The Mining News
Published by
Tim Ketchikan i’rintiny < o.
I’. SWINKKoHD. lad it or.
KHIIAKD lU'Sll KLL Myr.
St 1JS( IllPTH)N KATKS :
i i.i y. ar, in advance.D>dH>
Siuyle copies .1"
.1AXI'AllV 1'. lbn".
_ _ _ i
;-' —”-: " i
SAI.L'TATt »UV.
It the tin! ' worn ailayc that "the ■
i roof of the puddiny is in the catiny
1 i the evi'toni of i.utlininy at tin 1
-■ n i tIn principb - and policies by
which a new public it on purposes to
b ■ yovi tued, fluit ci stom would, per*
! ip-, lie a- much honored in the
in ich a* in tl1 olisciance. Never- ,
-s i foreword oi two indicative
nf lli a i ill- .i: i p li’iHjses of I lie Min4
i.!c X, w s. in older t ii.it it- readcis
;a:i. b emihb-n in lie' future to form
a 1 cone, .-ion *' to how faithfuliy
it- promi'e'. which they would oilier
w ii left lu yiio'S at. have been
k- pt. may not he ■ ntirely out ot place.
The editor Matters hinisi If with the
h lie! ihat his view - and opinions on
all past ions of yi.-.ve public concern
' i iln people ol Alaska are too well
known to ic i d any elucidation here
a .1. now. Si,it to say that lliak
iiu no foolish claim to infallibility,
i• t.dly -usceptihle to aryumont
h i', ,i on sound reason, lie lias not yet
si ■ u any liyht sufficient to cliauye or
ev il modify tie views and opinions he
h. ,- nii. entertained and advocated,
l i.'., tin time such a liyht is made
to shine, with retulyent ray. upon ;
wh.it 'one people may lie pleased to
coi.'i,:, r a darkened vision. Tin Min
News will In found an earnest ad-j
ncil" of tin cause of popular holm
Lovernmenl for Alaska.
Tie Mininy News purposes to make
e! ii',11 a faithful and reliable expon
• in of tie mate! aal inlert -I - of Alaska
ii' rally and ol fie Ketchikan Min
i, . District more particularly. It
will devote much of its space to a dis
semination of rn-ws concernluy tie
mines and fisheries of the district, j
'.neither with local happeninys. aim-,
iny at all times to yive individuals, a
Well a- separate ami distinct inter, >ts.
a perfect I v "s,|uare deal.
finally, it will lie an absolutely
itidepemh nt journal, ami will discuss
all public questions it approaches at
all from a purely non-partizan stand
pninl. and without fear, favor, or tie
tiop, of reward. The future must tell
tie- stmy of how faithfully the rule
ol action tiiiis briefly outlined i- ol>
-i rved.
Win I KKI’KKSK\TS ALASKA-TIIE
I >F.1.1 .< 1 ATE i lloSK.V HV THK
FKOI’KK, OH THK FK iFRKII KA I)
APPOINTED in' THK PRESI
, DENT"/
< in the 111 (lav of November last
Hon. Frank II. Waskey. delegate
from Alaska, and Hon. Wilford H.
Hnggatt < Inventor. sent to tin5 Presi
dent the following letters, presumably
at tile request of the chief executive.
A' it is the purpose of Tiie Mining
News to make these letters, together
with the one following, the subject of
more or I s. future comment, it deems
it luit fair that they he printed in full,
so that there may lie no danger of
either being misquoted in any future
discussion of the merit of either as
having relation to the present and
future well-being of Alaska. The
letters are as follows :
ilol'SK OF R F PR FS ENT ATI V ES.
Washington. D. <.
November '2~. limn.
SIR: In compliance with your re
quest fora written statement relative
to the political needs of Alaska, 1 bog
leave to submit the following:
The most urgent need is a revision
of the Fnited States mining laws as
they apply to Alaska, particularly that
part of them which lias to do with the
staking, recording, and holding of
placer ground. In many of the pi a a r
districts of the West these laws have
served the purpose for which they
Were intended, hut they ate not suited
to the peculiar geologic and climatic
conditions of Alaska. These condi
tions are:
First, The great area of ground con
taining probable placer values.
