican convention over
tlie proposition t<> endorse John 1'.
Chun, postmaster at Fairbanks and
postal inspector for the Tanann «1 is
trict, who wants the nomination for
delegate to congress, Chun failing to
get the majority.
Chun tried to get tin* endorsement
of tin* anti-Wickersham primaries
held March II, at which time a dele
gation was elected which will contest
with the Wickersham delegates tlie
right to sit in the convention.
BIG COMPANY TO
• FISH IN PACIFIC,
Canadians Form $1,500,
000 Corporation to
Fight Monopoly.
'
Ottawa, April 2:5—The llshing in
dustry of the Northern Pacific so
long monopolized !>y tin* Now I''up
land Fish Company, is l<> become a
bono of contention of what promises
to bo a great industrial war. Realiz
ing the enormous profits to bo derived
from the fisheries, Canadian and F.n
gltsh capitalists have organized the
Canadian Fishing and Cold Storage
Company with a capital of $1 ,rtf)n,uon.
Tho now company purposes begin
ning operations immediately and will
establish headquarters al Prince
Rupert.
WOMAN NURSES
ARE HEROINES
Big Ilapids, Mich., Apri '22- Sisters
of Mercy attached to the Mercy hos
pital in this city proved themselves |
heroines early this morning when a J
(Ire started in tho hospital totally
destroying t he structure. 'The blaze I
was discovered by an attendant who
alarmed the Bisters and despite the'
fact, that the lire was well under way |
the nurses at once set about getting!
the patients out of danger.
The tire department was soon on
the scene but so great a shirt did the
tire have that had it not been for the
bravery of the Sisters there would
have been a great loss of life. As it !
was everyone was saved.
NORTHWESTERN IN
PORT FROM SEATTLE
Strainer North wentcm renehed port
Wo(lno8(1ny afternoon, having had
a fine voyage from Seattle. .She
stopped at Katalia and Cordova on
the way up, leaving Seattle Thurwday
morning at 10 o'clock. She hrotight
aeventeen find. elans and ten steerage
for Valdez sixteen first class for Sew
ard and ten 11 rwt. class f«»r Seldovia.
Among the passengers wore ('apt.
K. C. (leneraux, underwriter's stir
veyor and II. Finch, a diver, who
traiiHferred U> tin* ICIsio at Cordova
and went over to the Saratoga wreck
where they will make an Inspeetlon.
Bond Copper Property
W. B. Harris, CharleH Vouch and
JamoH Barclay yesterday bonded five
mining clainiH at. the new discovery
near Alganlc to Seattle parties for
fft0,000. The terms of the agreement
were 10 per cent of t lie bonded price
to he paid In »ixty day# J fcfi.ooo in nix
month** and .the halaneo in hIx ami
twelve montliH thereafter. It 1h un
derstood that work will begin on the
property soon. Cordova Alaskan.
FRED BROWN IS
ELECTED MAYOR
New Council Fills Offices by
Appointment of Present
Incumbents.
1,1(1 HT FRANCHISE ASKED FOR
City Requested to Give Existing
Company Twenty-live Year
Privilege.
Councilman Fred Brown i« the new
mayor of Valdez, having been elected
at the llrst meeting of the new city
council,held Monday night. There was
no opposition to the selection.
With the exception of health olllecr,
t he naming of which will he delayed
until the present incumbent, Dr.
Cheney, returns from Juneau, the
municipal ollicers will be the same
who served under the old council.
There was a contest made for
the clerkship, Henry W. Miller being
an applicant tor the position, but
after some electioneering W. II.
(Vary was re-appointed by a four to
two vote. 10. li. Wheat was re-elec
ted treasurer, J. II. Murray munici
pal magistrate and A. P. Hoffman
marshal.
The principal matter of business,
following the appointments, was the
presentation by S. A. Ilemple, acting
for the Alaska Water, Light and Tel
(Continued on page 1)
NORTHWESTERN
IS FINED $2,000
Customs Authorities Impose
Penalty for Landing Coal
at Katalla.
Act ing under instructions from Col
lector of < 'ustoms I lobar t in Juneau,
Deputy Collector Spiers of Valdez
lias levied a fine of $2,000 against the
steamship Northwestern, as penalty
for landing a cargo of coal at Katalla.
While the Alaska Steamship Com
pany is responsible, the fine lias tech
nically been levied against Capt.
Trubridge in the sum of $1,01)0 and
against the first ofilccr for §1,000.
