SEWARD:—The Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The hunters’ Paradise—The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise
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ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS — '
- — __ PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
Vol. 9. No. 1.12
___- SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1915. Ten Cents the Copy
Wilson Has Decided Railroad Route
I
WASHINGTON, March 17.-The Associated Press announces that President Wilson has decided on the route for the govern
ment railroad in Alaska. It further states that the announcement as to the route will not be made by the president until he learns
the outcome of the negotiations which are now proceeding between the government and the two existing railroads tor purchase.
There is also a statement to the effect that the administration is taking under consideration the question of condemnation procee ings
should the owners of the existing roads prove to be obdurate in refusing what the government appraisers have va*H, their roa^ s a .
No particular road is mentioned as that would practically mean the announcement of the decision at which Mr, Wilson has ariived.
Washington Correspondents Announce Also Decision Made
$100,000 DAILY LOSS
TO 0. S. BV BLOCKADE
U. S- LOSS $100,000 DAILY
WASHINGTON, March 17.—It is estimated that the
loss to the United States will be one hundred thousand
dollars a day if the British enforce the blockade of the
German coasts. The state department is said to be ne
gotiating with the British cabinet with a view to bringing
about a moderation of the order of blockade. It has been
suggested to the British that such a loss to the people of
this country might mean possibly a change of sentiment
amongst some of the people on the question of the war.
TURKS DEFENSE STRONGER
BERLIN, March 17.—The British cruiser Amethyst
was heavily damaged and twenty eight of the crew were
killed and many wounded by a shell from one of the Turk
ish forts yesterday. A trawler which was seeking mines
was sunk, presumably by striking one. According to the
reports now arriving the defense being made by the forts
is stronger than it was in the beginning. The Turkish
gunners are evidently being trained down better and the
moral effect of the shelling of the great guns of the fleet
no longer seems to be so noticeable. There are constant
rumors that the fleet is suffering more than the reports
from the admirals would indicate but very little informa
tion of a positive nature can be secured.
DRESDEN LOST TWENTY
VALPARAISO, March 16.—When the survivors of
the German cruiser Dresden were landed here and count
ed it was found that twenty inert of the vessel’s company
had been drowned. This is taken to mean that the captain
only lowered his flag at the last moment as the ship was
sinking as otherwise no loss need have taken place.
GERMANY SAYS “FOUL.”
WASHINGTON, March 17.—The German embassy
has entered a protest in relation to the sinking of the Ger
man cruiser Dresden on the grounds that it was sunk in
neutral waters and was consequently a breach of interna
tional law. The facts are said by the ambassador to be
that the vessel was sunk within the three mile limit of the
Chilian coast in defiance of the law which has prevailed
for so many years. The neutral countries will be noti
fied by Germany of this contention but all that the Ger
man ambassador seems to expect is that if the Dresden
was really sunk in neutral waters it will give Germany
an oportunity to ignore international law in other re
spects. From what has been learned here there is no in
tention on the part of Germany to make the question a
point for the decision of the non belligerent nations.
TURKS GET HEAVIER GUNS
BERLIN, March 17.-^Further news from Turkey
this afternoon is that the Turks are now putting heavier
guns in the forts .of the Dardanelles and with these they
expect to render futile the attempts of the allied fleet to
reach the sea of Marmora. For the moment the fight of
the fleet against the forts is the most stirring feature of
the war.
—————
SAYS ALLIED FLEET FAILS
CONSTANTINOPLE, MARCH 17.—It is officially
announced here today that two more attempts of the al
lied fleets to force the passage of the Dardanelles have
failed. New forts are now being constructed to replace
the old ones as fast as possible and the new ones are be
ing fitted up with the latest improvements and equipped
with the most modern guns. The alarm that was felt in
this city for a time after the first attacks by the fleets
exists no longer and the apparent desire of some of the
people to leave has given way to confidence.
PARIS REPORTS
PARIS, March 17.—Severe fighting has occurred
around the Lille and Labassee districts since yesterday
but without definite results. The French have made
slight advances in the Champagne region but the difficulty
of pressing forward against the strong German entrench
ments is fully realized. Nieuport is being furiously bom
barded and the city is being gradually reduced to rains
by the allied ships of war.
MARSHALL HITS
JINGOES HARD
SAYS THEY AND CALAMITY
HOWLERS ALL SHOULD BE
DRAFTED INTO ARMY.
CHICAGO, March 17.—In a forc
ible speech delivered here last night
Vice-President Marshal declared that
jingoes and calamity howlers should
be made to enlist in the regular army
and that it is the only way to keep
their mouth} shut. He spoke with a
great deal of bitterness in dealing
with those who are agitating the
establishment of a mighty army and
navy. He ridiculed the idea that the
United States is in danger. While be
lieving that a strong navy is to be
desired to protect the trade and over
seas interests of this nation the
thought of keeping an immense mili
tary force is absurd. He seemed to
think that no matter how large the
•
force is the United States could not
and would not expect to invade the
territory of any great nation while
there is, on the other hand, absolutely
no danger that the home territory of
this nation could b'* threatened. Wirh
regard to the Phillippines he seemed
to believe that the United States now
has sufficient forces to ship there for
their defence if they can be defended
at all.