Second. The extreme dillieulty and,
cost of proving these values. The
Fnited States mining laws are un
stated to tlu s conditions •
First, UeciUse of their extreme lib
erality.
Second. The susceptibility of being j
varitrjsly const rued.
i'mler the present laws specul.'ltois
have been enabled to acquire a quasi- |
titletogre.it tracts of ground, sup- i
poscdly valuable, and are bolding t Iii- ;
ground undeveloped. This is unjust I
to individuals and others who would j
prospect and develop the country were'
the ground not so held.
To correct this—
First. A bona fide discovery of gold
in commercial quantities should be |
necessary on eaeli claim before the !
claim could be located.
Second, I’roof that the ground j
sought to be located is part of the tin- j
appropriated domain should he made j
to the recorder before said claim can
be placed on record.
Third. Recording of annual labor
should he compulsory: record to he in
form of a sworn statement, false
swearing in such to constitute per
jury. punishable by Imprisonment and
fine.
Fourth. The association claim should j
be abolished.
Given these four things, jumping i
a nil it- i r.sMtr.i nt litigation v. ill
■ i —i• and Al-.ska's |dai-i-•• dev- 'opmeut
on on apn
*!'i>i- set tint! :. -ill*' of .".11 unloeated
enal lands i:i Al:: front location hit
lu "ti an ai't of w isdniu. I would sitg
ge-t that actual discover., of e.il in i
pumping quantities In nu de a t ■ jt i
-ile lie fort* a valid oil location van I c
effect ed.
While tin- 11 list urgent need oi
Ala-ka i- -n. hil mining legi.-i ition.
tin- most important matt e p.ilitiealh
i- that Ilf hottm gnvei liment. i’ntlli
< otig re-s granted Al: -k t tin privihg
ol a l)e!i gate ill tie 1 !«>..-■ of llcptv
soutatiies we ljild the spec, ach nl
4o,oti0 Ait.' t lean citi/m. - totally with
ou' gllVi 111 11. e! ,1 :tl 1 i -11. e- -.nation. W
have now the nnnmah i - pi opi sit h.n
of a large ami important possession
geugraphii-uiiy contiguous and jioj u
iateil In Pnited : iti - eitiz-. t - and
yet not an integral p.trl of the Putt.-d
Sf.t -. l{eg..riiing 'i i fl it a iai gov
■ tent. I ltd eatt lie no argil
to the justice of such a go.vr tt
for Alaska. We at. all Ameri'-ai,■.
and a- such believe in the inali mil le
rig'hts and privileges of self-govern*
1 lliellt.
< ippoin rts uf that form of gov, rn
metit lot Alaska have ipt.•stio., d tlm
expeiiieiiei ol Alaskiii.s being allowed
to legislate for t hotnsclvi s. Lit li
eonsiiat these I 'ti t - ;
I'iist. TJie hi.ooo white men now in
Alaska are men iliawn ti rn the rank's
of the best citizens of jth sect intis of
t he l Hiti'tl St ati s.
Second. Tin t were intelligent and
educated lliell iiefoi I- tin .'. went to
Alaska.
Third. They have lived since, and
nitv.' have limit- homes In an environ
i ment tluit tiring' oiit all that is host
in American citizenship. I' ii not
evident that t hi- q ; si ion <4 i \ f u-di -
em-y is. as are all such ipt* -t in..-,
-iimetliiitg' fni hoi.e-t American man
i hood to he ashameiI i■I'.*'
It ha- hi en chtiim .1 that il Alaskans
were g i i I'tl tile pint'1, I f h gi-hltion
ihe, would tlrin capital out of tin
country. This i- iion-ei.M : iv. want
Itome government that we may protect
honest industry and that we mat en
courage capital to work with lira in
and la an n to make Alaska a laud nl
homes and of prosperity.
America is safe in the hands of
Americans. This fail's elections have
| again proven that. Ann i leans in
Alaska a-k only equal privih ge- with
I their brothel' in' the 1. Hit ill St.it
At the elect ion for i)eh g'.'ite hi id in
Ala-ka hist August the plat lorn s upon
1 which all tin- Candida ti s made their
campaign had as their main plank
Territorial government. The people
of Alaska me tmsitou- ol such govern
ment and t hey have a.-ki il it.
