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SEWARD:—The ^Gateway to the Land of Opportunity—The Hunters’ Paradise—The Homesteaders’ Land of Promise __l_ _ - — «£* • ---1 JL The Gateway The Gateway ’'-% to the to the |1?1 1 ill II 1 Kenai, Knik, Broad Pass Great Coal Fields of %f Gold Fields Matanuska ^ I1 V .J ---^ dttoi lourik nAii ▼ UTrKPT SUNDAY LARGEST ALASKAN CIRCULATION ADVERTISEMENTS BRING RESULTS PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUN pat ________ \>. No. 1111 SEWARD, THE GATEWAY TO ALASKA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, UH5. ___l<n "" * MONEY ASKED MAY BE USED TO BUY SEWARD R. R. LANE NEGOTIATING ALL THE WEEK WITH ALASKA NORTHERN MEN WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—That actual construction work on the Alaska railroad will be proceeding in June is the statement of Secretary Lane of the Interior depart ment. What is of the greatest interest to Alaskans here is that the representative of the Alaska Northern railroad has been in consultation with Lane all the week. Every thing has been kept wth extraordinary secrecy but the stenographic account of Lane’s remarks before the ap propriation committee of the house was made public today and it throws a far clearer light on the whole matter The report shows that Lane told the committee that he wanted to begin actual construction work in June on whatever route would be selected. Chairman Fitzegerald of the appropriations committee asked Mr. Lane if it was his intention to have enough money to purchase a road and also to proceed with the construction. To this the secretary answered ‘‘yes” and went on to say that he wanted only enough money to make a deposit if it was de cided to purchase a railroad. Mr. Lane also stated that he wanted to proceed immediately to get out the coal from the Alaska fields. The remainder of the remarks of Mr. Lane hardly throw any light on other phases of the ques ton . The extraordinary secrecy that is being maintained is being commented on generally. Even the officials of the interior department have been ordered to giveout no in formation. This very secrecy is accepted by the newspap er men at the capitol as clearly showing that the whole ■ — . .. .. RUSSIANS TURN TABLES PETROGRAD, Feb. 6.—The Russians have succeeded in turning the tables on the Germans in the battle for Warsaw and are now taking a strenuous offensive instead of remaining on the defensive as they have been for sever al weeks. In a counter attack threatening the German flank the Russians were quite successful and succeeded in crossing the Bzura river in spite of opposition. The Germans were driven out of several positions and the savage assaults that have been delivered by Hindenburg for some time have not only come to an end but he is now on the defensive. On all the eastern front in the past two days the Russians have been successful entirely except in the southern part of the Carpathian mountains. CZAR TO THE FRONT PETROGRAD, Feb. 5.—The czar left for the front this morning and will remain for some time. He was es corted from the city by a regiment of dragoons and im mediately after leaving the confines of the city his where abouts were hidden. His location during his absence will be kept entirely quiet as a precaution against attacks by German airmen. BRITAIN HAS 3,000.000 MEN LONDON, Feb. 5.—In the army estimates made pub lic today it is seen that Great Britain now has three mil lion men ready for military service. All those men are either now undergoing training in the different camps throughout the country or having already been trained and sent to the battle front on the continent. The army of three million is believed to be all that will be required but the full number will be kept up by constant recruiting. SAY AUSTRIANS WON LONDON, Feb. 6.—The dispatches from the front today show that the Russians have been repulsed by the Austrians at Stry Pass where the Russians were making one of their main efforts to penetrate into Transylvania. The Austrian success will probablyy have considerable ef fect on the Roumanians as they had been expecting the Russians to advance to their border in Bukowina and Transylvania and so bringing about a joining of forces if Roumania finally declared war. With the exception of the check in the southern Carpathians the Russians have been successful everywhere in the past few days. matter has been decided upon, as, they conclude, there would be no necessity for such secrecy if there were noth ing important to be kept secret. The fact that the repre sentative of the Alaska Northern has been in such close ! consultation with Lane for a whole week is apparently a matter of the greatest possible significance to the Alas kans. The fact taken in conjunction with Mr. Lane’s ex pressed desire to be able to make a deposit if a railroad is purchased is believed to be highly important. Many other statements have been made that are in teresting in relation to the railroad but so much has been said and printed on the matter that is not fact that most of the new stories must be received with caution. The only absolutely positive testimony is that contained in the j report of the secretary’s statement before the committee But. besides hinting that he wanted the money to make a deposit on the purchase price he said nothing except] that he desired to begin the work at once to the coal fields. WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.