Valdez Daily Prospector
PUBLISHED BY THE
Prospector Publishing Co.
TERMS.
Daily Prospector.
By carrier, per montn.fl'92
By mall, per annum.10.00
The Weekly Miner.
By carrier, per month.• .4®
By mall, per annum. r............. 5.0®
The Dally Prospector and Weekly Miner
by carrier to one address, per
month .... .11.95
The Dally Prospector and Weekly Min
er by mall to one address only, per
year .»*»®0
Business Office and Editorial Rooms,
’Phone 159.
Advertising Rates on Application.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1914.
THE RECOVERY IN COPPER.
The sharp rise in the price for
copper in November was based chief
ly upon improved demand for do
mestic consumption, the large sales
for the month having been more for
domestic delivery than foreign. Dur
ing the three months of gloom—
August, September and October—
manufacturers lived largely on their
old contracts for supplies, and plac
ed new orders only for their imme
diate requirements. The normal bus
iness in contracts for delivery dur
ing the two or three ensuing months
practically ceased to exist. Gradual
ly, however, the orders received by
the manufacturers, .reflecting ulti
mate consumption, began to increase,
first in the brass business, then in
the sheet business, and last of all in
the rod and wire business, and along
with the clearing up of uncertainties
in several directions, and the gener
al increase in optimism, the manufac
turers of copper saw that the ground
had become safe for the resumption
of business with the copper produc
ers in the old way.
Some very substantial buying be
gan in the latter part of October,
when already it looked as if daylight
were ahead The interruption to the
export business, which happened sud
denly at the beginning of November,
cast a new shadow over the field, but
as things turned out, this proved sim
ply to be an excellent test of the
soundness of things. Copper was in
fact in the position that the producers
would rather keep the metal than
sacrifice it When manufacturers be
came convinced that the producers
meant what they said and that there
were not going to be any "bargain
counters,” they began to buy in ear
nest and congratulated themselves
that they were getting copper at less
than J2c., which was quite bargain
enough. With these circumstances
the price for copper rose rapidly, so
much so that it was laid to "spec
ulators” by some skeptics who must
always have a manipulative reason
for everything. In fact, there is nev
er any considerable speculation in
the domestic copper business. The
producers sell in the main to the
manufacturers who are going to use
the copper and are quite averse to
selling it in any other way. Certain
of our British contemporaries are
more amusing in their suspicion that
the American producers have raised
the price for copper in order to make
the British government pay more for
tbe copper it has been seizing!
At the end of November, we find
the copper market at about the same
level where it stood at the end of
July, when war was expected, al
though there were still faint hopes
that it might be averted. Even be
fore the war cloud gathered in July,
everybody was gloomy because cop
per was selling down toward 13c. Ev
erybody is now happy because it is
around 12 l-2c. We surely do not
want anybody to be anything but
happy, and we hope that a furth
er advance in price will increase the
happiness. We must, however, point
out that the present situation does
not offer any basis for excessive en
thusiasm. The copper producers are
much better off than two months ago
they had any reason to hope. The
price having gone to 11c., has re
covered to 12 l-2c., instead of sink
ing to 10c., which many feared would
happen. Furthermore, the porphyry
producers have exhibited their abil
ity to operate their mines on half
scale without increasing their cost
of production per pound of copper.
Thus there is in prospect a resump
tion of dividends, if not at the old
full rate, at least at a partial rate.
It must be remembered, however,
that the improvement In copper, sat
isfactory as it has been, reflects the
conditions in the industry upon the
basis of a 50 per cent, curtailment
of production. It would be fatal to
the welfare of everybody if any im
portant producer should become
minded to do anything other than to
remain curtailed. The essential thing
in the copper business, just now, Is
to preserve the status quo.—Engi
neering and Mining Press.
INTEREST III CLUB
HOUSE REVIVED
We are glad to announce that at
last the Sleem Memorial promises to
become what it was Intended to be,
viz: a library for everybody in Val
dez; a distributing center from which
magazines and papers will be sent
out to the camps, and an inviting
reading room and clubhouse for ev
ery man, irrespective of his religious
or political opinion. Arrangements
have been completed so that the nu
merous debts can be paid off by bor
rowing the total amount at a nomi
nal interest on a six months note.