We know you. Mr. President, a
our statmelu -t friend, and we know
you as one always hatlling for the
right. Wi ti'k you to look clearly
and to guide the < ongless might.
Tin-re is urgent tired for the i-t ra
tion of a fourth judicial division, with
heailqttai ti Is at Wilde;., t his division
to lie cat veil from the pn sent third
division and to consist of the entire
I ’in- i tii- slope wall a-lied west of Mount
St. Ulias. including the Air kan Pen
insula and the Aleutian Inlands.
Kqunll.v urgent is the need |or tlm
appointment ol an associate or assist
ant judge iii tin second judicial divi
sion. Tie business in both the second
and third divisions lias grown beyond
the fiower of any one man to haiidh-.
and ti." importance ol tin- creation ol
this fourth judicial division and the
. appointumnt ol an a.- oeiate judge fur
the second division tan not hi- too
strongly urged.
It would he advantageous in many
ways if Alaska could he made a sep
I arate lighthouse district in-tail of
being in oin- district with Washington
and Oregon, as al present. Light
houses are part iciihirl.i needed tit
'Ocean <'ape. t ape Spencer. Yakutat.
anil < : i j ii i-it. Klitts.
A iuudotiivc i> him- .e,l at Xoiiio, also
at Fairbanks. The work doru in the
(ieolngieal Survey, the Coast .'Uidtieo
detie Survey. :iud t lie t i.ad commission
lias In eu of gT< it lieiielit, and we ask
id ('ongress fur them consideration
liefif t ing I heir i iiipnrtance.
The di>"]i iting of Wrangell Xarrows
would lie of moil lieiielit to the slop
ping interests of Alaska than any
other shiple i 1111 lovement of the coast
or waterways.
As n gai ds < iovi rnment aid to t ail
roads, the only just and necessary aid
! is the giving of ample terminal facili
ties. rights of way. etc. Subsidies or
Uioverniuent loans there is no need
lor. Ample private capital is to he
had for any legitimate railroad pru
ned. Oilier than legitimate enter
prises Alaska dins not want,
i The telegraphic service established
by the Signal Corps has been of de
rided benefit to the business interests
of the district. The (.ioverniuent and
its servants are to lie commended for
[tile good work done.
The postal service in the larger
towns is rendered very poor by inade
quate nvailhlc funds for clerk hire.
It is to lie hoped that this may lie
remedied shot f ly.
.Much good has I>• ■>n done by the!
Bureau of Eduration in the work
among' the natives. I would suggest
that the work in future lie as much as 1
possible along the lines of industrial
training and that tlie reindeer service
lie discontinued.
Covernnierit protection and regula
tion of the fisheries is to he com
mended. and < iovei nment hatcheries
should be established wherever prac
ticable.
I thank you for your courtesy, and
will lie gratified if you t eem any of
above suggestions worthy.
Respectfully yours.
FRAXK 11. WASKEY.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
Washington, L). C, J
\ :.'’i ingtt n, P. < .. 11
Ni.vemb'- IN IDOi.
Mr, Pri-idi :t: I 1 niv.• th<-hour,'.' to I'
submit I;. I. wiik II,V vil • its tO till'
most ui-oiii need ul ley i> I at ioit lor
A': -ha.
Alaska i- row governed under a
eo of law- ' i".eled liy i nuaii-' aril
appii.vod -fuie i;, I sun. finco tin
p. - a-, ,.f 11:1 — ai l tile develop lien! i I
the ,,, , iry l>:.~ been■ wiTr.derful, and
b'gisl i i<m lias in e -surily be.-t unable '
I i 1. ils _ a. itli. This
ait was a great p in N.aaw . : ltd
its worklily's lias been all that it
nllt-hois eoeld r< suitably expert, it.
v - i.'i.e./hat in-lilt construrt’d and
is ( efe. ’ ive ill many ways. To 1 e!ll
,‘il\ tliese defects and provide surli
a-lditio'.al ley'sir.; ion is will meet the,
y; owing i’.cei of firs country. I think
j: world be wise 10 provide SOIUe
m ai:s bp ’..nieli the Alaskan eoiii'lav. s
i"Uild lie revised.
