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VOLUME UV. VALDEZ, ALASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1917 NUMBER 4
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ARE PROBING
ALLEGED LEAK
c
18 IN HANDS RULES COMMITTEE
f'
Sensation Created When Congress
man Taylor of New York Asserted
Rumor Connected Name Bernard
Baruch With Leak.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 4 —
The investigation of Representative
Wood into the alleged leak regarding
the German peace proposal, where
by speculators, it is asserted, were
able to clear millions in Wall street,
has been referred to the Committee
on Rules, and that committee is ex
pected to make its report in about
ten days.
A sensation was created here in
* connection with the alleged leak,
when Congressman Bennett, of New
,-iyYork, asserted on the floor of the
House that rumor connected tH%
name of Bernard Baruch, a member
of the Council on National Defense.
[ with the alleged leak as the inform
dKnt. It^is reported that he sold short
steel stocks and profited heavily
on the drop.
I _ _
GWIACH
: IS EXAGGERATED
pAY BRITISH MISREPRESENT
Turkish Official Assert El Arish
Voluntarily Evacuated Without
Fighting—British Had to Give up
Position at Magdliaba.
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CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 4. —
Turkish officials charge that the Brit
ish have willfully exaggerated their
victory at El Arish. They assert that
the Turkish forces voluntarialy
abandoned the position, practically
without resisteuce. They also state
that the British lost by the change,
as they have been, compelled to fall
back from Magdhaba when they oc
cupied El Arish. *' ■**
CHAMBER1 SENDS MESSAGE
OF SYMPATHY TO VALDEZ
Yesterday the following telegram
cl~sympathy for the loss sustained
by tbe recent fire was received by
Dr. S. Wickes Merritt, president of
the Valdez Chamber of Commerce,
from the Alaska Bureau of the Se
attle Chamber of Commerce:
‘We wish to extend to the people
of Valdez our Binceve sympathy in
t.Le serious loss that has befallen
them. We sincerely hope that the
con flagration may not be as exten
sive as now reported, and that the
buildings destroyed may be replaced
by more substantial structures.
In reply to this message Dr. Mer
rit and Secy. Jones sent the follow
ing:
“Telegram greatly appreciated.
Damage less than at first reported.
Blow a severe one, but not irrepar
able. Stocks ordered and temporary
quarters occupied by awected mer
chants. Will rebuild as soon as pos
sible. Residence section no* involv
ed; food supply ample, no casualties.
Ready for Bui aess
Mrs. Winter announces that her
stock is now completely arranged and
the store is again in position to at
tend to the needs of patrons in her
line.
v
-An attempt was made this after
noon to open the big vault of the
First Bank of Valdez. Notwithstand
ing the intense heat to which the
vault had beien subjected the combi
/ nation was easily worked, but the
bolts were apparently warped and re
fused to be withdrawn. It is prob
able that the steel door will have to
be cut to permit entrance.
1 . ' 1 • 1 ■—
Malcolm Brock, manager of the
Blum, O’Neil store at Cordova, who
came upon the last boat to consult
with Mr. Blum, left on the Alameda
to return to Cordova.
GOTHAM POLICE NAVY’S STATION HOUSE
Photo by American Press Association.
The navy of New York’s police department consists of three patrol boats armed with rapid fire guns. To this
fleet has been added a floating police station house two stories high.
SAYS WILSON
KNOWS TERMS
ARE NOW IN HIS POSSESSION
Count Andreassy, the Former Prem
ier of Hungary, Says l»resident
Knows Terms upon Which Teutons
Will Make Peace.
LONDON, Jan. 4.—A report from
Budapest, received through neutral
sources, states that Count Andreassy,
the former Hungarian Premie.*,
makes the assertion that President
Wilson, of the United States, already
knows the German peace terms. He
says the complete statement of the
terms and conditions upon which the
Central Powers are willing to nego
tiate for peace have been forwarded
to President Wilson and are now in
bis possession.
