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...... a(1 SEWARD. THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, JAM AIM 13, !("•>•_____—
\ Ol. IyO. M# _^*,>**1^^ . .. . .... __ _______ - —
THE RAILROAD MONEY IS SURE
DEFINITE OFFER OF SEWARD ROAD REPORTED
SUBMARINES !
TO BE BUILT
SEATTLE COMPANY PREPARING
TO TI RN OET THREE
(K EAN TERRORS
SEATTLE. Jan. CL—The Seattle
Construction and Dry Dock company
is now preparing to build three one
thousand tons submarines for the
United States government. The mat-,
eria! for the work is already being as-,
sembled and the actual work of con
struction will soon be under way. The
decision to build the vessels on this
coast is due to the recent agitation
which has been created by the advo- j
cates of a stronger navy and army
especially for the defence of the (
Pacific coast. The submarines are be
lieved to be meant for this coast per
manently.
ANTON EIRE GETTING REARV.
Superintendant Anton Eide of the
Road Commission received word to
day to proceed to fix up the trail be
tween Seward and Iditarod and he is
now making preparations to start out.
VOTE FOR WOMEN
IS DEFEATED
c arried majority but failed
TO GET NECESSARY TWO
THIRDS VOTE.
WASHINGTON, an. 13.—Although
the woman suffrage failed last night
to get a two thirds majority of the
house it received a majority of the
votes cast. The vote was two hundred!
and seventy four for to two hundred!
and four against. This vote has
greately encouraged the women who
now declare that they will make the
question a national issue and con
tinue their work until they secure
what they are seeking. The debate
went on for several hours. It seemed j
remarkable that the representatives:
really went into the subject with real
warmth and sometimes passion. There
has seldom been such interest dis
played in recent days as was mani
fested by various classes of the com
munity. Until the vote was taken the
galleries remained crowded.
A. Wilcox has arrived from Val
dez and is still visiting ir. this city.
BITTER FIGHTING
RAGING IN FRANCE
FRENCH LOSEGROUND
PARIS, Jan. 13.—The French official report this
morning says that fighting around Spur One Hundred and
Thirty Two, which is northeast of Soissons, continues with
great severity. By the employment of large forces the
French have maintained their position on the crest of-a
hill to the west of the spur but to the east the I' rench
troops have lost ground. The most serious part of this
information is that the point is the nearest of the whole
German line to the city of Paris. It is, indeed, only sixty
miles from the capital and the danger that the enemy
might be able to break through at that point and divide
the French forces in the center is considered as rather
serious. It is assumed, however, that General Joffre will
at once strengthen that part of the line and meet any at
tempt that the invaders can make to follow up their ad
vantage. The fighting at that point is proceeding under
climatic conditions that are really frightful. It is either
snowing and freezing or storming all the time and the
troops on both sides are suffering severely. Nothing of
importance was received from the Flemish field of battle
so far today and it is supposed that matters there are
comparatively quiet. The Germans seem to have for the
time being decided to concentrate their chief strength on
the effort to break the French line around Soissons and
have as a consequence decreased their efforts in other
parts of the great battle line.
ROUMANIA STARTS NEXT MONTH
SOFIA, Bulgaria, Jan. 13 —According to the best in
formed opinion here Roumania will start its campaign in
February against Austria. The Roumanian army will en
ter Transylvania against the Austrian forces there or
rather on the side of the Russians who are expected by
that time to have full control of that province of the
Austrian empire. The chief ambition of Roumania is to
secure possession of Transylvania which it is assumed
she has been promised by the allies as the price of her sup
port in the great war. The support of Roumania will be a
serious blow to the Austrians as it will mean an attack
practically in the rear of the army which is now opposing
the Russians. In some quarters here there is doubt ex
pressed as to whether Roumania really will enter the war.
It is regarded as somewhat strange that she has declared
her intention to do so before being ready as Austria could
at any moment send an army over her borders before she
got time to mobilize her full strength. The government
of Roumania has certainly not yet given any definite
statement of intention in this respect and some of the
doubting ones in this country are inclined to believe that
Roumania is being held up to frighten the Teutonic allies.
FITZGERALD SAYS ALASKA
R. R. APPROPRIATION IS SDR:
Reported That Alaska Northern Offered lo
Government for Amount Of Bonds
And Some Cash.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.—John J.
Fitzgerald, chairman of the appropri
ations committee of the house, stated
today positively that the administra
tion can have any amount it requires
for the beginning of the work on the
Alaska government railroad. Mr.
Fitzgerad was asked particularly
what his opinion was in relation to the
hostility which has been made ap
parent in some quarters to the con
struction of the government railroad
and he declared emphatically that he
defied any such hostility and that
when the question of the appropria
tion came up the committee will give
President Wilson whatever funds they
ROME SHAKEN
BY EARTHQUAKE
WORST IN HISTORY CAUSES
PANIC AND DAMAGES HIS
TORIC BUILDINGS.
