tjr Batly tyratLpttt&v
PUBLISHED BT
PEW ART & SELBY, Proprietors
TERMS.
Dally Prospector.
carrier, per month .2-1*22
mail, per annum .*10.00
The Weekly Miner.
carrier, per month .•
mail, per annum ........—* 3.00
e Dally Prospector and Week
ly Miner, by carrier, to one ad
lress, per month .................I 1.3o
e Daily Prospector and Weekly
Miner, by mail, to one addresB
only, per year . .......j;...*ia.SO
business Office and Editorial Rooms,
TEL. 152
Advertising Rates on Application.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1915
HE MAYOR’S REPLY TO THE
PROSPECTOR’S CHARGES.
The purpose of this meeting is to
ford an opportunity for myself and
ie Municipal Council, which I repre
•nt, to refute the unwarranted and
alicious attacks which have been
ade upon the Common Council of
ie City of Valdez from time to time,
id in an impartial way state to you
ie true facts appertaining to this
ileged fight against the Valdez Dock
ompany.
The only method that I have as a
tizen of this town in answering
lese charges is by calling a special
leeting of the citizens of the town. I
ave no access to the Prospector, as
ou know this paper is being conduct
d in the interests of the Valdez Dock
ompany and the Steamship compa
ies, to whom they are subservient,
t has been the endeavor of this paper
11 the way through to mislead the
eonle as to the true issues. As an
vidence to show you what tactics this
ang resort to, a little less than two
lonths ago a meeting was called in'
his hall. Some of the gang went to
>istrict Attorney Spence and asked
im to quash it, that it was a mob
leeting and that a riot would result
nd property might he destroyed. Mr.
Ipence was much excited and came to
lenator Hubbard and asked him
bout it and the Senator assured him
hat such was not the case. I am
oerely citing you an instance like
his to show you the tactics that are
esorted to by the gang from time to
Ime, to mislead and blind the people
hereby preventing them from know
ng the true situation.
I will give you a few facts nertain
ng to the early history of this con
roversy relating to the Valdez Dock
Company. In the yter 1908, as you
will recall, the peonie of this cnramn
lity were paving $15.00, $18.00 and
is high as $22.00 per ton for coal. At
:hat time I was a member of the Citv
Council and on behalf Of said Citv I
»btained an option to purchase the
City dock, and purchased said pron
arty for $4760.00. The Valdez Dock
?o.. through the aid of their hirelings,
endeavered to enioin me from snend
ine the city’s monev for this purpose.
. They wanted to maintain control of
the entire water front. We threshed
the matter out for 3 davs before
Judge Judge Cushman and he ruled
that we were within our rights and
that we had the right to acquire that,
dock and pay for the same with the
city's money. As a result of my en
deavors in this direction it has saved
the taxpayers of the City of Valdez
within the last seven years approxi
mately $59,000.00 by holding the
price of coal down to $12.50 ner ton.
As a result of a coalition between the
two steamship companies and the Val
dez Dock Comnanv, represented by J.
JM. Lathrop and Mr. J. C. Martin, we
are in this position today, we own our
own wharf and we are denied the
privilege of landing our own freight
at our own wharf. Is this fair, to
.have our own wharf and established
wharfage rates at annroximatelv one
third charged bv the Valdez Dock Co.,
yet the boats will not land at the Citv
wharf. Mr. J athron, the chief own
er of the Valdez Dock Company, Is
not. a resident of your community.
You are obliged to nav big nrofits to
“him. This same J. M. I.athron wilb
ihe Valdez Dock Company and J. C.
Martin are trespassers and' usurnera.
having taken possession of Alaska
Avenue. They are operating on that
street in open defiance of the law. It
would be just as fair to have Mr.
White move his building out 20 feet
farther into the street and tell the
people tbev must traverse around. Is
tha{ fair. The question,is,/‘How long
ere we going to tolerate these
things.” As I was stating, we are
obliged to have our freight, landed at
a dock owned by an outside individu
al and pay four prices for the privi
lege. At Ketchikan, Juneau and
Douglas. 50c per ton is the prevail
ing wharfage rate. Here you pn>
obliged to pay all the wav from $1.60
to $2.50 per ton. Down in California
the wharfage charge is 3 to 5 cento
per ton, while up here it is 30 to 50
times that rate. “Now how long are
you going to tolerate this.” If Va'
dez controlled the wharfage business
and the water front of this town in
side of i 8 months we could wipe out
our $17,000 indebtedness.
