Styr Baiiy PrnapKtnr
PUBLISHED BT
STEWART * SELBY, Proprietor*
VAliOBt, ALASKA
Published Dally Except Sunday
Entered as Second-Clas* Mall Matter,
July 23, 1912. at the postofflce of Valdes,
Alaska, under act of March 3, 1879.
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only, per yea# .S1SUK)
riun'ness Ofllce and Editorial Rooms.
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ly Miner, by carrier, to one ad
dress, per month .S 1.35
TEL. 162
Advertising Rates on Application
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, IfllO
HIGH WAGES AND HIGH LIVING.
The Philadelphia Record, in dis
cussing the rising cost of living,
raises the point that it is not due pri
marily to the demand of American
foodstuffs in Europe. In fact, if we
would believe the Record, the war has
lowered the cost, and our enormous
exportations of foodstuffs held it
down. Nor does the Record attribute
high prices to the cupidity of middle
men and speculators and it dees not
think that the short crop situation is
so Important a factor as it is common
ly supposed to be. Thus the three
reasons usually assigned are waived
by the Philadelphia paper, which
states that increased wages, leading
to a bigger demand for foodstuffs,
are primarily responsible. Here is
the way in which the Record arrives
at this novel conclusion:
To whatever causes the high prices
of food may be attributed, the ex
ports cannot be held responsible We
have been exporting less food in 1916
than we did in 1916.
In the first eight months of this
year our exports of wheat were more
than 40,000,000 bushels behind those
of the corresponding eight months a
year ago. The exports of wheat flour
show no appreciable change. But a
decrease in the wheat exports from
nearly 141,000,000 to a little over
100,000,000 bushels is not a change
calculated to raise prices, a^d it must
have had some influence in retarding
the increase. There was also some
decrease in the export of corn.
In August, which must have been
about the first month of exporting
lrom the new crop, the exports this
year were one-third less than a year
ago. The exact figures are. 1915,
20,838,313 bushels, and 1916, 11,
059,980 bushels.
The exports of canned beef in the
eight months dropped over 23.000,
000 pounds, or almost 40 per cent.
The exports of fresh beef fell off
58,000,000 pounds, or nearly one
third. Pickled beef fell off one-third.
Bacon showed a substantial increase,
but it was not quite one-sixth. There
was a very slight increase in hams
and shoulders. There was a decrease
of 22,000,000 pounds in lard. The
increase in pickled pork was under
10 per cent.
The value of all the meat exports
was worth, in round figures, $176,
000,000 last year and $179,000,000
this year. The increase is very small
and in view of the advance in prices.
it proves that the quantity exported
was less than last year.
The wheat crop is undeniably
short, though it is nearly or quite
equal to the domestic requirements,
and a large surplus was brought over
from last year. Probably the main
factor in the Increase of food is the
universal employment at high wages,
as a result of which the working peo
ple are buying more and better food ;
than ever before. The wheat market
(shows some signs of manipulation.!
The supply of animal food has been
scercely keeping pace with the growth
of population, and the increased pros-,
perity of the wage-earners has given !
a sudden stimulus to the demand.
VOICE OF THE COUNTRY PRESS.
Ozark County (Mo.) Times—Be*.-1
ting is all dead wrong at best; but!
when you bet on the wrong side it is
a howling sin.
Havana (111.) Republican—If Vil
la would only stay dead it would be
pleasant going into the watching and
waiting game.
Wadena (Minn.) Pioneer Journal.
Lots of people are trying to convince
themselves that they enjoy the trip
i p Salt river.
Philadelphia Press—Boston is ex j
ceedingly boisterous in *ts complaints!
about the postal service in that city |
But Boston has no monopoly of that, j
The department distributes its short-1
comings around quite impartially. |
Warren (O.) Chronicle—We, ofj
the East, are inclined to think it <a
the real Wild West since election.
Lansing (Kan.) News—Kansas is
a Republican state; bnt, like a broil
(ho, you can’t tell when she is going
to buck.
Oswego (N. Y.) Times—But let it
be remembered that one of the big
gest causes of high prices is the ina
bility of the average man to carry
home a paper bag full of groceries.
Washington (D. C.) Star—The
man who could lift a barrel of flour
used to be regarded as a wonder.
Now he is doing very well if he can
raise the price.
Williamsport (Pa.) Journal-Stan
dard—It mi.st have been gratifying
to Justice Hughes to carry his own
state and likewise that of his Demo-!
eratic opponent.
Ridgeway (Pa.) Journal—Those
merchants who decorate the county!
toads with defacing signs really;
should be required to pay for the!
space they occupy on the public1
streets that ihey now get free use of. i
Chesterton (Md.) Enterprise—The
| Lord loves a cheerful giver—and we
iovc a cheerful liar. How’s yrur sub
scription?