ROME, Jan. A terrific earth
quake occurred in this city early this
morning. It was by far the most aw
ful shaking the city ever received.
For a time a serious panic resulted.
Thousands of people were driven al
most crazy with terror. Women and
children were particularly frightened
and all rushed from their houses in a
wild stampede for safety. The worst
feature of the earthquake was that it
lasted for several minutes. Unlike
other quakes that come and go quick
ly this one shook the city to its
foundations for a length of time that
made it seem hours. Many historic
buildings are known to have been
damaged but such little time has
elapsed ince the occurrence that a
proper examination of the results has
not been made. One of the remark
able facts connected with the quake
is that no lives hq»ve been taken in
spite of the terrible violence and the
great duration of it. It is stated that
the city rocked and rocked while the
terrified people ran and huddled in the
streets and that the rocking was
maintained as if some omnipotent
power was bent on shaking the city
to dust. The manner in which the
houses are built is to be credited with
the avoidance of a frightful catas
trophe.
MARIPOSA DUE TOMORROW.
Agent Guptil expects the Mariposa
to arrive in Seward tomorrow. No
word had been received from her at
1:30 o’clock today but Mr. Guptil
never is notified of her movements
directly until she leaves Valdez. In
formation about boats when they
reach Juneau and other places comes
indirectly.
MARIPOSA AT CORDOVA.
The Mariposa reaches Cordova at 5
o’clock this afternoon according to a
cable message to the Oasis.
require. This statement of Fitzgerald
removes the last feared obstacle to
the immediate commencement of the j
construction work. It was thought
that the opposition to the building of
the road might be able to exercise an
evil effect on the committee and its
chairman but Fitzgerald’s emphatic
words are taken as final.
It may be said, however, that
Fitzgerald denies that there is any
such hostility as people believe. Any
how hostility or not, the money will
be available.
It is reported unofficially today that
the Alaska Northern railroad has been
offered to the government for the
MORFORI) KNOWS NOTHING
ABOUT RAILROAD REPORTS
Rumors Connected With Alaska
Northern and Government May
Re Unfounded.
.—
Judge S. 0. Morford says positively
that he has no information whatever
that would give a foundation for the
rumors that are being circulated with
relation to the government’s intent
ions about the Alaska Northern rail
road. Mr. Morford is the attorney
for the railroad and for that reason
was asked specially for any informa
tion that he might have received. Hej
has no such information.
APPROPRIATIONS READY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.—The ap
propriation bill is about ready and
the committee on appropriations will
report immediately. There is no in
dication as to whether money for
Alaska railroads will be included in
the report of the committee or not.
The Alaska funds may not have- been
asked until the President knows what
is required.
FALCON JOSLIN
WRITES OF RAILROAD.
FAIRBANKS.—The Citizen says:
In a letter to R. C. Wood, president
of the First National bank, Falcon
Joslin writing from Washington, D.
C., says that he has been assured by
one of the members of the Alaska
engineering commission that every ef
fort will be made by the commission
to get the government to start con
struction of the railroad from both
ends at the same time.
Mr. Joslin’s letter was decidedly
optimistic about the railroad and it
was evident that he believes that work
will start from the Fairbanks end of
the line next year.
/ WILL PRESENT U. S.
WITH THE RAILROAD.
SEATTLE, Dec. 28.—It is rumored
here that the Copper River & North
western Railroad running from Cor
i dova, Alaska, will be presented free
to the Government, but when it is re
! turned, it must be in as good a con
j dition as when it was received.—
! Ketchikan Miner.
Job printing of every description at
The Gateway.
amount of the bonds, which is four
and a half millions, and for three hun
dred and sixty thousand dollars in
cash to enable a payment of the out
standing obligations. While this offer
is not reported officially it is pretty
safe to regard it as the truth. The
administration has given out no
opinion as to what it will do with re
spect to that road but it seems to be
pretty generally assumed that it will
be taken over. Matters connected
with the government railroad are
now sizzling since doubt was removed
by Secretary Lane as to the immedi
ate construction of the railroad and
things will probably move rapidly
from this time forward.
SEWARD TRAIL
TO RE REPAIRED
ROAD COMMISSION COMPLIES
WITH REQUEST OF COM
MERCIAL CLUB.
“W’ith reference to your telegram j
to Colonel Richardson regarding the
blocking of the trail at Indian and
Eagle river by windfalls our super
intendant has been instructed to make
the necessary repairs. (Signed)
Lieutenant Kunzig."
This telegram was received this
morning by Secretary Wayne Blue of
the Commercial club in answer to a
telegram sent by the club asking that
the necessary improvements in the
condition of the trail be made. The
telegram was sent to Colonel Richard
son after a meeting of the club which
was attended by some men who had
travelled over the trail and who were
able to state exactly how matters
stood. The club asked for some hun
dreds of dollars which it was stated
would be only required to make vast
improvements. It was feared that the
funds of the commission had been
compl tely exhausted but that there
is enough left for such important
work is made evidertt.
