VALDEZ, ALASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1915. NUMBER 31*
VOLUME XIII. ^__________—————____________________
WORKERS GETTING
INCREASED WAGES
Wave of Prosperity Dong Talked of
by Politicians, Manifesting It
self in Eastern States.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31.—That the
long-heralded prosperity is returning
to the workers of America with a rush
1s evidenced by the fact that many
emis evidenced by the fact that many
employers of labor on an extensive
scale are voluntarily increasing the
wages of the workers.
A financial publication here has
compiled figures showing that five
million workers in Eastern cities have
received notices during the past week
that their wage scale would be in
creased \after the beginning of the
year, yhe increases vary from 5 to
15 percent over the scale now in force
and'iad*4^ that the workers will earn
millions of'dollars next year over
their incomes of last year.
The prosperity as evidenced here is
not confined to any particular branch
of Industry but extends to all kinds
of manufacturing establishments in
cluding fhilliners, machinists, shoe
ghop machine operators and kindred
trades.
Several of the largest railroad com
panied have anounced that beginning
with the new year they will increase
their working forces, giving employ
ment to hundreds of thousands of
men who have been idle or working
part time for months.
PROHIBITION UW
III FEDERAL COURT
Big Brewing Company of Seattle
Would Carry Case to Supreme
Court of Decision.
SEATTLE, Dec. 31.—The Seattle
Brewing & Malting company has
started proceedings before the feder
al court to /secure an injunction re
straining /the state authorities from
enforcil ' the prohibition law against
the man! lacture of intoxicants in the
state. The injunction is asked in or
der to bring the case before the Uni
ted States supreme court for a rul
ing owing to the state supreme court
having ruled that the prohibition law
wa's valid.
The brewery company, which has
millions of dollars invested in plants
in the state and gives employment to
an army of men, is asking the in
junction that the law is confiscatory
and unconstitutional.
The action of the big brewing com
pany in taking its case before the fed
eral court has caused liquor dealers
to hope they may be permitted to
continue in business until the ruling
is made by the Supreme court. It is
understood the case is being backed
by the liquor dealers association,
whose interests have been affected by
the prohibition law and that they
have secured the strongest legal tal
ent in the city to fight the case. .
The Seattle Brewing & Malting Co.
has established a big plant in Califor
nia, where it will continue in the
manufacture of intoxicants.
HEW ABO HOPEFUL OF
GETTING AN ASSISTANT
It is reported that District Attorney
Spence has made application to the
department of Justice for,permission
to employ another assistant district
attorney for this division. The re
Dor/‘has served to give hope to Sew
anrtfaat she will again be made head
quarters for an assistant district at
torney.. ' >■ ' m
SEATTLE HOLDS BEOOBD
AS HEALTHIEST CITY.
SEATTLE: This city continues to
hold the record for having the lowest
death rate of all the large cities of
the world. The rate for 1915 will be
less thgu 8 per cent. San Francfs
cisoo’S death rate is 15 per'cent and
that of Portland 9 per cent.
ODD TIME AIjASKAN i
SUICIDES AT SEWARD
Edward B. Smith, known through
out interior Alaska as “Sourdough”
Smith, ended his life in Seward last
Sunday by swallowing a quantity of
cyanide. He had lived in Alaska for
a number of years and had resided in
Fairbanks, Idltarod, and other inte
rior camps before settling in Seward.
Deceased was a Catholic and attend
ed midnight mass Christmas eve and
apparently enjoyed his Christmas and
no reason is known for his ending his
life, as he did not seem downhearted
or ill.
He had formerly lived at Belling
ham, Wash., and was a member of
the Odd Fellows and Knights of Py
thias, and had arrived in Seward
from Iditarod about a month ago.
LANSING URGING
FOR MUIR
Advises Members of Pan-American
Union to Unite for Defensive
' Purposes Against Invasion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—Secre
tary Lansing, of the State depart
ment, believes the future peace and
prosperity of .ue nations of North and
South America lies in a consolidation
of their interests in order that the
oppression of one would become the
concern of all in the event of a for
eign nation attempting an inva
sion of any of the countries.
