The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise
PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY_ _____LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
\ N®. 14$ SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1915.___ Ten C t its th< ( op>
I
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED MEN TO
WORK FROM SEWARD NORTHWARD
Construction Work Divided in Three Parts—from Ship Creek South and
North and From Seward on Alaska Northern
Reported in Washington that General
Sibert, Formerly of the Panama
Canal, Will Be in Charge of Con
struction, Instead of Engineering
Commission.
WASHINGTON, March 31.—*That:
President Wilson will formally an
nounce the purchase of the Alaska
Northern railroad on the return of
Secretary Lane from San Fransico is
a fact whica became posit vcly known
here today. The deal has been fully j
concluded, but it is assumed, the
president hesitated through courtesy
to Mr. Lane before making the forma!
announcement. It is also learned that
the railroad owners have succeeded in
securing an additional fifty thousand
dollars for their property and the
actual price paid is one million tw-o
hundred thousand instead of one mil
lion one hundred and fifty thousand
formerly stated. Lane took part in
the negotiations while absent and as
he has ben placed in charge of the mat
ter he will probably be the man to
make the official announcement. It is
also stated that the announcement
will take the form of a statement
direct that Seward has been chosen as
the terminal.
LANE COMING l*P.
It is also stated on authority which
may be regarded as tantamo nt to
official that Secretary Lane will ar
rive in Sew ard in July. He will prob
ably look over the whole field and
take personal notes of all the facts
and conditions between that city and
the Matanuska coal fields. At least
this may be said unquestionably to be
the intertion at present unless sem *
extraordinary and altogether unex
pected circumstance should interfere.
WORK BEGINS AT SEWARD.
Another statement of importance is
that twenty-five hundred men a ill be
used in the work of construction this
summer. They will be divided into
three units. One unit will construct
the line from the headouarters at
Ship creek to mile one hundred and
fifty-two. The sceond unit will work
from Ship creek to Kern creek and
connect up the new’ line with the Al
aska Northern tracks. The third for
SEATTLE HAS "
BIG STRIKE
SEATTLE ELECTRIC EMPLOYEES
THREATEN RIOT AND
POLICE CALLED.
SEATTLE, March 31.—The police
reserves were called out last evening
when the leaders of the discontented
car men attempted to force the em
ployees of the Seattle Electric comp
any to go out on a strike. The men
responsible for the disturbance are
tho e who are agitating in favor of
a strike ami the body of the men seem
not to be desirous of quitting work if
they are let alone. Several have
struck, however, but the cars are still
running although with reduced forces.
It is feared that the strike will be
come general and the traffic of the city
be seriously disturbed. The men who
are agitating the strike are apparent
ly determined to bring it about and to
cause a general tieup. Serious riot
ing was threatened when the police
reserves were called but the determin
ation of the authorities has obviated
the danger of any great disturbance
of the peace at leajt for the present
ce will begin at Seward and work
north on the task of re-constructing
the Alaska Northern itself.
The general belief is that the docu
ments have been all S'gned but that
the v< ndors of the Alaska Northern
have at the president’s request re
frained from giving out any definite
statement. As the sccretaiy »s due
in Washington in a day or two the
official announcement may be expected
in a very quick time unless a slight
delay may be caused for some diplo
matic or other reason. It is believed
that the whole summer will be utiliz
ed so that the work will begin as
early as possible.
WASHINGTON, March 31.—It is
believed now* that Brigadier General
William Sibert will be asked by the
president to build the government
railroad in Alaska instead of the pres
eit engineering commission. Sibert
recently received promotion as com
mander of the Pacific coast army as
a reward for his w*ork on the Panama
canal in which he was colonel of en
gineers and the right hand man of
Colonel Goethals. No reason is as
signed for the belief and nothing is
said as to why the present engineer
ing commission will not be employed
for the work of construction. The
likelihood is that the administration
would prefer army men for the reason
that as the president is commander
in chief of the army, and as army men
are under the direct power of the ad
ministration, the accomplishment of
the work through army men could be
done more directly by those responsi
ble. Lieutenant Mcars is the only
member of the engineering commis
sion who belongs to the army. The
others have never done railroad w*ork
directly under the government while
the record of General Sibert in large
works is know*n intimately. However,
the statement that Sibert will be plac
ed in charge is only a rumor at pres
ent, although a rumor that is believ
w’ortn publication in the newspapers.
