Seward Daily Gateway
OF SEWARD. ALASKA — Established August 19. 1904
Published Dally except Sunday by
THE GATEWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY
Entered In the nost office at Seward. Alaska, as second-class matter
H. V. HOBEN and E. F. J ESSEN, Proprietors
E. F. Jeesen Editor and Manager
Otto G. Sandbeck, Associate Editor Bdwin A. Sandbeck, City Editor
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FRANCIS M. SMITH
Picturesque western plainsman and financier, Fran
cis M. Smith, Who died yesterday at Oakland, was known
the country over as “Biorax” Smith and piled up a for
tune estimated at $20,000,000 through his borax mining
operations, only to lose it and find himself heavily in
debt at the age of 65. A transportation company took
Smith's fortune, but not his nerve, and eight years later
he was a millionaire again.
Smith at one time had control of the world s borax
output. His first stake was made in Nevada, where he
owned a few acres of timber land. From his cabin on
the mountain side he had often noticed a peculiar w-hite
streak on the desert floor below hiin. Investigation
proved it to be the largest borax deposit discovered up
to that time.
Borax was then selling at $5 a pound. Smith formed
a company to work the deposits, but his partners quit
him when news of the discovery reached outside mar
kets and borax dropped to less than 10 cents a pound.
Determined to create a world-wide demand for his prod
uct, Smith obtained control of even larger deposits in
California, and was forced to use huge wagons drawn by
20 or more mules to get his white powder to the rail
road. This was the origin of his famous “Twenty-Mule
Team” trade-mark.
When past the age of 50 he began to seek other
fields for his great fortune. He established a trans
portation system between San Francisco and the rapid
ly growing cities across the bay, with which all went
well until a rival system began to improve its service.
Both companies lost money, and Smith's borax holdings
were sold to meet his debts. The proceeds, however,
were several millions less than was needed, and Smith
was forced into bankruptcy.
ihen providence came to the rescue. A silver mine
which he had purchased years before and forgotten
about, was found to be valuable. He could have lived
comfortable from this income, had he not promised to
pay the millions he owed.
Scraping together all his available funds, he invested
in more borax land in California, built a refinery and
began to compete with the powerful organization he
had created. One day early in 1921, while in New York,
he heard that three prospectors had discovered a borax
mine near the Grand Canyon and wanted to sell imme
diately. Although 75 years of age, he travelled five
days by train then rode 80 mlies across frhe desert on
horseback, only to find representation of his big com
petitors on the ground.
There was no time for an appraisal of the property,
and the representatives of his rivals seemed doubtful of
their authority under the circumstances..
‘What is your lowest ‘price?” Smith asked the pros
pectors.
“Quarter of a million.”
“Sold,” said Smith, producing his check book, and
before his astonished rivals could recover from the
shock, the old man was in possession.
$24 (XK) 000 m0n^S *a*er the mines were appraised at
One of the favorite howls heard in Alaska and else
where is that the Alaska native (Indian), through contact
with whites, are dying off. The late census report dis
approves that impression by showing the Indian popula
tion increased 12.9 per cent in 10 years. It looks like
the whites are dying off for the report revealed only an
increase of 2.7 per cent.
Science has so far failed to find a salve to allay the
itch for office. The itch has started in Southeastern
Alaska.
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413,011 CASES UN
I REACH SEITTLE 4 MIS
; (Seattle Times)
With salmon arriving from the
Alaska canneries in huge shipments
and the cargo record of the year
for this commodity broken, busy
scenes were recently presented at
Seattle shipping terminals. Imports
of this product of the Northland
for the four days ending last Tues
day night totaled 413,000 cases val
ued at $2,000,000.
The Alaska Steamship Company’s
freighter Oduna arrived in Seattle
from Prince William Sound with
109,823 cases of salmon, the largest
cargo of salmon landed here this
year. The Oduna was followed into
port by the steamship Cordova of
the Alaska Steamship Company la
den with 78,000 cases of salmon
from Southeastern Alaska. The
steamship Alaska arrived with 45,
000 cases and the Northwestern
with 33,000 cases. The steamship
Admiral Evans of the Pacific
Steamship Company brought 50,
000 cases of salmon and the Admiral
Rogers of the same company brot
30,000 cases.
