The Terminus of Alaska’s Thirty-five Million Dollar Government Owned Railroad System
!-—-B -g. ; The Gateway
t0 thC Sfr Kenai, Knik^Broad Pass
v LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION
ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS _PUBLISHED PAILT EXC EPT , U —— —
Vol Nll .M SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA. FRIDAY. AUGUST 6, 1915._ __ _ _Ten Cent. Ihe Copy
KAISER ' USE THE POLES BIT VSTWORKS
PLANS FOR POLISH
AUTONOMY FORMED
BERLIN, August 5.—Even before
the fall of Warsaw at all the plans
for the future government of Poland
by the Poles themselves have been al
most drawn up and on next Sunday, it
is expected, the kaiser of Germany
will issue a proclamation declaring
that all Poles in all the countries
which took Polish territory will en
joy at least semi- autonomy. This
means that the Polish subjects of
Austria. Germany and Russia will be
recognized as a separate national en
tity and will be able to maintain their
national customs, religion, language
and all other institutions for which
the Polish people have struggled
since the dismemberment of their
kingdom. Poland proper runs from
Baltic sea down through what is
known as Galicia to the Carpathian
mountains. East Prussia contains
provinces that were once under the
dominion of the Polish kings so that
when semi-autonomy i* granted it
will mean that Germany and Austria
will give the ancient people freedom,
in addition to the fredeom given the
Russian Poles.
In the meantime a temporary gov
ernment will be established in Poland
and herein lies a tremendous bit ol
statesmanship on the part of the Ger
man government. By establishing a
temporary Polish government the
kaiser places a neutral nation be
tween him and Rusisa for the future
so that if Russia decides to continue
the war she will be faced by the con
quest of the Poles before being able
to reach the Germans again. It is
now dawning on Europe that this is
the great scheme of Germany. Once
Poland is established the necessity
for following up the Russians any
further disappears as between the
Russian and the German powers will
have arisen a nation that will tight
against the violation of its territory
by Russia or any other. Hence all
Germany feels today that the war
against Russia is about at an end. A
few hundred thousand German and
Austrian troops may be left in Poland
to form the nucleus of the coming
Polish army and then will be hurled
the whole might of the Teutons at the
enemies south, north and west.
London Gets Bad News.
LONDON*. August 6.—The worst
possible news reached this city this
afternoon from the Russian front. It
has not been confirmed nor has it
been received officially, but the news
is that the Russians are now retiring
in disorder and that the might \
armies are destroyed as a great fight
ing unit. A feeling of gloom has
spread over the city. It is felt that
Russia cannot again soon come to the
aid of her allies and that from thit>
time forward the British, French
and Italians must bear the brunt of
the Teutonic onslaught. The spirit of
the people, however, seems to have
arisen to the occasion and they wish
the world to knowr that the British em
pire will rise to the emergency.
Servia Next.
LONDON, Augu3t 6.—It is now
understood that the Teutons have de
cided to crush Servia next. As the
Austrians and Germans are released
from Poland, it is declared, they will
march against the half broken Ser
vians and the chances of the latter
gallant little people to withstand
them are not deemed great, it is con
ceded. Then, no doubt, Italy will be
reckoned with and if Italy is subdued
France and Britain will be alone un
less Russia could once more break
through the Polish buffer.
Mrs. Lulu Manthey and children
went out this morning to their home
near Bear creek.
VERY LITTLE FIGHTING
IN WESTERN THEATRE.
Allies In France and Flanders Still
Reported to be Awaiting
Munitions.
| AMSTERDAM. August 5.—Al
though the fighting between the Brit
ish and Germans is still proceeding
fiercely around the Yprcs salient no
definite results have been reported. If
any advantage has been gained by
either side nothing has leaked out.
The allied forces are said by travelers
from Belgium to be yet without an
adequate supply of ammunition or
munitions of any sort and this causes
the delay in the expected offensive al
though the Teutons will never i >r
months be so badly in need of main
taining large forces in the east as at
present. Some slight fighting was
reported last night in the Arras and
toissons districts but it was only of
the artillery exchange and sniping
order.
BRITISH M. P.
TAKEN AS SPY
FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIA
MENT IS ARRESTED BY
U. S. AUTHORITIES.
NEW YORK, August 5.—Inacius
Lincoln, formerly a well known mem
ber of the British parliament, was
taken in custody here today by the
United States authorities and will be
held for extradition to England. The
man has confessed that he has been
for some time past in the employe of
the German government as a spy.
British secret service agents throug
out the United States have been
gathering much evidence against pro
German conspirators.
WORK ON THE TRACKS TO
BEGIN RIGHT ON MONDAY.
Pile Driver Will Start Operation for
Double Track and for Dyke
at Creek Mouth.
