8iff Battjj jlrnapertor
PUBLISHED BT
STEWART A SELBY, Proprietor*
VALDEZ, ALASKA
Published Dally Bxoept Sunday
as Second-Class Malt Matter,
>12. at the postofflce of Valdez,
nder aot of March 1 187*.
SUBSCRIPTION RA115S.
Daily Prospector.
By carrier, per month .■* UK
By roalL oer annum .—.*1M*
The Weekly Miner.
The Dally Prospector and Weekly
Miner, by mall, to one address
only, per year ..m.Slh-M
Hus'nese OfH.oe and Bdltorlal Reoasa
By y*ttl*r. per month —.* .40
py-Viall. per annum --* S.OO
Tin. Dally Prospector aad Week
ly Miner, by carrier, to one ad
dress. per month ..4 lAt
TEH,. 162
Advertising Rates on Anolloatlon.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, I>>17
PEACE AND PREPAREDNESS.
"For us to talk peace while getting
ready for war,” says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, “is absurd."
There may logically be a difference
of opinion on this point.
Would it not, in fact, be far more
absurd to talk war and get ready for
peace? We have talked war to one of
the most principal European bellig
erents for more than a year. We have
feared that we were on the verge of
war. Would it not be supremely rid
iculous, under such circumstances for
us to send an ultimatum for a foreign
power and simultaneously rush a tire
class battleship to the boneyard? It
certainly is not absurd to talk peace
and prepare for war. It is common
sense. .
Europe does not accept the reasm
ing of the Chronicle. It knows that
the United States is *the exponent of
peace. President Wilson has openly
approved the proposed World League
to Enforce Peace of which former
President Taft is head. Sir Edward
Grey, until recently foreign minister
of Great Britain, .^indorsed it. The
chancellor of Germany practically .n
dorsed it. Many other notable Euro
peans have approved It.
These statesmen do chink that be
cause this country is preparing for
war—or preparing against war- it is
hypocritical in its pleas for world
peace. They know America is sin
cere in striving for world peace and
sensible in preparing to defend itself
against aggression.
If we remember correctly, wnen tne
i.iival bill was introduced in the last
Congress, an attempt was made 'o
frave inserted a. provision testifying
to the effect that if the other power:-,
would reduce their armaments, the
United States would do likewise.
While this provision did not go thru
the fight made for it showed some
thing of the attitude of the people of
this country toward war. Probably
in no country is sentiment against
war in the abstract any greater than
it is iu the United States. Neverthe
less Americans are ready if necessary,
to fight for a just cause and they be
lieve in the principle of preparedness.
So long as the rest of the world builds
warships, the United States will be
compelled to do likewise, but the
other nations know this and nourish
no aggressive designs upon us.
The European war has taught us
many invaluable lessons and not the
least is that of preparedness. We
shall not scrap our navy until the
ether nations are ready to scrap
theirs, but meanwhile we shall labor
to convince them that humanity calls
ior a reduction in armaments.
BOYS AND THE “MOVIES.”
Is the American boy better.off by
being rigidly kept away from the
“movies”? That is a question on
which there appears to be some dis
putes, but we doubt that many people
really are convinced that the average
moving picture thriller, after it has
passed the board of censorship, i-.
hurtful to young America. The New
York Herald has a timely editorial
on the subject, which is herewith re
produced :
A well known pedagogue says in
1 is lecture on “The American Boy”
ihat the moving picture theatre “is
one of the time-absorbing, and for
the most part unprofitable, diver
sions of the modern boy.” His ob
jections to them is based on the fact
that they are full of lurid adventures
and have taken the place of the dime
novels that boys of an earlier genera
tion read so eagerly. 1
The truth is that healthy, full
blooded boyhood craves excitment
and adventure, especially when spiced
with danger, as cattle crave salt. If
t oys are denied it one form they will
seek to procure it in another, and it
is far easier for parents and guard
ians of youth to excercise a super
vision over moving pictures than
cheap books. Moreover, the wise
censorship of public taste keeps the
films clean. It is impossible to exer
cise a like control over cheap, paper
covered fiction.
There is nothing Old maldish in
the best American boys. They scorn
what they call "teacher’s games,"
knowing that they are for the most
part inventions of persons who were
never young. Their alert minds turn
to what is new, and they find on the
screen at least a suggestion of the ex
citement and danger of aviation or
motor racing.
MASS MEETING ENCOURAGING.
The spirit manifested at the mass
meeting last night was typical of Val
dez. In no other city in the Territory
probably would so great interest be
3hown and so large a sum of money
subscribed to bring the parties guilty
of the recent incendiarism to justice.
