he Alaska Prospector
I'ubllslieil hi VhIiIci, Alaska, every Thursday
by tlie I'kosi-mtok Pihi.isiiino Co
I'honr Main l.
,Kutere«l at the Valuer. Postofflc© as second
' elas* matter.
nbH'riptlon W per vei»r. $'2 for *1 x month
Single copies 10 cents
OUGHT TO GET TOGETHER
It is nil axiom illustrated by a j
famous story that men of similarl
habits ought to stick together. This
applies to Alaska at this time. Both
political parties will hold territorial
conventions next month to elect dole-1
gates to the national conventions.
Alaska will not cut much figure in
cit her national assemblage but a del
egation in each one which goes I
there with the definite purpose of
trading its lonesome votes for some
thing for Alaska might produce small
results. If the delegates go there with
the fixed intention of hopping on
somebody's bandwagon they might as
well stay at home.
The Alaska republicans have never
held a convention without a split and
a senseless yawp about nothing.
Nome and Fairbanks have made a
fine start this spring toward a repeti
tion of history by sending contesting
delegations. Nevertheless a sane
majority in the Ketchikan convention
may be able to make a satisfactory
composition by sitting down on dis
t tirbers.
The national republican committee
has ween lit in its wisdom to allot only
two delegate*! to Alaska, contrary to
precedent and in contrast with the
democratic committee, which gives
the territory six. Two votes in near
ly 1,000 have little more chance than
a snowllake in the tropics. Hut if
traded to somebody who can do some
good they might accomplish some
thing in the way of promises for
Alaska legislation. Of course there
would be no assurance that the pro
mises would be kept but that is a
chance that always must be taken in
polit ies.
The important thing is for Alaska
to go into the national conventions
with the purpose of at least trying to
do something for the territory, not
merely to holler for somebody who
is supposed to be popular.
A Chicago scientist has perfected a
method whereby he is able to con
vert the remains of a human being
into metal. Just what the utility of
his efforts are remains to be demon
strated but the possibilities envolvcd
give material for a wide sweep of
mental radiation.
Just think of the melancholy satis
faction of quailing a beverage from
some chalice formed of the into-met
al-converted remains of some dear
one who has gone on the long trail.
Or perchance some fair bereaved who
has found partial surcease from j^rief
in a new husband mightacquire lach
rymose salve t*» yet unhealed wounds
while smoothing the shirt front of
No. 2 with a flat iron made from the
remains of No. 1.
Indeed, should it prove that the
scientist's discovery is a thing of
practicability, there is no limit to the
useful reminders of those* departed
for a happier land with which we
may surround ourselves.
The death of Judge William T.
Scott takes from Valdez an able and
honored citizen. lie was a man of
winning personal qualities and near
ly every one who knew him was his
friend. He had been in Alaska little
more than a year and his sudden tak
ing off is a reminder of how many
ambitious men come to Alaska full of
life and hope and never see the states
again.
The republican party of Fairbanks
has always been split, info factions
and now one of the factions has sub
divided it-self. This looks as if the
factions are busting up into vulgar
fractions and the fuss may soon reach
decimation.
Delegate ('ale wants a small aroa of
coal lands given to tho natives of
Walnwrlght Inlot. Moomingly ho for
geta that President Toddy has already
ho(. apart all tho coal lands of Alaska
for himself.
Tho eahlo correHpotutanco some
times misses live news hut ho com
pensates with a fowunlqtio trimmings
liko eulogies In congress upon dead
momhors.
Now why doesn't tho rout, of tho
world hanlsh ('astro and the Turkish
sultan to Ifayti and have all tho in
ternational nuisances in one eorral?
if those automohilista st.lek closely
to stoamshl|>s and railroad trains they
may get around tho world after a
while.
Katalla now has a full fledged
chamber of commerce. It was organ
ised Wednesday evening April I, In
the rooms of the Katalla oluh, and It
start* out In life with twenty-five
mejnhcrs.
*
CORNERING ALASKA COAL
Congress will not pass the Calo bill
providing for the sale of Alaska coal
lands njM>n an intelligent basis, pro-i
claim the press dispatches. Well,
anybody who supposed congress
would pass the hill^without a ten-year
campaign of education might easily
be induced to buy stock in a corpora
tion organized to buy the moon for
ita green cheese value. What con
gress doesn't know about Alaska if
put in writing would make the con
gressional library look like a loose
leaf ledger,
Tho Cale bill will fail because it is
opposed by the president, and con
gress, which knows little and cares
less about Alaska will not run coun
ter to his whims in a matter which
has no bearing upon tho chances of
members for re-election. Tho presi
dent opposes the bill because out of
his self-centered omnincicn »e he can
extract more knowledge of Alaska
than any other man can acquire in
several years' residence.
