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VOLUME 3, NO. 3 VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1904, OFFICIAL CITY PAPER.
No Shortage
Id Our Stock
We are told some of the miners and prospectors
now outfitting are kicking. They say they can’t
get what they want. The real trouble is they
started wrong. They unfortunately got in the
wrong place.
WE HAVE GOT THE GOODS.
and lots of them too. If you want a complete
outfit COME TO US.
A. L. LEVY & CO.
Good Goods.
Medicine for the trail.
Snow glasses.
Location Notices.
P. O. DRUG STORE.
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P. E. Kern,.
Gold and Silver Smith.
Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Optical
Goods, Sterling Silverware, Fine Watch Re
pairing and Nugget Jewelry a Specialty. Cut
Glass and Lamps.
SKAGWAY and VALDEZ ALASKA
City Market
NEXT TO MERCHANT’S CAKE.
PRICES ARE
RIGHT
Wholesale and
Retail Dealers
GIVE US A
CALL
Beef, Mutton, Pork
Poultry and Game.
Turkey Active.
War in the Balkans is predicted.
Taking advantage of the Russian
preoccupation in the far East, Tur
key is preparing for war with the
Bulgarians. It is learned that a
march into Bulgarian territory is
likely soon to be made.
The Dowager Empress of China
died on the 19th of February.
The snow fall for the present
month of February up to date as
recorded at Fort Liscuin was just
five inches, which is probably the
lowest record yet taken in this vi
cinity.
Carrol At Copper Center.
SpCCllkl to the I'KOftFECTOft.
Copper Center, Feb. 23—Jack
Carrol and partner arrived today
from the Shuahitna. They are well
pleased with the country and will
return at once with a summer’s
outfit. They report the trail in
good condition.
We are reliably informed that
through the courtesy of Stephen
Birch, general manager of the Al
aska Copper Co., all the samples of
ores from their properties in their
New York office, have been placed
at the disposal of the managers of
I the Alaska exhibit at Ht. Louis.
On a Solid Baaia.
The boom clays of Alaska arc
i past now, according to ('apt. I). H.
Jarvis, collector of custom*, and 1
business in all lines has settled
down to a stable basis. Notwith
standing this, however, the receiptsj
show that the country is pros-1
paring in all lines, and each yearj
shows u substantial increase over
the previous year.
“The figures show that the year
1902 fell a little short of 1901.”
Said Capt. Jarvis, “but in my opin
ion" 1902 was one; of the best years
Alaska ever had. It marked tlu*
passing of the boom when men ex
pected to make u fortune in a few
days, and the country is now being
developed to some purpose in all
lines. The figures for the year just
pust are not yet made up, but I
know that they will show an in
crease over the previous year. I
intend to have the figures for the
last year published just as soon as
they are compiled, for I think they
will show better than anything
else how the country is prospering.
“There is little or no smuggling
l»eing carried on in Alaska now.
There is some whisky smuggled in
and always will he I suppose, hut
nothing hig in that line, for there
is no money in the business now
I have forty men under me in the
the summer time, and they cover
the district fairly well. The coun
try is so in mense, however, that
it is next to im possible to stamp
out smuggling altogether.
“The Alaska people are taking a
great deal of interest in the Alaska
exhibit at the St. Louis fair. They
all regret, however, that the short
time to get the exhibit ready and
the small appropriation available
for the purpose will prevent getting
as fine an exhibit as could other
wise be collected. The resources of
Alaska are so varied and such a
splendid showing could be made in
almost any line that the exhibit is
certain to prove an interesting one,
despite the handicap of lack of
time and money.”
If anyone should ask you, just
tell them its The Oi*timo.
RECENT ARRIVALS BRING
GOOD NEWS
Benches Producing Good Dumps
of Rich Gravel This
Winter.
Last Saturday John Kncder, Billy
I* urness and \V. Anderson arrived
in town from the Xizina. Their
trail led down the Chittynn and
Copper to the mouth of the Tnz
nuna, then up that river and over
Marshall's pass to Valdez. It is a
trip of alioiit '200 miles, and they
had to snowshoe it all the way, as
they were the only ones on that
trail, all oth rs going by way of
Tonsina.