MASS MEETING AT
CITY HALL TONIGHT
A mass meeting, called by Mayor
Patterson, will be held at 8 o’clock
this evening in the city hall for the
iurpose of considering the advisabil
ity of raising and offering a substan
tial reward for information leading
to thp* arrest and conviction of the
party or parties'who started the con
flagration on Tues'day morning I'
is hoped that a large numt^r of the
townspeople will be in a&tendahc^and
that a full expression of opinion on
the matter will be forthcoming.
FARM CROP VALUES
REACH HIGH MARK
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 4.—All
records for values of Improved farm
products of the United States have
been broken this year despite the fact
that smaller crops were raised. The
total value is $7,641,609,000, which
is $1,750,000,000 more than last
year.
Alameda Sails South.
The steamship Alameda came in
from the westward about 1 o’clock
this afternoon and after a short stay
sailed for Cordova. Prom that place
she will take the outside passage dir
ect for Seattle. The passengers book
ed from Valdez were Leigh Noderer,
A. W. Krampitz, Chris Tjosevig for
Seattle; Emma Ewing, Martin El
lingson, Alex Lerow, J. H. Ingram,
C. C. Howard and A. Johnson for
Cordova.
Rumanians Regain Ground
PETROGRAD Jan. 4.—Advices re
ceived from the Rumanian front
state that the Rumanians have re
gained and are holding ground in the
Kasino district, near the Hungarian
frontier. In the Tatroch valley the
enemy’s artillery 1b active. North and
south of the Oituz the Austrians wero
repulsed with heavy losses.
Rumanians Defeated
BERLIN. Jan. 4.—The Teutons are
preparing for a strong offensive
against Moldavia, and have stormed
several strong positions in the Hary.i
district. The Rumanians made a
strong resistence, but were defeated
at all points.
8. BLUM WILL LEAVE
FOR VALDEZ ON THE 8TH
Word was received here today that
Mr. S. Blum will leave for Valdez on
the 8th. inst., in company with the
adjuster for the insurance companies.
Until Mr. Blum’s arrivel it will not
.be known just what style of build
ing will be erected by the company.
But it is now certain that the struc
ture will be larger and better than
ihe building destroyed by the recent
fire. The company was fortunate in
that it had just completed taking
stock and it is believed that the in
surance will be easily adjusted.
VALDEZ RECEIVES
CONGRATULATIONS
SEATTLE SENDS BEST WISHEC
McPherson, Manager of Alaska Bu
reau of Seattle Chamber, Expresses
Hope for lh’osiierity and Develop
ment of the Territory.
___
Dr. S. Wickes Merritt, President of
j he Valdez Chamber of Commerce, re;
ceived on January 1, the following
greeting from J. L. McPherson of the
Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Cham
ber of Commerce, extending best
wishes for the prosperity qf the coun
try: > ‘t * ' ’
"To people* of Valdez and vi
cinity the Alaska Bureau of the Se
attle Chamber of Commerce extends
best wishes for the year of Alaska’s
semi-centennial, that it may b-i one of
unequalled prosperity in the develop
ment of your rich resources.
In reply Dr. Merritt answered as
follows:
“On behalf of the Valdez Chamber
of Commerce, I offer you and your
co-workers the compliments of the
season, with appreciation of your tel
egram and pledges of support of all
efforts for our mutual advantage."
GERMAN PRINCE IS
KILLED IN ACTION
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 4.—Berlin
newspapers received here state that
Prince Frederick of Fuerstenberg,
has been killed In action in Rumania.
Country Gets Present
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4.—A Christ
mas gift of “the Bivouac” formerly
the home of General Harrison Gray
Otis, president and general manager
of the Los Angeles Times, was pres
ented to the country today by Gen
eral Otis for use as an art gallery.
The board of supervisors, by unani
mous accepted the gift. The property
valued at $150,000, is situated op
posite one of the city parks. The re
strictions require the front of the
resident shall not be changed during
the life of General Otis and that the
granite replica of the Times build
ing, destroyed October 1, 1910, by
an explosion, shall not be dlstrubed.
Superintendent J. H. Ingram, of
the Alaska Road Commission left this
afternoon for Chitlna with Martin
Ellingson, Alex Lerow, C. C. Howard
and A. Johnson to make preparation
for the next season’s work of the
commission.