The defeat of the Cale I>i11 is not
the only nor the greatest obstacle to
the development of Alaska's coal re
sources imposed by the president's
fatuous egotism It only handicaps
acquisition of lands untouched on the
public domain. A worse damage is
inflicted by holding up proceedings
to obtain title to lands already under
existing laws and largelx developed
at great cost.
From this it results that no further
development in the coal regions can
be expected for several year and no
building of coal roads.
Opponents of I lie Cale bill arc
credited with placing their objection
upon the ground that under its pro
visions corporate interests will obtain
control of all the coal landsin Alaska.
Now why should that worry anybody,
and especially a congressman? Does
anybody imagine that individuals are
going to take up HRi-acre tracts of
coal land and dig in the ground as
they wovld spade a turnip patch?
Every man now in congress will jjo
to the scrap heap before any coal
lands in Alaska or elsewhere are dis
posed of and developed on the home
stead plan.
i no coal lands already taken in
Alaska are held by corporalions hut
these corporalions are numerous and
have 110 allinity with one another.
So far from the opposition to the
sale of Alaska eoal lands being based
upon a fear of monopolistic control it
is moro probably inspired by a desire
tt» ereate a monopoly. The eoal kings
of the states alroady control the out
put and priee of all grades and kinds
of fuel and they are in n<> hurry to !»•
compelled to meet competition in
Alaska.
Perhaps (leorge W. Itaer and other
gentlemen who believe with him that
God in his infinite wisdom has en
trusted the property interests of the
country to a select cabal think the
Almighty has already staked them to
all the coal they can handle .'mil they
would rather fence up the virgin fields
than H^ht just now for their acquisi
tion.
UNALASKA HAS FINE
SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT
Cnalaska, Alaska, March 7 l!H>s—
Special to the prospector. On March
<5, at. the the Unalaska Opera House,
a belated Washington's birthday en
tertainment was given under tin- aus
pices of the Illialink Literary Cluli.
The Opera House is the special pride
of Unalaska, being easily the finest
went of Howard. It was particularly
resplendent on this occasion, with a
new plush curtain, and gorgeous
stage settings.
The school children produced a
clever little play called "The Fairy
of the Fountain," which was inthusi
astically received. The children had
been trained for weeks by Miss Vin
ton, tin* government school teacher,
until they were not only letter per
fect, but had overcome much of the
self consciousness natural to children
who appear for their tlrst time in fan
cy costumes. Miss Vinton deserves
special mention for her labors, not!
only iii training the children, put in
arranging the entire program. She
was ably assisted by Misses Harnett
and Wonderlich of t he .lessee bee j
llotne. The properties, stage set
tings, etc., were looked after by j
Messrs. Holshanin and Harman. Mr. j
Oray furnished the music.
The democratic caucus, which was
held Wednesday evening April I, at
tho Kat alia club, elected J. F. A.
Strong and Charles Mathews as
delegates to the democratic territor
ial convention, which meets In Jun
eau on May 18.
Notice
Notice Is hereby given to all per
sons who subscribed for any portion
of the twenty-four thousand shares
Of treasury stock of F! DA I.(JO A I.AS
KA COPI'KU COMPANY, olaced on
the market during the month of Sep
tember, 1907, that unless they call at
bho company's ofllee in the town of
Valdcz, within ten days from this
rlate and pay for said stock in full,
(heir Bubserfptlon thereto will be can
celled and tne stock resold.
Dated this 14th. day of April, UM>S.
FII>AI/IO-AF/ASKA COPPKR CO.
PRIESTLEY IS
FOUND GUILTY
Jury Convicts Fairbanks
Newspaperman on Crimi
nal Libel Charge.
Fairbanks, April 20—William IS.
Priestley, secretary of the Tanana
branch of the Western Federation of
Miners and editor of the miner's I
organ here, was convicted Saturday i
night of criminal libel in the United j
States commissioner's court for edi- |
torial attacks on the Tanana club, j
the leading social organization of
Fairbanks. This was the second trial. 1
On the first trial the jury disagreed, j
The particular statement upon
which the libel prosecution was |
based was the charge that, the Tan- j
ana was t he scene of frequent orgies j
in which French prostitutes were
prominent figures in the decorations, j
The chief animus against Priestley, I
however, grew out of an editorial state
ment following a public reception in
the Tanana club rooms at which 100 J
women were present all, presumably j
reputable and nearly all wives,
daughters or sisters of prominent I
citizens. Priestley wrote a warning
to the women of Fairbanks to keep]
out of the Tanana club as it was no j
place for decent women and that I
few of them ever entered the place.