He is also urging the members of
the Pan-American union to agree
among themselves to arbitrate all
boundary u,aputes and to prohibit the
shipment of arms and munitions to
revolutionary parties attempting the
overthrow of the governments in any
of the countries included In the un
ion.
Included in the Pan-American un
ion are Argentine, Brazil, Chili, Bo
livia, and Peru, and should they fol
low the advice of Secretary Lansing
to effect a closer union for defensive
purposes their united strength would
present a formidable fighting force
against any foreign nation attempting <
to encroach on any of the countries. |
FAIRBANKS BOOM
BEEN LAUNCHED
Former Vice-President Will Have
Solid Support of Kentucky Del
egation for Presidency.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 31.—For
mer Vice-President Chas. W. Fair
banks was the guest of honor at a
banquet here last night which filled
the largest theatre in the state. The
banquet was tendered him by the Re
publicans of the state in order to
launch a boom to secure for him the
Republican nomination for the pres
idency.
Representative Republican leaders
were present from many of the cen
tral states and promised that they
would work to make him the stan
dard bearer of the Republicans in the
coming national election.
During the evening Mr. Fairbanks
was informed that the Kentucky dele
gation to the Republican National
convention to be held in Chicago
would be solid for him. for the pres
idency.
BANK AND STORES
CLOSED NEW YEARS
The First Bank of Valdez and the
mercantile houses of Valdes will be
blosed all day New Years. House
holders others are advised not to
neglect to i place their orders this
evening for anything' required for
their New Year’s dinner^ They are
also reminded to draw enough money
from the bank to last over Sunday.
Panoramic views of Child’s end
Miles gladers, Dawson, Valdes and
Wrangel on sale at the Valdes Drug
store. tf
BRITISH WARSHJP IS
DESTROYER IN THAMES
4
INTERNAL EXPLOSION BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A
SAILOR DROPPING SHELL IN SHIP'S MAGAZINE, SENDS VES
SEL TO BOTTOM OP RIVER AND CAUSES LOSS OP THREE HUN
DRED LIVES—FRAGMENTS OF BODIES SCATTERED OVER A
WIDE AREA—ALL LONDON IN MOURNING.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—All England
la in mourning today as a result of a
disaster which occurred here last
night when the British cruiser Natal
was destroyed by an internal explo
sion. The explosion was so terrific
that the ship immediately sank to the
bottom of the Thames, carrying with
her three hundred of the seven hun
dred men on board.
The Natal was a new addition to
the British navy, her keel having
been laid after the beginning of hos
tilities. She carried a complement of
seven hundred and fifty men and of
ficers and was built at a cost of five
million dollars.
No explanation has been offered as
to the cause of the explosion but it is
believed to have been due to one of
the sailors dropping a shell in the
Bhip’s magazine.
So terrific was the explosion that
the warship was literally blown to
pieces, fragments of the vessel and
bodies of the crew being hurled a
considerable distance from the scene
of the accident.
LLOYD'S FEARA
TURKISH INVASIOII
Insurance Kates on Vessels Entering
Suez Canal Have Been Trebled
by London Company.
LONDON, Dec. 31.—That Lloyds'
marine insurance company, of Lon
don, fears that the Turkish troops
will reach the Suez canal is evidenced
by their having trebled the premiums
demanded, for insurance^ jfn vessels
entering the canal.
The increase in the insurance rates
is believed to be based on the report
from Constantinople which is appar
ently authentic, that the Turkish gov
ernment is building a railroad from
Damascus towards Egypt and will
send an army of one million men to
invade Egypt.
Numerous vessels have been claim
ed during the past few weeks as vic
tims of the Austrian submarines oper
ating in the eastern Mediterranean
sea near the entrance to the canal
and - insurance companies covering
the vessels and cargoes have sustain
ed severe losses.
The insurance company has posted
a notice to the effect that war zone
rates now apply to the Mediterranean
Sea and Suez Canal.
ABOLISHES TAXES
EVADE REVOLUTION
Diplomats are Guessing Where Clii
nese Government Plans to
Raise Revenues Necessary.
PEKING, Dec. 31.—Emperor Yuen
Shai Kai, who has usurped the throne
of the Chinese empire in an effort to
avoid the revolution with which the
empire is threatened, has ordered the
•Edition of the collection of taxes for
three years.