The steamship Perry L. Smithers
of the Northwestern Fishreies Com
pany is due from Bristol Bay via
Quadra with 68,000 cases of canned
salmon and 400 cannery employees,
comprising crews from Nushagak
and Naknek. The Smithers’ cargo
is nearly all red salmon, which are I
valued at $10 a case.
HAVE DEFINITE VIEWS
NEW YORK, Aug. 28. (/Pf—Wo
men members of President Hoo
ver’s unemployment committee have
definite views about the form re
lief should take; they urged care
ful budgeting, wiser economic in
dustrial leadership and active co
operation.
COMMUNITY CHURCH
10 a. m. Sunday School.
*11 a. m. Morning service. Theme:
“The Wedding Garment.”
1 8 p. m. Evening service. Theme:
[“The Message of the Mulberry
| Leaves.”
Everybody welcome.
BOATS IN PORT TODAY
Vessels in port today included
the SS Akutan, Marian, Roy, Joan,
Bavaria, £. F. M., Flattery, Pros
pector and the Helldiver.
Frank Soderberg, a recent arriv
al in Anchorage, ended his life
recently by choking himself to
death at the end of a rope which
he had tied to the iron frame of
a bed in the room of a shack, says
the Anchorage Times.
The will of Dr. Wm. L. Johnson,
who died at Bridge, Mass., directs
that his account books be burned
so that no bills will be outstand
ing against his patients.
PHOTO FINISHING—ENLARGING
Ten hour service. Rolls of Him
brought in before 10 a. m. out at
8 p. m. same day. ALASKA SHOP.
i
Motorship
Princess Pat
SPEED — COMFORT
Serving AH Cook Inlet
Points and Connecting
Weekly with Admiral 1
Line Steamers
Towing and Special Trips
By Arrangement
CHAMBERS & COLWELL
Seldovia, Agents
FRED M. O'NEILL, Skipper
All Talking Pictures Theatre
8 O’CLOCK — ONE SHOW — 8 O’CLOCK
INA CLAIRE - FREDERIC MARCH
HENRIETTA CROSMAN
MARY BRIAN
IN THE ROMANTIC COMEDY
“The Royal Family
of Broadway"
A 9-REEL TAKE-OFF, WE BELIEVE, OF AMERICA'S
MOST FAMOUS STAGE FAMILY—THE BARRYMORES
The stage play on which this was founded was written
by EDNA FERBER. It's a laugh all the way thru
but at the same time shows all the
personal traits and tempera
ments of the stars
represented.
With It We Will Show You A Song Reel
‘HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT’
And a News Reel
Healy River Coal
Economical Dependable
Safe
FREE FROM SOOT
GRADED TO SUIT EVERY NEED
PRICED TO SUIT EVERY PURSE
*,■ i '
Healy River Coal Corp.
HOME OFFICE: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
of ALASKA
BASES AT VALDEZ, ANCHORAGE and FAIRBANKS
Operating All Cabin Planes To All Points In
Alaska, Maintaining Weekly Scheduled
Operation to Kuskokwim Points
Main Office Anchorage, Alaska
SEWARD BEAUTY SHOP 1
MARCELLING FINGER WAVING
PERMANENT WAVING A SPECIALTY
SCALP TREATMENT
MANICURING FACIALS
Located In Room 6, Johansen Building
LILLIAN ANDERSON, Prop. PHONE ADAMS 90
Auto Servicing and Repairing
Plumbing, Sheet Metal Work, Blacksmithing, Gunsmithing,
Acetylene Welding, Battery Charging and Repairing and
General Servicing, Oiling and Greasing
SEWARD METAL. WORKS
JACK SHEA — ROBERT MANTHEY
PHONE MADISON 65 — P. 0. BOX 65