While the action may or may not have
been premature in view of the fact
that the Federal authorities are doing
all in their power to apprehend the
guilty parties, yet the general effect
was healthful and a tonic to our soli
carity. The more often our citizens
get together the better will they be
come acquainted, and the belter ac
quainted the less probability of fac
tionalism and petty bickerings.
It is but natural that at so large an
assemblage there should be a great
divergance of opinion, but the unan
imity of expression at last night's
meeting indicates that Valdez may yc\
pull together as one family.
We believe the universal desire to
bring the party responsible for Tues
day's conflagration to justice will act
as a deterrent in future cases. While
the meeting may have no direct effect
upon the arrest and conviction of the
arsonist, it is a splendid reminder that
in time of stress of peril our people
instinctively # draw closer together
to take up the burden. ,
In few cities in the Territory could
the sum of $2,600 be raised in so
short a time, and with such universal
willingness of its citizens to obligate
themselves.
The Marshal's office will undoubt
edly apprehend the guilty wretch,—
if it has not already done so,—
and he is certain to receive his just
punishment.
THE VALDEZ Fire Department
seemed to be the target for several
untimely criticisms at last might’s
meeting. While the strictures were
probably meant more as a discussion
of the needs of the department, ana
were probably not intended as cen
sure, they undoubtedly caused some
feeling in the matter by the recipi
ents. We believe Valdez has one of
the best volunteer departments in the
Territory, and while they may be
lacking in many things needed ‘o
increase their efficiency, when 't
conies to hard work aiid results, in
the language of Micky Flynn “They
are there some.” No fire department.,
however large their equipment, can
promptly extinguish a fire, especially
in zero weather and with a 50-mile
gale fanning the flames, but all that
any department could have done with
the same equipment we believe the
Valdez Fire Department accomplish
ed.
GREAT Britain according to Prem
ier Lloyd George, is about to nation
alize shipping. Probably the entire
British merchant marine, which is by
far the largest in the world, will be
used exclusively for war purposes so
far as it is needed. One effect of this
will be to subject American com
rerce not ‘ncluding shipments of
war, to the whim of the British ad
miralty. It is not an encouraging
prospect but England cannot be blam
ed for using her ships to the best ad
vantage The fault is with the peo
ple of the United States—who have
1 eglected their merchant marine.
A NOTED writer is authority for
the assertion that in Ireland every
poor man has a dog and ever) d
poor man has two dogs. If the same
rule applies hereabouts, Petersburg
ers must be among the most opulent
people on earth. According to the
city treasurer’s report, four dollars is
the sum total of dog-license money
received by the municipality this
year.—Petersburg Report.
Why Murphy Painted.
Murphy was in the hospital and
had undergone an operation. As he
was recovering he remarked to the
patient on his right: “I am thankful
that’s over.”
“Oh,” exclaimed the pat'ent, ‘ at
my operation the doctor left the scis
sors inside and I had to undergo the
same again.”
The patient on the left remarked
tnat at his operation the sponge had
been left and it all had to be gone
Sover again. ’
Just as they had finished talking
| the doctor appeared at the door and
|asked: “Has any one seen my hat.”
It was then that Murphy fainted.
- » T
Card of Thanks.
It is impossible to personally reach
the many who rendered us assistance
at the Are on the 2nd inst., and take
this method of assuring the Valdez
Fire Department and all individuals
that their excellent help was thor
oughly appreciated.
MR. AND MRS. J. C. MARTIN.
Mrs. Norman Merchant, who has
been visiting in town the past few
days, returned to the Qranby mine
tbis morning on the Mary Lee.
CAMPAIGN BANNERS.
Making tha Big Party Emblama That
8treteh Across tha 8traat.
One of the features of every great
lolitlcal campaign, especially In The
nrge cities. Is the showing made hy
he big party banners stretched across
ue streets or avenues. The services of
wclve men are required to produce
ue of these big campaign banners.
Two men prepare the strips on whicn
ue lettering Is done. Two more look
ftcr the lettering of these strips, the
minting of the mimes of clubs or asso
latlons ordering the banners, the can
tons for the portraits and the offices
or which the nominees are to contend.
Two men work on tile centerpieces,
tenerally consisting of an eagle and a
•hield. One man devotes himself to
he special portraits, and the others as
semble the various parts, sew the
strips together and give the finishing
touches to the banner.
The “portrait man” scorns to do any
other work than the main portrait.
The rest he calls “filling In." By work
ing on the same faces day after day
this artist becomes so skillful that be
can paipt the portrait of a candidate
(to use the words of one painter) “in
the dark” and do it as true to life as
the standard of the campaign banner
industry requires.—Los Angeles Times.
OUR FIRST ADMIRAL.