It is really the only statement made
worth noting for the past couple of
days in relation to the Alaska ra’lroad
subject.
MARIPOSA TO SAIL TONIGHT.
Tonight is the time seheduhni for
the sailing of the Mariposa from Seat
tle. In the telegram yesterday ;t was
stated that she would leave for the
Cook Inlet run on April 11 but this
would hardly be possible. The North
western is due to leave Seattle on her
next trip April 12.
PROMINENT SEATTLE
FQLKS KILLED IN AUTO.
People With Names Famous on the
Sound Fall to Death at
Duwamish Bridge.
SEATTLE, March 31.—'Thomas
Prosch, Miss Margaret Denny and
Mrs. Harriet Beecher were killed yes
terday when the auto in which they
were riding plunged off _ Duwamish
bridge. All three victims belonged
to prominent pioneer families in this
city and the accident has caused a tre
mendous sensation. The cause of
the occurrence has not ber. made clear
yet but it is supposed to be one of
those simple little errors of judgment
that have caused the loss of so many
Uvea in the tame manner.
!♦❖♦♦♦♦♦•>♦♦♦ <•
❖ BULGARIA HOLDS UP *
❖ GERMAN SHIPMENT. *
❖ — ♦
SOFIA, Bulgaria, March 31.—The
Bulgarian government is now holding
up German shipments of war mater
ial destined for Constantinople. It
has become publicly known that Ger
many has been shipping war munition
to Turkey and that this government
has closed its eyes to the fact until
the allied powers entered a protest
and caused a change of policy.
KAISER IN CONFERENCE
WITH OVER GENERALS.
Meets Heads of Austrian and German
Armies to Map Out the
Spring Campaign.
BERLIN, March 31.—The Kaiser
is now in conference with the chief
leaders of the Austrian and German
armies with the intention, it is as
sumed, of mapping out the spring
campaign. The war in now being car
ried on almost all over the continent
on the principle that the Austrian and
Gorman armies are one force but this
principle will be developed more per
fectly from this time forward £o that
Austrian troops may be used to re
inforce the German lines and vice
versa.
HEAD OF ROTSCHILDS
HAS PASSED AWAY.
LONDON, March 31.—Lord Roths
child the head of the Rothschild firm,
died here today at the age of seventy •
five. His passing marks the end of
an era during which he probably had
more power than most kings. His
death is not expected, howeve , to
have any effect on the money market.
LACK OF DOPE DRIVES
HUNDREDS TO ASYLUMS.
In One State Alone Three Hundred
More Men in Madhouses Because
of New Drug Law.
SPRINGFIELD, March 31.—It was
announced this morning that three
hundred more men have entered the
asylums of this state than usual, and
the cause is declared to be the pass
ing of the new drug laws. It was dis
covered that immediately after the
passage of the laws the number of
people going into asylums began to
increase and some of the medical j
authorities started to investigate the
matter with the result that the dis
covery has been made, at least. in
some instances, that large numbers of,
men who had been addicted to the use
of drugs have gone insane as the
direct consequences of being unable to
secure further supplies. So serious
has the condition of the drug users
become that it is possible some means
may have to be found to circumvent
the law to save thousands of people
throughout the United States.
ALL TALKING SEWARD
' DOWN IN SEATTLE.
Robert Ashland Sells Seventy-five
Lots for Thirty Thousand
Dollars.
Robert Ashland received a cable
from Seattle this morning telling him
that all Seattle are talking Seward
since the hews was published that the
government had purchased the Alaska
Northern railroad. Mr. Ashland has
disposed of seventy-five lots for thirty
thousand dollars.
The building up of Seward will
mark a new era in building methods,
probably. Alaska towms in the past
have been built board by board but
the new movable houses will make the
building of a city possible in a few
days. Several new houses of this
kind will bt toon put up.