Bond has been given in the sum of
$'1,000 and the treasurey department
will bo appealed to to remit the fine.
The Northwestern stopped at Ka
talla to land a cargo of coal which
was taken abooad at Nanimo on the
previous trip but which it was impos
sible to land. Capt Trubridge says
that tho deputy collector of customs
in Seattle extended the Alaska
Steamship Company the privilege
of landing the coal on this voyage up,
but according to the local customs
authorities this act was not lawful as
Katalla is out of the Seattle district.
Ordinarily, unless a vessel clears
for some other Port than Valdez, the
permission to eall at places not porta
of call is obtained from the deputy
collector in Valdez and this, it is
maintained, should have been done
in the case in question.
Owing to the fact that the Alaska
Steamship Coni| any declined to pay
overtime the work of discharging the
cargo for Valdez. ceased at (» o'clock
last night and was resumed again this
morning. This caused a delay of
about eighteen hours in getting the
Northwestern away for Seward and
other ports to the westward.
QUEEN OF COWGIRLS
PLACED UNDER ARREST
Portland, April 23--Nellie Meaner,
known as queen of the cowgirls, and
who has been postmlstrees at Koyston
was yesterday placed under arrest,
charged with robbing tho mails in her
charge,
Historic Bchooner I,out
Unalaska, April 7 -The schooner
Hear, Capt. Leo, was lost sixty miles
from this place a few weeks ago.
RULING IS UNFAIR 1
TO CONTRACTORS 1
Men Who Carry Mail Face S
Big Loss as Result of
Government's Act.
HAYK SUTUKS OX TRAIL
Only Hope of Prolil Is in Doing
Work for li 111ire Four
Year Term.
The abrogation of (he big mail con
tracts in Alaska will entail heavy
loss to i lie eont raetors who have
spent large sums in preparing to car
ry mails for four years over the
routes secured by them. All the
money they could hope to make out
of the contracts would have been
made in the last two years, which
they now lose.
In order to carry the mails success
fully over those long and difficult
routes it is necessary to place supplies
ahead, particularly horse feed, at en
ormous expense. F.d S. Orr «& Com
pany, who has the Fairbanks mail
contract, and John Miller, who has
the ICagle contract, have many thous
ands of dollars in supplies stored
along their routes which they will be
compelled to sell for what they can
get, and in some cases be unable to
sell at all unless they secure new con
tracts covering practically the same
roads.
Some of the contractors" have also
spent their own money to improve
the roads where they were extremely
bad. Now the four-year contracts
they made in good faith believing
that they could make a profit in the
last t wo years though there would be
none in the first two because of the
heavy preliminary expense, arc? taken
away from them on a month's notice
at the whim of the post otllee do
part ment.
It is conceded that the new mail
routes on the whole will be an im
provement overt-lie existing ones in
( Continued on p.tge 11
CITY WILL DAM
GLACIAL FLOODS
Valde/. will not wail for congress
to pass tlie hill authorizing the isHUO
of $15,000 in bonds to obtain fluids to
protect the town from I ho yearly
glacial floods. To tin- contrary the
permanent improvement committee
of the city council lias determined to
go ahead with the work to such an
ox tent as will this year afford
protection to the business and the
main residence portions of the town.
This was practically decided upon
lit a meeting of the committee held
last night. The meeting was attended
l>y a number of residents of the Res
ervation and a committee of the lat
ter persons was appointed to find out
the sense of those on the Reservation
with regard to levying a 2 per cent
issessinent on the property in order
to raise about $2,000 to contribute
toward the total expense. This com
mittee is composed of ('. Rudolph,
Kdtnund Smith, II. it. Leslie and
James Fish Jr.
The city expects to spend $7,000,
contributing $A,00U itself, in driving
piles and constructing a plank dyke.
At tin- meeting A. .1. Meals, a civil
engineer, advanced the suggestion
that the piles he driven close together,
thus obviating the expeuHe of plank
ing but this suggestion di<l not meet
with generid approval. The council
committee believes that it will be
bent to follow out the original idea
find drive the piles eight feet apart'
nnd then complete tho dyke by the
use of two inch plank extending from
four feet below ground to six feet
above, the dyke to extend on a water
grade to the lake stream.
It is believed that tho foregoing
method will permit of sufficient work
being done before the June floods to
turn the water from the main part of
town. The rent of tho town can he
(Continued on page it