• he three men went in last
spring anil remained till now, and
were forced to come out for want of
grub. They bring out the inform
ation that the Williams brothers,
f'ol Rain. Hubert and Geo. Lincoln
have lieen working all winter on
Dan creek, and have demonstrated
the fact that the diggings can be
worked with profit all year round.
They are drifting in on the benches,
beginning at the rim rock, and
are building up a large dump to he
washed in the spring, and are pick
up a considerable number of good
sized nuggets that will run from
Id up. They are all well satisfied
with the results and will stay at
the work without coming out this
spring, which they will he able to
do as Dan Rain is sending' in a
good outfit to them.
Christmas the boys on Dan creek
had visitors from the White river.
Last season a number of pro*i>ec.
ors who left here for Nizina contin
ued on over Scoli pass to the White
river, where they spent the sum
mer prospecting and the winter in
hunting and trapping. In the lat
ter occupation they are having rare
success. At Christmas they had a
large, fine collection of fox and
martin skins. They are all well
and comfortable, with plenty to eat,
and in the spring will resume their
prospecting trip through the White
river country. These are the men
Bratnober reported as dying of
starvation last summer.
New Bills.
A bill has been prepared provid
ing for the filing of the articles of
incorporation of companies in Alas
ka with the clerks of the district
court, by whom one copy of the
triplicate articles are to be forward
ed to the secretary of the district.
This will enable parties in the var
ious judicial districts to learn with
greater facility what the article of
incorporation of the various com
panies contain, ns under the pres
ent arrangements it is necessary to
go to-Sitka for fhat purpose, or to
send there for a certified copy of
the articles of inc rporation.
Another bill with reference to
Alaska matters provides for the
presenting of appeals and writs of
error from the district court of
Alaska before the court of appeals
for the niath circuit in the state of
Washington. This is for the ac
commodation of a majority of peo
ple of Alaska, and will obviate the
necessity of their going to 8au
Francisco. It is left discretionully
with the court to state in what city
or what cities these appeals will be
heard.
The department has continued
the Tanana mail contract of Jas.
Fish lor two additional trip* in
May.
The war news for the past week
is very indefinite, Wing mostly ru
mors of complications with the
Kuro]<ean |H»wers. All re|s>rts from
the scene of war seem to In- in
favor of the Japs.
It is reported that 17 Russian
officers and 439 men were killed
when the Variagand Korieiitz were
destroyed at Chemulpo.
\ icerov Alexieff has determined
to fall hack on Harbin as a base of
the great army. Thisstcp is taken
in view of the ditlieulty of protect
ing the line of communication 1200
miles long, that is, the Manchurian
railway. The line has Wen kept
open to far, hut as Port Arthur is
able to withstand a long siege with
out communication with the base,
no further attempt will'be made to
keep the line open.
The concentration of troops in
Manchuria is systematically pro
ceeding and in 12 days the Russians
will have an army of 400,000 men
in tliut section.
The French appear to he stretch
ing a point in favor of the Russians
by allowing the latter to use a
French port on the Reti sea as a
base of rendezvous for her fleet.
The British foreign office is uneasy
regarding the outlook. In Paris
wild excitement prevails as a result
of startling reports of |>ossihlc com
plications. These reports include
the prospective mobilization of the
(Sermau and French armies, and
difficulties Ik*tween Russia and the
United States over the refusal of
Russia to recognize Mi. Morgan as
U. S. Consul at Dalny.
The coast artillery, war ships
and torpedo floats of Sweden and
Denmark have been ordered to pre
pare tor active service. Spain’s
military is being put in readiness
for action as a result of the rejKirt
ed intention of England to seize
Spanish ports in case of a conti
nental war.
The Japanese Steamer Xakonous
was sunk by a Russian cruiser on
the 11th. Civilians have Ih*cii or
dered from Vladivostock owing to
scarcity of food. The government
is taking everything available.