HITCHCOCK IS
TURNED DOWN
ACTION RESOLUTION DEFERRED
Lively Tilt Occurs Between Hitch
cock, Borah and Ijodge Over Reso
lution Approving Course of Presi
dent on German Note.
_>
WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan.f4.—
Senator Hitchcock’s resolution ap
proving the action of President Wil
son In regard to the German peh. e
proposal was again called up in tl e
Senate, but action was deferred A
spirited tilt occurred between Hitch
cock and Borah and Lodge, ovei tiie
resolution. Lodge made a strong at
tack oa the note of approval from the
German Ambassador Von Bernstorff,
which was printed in the various
1 ewspapers throughout the country.
BURNED AND BURIED
HIMSELF FOR $7,500
PLAlNVIEW, Tex.. Jan. 4.—J. A.
Morgan, on trial here for fraud and
arson, confessed yesterday that, in
endeavoring to outwit the insurance
company to collect $7,500 life insur
ance, he had placed the bones of a
calf in his house, setting it on flic
afterwards. When Morgan’s house
was destroyed last November, some
60 old bones which were found in the
ruins were buried as his.
He was sentenced to eight years in
the penetentiary.
"BUFFALO BILL” IS
GETTING BETTER
DENVER, Colo., Jan. 3.—The con
dition of Col. William F. Cody (Buf
falo Bill) ill at the home'Tiere of his
daughter, Mrs. May Decker, last
night was said to be somewhat im
proved, Col. Cody has been suffering
from a nervous breakdown, aggra
vated by a severe cold, for about ten
days. Attending physicians said re
covery was assured within a few days
unless he suffers a relapse.
COLOMBIANS BUYING
MUNITIONS IN JAPAN
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TOKIO, Jan. 4.—Col. Carpio and
other representatives of Colombia,
are purchasing armB and amunition.
They have also purchased the thirty
ton steamer Kotchira.
Liquor Shipments Too Heavy
BALTIMORE, Jan. 4.—The Christ
mas demands for liquor of various
kinds for the “dry” states of Virginia
and the Carolinas has swamped tlu
express companies from this city
which serve these sections. Two • f
the companies imposed an embargo
in liquor shipments at noon yester
day until 9 a. m. today with the view
cf relieving the congestion.
College for Cops
OAKLAND, Cal., Jan. 3.—A pol
iceman’s college will be opened In
Berkeley in 1917. Chief of Police
August Vollmer will direct the new
institution, the only one of its k'nd
on the Pacific Coast, which has a
facility of fourteen men, prominent
hs lawyers, physicians and educators.
WILL KEEP ACCURATE
WEATHER INFORMATION
Instruction have been received
from the Federal Bureau office at Se
attle, by Myrtle F. Billings, the
weather observer here, to send out
two weather reports daily from this
time on, one to be taken at 7 a. m.
and another at 7 p. m. These in
structions are for the purpose of fur
nishing the government with accu
rate detailed reports of the weather
conditions in the north in conneclior
with the meterologicai stations re
cently established in the north, with
headquarters in Juneau.
HOPEFUL PEACE
»
CONVICTION WAR TO CONTINUE
Universal Belief Time is Not Ripe—
Newspapers Urging Continuance of
War in Answer to Scornful Reply
of the Allies.
LONDON, Jan. i.—Advices re
ceived here from Amsterdam state
that the almost universal opinion pre
vails in Germany that peace at this
time is impossible, and the newspap
ers ate strongly championing a con
:inuance of the struggle untii such
time as the Entente nations are in
ja more receptive attitude. The Vos
isiche Zeitung urges the German gov
ernment to answer the scornful reply
of the allies to the German peace pro
posal on the battlefield.
HARDING NAMED
GOVERNOR CANAL
TO SUCCEED COL. GOETHALS
President Wilson Nominates Lieut
enant Harding, the Present Acting
Governor to Governorship of Pana
ma Canal Zone.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 4.—
President Wilscn today nominated
Lieutenant Colonel Harding, for the
office of governor of the Panama Can
al Zone. Cel. Harding is at present
acting governor, during the absence
of Col. Goethals, who is at present
in the States.
