Valdez Daily Prospector
PUBLISHED BY THE
Prospector Publishing Co.
TERMS.
Daily Prospector.
By carrier, per month.*1.00
By mall, per annum.10.00
The Weekly Miner.
By carrier, per month.* .40
By mall, per annum.. . 3.00
The Dally Prospoctor and Weekly Miner
By carrier to one address, per
month .... *1.25
The Dally Prospector and Weekly Min
er by mall to one address only, per
year .*12.50
Business OITice and Editorial Rooms.
’Phone 152.
Advertising Rates on Application.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913.
THE ALASKAN RAILWAY.
The following editorial appearel in
the New York Times of December
first:
Secretary of the Interior Lane
paints a glowing picture of the pros
pects of the Alaska railway for which
congress is to be asked to appropri
ate $35,000,000. The secretary "be
lieves” that this is the method which
will most surely open the resources
of Alaska to the world. It would be
interesting to know how many of the
bonds of the road he would buy on
the basis of his belief. The bonds
must be sold, of .course, and some
body must buy them. Not being an
issue for the purpose of government,
they ought to be based on the pros
pects of the property, rather than on
the general credit of the people.
If issued on that principle—as they
will not be—the rate of interest
would be that of other railways with
similar prospects, and the letter of
the secretary reads like any other
prospectus for a construction bond.
He has "talked” with many whom he
thinks well informed, and he is "con
vinced” that we should think of Alas
ka "as a land not only of mines and
fisheries, but of towns, mills and fac- ]
tories, supporting millions of peo
ple.” There will be millions of dol
lars in it, as well as millions of peo
ple. Representative Houston’s re
port reckons that the freight on coal
for a year’s supply of the Pacific fleet
in case of war would be $19,200,000.
He throws off naif on account of the
cheapening of freight by the Panama '
canal, and still the freight bill remains
$9,600,000. "Nearly the whole sum
may be saved by the construction of
the railroad provided for by this bill.”
As the cost is limited by law to
$35,000,000, and as nine millions would
pay the interest on, say, $225,000,000,
the work may as well begin at once. [
The country cannot afford to lose
the opportunity.
And yet we seem to remember that
Secretary Lane is not such a prophet
as he ought to be to warrant the ex- j
penditure of $35,000,000 on the faith
of his rainbows. The desperate con- .
dition of the railways of the country
is due to no man more than to hint
and his misjudgment of future con
ditions as to which he had a more
direct responsibility than regarding I
this Alaskan construction project.;
He roundly berated the railway man- ;
agers as "professional mourners,” bad :
business men, and no patriots, be- :
cause they took a different view of
the future from himself. Why, he
asked, should the railway managers
paint only in black? Why, when their
notes were coming due, should they
declare that their credit was deteri
orating? Why should they pick out
a few bad months and draw deduc
tions from them? His way was to
pick out a few prosperous roads and
argue from them regarding the oth
ers. “As for myself, I stand upon the
. prediction that there will be a cat
shortage by next October.” That
next October there were 110,000 idle
cars, and shortly after there were
330,000 idle.
Rainbows aside, the fact is that in
1900, the population of Alaska was
63,592, and in 1910 it was 64,366. It
may freely be admitted that the rate
of growth would have been greater
if it had not been hindered by the
policy which now makes it necessary
for the rest of the country to take
desperate risks and assume great bur
dens which private capital would have
assumed, if allowed. After the gov
ernment railway is built to the coal
mines, the coal will be no more ac
cessible than before. It will still be
unmined, and the cost of each and ev
ery ton will be burdened with the
cost of ties and rails over which it
must be transported before it can
move warships.
The same is true regarding the coal
of Pennsylvania. It is worth cents
in the earth, and 't costs consumers
dollars; therefore the trust must be
“busted.” But will the overthrow of
the trust cheapen coal? Will the
building of the Alaskan railway cheap
en freights to the navy? These are
not government problems, and it
I
[would be beter that the government
i should not meddle with them. Prices
I sometimes are too low, and some
! times too high. Seldom or never
do they please both buyer and seller.
The government should med He with
neither interest, but should keep the
market fair and open. If the govern
ment is going into the railway busi
n ss as part of the war power, new
terrors will be added to war. We
shudder to think what coal will cost
if mined and carried by the govern
ment on the precedent of the Pana
ma Railway. Its capitalization rivals
the greatest. Its rates are without
rival. Its methods are high-handed,
and without appeal or relief. Alaska
is doomed if that incubus is to be
fastened upon it.
