®ltr frgmarft (Satgmag_
Published Daily Except Sunday by The Seward Gateway Publishing Co.
BERNARD M. STONE. President.
Subscription Rates:
Daily—One dollar per month Ten cents the copy. By mail, $10 per year.
Weekly—'Three dollars per year.
(Payable strictly in advance).
Advertising Kates:
Display advertisements, $3.00 per inch per month.
Readers, 10c per line first insertion, 5c per line each additional insertion.
Legal notices, 50c per line.
Everyone coming over the trail from Iditarod agrees that it is one of
the most poorly laid out trails in Alaska and all express the opinion that the
people of Seward should do something to have the condition remedied. The
fact that it is one of the mail routes ough to be enough to have it made as
nearly perfect as possible. It is a matter of real importance to all the people
who come over it from the interior, to the people who live in the interior but
it is above all a matter of importance to the people of this city.
There is already some talk of taking up the matter and having a peti-,
lion forwarded to the proper quarters. It is quite possible that at present
there are no funds or very little but whatever iutids are available should
he used immediately. Thus** who have travelled on the trail say that not
much work would be required to make a very great improvement. A small
gang of men with axes, it is said, could make a most welcome change in a
very short time this year yet.
It is stated on reliable authority that the government loses a round
million a year by bringing its navy coal to the Pacific and if that is the case
it doesn’t require a great mathematician to figure out that within something
like fifty years I'ncle Sam can recover that thirty five millions spent on the
railroad by the opening of Matanuska. Fifty years must be used instead of
thirty five years as there will, of course, still be some expense to the ship
ment of coal even here. Hut if it does take fifty years and even more to
recover the full amount of the investment it is a wise' stroke of business
even if we leave out of account entirely the posaibilitiee which the road will
IKissess for drawing in other revenues and for developing the contiguous ter
ritory. If the government saves a million a year on the opening of the coal
alone it would mean a three per cent interest on the investment and the
government itself, or other governments, consider that a pretty good interest
on bonds or any other government securities. It is presumable that the wear
and tear and running expenses will be met by the traffic now or hereafter.
The success of the test of the Matanuska coal takes away the last argument
from the opponents of the road.
It is an awful pity that a newspaper may not print all it knows. That
is, of course, an “aw ful pity” looking at it from the newspaper point of view.
Things happen every day that would make mighty spicy reading and would
surely make a very interesting sheet albeit the sheet might not be very
clean. There is no sort of newspaper so widely read as the newspaper that
will not let skeletens lie hidden in their closets. It is a positive fact that
even the cleanest people will read a scandalous production with greater in
terest than a conscientous on. To be clean in the newspaper business means
that the newspaper must overcome the desire to cater to the worst tastes
in its community. Even last week something happened, or was reported as
happening, whose publication would even beat for interest the war news.
And something will happen this week and next week and the week after but,
alas, the very people who would be interested in reading those things would
be the first to condemn their publication because although we might read
scandals, all who are clean turn from their publication with repulsion.
But, how interesting a newspaper might be made by reproducing the
gossip of any town! What a delightful thrill could be imparted to the dear
leaders of only, only, only a paper could let loose.
miiiiitiiiiif iiiiiiiiiaiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliilllillllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
I HOW TRENCHES
ARE DUG IN
! _
j FRENCH SOLDIER DESCRIBES
THE WORK OF THE
ARMIES.
_
(By The Associated Pres9.)
PARIS. Jan. 2.—How trenches are
dug and advances made in face of the
enemy’s fire aredescribed by a French
soldier in a letter to his parents.
“We have had plenty of work the
! pa t week,” he said, “to gain a mere
i
200 yards on the enemy. We made
three successive advances in rain,
wind and hail. We are now only 50
vards from the German line with its
* t i
pits and network of barbed wire. Our
advance has cost us dearly; many poor
comrades fell, dead or wounded, on
j the way.