To tills end l would I' lOinnHud that
i' i -I's- pioviiie fora commission to
vi-:i a!1 partsit Ah ska. si tidy tin
it- - of tile varic a- tiisi nets, at di
mad -arli recommendations Whieli. il
, n ic 1 i into law. would conduce to
i letter well ire of Alaska. This
commission e, . Id pi'1 s u in one hill ;
n arlx ev. iwlhuiy that would lie need
ful in tlie way ' t lcyi-k t;o:i fora con- j
slilei': 1*1, perioil of y cars and would
(i c; -a-el he i.illllllds Upon c oily I • - -
i, i pii ci ii.e'd legist t inn. whi.'h seems
in be const .Oil iy increasing,
j Pliere are. however. somi nmtteis
ul tijyeut import n ee which have nerd
of '' a ■ immeiiiat ■ act ion ' I < 'onyri:ss.
Kirst ol imp i lance is the creation '
.if an additional judicial division to,
emlirace that portion u! Alaska alony
! the coast vest ni Yakutat Hay and
'.Metuliriy to tin interior for a dis
. t'in.e of ill ii i miles. Tills proposed,
district is now eliil.r.iced within the!
third on i'i'll ' i~t • cl ami entails work
' upon the jiulgt whieh.il is impussilile,
for one man to do. ’J’lie increase of
bus ie ss i I tin third judicial division
I. is b, eo vi ry rival within the last
two \i ii's. amt with tin ineri asiny
id' \ i Inpiiieiu s in 1 ’riiice William
Sound and lhe < upper Ili a r valleys
1 i n rcsMiy fin an adilit iom.l judicial
divi -i"U is ui yi i,l.
Owiny to the present congestion of
business in the courts of the second
and third judicial divisions, caused by
tlf lary. amount of lit iyut ion. a fifth
iu.lye *h<>;tld I " provided for Alaksa.
this, ju, ye to 1 e i.ssiyued to such dis
t rii-i a- tin- Attorne.-(li neral might
i, i ret | a* conditions warranted.
< iwiny to the p ■< uliar nature of the
lie pi > i i s el gold in th< I 'airliauks iiis
irirt and in tin- Nor i i.i'ti icl. there
have lie n many conflicts on r the
'owniisliip of very valuable mining
el in s. causing endless fixation and
1 t multi" and i.epriviny rigbtfi 1 owners
I of the use of their properly for pro
longed periods. In some instances
tlu ri* inis' been as much as a million
! dollars of gold on a dump awaiting
months for a decision as to the right
ful ownership, and then perhaps n
year or more for an appeal. In many
! instances these contests of title havi
I savored of blackmail. The originators
lof suits, knowing the congested con
ditions of tle comts, have taken ad
! vantage of the fact to tie up vast sums
of money in the hope of effecting com
promise. If a quick ch'ii rniiiiiition of
I these suits could lie had. there would
undoubtedly lie fewer of them, and as
| i here will lie no need of additional
general court officers for this addi
tional judge tlie expense will lie
small.
Owing to the activity in railroad
construction which now prevails in
some sections ami seems to he only
starting'. I would iv ommend that a
law be enacted prohibiting 'I"' sale of
I it | IU il* or Ihi ! ii el IS ing 1 lie s iT thereof
at any plac, w ithin a radius of d miles
ol n construction camp of a railroad or
other eiili'i pri.s. employing one hund
red ir more men, except in incor
porated towns.
Owing lo tlie peculiar natur • of the
J deposits of gold in the placer districts
of the int'-rior of Alaska, the general
mining laws of the I'niled .states do
not seem to lie entirely applicable and
have been tlie cause of much conten
tion and litigation, an.l some relief
should lie given. Ti.c remedy should
he well thought out and could lie best
found by a commission on revision of
the laws, which I have already recoins ,
mended.
Owing to the recent important dis- ■
covi'i'ies oi rich copper deposits near j
I he one hundred and forty-lifth merid
ian. the boundary line between Alaska
an.l the Yukon Territory, I have to j
recommend that the necessary money;
tie appropriated for the permanent
marking' of this huuniinry. as it is
along this line that tlie most recent
discoveries of mineral of value have
been made. A- conditions exist the
locators are in doubt as to whether
their claims arc in Alaska or in the
Yukon Territory.
