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1. THE ALASKA EVENINU FUST
m. , ... .. , SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1917 Ten Cents the Copy
\ olume \l. Numlier I2l>.____..._!_.__ _ ,_
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“As the welfare of the nation and the nation s
defense are absolutely dependent ui>on an adequate
supply of coal for all purposes, and ot iron ore tor
the iron and steel mills, the executive committee
of the special committee on national detense, ot
the American Railway association, has oideied a
railroads of the United States to give coal and iron
ore preference over all other t rat tic. ,
“The supreme purpose ot the railroads is to see
that on every day of every week the greatest pos
sible amount of coal and iron ore is handled by their
lines, and the executive committee is confident that
the response of the carriers to the order governing
use of coal and ore cars will be immediate, and will
evidence a complete desire on their part to do every
thin'’ in their power to aid in the nation’s delense.
After reading the above excerpts trom tne latest
bulletin of the American Railway Committee on Na
tional Defense it is plain why every possible effort
should be put forth by the Alaskan Engineering Com
mission to finish the road from Seward to Matanuska
coal fields this summer, and also why every possible
encouragement should be extended by the department
of the interior to those taking leases to commence work
at once.
The government railroad from Seward to the coal
fields is primarily a military project to make available
for the navy and western munitions factories the only
extensive supply of high grade steaming coal in Ameri
can territory on the Pacific.
There is no doubt that Oapt. Pond, a recognized
authority on naval bases, now rear admiral in command
of the Pacific fleet, knew what he was about when he
investigated Resurrection bay in P'07 and set aside a
navy coal station site half a mile south of Seward. Capt.
Pond also selected the Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii.
Major General Bell, former chief of staff of the
army, foresaw such an emergency as now exists in the
United States when he visited Seward and after mak
ing a thorough investigation made recommendations
which resulted in the withdrawal from entry by the
president of all land within 12 miles of this bay.
Capt. Ellicott’s Maryland expedition, which made
the first naval test of the coal, led to the visit by General
Bell and later to the more extensive test under direc
tion of George Watkins Evans, in which 800 tons were
mined, transported over land by sled and thoroughly
tried out.
The success of this test made the government rail
road possible. Were it not for the coal and the ad
vantages to the government of it being made available
for the navy in event of a crisis, congress could not have
been prevailed upon to vote the $35,000,000 set aside
for this line.
The work was assigned to the interior department
because the secretary was already executive head of
Alaska, and because we are not a military nation, the
extension of militarism being more or less frowned
upon. Had this work been done by a European power
the building of a government railroad from one of the
most extensive known coal deposits to a proposed naval
base would have been under strict military supervision.
And that these European nations know the relation this
road has to the naval supremacy of the Pacific, witness
the fact that foreign agents, especially German, have
kept close tab on the Alaska coal situation.
The road has been in course of construction for two
years and the coal is not yet available. Fortunately the
theater of war now lies in the Atlantic, but who knows
what a day may bring forth, hence a gentle reminder
from the secretary of the navy to the secretary of the
interior.
“It is therefore recommended that the Alaskan
Engineering Commission proceed with the develop
V . _______
ment of Seward as a terminal for general traffic
and for the delivery of coal for naval purposes.”
A minimum of 150,000 tons per annum is wanted by
the navy as soon as mined, not to mention the needs of
the shipyards at Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and
Los Angeles.
There is plenty of iron ore available on the Pacific
coast, but locked up in Matanuska is the only high grade
coking coal, and it’s NEEDED NOW.
All realize that public money should be judiciously
spent, but an emergency exists, as shown by this furth
er excerpt from the American railway committee’s bul
letin.
“The committee has decided that, in view of the
depletion of the reserve stocks of coal in many sec
tions of the United States, due largely to an un
precedented consumption during the past year, the
paramount need is to insure the largest possible
movement of coal to every part of the country.”
