VOLUME XIV. VALDEZ, ALASKA, MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1JI6 NUMBER 0*
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ItA Also Believed Possible that Col.
Richardson's Appropriation May
Be Favored by Department
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 6.
Maskans In the National capital be
‘ lieve that the appropriation asked for
the Alaska railroad will certainly be
granted by Congress as no serious op
position has as yet manifested itself
to the work of construction of the
trunk line to interior Alaska being
continued. It was feared that an at
tempt might be made to confine the
government’s railroad building activ
ities to the construction of the rail
road to the Matanuska coal fields but
Secretary Lane has assured Alaskans
In the city that the $8,700,000 asked
for the work this year will be pro
vided.
It is also believed probable that the
War Department will approve the re
quest of/Vol. Richardson, chairman
of the board of Alaska Road commis
sioners, for $500,000 for Alaska wag
on and automobile roads and trails
to be expended during the coming
jsmnmer.
Tlio bills to provido for the De
velopment Board or the proposed
fisheries legislation, are receiving lit
tle attention and it is believed that
they will not be pressed as there is
too much division of sentiment
among the officials regarding the
bills.
. - - . — . .
BRANDEIS PARTNER
SAYS HE IS HONEST
Believes that lie Should be Confirmed
to the Vacancy on the Bench
of the Supreme Court.
#
WASHINGTON, March 6.—E. E.
Mo.CIennen, who lias been a law part
ner of Louis D. Brandeis for several
years, gave testimony before the sub
judiciary committee of the Senate re
garding jjb A fitness of his partner to
be *:onfiTuU|l to the vacancy in the
Supreme Court of the United States.
The attorney was subjected to a
three-hour quiz by the attorney rep
resenting the committee as well as by
members of that body, but his testi
mony that he had always found
Brandeis honest remained unshaken.
By using the testimony of witness
es who had appeared before the com
mittee in opposition to Brandeis the
members of the committee were en
abled to enquire into and probe many
of the reform measures which Bran
deis had been active in promoting
-daring the past few years.
DIAZ' REVOLUTION
IS GAINING FORCE
NEW YORK, March 6.—It is re
ported {rom El Paso that the revo
lutionary movement -inaugurated by
General- Diaz ir. northern Mexico is
gaining force and that he bad control
Of eight per cent of the Mexican Cen
' trill railroad. Private advices from
Mexico City arc also to the effect that
It is feared that with Generaf Zapata
and General Diaz working in conjunc
tion that foreigners in the mining dis
tricts in the northern states will be
•ndawered.
ANOTHER WILLOW CREEK
MINE PAYS DIVIDENDS
' <
The Alaska Free Gold Company,
owner of a gold qnartz property la
’the Willow Creek gold camp, has de
clared an annual dividend of Id.2-3
per cent from the royalties received
from William Martin, lessee. Upon
the basis of gold production since Mr.
Martin took over the property, the
company, If operating the mine itself
would be paying an annual dividend
of "00 per cent.
SEWARD ADOPTS THE
NEW ELECTION SYSTEM
The people of Seward have voted
In favor of electing the city govern
ments and city officials In future in
the manner provided for by the ter
ritorial legislature. The people voted
separately on two propositions. One
was for the elctlon of a mayor separ
ately and the election of three mem
bers of the council annually; the
other was for the election of a city
attorney, city treasurer, city magis
trate, and city clerk. The first sec
tion was carried by a vote of three
to one, thus showing that the people
prefer to elect the mayor separately.
MURDERS PRIEST
WHILE CONFESSING
Tragedy is Enacted in Polish Catholic
Cathredral in St. Paul—Wrong
ed Woman Takes Revenge.
St. Paul, March 6.—The Sunday
quiet of the city was disturbed yes
terday by the murder of a prominent
Catholic priest by a woman wht> had
been a member of his church for
years.
Mrs. Agnes Dukilte, who has been
a resident of St. Paul for many years,
enteredthe confesional of the Polish
Catholic cathredral and while kneel
ing in prayer fired five shots into the
body of the priest, causing almost
instant death.
The woman, who surrendered her
self to the police immediately after
the shooting, asserts that she mur
dered the priest because he had ab
solved Henry JajeslcjC who had
wronged her under promise of mar
riage. Owing to the prominence .'f
all concerned in the tragedy the mur
der has created a tremendous sen
sation. The friends of the woman be
lievet hat she is mentally unbalanced
through her trouble.