BIG CfiHSw
THE JONA LISA
FLORENCE, Italy, Dec. 18.—Crowds
of people continue to view the beau
tiful painting, Mona Lisa, which is
on exhibition at the local art gal
lery. It is expected the picture will
be turned over by the authorities to
the representatives of the French
government and will be taken back
to the Louvre at Paris, from where
it was stolen. The police are un
able to secure any further confes
sions from the ex-convict Perguiaor
the other suspects now being held.
WEATHER RECORD.
Taken at 8:00 a. m. Snow is given
as depth on level, in inches.
Locations— Temp. Snow
Thursday, December 18, 1913.
Wortmans, cloudy, calm .. 50
Summit, cloudy, calm .... 7 8
Beaver Dam, cloudy, calm -10 38
Tonsina, clear, calm . -5 15
Copper Center, clear, calm 8
Gulkana, cloudy, calm ....-12 8
Hogans, clear, calm . 14
Paxsons, cloudy, calm. 0 20
Wednesday, December 17, 1913.
Wortmans, clear, calm .... 50
Summit, part cloudy, calm . 78
Beaver Dam, cloudy, ca m .-10 38
Tonsina, clear, calm . IS 15
Copper Center, clear calm 8
Gulkana, cloudy, calm ... 22 18
Hogans, clear, calm . 18
Paxsons, cloudy, calm .. . .-18 20
Weather Report.
Dec. 17, 1913.
Barometric Pressure .29.885
Temperature at 7 p. m.14
Maximum Temperature .18
Minimum Temperature . 4
Mean Temperature .11
Cloudy, light breeze, wind N. E.
eight miles. L. JONES.
Dressmaking.
Miss Gunther wishes to announce
to the ladies’ of Valdez that she has
taken apartments over Plant & Co.’s
jewelry store and is now prepared to
do all kinds of plain and fancy dress
making. tf
Masonic Notice.
Special communication of Valdez
Lodge No. 168 at Masonic hall Friday
evening at 8 o’clock. Work in the
third degree. Visiting brothers wel
come. C. C. REYNOLDS, Sec’y
Telegraphic dispatches from Ernie
Wheat and Albert Sullivan, who are
aboard the steamer Northwestern,
were received yesterday from Skag
way telling friends and relatives^here
that both these Valdez citizens, now
on their way to the state in the
hope of regaining their health, had
greatly improved on the sea voyage.
F. M. Butterworth, the civil engi
neer and surveyor, left on the Ala
meda with a crew of men to do the
annual assessment work on the
Horseshoe bay property of the Rey
nolds Alaska Development company.
Holiday Novelties.
Harvey’s Toggery is showing a fine
line of holiday novelties.
LOCAL BREVITIES.
Hubby, don’t forget to buy me one
of the pretty Parisian Ivory Toilet
Sets at the Valdez Drug Co.—Wifey.
Nothing more appropriate than a
box of Lowney’s dainty candies as a
Christmas gift. Valdez Drug Store.
Buy one of the nifty combination
purse and card cases at the Val
dez Drug Store.
Fine watch and jewelry repairing
all work guaranteed. H. V. Hern
don, wit£ Owl Drug Co.
The prevailing fad is Parisian Ivory
Toilet Articles. A handsome line is
being shown at the Valdez Drug Co.’s
stpre. ,
A' half mile of track and a tram car
will be installed to reach the Qarnet
ledge, down near Wrangell.
j NAMED BY MISTAKE.
| That It What Happened to Three of
Vermont’s Towns.
It Is not often that a town is named
by mistake, but about ICO years ago
this thing happened—not to one town,
but to three towns in Vermont. At
that time a grant of land was made by
New Hampshire to some Connecticut
settlers. This tract then, asf now, was
divided into three townships—Burling
ton, on the hlllMlde of Lake Cham
plain; Colchester, Just north, and Wll
. Ilston. east. The three towns were
■ chartered on the same day, and It was
, at tlds time that the names were
| mixed.
