The hunters’ Paradise—The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise
LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
a V nvtMov fl lOIIC Ten Cents the Copj
Vol. §. No. 76 SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, FRIDAY, JAMJAR! 8, I91o. ______
BANKER PUTS SEWARD R. R. UP TO GOVERNMENT
FORMALLY OFFERS
ALASKA NORTHERN
Railroad Commissioners Confer
With Lane on Forthcom
ing Report.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.—August
Hecksher. a New York banker, has
made a formal offer to the govern
ment to sell it the Alaska Northern
railroad. This offer was made yester- j
day and was made in connection with
the report made by Hecksher on the j
condition of the banks which hold the
bonds of the Alaska Northern. Noth
ing further has been given out but it
is, of course, certain that the secre
tary of the interior and the president
will now take the matter under con
sideration and begin a study of all
the conditions when the report of the
engineering commission is received.
The full membership of the railroad
HINDENBURG
STUCK IN MUD
WA ITI N<; R El N FORCEM ENTS
AND WILL ATTACK WITH
MILLION MEN.
—
LONDON, Jan. 8.—General Hinden-i
burg, the commander of the Germans
in Poland, is standing still. His army
is mired in the terribly muddy coun
try surrounding him and he finds it
impossible to make any movements
without frightful losses. It is parti
cularly difficult to move the guns and j
he has exidently decided to await
large reinforcements which are being
sent to him. It is known here now
that he has come to the conclusion to
increase his army to a million men
and that when this strength is reach
ed he will start his forward move
ment for the attack on Warsaw. This
will be his supreme effort.
In the east and west siege opera
tions and artillery duels are proceed
ing everywhere but infantry fighting
is almost at a standstill. The Rus
sians have received strong reinforce
ments and have strengthened their
positions above Warsaw to aid in re
pelling the attack of the Germans on
the right bank of the Vistula.
GERMAN CRUISER INTERNED..
MADRID, Jan. 8.—The German auxi
liary cruiser Otaul has been interned
at Las Palmas in the Canary islands.
She arrived at that place without coa1
or provisions and as she could not se
cure a sufficient supply to proceed
very far and as hostile cruisers were
on the watch for her she was interned
rather than be seized or sunk.
MAY WHEAT GOES I P
TO $1.40 IN PRICE.
Said to be Highest Price, With Few
Exceptions, Paid For Fifty Wars.
CHICAGO, Jan. 8.—May wheat has
reached a dollar and forty cents which
is the highest figure with few excep
tions for fifty years. The Liverpool
grain trade is excited as a conse
quence of the rise in price:. The de
mand there is very keen and a further
rise may be expected causing much
suffering amongst the poorer people,
particularly in Great Britain.
commission conferred with Secretary
Lane last evening over the forthcom
ing report of the commission on the
ruilroad. Needless to say, there has
been nothing given out about the con
ference of a definite nature although
the very fact that the Secretary and
the commissioners held the conference
may be taken to mean that the sug
gestions of the members the com
mission will carry great weight. Nor
can anyone tell yet exactly when the
report will actually be in the hands
of the president although there is now
every indication that only a very
short time will elapse until Mr. Wil
son is in possesion of it.
SAY SERVIANS SURPRISED
AND ROUTED AUSTRIANS.
Battle Said by Nish to Have Taken
Place Near City of Belgrade.
NISH, Servia, Jan. 8.—The Ser
vian army surprised and routed the
Austrians yesterday near the city of
Belgrade where the enemy had taken
up positions of defense. The losses to
the Austrians are declared to have
been considered very considerable. The
Austrians still remain in force along
the border but have apparently given
up the attempt to invade this country
once more. It is believed, however,
that with the coming of the spring
weather one side or the other will re
sume offensive operations.
ONLY FEW AMERICANS
NOW MARRY IN ENGLAND.
Very Few People From This Country
Now Across Atlantic.
LONDON. Jan. 8.—American wed
dings in London are now very rare
and the usual number of holiday wed
dings among Americans travelling »n
England will be lacking. There are
few Americans in England now out
side of the regular colony and further
more the church of England has
shown a disposition to discourage the
issuance of licenses to non-residents
who desire to waive the formality of
church regulations and have a license
granted without the reading of bans
and other preliminaries which con
sume at least two weeks.
