Valdez Daily Prospector
PUBLISHED BY THE
Prospector Publishing Co.
TERMS.
Dally Prospector.
By carrier, per montn.§1.00
By mall, per annum.10.00
The Weekly Miner.
By carrier, per month.8-40
By mall, per annum.r.. 8.00
The Dally Prospector and Weekly Miner
Dy carrier to one address, per
month . .81.88
The Dally Prospector and Weekly Min
er by mall to one address only, per
year .818.80
Business Office and Editorial Rooms,
’Phone 188.
Advertising Rates on Application.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1914.
A STRONG MAN NEEDED.
The situation in Mexico cannot be
called hopeless because precisely the
same state of affairs has existed here
since the republic was proclaimed in
1824. The first actually peaceful
transference of the executive power
occurred in 1851, when Mariano Aris
ta succeeded Herbera, whose admin
istration had been fitful. Before that
every president had been deposed and
at least one was murdered. There
were not infrequently two or more
presidents at the same time. Not
counting Santa Anna, a man of great
power, treacherous and bloodthirsty,
who ruled often, but not for long
terms. Mexico has produced but two
men capable of establishing law and
order, Juarez and Porfirio Diaz. There
is no such man in sight now.
The report that Pablo Gonzales had
proclaimed himself provisional presi
dent seems to be false, but if true
it would not in the least complicate
the present situation. Three provis
ional presidents can cause no more
trouble than two. Nothing worse
could hapepn than has happened. An
archy prevails in Mexico, there are
no courts, the police, where they still
exist, are powerless, trade is paralyz
ed and the decent people are utterly
discouraged. But the pacification of
Mexico is the Mexicans’ own busi
ness. And it may as well be said
to the interventionists that if the
Mexicans cannot be satisfied by a
government se1) up by themselves
they will never be satisfied with a
government set up by force after a
foreign invasion. The hope for Mex
ico now lies in the emergence from
the political chaos of a strong man
in whom the practical idealism of
Benito Juarez may be coupled with
the remarkable and constructive fac
ulty of Diaz. Both of these men were
of the mixed Spanish and Indian
blood, and both came from the hard
working, illiterate classes.—New
York Times.
IT GETS THE GOLD.
The civil war in South Africa,
caused by the revolt of many Boers
against the government of the Union
of South Africa, has not stopped or
even checked the production of gold
in the great Transvaal field. The
Boer war a dozen yeras ago put an
end to mining in that region for many
months, but the rebellion, which
seems to be doomed to complete and
speedy failure, has no such effect.
In October the output of the South
African fields was larger than it was
in the corresponding month of last
year.
In tact, British south Atnca is
yielding gold at the rate of above
$200,000,000 a year. It is furnishing
almost half of the world’s output of
the basic money metal of civilization.
Nearly $100,000,000 a year more is
coming from the mines in Australia,
Canada, India, and other parts of the
British Empire. England has the first
chance to obtain fully 70 per cent,
of all the gold mined, month after
month and year after year. The re
mainder comes from Russia and Ja
pan, allied powers, and from neutral
countries like the United States.
This factor in the gold supply of
the nations at war may have an im
portant bearing upon the final result,
if the struggle goes on for years, as
many high authorities predict that it
will. It is one of the many advan
tages which Great Britain derives
from a vast and far-spread empire
and the free use of the seas.—Cleve
land Leader.
GENTLE REBUKE.
Notwithstanding the constant striv
ing for accuracy Jn the office of every
reputable newspaper, errors are in
evitable, ranging frcm the common
typographical error which has escap
ed the vigilance of the proof reader,
through the errors of carelessness in
writing, blindness of manuscript, and
the occasional Instance when, in the
case of the writer, the “blind spot”
in the brain, corresponding to the
blind spot in the eye, makes bim guil
ty of some gross and palpable error
which he is totally unable to see un
til the printed page is before him,
when it stands up and strikes him
glaringly.
