inti rsuuum
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ISO. S. MAYNARD..Bole Owner ud Publisher.
Entered ae Second Cloeo Matter, at the pasts Was at Name. Alaska,
Under tin Act ef Marsh t, ISIS.
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A MERRY CHRISTMAS
The Nugget extends to its readers and the general public its best wishes
for a Merry Christmas.
FOREIGN SERVICE REFORM
The general inefficiency of our foreign diplomatic service under the
present system of political preferment is known to every well informed Ameri
can and is a eource of humiliation to all who prise the prestige of their country.
No big nation on earth possesses so pitifully inadequate a system of foreign
representation as the United States. Founded upon the political "spoils sys
tem and with Its most important posts frequently filled by men whose chief
recommendation for the position is not their diplomatic capacities but their ac
tivity fn behalf of some political party or their contributions to its coffers. It is
sadly in need of the reform suggested by president elect Harding and sum
raarzed by one of the chief mouth pieces of the republican party in another
column of this paper.
As a result of the shameful inadequacy of the record of our diplomatic
service is enough to make a true Wooded American weep tears of shame.
Time and again we have been hoodwinked and bamboozled in our foreign deal
ings by the shrewd and highly trained diplomats of Europe and elsewhere, be
sides whom our politically chosen representatives were often at a sad disad
vantage because of their lack of knowledge of the methods of diplomacy and
the sophistries and subtil ties employed by those with whom it is a highly de
veloped art. It is true that we haw won some diplomatic victories of which
we may feel Justly proud but more often we have found that we have had the
w.QOl deftly pulled over our eyes in ways we least expected.
All this has been due to the one reason that ft has been our custom to
feard what may be considered diplomatic tyro’s to negotiate with post masters.
Almost every other country in the world practically raises its diplomats. They
arg In most cases men Who have been taken into the diplomatic service as
youths and given a thorough training in .ill the arts of diplomatic Joggling be
fore entrusted with diplomatic powers. They are an intrlgal part of the gov
ernment machinery and political preferment has little to do with either their
•slsction or retention. Their present and future are completely bound up in
tUfi diplomatic profession and in the snajority of cases It Is their Hfe work.
Against these experts we send an amiable army of exlawyers, exfhrmera
•ij exbualneea men, with a few exscholars and more expollttctena whose
main recommendation for the position is possibly a good measure of .shrewd
Mss but more often a good sised contribution to the party strong box, and
expect them to hold their own with men who ar*» educated and trained for no
otter pursuit and who have no other desire or ambition than to get all they can
their government by any hook or crook that may be employed by minds
thSft are taught to deal in devious ways and methods. It is notorious that
of onr diplomatic envoys have betrayed profound ignorance of even the
sstjlt elementary things. That some of them disclosed an amazing- feck of
knowledge of each ample things as the geography of their own land, is well
letown. European diplomats are doubtless still smiling at the egregious
h*0ders of one of our prominent peeudo-diplomats at the Parts* peace con
What the country plainly needs is a body of trained diplomats—men
to whom, as is the case In nearly ail other prominent lands, diplomacy is a pro
fession, a life work, with a future well rewarded and holding forth ample
honors for those Who achieve distinction. Under the present system the
pay of our foreign service wier. Is such that in many instances only wealthy
rogff can be delegated to some of the more Important poets, as the salary and
expense allowance is utterly inadequate to maintain the eocla* prestige of the
petition. Other defects are so numerous that vacs prevents recital of ex
amples. The chief fault, however, is that we send to fill highly important
diplomatic posts men who possess few If any real diplomatic capacities and
HtOe or no diplomatic training experience. Because a man has been a sue
csarfol lawyer, or fanner or politician at home there te not the slightest reason
to accept him as fitted for the diplomatic or consular service. Vet this is
exactly the sort of men w« choose to conduct our foreign dealings and pit
thorn against men who are fitted for their duties by years of training, who are
chosen for their astutneas and who are adepts at cunning and Intrigue. It is
Indeed small wonder that Europe views American diplomacy as more or less of
a >oke and derides our parsimony in the matter of maintaining the social
dignity of our diplomats.
A BILLION 18 NOT ALWAYS A BILLION as we -know It. In Eng
land it is a million million (1.000.000,000) while in the United States and in
FYance it dwindles to a thousand million (1.000.000.000). In the entire world
there are only slightly more than a billion people, reckoning on the American
GREAT SNAKES are compnonly called boa-constrictors which is
eroneous. The boa-constrictor is rarely more than fifteen feet long while the
python of Africa and India is twice this length. The story is fold of two boa
cafistrictors in captivity who dewired the same pigeon. One had sunk its fangs
into the bird. Being unable to take it away, the other serpent calmly swal
lowed the possessor of the pigeon, thereby acquiring suffldertt food to satisfy
:tg cravings for several months.