At one time Americans were much
given to seeking these special licenses
and arranging weddings in great
haste. The Bishop of Canterbury
grants such licenses to Englishmen
only when there are urgent reasons,
such as illness or unexpected military
or naval orders which would make it
impossible to comply with the church 8
regular requirements. *
In the case of Americans or other
foreigners desiring to marry in Eng
land the same consideration will oe
shown to Englishmen, but the church
has made very clear its unwillingness
to issue special licenses simply be
cause the parties to the marriage do
not want to comply with the regular
requirements.
Within the last twelve months only
one special license has been granted
to Americans.
The finest kind of job work as well
as the plainest is done by the Gate
; way.
U. S. MAY BRING
ABOUT PEACE
PRESIDENT WILSON URGES PEO
PLE OF AMERICA TO KEEP
THEIR POISE.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 8.—In a
speech at Richmond, Indiana, Presi
dent Wilson declared today that if
American keeps its poise it will be
best able to bring about peace in
Europe and he exhorted the people of
the country to maintain a strict neu
tral it>\ He arrived here this after
non and went directly to the home of
Senator Kern. He was welcomed by a
large crowd at Richmond and was
prevailed upon to make an address.
He will address four thousand people
here in a hall tonight in celebration
of the centennial of the battle of New
Orleans and the members of the
Indiana legislature will attend the
meeting in a body.
WASHINGTON CORRESPON
I)ENT SPEAKS OF R. R. AGAIN
Says no One Can Yet Form any Idea
as to What Will be Decided Cpon.
In its issue of December ‘>0 the
Washington correspondent of the
Seattle Post Intelligencer goes again
into the subject of the Alaska govern
ment railroad and he declares that no
one knows anything about it as Presi
dent Wilson positively declared to
him that until the report of th'i com
mission is in his hands he will give
no further attention to the subject.
The correspondent says;
“One idea that has been expressed
is that if the Alaska Northern is
taken over, the Copper River should
be taken over as well and if the Cop
per River is taken over by all means
the Alaska Northern should be taken
over."
In another place the correspondent
says:
“The traffic possibilities of the Cop
per River, the great value of the Rew
ard terminal of the Alaska Northern,
the fact that the Tanana Valley road
must be either taken over or paral
leled in part make their appeal. ’
The reason why the Tanana road
should be taken over or how it would
be paralelled in part is certainly net
very clear to anyone who knows that
country and road.
WHO IS HECKSHER
May Represent the Canadian Interests
in the Alaska Northern Railroad.
Judge S. 0. Morford, attorney for
the Alaska Northern railroad, does
not know Hecksher, the New York
banker who is mentioned in today’s
dispatches as having made a formal
offer of sale of the Alaska Northern
railroad. Mr. Morford says he may
possibly represent the Canadian in
terests of the railroad but this is only
a supposition.
FINE BABY BOY BORN
TO MRS. GUS BORGEN.
An eight pound baby boy was bom
at 1:40 o’clock this morning to Mrs.
Gus Borgen, wife of the well known
merchant. Dr. Romig who is in at
tendance on Mrs. Borgen says that
she find her young son are progress
ing very' finely.
WENT ON ALAMEDA.
The following passengers left on
the Alameda: G. A. Weldon, Mrs. |
Weldon, Hugh Dougherty, F. H.
Ackers, Ed. Elge, Pete Carlson, J. E |
Riley, Phillip J. Eckert, L. F. Shaw.!
TURK CAPITAL
FEARSATTACK
AFFAIRS IN CONSTANTINOPLE
SAID TO BE INCREASINGLY
ALARMING.
SOFIA, Bulgarit, Jan. 8.—Dispatch
es from Constantinople say that the
situation in that city is becoming ir»
creasingly alarming. The local
authorities apparently fear internal
disorders as well as attacks from out
side and the archieves are already
packed and ready for removal. The
treasury is also being got ready for
its taking to a place of safety. Jt is
also declared that locomotives are
kept constantly ready to meet the pos
sible necessity for the conveying of
government officials to Adrianople on
short notice. It was stated some time
ago that the archives had already
been removed but this information
was probably premature. The caust
of the internal difficulties is not clear
ly known but they are assumed to
have arisen between the party of
peace on the one hand and the Young
Turks who are credited with bring
ing on the war.
CHARGED ON SKIS.
France Relates a Brilliant Exploit of
French Soldiers on Alsatian
Frontier.