At a late meeting of the board of
trustees of the Epiphany every mem
ber pledged two dollars per month
towards the running expenses of the
club. Confident that other citizens
will do their part, Mr. Harry Jones
has been put in charge of the club
house and library, and from now on
it will be open daily and kept in
proper order. The list of subscrib
ers will later be published in this
paper.
We urge the co-operation of every
one that the library may be made
efficient. It Is for everyone’s benefit
and all suggestions will be very ac
ceptable towards increasing its effi
ciency and making it most conven
ient and useful for the greatest num
ber.
To this end the following arrange
ment has been made:
Reading room open and heated ev
ery day from 1 p. m.
Books will be issued:
Every day 1 p. m. to 2 p. m.
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday,
3 p. m. to 5 p. m.
Tuesday and Friday, 7:30 p. m. to
9:30 p. m.
It is known by all that many books
have been ruthlessly destroyed, even
Used as fuel by irresponsible parties.
With this assurance of system and
care, it is hoped that besides the
magazines and books, etc., continu
ously being received (through the
Church Periodical Club) from the
United States, our local friends will
give novels, etc., they have read to
the library, and donate or loan books
of reference. Possibly some friends
may donate or loan an encyclopedia.
It may be that some one having pur
chased the latest Brittanica might
let the library have the use of the
older edition. Books on mining would
be particularly acceptable.
Borrowers are urged to return at
once any books belonging to the li
brary that a complete list can be
made.
It is especially hoped that the run
ning expense fund may be strengthen
ed by monthly subscriptions.
The men are planning a series of
entertainments to raise money to pay
off the debt, the first of which is
to be a “smoker,” which is already
under way and will be given early in
January.
EDWARD H. MOLONY.
Before sending out to mail order
houses for your wants examine the
goods on the bargain counters at the
Emporium. Fresh mixed candies at
25c per pound. tf
GERMAN VIC*
III SILESIA
(Continued from pag£-1.)
commanders and crews of the ships
have been decorated for valorous ser
vice. The names of the British cruis
ers are not known. The enemy at
tempted to head off the German fleet
and were destroyed by the superior
fire from the four German boats.
Kaiser Is Going To the Front.
The kaiser is so far improved in
health that he will leave here in a
few days to go to the front and take
charge of the military operations
from headquarters.
England Annexes Egypt.
LONDON, Dec. 18— Egypt has been
formally annexed to the British em
pire. It was formerly held through
the recognized superior interests of
the empire in Egypt, but today it is
formally incorporated into and be
comes a part of the British empire.
One hundred thousand Canadian and
Australian troops are now in Egypt
to aid the local garrisons in main
taining order and preventing a Turk
ish invasion. The last strong foot
hold of the Turks in Egypt is now
gone forever.
Allies Advance At Arras.
PARIS, Dec. 18—The fighting near
Arras continues. The allies are mak
ing steady gains. The French artil
lery has proven its superiority over
the German guns and are better serv
ed.
Emden’s Crew Captured.
TOKIO, Dec. 18.—The report has
reached here that British warships
have captured the crew of the form
er German cruiser Emden and that
they will be taken to Australia to be
kept in prison until the end of the
war. The Germans were unable to
do any amount of damage to ship
ping, as the British warships were
on their trail immediately.
African Rebellion Ended.
CAPETOWN, S. A., Dec. 18.—Gen.
Botha announces that the rebellion
led by Generals De Wet and Beyers
is ended. The leaders hav.e all been
captured, killed or chased from the
South African Union. The prepara
tions for the invasion of German
Southwest Africa will start at once
and the Union will endeavor to add
the rich German provinces to the fed
eration.
Russians Report Victory, Deny Defeat
PETROGRAD, Dec. 18.—The Ger
mans have been forced back at
Mlawa. The attacks from Soldau
have been repulsed and the effort to
aid the German center at Lowicz has
again failed. The reports of a great
victory for the Germans in Silesia
are denied. The Russian troops are
not operating in that section at this
time, but have been withdrawn to
protect the Russian cener near War
saw. No Russian troops are in Ger
man or Austrian Silesia and conse
quently could not have been defeat
ed. The Russian center is still hold
ing, the German attacks have spent
their force and the Russians are re
ceiving reinforcements and will take
the offensive again.