■ The Burling family took up their
i land in the north section (Colchester),
| und it seems to be true that their name
was to have been given the town, so
that it should have been called Bur
i lington. Other settlers took up the
eastern portion (Williston), and the
rest remained in the part by the lake
(Burlington). Among these last was
j the Willis family, and there is evidence
! that they expected to call the city Wil
| listen. However, there was so much
confusion in the entering of the rec
\ ords that tile town where the Burlings
j settled was called Colchester, the town
of the Willis family was named Bur
lington. while the town to the east was
colled Williston. And so they have
remained to this day.—Ladles’ Home
Journal.
ORIGIN OF BLACKMAIL
The Term Was Born of Outlawry on
the Scottish Border.
The etymology of the expression
“blackmail” Is historically Interesting.
It appears to have Its origin on the
Scottish border and dating from times
when frequent political feuds between
the then two kingdoms of the British
islands tncitl.v justifled a sort of per
ennial terrestrial buccaneering as be
tween borderers of each realm.
Many of these were outlaws on both
sides of the border. Their neighbor
Ing victims to save their cattle from
being lifted sometimes compounded for
safety by an animal payment as insur
ance to tile bandits. This fee not only
gave them immunity, but entailed
them to protect them from rival free
booters. it was their “mail,” or ‘‘pro
tection.’' The “mail” coach was so
named because it had Its armed guard
with loaded blunderbuss on the dickey
But the mail paid by border farmers
was not for honest royal protection,
but for guardianship by thieves, and
lienee was “black" mail, the color of
black being typical of wbat was nefa
rious. whether in art or in guardian
ship, while the guardian of this stamp
was known as the “blackguard" of the
district. The last named latter day
term of reproach seems to have oh
tnined its expression originally ns here
described.—London Field.
Marry and Part For a Year.
Among the many peculiar customs
prevalent among the people of Central
America is that of parting for one year
after the marriage ceremony lias been
solemnized. This custom has prevailed
among the Jarnos from time immemo
rial. There is no courtship allowed to
he carried on between the parties prior
to the wedding. When a man selects
a woman lie obtains the consent of tile
parents on both sides, and if this is
given they are at once married. The
reason, however, for their not living
together as man and wife for one year
after marriage is in order to permit of
the parties visiting aud staying with
their respective friends in different
parts of the country, which is a cus
tomary thing and occupies the time
specified Ninety-nine out of a hun
dred of these marriages turn out well
Ways of Burmese Beauties.
lusteud of a coming out party as we
know it, the Burmese girl’s eutrauee
into society begins when she has her
ears pierced As soon after this as she
feels inclined she selects a husband
and goes to live in a home of lier own.
The home is provided by the man, but
it becomes his wife’s as soon as they
are married All women, young and
old. are addicted to the use of tobacco.
The women seem to prefer tlie very
large size black cigar. Often one meets
u woman on the streets of a village
with one of these huge cigars in her
mouth and iwo or three more stuck in
llie holes ol each ear.
The Cosmic Law.
There Is neither waste nor econ
omy in nature. Energy is as inde
structible as matter—no trace of waste
anywhere, no economy. Nature does
not use ii fraction more than necessary
uor less. The two words "waste" 'and
"economy” cannot apply to the stu
pendous cosmic Inw. the conservation
of energy.-Edgar Lucies Larkin in
New York American.
No Luxuries.
"Any Insanity in your family?" ask
ed the life Insurance man.
“No," replied Farmer Corntossel. “1
couldn't afford to hire any alienist- If
our boy Josh gets Into any trouble
we’ll Jes’ have to admit that, he’s
plain foolish.”—Washington Star.
A Quick Switch.
.lack (studying 'geogiaphyi-Father,
what is a strait? Father (reading the
pnperi—Five cards of a—that Is, a nar
row strip of water connecting two lar
ger bodies.
• Classified.
First Freak—My - engagement ends
tonight. Second Freak—Does It? First
Freak-Yes Next week I’ll be what
you might call an idle curiosity.—Puck
A face that cnnnot smile Is Btvsr
good—Martial.
Copyright Hart Schaffher 8c Marx
....OUR LINE OF....
Holiday Goods
Is the largest ever
shown in town.
There is no better Xmas Present
for a Manfthan
Hart, Schaffner & Marx
Fine Suit or'Overcoat
We are 'showing all Jhe latast
Styles and Colors.
WE ARE SOLE AGENTS
Light and Power
Since the organization of the
Valdez
Electric
Company
“ Valdez consumers are getting
electric current at a reduction of
forty per cent in rates.