NOW BELIEVED CHINA
AND JAPAN WILL SETTLE.
TOKIO, March 17.—It was an
nounced this afternoon that the dif
ferences between China and Japan
will probably be setlled in a manner
satisfactory to both sides. This an
nouncement is said to be due to a
most favorable communication from
Peking which arrived today when the
general public believed matters looked
very black.
MEDICAL BILL FOR
DOCTORS INTRODUCED.
1 JUNEAU.—William Britt of Ju
neau has introduced in the House a
bill regulating the practice of medi
cine and surgery in Alaska. Physic
ians and surgeons, under its terms,
must possess a good moral character.
They must be debarred from practice
for “unprofessianal conduct.” They
must have a certificate from a legal
school. The usual proviso is incorpor
ated against them advertising their
business.
A. P. SERVICE
NOTA TRUST
ATTORNEY GENERAL TURNS
DOWN PETITION OF NEW
YORK SUN.
WASHINGTON, March 17.—That
the Associated Press is not a trust is
the finding of Attorney General Greg
ory. This decision came after an in
vestigation of the great press service.
In Febraury, 1914 the New York Sun
filed a petition to have the Associat
ed Press declared a trust because its
controllers refused to give service to
any but a limited number of papers.
The service is owned by all the pap
ers using it. A certain number of
newspapers in each city, the number
depending to some extent on the size
of the city, are made members of the
Associated Press and the members
themselves control the organization
and meet the expense of the whole
service according to their proportion
ate size and the size of the city in
which they are published. The Sun
declared that as these papers control
the service and prevent other papers
from using it the Association is es
sentially a trust or a “corner.” The
decision of the attorney general may
not be final and the Sun owners are
said to be contemplating a further
fight on the question.
$300,000 FIRE.
CHAMPAIGNE, 111., Mai*ch 17.—A
three hundred thousand dollar fire oc
curred here today. The fire depart
ment seemed to be wholly inadequate
to the demands made on it.
POWERS ENLARGED OF
MUNICIPAL MAGISTRATES.
s
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JUNEAU.—Rep. Heckman has in
troduced a bill giving municipal mag
istrates within the territory of Alaska
civil jurisdiction, as per recommenda
tions of M. J. O’Connor published in
the Dispatch a short time ago. Fol
lowing is one provision:
That on and after the passage of
this act municipal magistrates shall
be exofficio justices of the peace and
have civil jurisdiction when the
amount does not exceed $500.
No other candidates for the city
election have come forward officially
and no one seems to be desirous of
stating positively that he will run,
with the exception of those who have
been named already.
FIGHT ALONG 600 MILES
PETROGRAD, March 17.—Severe fighting is now
raging along the whole six hundred mile front from the
Niemen river in northern Poland to the Dniester river in
southeast Galicia. The campaign is the most active of the
war in spite of the terrible weather which still prevails.
The attacks and counter attacks are believed to precede
a terrific spring campaign which both sides are probably
preparing for by trying to secure the most advantageous
positions possible. By daring charges through the deep
snow the Russians succeeded in turning the Austrian
flank in the Carpathians south of Stanislaus. There
seems to be no particular change in the relative positions
of the opposing forces in northern Poland. The grand
duke is now apparently trying to feel out for. the dis
covery of the real intentions of Hindenburg and it is quite
possible that the latter is maneuvering with his usual
purpose of throwing our commanders off the right scent.
HARRIMAN BANK
LEASES OFFICE
NEW ANNEX OF SEWARD COM
MERCIAL CO. TAKEN BY
INSTITUTION.
The new annex of the Seward Com
mercial company was leased today by
j the Harriman National Rank of Al
aska for offices. The lease is for a
certain period with the privilege of
extension of time if it is required.
The lease begins on April 1. The up
per story of the building has not been
leased Mr. Sauers says. The new an
nex is the large store in which the
dry goods business of the Seward
Commercial Company has been con
ducted in the past.
PR'ESTS BRING JEWELS
FROM MEXICAN CHURCH.
Half a Million in Valuables Saved
From Loot in Mexico City
Cathedral.
NEW YORK, March 17.—Mexican
priests arrived here last night from
Mexico having in their possession
jewels valued at half a million dollars
which they took from the cathcura>
in Mexico City in the fear thaf the
cathedral would be looted by one side
or the other when funds began to run
short. The jewels were taker, away
a month ago b *t the priests kep; their
work a strict secret until they bail ar
rived safely in this country.
GREAT PRIZE FIGHT
TO OCCUR AT HAVANA.
- - ---
HAVANA, March 16.—'The great
battle between Jack Johnson and
Jesse Willard will take place here
April 3. All of the details have been
settled.
Johnson began active training to
day. Willard will leave for this place
at once. His agents have already
rented training quarters for him.
NO POLL TAX.