They charge the municipal authori
--THE
EMPRESS
TO-NIGHT
2 Shows—-at 8 and 9:20,sharp
PROGRAM
Selections, Empress Trio.
Pathe Weekly News
The Means to an End
Two-Part Drama
Geo. Ade—Fable of Aggie
Comedy
Change Tomorrow Evening.
Admission 25c.
Children occupying front seats 10
ties with a great many things and we
plead guilty, that we are asserting the
rights of the people, and we dispute
the rights of Lathrop & Martin to an
nex the streetB of Valdez.
We are asking justice and that is
why we are attacked. The gang has
made the statement "we will starve
them out, we will drive them out of
town.” Well, gentlemen, they have
been starving me out for thirteen
vears, and ! will continue to keep up
this fight for I believe I am right
They may pursue these strong arm
tactics from now to Doom’s day, but
I win continue to discharge my du
tiesties and do whpt is right irrespec
tive of anyone.
I wish to say in the beginning that
the work accomplished by our assess
or, John S. Heckey, has been per
formed in a very able and capable
manner. Mr. Heckey has made a thor
ough and impartial assessment of the
property of this town and has done it
without fear or favor. There has
been an assessment levied against the
V alder Dock Company on which they
protest. The Valdez Dock Company
is engaged in the business of hand
ling lumber, hay, grain and coal. They
claim as a result of their business
being outside of the corporate limits
of your city that they are exempt from
tax. Four yeirs ago the Town of
Fairbanks brought suit against the
Independent Meat Co. The Indepen
dent Meat Co. was operating outside
the limits of Fairbanks and carried
a stock of meat rrom ?t>u,uuu to » o,
000. The Fairbanks people said, “You
shall pay your portion.” They said
"no.” As a result suit was Instituted
against the Independent Meat Com
pany and Judge Overfleld rules that
they should pay the same as any
body else, for the meat was brought
in to Fairbanks and consumed and
sold there.
The town council contends that the
same rule should apply to the Valdez
Dock Co. The Valdez Dock Co. should
pay their proportion of the taxes of
this community the same as anyone
else. Attorney Donohoe, represent
ing Donohe & Dimond and Lyons &
Ritchie, all of whom represent the
Dock Company, contend that it is not
good law when their attention was
directed to the facts. The fact re
mains, however, it is the law whether
it is good law or bad law. It is the
law, and it is the purpose of this town
council to see that these laws are
enforced so far as it applies to the
Valdez Dock Company.
I wish to state farther that I have
personal differences with Mr. Lath
rop, Mr. Martin or the Prospector. I
am doing what I consider right in the
matter. Further in reference to these
accusations by the Prospector, I have
here a copy of their yesterday’s issue
with an article headed “Sheep and
Goats.” I have been called a good
many names, but this is the first time
I have been designated as a sheep or
goat. It yet remains to be seen who
will be the “goat.” They state here
that every possible impediment that
could be thrown into the way of these
parties, calculated to embarrass and
inconvenience them, has been used by
me. This may be true, but it was
only in order to secure justice for
you, the taxpayers of this town. They
state that the assessment of the Val
dez Dock Company and other proper
ties adjacent to it are excessive. I
defy them to prove anything of the
kind.
Now, in regards to the assessment
on the Valdez Prospector, a little less
than six weeks ago they were adver
tising the fact that they had a $10.
000 plant. They put in their assess
ment at a total value of $2,065. The
assessor concluded that this was not
sufficient so he told them that he
would have to raise it, and Mr. Heck,
ey made a return of $4,500.00 on the
$10,000 plant. Their return alto
gether was $2,065.00, mind you. n»
their return on a supposed’y $10,000
plant. Mr. Heckey says, "Gentlemen.