ST. DIE, Jan. 8.—A brilliant ex
ploit has just been accomplished by
the French Alpine troops who charg
ed down the snow covered slopes of
the mountains on skis at Honhommc
on the Alsatian frontier and forced
the Germans to retire on Orbey five
miles down the river Weiss.
SAY RUSSIANS
ARE PURSUING
PETROGRAD CLAIMS THEY ARE
WINNING IN CAUCASIA
AND CARPATHIANS.
PETROGRAI), Jan. 8.—The Rus
sian armies are pursuing the Turkish
forces defeated the other day in
Caucasia and the enemy is in a most
dangerous predicament. The Russian
armies also continue their ' advance
through the Carpathian mountains.
The Austrians again admit the retire
ment of their forces in the province
of Bukowina and this Russian move
ment before which the Austrians are
retreating promises to bring forth the
most spectacular developments of the
campaign within a fortnight. It is
positively certain that in that part of
the war theater the armies of Rus
sia are covering themselves with
glory.
DIED ON CHISANA TRAIL.
Recent arrivals in Valdez tell that
Fred Young lost his life on the
glacier on the way out from the
Shushanna. Young fell into a cre
vasse and was found next morning
by Ira B. Hurd and another man on
the edge of the crevasse from which
he had apparently crawled out. He
died later from exposure.
FIX SIDEWALKS.
The people are requested to throw
ashes on the sidewalks in front of
their houses to prevent accidents.
CITY HEALTH OFFICER.
FIERCE BATTLE
NEARiSALTILLO
TROOPS OF VILLA ANI) CAR
RANZA GET INTO DEATH
GRIPS AGAIN.
LAREDO, Jan. 8.—A fierce battle
is now raging at Saltillo between
strong forces of Carranza and Vil'a.
The forces of Villa occupy the place
but the Carranza troops are attacking
with really great determination and
with the confidence born of their
victory over the enemy at Puebla.
The Carranza army is said to be su
perior numerically to the Villaistas in
that part of Mexico and each sucess
is expected to still further increase
its numbers. From all accounts it
seems to be evident that Mexico is in
for a worse time than ever.
PREMIER OF FRANCE
LOSES A HERO SON.
News of the Killing of Premier’s
Youngest Son is Confirmed.
PARIS, Jan. 8.—The news has been
confirmed that the youngest son of
Prime Minister Viviani of France has
been killed in battle. The boy had
scarcely passel his teens and had been
mentioned several times for bravery
and devotion to the cause of France.
NOTHING HEARD FROM DORA.
Is Believed to Have Taken Shelter
From Storm in Some Shelter
ed Place.
As the Dora is now something more
than three days overdue those who
are directly interested in the vessel
are hoping for some news but the
general belief is that the steamer has
gone into some sheltered place from
the rough weather which is known
to have prevailed for the past few
days. The Alameda reported rough
weather which caused the disabling
of a halibut boat which she was forced
to aid. Captain Warner of the Ala
meda intended to send out a wireless
inquiry when he left the bay last
night and the Gateway has telegraph
ed to Valdez asking if any news had
been received in answer. It is possible,
however, that the Dora has taken
shelter in some place from which it
would be difficult to send a message
as a sheltered place means surround
ing mountains. No answer had been
received to the Gateway query at 3
p. m. today. The cable is down be
tween Valdez and Cordova so -hat
a message to the latter place would
have to go around by Sitka and theie
is very little chance of hearing any
thing before press time.
SKAGWAY ALASKAN
MAKES SCOOP.
Says it is Officially Announced That
R. R. Will be Built From
Ship Creek.
As an example of what we might
expect in connection with the govern
ment railroad a story in the Skagway
Ala kan of December 29 surpasses
the best. The following is the story
published by the Alaskan under a two
column head in part;
“WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.—Otri
cial announcement was made touay
that the first construction work on
the Alaska government railroad will
be from Ship creek to the Matanuska
coal fi Ids, with a later extension
southward to Portage Bay or Seward
and northwest to Fairbanks."
The Gateway can do any sort of
printing done in the states. Do not
forget that.
RICHARDSON WANTS A
MILITARY GOVERNMENT
Head of Road Commission Says
Railroad No Good With
out Trails.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.—In his an
nual report just issued Colonel Rich
ardson of the Alaska Road commission
says regarding the bill to create a
general development board for Alaska
that no other agent of the govern
ment is as competent or as well equip*
ped for such a task as the army.;
From this it is assumed that the col
onel wants Alaska, or Alaska develop
ment, to be entirely in the hands of
the military authorities.