JUNEAU, March 15.—From all in
dications, there will be no poll tax
this year, the Aldrich bill which was
introduced in the Senate having no
poll tax provision, and with the senti
ment in the House and Senate gener
ally against that means of raising
revenue.
ALLEGED DYNAMITERS
ASK FOR DISMSSAL.
Caplan and Scmidt Declare the Grand
Jury is Prejudiced and did
not do Justice.
LOS ANGELES, March 17.—
Schmidt and Caplan, the alleged ac
complices of the McNamaras in the
destruction of the Times building,
have moved that the indictment again
st them be quashed on the ground that
the grand jury which brought in the
♦
indictment was prejudiced and incap
able of doing justice. The motion is
now under advisement and the deci
sion will probably be given in a day
or so. Caplan was arrested near Seat
tle while Schmidt was arrested in the
east. Both men say that the only
reason for their indictment is that
they were active in union circles.
CONDEMNING OF R. R.
IS NOW CONSIDERED
SEATTLE, March 16.—The Seattle Times Sport
extra this evening carries a story from its Washington
correspondent to the effect that President Wilson an
nounces that the government Alaska railroad route has
been selected. It says also that the time for the announce
ment of the president’s decision is indefinite. The cor
respondent goes on to state that the matters relating to
the purchase of an existing road or existing roads have
not been settled. A further statement is the expression
of the belief that President Wilson and Secretary Lane
are waiting for the opinion of the attorney general as to
how far the government may go in condemnation proceed
ings.
SEATTLE March 17.—The Washington correspond
ent of the Seattle Post Intelligencer states this morning in
that paper that the routes for the government railroads in
Alaska have been picked. In this he bears out the state
ment made by the Associated Press and the correspondent
of the Times and it has been definitely concluded that
there is no longer room for any doubt that the decision
has been made. The use of the plural word “routes” by
the Post Intelligencer correspondent is taken here to mean
that the government wants both the Copper River and the
Alaska Northern roads. It is stated by the P. I. corres
pondent that the announcement of the president s decision
will be postponed until the return of Secretary Lane from
San Francisco about April 1.
DANIELS SAYS THE U. S.
IS READY FOR WAR.
THAW SAW) TO BE IN
A NERVOUS CONDITION.
NEWPORT NEWS, March 17.—In
connection with the launching of the
dreadnaught Pennsylvania yesterday
Secretary' Daniels of the Navy in a j
speech declared that the navy of the
nation is ready for w’ar at any time. 1
CAME FROM IDITAROD
BUT LOST THE BOAT.
Mrs. T. A. Campbell and Miss R. A.
Murray arrived from Iditarod yester
day on the way to the outside but
they lost the boat by a few' minutes
although they had travelled since
early morning to catch it.
Others who have arrived from the
interior are J. W. Schnierlee of Ophir
creek and F. Morgan.
Mrs. E. L. Byers has arrived from
the outside and is on the w'ay to the
Iditarod.
1 ✓
THINKS CHINA ^VILL
OPPOSE THE JAPANESE.
Hong Kong Reports that Chinese
Troops are Being Mobilized
This is not Official.
HONG KONG, March 17.-—Reports
from Pekin are to the effect that
China is taking steps to oppose the
advance of the Japanese into Man
churia and is now concentrating
troops at a convenient point. This
news is not official but it is thought
likely that the Chinese government
will make some effort to save its ter
ritory from invasion and if it does
war, of course, cannot be avoided.
Many officials of the British govern
ment declare that China will be satis
fied with a mere protest as she could
never hope to face Japan in the field.
The matter looks very serious. This
no one denies. *
NEW YORK, March 17.—Harry K.
Thaw is said to be in a very nervous
condition brought about by the un
certainty of his fate. The sympathy
of the people seems to be in a great
measure given to him and there is a
fear that if he is again sent to the
asylum ho will almost surely lose his
mind as the glimpse of freedom which
he secured will make the horror of
his incarceration all the greater. No
decision on the habeas corpus pro
ceedings is expected today.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
FROM FAIRBANKS DISTRICT.
Chas. Rollins is report’d to have lo
cated good pay on 29 bench, Gold
stream, at a depth of 110 feet.
Ex-Senator Henry Roden who is
now in Fairbanks, expects to go to
Juneau and be present at the last few
weeks of the legislative session.
Troseth & Carlson, operating on 10
below, Cleary, had their bolier house
burned, causing a loss of about $1200
Sparks from the engine are given as
the cause.
Thus far 52 below zero is the cold
est w’eather reported from Fairbanks
this winter. This occurred on the
morning of Feb. 17 and served to re
store to more nearly noirnal the win
ter temperature.
Jack Wilbur reports good pay on
Casey creek in the Tolovana country,
and a small sized stampede has re
sulted.
Bob Geis to all reports, is still the
all around champion at the old Scotch
game of curling with which the hes
ident3 of the Interior city enliven the
winter.
Mr. and Mrs. Haynes of Fort
George are now in Seward and will
probably remain here.