SEWARD:—The Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The Hunters’ Paradise—The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise
—r————yw ■ ■■ i ■—— — wain i 11 '*
The Gateway I The Ca*eway
to the to ,he
_ . Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass
Great Coal Fields of ’ ’
.. . . Gold Fields
Matanuska __
_ - - LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS - -—
Vol. 9. No. 94 SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 191S.___len (tuts Hi. < »l<>
LANE TTu CONDUCT R. R. WORK
FLEET TO OPERATE AROUND KNIK IN THE SPRING
I
IMERIOR DEPARTMENT
10 RON R. R. WORN
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.—'TheC
President issued an executive order
today directing that all the work of
the engineering commission on the
surveys for the government railroad
in Alaska be performed under the
control of the Interior department.
This is the only information of re
cent date given out about the con
struction of the government railroad.
Many rumors have been put afloat in
connection with the matter but they
have all been groundless. The execu
tive order referred to is taken to mean
that the secretary of the interior from
this time forward will have the en
tire control of all the work. Owing to
the silence in official quarters during
the pa t few days the order has come
ns a relief as it shows that the mat
ter of the government railroad is still
claiming the attention of the admin
istration to such an extent that the
executive order at this time was deem
ed expedient.
The Dora left for the westward
from Unalga yesterday. The present
trip of the Dora will probably he the
last before she goes below.
CANAL OPENS
SURE IN JULY
FORM \1. AN NOt NT KM ENT MADE
OF POSTPONK.MKNT OF
I) VTK.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.—The ex- j
peeled official announcement of the
postponement of the opening cere
monies at the Panama canal was
made today. It was announced at the j
same time that the reason for the j
postponement is to make sure that the '
slides in the Culebra cut will have j
been thoroughly cleared out before •
the ceremonies take place. The Presi- J
dent will go to San Francisco in
March by rail and will make a special
journey to the canal in July. He will
accompany the fleet on its journey
through the canal and will then de
clare the great water way open to
the world’s traffic.
HOSTS MOVING TO j
ATTACK EVERYWHERE
TURKS CONTINUE OFFENSIVE
LONDON, Jan. 29.—The Turks have renewed their
offensive operations in Caucasia and are now advancing
with apparent determination to penetrate Russian terri
tory. Without a question they are adopting those tactics
with a view to compelling the Russians to withdraw
larger forces from Poland while the Germans and the
Austrians are taking the offensive in that country and
Galicia. No definite results of the new Turkish offensive
have been given out in today’s dispatch but the Turkish
forces in that part of the war theater have been reinforc
ed according to the Russian advices. It is known well that
to get troops to that part of the empire the Russian mili
tary authorities are laboring under many disadvantages
owing to the lack of roads and railroads and the severe
winter climate in those regions. It is clear to military ob
servers that the Turks and the Austro-Germans are now
operating in unison and as one great army, each being
bent on supporting the efforts of the other no matter how
far apart they might be. The Teutons have now strung
out considerable new forces along the Roumanian border
to guard the passes leading from Roumania to Austrian
territory and so protect the latter from an incursion of
troops from Roumania if the Roumanian government
decides to declare war. This move on the part of the
Teutonic allies shows more clearly than ever Roumania’s
intention of supporting the allies if a favorable opportun
ity offers. Recent fighting in the Carpathian mountains
has been without decisive results according to the dis
patches received this morning. The Germans have rein
forced the Austrians in that quarter very considerably
and have unquestionaby succeeded in stiffening them. The
Russians claim, however, to be more than holding their
own and the weather makes the advance of the enemy
exceedingly difficult.
EXPECT GERMAN BLOW
LONDON, Jan. 29.—The German tactics at various
points in the west during the past few days have caused
them serious losses without bringing them anything in
the shape of results with the possible exception of a few
immaterial gains in places of small importance. The ad
vices from France indicate that the Germans are now
preparing for a concentrated blow at some strategical
point on the western front. The French authorities say
that the greater part of the German forces is still in the
west in spite of the tremendous task that faces that coun
try against the Russians. The official reports issued at
Paris openly declare that the Germans are preparing for
a tremendous assault at some point in France which can
only be conjectured at present. It is said that the inten
tions of the Germans will be cloaked by apparent pre
parations for an attack in a place where it will not be de
livered at all.
ANGORA GOATS MAY
RE BIG INDUSTRY.
On Ranch Near Seward Two Kids give
Fur Worth Twenty Four Dollars
a Year.
W. A. MacPherson who owns the
ranch about three miles from this
town has two young Angora goats
from which he recently took the fur
and sold it for twenty four dollars.
The animals from which the fur was,
OFFICAL DEMOCRATS
OBJECT TO SMISER.
Sec. of Democratic Club and Former
C andidate for Congress protest
Against Carpet Baggers.
Jack Honan, formerly candidate for
congress on the democratic ticket, and
George Phelps, secretary of the local
democratic club, are preparing a
strong protest against the appoint
ment of outsiders to positions under
\V. A. flcPhsrson's Ranch.
taken are only small kills so that one
can easily see what might be done in
that line on an Alaska ranch. The
goats live entirely off the hay and
grass growing on the farm so that the
expense of their keeping is practically
nothing. Angora goats give a coat of
fur once a year.