INFORMATION REGARDING SEATTLE-NOME MAIL SERVIC6
First Summer Mall leaves 8eattle for Nome Direct About June 1st
Last Summer Mail I .eaves Seattle for Nome Direct About October 10th.
First Winter Mall Leaves Seattle for Nome About October 15th.
Last Winter Mail Leaves Seattle For Nome About March l#th.
Packages and Parcels Intended to Reach Destination During Winter
Period will Remain in Seattle Postoffice Until Opening Summer Navigation.
Average Time Required for Trmsmlssion of Mail from Seattle to Nome
/ uring Wtntei Period Is About 15 Days.
Aver. Time Required for Tmosmisslon of Veil From Seattle to
Nome Dur»" Summer period is 10 Days. n
Approximately Same Time Indicated Above Required fo» Transmission
Mall From Nome to Seattle.
Parcel Poet and Well Fargo Shipments for Nome Handled Only Dur
ing Summer Period.
BLANKS AT THE NUGGET OFFICK
Subscribe For The Nome Nugget
Voice of the Alaska Press
The news that Porta** Bay will bo
chosen as the place lor the naval coal
bunk*re is not news to the people of
Valdes, aho have wondered how the
natural advantages of the place have
been overlooked for eo Ion*. Portage
bay is well protected, has a deep, wide
entrance free from obstructions, and
war Ships and colliers can lay close
to the Shore with plenty of water
under their keels at any dde. If
bunkers are maintained at this point
Prince WllMam Sound can be assured
of ample cool at all times.—Valdes
The story 1n another part of this
paper of the Unhnak man who was
three years in receiving an express
package from Ctnclnnatti, O.. on ac
count of the mail facilities to the west
ward recalls a story of a young man
who twenty years ago. went to Attu
from New York, on government busi
ness. Before leaving home, he was
united in marriage to a fair young
miss of his home town. Upon arriv
ing at Attu he decided to go in busi
ness at the place and sent for his bride.
Year followed year and season follow
ed season in endless cycle and the
bridegroom patiently awaited the ar
rival of his loved one. Last May there
stopped off at Pulitter an aged woman
with seven children, who announced
that she was the bride of twenty years
ago. She had been a score of years
in making the trip. The Miner does
not vouch for this story but Deputy
Marshual Kart Armstrong of Kodiak
says: "It is possible that it is true.”
We do know that mail and transpor
tation conditions arc bad enough is
have made it an actuality.—Valdes
PREDICTIONS AS TO FUTURE
In the year 1832, Patrick Shirriff, a
noted English trawler, visited the Uni
ted States and penetrated as ftir
as Chicago. Upon returning to
his native land he wrote of his im
pressions, his description standing to
day as one of the most accurate of
conditions of what was then a trading
poet at the confluence of the Chicago
river and Ixike Michigan.
That wna brut 88 years ago. There
are a number of persona still living
who were alive at that time, and dur
ing that short period It is Interesting
to note the march of progress.
Mr. Shirreff found in Chicago eime
160 houses. He estimated then um
ber to be that, at any rate, occupied
by a number of sellers' of liquor who
reaped big profits on their Indian
trade, some fur buyers and the like.
The Englishman, reporting In London,
saki that the residents were hopeful
that soane day Chicago might become
a great city, but owing to the construc
tion of the Brie canal he doubted k.
He feJt that Buffalo would outdo Chi
cago. having tt efw«w --nit. But
the traveler didn't take Into oomidera
tfcm a fector that later mode Chicago
the second largest city in the western
HemcBgfceie. Or rather, he did not
take two things Into consideration.
On* of than he oould not have con
sidered. and that wan steam railways
The other was the spirit of Chicago.
Railroads made Chicago; made it
the metropolis It in today; that and
the raperh with which the business
men went after the trade.
Eighty-eight yeans later. Ketchikan
stands with more •houses, more peo
ple, more money, more culture than
Chicago had in 1832. And there are,
some who think, Hke the Englishman'
thought of Chicago, that it is not like
ly to have much commercial Import
ance. But there are others who be
lieve as did the people of the little
-Michigan trading post, that
Ketchikan is destined to greatness.
Tto attain that greatness there must
be a cause. At this time it appears
that the combining elements necessary
are the establishment of the car terry
service from Prince Rupert to Ketchi
kan, and the spirit of the people to go
out and get the business.