Tlie present game law in force in
Alaska is very unsatisfactory, and
should lie so changed as to give nat
ives and residents of Alaska greater
freedom in killing of tlie game ani
mals for fund, find at the same time
permit people from tlie outside world
to visit Alaska for the purpose of kill
ing game in limited quantities under
proper safeguards against the slaught
er.
< ongress lias been liberal in its
treatment of Alaska in giving it |
light-houses, buoys, and aids to navi
gation, hut owiny to tlie increase in
shipping these needs are increasing,
and there is need for a continuance of
liberality in establishing these light- j
houses and stations.
These light-homes and stations have j
liven in charge of the inspector of tlie
thirteenth light-house district, with
headquarter* at Portland, Ore. They
have grown in numbers and import
ance, and cover such a large exteut of
I
f he sJfet o: -i that it seems the time' has i
ia- ctnif ft hen'a separate lighthouse ;
i'i trie: for Alaska should he created.
-“Y
It ; now practically impossible for
n tr ail e stationed at Portland to cover
the whole oi the Alaska coast as is |
ne ded. Very respectfully,
W. H. HOGGATT,
Governor of Alaska. |
TIIM PRESIDENT,
White House, Washington, D. C. j
The foregoing letters, together with
tli - ota- which follov.s. showing that
Mr, Waskey's communication to the |
Pre-ideet. made at the latter’s request
had been referred to Gov. IToggatt for
bis consideration,' ware, on tbe titli of
December sent to Congress with the
accompanying message:
To the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives
I transmit the accompanying papers |
relative to the present needs of the
Territory of Alaska in matters of leg- I
i-1 it ion and government, and heartily j
commend the views of Governor Hog- j
:_.et to the favorable consideration of
the < ’ongress,
THKODORE ROOSEVELT.
Tin- White House, December ii. liMWi.
Washington. D.
November .'10. 11MH1.
Mr. President: I have the honor to j
acknowledge recei]it this day of the
letter of the Hon. Frank I-I. Waskey.
Delegate to Congress from Alaska,
addressed to you and setting forth the
present needs of tin Territory in mat
ters of legislation and government.
The mining laws governing location
and ownership of placer ground are
I .unquestionably i*ot exactly applicable
to existingconditions in Alaska. The
remedy, however, is not clear, inas
much as in all such cases there is a
lack of good faith on the part of the
I- -oph- in carrying out the provisions
ol tin- statutes regarding such lands.
Tin- Supreme Court, in a l-eeent deci
sion, has laid down a rule as to the
discovery of gold necessary to form
location of it mining claim, which I
think can hardly lie improved upon.by
definition in legislation.
Mr. Waskey's second suggestion re
garding change is very questionable,
inasmuch as it would lie in many in
stanecs impossible to produce evi
dence that the ground sought to be
located is part of the unappropriated
domain of the United States, and it
would, in any event, extend the pow
■is of the recorder too much for
- safety.
HU third suggestion is a good one
! and should lie enacted as a law.
III. fourth suggestion, as to associa
. i ion claims, would undoubtedly meet
: with the approval of the people en
gaged in placer mining in Alaska.
With regard to coal and oil land, 1
deem it essential that persons explor
' ing the country for these minerals
: should he protected during the time
of such exploration in good faith, and
that the laws an4 i^gulations govern
ing these lands should be so extended
as to permit people, without evasion
' or violation of law, to acquire suffi
cient. holdings to justify the outlay of
capital necessary for the exploration
and development of these minerals
and the marketing thereof.
The remainder of Mr. Waskey’s
| suggest ions, with the exception of
that relating to Territorial govern
ment. would meet, with general ap
proval in Alaska and would conduce
to the better welfare of the people.
