Valdez Daily Prospector
PUBLISHED BY THE
Prospector Publishing Co.
TBKVb
One Dollar per Month: Twelva Dollars per Yew
, SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1912
NOT A CONTROVERSY
Partisans of Judge Wicker
sham argue that the delegate and
Colonel Richardson may differ
as to the manner in which the
road work should he done, hul
they should be left to settle this
iiueslion between themselves, for
it would be impossible to please
all the people in all parts of
Alaska as to • where, when and
how I he work should be done.
This is the first intimation we
have had that Delegate Wicker
sham is a road builder, <»r is
further concerned as to "where,
when and how I ho work should
be done," other than as a citizen
of this Territory, but perhaps
since Judge Hubbard lias become
the delegate from Alaska, the
man.who was elected l<> that posi-j
lion has taken il upon himself to
supervise "where, when and how
('til. Iliehardsim should construct!
mads in Alaska."
1 IMM- r"'M| I I |f I II I.^ <»l I M ,
Wickersham. Iinwi'vcr overlook
;im i 11111 < 11 -1 a 111 a^pcel ill" l In- eon- '
Iroversy between (Jul. Richard- j
son ami I In* delegate. . II is 11«>I j
:i ipicslion whether W'ickershaiii!
represenIs Alaska. Yaldey. or thcj
Red l.ijrhi ilislricl til' llii* niuiiic-j
ipality. Tli.* ipicslion In*f«»!•«• I
1 li«* viili-i's <• I' lliis ilislricl, is n«»l '
one of a controversy between I In* •
delegate ami Ctol. Richardson. ]>ut
is based entirely upon I lit* dele-1
Kale's allempl In slop all appro-j
prialions for I he huildinpr of gov
ernment roads and trails in Alas-i
ka. as is evidenced by his letter
1 o I lie Secretary of War, under!
dale of March 20, It) 12, written!
a| llie lime I lie approprial ions .
for Ihe main! ainance and further i
improvement of I lie Yahlex
Knirhanks road and the dyke hill
for Ihe protection of government.j
properiv in Ihe lown of Yaldez
was in a critical position, and;
depending largely on Ihe charac-•
ier of the work already done.!
Anions oth.'r things, in a:
lengthy letter nf - \ papes lliej
delegate says: ".Mr. Secretary.'
the *:?.258.<)«<;.!»»; devoted I<• Ihe!
building <i| wajron roads, bridges j
and trails in Alaska has heen j
wasted, cmhexzh'd. and taken by
two biy mercanl ile companies'
unfairly* and without reasonable!
value. Major llichardson has)
no| .•mil'//.led any of it. lie isf
m l dishonest in the money sense, J
bill lie s exceedingly ineompe-|
lent. i'e has no money seiis".i
lie blimliy trusls two hip iiiercan-!
tile linns there to manage this;
road fund for him, and I hey have
established a system which has
only one result — incompetency,
waste, failure in Ihe management
of Ihe road work, and profit to;
themselves. The system leads
to 'grafting' such as I hat in
dulged in by Lieutenant Orchard,
Secretary of Ihe Hoard of Road
Commissioners, while Alaska is
charged with $2t2r>8,0H(>.W». and
has nothing permanent or satis-i
fae!ory to show for it."
This letter indicates nolhini:
more or less than an attempt on
the part of Delegate Wickcrshain
to kill any furlluu' appropria
tions for road work in Alaska,
and in particular the Valdez
Fnirlmnks road, the principal
projecl. undertaken by the Alaska
road commission.
If Judge Wickersham was
engaged in a controversy with
Col. Richardson over rond mat
toi •*, he was raining his Mows
on I he h<*n«l of Valdez and every
other community benefited hy th«
roads and trails built in Alaska
hy the commission. Valdez needs
the trunk road inlQ the interior
for its prosperity; much of her
future depends on the comple
tion of this road and its prac
ticability as a trunk line over
which freight and passengers
can be carried. Apparently, to
punish (loI. Iliehardson, the dele
gate has aimed his blows at the
Kovernment road, caring little
who was to suffer the consc
* quences of his anger and hatred.
Last summer, when the dele
Kate was here, this quest ion was
put up squarely to him and he
was told hi" opposition to the
wo:k being done by Ihe road com
mission was injuring the busi
ness interests of Valdez and oth-<
en communities. It was not
thought at that lime he would
openly fight further appropria
tions for road work, as this let
tor indicates he has done. He re
fused to discuss this question or
to commit himself, although the
matter was broached to him on
three separate occasions, show
ing clearly in the light of subse
quent proceedings in his hatred
he was willing and eager to sat
riflce the business interests of
Valdez and other communities if
he could only satiate his spirit of
revenge on the president of the
road commission.