On Monday next the pile driver
will be started to work putting in the
double track and a dyke at the mouth
of Lowell creek. The intention is to
connect by a new trestle across the
creek the second line of rails
which now exist north and south of
the creek. Outside the new trestle
will be constructed a dyke for the
protection of the tracks.
TO CENTRALIZE THE
WHOLE BRITISH EMPIRE.
LONDON, August 5.—Bonar Law
today declared one result of British
victory would mean a central govern
ment for the entire British empire,
with a full representation by all the
colonies in a central law-making
body. The press has generally accept
ed the suggestion with favor. This
scheme of government has long been
agitated by many leaders in political
activity and it is believed in influen
tial quarters that the plan will be
placed in operation as soon as the
present war is settled. *
LEFT ON ALLIANCE.
The passengers leaving on the Al
liance were, John Rothfus for Ju
neau and W. A Rice for Seattle. On
her way out the Alliance stopped at
the Salmon Saltery of Carl Stangneth
near Cane’s Head and took aboard 50
barrels of salt fish.
RUSS-GERMAN
FIGHT IN AIR
_
HYDROPLANES, ZEPPELINS AND
AEROPLAN ES BATTLE
LIKE EAGLES.
PETROGRAD, August L—It is of
ficially announced that a German gun
boat has been driven ashore near
Windau after a severe battle with
Russian hydroplanes. During the en
counter some German Zeppelins and
aeroplanes attacked the Russian air
ships and a tremendous battle in mid
air resulted. The German air fleet
was forced to retreat in the direction
of Riga so that it may be endangered
as its course of retreat is towards the
Russian army. The Russians, it is
admitted, have retreated beyond the
Kyu river but our forces are still bat
tling to hold back the Teutons in all
directions.
■■ i i. . ■ 11 —
❖ ❖ •> •> ♦ ❖ <•
❖ BIDS TO CLEAR GOVT. *
❖ TRACT RECEIVED. *
❖ - <•
The bids for the contract to clear
the streets in the Terminal tract have
been received by the chairman of the
engineering commission but they have
not yet bene gone into. The name of
the successful bidder will be known
tomorrow, probably.
LABOR I N IONS WILL
BROBE EASTLAND.
Investigation Will be Separate From
Government Inquiry.
CHICAGO, August 5.—Samuel
Gompers today announced that the
labor unions would make a thorough
probe into the cause of the sinking of
the steamer Eastland at the dock in
the Chicago river. He declared today
that the inquiry would be independent
of the government investigation and
that the responsibility for the loss of
hundreds of working men and their
families would be placed where it be
longed.
B. D. Whitfield, a son of City En
gineer Whitfield, is a recent arrival
from Seattle. He has already gotten
busy as a surveying assistant to his
father’s force.
PANAMA SHIP
CLOSEST HAND
SINALO WILL REACH ANCHOR
AGE ON 9TH AND THEN
COME HERE.
A cable message was received this
morning stating that “the Norwegian
ship Sinola will arrive at Anchorage
on the 9th. inst., with heavy machin
ery.” This is the vessel which is
bringing the great cargo of machin
ery and equipment to Seward for the
government railroad. Mr. Edes,
chairman of the commission, when
seen this morning, repeated the in
formation which he gave out before
to the effect that the ship has aboard
for Seward, locomotives, cars, dump
cars, a steam shovel and other equip
ment.
“She surely has those locomotives
aboard for Seward, Mr. Edes?”
“She has unless they fell over
board”, said the chairman, and, so,
the day is at hand when we shall have
real live government locomotives on
the Alaska Northern railroad.
Mr. Edes says the vessel will re
turn to Seward after the unloading at
Anchorage but she will go first to the
latter place. The date of her arrival
here will depend, of course, on the
amount which she will unship at the
new town.
TAXPAYERS TO
MEET TONIGHT
‘
MEETING LAST NIGHT FIGURES
HOW TAXATION MAY
BE LOWERED.
A a meeting of the taxpayers will
be held this evening in the eity hall
for the purpose of ascertaining by
what means the taxation of city prop
erty may be kept down from the fig
ure threatened by the assessment.
The meeting will take place at 8
o’clock and the largest taxpayers as
well as the smallest will be present
A sort of preliminary meeting was
held last evening in the office of G.
Benjamin Poindexter at which a
group of large taxpayers discussed
the matter. A committee was ap
pointed to secure all the facts and fig
ures for presentation to the meeting
tonight. This committee consists of
Hugh Dougherty, Ed. Whittemore
and G. B. Poindexter.
During the discussion last evening
the taxpayers seemed to think that
expenses must certainly be curtailed.