VILLA OUTMANKUVRES FOES. j
'
Our old friend Pancho Villa is rap
idly demonstrating that he is not
such a “dead one” as he was reported
to be on several occasions during the
Pershing drive. Just as present he is
about the “livest” individual in Mex-1
ico. With the odds entirely against j
him he is making signs of “coming!
back” in a way that must send a shiv
er down the spinal column of the
“first chief” of the constitutional
government.
Villa has repeatedly proved him
self to be the most resourceful as well
as the boldest and most daring lead
er of the Mexican factions. He com
bines a shrewd cunning with courage
that the average Mexican seems to
THE EMPRESS
Tonight At 8, Sharp, Last Time.
The Greatest and Most Wonderful
Drama that is Now oh the
Screen is
“CIVILIZATION”
THE MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD WHO UNMOVED
CAN SIT THROUGH THIS 1NCE MASTERPIECE
NEEDS A SUDDEN DOCTOR—A SLOW ONE
WILL BE TOO LATE.
Adults Admission $1.00—All Children Occu
pying Seats 50c.
lack. He mu traps, employs rases,
and all the other tricks of the mili
tary trade with abandon, and they
seem to work. His first leap into
prominence came from a successful
piece of strategy. Hudrta had little
fear of the bandit chieftain until he
stole a coal train south of Jaurez, un
loaded the coal, dumped his ragged
soldiers into the cars, seized a few j
telegraph offices, ran the train into 1
Jaurez in the early morning hours i
caught tho federal garrison una-;
wares and gave it a terrific whipping !
after a sharp battle.
The same resourcefulness seer s to
have made it possible for Villa to ds- ,
feat the Carranza garrison at Chi
huahua City. The defenders certain- j
ly had a superiority of numbers as. 1 ,
a marked advantage in being on the
defensive. In fact, Villa's attack was
expected and the city’s defenses were
strengthened materially. But Villa
by a clever feint, drew Trevino s de
fenders beyond their intrenchments, |
and then soundly thrashed them, ac-1
cording to meagre advices of the hat-!
tie. The Carr&nzaistas had modern I
machine guns and heavy artillery, but
even those things did not ava:l
against the bandit leader's superior
tactics.
Now the Carranza officers complain
that Trevino ran short of ammunition
but they account for this misfortune
by the fact that a train load of shells,
which were sent to Chihuahua City,
were captured by the outlaws. It ap
pears, in a way that reminds one i f
O. Henry’s opera bouffe nations, that
the ammunition was not even guard
ed by soldiers.
If Villa succeeds in holding Chi-j
huahua City, and in defeating tbe
Carranza forces in all their efforts to
retake it, it is reported that he will
move northward to Jaurez, opposite
El Paso, and again take the town and
the custom house. Already he has
regained much of his lost prestige
and thousands of men are said to be
flocking to his standard, as in the hey
day of his greater fame. In fact, re
ports which seem to be authentic, a.-i
to the efTect that a large part of the
Carranza garrison at Chihuahua City
abandoned their leaders to march ue
der Villa’s banner.
Just what our relations with Villa
would be in the event of his winning
out in Mexico is a puzzle. Several
thousand American troops are still i> 1
Mexican soil, ostensibly in search < f
Villa, "dead or alive”; yet, although
Ihey know where Villa is, they are
under orders not to attempt to cap-;
ture or intercept him. it would be a •
bold act for Villa to enter Jaurez with |
the pomp of yore, ard grin at our;
army officers on the Texas side of tin
Uio Grande. Carranza has declared
him an outlaw and we have done the
same, but just at present he is puttin r
both Carranza and our government in
the light of a pair of jokes. In fact,
the bandit chieftain has muddled up
the Americano-Mexican waters by his
Chihuahua City move, and all we can
do is to wait watchfully for him to do
something—we don’t know just what.
THE VALDEZ Chamber of Com
merce has announced a meeting to
morrow night for the purpose of tak
ing up certain and divers matters of
purported benefit to the city. Amo g
them will be to endorse Delegate
Wickersham’s attitude on the Alexan
der Fisheries Bill, to discuss the pur
ported winter mail service to Wil
low Creek, and to discuss ways and
means for further advertising the
district and attracting capital to the
city. A rousing attendance is desired
by the officers of the club, and a
good meeting is promised, several in
teresting speakers having been se
cured.
THE price of flour declined 20
cents a barrel the latter part of last
week.
The new $5,000,000 tin mills at
Gary, Ind., have begun to turn out
their first product. Construction be
gan last December. The mills em
ploy 2000 men at an average of $5.00
per day.
~ Prayer and Recovery
NEW YORK, Dec. 12.—After an
illness of several weeks, during which
‘ceaseless prayer" was offered for
her in Salvation Army circles thruout
the country, Evangeline C. Booth,
commander of the Salvation Army in
the United States, is reported today
as well on the road to recovery. It is
announced that she will be able to
resume work within a few days.