As regards Ins statement that the
mo.-! urgent need of Alaska politically
is that of home government 1 have to
state that it is the concensus of opin
ion ul the consort .Hive business men
of Alaska almost without exception,
those men who are doing the most for
the development of the country and
making its resources add permanently
to the world's wealth, that the time
is inopportune for this form of gov
ernment. They regard the present
sy.-.tem as the best possible to meet
the present conditions, ft is inexpen
sive. certain and capable of expansion
as the needs of the country justify,
hut tin' tremendous area embraced
" ithin Alaska, its , small population,
its widely scattered settlements, the
uncertainty of permanency of the
placer camps, would render anything
approaching a county organization in
ordinately expensive and put a burden
on the people who must 'remain there
beyond their present capacity to hear.
Nowhere in the I’nited States is life
and property more secure than in
Alaska, Nowhere that order prevails
a-- it does in that country, and these
things lire due primarily to the re
spect which our'people have for the
Federal judiciary. A large portion of
the agitation for Territorial govern
ment comes from the stfloon element
in Alaska, which is desirous of de
creasing the burdens now imposed
upon that business and at the same
time obtain a greater liberty than
they now have in the conduct of their
business. Another large portion
comes from the demagogic statement
that our people are deprived of some
of the essential rights of citizenship,
with which 1 take a decided issue.
The people have all the rights and
privileges enjoyed by American citi
zens. except the right to vote for
county officers and to make some
minor regulations and laws respecting
internal affairs. These are not essen
tial at present for the welfare and
well being of the population.
There are few, if any, people in
Alaska attached to the soil in any
capacity, and until such time as we
can determine and develop the agri
cultural possibilities of Alaska and
settle it with a permanent population
having homes and families it seems to
me that we had best be content with
the'present system of government and
secure such aid in the development of
the country as is usual and proper for
the General Government to give,
Mr." Waskev's stniemerfts regarding
the.issues at the Delegate election are
not accurate. The issue was not
clearly drawn on the question of Ter
ritorial government. The Republican
platform recommended the selection
of a commission to consider tills and
all other schemes for the betterment
of the government. The election was
the result primarily of a combination
of the men engaged in placer mining
in two localities of Alaska on the plea
that the mining laws should he
amended by a miner, and by selecting
one candidate for the short term from
one locality and a candidate for the
long term from another locality
effected a combination, disregarded
till political lines, traded on local
pride, and carried the election.
That the question of Territorial
government was not seriously consid
ered is clearly shown by the fact that
ex-govrenor A. P. Swineford, who for
twenty years has been advocating a
Territorial government for Alaska,
and is regarded by everyone as the
apostle of that particular form of gov
ernment. received the smallest Dum
ber of votes of any one of the three
candidates for the short term.
Without burdening yourself or
Congress witli too many demands, 1
am wholly satisfied that Alaska's best
interests can be looked after far bet
ter under present conditions titan witli
any other form of government that I
know of. and 1 trust therefore, that in
this respect Alaska will be left as it
is until such time as we shall have a
larger permanent population and ac
quire a greater proportion of homes
titan we now have.
Mr. Waskev's letter is herewith
returned. Very respectfully,
W. !!. HOGG ATT,
Governor of Alaska.
The President,
White House, Washington, D. ('.
Again the query. Who represents
Alaska in Washington—The delegate
chosen by the people themselves or
by the figurehead of her bastard gov
ernment in whose selection they had
no voice whatever?
JUSTICE FOR ALASKA.
Tn tlie national congress the measure
offered by Representative Jones, of
this state, providing a territorial form
of government for Alaska, should re
ceive tlie undivided support of cong
ressmen from this part of the country.
Indeed it is difficult to understand how
any congressman who knows the his
tory of his country, and properly
values its institutions, can east his
vote against a measure designed to
bestow upon men of his own kind the
inestimable blessings of self-govern
ment. Alaska's cause is the cause of
justice.
Not in the entire history of the
American republic has there been
such shameless trilling with the rights
of a free people. Territories with
fewer inhabitants, with less wealth,
with loss revenue and with less ade
quate means of communication be
tween centers of population, have been
granted the boon of local autonomy,
and many of these same territories
were admitted into full statehood tit a
time when they did not equal Alaska
in population, in wealth, or in means
of communication.
The attitude of the federal govern
ment toward 'Alaska has reversed the
traditional policy of the nation.
