Lane Reports
About Alaska
(Continued from Page 1)
the Chitina Valley to Fairbanks; Port
age Bay, on the west coast of Prince
William Sound, where no settlement
now exists but which could be connect
ed with Turnagain Arm by tunnel
and so on northerly through the Sus
itna Valles to Fairbanks; Seward,
from which now extends the Alaska
Northern for 72 miles to the eastern
end of Turnagain Arm.
Although the bill authorizing this
work did not become law until March
12. 1 14. the Commission of Engineers
had been appointed, their subordinate
engineers and other employees had
been selected, their horses, supplies,
boats . and outfits had been bought,
and the\ were in Alaska and at work
by the earliest day in summer when
their work could be undertaken.
Congress supplemented its railroad
hill by the passage of another act of j
no less significance, a bill providing
for the leasing of the great coal fields
of Alaska. As this is virtually the
first bill to pass Congress authorizing
the leasing of any of our resources,
it may be well to outline its provis
ions.. It first provides for a survey of
the coal lands of Alaska, preference to
be given to the Bering River, Matan
uska. and Nenana fields. These fields
would doubtless supply the needs of
the f ir We st for many years if made |
accessible. The Xenana field is some
r.O miles from the Tanana River and
could feed the great interior, while
the .\atanuska is but a short distance
from Cooks inlet on the coast, and the
Bering River field is near Controller
Bay and the city of Cordova. In the
two best fields (Matanuska and Ber
ing River) a reservation is to be made
for the Government, not alone to sup
ply the needs of our ships, but to be
operated in the event that the price of
coal is raised to such a figure by mon
opoly as to make this price value. The
surveys are to be in 40-acre blocks, j
and the leases are not to exceed 2.560 J
acres, which is the average coal opcr-1
ation of the United States. As a coal
mine under modern conditions is much j
more than a tunnel or a shaft, requir
ing a plant costing from a quarter to
half a million dollars, it was necessary
to make the acreage large enough to
justify such an expenditure. The
leases are to awarded through com
petitive bidding or otherwise, under
general regulations made by the Sec
retary of the Interior, with a mini
mum royalty payable to the Govern
ment of 2 cents a ton and an annual
rental of from 25 cents to $1 per year
per acre applicable on the royalty.
This last provision as to rental is to
make it onerous to hold land unde
veloped. The leases are to be for not
more than 50 years, subject to renewal
on new terms.
Tho utmost care was taken by Con
gress to guard against monopolization
of the fields. Railroads are not per
mitted to hold more of these lands
than will supply their own needs,
l.eases may be transferred only with
governmental consent. No one mav
be a shareholder or otherwise have
an interest in more than one holding.
And for violation of its general and
specific prohibitions criminal penalties
may be imposed. Provisions against
waste and for care in the operation
of the mines are required in each
lease. The safety and welfare of the
miners are safeguarded, and an eight
hour day for underground workers is
specified. Wages shall be paid twice
a month, and the company store as a
compulsory base of purchase is frown
ed on. The miners are to be insured
the fair and just weighing of the coal
mined, and other measures may be
provided in the leases which may be
needed “for the protection of the in
terests of the United States, for the
prevention of monopoly, and for the
safe-guarding of the public welfare.”
*
Leases may be forfeited by ap
propriate proceedings in court for
noncompliance with the provisions of
the lease or of general regulations,
and the lease may provide for enforce
ment of other appropriate remedies
specified therein.
To care for the strict v local and
domestic needs for fuel, provision is
made that a limited license or permit,
for 10 acres and running for not more
than ton years, may be granted to any
person without payment of royalty.
As Alaska contains many scattered
coal veins easily accessible from twine*
and towns this is a provision that it
is thought will make for general re
lief. Having provided in this manner
here most generally stated against
those conditions which have arisen
within the United States and w ich
have threatened Alaska, Congress nas
restored the coal lands of A aska to
the world’s use.
• • m I
Just as Congress is advancing iunua
for the Indians w ith which to buy cat
tle and horses and plows, and thus
make their other assets available and
eventually make them self-supporting,
so Congress also by this bill and by its
Alaskan railroad bill takes a long step
toward making Alaskan resources so
available as to pay Alaska’s cost of
development.
As in my report of last year. I again
suggest that there is but one business
like and adequate way of dea’ing with
the removed affairs of so great a ter
ritory, and that is by the creation of a
new piece of administration machinery
which I have designated descriptively
as an Alaskan development board.