“This is how we go to work, pre
ferably when the night promises to be
dark or rainy. Artillery prepares the j
way in the afternoon, by a fierce bom-1
bardment. As soon as night falls wej
move to the front line, and when the I
enemy’s rifle and machine gun fire,
quiets, we take rifle in one hand aj
shovel or pick in the other, and move
over the flat ground, crawling along
on our stomachs. At the command
‘halt,!’ without rising and with our
knapsacks as a protection against the
whistling bullets, we dig desperately.
1 It is remarkable how quickly a hole
may be dug when the bullets are kick
i ing up the loose earth above your
heads; many a poor chap drops before
this is done. One comrade fell over,
me with a bullet through the eye.
Next day, the body, rolled in a muddy
tent-cloth and strapped to a pole, was
borne by two friends into the neigh
boring village.
“Once the soldiers have dug their
individual trenches, they must be con
nected, but this work may be done
more leisurely. Next, the entire trench
is deepened, so that by morning we
can stand up straight and aim com
fortably over the crest at the line op
posite. We must also burrow little
caves to sleep in and tunnels commun
icating with the rear, and build gun
posts to the front of the trench; then
there is the work of putting out barb-1
ed wire entanglements, setting up
timbers and covering them over as a
roof against artillery fire. It is hard
work, lifting and placing these lim
bers, especially dragging them
through our muddy little tunnels.
“In spite of rain and hail and wad-,
ing around in the mud, I don’t get
cold. When I curl up in my hole in
the ground and sleep, I forget all the
discomforts of my home.”
Meet me at The Branch.
illlllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHI1III
Clearance Sale of Men's Clothing!
We have at this time on hand one of the finest lines
of mens suits that has ever been brought to Seward. An
ticipating a big rush from the Interior over the Seward
Iditarod Trail we laid in a larger stock than we would
have under ordinary conditions.
We still have a couple of dozen of these suits on hand
and more coming. On the last mail we received notice
from the Stein-Bloch factory that they had shipped us
another large shipment of high grade clothing and in or
der to have room for the goods when they arrive we are
forced to get rid of the stock on hand. To do this we are
going to cut the prices lower than clothes of this grade
have ever been sold in Seward.
Beginning Monday, January 4th, we are going to of
fer every suit in stock at the following reductions. These
prices are for cash only and if you can use a high grade
suit at a low price
DON’T OVERLOOK THIS SALE!
All $45.00 Suits and Overcoats, Now $35.00
All 40.00 Suits and Overcoats, Now 30.00
All 35.00 Suits and Overcoats, Now 27.50
All 30.00 Suits and Overcoats* Now 25.00
All $21.50 and $25.00 Suits, Now 17.50
All intermediate priced suits reduced accordingly.
Come early while the selection and assortment of fabrics
and sizes are complete.
Just Received
A complete line of up to date hats in the latest Stetson
and Hardeman blocks.
Now On Display
THE MINER’S STORE
FRANK J. COTTER, Manager
Phone Adams 131 “Don’t Forget the Parcel po*t" Seward, Alaska
Netua from AU
Parts «f tltr
ft Northlanit ft
- - i
.- ——- .— ■ ' ■ —- i
SEATTLE TIMES.—John T. Ross,]
known to almost every old-timer in;
the North as “Jack” Ross, who follow-]
ed every stampede from Juneau to the j
Machenzie river, died last week at;
Vctoria, B. C. according to a dispatch!
received from his former partner, llcr
bet Wilson, formerly of Fairbanks,
and now of Seattle.
FAIRBANKS.—Dave Cascaden, the
old-time miner of this district who re
turned last night from a trip to the
new Tolovana discovery on Livengood
creek, has nothing but good words to
say of the new camp. He believes j
that it is a real discovery, and that j
with development it will make good.
_
JUNEAU.—The general round-up!
made by the police, accompanied by
the federal officials, Saturday in which
several persons were arrested and
charged with being vagrants, resulted
in all of the accused being dismissed
by the city magistrate yesterday.