To secure the car ferry service will
be to Ketchikan what the railroads
were to Chicago. But before that
even, nruet come the municipal spirit
to get the oar ferry and combined they
will push the district ahead far be
yond the fondest hopes of anyone now
living ho southeastern Alaska.—Ket
chikan Chronicle.
JUNEAU AND THE
PAPER INDUSTRY
The next larg-s development in
Southeastern Alaska will be in the
pulp and paper industry if present In
dication* count for anything. The de
mand for increased paper production
is insistent throughout the country,
and it is growing more and more In
sistent all the time. And the Turtfeer
inverfigallons are carried the clearer
becomes the fact that (he spruce fbr
eSta and water power of this section
of Alaska son be made to satisfy the
demand for more paper. Already a
■core or ao of engineers, representing
some of the largest pulp and paper
ooncenu and publishing houses of the 1
country} are l^repaiiny to oak 'for ;
leases of timber lands and wator
power sites.
Juneau should be the center of this
industry. She has advantages that
are not to be found in any other town
In the North. She has ample com
mercial and banking facilities, and has
a greater nbor supply. She already
is a transportation center, and the
largest city in the North.
The first step toward the. develop*
raent of the paper and pulp industry
in Alaska was made by Juneaultea and
thoee In this vicinity. The Alaska
Pulp And Paper Company .at Snot- I
tisham is already engaged in the con- I
struction of a pulp plant, which it (s!
planned to develop into a full fledged
paper making concern In the course I
of time. And the Thane pulp and
paper project la well along the way.
Construed in le expected to start here
before long.
Several paper projects are being
planned for operation in the vicinity1
of Ketchikan, and the peopio of that
cflty are awake to the opportunities1
offered in the development of this
great industry. And that is fine.
That does not at all Interfere wPh
more intensive development here.
There is no reason why both Juneau
and Ketchikan should not be centers
for manufacturing paper. There will
be no competition, for the market is
large enough to take the product of
all the mills that may be Installed In
the country. But Juneau should per
mit no other town to take the lead.
She should point the way. and be
come the greatest of all Pacific Coast
paper-making centers.—Juneau Em
SURPRISES THEM
When mayor Edward Quinn of
Cambridge. Moss., one of the 12 Mas
sachusetts delegatee to the Democrat
ic national convention at San Fran
cisco. stopped recently in the Alaska
Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce
he looked at a quart Jar containing
ten strawtoerrdete from Hainee, Alaska,
and remarked:
"Strawberries in Alaska? Never
heard of such a thing! "
A few moments Inter J. L.. MoPfier
eon, manager of the bureau, was busy
cramming the delegates with a few
facta to take back east with them.
"Paper pulp ©nought in Alaska to
supply one-third of the United States
perpetually, according to the Bureau
of Forestry’s own estimates." said
Mr. McPherson. "And its been wast
ed tor 1< yean due to restrictive poli
tics," he added.
And does tills not all go to show- us
that Alaska is indeed, "the most won
®«rfuUy misundsttttood country in the
world?" Have you not observed that
rwy nan. however prominent he
may be in state or governmental af
faira. is "surprised’’ when he under
stands Alaska? The time Is oomlng
md that immediately when pulp mills
will be almost as common In Alaska
is canneries are now. And we hare
the pu|p timber. It is worth three
dmea os much as It was worth three
»r four years ago. and yet we are let
ting It go to waste. We are burning
tt up and oompteinlng that opportun
ity in Alaska are a thing of the past.
Instead of organising a mining com
pany to produce gold worth fifty cents
mi the dollar why hot organise a pulp
x>mpany to produce pul.i worth 200
*nts on the dollar.
Suppose Alaska hod begun ten years
igo and invested in pulp mills, one
*?!f that she invested ‘tt mines, dur
ing that time? But no, we could not
lo this, for the gjvenment Itself
’orhade it. Alaska is not to blame for
nhe condition she finds herself in for
Uncle Sam tied her hands behind her
!>y forbidding her to ship any pro
ructe oz ner umoer:
But "statesmen" are not the only
doss of people suiprleed when they
eee Alaska. The tourist Is amused and
stands In awe wtoea he views our ma
jestic scenery. And we hare 611,245
square miles of It for sale, but we
don't advertise the poods. Swithzer
land makes more net profit each year
out of her scenery than Alaska makes
out of her annual crop of fold and
(Mu notwithstanding the fact that
Alaska has a batter quality of tourist
goods than BwHcertand. Alaska'
Should put pm. McKinley and the'
Valley -of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
In the front wiadaw and let the world*
see them. Advertise them, for they#
are the hi wrest money setters on the'
American continent. Don’t listen to'
some old crouch who has no adknJra
tion for scenery for he never spends
anything anyway. Chloroform him or
push him aside in pity, for he is a car
buncle on prepress.