Mexico Also Has Price Problem.
■MEXICO CITY. Dec. 12.—Officials
are conferring with merchants in an
attempt to bring about a reduction
in the prices of necessaries of life. It
is reported that the Banco Naclonai
and the Bank Of London and Mexi
co shortly will resume the circulation
of bank notes backed up by metallic
reserve which will ad4 materially to
the circulating medium.
Gone?
Did ydu lose it—that good idea you
had yesterday of insuring? Don’t let
thief Delay rob you. Phone the Alas
ka Ipv„ Co.; they will write your
policies. 2t
Select Your Holiday Gifts Now
Every department
greets you with the
right goods
My Headquarters
Phone 12
JfolMBaL ^
Do your shopping
early before the as- j
sortments are broken
A Few Xmas Suggestions
For The House
CUT GLASS CASSEROLES,
ELECTRIC PERCOLATORS,
LUNCH SETS, FANCY BLANKETS,
DOWN COMFORTERS, ETC.
AN EDISON DIAMOND DISC
PHONOGRAPH.
FOR LAOIES
KAYSER’S SILK HOSE
KAYSER’S SILK UNDER
WEAR
LADIES’ SUIT CASES
LADIES’ TRAVELING
BAGS.
LADIES’ WARDROBE
TRUNKS
LADIES’ TRAVELING
CLOCKS
LADIES’ DRESSES
LADIES’ COATS
LADIES’ WAISTS
LADIES’ WARM SLIPPERS
1_
FOR MEN
MEN’S GLOVES
MEN’S TIES
! MEN’S SOCKS
MEN’S SILK MUFFLERS
MEN’S SMOKER SETS
MEN’S SAFETY RAZORS
HART, SCHAF FNER &
MARX SUITS
STYLE PLUS $17 SUITS
MEN’S OVERCOATS
MEN’S MACKINAWS
FOR CHILDREN i
TOYS, COMFY SLIPPERS, MACKINAW SETS, OVERCOATS,
HANDKERCHIEFS, ETC.
Any Parcel Wrapped ready for Mailing.
S. BLUM & CO., Inc.
GOOD GOODS
Large Stock Moved.
Moving the large grocery stock of
King's Grocery into S. Blum & Co.'s
building was completed late last night
and the goods placed upon the shelves
or stored. Mr. King will leave on an
early boat for the States, Porter
King and family following in the
early spring.
Boat you nn car (ara whoa yon
4*al la tows?
»’* you an abea loathar ?
•oo what you aro
ootiar to oxtluil* aa
Ua't tho local owchaat hora to
*tay? ^
Tktok An# MnUm ovcf Aid
YOU’LL NEVER GO OUT OP
.TOWN TO SWOP.
t.«t*\ I 5 nil > I'D I r . t'.H i..
Valdez Miners Union He. 188
Western Federation of Miners
ROBERT GARNER. PirsshW
CHA3. MsGALU^r,^
The Best Place in Valdez to
Stop at is the
Arctic Hot ~1
Want, Light t*aau—A* thas af Caaiart
rates; reasonable
BATH-ROOM Sgacial Ratal By tha Mastk
PHONE IBB MRS. STRING, Png
ATLAS JUNK CO.
Wholesale and Retail Dealer* in
ALL KINDS OF JUNK
Buyers of Metal, Rubber, Ma
nila Rope, SackB, Machinery,
Pipe, Hides, Furs aud Bottles.
1048 Railroad Avenue, So.
SEATTLE, WASH.
A. M. DIERINGER
Valdez Transfer
Company
Office on Alaska Avenue, in
George C. Treat Building
Telephone No. 60
Geneial Trucking and Freighting
to all Interior Points.
LIVERY and FEED STABLE
STORAGE
Teatning of AH Kinds
PROFESSIONAL CAROS.
DR. S. W1CKES MERRITT
OM«« over ViMei Drag Co.
Phone ’I* McKinley Street
Contract Surgeon, U. S. Army
A. A. Surgeon, U S. Public Health Serv.
(Marine Hospital)
DR. R COCKERILLE
WoSS^MsSfc1 University
DENTIST
Fourteen Yearn in Valdes.
PHONE 110
Office Rooms la Whaling Building
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNEY S-AT-LAW
OHM Opposite Coart Hmc
Phone S« VALDEZ. ALASKA
JOHN LYfiVii ■> HITCH:N
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTORH*r*-AT-LAW
Ofllcei It WtaUlf Ballriln*
Phase 1S1 VALDEZ. ALASKA
ASA C. BALDWIN
CIVIL ENGINEER
V. S. Mi»end Surrey*
McKinley Street opposite V. M. Store.
Valdes. Alaaks
When b Seward Step at the
COLEMAN HOUSE
9SOSOC sigTON. r*°r,
8‘lfttCTLV FIRST CLASS
rpTth Ays. aswwJ. Alsaks. ■