Th« Rank Waa Conferred Upon David
G. Farragut In 1866.
The first officer of the Qnited States
Davy to hold the rank of admiral was
David G. Farragut, who,was elevated
to that position on July 25; 1866, as a
reward for his great services in the
war that had recently ended. Prior to
the conflict between the states the
highest rank In the United States na
val service was that of commodore.
In 18C2 congress conferred upon Far
ragut the rank of rear admiral, in
1864 that of vice admiral, and in 1866
he was made a full fledged admiral.
Farragut died in 1876, and the title of
admiral was then conferred upon Da
vid D. Porter, who held that rank un
til his death, in 1891.
Congress then.'abolished the title of
admiral, and the grade of rear admiral
remained the highest in Uncle Sam’s
naval service until 1899. when that of
admiral was revived and conferred on
George Dewey.
In that yenr the old title of commo
dore was abolished, and the holders
were advanced to the grade of rear
admiral.—New-York World.
The Man Guessed Right.
In n church at Amsterdam there is a
very ancient funeral monument of
white marble on which are engraved a
naif of slippers with the inscription.
“Effen Xyt." which means “exactly."
and tlie story of this singularity is this:
A mau who was very rich, but who
was a bon vivant. took it into ills head
that he was to liv<vji certain manlier of
years and no longer. Under the im
pression of this idea lie calculated that
if lie spent so much a year his estate
and his life would expire together. lie
was not mistaken in either df his cal
culations. He died precisely at that
time which lie had presented'to himself
in fancy and hud then brought his for
lune to such a predicament thut after
the paying of his debts he had nothing
left but a pair of slippers. His fela
rives buried him in a creditable manner
and had tile slippers carved on his
tomb with the above laconic inscription.
Shekels and Half Shekels.
The early Biblical references to pieces
of silver do not in the original convey
the Idea of coins, but of weight, shek
els. The Mosaic “oblation to God" was
a half shekel, and the shekel is ex
plained by Josepbus as equal to four
Athenian drachmae of the value of
about 55’4 eents in American money.
Tlie first Jewish coinage under author
ity was. it is believed, struck by Si
mon, the Maccabee, about the year 140
B. C. It consisted of shekels and half
shekels. This coinage had its value
signified upon it, “Shekel Israel." in
Samaritan characters.
Gold Sovereigns.
It was in 1817 that the gold coin
known as the sovereign was declared
to lie of the value of 20 shillings. The
proclamation declaring this to be its
price current was issued on July 5 of
that year. In 1489 pieces in value of
20 shillings, “to be called the sover
eign." were ordered to be coined out of
a iKHiud of gold, but by 1550 they were
passed as of the value of 24 shilliugs.
and by 1552 they were passed as being
of the value of 30 shillings. By the
coinage act of 1870 the weight of the
sovereign was fixed at 123.27447 grains
troy.—London Standard.
Long and Short of It.
"There was a chap just in here look
ins for you. Smith.”
“Was lie tall or short?”
“Both."
“What do you mean?”
“He was a tall man, and he said he
wanted to borrow a dollar.”—Boston
Transcript.
Very Strange.
Friend—What Is the strangest case
that you ever had In life insurance?
Agent—Miss Oldbud. She took out a
twenty year endowment policy when
she was nineteen years of age. and it
matures this year, when she is twen
ty-eight—Puck.
As Hs Knew It.
Teacher — Tommy, can you spell
"fur?” Thomas— Yes, sir—f-u-r. Teach
er—That’s right. Now, can you tell me
what fur isf^Thomas—Yes, sir. Fur
Is an awful long way.—Cornell Widow.
»tr • ■ ■
Doing nothing is a lesson in doing ill.
-German Proverb.
ft
Xtra Large, Sterile, Fresh
A Guaranteed Egg That We^Ask You To Try.
i
We will pay twenty-five cents for any Hollyhurst egg
that is not absolutely perfect.
Fresh On This Boat
'• i • t
IOTATOES
CARROTS
PARSEEY
SWEET SPUDS
RED CABBAGE
ONIONS
TURNIPS, ETC.
LETTUCE
TOMATOES
GREEN PEPPERS
FLA. GRAPE FRUIT
APPLES
ORANGES
S. BLUM & CO., Inc.
Inside Weather Moderates
Today’s weather report from the
interior shows a general rise in tem
perature all along the line ranging
from 15 to 30 degrees. Salcha and
Hogan are the coldest places repert
ed with a temperature of 35 below
zero. Fairbanks, on one end of the
line has 32 below and Wortman, on
this end, 5 below. Between the tem
perature ranges from 10 to 26 below
except at points mentioned above.
Cloudy weather is reported at all
points and "snowing” is reported
from Donnelly’s, Gulkana and Wort
•nan.