As before staled, this is not, a
controversy between Colonel
Richardson and the delegate. 11
is a business proposition with the
business men and property own
ers of Valdez, as an integral part
of the greater territory of Alas
ka. It is for them to ask them
selves if they want work t*> cease
011 the Valdez-Fairbanks road,
just at the time when that thor
oughfare is being made into a
practical wagon road, properly
graded and all streams bridged.
If they do, it will be their duly
to vote for James Wiekersham ,
for delegate to Congress. Should
those interested in the future
growlh and prosperity of Valdez
deem it necessary In I he well- (
being of the coniinunily that Ihis
road should lie compleled, Ihen il ,
is their duty In see that Judge
Wickersliain is defeated in his
political ambitious.
There is no middle ground to
lie taken here; no suhlerfuge; no
artful dodging «• r school boy so- ,
plii>lry |o deceive flic voters as
to their I rue interest*;. No one
will ha\c tin- temerity to denv
that delegate Wiekersham used
his best endeavors ;il tin* inosl
critical time to encompass the
ilefeal of thr road appropriations,
iiinl surely no one will claim that
in so doing In- was working in
the interests of Valdez. II is on- 1
fy loo true that this is not a po
litical question for the people of
this section alone to decide, bill
il is a business mailer in which
Ihe properly owners of Valdez are <
Jircelly and vitally concerned and
mm:! decide*for-themselves, leav
ing Ihe peoples of other commun- ,
ilics to settle according to their 1
lighl and to their best interest.
We are selfishly interested in Ihe
future growth and prosperity of
Valdez and are more concerned
in* her welfare than we are in
il is I si ii t communities with which
we have no direct connect ion, and
in that lighl we view Delegate i
Wiekersham as ;i pronounced en-;
emy to our well being.
MEXICO'S DEBT TO DIAZ. '
|
——— I
Al a banquet in Paris in In>11— i
or of former President Porfirio
|)ia/. a few days <i^> tlie exiled!
I
Mexican •! i<* I si I«»r was paid tribute i
Ity 111<• 11 high in Kuropean politi-j
cal life. Mp was acelainn-d III.*
creator of modern Mexico, and
I In* man whose name wntild in*
written in I In* years to come as
lln* country's greatest upbuiblcr.
History will probably accord
liini Ibis high place. Tliat be was
a lyranf will also be wrillen, but
Ibal lyranny of tin- sort Diaz ex
ercised was necessary for the in
dustrial development, of the coun
try now appears to be I In- only
verdict. Tbe world lias seen Diaz
grow old and lose his grip, lias
seen Madero unable to rule as bis
predecessor did, a transition I bat
lias presented .conlinual' turmoil
in a country I bat bad been re
markable among I lie Latin Amer
ican republics for the. absence of
revolul ions.
Mexico's ebief industrial growth
assumed the presidency thecoun
was under Diaz. When be first
assumed leli presidency the coun
try was as turbulent as now, for
eigners were none too well pro
tected, crime was rampant, and
the resources and industries of
the country knew little or no de
velopment. In his long reign
Diaz gave foreigners safety, in
vited foreign capital in and aid
ed in developing the country's re
sources, and until past 80, when
he was no longer able to lake the
field personally, was able to keep
the country in comparative tran
quility.
Had Diaz died nl 70, an ntfp be
yond lhaf of mosf. successful rul
fi'M, ho would have ftonr down in
history ns Ih«• man who rflod
MpxIco for n lifplimp willioiil spr
i.nis opposition. *
PIjp w. nkiH'M.s of a tyranny such
,\s lln'l of Din/.' is Ihnl control
ends with Ihc death of I Ik* strong
mnn. Tli*' present Inrinoil in
Mcxico proves that ftin revolu
tionary spirit has only been re
strained, not crushed out. Had
Diaz died in his prime with Mcx
ico tranquil it stiil appears likoly
that Ihc country would be in the
samr travail lhal has followed his
abdication. Without another Diaz
to take his placc—and so far the
country lias failed to develop one
—strife was certain to come. But
admitting the peace of his rule
was only temporary, the great de
velopment which came because of
it will not be lost to Mexico.
lie is a philosophical politician
who can be cast down without
becoming downcast.
June's political fireworks
ought fo be enough. Therefore,
a safe and sane Fourth.
Mayor Shank, of Indianapolis,
says that he made every dollar
ho has out of the 'Republican
party. Buying or selling, Mr.