The officers claim that the city mag
istrate is tying their hands; they
claim that they submitted proof that
several of those arrested were with
out “visible means of support” and
were suspicious characters, and that
the action of the magistrate in dis
missing them is playing into the
hands of undesirables.
Falcon Joslin in writing to Fair
banks from Washington, I). C., says;
that he has been assured by one of
the members of the Alaska Engineer
ing commission that every effort will
be made by the commission to get the
government to start construction of
the railroad from both ends at the
same time.
Mr. Joslin’s letter was decidedly
optimistic about the railroad, and it
was evident that he believes that
work will start from Fairbanks end
of the line next year.
FAIRBANKS.—In a letter received
by A. C. Chapman, the news is given
that Tunis Henry, who left Fairbanks
last summer for the Pioneers’ Home
at Sitka, died there November 20th.
He suffered from locomotar ataxia.
CORDOVA.—Alexander Chrichton,
[>ne of the pioneer residents of Chitina
ilied at his home Wednesday. Mr.;
FRENCH SENIOR
TO GENJOFFRE
PARIS GOVERNMENT STILL DE
CIDES NOT TO MAKE A
MARSHAL.
_
(By The Associated Press.)
PARIS, Jan. 2.—-The decree issued
at Bordeaux September 29, fixing the
salary of Marshal of Trance at 30,000
francs, was supposed to have thj ef
fect of reviving that title, ext; net
since the death of Marshal Conrobort
in 1895. It was also supposed that
General JofTro would be raised to that
dignity in order to remedy his anoma
lous situation with reference to Mar
shal French, who out-ranks him butj
whose army is under his general com
mand. Now it appears that the delay
of the government in making the nom
ination is due to the necessity of par
liamentary approval.
The Third Republic had never sup- j
pressed the grade Marshal, but a law
passed in 1875 provided that the num
ber of Marshals in the army, and their
nomination, should be the object of
special laws. The parliament will be
called upon at the forthcoming session,
to regularize the situation. Otherwise
when French and English armies may
be cooperating outside of French ter
ritory, the chief command would de
volve upon Marshal French.
Since the creation of the grade by
Phillipe-Auguste in 1185 there have
been only 324 Marshals of France. The
grade was suppressed by the revolut
ion and revived by Napoleon, carry
ing with it the title of Monseigneur.
To be Marshal of France it was neces
sary to have won a pitched battle or
to have taken two fortified towns.
Chrichton was a staunch Scotch Pres
byterian, and his body will be laid to
rest tomorrow with the services of his
church, Rev. J. L. McBride, of Cor
dova, officiating.
FAIRBANKS.— Robert S. McDon
ald was elected by the Fairbanks city;
council last Monday night as a mem
ber of that body, to fill the vacancy
made by the resignation of Andrew
Norland, who left for the Outside
more than a week ago.
Yost water motor wash machines
at Brown & Hawkins. “Quality first.”
IT DA VC TO GET !T
IS rAlO FROM THE
STANDARD FURNITURE CO. i
SEATTLE- "It’s Better and Costs Less’*
RADIANT
Empress Heater
$13.75 $15.75 SI7.75 $21.50
A high-grade Colonial designed square oak
ilovc fitted absolutely airtight. This heater
is built heavy and made to last.
Every precaution has been taken to prevent
fire cracking and with the proper care this
stove will last a lifetime.
The steel l>ody is made of heavy gauge non
rust steel. The ash door on this stove is disc
ground, making it absolutely airtight.
Nickel Parts: Urn base, nameplate, de
flector panel, foot rails, base, door handles,
damper and fancy urn. j
No 712 has 13- In. firepot, 38 in. high; $13.75
No. 714 naa 16-in. firepot, 40 in. high; $16.75
No. 716 has 17- In. firepot 43 in. high; $17.76
No. 718 has 19-ln. firepot, 45 in. high $21.50
PANSY
Empress Heater
$4.95 $6.50 $8.50
Air Tight—Burns Wood I
A low-priced and very serviceable cast top j
airtight heater; ha* swing top and cast swing j
bottom door with nickel airtight screw draft. t
This heater is made of heavy steel and full j f
steel lined. In three sizes: • j
No. 18 . *4-9* ] \
No. .. *6B0 i ; ;
No. 125 . *8.50 f
Write for our Heatef and Range Catalog
Mailed Free on Request.