Priestley is a well educated man
and an extremely vindictive writer. I
lie says lie will appeal his conviction
to the highest courts.
0. L. GRIMES TO
DEMAND RELEASE
School Teacher Now in Jail
Will Begin Habeas Cor
pus Proceedings.
(). I,. (Iriines, the school teacher at !
Kodiak who was brought to tlic f«•*I- |
era I jail here Saturday night l»y Dep- t
uiy Marshal Mowers and locked lip (
pending a hearing before the grand!
jury on a charge ol rape will this af
ternoon attempt to gain his liberty !
on a writ of habeas corpus, ({rimes
lias engaged Attorney K, K. Ritchie
to light the ease.
(Iriines was held to the grand jury
by S. I. Silverman, acting commis
sioner at Kodiak, and he was refused
bail, as were also three witnesses
against him. It is on this point that
Attorney Kitehie will base his main
contention in the habeas corpus pro
ceedings, but it will also be alleged
that inasmuch iis Silverman's bond j
has never been approved he had no i
authority to act. Former Judge
Wiekcrsham neither refused nor ac
cepted the bond ottered by Silverman I
and when Judge Keid came intooflice
lie also refused to act but named Sil- I
vcrman commissioner dc facto.
(irlmes, who is somewhat versed in [
law asserts that the commissioner
permitted tin* introduction of testi
mony which was not legally admissa
blc despite (Irime's object ions. (Iriines
acted as his own lawyer at the hear
ing.
(iriines asserts that the only
witnesses, with the exception of the
girl in the ease, have only hearsay
testimony to offer, lie further asserts
that the alleged victim, Alexandra
(iraucrs, made no complaint' unt il t wo |
years after the crime is alleged to j
have been committed.
Shipping Ore FromKllnmnr
All the ore bins at ICllamar are
filled with ore, which the Ndlth in ex
pected to tako out Hoon. Thirteen
men aro now employed hy Superin
tendent Middlekatnp, In development
work and incidentally in extracting
ore. The work 1h along a ledge and
j° rc 1h taken out Hteadily. Thin In be
ing done between the fourth and fifth
ovelM. A diamond drill will he put to
work soon to prohe for an ore body
which Im believed to Ilea short din- j
tanco from the present operations.
Fnlrbanka City Hlcction
At. the Fairbanks city election the
following were elected couneilmcn
by the votes following their names,—
(I. Jensen f»lfl, Fred Carter filH,
Alex OftpCWtU MM», I,. H. Kobe MH,
Jack Itrooks 4(W, John droves 408, J.
J. Thornton 4M, Dan Callahan, boss
of the previous council, was ninth In
the list of candidates, receiving 4tr»
votes.
The Yukon Clold Company will op
erate seven dredgers, each having a
capacity of tt,(X)0yards of gravel dally,
at Dawson this aummer.
(Inc) Bankers and General Merchants (Inc)
Visit our BIG STORE while in the city and look over our line
of Dry Goods, Groceries, Ladies' and Gents' Furnishings, Boots, Shoes,
Hats and Caps, Rubber Goods, Furniture, Carpets, Linoleum, Mats,
Draperies, Glass and Crockery Ware, Hardware, Stoves, Miners'
Supplies, Etc.
We receive a large shipment of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables on
every steamer. Special attention is callcd to a line of S. & W.
canned Goods, which are the highest pitch of perfection.
WEZ BANK & MM CD, INC.
iil PIONEER OUTFITTERS Si
VICE RAGING ON
AFQGNAK ISLAND
Resident Writes Prospector
Protesting Against Ex
isting Conditions.
Protesting against the conditions
existing on tho island of Afognak, a
resident of t he town of that name lias
written tho Prospector with regard to
the evils which lie alleges are making
the island a vice-ridden locality. The
letter follows:
Afognak, April 1—A great immoral
wave lias struck this good old town of
Afognak.
In times past, when wc had neither
priest, missionary, marshal, judge
nor jury near us for miles, the people
were sociable, living happy and in
peace—close to nature; and whenevor
any grievances might havo arisen,
they were adjusted amicably among
ourselves.