Mayor?
hiri'cl.nr of the Census Durand,
in a recent report, places the
number of farms in Alaska at
222, comprising 42,54-4 acres.
_ THE MAJESTIC
AMUSEMENT CO.
H. G. DAVIS, Mgr.
Complete change of program on
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
Week days one show at 8 p. m.
Sundays two shows at 8 and
9:15 p. m.
VAUDEVILLE SPECIALTIES
PICTURES WORTH WHILE
Jack Surryhne, Musical Director.
INDEPENDENT MESSENGER Co.'
and
VALDEZ VACUUM CLEANING Co.
LA TOUCilK & PECK. Mum.
Jffice Smythie's Tailor Shop I'honc 102
ierricc lo All Part* of Town. Calls Aniwcred Promptly
Billions Confidential
House and Carpet Cleaning
MINING ENGINEER
L. W. STORM. E. M.
VALDEZ. ALASKA
?(port6 on Minks
0atbnt Surveys
TiENEBAL MlNINQ C NOINE ERINO
'Phone No. too
F. BUTTERWORTH
Civil Engineer and
U. S. Deputy Land and
Mineral Surveyor
Slue Printing Krs. Phone. 189
MISCELLANEOUS
CAMP VALDEZ No. 10
A.B.
Meet every Tuesday cvenlnjr at 8 o'eloelc in
ICatrlc Hall All members requesteJ to at
end D. H. SI,KKM. ArticChlef
Valdes Lodge
No 168.
Free and Accepted Masons
Regular Communications Hrst Wednesday In
;ach month In McKinley Hall. Visitors always
welcome.
James H. Patterson.. W. M
C. C- Reynolds. Sec
I.0.<
»0.F.
Vlsitlnir and local Odd Fellows ore re
quested lo register their name with the
Valdez Odd Fellows' Club. Reifulur
meetings, Hrst and third Monday.
Call on P. R. HT7NT. Secretary.
FOE
VALDE'i AKRIK No. 1971
Meet every Friday, 8 p. m- Eagle Hall
BUY YOUR BREAD at
VALDEZ BAKERY
Nothing but bent materials uaed.
FRESH BREAD DAIL\
All klndtt of Oakee, Plea, etc.
made to order ? .
WOOD Sc. HENRICH, Prop..
r::p,U R s
Mr.Mil I AN VHiR & W00I 00
AlVl-l.s
V* q I T f F n »{ ('III' III A f{ S
SHOW YOUR COLORS
Decorate your place of business for the Fourth
We Have a Complete line of
FLAGS AND BUNTING
and Decorating Supplies
Also Decorate Yourself
With one of our Stylish Suits
PRICES $ 12.50 to $35.00
Copper River
Draying Co.
Freiirhtintc ami passengers to all parts
of the interior. General Trucking
bid. Wood, - Proprietor
McKinley St.- Valdez
r
f 1«up Hotel
EUROPEAN^
SEATTLE
C//as. Perry, mgp.
THE BESTOrEVEBYTHlNfi
!N TtlEHEJUffOTTHECnT
135 RooKsWiTnfcm-505*)(Pi£ Rooms
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE ;
GEORGE SEXTON, Prop.
STRICTLY FIRST CLASS
Fourth Ave Seward, Alaska
FISHER'S BLEND
FLOUR
AT
D0U6HERTY & FER6US0N
PHONE 2.
Valdez Undertaking Co.
Undertaker, Embalmers
Funeral Directors
Kon. 148 GEO. ROBBINS, M«r.
Steam Heat Electric Lights
THE COPPER BLOCK
Finely Furnished Room* Al! Modern Conveniences
Good jnr DlirCCT G 0 0 d
Goods (HQ DUITLI Goods
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OF
Native and ¥ ¥ Tli/IDTrD ant^ Building
Puget Sound vJ lV.ll3ll<Jtx Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 1 8
Patronize a Home Industry
Tairbanks Bar
George Krau, Proprietor
Pool, Cigars, Liquors
Courteous Treatment Phone 100
Ingram & Bush Dealers °
Just Arrived Direct from the
Factories a Large Shipment of
INTEGRIDAD, Rax, Regal* EL SIDELO, Senator*. Millionaires
SMOKECRAFT, Rein* Victoria, Delmonico BELMONT, Monarch
REPRESENTA, Medio, Full Value, Madrid
Box Trade Solicited at Seattle Prices
Special. Price To The Trade
We do a
general
Banking
Business
S* BLUM & ■©•
—? INCORPORATED —
BANKERS
CAPITAL $ 200.000,"'
Bank in
rear of
mercantile
department
We Pay 4 Per Cent Internet on Time Certificate* of Depoeit.