There should lie no further halting,
no further dallying with this issue:
congress should meet its obligations
promptly by passing the Jones bill,
which proposes to put Alaska upon
the decent and just footing of an
American territory. Such action
would merely accord American citi
zens in Alaska constitutional rights
now withheld from them.
(Treat interest is manifested in the
welfare and future of tile Porto Ric
ans. Eloquent appeals are made in
behalf of the Hawaiians. Affectionate
regard is shown for the well-being- of
the Philippines. All this is to be
commended, for it is merely the ex
pression of a worthy American senti
ment. although tlie inhabitants of
those islands are not of our kin. But
the Americans of Alaska are uncon
sidered, unremembered by their own
government, and so far as the practi
cal benefits of American political ’in
stitutions are concerned, the rich area
they are seeking to develop might
just as well have remained under the
imperial sway of the Romanoffs.—
P.-I.
The press dispatches snv that “Sen
ator Piles, of Washington, will press
his bill, to shut the Canadian Pacific
Railway out of the Alaskan passenger
business, for passage at the present
session of congress. The bill provides
that a foreign steamship company
cannot sell tickets from one American
port to another and avoid the coast
wise trade laws by taking them to a
foreign port and there transferring
them by another steamer. The
Canadian Pacific Railway Company
has been operating passenger boats to
Alaska arid carrying passengers from
here to Puget Sound ports by trans
ferring them at Vancouver and Vic
toria to other boats belonging to the
same company. While not doing so
technically this is held bv Senator
Piles and those who agree with him
to be in violation of the spirit of the
.coastwise laws of the United States
which are similar in all respects to
those of Canada, ” It seems to The
Mining News that an amicable ar
rangement which would permit the
carriage of passengers and mails to
and from the port's of both countries
by the ships of both would be much
more to the advantage of Alaska.
Many Alaskans do not agree with
the Governor in his “estimates” of
tho population of thy territory. Like
i
Hunt, Lathrop Co.
e»
*• - ' . i , * . i ,
Watch this Space
and
■*Ui> ./. .K
Be Money in Pocket
tt1'-. . ■ ■ ■••.•,
By Trading With Us ' ' . ‘1 * ’ *
4
' • e •»
' .v' ■ V JV**' V •*.
'
/
4
The Alaska S. S. CO.
* * ».v^ I
# Operating the Fast Steamships * ^
Jefferson and l5o%^ih
Carrying U. S. Mails Between i
Seattle,, Ketchikan, Juneau, Douglas, Haines, '-^gw^' |
Dolphin northbound, Jan. 14 and 29, southbound 18 and^
Steamers and sailing dates subject to charge without notice.^
Through tickets and bills Of lading issued. • , • , , . ..
For further information apply too • - . ' v’’
t ‘ .. !\*
1 v * H. S. REYNOLDS, Agents Ketchikan, Alaska •!
*■ ^
S. A. LOVE, Freight Agent, Seattle. ' . CHAS. E. PEABODY, Manager, Seattle >f
<\J - ■r~\~ X
• K- _ ' K* *'-*
his predecessor Brady he is extremely
modest,' and if he errs it is entirely
on one side of the subject. The Gov
ernor is surely devoid of the spirit
which USually characterizes a west
erner, who is prone to view all indi
cations of progress through a magni
fying glass. This attitude has brought
on the Governor a vast' amount of
criticism, which, if he had been more
liberal in his views, he would have
escaped entirely. The Seward Gate
way handles the subject with a brev
ity that is almost savage, by saying:
“Gov. Hoggatt has a poor head for
figures if lie can count- only 33,OOp
white folks in Alaska.’’—Douglas
News.
In the chart of the mineral products
of the United States for the years
1899-1905, just issued, by the director
of the geological survey, is told a
marvelous story of expansion in the
national wealth. From a total of
$940,514,221 mineral product in 1899,
the annual yield has advanced to
$1,623,877,127* in 1905.
CURRENCY.
The Skagway Alaskan intimates in
plain English its opinion that the
change from Brady to Hoggatt was a
leap from the frying pan into the fire.
The Douglas News says that “the
Wrangell Sentinel threatens to be
come a daily,”- and adds “may the
good Lord deliver us.1Why! There
would be as much sense in such’ .an
essay on the part of brother Snyddr as ;
in some other cases The Mining News
wots of.' j
1 —7-7~i1
Lieut. Peary announces that he will ;
make another effort to reach ’ the !
