Fresh Ranch Eggs!!
75c the Dozen
\s long as they last we will continue to sell fresh ranch eggs fresh from the
outside ex launc h Rosebud, at the same price. These eggs were shipped direct to
Soldovia from Seattle where the Rosebud was waiting to receive them. They were
transshipped direct to Anchorage, coming in on flic first vessel to bring fresh sup
plies to this city in R>17. Included in the shipment were fresh oranges, lemons,
grapefruit, and onions. Our Oranges and Grape Fruit are sold out. but we yet have
Fresh Lemons and Onions
These also are selling rapidly, and if you have a hankering for fresh food place
vour order with ns at once. While we are talking about things which are good to
cuif it i> onlv fair to call your attention to the fact that wt* have a large supply ot
Swift’s Premium Hams
and Bacon
(if which it i.' necessary to say nothing more.
ORDERS FROM UP THE LINE FILLED PROMPTLY.
POLLEY^TS.
DEALERS IN GENERAL MERCHANDISE
I
I_I
JUST TO REMIND YOU
-of-f
Union Pacific System ,
Through Cars*
between SEATTLE and Chicago
Kansas City. Denver
San Francisco. Los Angeles
\ Direct Connections for all
points East via the Famous )
COLUMBIA RIVER ROUTE.
Trains protected all the way
all the time by Automatic
Electric “Safety” Signals.
H. L. HUDSON. A. C. F. & P. A.
SEATTLE
MONEY TO LOAN
Short term loans on Real
Estate. Bills discounted.
R. NICHOLLS, 615 7th Ave,
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
MASONS
Anchorage Masonic Club
meets first and third Thursday
in month. G.C.H AMMOND, Sec.
L. 0. 0. M. 1534
Regular meeting every Wed
nesday night at 8 o'clock,
at A. L. U. Hall.
JAS. L. CORT, Sec.
BILL’S CLUB.
J. T. WESTERMANN, Secy.
Meets at Club Rooms every
I
Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock.
EAGLES CLUB
Meets every Friday night
at the Anchor club. Eathrop
Block. C. G. GANTY, Secy.
Best music at Peterson’s. 444
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
BY ALASKA LABOR UNION
AT MEETING HELD MARCH .1
At a regular business meeting of
the Alaska Labor union, held March 5.
the following resolutions, which will
be forwarded to Secretary of the In
terior Lane, were adopted:
WHEREAS, t lie Government of tlie
United States is engaged in the- import
ant work of building a railroad from ij'e
coast to the interior of Alaska for the
principal and prime purpose of develop
ing the wonderful resources of the ter
ritory and pro\ iding homes and emp!o> -
merit* for the increasing population of
the slates of the union,
AN I* WHEREAS, in order to success
fullv%carry out this purpose, it is neces
sary to consider the welfare of the
people of Alaska, in the first instance
and of those now residing in. and those
who may hereafter become residents of
the territory,
ANI> YVHERKAS. it appears to us
that the practice thus far pursued by
the government in the construction of
the railroad has not given due consider
ation to the importance of the matters
presented in these resolutions,
THEREFORE, RE IT RESOLVED by
the ALASKA LAHOK UNION of An
chorage. Alaska, composed of -.000
members
THAT in the employment of all clas
ses of labor upon the Government rail
road in Alaska, other things being
equal, Alaskans, and especially residents
of the territory with wives or families
dependent upon them, should be given
the preference.
THAT the policy heretofore pursued
by the Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion in maintaining a Commissary for
[ the exclusive use and benefit of its cm
j ployes. where provisions, oloth.ng at *
; supplies may be bought, should be con
tinued at cost, and especially is this con
sidered important in view of the con
I ttnually increasing cost of supplies pur
chased in the local markets.
I THAT all men engaged l>v the Alas
kan Enginering Commission in the con
struction of the government railroad in
Alaska are “Employ**” of the commis
sion within the meaning and intent of
I the federal law providing for com pen
| sation in case of injury or death, and
that this is ;i B*n*ficial Law based on
principles of equity and justice, and its
1 evident purpose should not be defeated.
i or its benefits diminished by any pe
I culiar kind of employment, or form of
j contract used in the employment of la
I nor.
THAT the policy of the Alaskan En
gineering Commission in providing
1 clean, commodious, and comfortable liv
• ing quarters for the employes of the
commission in Anchorage, free of
charge, should he extended as rapidly as
possible to tin* construction camps along
the line of the railroad, and should be
made to include living quarters for mar
ried m -n on the same basis as those
provided for single men.