Meeting Tonight
The regular Thursday night mee> |
ling of the Order of Alaskan Moose
I has been postponed until 8 toniglu. j
—
Card of Thanks.
We publicly announce our appreci-'
ation of the efficiency of the Valdez
Kirn Department, and extend thanks
co the Department and citizens of
Valdez who so loyally rendered assis
tancoduring the tire of Jan. 2.
VALDEZ DOCK COMPANY.
The Prospector extends thanks to
the party who so generously looked
after the safety of our snow shovel j
during the recent fire. But for his
great thoughtfulness it might have
been more thoroughly and irretriev
ably lost.
Attorney O. P. Hubbard returned
on the Admiral Watson from a busi
ness trip to Seward.
LADY BECK.
Only Woman Judge In Nation*
al Horse Show, Nov. 11 to 17.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
Onces ot« Valdes Drag Co.
Phone *15 McKinley Street
Contract Surgeon, U. S. Army
A. A. Surgeon, U S. Public Health Serv.
(Marine Hospital)
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNS Y 8-A T-LA W
once Opposite Court Hunw
Phone M VALDEZ. ALASKA
JOHN LTONfc a IE KITCHia
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
Office* In “ Unlli>( Bnlldlna
Phone 1M VALDEZ. ALASKA
DR. H. COCKERILLE
Dradute National University
Washington, D. C.
DENTIST
Fourteen Yean In Valdez.
PHONE 110
Office Rooms In Whaling Building
ASA C. BALDWIN ~
- CIVIL ENGINEER
U. S. Mineral Surreyor
McKinley Street opposite V. M. Store.
Valdez, Alaska
Fresh butter and eggs at Keystone
Produce Co. 3t
NOTICE—Electrical heaters, cook
ers, percolators, vacuuna-eleaners,
will be advanced in prices after New
years, by the manufacturers. Stock
on hand will be sold at prevailing
prices, at the Emporium.
New Year Resolution.
Your first New Year resolution
should be: “Resolved, That I will
take out both Life and Fire insur
ance and have the Alaska Inv. Con -
pany write my policies.” 2t
The best dinner at the Arcade
Cafe. tf
Location notices, botn quartz and
placer, at the Miner office.
Received by steamer Alameda a
fine line of fruits and vegetables. Key
stone Produce Co. 3t
Fresh Box candy at Hunt’s C’andv
Kitchen. A new line opened. If
German Supply Cut Off tj/
MADRID, Jan. 5.—Alexandro Ler
roux, leader of the Radical party In
the Chamber of Deputies, has intro
duced a bill prohibiting Spanish sub
jects and vessels provisioning Ger
man submarines in any way.
Capt. Wm. Callaghan is in com
mand of the launch Mary Lee during
the vacation of George Strixner.
J, B. Adams left for the Granby
mine this morning.
ATLAS JUNK CO. Jf
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
ALL KINDS OF JUNK
Buyers of Metal, Rubber, Ma
nila Rope, Sacks, Machinery,
Pipe, Hides, Furs and Bottles.
1043 Railroad Avenue, So.
i SEATTLE, WASH.
Candy Kitchen
E. W. HUNT—I. Owl Drag Store. ,
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
HOT-COLD
LOUIE’S CAFE
Everything First class
Open Day and Night
ANDY MAROVICH, Prop.
✓
•Valdez Miners Union No. 188
Western Federation of Miner*
W. H. GARNER, Praridaat.
Granits Mina
CHAS. MeCALLUM, Secratary,
VaUaa Alaska.
The Beet Place in Valdez to
Stop at is the
Arctic Hotel
Wane, Licit Beoai—Tbe Hone of Ceefert
rates: REASONABLE
BATHJROOM Special Rate* By tbe Mentl
| PHONE 133 MRS. STRING, Prep
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE
GEORGE SEXTON. Poop
STRICTLY FIRST CLASS
Fourth Ave, Seward. Alaaka
VALDEZ LODGE (
NO 108
Free u< Accepted Maaoaa
Regular Communications first Wed
nesday In each month In McKinley
Hall. Vlsltora always welcome.
F. M. BROWN, W. M.
ED WOOD, Secretary.
Just received, a new line of Toilet
Waters and Perfumes. Owl Drug Co.
For fine Candies see our stock.
Valdes Drug Co. tf
. t
FOR SALE—A No. 16 I. X. ijj
heater in good condition. Inquire of*
'Mrs. Arthur Lang. :tt
j Skookum Apples. Jonathans and
jspitzenberg at Keystone Produce Co.
3t
, . i
Anything in nugget and ivory Jew
j airy at Valdes Drug Go.