WICKERSHAM ADDRESSES
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE.
Expects Appropriation for Drag and
Survey of Coast Will he Grant
ed Alaska.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—Dele
gate Wickersham of Alaska present
ed arguments before the committee
on appropriations today in favor of
supplying wire drags, and more ships
for the survey of the Alaska coast. It
is believed almost absolutely certain
that the sundry civil appropriations
bill will carry appropriations for these
purposes as many members of the
committee are known to have been
brought around to believing that the
work is badly needed.
El JOT SAYS THE POOR
EAT TOO MUCH MEAT.
Former President of Harvard Evi
dently Believes Meat is not for
the Blooming Lower Classes.
NEW YORK, Jan. 29.—In his ex
amination before the Industrial Re
lations committee today the former
president of Harvard declares that
the reason workers found it hard to
make their wages go as far as they
should was because workers eat too
much meat. Mr. Eliot seemed to
think that other sorts of less expen
sive food should be used by those
whose means are not ufTicient.
WANT TRAIL FROM KNlK.
Dr. Green, United States commis
sioner at Takotna, writes to say that
a summer trail could easily be open
ed from Knik to Takotna. He quotes
Engineer McPherson as authority for
the statement that the trail could
easily be built. Only two or three
small bridges would be necessary.
BREAD PRICE RISES.
The price of bread in Seward has
gone up as a direct result of the rise
in the price of wheat, so that Seward
is now very directly affected by the
war. At one place in town the price
is gone up from ten cents to fifteen
cents a loaf and at another place the
price has risen from three for a
quarter to ten cents straight.
the government in Alaska. The pro
test is the direct result of their feel
ings over appointment of outsiders in
general and over the appointment of
one district attorney for the First
division particularly. They be
lieve that all democratic organizations
ought to take up the matter and do
what they can to show the adminis
tration that Alaskan democrats are
dis-satisfied with the idea of ignoring
the claims of the people in the terri
tory.
OPINIONS DIFFER ON
VETOING IMMIGRATION.
Totally Opposite Views Expressed on
the Question of Permitting Illiter
ates to Come.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—Judging
by the editorial expressions in the
newspapers throughout the country
opinions on the matter of the presi
dent’s vetoing of the immigration bill
differ polarly. Some of the newspap
ers declare that the permitting of il
literates to land in the United States
lowers the standard of the people as a
whole. They also declare that the
children of the illiterates can only be
brought up in ignorance when their
homes are steeped in illiteracy and all
that illiteracy means. Other news
papers declare that the president, as
prsident of a nation that claims liber
ty as its chief quality, could not act
in any other way. Some of thes? pap
ers point out also that the great
majority of the people who founded
the nation were illiterate but that no
evil has shown in their descendants
because of that fact.
I --
CONGRESS WILL NOT
HAVE EXTRA SESSION.
No Plans Made and all the Necessary
Legislation will Probably be
Passed this Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—It is now
almost sure that no special session of
congress will be called this year as
the President has made arrangements
to be at the opening of the Panama
canal in July. For this reason it is
believed that the President is sure
that all the necessary legislation will
be passed during the present session
and that anything else will be left
over for the next congress.
The leaders of Congress have dis
cussed plans for additional revenue
legislation but decided to leave the
subject to the next congress. The ad
ministration is not asking for any ad
ditional legislation in that respect
BIG STEAMSHIP
BOOM FOB KNIK
COMPANY FORMED TO RUN;
BOATS ON SUSITNA AND
ALL AROUND.
SEATTLE, Jan. 29.—The Knik- |
Susitna Transportation company has
just let a contract for the construc
tion of a stern wheeler gasoline ves
..e seventy feet iong, and for the con
struction of two barges, the whole
costing thirty thousand dollars and to
be ready on the First of April. The j
company has also purchased the barge I
Sperm from a whaling company and
it also owns the stern wheeler Jane |
and the power boats Alaska, Travel
ler and Aurora. The crafts will be
operated in conncetion with the re
gular steamship lines plying from
Seattle to Cook inlet. From Knik the
essels will ply to all points on the
Susitna and Knik rivers and on Tur
nagain Arm. The new vessel will be
shipped north in sections on the
steamers and are expected to be ready
for the opening of the busy season in
spring.
The regular meeting of the Moose
Lodge will take place this evening at
the usual hour. A good attendance
is urged.
R KIM BLICAN SENATOR
FAVORS SHIP PURCHASE.
Democrats Receive Encouraging
Piomise of Aid From an Un
expected Quarter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—The gov
ernment ship purchase bill received
its first republican support today
when Senator Norris declared that he
will vote for the bill on the condi
tion that it is amended in two partict^
ulars. This defalcation of the sena
tor from Nebraska from the republi
can filibustered is taken as an indica
tion that the opposition to the bill is
gradually weakening and that it will
be able to go through earlier than had
been expected, and so leave some
time yet for the passing of other ad
ministration measures.
MAY PASS IMMIGRATION
BILL OVER THE VETO.