Since tho advent of white man's
civilizations, it seems tho native has*
adopted all the vices of his white
brother but none of his virtues.
And indeed, since last fall and dur
ing the winter a number of natives
and whites,men, women and children,
have been subpoened, summoned and
arrested in connection and under
charges of making and drinking
makola (yeast), theft, assault, rape,
etc. and many of us are living in ex
pectation that our turn will be next.
Oh, when, Oh, when, will all this
terminate? Man has lost his man
hood and became an animal; woman
has lost all shamo and self respect
and the guardian angels and angels
of mercy in their uriel flight, instead
of weeping, have lost tho love for
humanity and it soems, havo joined
the throng of common mortals in
worship of tho golden calf with the
motto, in "Gold We Trust."
Hut hark! From tho past come
words of promise, "promote the gen
eral welfare and securo tho blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity." We hope and wait.
A. P.
(leorgo 1'ulham ro porta in Fair
bankft that the proposed mail route
from Howard around Cook inlot and
through tho Kudkokwim country to
Nome Ih entirely feasible and shorter
than expected. He wrh 0110 of tho
party that wont through to select tho
route last winter.
Kdmund Bmith ia hack from Hoat
tle and roporta that the affairs of the
Reynolda Companion aro getting in
better ahapo. Vice-president I/otor in
coming on the Portland.
JamoH Melfie, an ommigrant of tlio
crop of iHHH, came haek on the
sieamor today after an abaonoo of
several yoars.
Tim Fairbanks Nows calls attention
U> the fftot that nearly ail tho elalm
^taking in tlio Tauana Hiuoe lfHVi has
boon of group*.
Telegraph and Mail ^ ToWll ill Itself. niarsksuntb Shop,
Station. .... . J. etc., etc.
Wortman's Roadhouse
FOOT OF SUMMIT, TWENTY MI EES FROM VALDEZ
Accommodation for 40 horses. Warm Doghouses
A FULL STOCK OF GENERAL SUPPLIES
FEvlifl« to'VhtTsinnmlt ~^>Pontius Magnuson Prop
ALASKA COMMERCIAL CO.
Have established a sta
tion at SUSITNA, at
the forks of the Susitna
and Yentna rivers and
will carry a ftill line of
MINERS' S U P PLIES
Other Stations at UNA], ASK A, KARLUK,
AFOGNAK, SUNRISE, KODIAK,
KAGUYAK, TYONOOK
Alaska Steamship Co.
"""r™ All Alaska Routes
SEATTLE-SEWARD-VALDEZ ROUTE
SOUTHWESTERN ALAHKA ROUTE Steamer* Hall from I'ler No. 1
FOR CORDOVA. VAI.DKZ, LATOUCIIE AND HEW A Rl)
Steamships NORTHWESTERN, YUCATAN, SANTA CLARA
Through ticket* lulled to Falrbank*, via Valdez, ami Ed. H. Orr Si Co.'* Stage Line.
S. S. DORA
Hail* from Seward tin; Iftth of C8(!h month for Sehlovla, Ko<llak
Uyak, ('old Hay, Unga, Chlgulk, Dutch lla'hor and CnalaRka,
BEATTLE-JUNEAU-SKAGWAV ROUTE
Southeastern Alaoka Route -FOR KETCHIKAN, WRANOEIX, DOUOI.AS,
HAINES AND 8KAOWAY
Alaska Flyers JEFFERSON and DOLPHIN
FOR KETCHIKAN, W It A NO KM/, MKTf.AK AIITI-A, IIADLEY, DOUOI.AH
ZTXX S. S. FARALLON and DIRIflO
All Steamer* connect with the While I'a** and Yukon Route. Through ticket* to
Daw*ou In connection with *tagc line from While llor*e. Right to change *teamer* or
*alllng dale I* renerved.
iLS'* SS5SS valdcz Dock Co. Agents
SEATTLE, WASH. VALOKZ, ALASKA
Alaska Coast Co.
The "INSIDE" ROUTE
Betwoen Southwontom AlaHka-Pugot Hound. U Operating
HMmmorH, PORTLAND, BERTHA and .1 HA NIK. nNoxt.
Hailing for Heat.Mo, Taeoma an<l all lnU>rmo<1lata Porta J
S.S. Portland A|>ril 27
Right Ih rr*Horvcd to changn or Hailing (laton
without- notice
I!. F. ALEXANDER, A. H. DAUTRHJK,
Uknkkai, Manaorh, Taooma. (Jrnrrai, Aornt, Vai.or*