The only manner in which this cur
tailment could be made, some of them
semed to think, is in stopping school
and all other improvement not al
ready commenced, anti by the cutting
down of salaries of municipal officials
to the figures at which they were be
fore the present council came into of
fice. The chief thing is that the citi
zens have decitled to take up the
whole question of city government.
Mr. Chovin was the only member of
the city council present at the meet
ing last night and he showed a most
praiseworthy disposition to look at
the whole matter from the point of
view of the taxpayers while wishing
to show that the city council acted in
good faith.
From the figures at hand last even
ing it was found that the assessed
valuation of city taxable property can
be cut down fifty per cent and that
there will still be enough left to con
duct the municipal affairs in a man
ner at least as capable as in former
years.
Curtis Morford of the school board
was also present and in answer to
questions was understood to say that
while it would be advisable to im
prove the schools as far as possible
there need be no haste in effecting the
improvements to the extent proposed,
particularly as the city cannot af
ford them. It was also pointed out
that the improvements now intended
could only be temporary as Seward’s
increase in population in the next
year or two will call for school build
ings of such a description that the
present buildings will be absolutely
useless.
It would be hard to predict what at
titude the council will take in this
matter. The mayor has already said
that something will have to be done
and other members of the council will,
no doubt, feel that their duty to the
people is superior to any considera
tion dictated by obstinacy. From
what transpired last evening it is ap
parent that the taxpayers wish to ap
proach the council in the most ami-«.i
cable manner and to try with the aid
of the council to come to some modus
operandi.
ANCHORAGE ACTIVE.
Purser Shook, of the Alliance says
that the town of Anchorage is very
active at the present along the build
ing line. He says that all must be
moved from the old townsite to the
new by August 16th. Many new and
fine buildings are going up and the
people are very much more optimistic
over there now since the moving into
permanent quarters instead of living
in tents as formerly.
PRESIDENT IS
THREATENED
CRANK WOULD KILL WILSON
UNLESS U. S. REMAINS
NEUTRAL.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., August 5.—
F. Jurgens, a German-American resi
dent of this city, was arrested today
by the local police for sending a forg
ed threat to President Wilson. Jurg
ens wrote a long letter to the presi
dent demanding that the United
States maintain a strict neutrality in
the European war or his life would be
forfeited. The man declared that an
alliance of 150 men had been formed
to destroy the capital at Washington
and to kill President Wilson unless
the country remained neutral. It is
believed by the local authorities that
the man is insane.
PRESIDENT WANTS
DEFENSES STRENGTHENED
Cornish, N. H., July 5.—President
Wilson today announced he was pre
paring a message to the next Con
gress in which his ideas as to a more
complete national defense would be
fully outlined.
Strong pressure has been brought
for some time past by the party lead
ers to arouse general interest in a
permanent adequate defense and the
president has adopted their views
with enthusiasm. It is believed one
of the principal suggestions to con
gress will bo the need for more sub
marines and torpedo boats.
MAYOR MITCHELL ACTS
AS STRIKE MEDIATOR.
NEW YORK, July 5.—Mayor
Mitchell today interceded with the
master garment workers and was
successful in preventing a general
strike of over 60,000 women employ
ed in that trade. It is hoped the may
or will be able to effect a permanent
truce among the warring factions.
NO GAME YET.
No baseball game had been played
at Anchorage between the local team
and the rivals up to the time of the
leaving of the Alliance.
SEARCH DEBRIS
FORTHE DEAD
BELIEVED THAT THIRTY LIVES
WERE LOST IN ERIE
CLOUDBURST.
ERIE, Pa., August 5.—It will take
at least a week or ten days to search
the debris for those killed by the
cloudburst night before last. Hun
dreds of men are working night and
day removing the wreckage in this
city. The damage has been enormous
throughout this section, and it is esti
mated that over three million dollars
loss has been sustained in Erie alone.
A large force of special policemen
are guarding the ruins and have al
ready arrested more than twenty
looters. The loss of life has been esti
mated at thirty but it will be several
days before the exact number is
known.
ADMIRAL EVANS DELAYED.
The Admiral Evans did not arrive
at Cordova this morning at nine
o’clock. She went into a fog bank off
Cape Hinchinbrook this morning
about six and up to two this after
noon no report had been received
i
from her.
IEUTONS BOMBARD
fORIS Of WARSAW
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
REMAINING IN WARSAW.
Moscow Reports that Only Fifteen
per cent Flee Although
Food is Scarce.
— ■■ -
MOSCOW, August 6.—Refugees ar- j
riving here from Warsaw report that
only fifteen per cent of the people of
that city are fleeling notwithstanding
the imminence of the entry of the
Germans. Those who are fleeing do
so rather because of the fear of the
guns than because of any fear of the
Germans when they gain possession.
WARSAW, August 6.—It is al
most impossible now to secure food
staples in the city and much privation
is being endured. A strict censor
ship is being maintained over the
news sent out from here, of course, so
that nothing further can be said.