The chief drawback to the trail
seems to be due to the fact that wind
falls and brush block it in several
places. These can be removed with
a comparatively small outlay. All
those who came oevr the trail have
made complaints and some of them
went so far as to say that others
would not come this way unless the
improvements were made. I* or this
reason the Road commission is to be
thanked for taking such prompt act
ion. The news that the trail is to be
! improved was telegraphed today to the
lditarod Pioneer so that people in the
interior may learn that the trail need
no longer be feared.
.
.— - '
Deputy Harshal Brown and Alex
Fraser left this morning for Knik.
1 Mr. Brown thought for a time that he
would have to go outside with the
man he brought from Knik but other
arrangements were made.
U. S. TO BUILD i
MANY VESSELS
MOST OF THE NEW SHIPS
PROVIDED FOR WILL BE
SUBMARINES.
—
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.—The na
val building program of the United
States for the coming year was adopt
ed today by the house naval com
mittee. The program includes two
battleships, six torpedo boat destroy
ers and seventeen submarines. The
large number of submarines is ac
counted for by the occurrences dur
ing the war in Europe where it is seen
that large vessels while indispensable
for operations out in the ocean are at i
the mercy of submarines for coast
defence.
JACK LING'S MINES
PAY BIG DIVIDENDS|
Stockholders of four of the big
mines that are in charge of Col. D. C. j
Jackling, were made to rejoice Dec
ember 11, when announcement was
made that dividends had been posted
which aggregate approximately $2,
028,000.
SHIP PURCHASE
INSISTED UPDN
WILSON WILL CONCENTRATE
ALL HIS INTENTION ON
THIS HILL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.—Presi
dent Wilson intends to concentrate all
his influence on the passing of the
ship bill to the exclusion of the Phil
ippine and conservation bills if nec
essary. He expects to carry the pur
chase bill with the aid of rupublican
votes in spite of the fact that many
of the members of his own party are
opposed to him on this measure and
will vote against it. Senator Kenyon
visited the white house at the invita
tion of the President and suggested
several amendments to the ship bill
making it acceptable to certain re
publican. One amendment places
the government ships under the con
trol of a non partisan board and
another eliminates the temporary
character of the project. The Presi
dent expects to consult other republi
can senators in the near future. He
plans to win enough republican votes
to oiTset the defalcation of the dem
ocrats opposed to the bill.
TURKS ENTER CITY
OF EABRIZ, PERSIA
TURKS ENTER TABRIZ
PETROGRAD, Jan. 13.—The advance of the Turkish
army has entered the city of Tabriz in Persia, the Rus
sian garrison retreating before it, evacuating the
place. This was admitted in the official report issued here
this morning and seems to indicate a very serious advance
on the part of the enemy. Tabriz is the chief commercial
emporium of Persia in the north and is the capital <d the
province in which it is situated. It has a population of
nearly two hundred thousand people and was consideied
a most important city so that its loss to the Russians can
only be regarded as having been made necessary by
serious circumstances. It is now evidently the intention
of the Turks to proceed into Persia and to secure the co
operation of the Persians themselves in driving their Rus
sian masters from Persian soil. The official statement
this morning says that bitter fighting between the Rus
sians and Turks is now proceeding in the district between
Asia Minor and Persia and partiuclarly in Persian terri
tory It is said that this fighting is inclining in favor of
the' Russians. It is also stated that the Russians captured
the entire ninety second regiment of Turkish infantry
and also partially destroyed the fifty second. The Rus
sians also captured artillery and amumtion but these
"statements are not at all accepted as equalizing matters
when the advance of the Turks into Tabriz is taken into
account.
german airships over channel
DOVER, Jan. 13.—The presence of hostile airships
over the English channel and at various points along the
coast was reported today to the authorities. So numerous
have the German air craft shown themselves to be near
England that there is once more a fear that Germany is
preparing for another coup. The airships are evidently
reconnoitering for the purpose of ascertaining the posi- •
tions of the British fleets . It was persistently rumored
today that two German submarines had been sunk off this
city today by the coast batteries. For some time this ru
mor was accepted as truth but later investigations have
proven the rumor to have been unfounded.
ALL RAILROADS FOR TROOPS
AMSTERDAM, Jan. 13.—All ordinary passenger
I traffic has been stopped over nearly all the railroads of
I the German empire until January 18 for the purpose of
expediting the movements of troops and munitions of
war It is assumed from this fact that Germany has some
great new movement afoot but as to what it might be no
one seems to be able to form an idea unless it is simply
a re-inforcing of the armies in the east and west for
greater efforts in the present lines of battle.