One of the most disagreeable of
all journalistic tasks is the dealing
with the case of the "outsider” who
has been the victim of one of the un
fortunate blunders from which no
newspaper ever can become totally
free. It is the rare and radiant ex
ception when such a victim accepts
the inevitable in a proper spirit and
meets the situation without a pre
conceived idea that he has been sin
gled out maliciously for misrepresen
tation, designed to injure him in per
son or in reputation.
It is for this reason that there is
something peculiarly refreshingn to
even the most hardened newspaper
man in a recent communication ad
dressed by Poultney Bigelow to the
New York Times, as follows:
“Your compositor exaggerated when
he made me say in your edition of
Sunday, November 29, that Bernard
Shaw was ‘an intellectual ass,” when,
on the contrary, 'an intellectual as
set’ was intended.”
Mr. Bigelow is not always a mild
mannered man, and it is therefore the
more to his credit that he recognizes
the possibilities and the limitations
of newspaper accuracy so handsome
ly.—Ex.
—————
When the N. and S. caught fire last
Saturday night at the Valdez Dock
company wharf a telephone message
to Charles Crawford brought water
to the end of the dock in 120 seconds.
Crawford has an electric pump. Why
not secure one for the city as an aux
iliary plant to the present steam en
gine, which requires six minutes to
get up steam and two minutes to put
the pressure at the hydrants? Eight
minutes is a long time when you are
watching a fire get headway.
Poland Sts
ARE CONFLICTING
(Continued from page 1.)
to attack the rich German prov
inces.
More Money for War.
PARIS, Dec. 23.—The French
Chamber of Deputies today passed
the appropriation bills asked by the
cabinet and $1,700,000,000 was appro
priated to carry the war to a conclu
sion. This is the first appropriation
made by the French for the war as
a new loan had just been floated
a few weeks before breaking out of
hostilities between France and Ger
many.
Zeppelin Sheds Burned.
ROTTERDAM, Dec. 23.—French
and British aeroplanes flew over the
city of Brussels yesterday and drop
ped bombs upon the Zeppelin sheds,
which were set on fire and destroyed.
One Zeppelin was in the shed at the
time and lost.
More British Soon Ready.
LONDON, Dec. 23.—England will
have another army of 500,000 men
ready to go to the front in the spring.
The men are already equipped with
all the necessary guns, batteries, uni
forms and transport, but the war of
fice will hold them in training until j
spring.
No Christmas Truce.
LONDON, Dec. 23.—No hope re
mains for a Christmas armistice.
Hostilities will continue over Christ
mas except with such modifications
as will result from agreements along
the line by the different command
ers. It is understood that French,
English and Belgian commanders
have arranged for the cessation of
fighting from Christmas morning un
til night.
- ...—
Bulgaria To Join Allies.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 23.—Through
the efforts of the foreign office Ru
mania has agreed to return to Bul
garia the territory acquired during
the second Balkan war. With this
arrangement Bulgaria is satisfied and
has agreed not to interfere with the
actions of Rumania when that coun
try enters the war as an ally of Rus
sia. It is almost certain now that
Bulgaria will join the Servians and
Rumanians in a combination against
Turkey which will sweep that nation
from Europe. Rumania is to be re
paid with territory taken from Aus
tria.
Food Dear In Germany.
i STOCKHOLM, Dec. 23.—The ad
viser in Berlin to the Swedish Cham
ber of Agriculture has forwarded a
report on the condition of the supply
of food, and other commod'ties in
Germany.
The market for hides and skins has
lately shown a considerable rise in
prices. The government has now
commandeered all hides and skins
and has formed a department to gov
ern all this kind of business.
Of dairy products there is an ex
treme shortage, and the price of but
ter and cheese are steadily rising.
The government has fixed a maxi
mum price for potatoes.