❖ <* ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ <*
❖ BRYAN SAYS LOAN TO *
❖ FRANCK IS JUSTIFIABLE. *
❖ - *
WASHINGTON, March 31.—Secrc
tary of State Bryan declared today
j that the United Staten government
has no right to prevent any American
citizens or corporation from giving
loans to any belligerent nation. Th s
statement arose from the 1 >an of fifty
millions which is about to be made by
Morgan and company to Franee. Pro
Germans declare that such a loan is
contrary to the spirit of neutrality if
not actually a breach of the neutrality
law.
TO REVISE PROHIBITION.
WASHINGTON, March 31.—Sena
tor Shepard of Texas announces that
the national prohibition question will
be brought up at the next session of
congress. The proposals made by him
will be rev.sed.
YOUNG GUGGENHEIM
IS NOW DIVORCED.
Robert, Son of Daniel, Retired to
Single Blessedness by W'ife
of His Supposed Bosom.
NEW YORK, March 31.—Robert
M. Guggenheim, son of Daniel Gug
genheim, is again a single man, his
wife having secured a divorce from
him here yesterday. The man divorc
ed formerly lived on the Pacific coast,
particularly at Seattle where he took
part in financing many sporting
events. The divorce case has been
pending for some time. The actions
of Robert M. caused his father to re
call him to the east after he had
squandered a fortune.
FIERCE WAR IN
CARPATHIANS
RUSSIA CLAIMS SUCCESS BUT
AUSTRIANS IN BUKOW
INA ADVANCE.
PETROGKAD, March 31.—Fierce
fighting is proceeding in the Carpath
ians between the Uszok pass and
Bartfeld. It is going favorable to our
arms in spite of a stubborn resistance
on the part of the Austrians. Ad
vance is necessarily slow because of
the rugged nature of the country but
the advices from the front indicate
that the approaches to Hungary are
once more about opened. It is admit
ted, however, that the Austrians are
advancing from Czernowitz, the capi
tal of Bukowina, into Russian terri
tory. They have crossed the river
Pruth but for what purpose is not
clear unless it might be to threaten
the rear of the Russian armies in
Galicia. The advance has probably
been made possible because of the dis
patch of large bodies of troops to
force the passage of Hie mountains to
the westward. The German offensive
in the northeast of Poland near the
East Prussian border is officially re
ported to have been definitely con
cluded. The Germans found the forti
fications in the way beyond their
strength, without question, and their
next move is awaited with great ex
pectancy.
OVER TWO HUNDRED REGISTER.
The number of people registered for
the city council election last night was
two hundred and ten. On the same
date last year the number was one
hundred and fifty-four. The total
registration for the municipal election
last year was two hundred and thirty
five.
U. S. PROTESTS
THE BLOCKADE!
WASHINGTON CABLES TO LON
DON OBJECTION TO BRIT
ISH ACTION.
WASHINGTON, March 31.—The
United States government today
formally pretested against the general
blockade of the German and Austrian
coasts declared by Great Britain. The
protest was sent by cable and while
its text has not been made pubilc it
is stated on reliable authority that it
is couched in language that leaves no
room for doubt o' the serous effect
which such a blockade will exercise
on the trade of this country and on
the feelings of the people whose trade
will be directly injured by it. There
is little hope that the British govern
ment will relax its strict ruling in the
matter as its chief hope in victory is
founded on the belief that by a close
blockade Germany can be starved in
to submission. The greatest possible
interest is being manifested with
respect to the wording of the protest.
Some of the cotton states and large
interests in other lines have been bom
barding the administration with de
mands for action against the blockade
and the president and secretary of
state are practically forced to take
the matter up in a manner that can
leave no doubt as to the honesty of
their intentions in compelling respect
from foreign governments for Ameri
can commerce. That this country
cannot force submission to its wishes,
either by Germany or Britain, is gen
erally conceded under the present cir
cumstances but the administration's
action may have the effect of creating
a moral force that neither belligerent
can well afford to ignore. The chief
weapon that could bo used by this
country to enforce its wishes against
Great Britain, it is believed, would be
the stoppage of shipments to that
country.
♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦•>♦♦♦♦
❖ WITNESSES IN TERRE *
❖ HAUTE CASE PROTECTED. *
.> - *
INDIANAPOLIS, March 31.—The
judge presiding over the hearing of
the Terre Haute election scandal
cases today promised witnesses ap
pearing on the stand that they would
receive protection against any pos
sible attempts to punish them for giv
ing testimony. The statement of the
judgo was the result of rumors that
the witnesses who swore against al
leged boodlers wrould be made to suf
fer when they went nome to Terre
Haute. Witness after witness still
continues to testify to the most sen
sational facts ever revealed in con
nection with an election in this
country.
ARRESTED FOR SETTING
FIRE TO A LINER.
Now Believed That Attempt to
Destroy Ship Wras Due to
the Germans.
PARIS. March 31.—Raymond Swo
boda has been arrested on the charge
of setting fire to the French liner La
Tourrainc while she wras on her way
across the Atlantic on March 6. At
the time there v/as some suspicion
aroused as to the cause of the fire but
the authorities never uttered a w'ord
that would show they attributed the
act to the enemy. A careful investi
gation has been made, however, and
facts were elicited that led to Swo
boda’s arrest. A letter was found on
his person after arrest that indicates
that he had close dealings with the
Germans. If he is found guilty he
will probably be shot.
EVANS LEAVES JUNEAU.
Agent Wayne Blue has received
word that the Admiral Evans left Ju
neau last evening at 7 o’clock.
FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT
VISITS SPIRIT CITY.
SEATTLE, March 31.—Former
Vice-President Fairbanks is in Seattle
for a short visit.. He has received
several invitations to make addresses
but will probably not be able to ac
cept.
»> •> <• ❖ ❖ ♦> <* •> ❖ •> + ❖
❖ LONDON THINKS THE WAR *
❖ HINGES ON CARPATHIANS *
❖ - ❖
LONDON, March 31.—The general j
belief here now is that the outcome
of the war hinges on the result of the
fighting in the Carpathians. This is ;
evidently due to the feeling that if |
the Russians succeed in over-running (
Hungary, Austria will be compelled I
to sue for peace and leave Germany
alone to be dealth with by the whole
allied power. From the accounts
coming from Petrograd it is concluded
that the Russians are winning in that
quarter.
REPORTED GERMAN SUBMARINE
FLEW THE ENGLISH FLAG.
One Hundred and Twenty People
Were Drowned in the Two
Steamers Sunk.
LONDON, March 31.—It is report
ed, but not officially, that the German
submarine that sank the liner Falaba
flew the British flag when she was
first sighted off the coast by the lin
er’s crew. If this is a fact it probably
accounts for the catching of the liner
which was much faster than the sub
marine and could easily have escaper!
if some such trick had not been pract
iesd. It was officially announced that
one hundred and eleven people who
were aboard the Falaba were drowned
when their ship was sent to the bot
tom. The number drowned on the day
before when the steamer Aquila was
sunk was nine, making a total of one
hundred and tweny ron combatants in
two days. Feeling continues very bit
ter a3 a result of the less of innocent
lives and extreme measures may be
resorted to for the punishment of the
commanders of submarines falling in
to British hands.
FRANCE CLAIMS SUCCESS
IN YESTERDAY'S FIGHTING.
In Champagne, Vosges and Argonne
Fighting Continues Fierce
but Indecisive.
PARIS, March 31.—The official re
ports this morning relate successes
for the French in the Vosges depart
ment, the Argonne and Champagne.
The struggle still continues, however,
in all these places and it is generally
indecisive although fierce. Along the
rest of the western front matters are
comparatively quiet and nothing has
occurred for the past couple of days
with the exception of some artillery
exchanges. Large forces are engaged
in the three places mentioned and the
result yvill probably be important.
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK.
LONDON, March 31.—The British
steamer Flaminian was torpedoed last
Monday by a German submarine off
the Scilly islands and sunk. The peo
ple aboard were saved. The delay in
getting the news was due to the delay
of the rescued sailors in reaching
land.