1 condiser you ought to increase that”
and he increased it himself to $4,
500. The Board of Equalization o"
my suggestion, reduced it to $2600
for the main reason that there was
Otiiv part of the equipment in the
building at the time the assessment
was levied September first. The facts
are that everv councilman who sat on
the Board of Equalization was of the
opinion they should be assessed more.
Again as to Mr. Treat. He was as
sessed the sum of $7,000 on the cm
ner lot. I am creditably i-formed
that Mr. Treat’s income off that, lot
last year was at the rate of 20 ner
cent on $14,500. I ask you if that
assessment of Treat’s is excessive. T
think you wPl all concur with me that
it is not. There is no truth in the
statement that waterfront, nronertv
along the Valdez Dock was assessed
whi’e that along the City dock es
caped/
In reference to the Archibald and
other property including the Bunnell
nronerty, the same assessment was
levied this year as last year and all
were treated fairly and I defy them
to show anything to the contrary.
Regarding the assessment levied
on the Wulff property and other prop
erty on Court street, I will say that
all the 'property on this street was
raised from $150 to $200, including
the property of City Marshal Scott.
All were treated in the same impartial
manner. All were raised from $15n
to $200 to make them conform with
the value of adiacent properties.
in reierence iu iuo
there is also a statement that we have
been discriminating against the Val
des Bank. The Valdez Bank In 1914
rvald taxes on >15*10. In 1915 tbev
naid taxes on $26,710, and this vear
they came up before the Board of
Equalization and sav they are wining
to pay same. Is there any discrimi
nation there. I defy them to show
any discrimination.
In reference to the Valdes Dock
Company and the assessment levied'
on them I direct attention to the fact
that they have occupied that nortlon
of the street for 14 years. The P"'«
nector pa vs "tbev were welcomed bv
the council then in office. Ves. they
were welcomed bv the council.—the
approach was built in the night. Does
that indicate a welcome, and If vou
want any further proof, I will refer
you to Ed Woods, who was a member
of the council at that time. They at
tempted to build onto the Military
reservation, which aa you know,
then adiolned the town, and were de
nied the privilege, and they then
moved the approach over on Alaska
avenue. That is the reason for the
crook in the approach. That is sig
nificant. They were denied permis
sion to come Into the military au
thorities and took no chances and
built that approach in the night.
Yes, they were ' welcomed by the
council then in office.
They say a mayor hostile to every
one who differs with him is not cal
culated to build up a city. Gentle
men, I wish to state I am hostile to
any criminal or corporation, big or
little, who defies the law. I main
tain these people are trespessers. Up
until 1908 there was.no one in this
town on any more friendlier terms
with Mr. J. M. Lathrop than myself,
aqd I regret very much to have lost
his friendship, but I took the position
that he had no right to hold the peo
ple up of this community and for that
reason we parted right then and
there. ^
“By his hostility the mayor has di
rectly proclaimed that he desires to
run out nearly $300,000 worth of en
terprises.” I suppose that $300,000
includes Mr. Selby, Mr. Stewart and
the $10,000 Prospector Plant. I sup
pose it also includes Mr. Martin, Mr.
Lathrop and the Valdez Dock Co. I
have no other reason than to want
the Dock Company to pay their just
proproportion of taxes. I want them
to have the same rights as others, but
nothing more. They should obey the
law. As long as I remain in this
town I will continue in my efforts in
that direction.
I bave been called a good many
names. It would be no calamity if the
Prospector Publishing Company were
obliged to seek other fields and its
capital diverted.
"The actions of the mayor have
been condemned by every paper from
California to Nome.” Well, I will
state that there has been a number
of cablegrams sent out from here, I
am informed by Wulff, representing
the Prospector, distorting everything
much in the same manner as have
been endeavoring to mislead you and
blind you, hoping thereby to work up
public sentiment against the present
council.
They make accusation they were
refused the privilege of seeing the
City’s books that were in the asses
sor’s hands. Mr. Donohoe, represent
ing the Prospector and other clients,
came to me and made demand for a
copy of alf the records. X told Mr.
Donohoe that be could see the books
for his own or any of his clients’ in
terests, but he couldn’t make a copy
of them. He would be accorded the
same privilege as any other taxpayer,
hut as far as making a copy of the
records and books I refused the priv
ilege.