He also declares in his report that
further development of the Alaska
system of roads and trails cannot be i
expected unless congress increases its
SENATE CONFIRMS
JUDGE BUNNELL.
Valdez Attorney Will Take Oath of
Office Soon and Proceed To
the Interior.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—The Sen-1
ate in executive session yesterday af- i
ternoon confirmed the appointment
of Charles E. Bunnell of Valdez to be
judge of the district court at Fair
banks, Alaska. The Senate Judiciary
Committee met on Monday and made
its report yesterday afternoon after
the Senate had gone into executive
session.
When interviewed by a represen
tative of the Valdez Prospector Judge
Bunnell stated that he had not been
advised by the attorney-general of the
confirmation and did not expect to
hear from the department until his
commission is signed by the presi
dent. Judge Bunnell, however, ex
pected to leave for Fairbanks soon
after hearing from the department.
The oath of office will be administer
ed to the new judge in Valdez.
REFUSE PATENTS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.—The land
office today decided adversely the
applications for patent by the own
ers of 27 coal claims in the Bering
River district. The Hunt group, Che
zum, Willoughby, and Britton groups
are those decided. To date not a
claimant has secured patent to coal
claims in the Bering River district,
the government agents contesting the
claimants, rights on one pretext or
another.
JOSEPH WARREN LOSES HIS JOB.
SEATTLE, Jan. 4.—Joseph Warren,
who for the past eight years has held
the position of extradition agent for
the Second division of Alaska, has
been dismissed, as the Department
of Justice will abolish the office and
have the work done by special agents
now in the city. Warren has made
a number of sensational arrests since
appointed to the position.
ARRIVED ON ALAMEDA.
The following passengers arrived
on the Alameda last night: A. Rantio
and wife, W. Blake, E. H. Shentier,
C. A. Crowder, F. W. Howe, Cal Hut
ton, Miss Josie Walton, Jno. Helm,
Jno. Howson, N. Semminger, and C.
Townsend.
allotment of funds as the funds have
now entirely been consumed in the re
pairing and maintaining of existing
roads. This has practically fixed the
conditions, he says. He submits a
plan for the extension of roads cover
ing a period of three years with an
estimated expenditure of seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars for
the first year. Richardson says that
no rapid or general development of
Alaska will follow the construction of
the government trunk railroad to the
interior unless it is preceded or ac
companied by the construction of
many wagon roads and trails as
feeders.
AGAIN GERMANS”
ARE ACCUSED
BRITISH SAY THEY MURDER
PRIESTS AND DESECRATE
THE CHURCHES.
LONDON, Jan. 8.—The Britisn
press bureau today issued a detailed
account of alleged and frightful mal
treatment of Catholic priests in Bel
gium and the wholesale desecration
by the invaders of catholic houses of
workship. These accusations include
destruction of all sorts of institution
al houses and sacrilegious thefts.
Religious houses have been profaned
in almost every village and in many
towns the Germans passed through
the churches were used for stables
while the sacred vessels were stolen.
The clergy suffered special indignities
from the German soldiers. In the
dioceses of Namur, Liege, Malines
and Ghent many priests and others
connected with churches were shot or
hanged. Other priests were carried
to Germany where they were sub
jected to abominable usage. Specific
instances of these atrocities with the
depositions of eye-witnesses are given
in the statement. In Malines diocese
twenty six priests were killed, in
Liege diocese ten were murdered, and
twenty priests were done to death in
Namur. These brutalities are regard
ed as all the more remarkable as i;
is known that at least one-third of the
German population and army arc
made up of catholics.
STRIKE IN WHITE RIVER.
The Seattle Post Intelligencer states
that a strike of some importance has
been made by Billy James, the dis
coverer of the Shushanna, on Central
creek in the White River valley,
twenty five miles inside the Cana lian
border and seventy five miles from
Donjek The value of this strike is not
told. The same story contains the in
formation that Dud McKinney’s cache
in Bonanza was robbed of $1.01*0
worth of supplies
On her way here the Alameda pick
ed up the halibut boat Chicago which
had been disabled. The Alameda gave
her the necessary supplies to set her
right