VILLA IS NEXT TO
LEVY BIG TAX.
Reported to Have Forced a Million
Pesos Out of the Merchant*
of Monterey.
SAN ANTONIO, March 31.—It is
reported that General Villa has levied
a tax of one million pesos on the mer
chants of Monterey to meet the ex
penses of his campaign. He is be
lieved to have under his command one
of the largest armies that were ever
organized ir. a Mexican revolution.
Nothing has been learned here of the
final result of the battle at Matamoras
but it is assumed that it was indecis
ive. Obregon is declared to be at
least the equal of Villa as a leader of
the sort of warfare carried on in Mex
ico and he is now really the backbone
of the Carranza cause. The general
opinion here is that all hope of peace
in the unfortunate repubile may be
abandoned for several years at least.
LADIES AID TO MEET.
The Ladies Aid Society of the M. E
church will meet at the home of Mrs
W. E. Root, Thursday afternoon.
NORTHWESTERN AT
VALDEZ MIDNIGHT.
The Northwestern is due to arrive
at Valdez at midnight according to
word received today by Agent Guptil
j
DARDANELLES
WAR RENEWED
ALLIED FLEETS START AGAIN
TO HAMMER WAY THRL
CHANNEL.
LONDON, March 31.—It is official
ly announced that the bombarding of
the forts of the Dardanelles has been
renewed by the allied ?eots but sith
what result is not stated. The work
is still proceeding and tin warships
have moved further in than ti e posi
tion occupied by them during the
pause in the proceed ngs. Sonic more
warships have been added to the bom
barding squadron to ill the places
of the vessels lost and further rein
forcements for the lard forces have
been dispatched. It is generally un
derstood that greater caution will b<»
observed in the future operations of
the ships. French aviators have been
sent from the southern French coast
to aid the work of reconnoitering and
discovering the land batteries of the
enemy. It has been suggested that
the other super-dreadr aughts of the
Queen Elizabeth type be sent to take
part in the attacks on the forts as the
tremendous range of heir guns on
ables thme to stand out of range while
keeping the forts easily within their
own shooting distance. The possibil
ity that the Germans may try more
raids on this coast may. however, pre
vent their dispatch.
•|< '!• *C* •* ^ v *J*
>:• FRENCH BELIEVE GERMAN *
* SUBMARINE WAS SUNK. *
> - ♦
PARIS, March 31.—It is believed
on good grounds that a French cruiser
sank a German subma-ine yesterday
off the harbor of Dieppe in the Eng
lish channel. The submarine was
sighted and the guns of the cruiser
were opened on her. She sank out of
sight so quickly that ill aboard the
cruiser are confident t nat she was
destroyed.
PAINTERS TO STRIKE
IN CITY OF CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, March 31.—The heads
of the painters’ union 1 avc decided to
call a strike tomorrow morning. The
wage agreement entered into some
time ago has ended and the employees
have refused to keep an appointment
intended to arrange for the arbitration
of the question. A large number of
men is effected.
FORMER VICE-PRES11)EN1'
SPEAKS ABOUT ALASKA
SEATTLE, March 31.—Vice-Presi
dent Fairbanks in a statement today
declared that if the government ful
fills its obligations to Alaska that ter
ritory will rise to a position of real
greatness. He fully agrees with the
idea of opening Alaska by railroads
as the government is now about to do.
F. YOUNGS AND
COL. REVELL OUT
rwo NEW MEN ANNOUNCE
CANDIDACY FOR CITY
COUNCIL.
Frank E. Youngs and Colonel H. E.
Rcvell announced their candidacy this
morning for election tc- the city coun
cil next Tuesday.
This makes about eight men who
have come out positively with the an
nouncement that they are in the run
ning. Two or three others, at least,
are mentioned as almost sure of be
ing candidates but they have not yet
given permission for 'he publication
of their names. The aim of all the
people seems to be to secure a good
working council without creating any
ill feeling.
BELIEVES CARMEN’S
STRIKE OVER.
SEATTLE, March 31.—The day has
brought out no new developments in
relation to the strike of the carmen
and the danger that the strike will be
declared is belived to have paised.