Why were the holdings of Judge
Bunnell and George C. Treat and the
First Bank of Valdez placed so high,
while the holdings of friends of the
mayor were lowered in many in
stances. I defy them to substanti
ate this statement. The assessment
levied on Bunnell’s was the same as
last year and was not raised one dol
lar.
I took up the matter of why Lath
pop’s building one on side of the alley
was assessed more than the Sanders’
property on the other and more valu
able side of the alley, and the fact is
revealed that there is nothing to this
at all. The property of Mr. Lathrop
and Mr. Sanders reveals the fact that
Mr. Lathrop’s assessment is not as
high as Mr. Sanders. There is a dif
ference of $2 a front foot in favor
pf the Lathrop property.
The question has been asked:
"What are Boyle's motives?” I will
state that during the period I have
been conducting this fight since 1908,
It has cost me thousands of dollars in
» 'Tofessional and business way, I i
have made this fight as a matter of!
principle and I believe T am right and ;
1 do not believe in letting a clique
iomineer over you. The ouestion is:
"Is the wharfage business of the town
md the waterfront of the town going
to be controlled by J. M. Lathrop, J.;
□. Martin and the Valdez Dock com
pany and the Guggenheim Interests, i
pr are the reonle of this town going,
to control and it is along these lines
"ow now that I am directing my ef
forts. Tf the town of Valdez con
trolled the wharfage we would soon
be out of debt. I regret the necessity
pf having f0 bring these matters to
pour attention. ,
We publish today the Mayor’s re
ply to our charges that he has dis
criminated against us a^d other busi
ness firms in the city in the matter
->f assessments, and that he has been
perniciously active in trying to run
capital out of Valdez. Read his
speech carefully, and you will see that
he acknowledges that for ten years he
has been doing wliat we charged him
with. And bear in mind, ail the time
you are reading the mayor’s remarks,
that the “law” he mentions so fre
quently, is not territorial law nor U.
S. law, but law originating with the
mayor and the Senator for the pur
pose of doing what we claim they
have done—harrassing the company.
We will reply to his honor’s argu
ment tomorrow, as his speech takes
up so much of our issue that we have
not the space to spare. It is an able
argument in that it approaches the
truth up to a point where a little
more explaining would bear us out
in our contentions, and with but a few
exceptions is so temperate and plaus
ible that the average man would be
convinced he was right—did he not
know the whole facts. At any rate
we give his honor’s remarks as wide
nublicity as we did our charges, and
he cannot accuse us of being other
than fair with him in that respect.
We are reliably Informed that As
sessor Heckey takes exceptions to our
remarks as reflecting in a certain way
upon him. Not so, we have not en
deavored to cast any reflections what
soever upon Mr. Ileckey, ★ho, as far
as we are aware, is a most reliable
and conscientious officer. We have
cast no aspersions whatever upon his
acts as assessor, as he did his duty as
directed by the mayor, and that is
what he shouiu do. We also have not
included the council in our remarks,
for so far as we know, the majority
Meet Mr.___
The Little Fat Tailor,
Representing Ed. V. Price Co.,
Stopping at Blum's.
•gsrssr.sa
An Opportunity In Mackinaws
We have a limited number of Mackinaws—
The “Boss-Of-The Road”, in blues, grays,
browns, and checks, which we are closing
out at reduced prices.
Plain colors were $5.00, and are now $2.50
The checks were $6.00, and are now $4.00
Better Investigate This.
S. BLUM & COMPANY, INC.
of that body are our friends. We
are simply criticising the mayor
for his stand in the matter, and wish
this understood. Do you get that.
Senator?
Our citizens should put forth .ev
ery effort to keep the Valdez hospi
tal in our city, as it is a most neces
sary insuiuuon. And, judging from
the virulent attack upon us by the
Senator, we may be compelled to pass
much of our future time there.
If this is the worst weather Alaska
can produce, we can see no need of
going to Honolulu to spend the win
ter. It would be hard to beat these
bright, sunshiny days.
And now Villa threatens to whip
the United States troops also if they
butt into the *»gua Prieta scrap. He’s
never noticed his pipe is out.