As regards grain new regulations
have been imposed, as a result of
which under certain conditions all
stocks can be commandeered by the
government. Bakers are not allowed
to bake after 2 p. m., and restaurants
are not permitted to serve rye and
wheat bread in unlimited quantities.
There is an extreme scarcity of eggs,
and prices have risen sharply.
Germans Cross Bzurk River.
BERLIN, Dec. 23.—The Germans
have crossed the Bzurk river and
have also crossed the Rawa river and
are sweeping towards Warsaw. The
Russian command at Lowicz is in
danger of being cut to pieces. If the
Germans dislodge the Russians from
the positions they hold along the
Bzurk river and the way to Warsaw
will be unopposed.
WRITER BOOSTS
PORTAGE BAY
Washington Correspondent Tells of
Possibilities of Proposed Rail
road Terminus.
A Washington correspondent sends
out the following epistle about the
incipient railroad metropolis at the
head of Portage bay:
"A new boom city may blossom on
the shore line of Alaska, it is inti
mated by Franklin K. Lane, Secre
tary of the Interior, in his annual
message just made public. The new
Alaskan Railway Commission, ap
pointed a few months ago, has added
a fourth to the three outlets which
the Taft commission considered
enough to consider.
“The Taft commission selected
routes leading in from Cordova, Val
dez and Seward, all established
towns.
“The commission appointed by
President Wilson, and which is now
in Washington working on its report,
as yet unpublished, adds to these the
possibility of a new point of term
inus on Portage or Passage bay, on
the west side of Prince William
Sound, where, as Secretary Lane
says, no settlement now exists, but
which could be connected with Turn
again arm, on the Seward-Susitna
route, by a tunnel
“The discovery of the new route
is claimed for Prof. Lawrence Martin,
of the University of Wisconsin, who
declares that a tunnel two miles long
will make possible a line from the
bay to Turnagain arm only 11 or 12
miles long, which can be built for a
great deal less than $5,000,000, the
amount it cost the Alaska Northern
to reach Turnagain arm from Sew
ard, about 65 miles. This saving of
distance, Martin claims, is supported
also by better grades and by the
elimination of nearly all the glacier
complications which, he contends,
stil threaten the Alaska Northern.
“It is claimed by Prof. Martin, and
he seems to have so convinced the
new Alaska railway commission, that
the harbor in Passage or Portage ca
nal is quite as good for ocean steam
ships as Resurrection bay, upon
which is Seward. Prof. Martin says,
too, that practically no icebergs float
Into Passage canal or Port William
Sound from Port Wells, which Is the
center of the glacial formations on
that side of Prince William Sound..
“In any event, he says, the possible
disadvantage of the Portage canal
harbor in this respect could never
be as great as that which will come
to Seward, it the Bear glacier, at the
south of Resurrection bay, should ad
vance a quarter of a mile and send
Icebergs into the path of ocean steam
ers.”
For home cooked meals go to Mrs.
Matilda Olson’s on Hobart street.
Phone 219. Special Sunday dinner
served at 5 o’clock. Week days din
ner served at 6 p. m. tf
!®prry GUjriatmaB and
ijaypy Nbui ffrar
to All.
For the Convenience of the Public Our Store will remain open
Thursday Evening until 10 o’clock.
Alameda Sails for Seattle.
The steamer Alameda arrived at
11:30 last night from the westward
and sailed shortly after midnight for
Seattle. The following passengers
left for the south: C. H. Lighthall,
F. R. Burch, J. D. McDougall, Fern
Wagner, W. E. Hansel, L. Verdouw.
For Juneau, Mrs. G. Nates, George
Swan. For Cordova, Mrs. B. W. El
liott, Thora Smith.
LOCAL BREVITIES.
Mr. and Mrs. Louie Larson and Eli
Larson came up last night from
Knights Island, where the Larson
brothers have a big copper property
which is under development.
Chinese noodles and chop suey at
Valdez Cafe after 7 p. m. tf
Mrs. B. W. Elliott left for Cordova
on the Alameda. She visited with
her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and
Mrs. Walter Elliott while in Valdez.