- At an Alaska dinner given to the
committee of which Mr. E. C. McCor
mick was chairman, he said to those
present: "Make a commercial value
of your scenery, your lakes are pret
tier than those of Italy, your moun
tains surpass those of the Alps and
there Is more ice in one plader on
Kenai peninsula than there is in all
Switzerland." Mr. McCormick fs quite
an old man and has seen much of the
world, being the vise president of one
of our greatest railroads, but he is no
grouch. There are two things that'Al
aska should bet rid of—her grouches
and the lazy old maggot that eats our |
cabbage up when its young.—Valdez ,
DID YOU EVER GET SOMETHING
FOR NOTHING
Did you ever get something for
nothing? If you did, you were stung.
You may pretty well depend upon
that. It Is not in accordance with
the laws of the universe. We all have
to pay for what wo get. but the dif
ficulty often Is to get value for the
money expended.
Once upon a time, not many years
ago. there was a canvasser came to
town taking orders for gold watches.
The price of each was said to be $35.
but the canvasser carried with him a
bunch of envelopes, each of which
contained a coupon said to be worth
$20. The canvasser asked his pros
pective customer to draw an envelope.
and, on finding the coupon, the custo
mer was told bow lucky she was for
■he could now get the gold watch for
$15 insui of Its. Shm fall for it Jm-.
mediately. It was a great bargain.
As a matter of fact the gold watch
was worth only $6, so the purchaser,
usually a lady, was "done" to the ex
tent of $10, Just because she thought
ehe was going to get something for
nothing. She took big chances in
dealing with a stronger without a bus
iness establishment behind Mm, and
she might have known she was being
"Flayed" by the clever canvasser.
Ladies are often eeay In such matters.
are caught just s• often In
IWs are many men In business
hers who are not straight In their
business dealings. We art snaking no
plea for theca. They can take cam
of themselves. The chances are bow
evsr, that the man with a reputable
bwtosm and a local stock of goods Is
always ready *a do business honestly
and there is usually a come-back If
anything is wrong. The traveling
canvasser, however, has nothing to
loss la the way of reputation. He may
be honest and give good value far
mousy, but there is no sorely that
he will, and there! a no recourse if he
is a crook. When a customer has
been duped a tew times he usually
gets wise, but every eulemmn has a
new tale to tell.
. What Is true of agenta selling goods
is also true of people who come in and
peddle advertising. There are busi
nessmen in Prince Rupert who seen
to be always ready to fall for any ad
vertising scheme put up by a stranger,
but when the newspapers go to
them with a genuine publicity scheme.
tney are turned down, it is a similar
story. Everyone knows that next to
window advertising there Is nothin*
so food as newspaper advertising. Yet
there are men In business who will
hand out their good money to any
scheme outside of the newspapers and
never run a line to. keep the deity
readeiis Informed of their offers.
Another curious thing about nit i
who always turn down the newspap
er-advertising canvasser. Is that they
ace among the first to criticise what
the newspapers .publish and try to
dictate What their line of policy shall
be. The man who does nothing what
ever to support a local Institution
should be the last person in the world
to try to take in the management of
that institution, but it is not so. It
ie almost always the outsider, the
man who scoffs at the newspapers and
at newspaper publicity, Who Is the
first to run to the office to try to get
seme item of legitimate news kept
oat or some other item of Interest to
him alone published.—Prince Rupert
Daily Nows. I
The shortage of paper promises to
be acute after the first of October,
the mills In British Columbia having
been notified that they could secure
no more oil after that date. The Miner
has about S tons on hand yet and no
visible supply in sight after that is
exhausted. It takes a little over a
bundle of paper for the weekly edi
tion and at the rate of a bundle and
a half a ton will last about fifteen
weeks. Three tons, or sixty bundles
should therefore keep our readers sup
plied until about next July. By thin
time the shortage may be alleviated
or Alaskan papers may not need paper.
Every possible means of conservation
of the present supply should be adopt
ed.—Valdez Miner.
8ALE8MEN WANTED to sell ex
clusive novelty. Small sales will net
$25 daily. For proposition and samples
writs Dept. Q , Bex tOO, Cincinnati,
Miners & Mercbdnts
BillK Hi AliSfci
WOMB. ALASKA
Capital • ■ $100,000
Gold Dust Purchased
and Assayed
MEET ME
at the
BOARD OF
TRADE
MILS’S CAFE
•PEN MY MW
Him
Mast «MV SW PACIFIC COLD
ROKAOI MAMOrr.
1921 JANUARY 1921
SUN MONITUE
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