It is reported that Japanese and
Russian outposts on the Yalu river
have been engaged, the hitter losing
2500 men.
The Council.
The council took up the water
works franchise of Mr. Hielscher
Monday, and after considerable
discussion laid it on the table. The
ordinance as drawn up was not sat
isfactory to the majority of the
members, and while they all favor
public improvements and see the
necessity of fire protection, they
could not see their way clear to
grunt the franchise until it was
modified in several particulars.
There are hut two more meetings
of the present council, the new
hoard taking their seats the second
Monday in March.
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Arthur Olson, Oscar Olson and
Bob Speck took their last loads
and left town on Wednesday hound
for the Shushitnu, wlire they have
some valuable property. They
will work together and hire all the
help they can get to open up and
develop their claims this season.
The Olson Brothers’ carpenter shop
will be closed for the season.
Proposals will be received by the
Second Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral until May 24, for )>erforining
star route service from Valdez to
Tanana.two round trips each month I
from Oct. 1 to May 31, each year,
starting Oct. 0)04 and ending May,
lOOti. Running time 20 days, and
weight limit 400 pounds a trip each
way. Bond of $35,000 required.
Blanks and information can be ob
tained from Alvah Games, chief
clerk, R. M. S., Valdes.
John Borud, Andrew Nelson and
Chas. Nolen leave tomorrow for
Slate. |
l VALDEZ DRINKS FIR8T HOKE
BREW
Imported From Se
. attle. e
On last Saturday the Valdes
brewery was formally opened for
i business. An invitation was ex
pended to everyone in town to be
; present for the house warming, and
nearly every one attended. Tim
pri sklent of the company, Dr. Von
j Ounther, officiated, and succeeded
i in giving tlie guest n warm recep
j tion though the beer was at juet the
j right temperature.
1 lie first object that caught the
eve ami appetite of the visitor upon
entering was an elalairate lunch of
a variety suitable for the occasion.
As this was partaken of the real
article was served up in schooners,
ami eacli schooner elicited a world
of praise for the man with ability
suilicient to produce such a super
ior article. There was no limit to
the amount of beer served, and as
one got his till those who were ahlo
made a tour of the premises to in
spect the works. Mr. Reiniger, tho
brewmaster, was on band toexpluin
every tiling.
The building contains three
floors, and each contains enormous
wooden tanks, excepting the space
occupied by grain bins and the
boiler room. Most people wlm are
laboring under the impression that
we are living in a oold, icy climate,
will lie surprised to learn that one
of the very necessary adjuncts of
the Valdez brewery is a freezing
machine. The brewery is complete
throughout, the tanks are filled,
and have been for some time, but
no U>er was issued till it required
the necessary age to make it lager.
It is now a refreshing, foaming bev
erage, and kept on tap in all the
saloons and restaurants in town,
it will he shipped to points along
the coast on each steamer.
The opening day was a holiday
of the real (ierman style, when
everyone had all they wanted and
none took more than they should.
Who Issued The Instructions.
“And vet there is a man here in
Washington who is said to hail
from Valdez as a paid representa
tive of the (teople there and who
claims to he specially deputized to
see to it that a law he passed by
the Congress making assessment
work upon mining claims in Alaska
in no wise obligatory for the hold
ing of claims indefinitely. It is
not likely that in results he will
earn his wage, but he offers an il
lustration of how widely men differ
concerning Alaskan affairs—evin
Alaskans-and suggests how diffi
cult it must be for Congress to
agree upon a measure to please its
|>eople.
l lie above is an extract from the
Washington correspondence of the
San Francisco Call. The state
ment will lie a surprise to everyone
here. Last fall we sent a repre
sentative to Washington to work
for the wagon road, and absolutely
nothing else. The people of Val
dez feel tliat without a road the
mines, land or laws are of little use
to them, and tliey instructed their
representative to devote his energy
to fighting for wagon road legisla
tion. It is to be hoped that our
representative will eousider the
wishes of the people who selected
him and leave all other Alaskan
legislation alone.
The A- Be. will meet hereafter on
Tuesday night instead of Monday.