Alaska should be administered as a
unit bv men upon her soil. In a report
sent to Congress I have shown the
confusion and curious admixture of
official functions which now obtain as
to Alaskan matters—a vertiable babel
of official voices. There is no reason
that appeals to me against placing the
internal resources of that Territory
under the supervision of a commission
of presidential appointees, who will
give a constructive note to this work
and advance the interests of Alaska
by prompt and farsighted administra
tion cf the policies which Congress
shall declare. There is to be a large
movement toward this new land in
the next few years; it has, indeed, al
ready begun. To gather into one sheaf
the powers now’ so widely scattered
among various departments w’ould
make for the efficient management of
the Government’s interests and give
form to the faith that the F ederal
Government is to have a continuing
policy of concern for the affairs of the
Territory.
NEWS NOTES
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Whitehead will
leave on the Evans for their honey
moon trip to the outside.
An operation was performed today
by Dr. Romig on H. C. Hall whose
feet were frozen some days ago while
he was returning from Portage Bay.
All the toes of the right foot had to
be amputated and the tops of three
toes of the left foot were removed.
Mr. Hall is said to be progressing as
favorably as possible under the cir
cumstances.
ANOTHER GERMAN CRUISER
SHOWS UP AT GUAM.
Must Leave This Morning Or Be In- ’
terned During The Course
Of The War.
Jri
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—The Ger
; man converted cruiser Cormorant has
arrived at Guam lacking coal and sup
plies and even water. The authorities
have told her captain that he must
leave this morning or the ship will be
1 interned during the course of the war.
expeet
i ed that her career will be a very brief
one as she is being sought by numer
ous vessels of the hostile fleets and
she is entirely unfit to cope with real
warships.
SENDS OUT REPORT.
The Commercial club has had fine
success in getting out the report asked
for by Chairman Edes of the govern
ment railroad commission. The club
met last night to consider the report
and declared it to be a first class, con
servative description of the peninsula’s
resources. It will be mailed at once
to Mr. Edes at Washington.
CHRISTMAS TREE
AT M. E. CHURCH.
All the People in Town are Invited to
Enjoy a Pleasant rime
Christmas Eve.
A Christmas tree entertainment will
be given on Christmas Eve at the
Methodist Episcopal church at which
the Rev. Mr. Cook has invited the
whole town to be present. The
children are now being prepared to
render a very pleasant program and
a most enjoyable Christmas Eve may
be looked forward to by all.
Mrs. George Kilroy, formerly of
Nome and Iditarod, arrived today on
the Mariposa and will go to Kodiak
on the Dora with Mr. ami Mrs. Karl
Armstrong who also arrived on the
steamer. The Dora will leave on the
day after tomorrow according to Cap
tain McMullen.
Don’t forget the White Tar Moth
and Dustproof Bags. A good Christ
mas present. Brown & Hawkins.
“Quality first.”
New Neckties in all the latest Colors
and Patterns. Brown & Hawkins.
“Quality first.”
Two thousand beautiful calendars to
be given away free to our customers.
Watch for announcement in the Sew- j
ard Daily Gateway. Brown &
Hawkins. “Quality first.”
Suggestive Xmas Presents, Cultery,
Silverware, Tabourettes, Smokers
Stands, Rifles, Furniture, etc., Brown
& Hawkins. “Quality flr*t.”
Long distance telepnonc booth at
The Branch.
See us before sending outside fo*’
your job printing.
Ask to see the New Corset designed
for outdoor sports and dancing at
Ellsworth’s.
Finch’s Golden Wedding Rye at The
Branch.
Long distance telephone booth at
The Branch.
For Salads, try Mrs. Porter’s
Mayonnise,. Brown & Hawkins.
“Quality first.”
i nin ■■iin- r
■ i <i ■■ i .. _!■_■ ■!■■■
FINE BABY GIRL BORN
TO MRS. JACK RONAN.
Noted Alaskan Democrat Becomes
Father Of A Ten Found
Young Lady.
A baby girl was born last night to
Mrs. Ronan, wife of John Ronan who
was at one time a candidate for deL
egate to congress from this territory ,
on the democratic ticket. The young j
lady who has arrived weighed ten
pounds and is in fine condition. Mrs.
Ronan is also reported to be very well
by Drs. Romig and Baughman who
were in attendance.
We have
Just Received
A new listing of
some Choice
Lots
I IX
at prices that
will surprise
you.
As these prices may
he raised at any
V
moment,
Get Busy
and Call and sec Us.