SEATTLE, August 6.—The W atson
and Mariposa have arrived here.
GERMAN GOVT.
STANDING PAT
REFUSES TO CONCEDE SINKING
OF FRYE WAS ILLEGAL
BUT WILL FAY.
WASHINGTON, August 5.—The
state department announced today
that the German government had re
fused to concede that the sinking of
the steamer Frye was a violation of
international rights but that they are
willing to pay for the loss of the ves
sel and cargo and an indemnity for
the American lives lost when the ves
sel was sunk. The American govern
ment may accept the German view
provided such acceptance is not a
violation of American treaty rights.
It is thought Secretary Lansing will
announce his decision within a few
days, after a thorough discussion of
the note by the president and cabinet.
SAYS FOURTH AVENUE
FIXED IN TWO WEEKS*
C. E. Bade Declares Work Progress
ing Well and Overtime Work
Will be Started.
The improvement work on Fourth
avenue will be finished in two weeks
according to C. E. Bade, the partner
of J. P. Mantell. Mr. Bade declares
that the work is progressing finely,
that all the cement is on the ground
and that most of the gravel and sand
also is. They are now preparing to
work overtime to hasten the conclus
ion of the improvements.
PAN-AMERICANS DISCUSS
PEACE IN MEXICO.
WASHINGTON, August G.—The
Pan-American diplomats are now en
gaged in the effort to find some peace
ful means by which the war in Mexico
can be brought to an end. Meetings
are being held secretly and the plans
are not being divulged but it is be
lieved that results of the greatest
importance will come from the dis
cussion. The great meeting of the
representatives of all the American
nations will not take place until Sep
tember 3, but by thatf time the plans
for approaching the leaders of all
Mexican factions will be completed.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fritsch of Seat
tle are guests of the Overland for a
few days. They expect to visit
friends along the railway line before j
returning home.
LONDON, August 5.—The tre
mendous operations around Warsaw
are still occupying the attention of
the world. Not since the beginning
of history have such titanic move
ments been recorded. The Russians
are retiring without doubt hut they
are retiring in an orderly manner and
the German hope that the main
armies will be caught in a trap and
compelled to surrender en masse wi’l
not be realized. The Teutons are now
attacking the fortress of several dif
ferent cities including those of War
saw itself. Terrific attacks are also
being delieverd on Lomza, Ostrolenka
and Ivangorod which stretch to the
northeast of the capital. At the lat
ter place Hindenburg is meeting the
strongest resistance and he has a
mighty task before him. Whether the
actual garrison of Warsaw i* retiring
from the city or not is something
which has not yet been ascertained
clearly but parts of it are probably
doing so. Ry all accounts the Rus
sians are putting up a much more
stern resistance than had be* n antici
pated some days ago. News from the
far eastern part of the German line
where the Teutons are making their
big attempt to cut the line of retreat
is limited but it is felt that upon the
outcome of that attempt will depend
the fate of the Russian armies.
Berlin Expects Big Haul.
BERLIN’, August 5.—The German
generals now expect to capture great
sections of the Russian armies re
treating from Warsaw. All the plans
for many months have been based on
one idea which had the capture of the
Russian armies or a great part of
them as its main purpose. The fall
of Warsaw had been counted upon
but the taking of the Russian army
has been the problem in the view of
our military leaders. The Austrians
have secured possession of the Lub
lin Cholm line of railroad and may
be able to prevent large sections of
the Muscovites from retreating by a
southern route. The military start is
not giving out much detailed infor
mation at present. The greatest dis
appointment will be felt by the people
if the number of Russians taken in
the retreat from Warsaw is not in the
hundreds of thousands. The German
attacks on the for ress of Warsaw
and the others named are being car
ried out only with a view to captur
ing the largest number possible as the
idea that the Russians would attempt
to hold the capital longer than was
necessary to cover the retreat has
long ago been abandoned.
“GROUND ALL STAKED.”
Charles J. Keon, of Marshall City,
in a letter to Russ Downing, gives the
first intimation so far received of a
new strike in the Marshall sectior,
which is pronounced to be genuine in
every way. According to Keon, the
new paystreak is located about ten
miles from Marshall City townsite,
on what is known as Willow creek.
The pay so far developed runs
through four claims, and consists of
an average of seven feet of dirt run
ning about 12 cents per pan, and is
covered with an average burden of
muck sixteen feet in thickness The
ground is described as suitable for
both winter and summer operations,
as there is an abundance of water.
The letter also states that the ground
is all staked.—Nome Nugget.
moose meet tonight.
The Mose lodge will hold a very im
portant meeting this evening at A. B.
hall. All members who can possibly
attend are requested to do so.