Foreign diplomats are puzzled to
grasp the meaning of the Emperor’s
order as they cannot determine from
what sources he hopes to derive suf
ficient revenues to maintain the gov
ernment. Under the present system
of taxation practically one-fifth of the
earnings of the workers are required
by the government in taxes from
which there is no evasion.
The revolutionary movement
against the abolishment of the repub
lic form of government and the res
toration of the monarchy with Yuen
Shai Kai as emperor is gaining force
in the central and southern provinces.
It threatens „o involve the empire in
bloody warfare exceeding even that
which resulted in the overthrow of
the Manchu dynasty.
MINNESOTA HAS
LOST GOVERNOR
Governor Hammond Dies Suddenly in
New Orleans Where He Had
Gone to Seek His Health.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 31.—Gov.
W. S. Hammond of Minnesota, died
suddenly yesterday as a result of a
stroke of apoplexy. He had been in
New Orleans only a few days, having
been advised by his physician to seek
a more temperate climate during the
winter than that of his state. He
became governor of Minnesota last
January and his term would not have
expired until January 5, 1917.
Burnquist Sworn In.
ST. PAUL, Dec. 31.—Immediately
upon receipt of the news of the death
of Governor Hammond at New Or
leans yesterday, Lieut. Governor 3.
A. A. Burnquist was summoned to
the capitol and was sworn in as gov
ernor.
Rev. 3. P. and Mrs. Dunstan an
nounce that an informal social eve
ning will be held at the Congrega
tional church at 8 o’clock this eve
ning, which will be followed by a
watch-night service. All are in
vited to attend the social and take
part in the midnight service.
JOHN D. HELPED
BY PROSECUTION
Dissolution of Standard Oil as a Trust
Increases Value of Holdings in
the New Companies.
NEW YORK. Dec. 31.—Dissolu
tion of the Standard Oil company as
a frust has resulted in increasing the
value of the holdings of John D.
Rockefeller to the extent of amounts
variously estimated at from one hun
dred and sixty millions to five hun
dred million dollars.
The trust was dissolved under fed
eral prosecution of violation of the
Sherman anti-trust law and resulted
in separate companies being organiz
ed in every state in the Union with
the Rockefeller interests holding the
majority of the stocks of the inde
pendent companies.
The Standard Oil was also divorc
ed from the many transportation com
panies in which it owned a controll
ing interest through the system of in
terlocking directorates.
The fire department was given a
run yesterday afternoon shortly aft
er four o’clock when an alarm was
turned In from the' Kanitz block in
which the new postofflge will be lo
cated. The alarm was otjpasioned by
a burning flue and resulted In no
damage.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN
WILLOW CREEK DISTRICT
All of the producing mines in the
Willow creek mining camp are do
ing development work this winter,
blocking out ore for the mills, which
run only while water is available for
motive power. Two mills are being
hauled over the snow from Knik to
the properties on which they will be
installed early next year. The Gold
Bullion Mine company during the
past season encountered rich new
leads, which promise a highly profit
able return. One of the mills will
be placed on the Mabel property,
while the other will be installed on
the Brooklyn Development Company
claims, which are being mined under
a long time lease by the Gold Bullion
people.
ALASKA’S WEALTH
TO BUILD SEATTLE
Puget Sound Merchants and Manu
facturers Receive $3,250,000
from Kennecott in Year.
SEATTLE, Dec. 31.—That the de
velopment of the resources of Alas
ka will make Seattle the richest and
most prosperous city on the Ameri
can Pacific coast is the belief of
Judge Thomas Burke, president of the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and
bis belief would appear to be based
on solid facts as indicated by the re
port of the Kennecott Mining com
pany, whose headquarters are in Se
attle.
During the year just drawing to a
close the purchases of the Kennecott
company from Seattle merchants and
manufacturers reached the aggregate
of three million, two hundred and fif
ty thousand dollars. The company
operate the famous Bonanza mine at
Kennecott, and the Beatson mine on
Latouche island.
In addition to the Kennecott there
are hundreds of companies operating
in the north who draw upon the
wholesale houses of Seattle for their
supplies and with the development of
the territory Seattle will increase her
prestige as a commercial center.
