Attdforarjtf SaUtj ©int^a
AND COOK INL^T PIONEER
VOL. 2. NO. i:w.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917.
PRICE TEN CENTS
RAILWAY
»,■ ^ — '■ — ■" ■■—
United States and Allied
IN FUNDS
• “ '
Powers Working in Harmony
❖ ^
^ APPROPRIATION FOR ALASKA RAILWAY ❖
^ PROJECT, AMOUNTING TO OVER SEVEN ❖
H MILLION, NOW AVAILABLE FOR USE ^
l ^
^ WASHINGTON, April 12.—The senate yesterday
^ afternoon passed the sundry civil hill, containing an ♦
^ appropriation of over seven million dollars tor the ^
^ Alaska railway project, as well as other important ^
^ Alaska appropriations. ^
❖ ^
GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT 2.000
WOODEN SHIPS FOR FOREIGN TRADE;
GOETHALS TO HAVE CHARGE OF WORK
WASHINGTON, April 12.—President Wilson today di
rented General Goethals, the builder of the Panama canal, to
tafce charge of the construction of 2,000 wooden vessels, to be
employed in transporting food, clothing, war munitions and
other necessary supplies, for the aid of the European allies ol
the United States in the war against Germany. Work on the
building of the ships will begin immediately. The president
has power to go ahead, without further action by congress, as
the ships are to be employed as an aid to military operations
against a foreign foe. Goethals was recently appointed engi
neer for the state of New Jersey, but will resign to undertake
1 this huge constructive work for the federal government. .
, • * »__ •
I
SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS TO BE
APPROPRIATED FOR WAR PURPOSES
WASHINGTON, April 12.— President Wilson lias been as
sured by the leaders of both houses of congress that a bill pro
viding for an appropriation of seven billion dollars would he
passed before the ending of the present week. The congress is
hacking the president to the limit. The administrative and
legislative branches of the government are working in perfect
harmony and accord.
THIRTY-SIX SEA-GOING SUBMARINES
*T0 BE BUILT FOR UNITED STATES NAVY
WASHINGTON, April 12.—The United States navy de
partment today opened bids for the building of sea going
-ubmarines and contracts will be awarded immediately. As
the government navy yards are employed day and night in
other government construction, it is probable that private con
cerns will build the submarines. The divers are to be built
on an entirely new design, having many advantages over those
now in use.
REPUBLICS OF SOUTH AMERICA TO
i * STAND BEHIND THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, April 12.—The state department today
received advices of the declaration of war on Germany by
the republic of Brazil. The Argentine republic notifies the
United States that it will stand by this country in its war on
Germany. Advices from Uruguay indicate that the republic
will maintain a strict neutrality as long as possible. Chile will
do likewise. Cuba has already declared war on Germany.
Panama is preparing to take similar steps. Bolivio and Peru
will line up with the United States. Colombia will remain neu
tral for the time being.
\
5 GERMANS RECEIVING PASSPORTS.
■ Kio DR JANEIRO, April 12.—A special messenger lias
been dispatched to Petropolis, Brazil, to hand the German min
ister stationed there his passports and to inform him that the
German legation officials will be sent en route to Germany on
■ the Brazilian steamship Rio de Janeiro, scheduled to sail early
next week.
DIVER ACTIVITIES SLOWING DOWN.
LONDON, April 12.—Nineteen vessels were sunk by Ger
man submarines and mines for the week ending March 8. This
shows a substantial decrease in the tonnage sunk the previous
week and proves that the British warships are getting the up
l^pr liapd of the divers.
SERIES OF CONFERENCES TO BE HELD
BY UNITED STATES AND ALLIED POWERS
TO DISCUSS THE WAR ON THE TEUTONS
WASHINGTON', April 12.—A series of war conferences
will he held between the United States and the allied powers
from time to time. The first conference will he held in Wash
ington, within the course of two weks. It is expected that
representatives of Great Britain, France. Russia, Italy, Bel
gium and Serbia will he in attendance. Bending the holding
of the conference, the Washington officials are keeping in
close touch with tin- allies, through our ambassadors. The
United State's is in a position to supply the allied powers with
money and food stuffs in abundance.
BALFOUR IS COMING.
LONDON, April 12.—ft is officially announced that Ar
thur Balfour, foreign minister in the British cabinet, will de
part for Washington in a few days, on a special mission. Bal
four is one of the foremost statesmen of Great Britain.and is a
former premier. When the coalition ministry was formed, he
became first lord of the admiralty. When Lloyd George was
asked to assume the premiership, Balfour succeeded Karl Grey
as foreign minister.
DUE TO SOARING PRICE OF TIN, ALL
CANNED GOODS WILL BE INCREASED
OVER PRICES MAINTAINING IN 1916
I
f ! -'
SEATTLE, April 12.—Advance information received by
Seattle retail grocers is to the effect that canned fruits and veg
etables of all kinds are to be 50 per cent higher for fall of 1917
delivery, than they were in the fall of 191fi. In many lines,
wholesale dealers have already revised their prices for the 191b
pack up to that figure. The soaring prices of tin for the mak
ing of cans is assigned as the immediate cause of the contem
plated advance in price.
