or style, fit and Material
-real tailored goods
Wear a “benjamin”
hand-shaped fronts, set up necks and
elegant backs; a piece of work any
tailor would be proud of.
Suits and Overcoats, from $20 up.
P. S.—We are not the Sole Agents for
Hart, Schaffner & Marx
FINE CLOTHES
though we have some real values in those suits, from
$18.00 to $25.00
Valdez Mercantile Co., Inc.
TRUE VALUES
On the basis ot Security and Service
we solicit your account,
WE DO A BANKING BUSINESS EXCLUSIVELY.
VALDEZ BANK & TRUST CO.
Steam Heat Electric Light*
THE COPPER BLOCK
Finely Furnished Rooms All Modern Convenience*
Good TUC DlirCTT G °0 d
Goods | IIL Bull HI Goods
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OP
■Native and f I HV/IDCD and Building
Puget Sound LiUlVlDEilV Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
- ,*•
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 18
Patronize a Home Industry
J
“OLYMPIAN”!
The Train of Luxury
TO
Butte, Miles City, Sioux City, Minneapolis,
and St. Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago
All Points East, via the.
“MILWAUKEE”
Leaves Seattle Daily at 10.15 A. M.
“A TOUR DE LUXE’" is an expression supremely fitting in con
nection with a trip to the East on this palatial all-steel transcouti
liental train. It combines the enjoyment of rare scenic beauties
with the pleasure of a journey in absolute ease and comfort.
No Extra Fare on This Train
For further information regarding fares, train service, reservations,
etc., call on or address
C. H. Kracmer. General A rent. Alaska Steamship Co. and Alaska Coast S. S. Co.
VALDEZ. ALASKA
City Ticket Office*. Cklcaro, Milwaukee A 8l Paul Railway. 441 Haatiuya St. Weat
Vancouver, b. c.
SECOND AVE. AND CHERRY 8T.. SEATTLE
taa
CITY EXPRESS STORE
\l/r Buy Anything
W H. Sell Everything.
LYNCH & SPENARD
LAUNCH BRIGHTON
CAPT. STAMEY
(Leaves once a week from
VALDEZ DOCK? for
PORT WELLS and
Way Ports.
FOR SPECIAL TRIPS SEE CAPT. STAMEY
MEXICAN INVASION
NOT AN EASY MATTER
(Continued from page 1.)
country is every bit as difficult.
125,000 Men Needed.
It is doubtful whether Mexico City
could be taken via Vera Cruz with
less than 125,000 men. The only hope
of the officer in charge of these opera
tions would lie in the superiority of
numbers—the possibility that an ex
tended front, or line of attack, would
develop weak spots in the defensive
tactics of the Mexicans. Individual
courage is a sadly futile thing in a
terrain such as this, and the fortune
of war generally is with the man be
hind the boulder up the hill. It is
almost unnecessary to have seen pant
ing infantrymen scale heights to un
derstand this.
Mexico City might be taken via
Vera Cruz in six weeks if no severe
reverses had been suffered. Seven
miles per day with the country to be
carrietLis no mean performance.
Needless to say, the railroad to the
capital could not be used by the 'in
dividual forces, and such is ’he ter
ritory which the line traverses that
In many places it could be put out of
commission for months. The line be
tween Mexico City and Vera Cruz
is as difficult a piece of railroad en
gineering as can be found. The same
is true of most of the other railroads
operating east and southeast of the
capital. Estimating the cost of mili
tary operations at $2 per diem for
each man employed, we find that the
taking of the Mexican capital, out
side of the mobilisation expenditure
and cost of equipment, would amount i
to $12,600,000.
Reverses Possible.
It must be borne tn mind, however,
that the case as here presented does
not discount even a single serious
reverse. With the Mexicans hard to
dislodge, the invading army might find
itself checkmated to such an extent
that weeks would be consumed in the
carrying of points of strategical im-1
portance. It must be remembered
here that the American army would
fight uphill from the moment it set
foot on Mexican soil and that every
military crest would be a point of
vantage for the Mexicans. Most of
the fighting would occur in the de
files between the escarpment walls.
With fanatical Mexican soldiery hold
ing the heights, this would become
bloody work indeed.
The diversion movement upon Tam
pico would have little value, except
it sustained an invasion across the
lower courses of the Rio Grande.
Strategically Tampico is hardly on
the map, and the American military
sphere to be established there would
extend to the north rather than to ]
the west and sotith. The country’s
topography determines that.
But with Mexico City taken and
with the territory toward the coast
cleared _ the pacification of Mexico
would not yet have commenced. To
all intents and purposes that part of
the republic is as tranquil today as
it ever has been or probably ever
will be.
Capture of Capital.
To what extent would the taking
of the capital influence the Mexicans
is now the question to be considered.
To be sure, when the Germans had
taken Paris in 1871 the backbone of
all resistance had been broken. There
are many .instances of this sort of
history, but in this respect the City
i of Mexico means so little to the Mex
icans that such a result could not be
hoped for. The pacification of Mex
ico—for that could be the only rea
sonable objective of intervention.
would have 'o be carried into the
most remote parts of the republic.
In that would lie the difficulty.