French Trenches Blown Up.
BERLIN, Dec 18.—The French
trenches in the Argonne region have
been blown up by the German snap
pers, who undermined the trenches
and set off large charges of dynamite.
NOTICE:—Some stores cut prices
after the holidays. The Emporium’s
prices are cut before the holidays and
we are selling “Hold-Heet” electric
stoves at $2.75 and aluminum perco
lators " r $2.50 now. After Christ
mas the price will be $3.00, the same
as the stoves sell for in the states, tf
Subscribe for tne Frospecior
HURRY! HURRY!
Xmas Is Coming
YOU HAVE ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT
WE ARE HEADQUARTERS FOR
TOYS
Make Your Selections While Our
Stock Is Complete.
We Will Hold Your Purchases Until You Are Ready for Them.
] LOCAL BREVITIES. |
Beautiful hand-painted vases Just
received at Valdez Drug Co. tf
Chinese noodles and chop suey at
Valdez Cafe after 7 p. m. if
Just arrived the most beautiful and
largest assortment of Christmas ties
at Ben Silverman’s. • tf
WEATHER BULLETIN.
Valdez, Alaska, Dec. 18, 1914.
STATION Above Below Snow, In. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Donnelly . 6 1 Clear, calm, no trail.
McCallum . 0 6 Clear, calm, trail good.
Paxson’s . 1 6 Clear, calm, trail good.
Hogan . 10 5 Cloudy, calm, trail open.
Gulkana . 15 8 Clear, calm, trail good.
Copper Center .... 10 3 Clear, calm, trail good.
Tonsina . 10 15 Clear, calm, trail good.
Teikhell . 0 24 Cloudy, calm, trail open.
Beaver Dam . 3 20 Clear, calm, trail open.
Summit . 20 35 Clear, windy, trail drifted.
Wortman’s .29 12 Clear, calm, trail open south, drifted
north.
VALDEZ ELECTRIC COMPANY
_THE CONSUMERS* COMPANY
Office in Copper Block, on Broadway
Photo by American Press Association.
German Troops Near French Frontier
The above waa taken at Btrasaburg, near the French frontier. It waa
figured that this city would play a big part In a war between Germany and
franca When this picture was taken, however, the present big war waa not
dreamed of.
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OP
Native and V ¥ TRffDUD and Building
Puget Sound LiUlVlJDHIV Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 18
Patronize a Home Industry
Pacific Alaska
Navigation Company
Alaska Pacific S. S. Co. Alaska Coast Co.
PUGET SOUND-ALASKA ROUTE
Steamers sail from Seattle
Nov. 15th, Dec. 5th and 25th
via the Inside Passage for Ketchikan. Juneau, Yakutat, Ka
talla, Cordova, Valdez, Seward, Cook Inlet points and Kodiak.
PUGET SOUND—CALIFORNIA ROUTE
Seattle-San Francisco, connecting with steamers Vale and
Harvard for southern California ports.
Hii'tit reserved to change dates and steamers without notice
VALDEZ DOCK CO.
Local Agent
ALASKA
STEAMSHIP CO.
S. S. Mariposa and S. S. Alameda sail from Seattle
the 1st, 8th, 16th and 24th
EVERY MONTH
From Valdez south—7th, 15th, 23rd and 30th for Cordova,
Juneau, Ketchikan and Seattle. e
Regular freight service for Ketchikan. Juneau. Sheep creek TrctulweH. Douglas
Cordova. Ellamar. Valdez and Latouche. Explosives. S S Seward. S S Seward. 5th
S S Latouche. 15th; S S Cordova. *5th of each month-Rigbl reserved to change this
aobedule without nottoe.
F B. Tracy, Gen’l Agt- Valdes Dock Co., Local Agt.
lomntwaogP
J®*
FULL
QUART
■ ■ ■ —BOTTLED IN BOND
Has Had no Peers for Fifty Years
, _SOLD BY ALL DKAUKS _