Before the gangplank is on the deck,
Joe is there your baggage to check.
He knows just where you want to go,
And his auto bus is not so slow.
When leaving Valdez it is just as well
To wait until you hear Joe’s bell.
He never yet has missed a boat
But connects with all that ever floats.
Joe never sleeps day or night,
He does his best to treat you right.
The traveling public well can bless
The man who runs the City Express.
All you do—Just Phone Eight Two,
The City Express will see you thru.
tt
We have increased our stock, tools
mid machinery every year, and our
text increase will be 4n floor sps c.
Now don’t get Jealous and take your
work some place else, but show your
Dride in home industry and help us
to make VALDEZ the manufacturing
center of ALASKA by giving us all
the work you can, and pay up
promptly. We will do the rest. Val
dez Iron Works. Mon.
WANTED—Capable woman for
general housework. Address Box 86,
City. _
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE
GEORGE SEXTON. PROP
SiRICTLY FIRST CLASS
Fourth Ave, Seward, Alaska
Copper River
Draying Co
Freighting and Passengers
to all parts of the Interior.
GENERAL TRUCKING
McKinley Street, Valdes
ED. WOOD, Proprietor
DR. H. COCKERILLE
Graduate National Unlveralty,
WaMhlngrton, D. C.
DENTIST
Fourteen Years in Valdez.
PHONE 110
Office Rooms in Whaling Building
DR. GERMAN
phone to THE DENTIST
Office rooms over Owl Drug Store. Of
fice hours 9 a. m. to 6 p. m., 7 to 9
p. m. Sunday by appointment.
All Work Guaranteed.
C. E. DALTON, M. D.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Phone 42
Alaska Avenue Valdez, Alaska
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
Office Opposite Court House
Phone 34 VALDEZ. ALASKA
JOHN LYONS E. E. RITCHIE
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTORNEY S-AT-L A W
Offices in Whaling RuHdlng
Phone 101 VALDEZ. ALASKA
VALDEZ LODGE
NO 168
Free anil Accepted Maaona.
Regular Communications first Wed
nesday in each month in McKinley
Hall. Visitors always welcome.
A. E. GRIGSBY. W. M.
ED. WOOD, Secretary.
Red Cross Hospital
Keystone ancQiobart Sts.
OPEN TO ALL PHYSICIANS.
Private Rooms for Patients.
Phone 144 MRS. C. H WILCOX. Matron
Somebody
With Money
always has been found to
“back” a good plan, a good
idea, a good business ven
ture or a good mining pros
pect ; otherwise a good many
of today’s successful busi
ness enterprises would still
be mere dreams.
Advertising has brought
about a majority of the in
troductions of the man with
the idea, the man with a
prospect, or business to the
man with the dollar.
ADVERTISE IN THE
PROSPECTOR FOR RE
SULTS.
The Best Place in Valdez to
Stop at is the
Arctic Hotel
Wans, Light Roomt**The House of Contort
RATES REASONABLE
BATH ROOM Special Rates[By the Mouth
PHONE 133 MRS. SYRING. Pop.
Uunch Shamrock
CAPT. TIM MARCUM
Sails for Port Wells, Portage
Bay, Granite Mine, Saturday
at 9:00 a. m., from the Val
dez Dock Company’s Dock.
For Ellamar, Landlock Bay,
and Fidalgo, every Wednes
day, 9:00 a. m., from Val
dez Dock Company’s Dock.
For Rates, Apply on Boat.
Valdez Miners Union No. 188
Western Federation of Miners
ROBERT SHAFFER. President.
Granite Mine
CHAS. McCALLUM. Secretary.
Valdez, Alaska.
Dougherty & Ferguson
GENERAL
Merchandise
The best groceries received
on every boat,
Fresh vegetables, fruits, and
nuts.
A. M. DIERINGER
Valdez Transfer
Company
Office In Pinzon Cigar S^re
General Trucking and Freighting;,
to all Interior Points.
LIVERY and FEED STABLER
STORAGE,
Teaming of All Kinds
Positively No Coal Delivered Un
less Paid for in Advance