GOAL LANDS WILL
'SOON BE OPENED
Reported that Lease Forms will be
Ready before the Middle of April
1
—Many Applications.
SEATTLE, March 6.—Mining En
gineer Evans, who has lust retiyned
from the National capital says that
the government is anxious that the
coal lands in the_aska coal fields
be opened at the earliest possible
date. Secretary Lane, of the Interior
department, believes that the lease
forms for tracts in the Bering river,
Matanuska and Nenana coal field"
wi„ be ready before the middle c f
-- #
The survey parties which were in
the field last summer are preparing
to return to the north to complete
the survey of the principle coal
fields but it is announced that the
tracts blocked out last summer will
be opened before the surveys have
been completed.
Hundreds of applications for leases
have been received by the general
'and office at Washington and at the
land office at Juneau, Alaska, for
tracts in the Bering river and Mata
nuska coal fields. The applications
come from all parts of the United
States and Alaska, indicating that
there will be no lack of private cap
ital with which the coal fields may
be developed.
MRS. FERGUSON’S CASE
REPORTED MORE HOPEFUL
Mrs. Robert Ferguson, who has
*>een seriously ill at the Red Cross
Hospital, and whose life was despair
ed of by the physicians for several
days last week, Is reported this after
noon to have rallied and to be gain
ing strength with chances in her fav
or of recovery. Since her case be
came serious Fhe has received every
possible attention as a physician was
in attendance every hour of the day
or night.
RUSSIANS ARE GAINING
SOUTH OF THE CAUCASUS
HAVE CAPTURED THE FORTIFIED CITY OF BITLIS AND THREAT
EN THE SAFETY OF BAGDAD AGAINST WHICH THE BRITISH
ARMY IS MARCHING FROM THE SOUTH—URGENT APPEAL IS
SENT BY CONSTANTINOPLE TO BERLIN FOR REINFORCE
MENTS AS THE FALL OF CITY WILL CRUSH TURKISH ARMY—
LONDON FEARS RESULT IF VERDUN FORTS ARE CAPTURED,
■V
ATHENS, March 6.—Advices from
Constantinople state that the Rus
sians are overrunning the districts in
Asia Minor between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers and have captured
the fortified city of Bitlis. The Turks
fear the fall of Bagdad as the Rus
sian troops are marching southward
to form a junction with the British
troops marching northward from the
gulf. The Turkish war office has sent
an urgent call to Berlin for rein
forcements as it is feared that with
the fall of Bagdad that the Turkish
forces in the east will be rushed. The
British troops have again received
reinforcements and are marchings to
the relief of the garrison which is
surrounded at Cut-Dl-Amera.
Verdun Most Important.
LONDON, March 6.—British mili
tary authorities believe that the fight
ing before Verdun is of the utmost
importance to the Allies. They as
sert that if the French lines are
broken by the Teutonic capture of
the fort that the way will be cleared
to Paris, putting a new complexion
on the whole war situation. The Al
lies would be compelled to reform
their lines as the loss of Paris would
also mean the capture of a portion of
the French coast from which London
could be endangered.
Russia** Safe In Caucasus.
PETROGRAD, March 6.—Official
advices from the headquarters of
Grand Duke Nicholas, commanding
the Russian troops in the Caucasus
districts, say that the capture of the
Bitlis forts ensures the safety of the
Russian troops invading Turkish Asia
Minor. Thousands of prisoners are
reported to have been taken when
the fortified city was captured.
Little News of Western Fighting.
LONDON, March 6.—The censor
ship on war news from France dur
ing the past twenty-four hours has
been very rigorous and all accounts
of fighting have been eliminated from
the dispatches. The silence of the
war office is taken to mean that the
German offensive movement before
Verdun has reached a crisis where
(he fates of the armies in the strug
gle are in jeopardy.
SEATTLE BUILDING
GREAT WANT SHIPS
'rwenty-Tliree Vessels are Under Con
struction in Puget Sound Ship
yards —Worth $8,250,000.
SEATTLE, March 6.—The short
age of ships to carry freight on the
Pacific has caused a tremendous ac
tivity at all the shipyards along the
coast. In the Seattle yards twenty
three ships are under construction,
which will have a value $8,250,000.
Shippers assert that wilto the pres
ent freight rates that vesels plying
between Washington and California
ports to Europe are earning their
value in single trips which require
from six weeks to three months, if re
quired to pass through, the straits.
