AND COOK INL^T PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. 117.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1917.
PRICE TEN CENTS,
HIMM MMWfflMS
SEATTLE, March 19.—(Special to The Times.)-~The Alaskan Engineering Commission,
through Purchasing Agent Dole, has placed advertisements in Seattle, Portland and San
Francisco newspapers, calling for bids for a big dredger to be employed in proposed exten
sive harbor improvements at Anchorage, which has been selected as the terminus for the
Matanuska coal fields. The bids call for an early delivery of the large dredging machine.
Upon receipt of this message from our Seattle correspon-1
dent this forenoon, The Times called up the head office of the i
Alaskan Engineering Commission here, only to find that Com-!
missioner Mears had gone out the line, departing at 9 o’clock
-•■.this morning-, and in his absence no one is authorized to give
^fcut information with respect to matters of this important na
tuie. But the important fact is that bids for a dredger are out
and that the dredger will be employed in the building of the
proposed harbor improvements at Anchorage. The public
may now rest in the assurance that the promises made lot pur
chasers at the first auction sale will be fulfilled and more than
fulfilled. At that time it was officially stated that Anchorage
was to be the coal terminus for the Matanuska coal fields. It
will become such. It is generally known that a harbor man of
extended experience accompanied Commissioner Mears, on his
return from the states. Since his arrival, the harbor engineer
has not had an idle moment, and while of course Mr. Gerig de
' dines to talk for publication, it may be taken for granted, with
the ordering of the big dredger, that his plans for our harbor
age improvements are reaching a conclusion, and will be pub
licly known in due course.
WAR VIRTUALLY ON
Three American Steamers Are Sunk by German Submarines
LOjfDGN, March 10,—^fhree American vessels were sunk
by German submarines yesterday. The steamer Illinois, en
route from London to Port Arthur, in ballast, was sunk with
out warning yesterday morning at 8 o’clock; the steamer Vigi
lancia was torpedoed without warning, but details are lacking;
the steamship City of Memphis, en route from Cardiff for New
York, was sunk by gun fire. The fourth engineer and thir
teen members of the crew of the City of Memphis are missing
i-nd believed lost. The remainder of the crew were rescued
through their own efforts. Some members of the crew of the
Vigilancia are missing, others succeeded in reaching shore.
Nothing has been heard with respect to the officers and crew
of the steamer Illinois.
STATE OF WAR ALREADY EXISTS.
WASHINGTON, March, 19.—It is unofficially admitted
that a state of war exists as between the United States and
Germany, due to the sinking- of American ships.
WAR WILL ENSUE.
WASHINGTON, March 19.—President Wilson is only
awaiting official advices with respect to the sinking of Ameri
can vessels by German submarines to take definite action. It
is believed that he will immediately summon a special session
of the congress and advise a declaration of war against Ger
many. Newspaper men who called on Secretary of State Lan
sing this morning were informed by the secretary that the situ
ation was too serious to discuss at this time.
JT
RAILWAY STRIKE OFF.
NEW YORK, March 19.—The railway strike was declared
off at 1 o’clock this afternoon, the railway managers yielding
i to the demands of the men, who will get an eight-hour day for
a ten-hour wage. Due to the war crisis, the railway managers,
in a spirit of loyalty, told the president’s mediators to make
whatever arrangements they could with the brotherhoods and
the railways would abide by them.
AGED VETERAN TO THE FRONT.
WASHINGTON, March 19.—General Sherwood, a veteran
of the Civil war and a noted pacifist, who is a member of the
congress from Ohio, called on the president today and urged
him to immediately call a special session of the congress for the
| purpose of declaring war against Germany. Sherwood said he
would resign his seat and take up arms in defense of the nation.
TERRITORIAL SENATE FINALLY GETS
DOWN TO BUSINESS AND NINTEEN
BILLS INTRODUCED ON SATURDAY
JUNEAU, March 19.—Nineteen bills were introduced in
the senate Saturday afternoon, as follows:
By Aldrich—Providing for the establishment of an Alas
kan national guard and naval reserve.
• By Gaustad—Providing for a personal tax oi four dollars
on every male inhabitant of Alaska, the fund so derived to go
toward the support of the public schools.
By Heckman—Defining the property rights of man and
’ wife, making each independent of the other.