Support the new company and
keep rales down to bedrock.
Office in Copper* Block
Phone |57
MILK—MILK—MILK
Fresh”Milk and Cream
VALDEZ DAIRY
Telephone order* to Phone 187
Schedule of the Donaldson.
The following schedule for the
launch “Lieut. C. V. Donaldson” will
take effect today. All orders lo the
contrary are revoked.
Daily, Saturday and Sunday except
ed:
Leave Fort L.scuni. Alaska, 8:15 a.
m. and 1:15 p. m.
Leave Valdez, Alaska, 9:45 a. in., 2
p. ni. tind 5:30 p. m.
Tuesdays:
Leave Fort Liscum, Alaska, 8:15 a.
m., 1:15 p. m. and 5 p. m.
Leave Valdez, Alaska, 9:45 a. in.,
2 p. m. and 5:30 p. m.
Saturdays:
Leave Fort Liscum, Alaska, 1:15 p.
in. and 7 p. m.
Leave Valdez, Alaska, 4:00 p. m.
and 10:30 p. m.
There will be no trips for the
launch on the 2nd and 4th Fridays
of each month, these days being us
ed to clean boilers.
Special trips or cancelling of the
above will be made without notice
only to meet exigencies of the ser
vice.
By order of Lieut. Col. O'Neil.
K. G. SHERRARD,
Second Lieut. 30th Infantry, Quar
termaster.
He Would Divide.
“Yes," said the eminent specialist
to the tramp who had called upon
him, “I will examine you carefully for
ten dollars."
“All right. Doc,” said the tramp re
signedly, “do dat, an' if you find it
I’ll give you half.”
Get your wife or girl a set of furs
at Blum’s.
Prospectors,
Don’t neglect your^health on the trail.
The VALDEZ DRUG CO.
is prepared to fill your medicine kit..
with the purest and best of drugs,
medicines, and surgical bandages.
TAZLINA HILL ROAD HOUSE
is open for freight and accommodations for the new
strike at Nelchina—Hortei on hand at all times.
JAMES L. SIMPSON.
PROFESSIONAL
Dr. H. COCKERILLE
Graduate of National University
Washington, D. C.
DENTIST
Phone 92 IFeurteen years!in
Office in Whaling building VALDEZ
Next to cable office
DR. GERMAN
Phone IS* THE DENTIST
Ollier rooms over Owl Druti store. Olboe hours
>1 a. in., to 6 p. in . 7 |>. m.. to 9 p. in. Sundays
by appointment All work iimiranteed
DR. C. H. VANCE
THE
OSTEOPATH
Graduate American School of
Osteopathy. Kikrsville. Mo.
OFFICE HOURS-t I. It ItoSp. ■„ or by
ipfontscil •
Treat kaiUiac, Wall Ttraet. PHONE 203
F. BUTTERWORTH
JCivil Engineer ul
U. S. Deputy Lund and
Mineral Surveyor
Blue Printing Kes Phone. IK*
Geo. f. white _
The Assayer
Assaying and Ore Testing
CORRECT RESULTS
No More, No Less
VALDEZ. ALASKA ^
L. IV. STORM. E. M.
Sereert on Mines
We rear Stitt rare
Qanaaat Minin* Snainaanmn
Wnona Wo. ion
C E. BUNNELL
ATTORNEY-AT-I. AW
Offices Wall Street
Phoue 3i VALDEZ
E. E. RITCHIE
I. A W Y K K
I'HONlOz# Valdez, Alaxka
CAMP VALDEZ No. 10
Meet every Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock In
Eagle Hall. All members are requested f
intend. * T. <}. QCINN. An tic Chit*
S. MCNIKCE. Secret*!*
Valdez Lodge
No 168.
free anil Accented Masons
Regular Communications Brat Wednesday is
each month in McKinley Hall Visitors always
welcome.
James H 1’atierson.. W. M
O. C- Remolds. 9ec- *
VALDEZ LODGE NO. 6,1.0. 0. F
Meets every Monday at»t>. m in
ODD FKLLOW8 HALT.
Visiting Brothers especially invited
WuTHOMAS: n. o. P. SHOP"' r. c »■«
HUGO FELS
Contractor ini Builder
Day Work if DtairW
EaMaaatos Furaiskcd
WORK GUARANTEED