Vessels which were sent to ' the
boneyards of the Pacific years ago
when they were supplanted by more
modern vessels have been repaired
and placed in commission carrying
grain from Puget Sound and 8an
Francisco to Liverpoo. The present
freight rate on general cargo between
Puget Sound and Liverpool is $21 per
ton, with the shipper paying the in
surance on cargo and vessel.
GOOD SHOW AT THE
LIBERTY LAST NIGHT
The Liberty theatre was packed
'ast night and a large audience en
oyed a good show. A late Pathe
News displayed many scenes in mu
nition plants and were Interesting to
the crowd. “Protea the Second" in
five acts was good. The hit of the
evening was the “Knockout, which
was two reels of solid laughter. The
music was extra good as Jack 8ur
-hyne had joined the orchestra, mak
ing five pieces as follows: Mr. and
Mrs. Kirby, George Retake. Robert
Weber and Jac~ arrhyne. The show
was one of the best ever shown at
the Liberty.
Insane But May Recover.
Chaa. A.- Siefert, the Oakland pro- j
lessor, who passed worthless checks
In Juneau while trying to finance a
railroad which would connect all the
towns on Gastineau channel, has beea
adjudged Insane and will be taken
outside. It is believed that with pro
per care he will recover as he Is said
to be possessed of a remarkably
bright,, mind in everything but finan
cial matters.
REDMOND APPEALS
‘ TO THE IRISH
Urging Them to Knlist Although Con
scription Hoes Not Apply us
In Scotland and Kngluud.
. DUBBIN, March G.—Immediately
following the announcement that the
3ritish government has issued a proo
amation that the British government
had issued a proclamation yesterday
ailing all married men between the
ages of nineteen and twenty-seven
years to the colors, John Redmond
the noted Irish leader issued a Stir
ling appeal to young Irishmen urging
them to enlist although the conscrip
tion measure does not extend to
them.
Redmond declares that unless the
men of Ireland rally to the support
of the empire in greater numbers
than in the past that It will mean a
death blow to all hope of self-gov
ernment for Ireland during the pres
ent reneration and possibly for cen
tur,Oj
CORDOVA LONGSHOREMEN
HAVE ORGANIZED UNION
The longshoremen of Cordova have
organized with a membership of be
tween 50 and 100. The union has ap
plied to the Pacific coast headquar
ters of the International Longshore
men’s Association for a charter.
Pending a receipt of same, a stand
ing committee of three members'is
handling the affairs of the union un
til such time as permament officers
are elected. Sunday evening, at 8:00
p. m., regular meetings are called to
order. A hall has been rented iu
the Wilson building, just south of the
Cordova House, on First street, where
all workingmen are welcome. Papers
and magazine?, also a good fire on
tap during the day and evening—Cor
dova Times.
DANCE AT THE POST
WAS ENJOYABLE AFFAIR.
The dance given at the Post Hist'
Saturday evening by the Fort Lis
cum Social elub was attended* by a
number of the young people of Val
dez, and a most enjoyable evening
was spent by the guests of the club.
The bay ♦as rough on the return trip
of the Donaldson and it is said that
several of the passengers had but lit
tle to say on the way over.
ALASKA GIRL SENDS
SALMON TO PRESIDENT
_______
SEATTLE: Mias Joy Jennett. a
daughter of Alaska thought out by
herself and executed a splendid little
scheme and the express is carrying to
the President of the great United
StateB and the members of the Cabi
net, a product of Alaska. A large
“nugget” manufactured for the pur
pose out of of papier mache was for
warded to President Wilson and with
in this “nugget” is packed an Alaska
King salmon. A “gold brick" which
contains one salmon is being rushed
by express to the members of the
Cabinet.
—.—
MAY COME BACK
Measure to Warn Ameriacn off Arm
ed Merchantmen was Defeated
Through Party Iioyalty.
WASHINGTON. March 6. -Sen
ator Gore ami many other prominent
senators assert»that the tabling of
tbo resolution to warn American citi
zens from traveling on armed mer
chantmen of the belligerent nations
may not bo final asthe question can
be revived at any time.
Many of the senators who voted
against the resolution statet hat they
did so through party loyalty in order
toatford President Wilson an oppor
tunity of concluding negotiations
with the German government regard
ing the new submarine campaign of
tiie Teutonic nations against mer
chant vessels. I -.
senator am J. Stone of MiSr
soiiri, chairman of the Foreign rela
tions committee, has made public the
note sent tile leaders of the admin
istration during the conference on
Senator Gore’s statement that Presi
dent Wilson would welcome war wi h
Germany.