CONGRESS TO ENDORSE FIVE BILLION
LOAN TO ALLIES OF UNITED STATES
•WAN!11\'<(TON. April 12. The house* committee on ways
and means, with the support of every member of tin* commit
tee, reported the five billion dollar bond issue measure to the
house late* yesterday afternoon. It will be taken up and pushed
through the* house as soon as possible, and then be passed on
to the senate for action. The five billion dollars will lie loaned
to the allied nations.
The senate yesterday passed the appropriation of $27^.
01)0,000 for tin* United States army. The funds are made im
mediately available.
WAR SECRETARY URGES THE AMERICAN
AVIATORS TO REMAIN IN FRANCE
WASHINGTON, April 12.—In response to an inquiry
from American aviators serving with French aerial corps. Sec
retary of War Baker assures them that the American govern
ment appreciates their services and desires that they continue
with the French aerial corps, instead of returning to the United
States. The war secretary emphasizes the fact that France is
now an ally of the United States in the war against Germany.
FEDERAL AGENTS ARE ON TRACK OF
CONSPIRATORS WHO BLEW UP PLANT
CHESTER, Pa., April 12.—Revised lists show that 132
employes of the Aetna Munitions works were killed in the Ini’
explosion that wrecked the plant. Nearly 200 received injur
ies. Most of the dead and wounded are women and girls. Fed
oral agents are making a searching investigation as to the
cause of the destruction of the big plant, and say that arrests
will follow in a few days.
MARCONI WIRELESS STATION CLOSED.
JUNEAU, April 12.—The big local Marconi wireless sta
tion at Juneau has been closed by direction of the war depart
ment, orders to this effect reaching Juneau yesterday. All
men on the force have been drafted as members of the naval
1 reserve wireless corps.
<>s>s>0<> <►<►<► <►<►<>
SECRETARY OF NAVY WARNS PACIFIC
OCEAN NAVIGATORS TO BE ON WATCH
FOR SUBMARINES IN THESE WATERS
SAN* FRAN'( ’IS('<). April 12.—Secretary of the
Navy Daniels has issued a warning to every steamship
and sailing; master on tin1 Pacific ocean to beware of
German submarines, which he has reason to believe
are now operating in those waters.
SCHOONER LADEN WITH MUNITIONS OF
WAR, EN ROUTE TO MEXICAN COAST, IS
SEIZED BY UNITED STATES DESTROYERS
><>oooooo<>ooo
SAX DIEGO, April 1A large schooner, laden with mu
i;iti<>11of war and headed for the Mexican coast, was tired on
Iiy two l nited States destroyers off San Diego yesterday after
noon. The schooner declined to heave to, when signaled to
stop, and several shots were tired in front of its how. where
upon it lowered sails. An investigation by oflicers of the de
stroyers revealed that the vessel was laden to the guards with
munitions of war. destined to the Mexican coast. Most of the
members of the crew are Germans. The schooner was escorted
to this port by the destroyers and will be confiscated. The
members of the crew will be interned as prisoners of war.
NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE MEETS
TO TAKE MEASURES FOR DEFENSE
SANTA I’K, X. M„ April 111. The governor has called a
special session of the legislature to provide means of defense
for the state of Xew Mexico. Indications point to a
Mexican invasion in the state and all precautions are being
taken to give vigorous resistance. It is known that General
Villa has a large number of Germans under his command and
he will invade American states if the opportunitv presents it
self.
LOYAL WOMAN OF PORT TOWNSEND
ACCOMPANIES SONS TO ENLISTMENT
SEATTLE. April IT- “I am giving both of m\ boys to
the service of my country. Here is Edwin, aged lb years; take
him for the 1 nited States navy. My oldest son. Merrill, joined
the l\ S. aviation school at Coronado today.’’ It was Mrs. Lila
L. Bartlett, of I’ort Townsend, who spoke these patriotic, self
sacrificing words to the recruiting officer in Seattle yesteidav
afternoon. She paid her own expenses and came from t ort
Townsend to give her consent to her youngest son’s enlistment
in the navy.
INCORPORATED TOWNS MAY GRANT
FRANCHISES TO PRIVATE C0MPA1NES
JUNEAU, April 1_.—The house yesterday passed <!au
stad’s senate hill allowing municipal corporations to grant
franchises to public service utilities. The house amended the
hill to allow any person to apply' for a franchise. The senate
bill allows only corporations entitled to eminent domain to
apply for franchises. The hill as amended will be sent to the
senate for concurrence.
Snow yesterday introduced a hill prohibiting minors
from using tobaccos of any kind and prohibiting the sale of
t he product to minors.
The committee bill to prevent capital punishment was pre
sented to the house yesterday, with no recommendation one
way or the other.
The national guard bill has been laid on the table. It did
not conform to the regulations effective in states of the union.
The memorial asking congress to provide for canvassing
boards for each of the four judicial divisions of Alaska was
adopted.
The bill providing for the compulsory attendance of wit
nesses before committees of the legislature was passed by tin*
house.
The prohibiting of running of whiskey advertisements in
newspapers in Alaska after January 1. 1918. is before the sen
ate today.