By Sundbeek—Providing for an eight-hour day for work
ers in the territory of Alaska.
By Gaustad—Authorizing municipalities to grant fran
chises to public service corporations.
By Sutherland—Accepting grants and establishing an
agricultural college at Fairbanks.
By Hubbard—Authorizing the organization of trust com
panies.
By Hubbard—Reimbursing Dr. Joseph Silverman, of Ko
diak, for medical services. Appropriation of $1,200 asked.
A telegram from the mayor of Nome was read, asking an
appropriation of $0,000 for repairs to the school building and
$15,000 to $18,000 for the maintenance of the public schools.
A telegram from the city council of Fairbanks favors the
Allen bill for a seventy-five per cent apportionment of terri
torial funds for the maintenance of public schools in the tervi
tory.
Senator Honan introduced a petition from the Seward
school board, the city council and the woman’s club, asking the
establishment of a central high school, with dormitories, in
each judicial division, $50,000 to be appropriated for each the
£|rst year and $20,000 annually thereafter.
IN THE HOUSE.
Representative Nerlaud introduced a bill providing for
the establishment of a small debts court in Alaska for the ad
justment of accounts under $20, without the aid of attorneys.
The senate and house accepted an invitation to visit the
Perseverance mine late in the afternoon. Jn the evening, the
legislators attended a St. Patrick’s hall, given under the aus
pices of the Elks.
PREMIER BRIAND AND CABINET PASS
IN THEIR RESIGNATIONS SATURDAY
PARIS, March 10.—Premier Briand and his cabinet ten
dered their resignations Saturday, due to opposition that led
to defeat, in the chamber of deputies, of measures urged by
the Briand ministry. Briand’s successor has not been named,
but will be before the day is over.
ALAMEDA AND KETCHIKAN HAVE BIG
FREIGHT CARGOES FOR ANCHORAGE
SEATTLE, March 10.—A part of the cargo of the steamer
Alameda, which sails Friday, en route to Anchorage, will con
sist of 20,000 pounds of coffee, rice, hams and bacon, 200 cases
of condensed milk and 200 tons of forage. A part of the
freighter Ketchfkan’s cargo is for Anchorage. The freighter
sails Wednesday.
BELUGA WHALING COMPANY ORDERS
POWER BOATS FOR INLET WATERS
SEATTLE, March 19.—The Beluga Whaling company, of
Seattle, has let the contract for the construction of two 30-f
foot power boats, to be employed in catching white whales in
Cook inlet waters.
PENDING FORMATION OF PERMANENT
GOVERNMENT, COMMITTEE OF DUMA
IN CHARGE OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT
PKTROGRAI), March 19.—The Romanoff dynasty in Rus
sia has come to an end, with the forced abdication of C/.ai
Nicholas, as a result of the revolution. When Czar Nicholas
was forced to abdicate by an aroused public sentiment, he
sought to perpetuate the dynasty by abdicating in favor of the
Grand Duke Michael. The grand duke accepted the throne
conditional on the consent of the people of Russia, to be de
termined through a plebiscite. In his public statement, the
grand duke urged the formation of a new government and new
fundamental laws. Opposition to the grand duke’s plan came
from the executive committee of the Duma, in temporary con
trol of governmental functions. Today, tin* grand duke abdi
cated the throne willed to him by his brother and announces
his intention to support tho Duma’s plans for a new govern
ment for Russia. Pending a meeting of the constitutional as
sembly, the government will be vested in a committee of 12
members of the Duma. Good order prevails in Petrograd and
throughout Russia.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL ZEIN ■ OF FINLAND
ARRESTED BY ORDER OF DUMA COMMITTEE
LONDON, March 19.—Major-General Zein, governor-gen
eral of Finland, has been arrested by the commander of the
Russian fleet in the Baltic sea, acting on instructions from the
duma committee, now in control of Russian governmental mat
ters. Senator Borovitieheff, vice-president of the economy de
partment of the Finnish senate, has also been taken into cus
tody. These officials have been particularly obnoxious to the
Finnish people and the new government in* Russia proposes to
bring about changes in Finland that will weld the people to the
support of the duma. F. Iroditcheff, leader of the constitu
tional democrats in the duma. has been appointed minister for
Finland and has been directed to immediately proceed to Hel
singfors to represent the duma government.