Put on more men, encourage the opening of the
mines, cut the red tape out of the land department, pay
less attention to town lots and regulations and more to
getting coal tonnage for the road; start work on a coal
storage dock, show those interested in coal leases that
there will be no delay in handling their output—GET
THE COAL. Put two shifts on the job everywhere,
add men to the double shifts; get the supplies, transfer
a portion of the idle equipment from the Anchorage
division over here—GET THE COAL!
“The paramount need is coal.” We have it, only
just across the mountains a short 191 miles away; the
finest coal in the world, but it’s not there we need it—
it’s in the factories, the shipyards and the shops of the
Pacific coast. For Cod’s sake let’s put aside the bicker
ings, the delays and hodge podge and the fudge and put
that coal where it’s needed.
GET THE COAL!
BUILD 100 SHIPS
OF WOOD PLAN
FOR WEST COAST
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 24.
—J. T. Gregory, of Tacoma, was lold
yesterday by the shipping board that
100 or more wooden ships are to be
built on the Pacific coast at once
_A
WOMEN WILL
HEAR WAR CALL
The regular study period scheduled
for the Woman’s club tomorrow after
noon will be postpone! and the time
given to Mrs. Cornelia Templeton
Hatcher, who will address the club on
the subject of “Patriotism’s Call to
Womanhood.”
Mrs. Hatcher has delivered several
addresses of a patriotic nature in
most of the towns along the Alaskan
9
coast while aiding the organization of
Red Cross units. She comes to Sew
ard with a fund of knowledge and ex
perience on the subject upon which
fche is to speak.
The address will be given at Van
Gilder hall tomorrow afternoon at
2:30 o’clock. All the women of Sew
ard are invited to attend, and men
who are interested are also asked to
be present.
-%p
WRECKED SHIP
OFF AFTER 10
YEARS ASHORE
SEATTLE, Thursday, May 24.—'The
former German steamer Sesostris, of
the Kosmos line, which was wrecked
on the coast of South America ten
years ago. has arrived in port having
been salvaged after ten months’ work.
The Sesostris is now owned by D. E.
Skinner and associates and will be re
paired here and placed in the Oriental
aerrice.
SPECIAL MEETING I
ON PURCHASE OF
DEPOT LOTS
_ I
A special meeting of the city coun
cil is to be held next Monday night to
consider \he advisability of settling
the condemnation proceedings by pur
chasing the property at the foot of
Adams street.
On October 16th, 1916, the council
granted a franchise to the Alaskan
Engineering Commission, giving them
the Cgnt to close that section of Rail
road avenue near Adams street and
to lay their tracks there. On Novem
ber 20th an ordinance was passed di
i reeling the city attorney to acquire
by condemnation proceedings lots 1
I to 7, inclusive, in block 6, to be used
! for street and park purposes. The
owners of this property, Messrs. Tur
ner, Labaree and Bradford, have em
ployed attorneys to represent their in
terests but offer the property at a
price approximating $6200. When
this property is acquired it will con
nect Adams street with Railroad ave
nue and will eliminate all obstructions
to the street and track.
i
MILITARY UNIT
MAKING PROGRESS
The military unit indulged in a very
satisfactory drill last evening and the
attendance was remarkably good con
sidering the arrival of the boat at the
drill hour, and the lodge meetings
which were also being held. A marked
improvement was shown in the execu
i tion in the commands while marching
and it is apparent that the company
is rounding into a well drilled organi
zation. The next drill of the unit will
be held tomorrow night at the usual
time and place.
The committee of Spanish War Vet
erans are making good progress with
the Decoration day program and some
of the special features for that day
will be announced in a short time.
SULZER ASKS COMMITTEE
TO VISIT ALASKA; AID i
iVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 24.—Delegate Sul
zer introduced a joint resolution today providing for a
joint congressional committee to visit Alaska during the
adjournment to investigate executive needs of the terri
tory to gain an idea of what must be done there at this
time, when all national resources are needed for war pur
poses.