FOREIGN POLICY
DISTURBS TBAOE
German Investors in American Storks
Fear tit at War Between Coun
tries May Come Soon.
ZURICH, March 6.—-Advices from
Berlin are to the effect that a pan
icky day was experienced by the
traders In the Frankfort bourse fol
lowing the receipt of the report that
the American congress had defeated
the resolution to warn Americans off
/the armed merchantmen of the na
tions with which Germany it at war.
The holders of American securities
believe that the German government
will refuse to modify its new sub
marine campaign even at the risk of
causing a break in the diplomatic re
lations between the German and
American governments, which'might
eventually lead to war and the seiz
ure of ships interned in American
ports.
CABLESHIP BURNSIDE IS
WORKING ON THE CABLE
The government cableship Burn
side is reported to have reached the
place wljere the cable which connects
Valdez with the great outBide world
Ib broken and the line Is expected to
be in commission at any hour. The
break in the Seward cable, which was
repaired by the Burnside Saturday
morning, was found to have occurred
about half way between Valdez and
Seward. Advices received from the
Burnside via wireless to Wbltshed
state that stormy weather and a hea
vy sea is making the work Of grap
pling for the ends of the •ahi* a diffi
cult task.
Empress Theatre Dark Tonight.
No show at the Empress theatre
tonight, but Manager Pinkus says
that "Doolan’s Baby" will be there
tomorrow everting when a big two-,
hour show will be given. Only one
show, beginning at 8:10 sharp, Tues
day. 1
Would Establish New Federal Volun
teer Force to be Employed in
Munition Factories. .'
WASHINGTON. March 6.—Bill*
providing for an army increase never
before contemplated in times of peaoe
as well as navy bills, will be intro
duced in congress this week and wilt
mark the beginning of the fight for
the administration’s national defense.
Senator George E. Chamberlain ot
Oregon has prepared an army Wit
which will be presented to congress
today which provides for sweeping:
changes in the land forces of the na
tion .
The measure provides for the crea
tion of a federal volunteer peace-,
force which would become part ot
the regular army in case of emer
gency or when the nation was threat
ened by a foreign foe. The federal!
volunteers will receive military trains
ing and will be employed in the gov
ernment munition factories during,
their period of training, when they
would be placed oil the reserve list
to he called to the flag at any time.
The National Guards in the vari
ous states will also come under fed
eral control if their services are ro
ll Hired by the War Department. Sen-*
ator Chamberlain’s measure further
provides for increasing the regular
army to one hundred and seventy
thousand men.
STATEHOOD BILL
BE INTRODUCER
Delegate V. Observe Anniversary
of I'urchiist* of Alaska from Itns
sia by Asking Htatenood.
WASHINGTON, D. C.. March 6.—
Delegate Wiekorsham of Alaska has
announced that on March SO, tho an
niversary of the signing of tha treaty
hy which Alaska was transferred frerrr
Russia to the United States, introduce
a bill in Congress askiug that state
hood be granted to Alaska.
Delegate Wickersham also an
nounced that he is opposed to the ad
ministration bill providing for a clos
ed season for halibut in Decemher
and January and for a sanctuary for
breeding purposes for that species of
Ash. The bill was prepared by to*
Department of Commerce and intro
duced in the Senate by Charles FT
Johnson of Maine. Delegate Wickor
sham says that he sympathizes wrltfe
the purpose of the bill, but that hor
objects to the proposed measure »a
the ground that the legislation pro
posed is not sufficient.
KILLS OFFICE 1 WHO
. HID HIED Hill
OAKLAND, M.irch 0.—A police
officer of this city was murdered in
cold blood last Saturday evening by
a footpad whom he had arrested. Tbw
officer Was taking the man to JaiW
when he suddenly drew a revolver
which the officer had failed to flnfc
when the urisoner’s person warn
searched, ana Mnt the bullet thrw
his heart. The murderer escaped.
The freighter* tit the employ ot
Jim Wilson, the freighter, who ham
been attempting fo deliver supplisw
to the Miner*} Creek Mining com
pany’s ground near the head of Min
eral creek, have been forced to aban
don the attempt until the weather
moderates. They hav? made four at
tempts at breaking trail but ham
found it Impossible as the trails* fill,
in with snow as fast as broken.
The regular business meeting ot
the Eastern Star wfTl he held tomor
row evening, March 7th, at 8 o’clock.
HENRY COCKEIULLE, See.