There is the hope, of course, that
the saner element of Mexico would by
that time realize that law and order
were all the American army demand
ed. But this is merely a hope, not
well supported by the country’s ante
cedents. One has to know the inti
mate history of political Mexico, from
Cortez and Juarez down, to under
stand how much justification there is
for such a conclusion. The Mexican
, is not above demanding that before
he would treat with the invader for
his own good there would have to fie
, a complete evacuation. Naturally to
| this the United States government
' could not consent. Interminable guer
| rilla warfare would be the consp
I qttence.
An Unpleasant Picture,
i With bases established at Vera
Cruz, the City of Mexico and Tam
pico, military opeiations in the re
public would be less difficult. But
before the country could be swept
clean of roving guerrillas and order
established the American army would
; have to be greatly augmented. Noth
i ing short of 250.0J0 men would be
reeded for this work, entailing an
expenditure of at least $500,000 per
day, or $182,000,000 in a year.
The claim made now and then that
j it would take from ten to fifteen
j years to subdue Mexico is very ex
i travagant, of course. Yet the task
might stretch over three to four years
easily enough.
This is hardly a bright picture, but
it is the best that can be given of
the subject. Probably the cost of
pacification wrould be not a cent less
than $50Q,000,000, and casualties could
not be expected to number less than i
50,000 men killed and invalided.
Those who may have been unable
to understand the inaction of the gov
ernment can rest assured that the
magnitude of the pacification of Mex
ico is fully appreciated -by the War
department. Intervention in Mexico
might become a retreat or a job bad
ly done.
To Rent or Lease.
The Gakona roadhouse, includirg
25 acres of land under cultivation;
located in Copper river valley, ,130 !
miles north of Valdez on the Shushan
na trail. Good trading point for furs.
A splendid opportunity for right par
ties. Apply to JAMES EISH, next
door to Tillikum Club.
For Sale.
Two bowling alleys complete, pins
and balls, also automatic .pinsetter.
Will sell on terms if desired. Also
moving picture machine In first-class
condition.- Enquire
AL. WHITE & CO.
Fete Huganir and L. A. Decker have
ust finished the two government barns
at Beaver Dam and Wortmans.
The dance last evening in Moose
Han was fairly well attended and
fell had a good time.
Subscribe for the Prospector.
LUC«L bKbVI llbtt.
Bill Crawford is in town from Slioup
Bay.
Al. Sullivan is slowly improving in
health.
Harvey Sullivan is sick in bed with j
la grippe.
Fine change of pictures tonight at !
the Orpheum.
Nels. Ohlson is confined to his bed :
with a severe cold.
Fresh Seal shipped oysters on ev '
ery boat for Frye-Bruhn Co.
Bill Stair will leave for the outside
on the Northwestern.
Boh White left this morning over
the trail for the Shushanna.
Fancy Meerschaum Pipes specially
priced at the Valdez Drug Store. j
Weekly Moose Dance in Moose Hall !
on Saturday evening. Supper at 12. ■
Mrs. Fred Cameron is confined to !
her bed with a severe attack of la |
grippe.
- i
The Valdez Drug Co. has an elegant i
stock of Hammered Brass Ornaments, i
FOR RENT—Horse and cutter; see
Charley Johnson at the Alameda.
Frank Millard is still under the care
of a physician, suffering with a had
cold.
Suits pressed for $1.00 at Silver
man’s, the tailor. Telephone 98.
POSITION wanted by experienced
woman as camp cook. Inquire at the
Prospector office.
The great Irish detective, "Dublin
Dan,” at the Orpheum tonight, in three
reels. ;
Jack Carroll, the old-time prospector
and miner, left tin's morning for the
Xelchina.
S. Plum Ac Co. are showing the
largest line of Xmax goods in town.
Lieut. Kunzig, secretary of the Alas
ka Road Commission, is suffering from
the ill effects of a severe cold.
Chinese Chop Suey and Noodles at
the Valdez Cafe, after 7 p. m. if
Pill Holmes, while building a plat
form near th wharf, fell overboard
and took a bath.
WANTED An experienced ironer,
apply Independent Laundry.
Audrey Wulff, the youngest daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Wulff, is
suffering front an attack of la grippe.
Huy one of the nifty combination
purse and card cases at the Val
dez Drug Store.
Pill Holmes, the freighter and con
tractor, left this morning for Wort
mans Bill has a contract for more
telegraph poles for the Valdez Elec
tric company.
Fresh Seal shipped oysters on ev
ery boat for Frye-Bruhn Co.
Beds, rooms and lodging at the Ala
meda. Charles Johnson, proprietor.
Mrs. Carleton, the wife of Captain
Carleton, of Fort Liseum, was serious
ly ill last Monday and Tuesday, but
is so far recovered today as to be
able to be up again.
S. Blum Co. are sole agents for
Hart Scha'ffner & Marx fine suits.
FOR SALE—A tine piano, reason
able. apply to Lieut. Sherrard at
Fort Liseum.
Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Reynolds have.j
taken the Djarf house on Sherman j
street, which they will occupy dur- i
ing the winter. They have already 1
moved into their new quarters.