ALLIES CUT DOWN SUB LOSSES
(By United States Cable)
LONDON, Thursday, May 24—It has been announced
that during the week ending on Wednesday 18 British
merchantmen of over 1800 tons and nine under that size
were sunk by submarines. The total number is lower than
those lost during the previous week.
" J A PAN ESE A ID RUSSI A N S ’
(By United States Cable)
SEATTLE, Thursday, May 24.-—Japan is throwing
many train loads of troops across Siberia to figiht on the
Russian front, according to B. F. Beck, American high
school teacher, arriving from the Orient yesterday. He
also states that there is a significant shifting of Chinese
troops.
PEACE POWWOW IS FROWNED UPON
(By United States Cable)
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 24.—Secretary of
State Lansing has announced that no American will be
given a passport to attend the Stockholm convention of
socialists to discuss peace.
-•>
HINDENBERG SEES
HIS ARMY DEFEATED
fBr United States Cable)
ON THE FRENCH FRONT IN FRANCE, Thursday,
May 24.—It is understood 'that Hindenberg was a specta
tor at the defeat which the French inflicted on the German
forces yesterday on Moronville range, which resulted in
the capture of several lines of German trenches and a
number of important observation points.
BARGE LOAD OF
U. S. RAILROAD
SUPPLIES SAILS
SEATTLE, Thursday, May 24.—The
barge Lawrence, laden with rails and
construction materials for the Alaskan
%
Engineering Commission and in tow
of the tug Daniel Kern, sailed for
Cook inlet last night.
DR. BROOKS WILL
BE ARMY MAN
WASHINGTON.—(By mail.)—Dr.
Alfred H. Brooks has just received his
commission as a captain of engineers
in the army reserve and is under or
ders to go into training camp for
three months. Should he fail to make
good as a soldier, or if the govern
ment cannot use him in that capacity
he is going back to Alaska. Other
wise Dr. Martin will succeed him in
the north. g
-A
ALASKA BRINGS 27
FROM THE SOUTH
The S. S. Alaska arrived last night
from Seattle and way ports with the
following passengers for this port: M.
Castle, H. Kelly, J. C. Tolman, A. H.
Bryant, L. W. Price, L. Warren, H.
A. Morse, S. Hornyad, F. L. Lance,
Mrs. L. F. Procter, C. M. McDowell
and wife and fifteen steerage.
• Outgoing passengers on the Alaska
to Anchorage were Fred Be^drich an l
wife, C. N. Pling, Mrs. W. E. Rich,
J. J. Finnegan, A. H. McDonald and
wife and two steerage.
—--V
Ed. Miller, Bob Hilditch, Bill Sher
man and Charles Matty are now at
the Baxter coal mine on Moose creek.
The mine is located three and one
half miles above the Doherty prop
erty. The Baxter property is just
being opened up and has all indica
tions of developing into one of the best
paying mines in the coal fields.
MUSSELMANS
VOTE IN FAVOR
RUSS REPUBLIC
MOSCOW, Thursday, May 24.—At
a congress of Musselmans held yes
terday, with delegates from all over
Russia, a resolution was adopted by a
vote of 446 to 271 favoring the insti
tution of a federal republic for Russia.
ERWINRENAMED
MARSHAL IN 4TH
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 24.
—President Wilson yesterday reap
pointed Lewis T. Erwin marshal of the
Fourth division in Alaska.
----
The condition of Mr. Gaston Hardy,
who was taken suddenly ill while at
his desk in the Harrirnan National
Rank Tuesday, is much improved to
day.
-A
B OATS AND TRAINS
ft___!_i
The Alaska sailed for Anchorage at
11 o'clock last night
The Mariposa is due in Juneau to
day.
The Admiral Farragut is due Sat
urday night
The passenger train did not leave
this morning on account of construc
tion work along the line.
- -» -■
THE WEATHER
Yesterday.
Maximum .58
Minimum .39
Current .48
Weather . Clear
Wind. South
WEATHER TOMORROW
Unsettled.
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