LOST at last night’s Ore an over
coat. Finder please return to Harry
Schultz.
Miss Thora Smith left on the Ala
meda en route for Kennecott. Miss
Smith was the guest of Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Kramer when in the city.
Weather Report.
Valdez, Dec. 22, 1914.
Barometric pressure.29,693
Temperature at 7 p. m. 31
Maximum temperature . 33
Minimum temperature . 27
Mean temperature . 30
Precipitation .30
Cloudy air, wind northeast 4 miles.
Snowed at night and mixed snow and
rain all day.
TIDE TABLES PORT OF VALDEZ.
Compiled from the official tide ta
bles issued by the Coast and Geodet
ic Survey. The time for high and
low water la for the Port of Valdes
and is Valdes time. Immediately fol
lowing the time of high and low wa
ter is given the height of the tide
in feet and tenths:
Wednesday, Dec. 23.
High tide 6:05 a. m., 7.7.; 4:46
p. m., 7.0.
Low tide 11:09 a. m., 3.3; 11:14 p.
m., 1.8.
Thursday, Dec. 24.
High tide 5:53 a. m., 7.8; 5:67 p.
m„ 6.1.
Low tide 12:58 a. m., 3.1; 11:59
a. m., 2.6.
WEATHER BULLETIN.
Valdez, Alaska, Dec. 23, 1914.
STATION Above Below Snow, In. VVEATHEK CONDITIONS
Donnelly ... 24 8 Cloudy, windy, trail drifted.
McCallum |. 18 12 Cloudy, windy, trail drifted. .
Paxson’s . 11 14 Cloudy, windy, trail drifted.
Hogan .. 15 12 Cloudy, windy, trail open.
Gulkana ..t 18 12 Cloudy, calm, trail good.
Copper Center .... 20 8 . Clear, calm, trail good.
Tonslna . 25 22 Clear, windy, trail heavy, drifted.
Telkhell . 18 , 26 Clear, calm, trail heavy.
Beaver Dam . 23 25 Clear, calm, trail heavy.
Summit . 22 35 Clear, windy, trail drifted.
Wortman's . 28 , 17 Clear, calm, trail good.
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OF
Native and f f T11/ID 17 D and Building
Puget Sound JL.UlVlljlU\ Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 18
Patronize a Home Industry
Pacific Alaska
Navigation Company
Alaska Pacific S. S. Co. Alaska Coast Co.
PUGET SOUND-ALASKA ROUTE
[ Steamers sail from Seattle
Nov. 15th, Dec. 5th and 25th
via the Inside Passage for Ketchikan, Juneau, Yakutat, Ka
talla, Cordova, Valdez, Seward, Cook Inlet points and Kodiak.
PUGET SOUND--CALIFORNIA ROUTE
.Seattle-San Francisco, connecting with steamers Yale and
Harvard for southern California ports.
Rifht reserved to change dates and steamers without notice ;
VALDEZ DOCK CO. j
Local Agent ]
ALASKA
STEAMSHIP CO.
S. S. Mariposa and S. S. Alameda sail from Seattle
the 1st, 8th, 16th and 24th
EVERY MONTH
From Valdez south—7th, lSth, 23rd and 30th for Cordova,
Juneau, Ketchikan and Seattle.
Regular freight servloe for Ketchikan. Juneau. Sheep creek Treadwell. Douglas
Oordova, Ellamar. Valdez and Latouohe. Explosives. S S Seward. S S Seward. 5th'
S S Latouohe. 15th: S S Oordova. *oth of each month—Right reserved to change this
schedule without notice.
F B. Tracy, Gen’I Agt- ValdM Dock Co^ Local A*t.
FULL
QUART
— BOTTLED INBOND1 i — |
Has Had no Peers for Fifty Years I
SOLD BY ALL DEALERS I