IfornitnreCo
Second Ave. at Pine St. SEATTLE j
!__I
rFURNITURE AND HARDWARE j
1 COAL MINER’S AIMPfiOLP MIACR’S SUPPLIES j
I Doors & Windows
Lang’s Ranges
I X L Parlor Heaters
Gasoline Stoves
Cook Stoves
Camp Stoves
Air Tight Heaters
Oil Stoves
Alcohol Stoves
Spark Plugs
Jump Coils
Batteries
Granite Ware
Aluminum Ware
Asbestos
P k B Paper
Malthoid Rooting
Tar Paper
Deafening felt
Weather Strips
Gasoline
Gas Engine Oil
Marine Engine Oil
Valve Oil
Elaine Oil
Floor Oil
Linseed Oil
Cup Grease
Paints
Lacqueret Paint
Asphaltum Paint
Brushes
Varnishes
Turpentine
Japan
Denatured Alcohol
Coal Tar
Lamps
Lanterns
Tents
PHONE BLACK 4
Rifles
Shot Guns
Ammunition
Fishing Tackle
Giant Powder
Caps
Fuse
Bench Forces
Blacksmith’s Coal
Bellows
Wheel Barrows
Cutlery
Fire Clay
Fire Brick
Lime l]
Cement
Glass
Hope
Mercury
Seine Twine
| J. L. GRAEF |
PACIFIC ALASKA"
NAVIGATION COMPANY
ALASKA PACIFIC S. S. CO. ALASKA COAST CO.
PUGET SOUND-ALASKA ROUTE
Steamers leave Seattle every ten days each month on the
5th, 15th, 25th,
ADMIRAL WATSON AND ADMIRAL EVANS
via the INSIDE PASSAGE, for Ketchikan, Juneau, Yakutat,
Katalla, Cordova, Ellamar, Valdez, Latouche, Seward,
Cook Inlet Points and Kodiak Island.
PUGET SOUND-CALIFORNIA ROUTE
Seattle to San Francisco, connecting with steamers Yale and Har
vard for Southern California Points.
Right'reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without notice.
B F. WATSON, General Agent. WAYNE BLUE, Local Agent
ALASKA STEAMSHIP CO. S
Steamers Alameda and Mariposa sail from Seattle
every eight days tor Ketchikan, Juneau, Cordova,
Valdez and Seward.
S. S. DORA leaves Seward 15th of each month for Cook Inlet points and Dutch'tlarbor.
Regular freight service tor Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Sheep Creek,
Treadwell, Douglas, Skngway, Cordova, Ellamar,
Valdez, Latouche and Seward
Freight Steamers sailing from Seattle each month: S. S. Seward. 5th;
S. S. Latouche, 15th; S. S. Cordova, 25th
(S. S. Seward carries Explosives)
Right reserved to change this schedule without noticed
F. B. TRACY, General Agent C. B. GUPTILL, Agent
Hotel Seward
W. A. M’NEILEY. Prop.
MODERN CONVENIENCES
RATES $1.00 TO $2.50 PER DAY
HOT AND COLD WATER BATHS ELECTRIC LIGHTS
-\
The Bor gen Grocery
Staple and fancy Groceries
Handles the Best Canned Goods from the Pacific Coast—Best
Treatment to Everybody and Prices Right— Goods
Delivered to All Parts of the City
GUS BORGEN, Proprietor
Phone Main 134 Clayson Building, Seward
Pioneer
Hotel
F. B. CANNON, Prop.
Knik
Alaska
| KNIK’S LEADING HOTEL
NO BAR
s Accommodations for Ninety Guests
j Large General Lobby
> Private Lobby for Ladies
\ Best Rates : : Best Treatment
( Best Accommodations