SCHMIDT QUICKLY
FOUND GUILTY
Jury’ Reaches Verdict after 40 Min
utes Deliberation Fixing Pen
alty at Life Sentence.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31—The jury
in the Matthew A. Schmidt murder
case, after forty-six minutes deliber
ation returned a verdict finding the
defendant guilty of murder and fix
ing the punishment at life imprison
ment. The case has been before the
court here for more than two months,
and hundreds of witnesses offered
testimony on both sides.
The specific charge upon which
Schmidt was tried was the murder of
Chas. Hagerty, one of the employes
of the Los Angeles Times, who lost
his life when the newspaper building
was wrecked by dynamite.
During the trial the prosecution
produced evidence tracing Schmidt’s
movements for months before the dy
namite outrage which resulted in the
deaths of nearly a score of the em
ployes of the Times.
ORANGE TREES ARE
COVERED WITH SNOW.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31.—For the
first time in years the high lands sur
rounding Los Angeles are covered
with snow, which has fallen to the
depth of several Inches. Fruit grow
ers say that the snow will not result
in injury to the citruB fruit crops as.
the weather is very mild, no frost
having b^en experienced.
Hate Cleaned and Blacked.
Hats cleaned and blocked; suits
cleaned and pressed.
tf OUT F. GAMMON
IS OUT OF OFFICE
Preferred to Resign Rattier Than Vio
late Confidence of Criminals who
Had Confessed to Him.
l
ALBANY, Dec. 31.—Warden Thos.
Mott Osborne, of Sing Sing prison,
who was indicted by the grand Jury
on the charge of having failed to sup
press felonies and immoralities in the
penitentiary, has resigned. George
Kirch way, former Columbia law
school dean, has been chosen acting
warden by the prison board.
The charges against Warden On
borne are the result of his having re
fused to disclose to the grand Jury
confessions made to him by twenty
one indicted convicts, the warden
holding the confessions were confi
dential.
Osborne, who is a millionaire, ac
cepted the position of warden, believ
ing that he could work improvement
in the penitentiary by inaugurating
new systems of discipline which
would place responsibility upon the
inmates for the good conduct of the
institution.
He declares that his removal is the
result of a conspiracy among politi
cians, who have been denied special
privileges whereby they exploited the
prisoners for their personal benefit
He has announced that he will appeal,
to the court to vindicate himself ot
the charges made against him in thflv
indictment.
AUSTRIAN NOTE
BE SATISFACTORY
Will Agree to I’ay Indemnify for the
American Lives Lost and Pun
ish Submarine Commander.
LONDON, Dec. :!1.—Advices from
Vienna are to the effect that the Aus
trian reply to the second note of Sec
retary Lansing regarding the sink
ing of the Italian liner Ancona, which
resulted in a number of American
lives being lost, will be satisfactory
to the American government.
The Austrian government is re
ported to be willing to pay the indem
nity demanded by the United Staten
for the American lives lost and will
promise to punish the commander ok
the submarine which destroyed the
vessel. i
It is reported, however, that the
Austrian government will refuse to
admit the responsibility for the Ioas
of the liner as the government holds
that the shooting at the submarine
was justifiable as the Ancona fled aft
er she had been ordered to halt by
the commander of the submarine.
_
Austria Desires Peace.
THE HAGUE, Dec. 31.—Regarding
the American and Austrian notes over
the Ancona, the Austrian emperor Is
quoted as follows: “Austria desires
the world to understand that she is
not at odds with America over the
principle of humanity involved ip the
Ancona affair, and that the issue is
merely one of facts, and that the
facts presented by the United States
will be accepted by the imperial and
royal government. There will be*ao
break between the United States and
Austria.”
ANCHORAGE-8EWARD DOG
RAGE SET FOR MARCH IT
. The Anchorage Kennel club has an
nounced (hat the big dog race be
tween Anchorage and Seward and re
turn will take place on March 17. It
will . be the second big event of the
season as the (Eat race of the season
will he held between ^nchorage and
Matanuska on January 16. The firat
prise for the race will be $160 and
the second will be $60. Another race
is planned tor February $0 and as
there are a number of good dog teama
at Seward and Anchorage some good
sport is anticipated.
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