THAT a copy of these Resolutions la*
sent to the President of the United
J States, to the Secretai*’ of the Interior.
t<» the members of tne Alaskan Engi
neering Commission, to the delegate
from Alaska in Congress, and to any
other members of congress thought ad
'« isahle by the Alaska Labor Union, ami
that a copy he given to the press.
Zeppelin Raid On London.
BERLIN, March 20.—An attack or
London by a fleet of Zeppelins, which
lasted an hour and a half, was made
yesterday morning, says a report is
sued by the war office today. Man>
bombs were dropped and much dam
| age resulted. The airships returnee
1 to their base in safety.
_
North Pole Bakery serves lunche:
' after the show. 56"
U. S. LEADS IN TRADE
WITH THE RUSSIANS
PET HOUR AD, Feb. 27.—During
the past year, the United States led
the world among nations trading with j
Russia. Complete figures of Russia's
imports for 1916 are not yet available,
but it is believed that they will show
that approximately half of Russia’s
total imports came from the United
States.
The import figures are always giv- i
en out separately for European Rus-1
sia and Asiatic Russia. For the first
eight months of 1916, the imports into
European Russia were as follows:
From Great Britain 201,500,000 rou
bles; from the United States, 180,500,
000 roubles; from France 68,500,000
roubles; from Japan 23,500,000 rou
bles. By way of Siberia, the following
additional imports were received, these
figures, however, being only for seven
months: From Great Britain 51,000,
I 000 roubles; from the United States
i 236,000,000 roubles; from Japan 111,
' 300,000 roubles.
On a basis of these figures, the to
tals for the year may be roughly es
timated as follows for the whole of
j Russia: From the United States 670,
000,000 roubles; from Great Britain
390,000,000 roubles; frym Japan 220,
000,000 roubles.
Apparently these figures do not in
clude war materials consigned direct
to the Russian government.
Latest War News at Peterson’s. 399
---
UNION CIGAR STORE |
4th Ave. Bet. C and B Sts. ^
Choice line of Cigars and
Tobaccos,
Confectionery and
Soft Drinks. g
Meet Your Friends at the hr
UNION CIGAR STORE
ip GUS STIPOVICH and
OTTO GUSTOSON, Props, j|
Taxi and Transfer
CITY AUTO SERVICE
PHONE 89-R.
LAUNCHES FOR CHARTER
Office: Next to Labor Temple
(From tlu> Alaska Railroad Record)
WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
Anchorage Division.
Following are the progress reports of the various de
partments of Anchorage Division for the week ending
March 10. 1917:
MAINTENANCE OK WAY.
Water Service and Plumbing.
A temporary four-inch wrought-iron pipe, to replace
the broken six-inch wood pipe running east from the ma
chine shop, was laid by the Commission force of this De
partment during the week. Some work was also accom
plished in connection with the re-laying of the water main
to Docks Nos. 1 and 2.
Bridge and Building.
Work continues on the reconstruction of outtit cars.
Ten of these cars are now ready for service. A piledriver
was fitted up for the driving of piling for the extension of
Dock No. 2. »
Eska Creek Coal Spur.
The clearing and grubbing contractors have finished
their work, and the grading, which is being done by a
Commission force, is about 50 per cent completed. The
tie contractor has about 1500 ties cut for this branch.
Mechanical Department.
Engine No. 265 has been made ready for service, after
extensive repairs. Eight repairs were made to engine No.!
280. Work on the general overhauling of engine No. 1
and on Browning crane No. 1 continues. The splitting
shears have been set uu and are in operation.
MATANUSKA DISTRICT.
Matanuska Branch.
Construction conditions on The Branch remain prac- i
tit-ally unchanged from last week. All station work is
progressing favorably, and some of the larger contractors
are augmenting their forces with day laborers. It is j
planned to work two shifts where necessary as soon as !
the days lengthen.
The Matanuska River is still frozen over, but the ice
is liable to break up at any time. A small Commission
gang is building a wagon road between Hole-in-the-Wall
and Camp 32, and team communication between Kings
River and Camp 32 will be interrupted but a short time
should the ice go out of the Matanuska.
Main Line.
Freighting along the Main Line is proceeding satis
factorily. Camp 187 at Willow Creek and Camp 195 near
the Kashwitna are completely stocked with all supplies
at present obtainable, and all rails and cars needed for
the work between Willow Creek and Kashwitna have been
hauled to Camp 187 for distribution.
All bridge material for the decking of the structures
south of the Little Susitna will have been hauled by the
end of the month, and it is probable that the greater
part of the ties will have been distributed by that time
for the grade between Little Susitna and Cottonwood.
To date approximately 3000 ties have been distributed on
the Cottonwood end.