North pole,. this timer* by idog team I
from Cape Sheridan, wliertjver that !
is. It* looks very much as if he might
ho determined to’persevere until the
world losefp an' intrepid 'explorer by.
his North pole foolishness.' >
V—*-7
It is soberly announced that’ one of
the attractions at the Alaska-Yukon
Pacific Fair will be the original draft
given Russia in payment'of the purcli
ase price of Alaska. It goes without
saying that the draft is no present
good, having been cashed and cancel
ed years ago—consequently it will be
safe even in Seattle.
"If late dispatches from Washington
are true, the governor of Alaska has
crossed swords with the authorized
representative of the territory and is
contesting with him the questions to
come before congress. Mr. Hoggatt
has his duties to perform as governor
of this great territory, that, if well
performed, will prove a burdensome
task for one lone man. We are loth
to believe that he will forget that he
holds his position simply by appoint
ment as against Mr. Wuskey, who
i ** - * >. •’
was elected by the voters of Alaska.
We believe that Gov. Hoggatt has too ' 7
much good sense to stand between the .
people of Alaska and. the accomplish,' </’
ment of their purpose, when that pur
pose is the upbuilding of Alaska.—• A/
Douglas News. '' j
- A
-• That must be' an extraordinarily
intelligent Washington correspondent r'i.
who sent out the rot concerning the v'/
failure of speaker. Cannon tq recogniisd' V*
I Alaska’s delegate-in- his “conjmjttf&l
! appointments”—ti ‘ ihdeecT ft ’'eFef '
| came over the wires. The reading _;i
public does not need to be told tbftt
the committee appointments are made"'
at the beginning of the first session,
of each congress and that therefore
speaker Cannon has had no assign- :
ments to make at this session except i
i to fill less than half a dozen vacancies '
J occasioned by death or resignation •
; during the recess. It has since devel
[ opeii\ however, that Mr. ,Wj»skey was,
without unseenring delaf, Assigned to •
the committee on the territories, the
j o»ly one except that on Mining, on j
which lie could have any legitimate ;
business, in view of the fact that some *
members, even, have but one commit- ■>
tee assignment each. Uncle Joe 'is' j
! none of your small, smooth bore parti
zans Who may not he expected to-give 1
lour delegate a “square deal.”
1 *" ~ ' " J « , t, m-,j ,
; IN THE UNITED STATES COMMIS
SIONERS’ COURT, fqr the District
j of Alaska, Division No. lj Ketch i- ..
lean Precinct, In Probate.
Int he matter of the estate of ' Johnny
Kitkoon, Deceased.
-I Notice to Creditors,
k The undersigned, Mark Williams,
[hereby gives notice that he has been
[duly appointed administrator of the
[estate of Johnny Kitkoon, deceased;
i'and all parties having claims against
the said estate are notified to present
the same with, proper vpuchers within
six (<>) months from date of this hot
ice, at the oflice of Chas. H. Cosgrove
in the town of Ketchikan Alaska.
MARK WILLIAMS.
Administrator.
Dated at Ketchikan, Alaska, this
9th day of January, A. D., 1907.
U. S. COMMISSIONER’S COURj,
for .the District bLAlgska, Pfoi
ting in fnfc&p*: \
In re k>«tat0 ,bNJohnhy '
cease.de '■,,J ' t
- ■ - . * 'Citntjtm. <* Jf
A petition hiavingxbeetf j
this Courf this 7th dav>H
1907 by .Mark Williams;'tf1*
for an'drdec'for the sail
property afield- estate, 8
housh~and lot.situated . jn'v
Ala(3taj\..all fejeij*, devisees
persons- Interested in said e
Iiereby'botiflbd that Monday,';
14th, 1907, at o’clock, hap f
as the thne for' hearing’ W-,-__
petition; at which time they, ,--jiay
appear and show cause if any they
have, why an order for the sale of said
real property should not issue ■ ns ”
prayed for. E. S. STACKPOLE,
Probate Judge.
Dated this 9th day of January, 1907,