WHITEHEAD
REALTY and
INVESTMENT
COMPANY
Two doors below
The Gateway
The Best Xmas Gift
FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
IS AN ORDER TO HAVE
A Portrait Taken
AT I HE SAWYER STUDIO
You ran Imv these orders
at the STUDIO; good for
one-half dozen pictures or
MORE IF YOU LIKE.
Second Avenue, West of
Old School.
PICTURES FRAMED TO ORDER
SEE SAMPLES AT THE STUDIO.
CIITETD’C A Jewelry Store
OU I E«i\ O For Everybody
DIAMONDS—Extraordinary facilities for securing the
Choicest Gems from the Diamond Markets, together with
our Large Turn-Over, enables us to always Sell at the
Lowest Prices—and the Same Price is made to every
body.
- _ —__~ a A\T 1
SOURDOUGHS ATTENTION—We make a specialty of
Nugget and Ivory Jewelry, and Mounting Same to Order.
WATCHES—All Reliable American and Foreign move
ments will be found in our Watch Department, in both
Solid Gold and Guaranteed Cases: Please remember that
Visitors are always Welcome at the Suter Jewelry Store.
Mail orders promply attended to.
I U/ UITFD Jeweler and Silversmith Ki&
La TV a OlILK, 1115 Second St., SEATTLE
“Seward’s Pioneer Show House"
Casino Theater
N. J. KOONTZ, Man gr.
“A Reel Show”
“Get the Casino Habit”
TONIGHT
The Famous All-Star
Tanhouser Company, in
‘Tndine Mermaid”
Beautiful Feature in 2 Reels
and
A GOOD COMEDY
SHOW EVERY NIGHT
EXCEPT SUNDAY
Entire Change of Program
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays.
Prices Always 25c ami 50c
WE TAKE PLEASURE
in giving to the residents of Seward, and Southwestern
Alaska the same high grade quality in workmanship and
stock that they could be able to obtain in the best Jewelry
stores Outside.
IN SHOWING
Our stock, we take a keen pride both in the quality of the
goods and in the variety of patterns that we are able to
offer our patrons. There is not one article in this stock
of high grade goods, that is sold under the slightest mis
representation, and we guarantee every article that we
sell or repair to be just w hat we say it is and nothing else.
OUR STOCK
of high gradeWatches, Diamonds and Jewelries, we con
sider the peer of any stock in any tow n, ten times the size
of Seward on the Pacific coast. We take pleasure in doing
particular jobs for particular people and in ordering spe
cial pieces for special occasions.
At this time we have a particularly well selected
line of goods suitable for the holiday trade, that we are
able to offer at prices, that gives Seattle shoppers no
advantage.
OUR SPECIALS
Waltham Watches Howard Watches Hamilton Watches
Silverware Nugget Jewelry
Cut Glass and Diamonds
GEORGE A. MIRLACH
Seward Alaska
Location Notices at The Gateway
BROWN & HAWKINS
MERCHANTS
SEWARD “Quality First” KNIK
•
In making preparations for the big Christmas Dinner
and the general feasting and festivities enjoyed during the
Yuletide. Don’t forget that we can supply you with all
the Staple and Fancy Groceries and dainty delicacies in
the market.
Choice Prepared Mince Meat in quart jars, enough lor
three Big Pies.
Nonesuch Mince Meat.
Richardson and Robbins Plum Pudding—The best.
Mrs. C’s Orginal Fig Pudding and Raisin Brown Bread
Dainty and Delicious.
National Biscuit Co’s Fruit Cake—Like mother used to
make—without the work and worry.
All kinds of Jellies, Jams and Preserves Pickles, Relishes,
Meat Sauces, Chutney and Salad Dressing.
Green, Ripe and Stuffed Olives.
Camembert, Parmensan, Gorgonnola, Limberger and all
kinds of Cheese.
Brown & Hawkins
SEWARD “Quality First” KNIK
“ PALACE JINGLES "
Little drops of Sherwood Rye
Dripping through the ice
Mixed with foreign Ginger Ale
Makes a high ball nice.
One makes you feel better
Two sends your stock to par
And that’s the drink they serre you
At The Palace Bar.
[THE PALAGE BAR
Furnished Rooms for Men
JOE MORRIS (^afe and Lunch Counter Just Opened | BILL DEVINE
“ PALACE JINGLES "
i
Little chops of Mountain Sheep
Nicely browned French Fried,
A frapr»nt bowl of Java
And French Peas on the side.
With service neat and tidy
All served the proper way
You’ll like it if you dine with us
At the Palace Bar Cafe.