The piledriver crew has practically finished driving the
piling for the proposed wagon bridge at the Little Susit
na, and early next week the driving of the Little Susitna
right-of-way structure will be commenced.
A bridge crew has completed the decking of all struc
tures between Matanuska and Camp 166, with the ex
ception of one short trestle.
TL’RNAGAIN ARM DISTRICT.
Clearing.
The gangs between Indian Creek and one mile north of
Glacier Creek continue to make satisfactory progress.
During the week several stationmen’s laborers were |
placed on clearing work.
Grading.
Two grading contracts were let during the period, |
covering work in the vicinity of Bird Point, Camp 83, as !
follows: J. Pavletich & Co., stations 1712 to 1742; and
Tom Mizouri & Co., stations 1742 to 1765.
A number of coyote holes have been started since the
arrival of the tug Anne W. with a supply of powder.
About 50- stationmen’s laborers were hired during the
week, and several night shifts have been started at points
where there is a possibility of the grade work delaying
the laying of track.
The Commission forces in the cut one and one-half
miles south of Potter Creek drove 61 feet of coyote hole
with two jack hammers.
Miscellaneous.
The trail is in very poor condition between Kern
Creek and Rainbow, and hauling by team and double
enders will be abandoned unless more snow falls. Freight
ing in that vicinity can be accomplished by the steam
launch Eklutna and the barge Knik, operating out of
Rainbow, should it become necessary. Turnagain Arm in
that section is now practically free from ice.
The mess house and bunk house at Camp 83 are fin
| ished; the former has a capacity of 90 and the latter 50.
There were 887 employees on the District during the
period, classified as follows: Commission force 184, Sta
tionmen 624, Stationmen’s laborers 79.
TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE DEPARTMENT.
Telegraph & Telephone.
The lines from the townsite exchange to the Terminal
Yards are now working through cables. The work of re
moving the aerial wire on C Street is almost completed.
The average daily switchboard connections for the
month of February were as follows:
Anchorage 2434, Matanuska 418 and Potter Creek 335.
All of the Matanuska circuit now consists of good cop
per and copper-clad wire. The force which has just com
pleted this work will next run a metallic circuit from the
siding at Eska Creek to the Eska mines along the spur
now being built.
Electric Light and Power.
Ten additional service connections for commercial light
ing have been made in the townsite. Additional light and
a 35 h. p. motor have been installed in the machine shop.
Four cottages on Government Hill had water pipes
thawed electrically during the week.
The Port of Seattle Commission has, by resolution
' formally adopted, changed the name of the Bell Street
Pier office building in Seattle to “Bell Street Terminal,”
by which name it will hereafter be designated and known.
The Seattle Purchasing Office of the Alaskan Engineer
ing Commission is located in this building.
AGRICULTURE IX ALASKA.
The agricultural lands of the Cook Inlet-Susitna region
are comprised in the plainlike country and adjacent bench
lands bordering Cook Inlet from Ivachemak Bay northward
and extending up the Susitna and Matanuska Valleys. The
unfavorable climate and topography of the surrounding
mountainous country restrict the fanning possibilities to
this low country, the approximate area of which is 6000
square miles. At least one-third of this area, amounting
to a little more than a million and a quarter acres (1,296/-4
000 acres, the lowest estimate), consists of arable land
possessing topographic and drainage characteristics and
chemical and physical properties quite favorable to farm
ing. About one-half of this good land occurs in the Su
sitna and Matanuska Valleys.
The remainder of the lowland country largely repre
sents muskeg or marsh, isolated areas in the muskeg, and
areas of unfavorable topography. Extensive drainage
operations will be required to reclaim the marsh land, and
to make available the included well-drained land.
The climate i; cnaracterized by long, cold winters and
short summers of moderate temperatures. At Tyonek the
mean summer tempe rature, based on records covering nine
years, is 56 degrees F. The maximum temperature record
ed is 91 degrees F. and the minimum -27 degrees F. The
mean annual precipitation here is 23 inches, while the mean
of the three summer months, June, July, and August, is 8
inches. The snowfall is 82 inches.
The growing season begins some time in May and cA
tinues until the first of September. Under normal con
ditions killing frosts are not likely to occur over the
greater part of the region during this period. There are,
however, localities of peculiar climatic environment where
chilling winds or unseasonable frosts are likely to injure
crops at any time. The long hours of summer daylight
add to the growing season. Ground ice is of common oc
currence near the surface in many places where there is
a thick covering of moss, but this is not detrimental to
crop production. They ice thaws rapidly as soon as the moss
is burned off or stripped from the surface, soon sinking
beyond the depth of winter freezing.