Suits pressed for $1.00 at Silver
man’s, the tailor. Telephone 98.
Fine watch and iowelry repairing
all work guaranteed. H. V. Hern
don, wit j owl Drug Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Eckern and son, Ed
win, will leave on one of the next
boats for Seattle. Mr. Eckern will
return to Valdez after a brief stay
in the Spirit City, while Mrs. Eck
ern and her son will remain for the
winter in Seattle.
' 'g
Fresh eastern oysters at the Vai
dez Cafe. tf
Just received, a large consignment
of furniture at Rudolph’s.
• _________
Ed. Meiss will leave on the North
western for San Francisco for a six
weeks' stay in California on business.
Mr. Meiss will return in the spring
to Valdez and spend considerable time
developing his claims on the bay. and
also several located near Quartz creek
in the Teikhell country.
BLUNDERS OF SPEECH.
Look Out For These Very Common
Errors and Avoid Them.
Every intelligent person is always
progressing and is ever indifferent
in matters of culture. If careless
habits of speech have been formed
» determined effort to correct them
.vi 11 lead to good results.
Many persons who consider tliein
telves well educated make the mis
take of using the participle “got”
in connection with the verb “to
have.” They say, “Have you got
the key?” “Who has got my bo'ok?”
instead of “Have you the key?”
“Who has my book?”
Mistakes of everyday occurrence
are “Who did you give it to?” “Who
is this for?” instead of the correct
expressions “To whom did you give
it?” “For whom is this?”
Frequently one hears these errors
in grammar: “1 intended to have
bought a pair of gloves,” instead of
“I intended to buy a pair of gloves.”
“It was no use asking him,” instead
of “It was no use to ask him.” “Try
and persuade her to go,” instead of
“Try to persuade her to go.”
It would seem unnecessary to tell
any one not to use the present
tense instead of the past tense
when mentioning what another has
said, yet a careless person may be
heard saving, “He savs” instead of
“He said.” '
utner Hums are ro say .\ great
ways,” “Sotnewlieres,” “There’s
plenty of places.”
The contraction “don’t” for “do
not” should never be used with a
singlar noun or pronoun. It is cor
rect to say “He does not,” and not
“lie don't.” It is important to re
member the objective form of the
first person singular when a noun
and pronoun or two pronouns fol
low a verb, and not to say, “Ethel
asked Mary and I to go.” but “Eth
el asked Mary and me to go,” If
one is confused about the use of
pronouns in a sentence of this sort,
an easy rule is to separate (Item
and use each one with the verb
thus: “Ethel asked Mary” ami
“Ethel asked me.” In this way the
grammatical form is seen.
It is correct to say “A summer
day,” not “A summer’s day.” “Cut
the apple in two” or “in halves,”
not “(Jut the apple in half.” “I cut
the r.ibbon off this piece,” not “otf
of this piece.” “The child threw it
on the floor,” not “on to the floor.”
“Whether”, is a word that indi
cates a choice of things and should
not he placed at the head of each
part of a sentence. For instance,
it is incorrect to repeat it, thus: “I
have not decided whether I shall
go to Boston or whether I shall stay
at home.”—Mrs. Frank Eearned in
Mew York American.
Mis Fluent French.
Bedell and Wilkinson, on a trip
through France, were dining to
gether at a Paris restaurant. Mr.
Wilkinson persisted in ordering ami
asking for everything he wanted in
doubtful French, while Mr. Bedell
persisted in otfcr.ing explanations
that were in the nature of criti
cisms. At last Mr. Wilkinson’s tem
per rose to explosive point.
“Will you,” ho said in English,
“be so good as not to interfere with
me in the use of my French?”
“Very well,” retorted Mr. Bedell.
“T simply wanted to point out that
you were asking for a staircase when
all you wanted was a spoon.”—New
York Globe.
Gray Versus Brown Camels.
The length of a stage varies
throughout Persia, depending on
the character of the country, and is
reckoned in farsaks, the old Greek
parasang. The farsak is a most
elastic and uncertain measure, and
as animals are paid for per farsak
as many as the credulity of the
traveler will allow are crowded into
each -stage. “How far,” I once
asked an old Kurdish muleteer, “is
a farsak?” “As far, as one can dis
tinguish a gray from a brown cam
el,” was the discreet answer. They
average about four miles and the
sfage about six farsaks, or twenty
five miles.—Atlantic.
His Idiosyncrasy.
Dr. William Babbinton, physician
to Guy’s hospital in the early years
of the last century, wa3 an Irish
man. He was described by Sir
Astley Cooper as “the most delight
ful of men.” He used to tell of a
countryman of his for whom he had
prescribed an emetic and who said:
“My dear doctor, it is of no use your
giving me an emetic. I tried it
twice in Dublin, and it would not
stay on my stomach either time.”—
British Medical Journal.
Man and a Carpet.
Clara—I’ll give you a conundrum.
Why is a man like a carpet?
Tom—I give it up.
Clara—Well, he’s no sooner down
than people walk all over him.
Tom—Oh, pshaw I Man is totally
unlike a carpet, for the more dust
he has the Teat likely lie ia to get
Die shake.—Illustrated Bits.