EXPRESS APPRECIATION
FOR EFFICIENT WORK
A deserved expression of apprecia
tion for prompt and efficient service
is voiced in the following resolution
passed at a special meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce last night and
addressed to Wm. Thomas, chief of
the Valdez Fire Department:
“On behalf of the Valdez Chamber
of Commerce and our fellow citizens,
we wish to extend to your department
and the numerous volunteers who so
ably assisted, our appreciation of the
cplendid and efficient manner in
which the recent fire, which did such
extensive damage to the business dis
trict, was extinguished. Such heroic
work and faithful devotion to dutv
and the interests of others are com
mendable of the highest praise and
sincere appreciation of all residents.”
Postoffice in V. M. Store.
For the present the postofflce will
be located in the Valdez Mercantile
building in the rear of the store.
This arrangement will be merely tem
porary until such time as other ar
rangements can be made to place the
office in quarters of its own.
Big Oil Deal Closed
TULSA. Okla., Jan. 4.—Oil sales
in which $12,000,000 changed hands
were announced heretoday. The Ok
lahoma Producing & Refining com
pany and the Crystal Oil Company
purchased the Hominy district lease,
which has a daily production of 12,
000 barrels, for $6,000,000. Another
$6,000,000 was paid by the Sinclair
interests for the Tidal Oil company’s
holdings in the Hominy pool.
V
COMMISSION TO
BE TERMINATES
WITHDRAW AMERICAN TROOPS
Reported Soldiers Will be Brought
Back Across tbe l.ine and Diffe
ences Settled by Some Form of
Discussion.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 4 —
Secretary of the Interior Lane held
a conference with President Wilson
last evening, following which it was
announced that the Mexican members
of the Mexican Commission were
planning to make a statement to the
President. It is reported that the ad
ministration is planning to terminate
the commission negotiations, with
draw the American troops from Mexi
co, and to settle the differences be
tween the United States and Mexico
through some form of discussion, not
yet definitely determined upon.
POSSIUS CASE
NOW ON TRIAL
SPECIAL VENIRE IS DRAWN
Damage Case Against the Kllamar
Mining Company Now Refnre the
District Court—Action for Per
sonal injuries.
The damage suit of Possius vs. El
lamar Mining Company came up for
trial in the district court this morn
ing before Judge Bunnell. Thomas
Hunt, the holdover juryman and a
special venire of twenty men, com
posed of Dan Ross, Rudolph Schmidt,
C. H. Kraemer, L. F. Washburn, A.
Von Gunther, E. A. Sweet, H. J.
Mitchell, E. P. Cashman, C. P. Top
liff, E. Rucker, S. C. Wheeler, J. D.
Jefferson, Frank Nelson, John Biggs.
W. H. Palmer, B. C. Wiltse, G. J.
Zinn, Wm. Kramer, K. E. Audolpb,
and H. T. Whitley, were present, and
the work of selecting a jury was tak
en up shortly after the opening pf
court.
The entire morning session was
consumed in securing a jury, and the
twelfth seat in the jury box was fill
ed just at the noon hour. The taking
of testimony in the case was com
menced this afternoon.
SEND THANKS TO
COMMANDANT AT LISCUM
At a special meeting of the Cham
ber of Commerce held last evening
the following resolution was passed,
and a copy of the same ordered for
warded to Lieut. Koehler at Fort Lis
cum:
“On behalf of the Valdez Chamber
of Commerce and our fellow citizens
we wish to tender you our sincere
thanks for the very prompt and effi
cient services rendered by the men of
your command during and after the
fire which destroyed so much valu
able property In this city on the
morning of January 2, 1917.”
WICKERSHAM PROPOSES
PROHIBITION FOR ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Jan. 4.—
It was learned today that James
Wickersham, Delegate from Alaska,
last Friday, introduced a bill in the
house containing a clause absolutely
prohibiting the manufacture and sale
of intoxicating liquors in Alaska.
Information Wanted.
Will the two men who carried the
couch out of the postoffice building
during the fire on the morning if
January 2, please call at the office of
the United States Marshal?
Chief Clerk Alvah Eames, of t .e
mail service, went through on the
Alameda to his home in Cordova, af
ter a business trip to Seward.
Territorial Mine Inspector W. Ma
loney was a passenger on the Ala
meda for the south.
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