I lie following crops have proved successful in this reg
ion: Potatoes, a large number of vegetables, small grain,
and grass. Native redtop grass grows abundantly through
out the region. Cut at the right time this grass makes
gooil hay, both the results of actual feeding and chemical
analysis indicating good nutritive values. This grass
yields 3 tons or more of hay per acre, and it will afford
feed and pasturage for a large number of animals.
Early varieties of barley and oats mature, producing
good yields of grain. Wheat and rye have been matured,
but these crops do not seem to be so promising as oats and
barley. All small grains will produce good yields of hay,
even in years of abnormally early frost.
Over 200 bushels of potatoes per acre are grown on
the good soils without fertilization. The potatoes are of
good quality when started early and grown on well-drained
soils in sunny situations. This crop will succeed through
out the region on the better grades of land, such as the
extensive Knik loam type.
Cabbage, turnips, lettuce, beets, spinach, garden peas,
carrots, and a number of other vegetables of good quality
ape easily grown on all of the arable soils.
Cattle have been raised on a small scale at Ninilchik for
years. The agricultural experiment station maintained for
several years on the Kenai Peninsula successfully raised
cattle and produced milk, butter and cheese of good qual
ity on pasturage and locally produced feed. Elsewhere
no important effort has been devoted to the live-stock in
dustry; but enough has been accomplished at Ninilchik and
Kenai to show that there is no question regarding the pos
sibility of raising stock and producing dairy products in
this region. The native grasses will afford large quanti
ties of hay, as well as good summer pasturage. Native
hay supplemented with locally produced grain hay and
root-crop forage will provide feed necessary for the long
winters. From the latter part of May until some time in
September the animals will maintain themselves on native
pasturage. The only means of economically utilizing the
abundant native grasses and the large yields of grain hay
and root-crop forage the soils are capable of producing ap
pears to be in the raising of stock and dairying. The ne
cessity of feeding stock upwards of seven months in the
year, however, imposes more restrictions upon the industry
than are encountered in warmer regions and in those cli
mates where the animals maintain themselves most of the
year upon ranges.
The climate and soil make possible the establishment
of an important agriculture in the Cook Inlet-Susitna re
gion. Development will follow along pioneer lines at first,
leading eventually to the establishment of many comfort
able homes, supported largely by the products of the farm.
The possibilities of raising stock and dairying point to the
furtherance of agriculture, eventually, to a position of im
portance considerably beyond a self-supporting stage. The
building of a railroad through the Susitna and Matanuska
Valleys will make accessible a large area of good farming
land, and'unquestionably, settlement will follow, probably
at a rapid rate.
The most promising line of agriculture for this coun
try appears to be that which will center about dairying.
With an increase in the population accompanying a devel
opment of coal mining in the Matanuska field, further
developments in the placer and lode mining of gold, and
expansion of the fisheries, there will be an enlarged mar
ket for beef, dairy products, potatoes, vegetables, and hay.
For exportation those products of a more concentrated
form, such as butter and cheese particularly, obviously wilt
be the more likely to yield a margin of profit over the cost
of transportation. Profitable exportation of farm products
may depend upon the establishment of cheaper transporta
tion to the outside markets.
An experiment station in the upper portion of the Cook
Inlet region could give much assistance in the matter of
ascertaining the best varieties of crops to grow here, in
putting the seed of such varieties in the hands of farmers,
and in working out other problems connected with the agri
cultural development of the region.
Before going to Alaska to farm it would be strongly
advisable for the prospective immigrant to make a care
ful study of the geography of the region, its climate, soils,
crops, transportation facilities, market conditions, and
population; and sufficient capital should be available to
carry the new farmer through a period of one or more
years during which he will be busy clearing land and con
structing necessary buildings.
WEEKLY FORCE REPORT.
Anchorage Division.
The number of employees of the Anchorage Division as
shown by the payrolls on Saturday, March 3, was as fol
lows:
Commissioner’s Office . 36
Shops and Yards . 136
Transportation Service . 16
Store and Dock Departments . 136
Accounting Department . Iff
Disbursing Office . 5
Townsite Department . 22
Steward’s Department . 11
Hospital Department . 25
Telegraph & Telephone Department. 59
Track, Bridge and Ballast—Main Line. 97
Turnagain Arm District. 184
Matanuska District . 208
Talkeetn^ District . 153
1107
Stationmen and Laborers—All Districts . 965
Grand total all employees Anchorage Division ... 2072'
Effective March 19, Mr. W. H. Snelgrove is appointed
resident engineer, and after that date will assume charge
of Residency No. 10, Matanuska District.