Immigration Committee of House
Determined to Make it Law in
Spite of President.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.—The
house committee on immigration vot*
ed this afternoon to report the im
migration bill once again with the re
commendation that it be passed over
the veto of the President. Chairman
Burnett of the committee annuouced
that the bill will get two-thirds of the
vote in the house next Thursday when
the bill comes up again.
OPEN FROM 7 TO 7
Beginning on the First of February
the stores of Brown and Hawkins and
the stores of the Seward Commercial
company will be open from seven o -
clock in the morning to seven o’clock
in the evening. Formerly the hours
were irregular but from next Monday
forward regular time will be kept
for the advantage of customers, store
employees and all concerned.
— ■**“
The Nome Nugget of December 5 j
has a telegram from Seattle saying
that the administration will ask con
gress for five millino dollars to pur
chase the Alaska Northern railroad.
The information is said to come from I
“authoritative sources.”
Job printing of every description at
The Gateway.
CARRANZA CAPTURES
CAPITAL OP MEXICO
MKXICO CITY, Jan. 29.—General
Ob re go n with twenty thousand Car
ranza soldiers occupied the City of
Mexico yesterday and once more a
new government takes the reins of
office. The forces of Zapata that had
been occupying the city decided to
evacuate without lighting seriously
and they retreated to the southward
leaving the enemy in full control. The
new authorites are maintaining order
and Obregon seems to be displaying
real strength in the effort. When the
Carranza troops first entered the city
snipers fired from the windows of
sonic of the houses and managed to
kill three of the Carranza troops but
they were caught and summarily
dealt with. All the saloons in the city
have been ordered closed to prevent
any disorder. The whereabouts of the
main hotly- of Villa’s forces is not yet
know-n but there is every likelihood
that they will soon descend on the
capital in the hope of driving out the
Carranzaistas. The people of the city
are now becoming so much accustom
ed to changes of government that
they take each new change of masters
with a sort of careless and oven hum
orous nonchalance. The occupation o.
the city is regarded as a remarkable
coup on the pail of Carranza and it
seems to promise that the war will be
prolonged much longer than had been
expected.
—
WASH! NT,TO X, Jan. 2D.—The
capture of City by Carranza promise.**
, to complicate seriously the relations
between this country and toe Mexican
republic. The enemies of the admin
istration declare that the wbil« mix
| up is due to the spineless po'icy of the
state department in withdrawing the
United States troops from Vera Cry/.
The general opinion of ail parties is
that peace seems further tlT fr< m
Mexico now than at any time in it.-*
history. One fact which is pointed
out by many is that the armies on
both sides in the Mexican affair are
now more numerous and better train
ed than ever and that the task or in
terfering and bringing about p'-ace
becomes more difficult every day.
GERMANS CONFIDENT
SAYS KAISER’S SON
CROWN PRINCE CONFIDENT
GENEVA, Jan. 29.—The Crown Prince of Germany
has given out an interview to the Associated Press, the
great American news agency, in which he states that the
day will come when Russia and France will find out that
they are only doing the dirty work oi England. In clo.s
ing the interview the prince declared that every German
and every Austrian in both empires is absolutely certain
that ther countries will come out on top and that they
will give the last drop of their blood to bring about that
end. He went over the same ground covered by him in
the much discussed interview given by him to the corres
pondent of the United Press of the United States and in
sisted that Germany was forced into war entirely against
her wishes He hinted that the real efforts of the Ger
mans and their ally are yet to be made and that the cam
paign so far has gone entirely in their favor.
AUSTRIA MAY SEIZE GRAIN
VIENNA, Jan. 29.—The city council and press of
Vienna have made a demand that the government confis
cate all the grain, flour and meal in the empire in the
same manner as Germany. At the present time there is
no grain or flour being offered for sale in the markets ol
the country. In Vienna, Budapest, Prague ami others ol
the large cities the shortage of these commodities is be
coming very apparent but the newspapers say that there
is a sufficiency of them in the country if the holders of
them were compelled to let loose of them at a reasonable
price. Some of the papers declare that a great catastro
phe threatens unless confiscation is adopted. They partic
clarlv denounce certain Hungarian agriculturists who
are reported to be hiding thousands of tons of grain and
flour in the hope of securing a higher price as the war
goes on and the scarcity becomes more pronounced. 1 he
production of the country is sufficient, authorities sa>,
to support the whole population if the products wei e
placed on the market instead of being hoarded. 1 he agi
tation has become so warm that it is almost certain the
government will follow in the footsteps of the Geiman
authorities.
FIERCE FIGHTING IN PRUSSIA
LONDON Jan. 29.—According to the official notices
posted this afternoon the Russian army in East Prussia
is again attempting to penetrate the German lines am
heavy fighting is progressing in that quarter. Two of the
German sections at the front have been defeated and
driven back. However, little change can be noted in the
general position in East Prussia for several months
After having advanced thirty miles into German territory
the Russians have been halted and seem to be unable to
break through the enemy’s opposition. The Russian of
fnsive at that point is advantageous inasmuch as it keeps
a large force of the enemy engaged there and so prevents
the Germans from reinforcing their armies in Poland,
i