—Secretary Lane stated officially today that he wants the construction work on the Alaska government railroad to start in June and that his object is to get to the coal fields as soon as possible. Nothing further can be told about the other matters relating to the road The same doubt still exists as to the intention with regard to the purchase of existing roads. However, the state ment that actual work will start in June is taken by Alaskans here as the chief thing worth knowing. Richard S. Ryan has come forward with an offer to build a railroad from Controller Bay to coal fields and says it can be done in forty miles. Wheth er the people at Ryan’s back are real ly willing to put up the money or not cannot be told but it is stated that their chief aim is to prevent the gov ernment from purchasing the Copper River and Northwestern. GUNS HEARD AFAR OFF BUT NOT CLOSE IN. GENEVA, Feb. 5.—Scientists are endeavoring to explain the peculiar phenomena by which the artillery fire of the armies near the Swiss border can be plainly heard in the Bernese Alps, while there are zones of dience fully 25 miles wide. The cannonading in Southern Al sace can be heard with great distinct ness near the frontier on the Swiss side, then for some distance it can not be heard at all, while on the Jung frau and other peaks it is so pla;n that it seems to come from some point far inside the frontier. Dr. Quereanin of Zurich, a noted physicist, has given considerable study to these zones of silence, but has not yet found any good reason for them. A fire occurred last night in the flue of the house occupied by Mrs. Cam eron and the fire department was cal led out. The damage was very slight. I- T WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT RAILROAD MATTER OUTSIDE. Seattle Star Thinks Morgan is Try ing to Beat Uncle Sam. Just to show how the sale of exist ing railroads in Alaska is viewed out side the following article from the Seattle Star of Jan. 20 is enlighten ing; The Copper River & Northwestern Railroad crosses the Copper river on a $2,000,000 steel bridge a short dis tance below the Childs glacier. A short distance indeed! The north prong of that ice river has just advan ced 1,660 feet in a single year, and at present is only 400 feet from the bridge! Another Season’s progress will bring it to the Abutments of that man-reared structure and crush it like a fly under the thumb of a blacksmith The railroad, if it wishes, can build a new bridge 500 feet lower down. That would cost another $2,000,000, and when the ice flow crossed the narrow intervening strip, away would go another fortune. Beyond that, topographical hind rances stand in the way of any furth er evasions of nature’s mandate “Thou Shalt Not Enter Here.’’ Five miles up the river the railroad encounters even a more serious ob stacle. For five and a half miles it runs across the face of the Allen glacier—not in front of it, or along side of it,but on top the naked ice. And Allen Glacier has started a rapid advance. The tracks are thrown fre quently out of alignment, and in short iime, if the flow continues, traffic will be an impossibility, repairs or re construction a travesty. On the east side of the stream the choice of alternative route is impos sible by the towering eight-mile face of Miles glacier. And it, too, is ad vancing. The world’s great geologists be lieve in what is known as the Bruch SEVERAL BATTLES IN WEST PARIS, Feb. 6.—Several battles were fought at points along the front in France and Flanders today and yester day. The Germans attacked near Arras but made no head way. There was also heavy fighting at Altkirch in Alsace where the Germans were repulsed. East of Rheims the French delivered several attacks and made some gains. GERMANY HOLDS TOBACCO BERLIN, Feb. 6.—The exportation of tobacco from German territory has been prohibited by an order of the government promulgated today. In other lines there are, about to take place similar steps as a precaution. ! CARNEGIE TESTIFIES BEFORE COMMISSION. Says Labor and Capital Will all be Regarded as the Same Some Day. NEW YORK, Feb. 6.—Carnegie and . Rockefeller were the witnesses before tho Industrial Relations commission yesterday. They were chiefly quest ioned with relation to the “founda tions” for the aiding the poor and each warmly declared that the Foundations were good institutions. Carnegie sta ted that up to the end of last year he had donated for charity three hunderd j and fifty millions of dollars. Another noteworthy remark made by him was that in his opinion the time will come when capital and labor will be all the same. Rockefeller declared that he had not interested himself in the strike in Colorado because at that time he had retired from business. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS REMAIN ABOUT SAME. The report of the collector of Cus toms for the port of Juneau which has just arrived shows that the im ports for the last year for the who’e torritory amounted to $26,849,944. The exports for the year amounted to $44,614,696. The imports for each of the past three years were either twenty six millions or twenty five millions. The exports for the three years were also in the forty millions. REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE OF SEWARD FOUNDED. At Meeting Last Night all Real Es tate Firms Decided to Organize. The Real Estate Exchange of Sew ard is the name of the organization established at a meeting of the real estate men of the city last night. The object of the organization is to regu late the realty business and to have uniform charges etc. According to rules laid down the vendor of real estate will be required to pay commission, deed, abstract and war tax, while the purchaser will pay for the recording. Purchaser and vendor will divide the cost of escro agreements. A regular commission fee has also been fixed on. G. B. Poindexter is president and B. R. Labaree is secretary of the new or ganization. The meeting was held in the Whitehead company's office. PARIS, Feb. 6.—The touring Club of France has issued notice that its certification shall be withdrawn from every hotel that does not agree in writing never again to employ Ger man or Austrian help. ner theory of glacial retreat and ad vance. Without going into the techni cal angles of this hypothesis, be it said it holds that sun spots and other factors that influence climate oscil late in 35 years swings of a rainfall and temperature pendulum. Nearly 40 years ago the glaciers in all parts of the world began to melt faster than they built up, and then to retreat. This was due to a lessening of the rainfall and snowfall at their sources. For 35 years the retreat continued. A few years ago the pendulum swung,, majestically, unmistakably, and now the ice rivers are growing longer, thicker, more terrible. In just a few years the Child’s anu the Mile’s no doubt will be debouching their swollen torrents of rock and ice into one grinding mill over the very; right of way where the Morgans laid ^ their rails. No wonder J. Pierpont the younger wants to sell,—to esay going old Uncle Sam. MAKE SOLDIERS OFJDLE MEN BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS TO TRAIN THE UN EMPLOYED. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—Repre sentative Loft of New York introduc ed in congress today a bill providing for the taking of a census of the un employed and authorizing the presi dent to utilize them on public works where part of the work would be a daily drill in military matters. The intention of the sponsor if the bill is to create an armed reserve while at the same time aiding the men them selves. The bill is one of the most striking evidence of the increasing be lief in the east that this country must be better prepared for war. VILLA MAY AGAIN TRY TO CAPTURE CAPITAL. Self Appointed President Said to be Preparing to Gather Big Army. MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6.—The an nouncement by Villa that he is presi dent of Mexico is regarded as making certain another attempt to capture this city. He is reported to bo taking the preliminary steps for the gather ing of a big army and the continua tion of war is, of course, sure. The affairs of this city are orderly at pres ent. ALAMEDA AT CORDOVA. The Alameda is due to arrive at Cordova this evening at six o’clock according to word received by Agent Guptil. CHIEF OF POLICE AT JUNEAU GETS TIRED. JUNEAU.—‘T was tired of being the target of abusive complaints, and I did not care for the council’s inveti gation. That’s why I resigned." Chief of Police William M. McBride made this statement to The Empire this morning. His resignation as head of the police department was deliver ed to F. Wooland, chairman of the police committee of the municipal council, at 6 o'clock last eveing. The council is expected to accept the resignation which is effective Feb ruary 1, and name a new chief at its next meeting. There are 15 or 20 applicants for the position.—Empire. LONDON, Feb. 6.—The action of the Duchess of Marlborough in having the roof of Sunderland House fortified against aerial attacks has started a fashion that has spread far from May fair. Guests in a private hotel in Kensington recently appealed to the proprietor to keep the cellars of the hotel permantly warmed, so they would finds things comfortable in event of a Zeppelin raid. It is reported that thirty London householders with extra cellar space have sublet it at so much per raid. This business has been stimulated by the warning of the War Office that in event of a German bombardment people should get underground. GERMANS AT WORK. LONDON, Feb. 5.—The Portuguese government according to London ad vices has prohibited the admission to the country of German war propo ganda in the form of pamphlets, circu lars, or books. Literature of this des cription has been scattered broadcast througout the country recently by German agencies located in Barcelona and other Spanish centers. u;al mint* LArLuaiu.> CAUSES TEN DEATHS. One Hundred nnd Sixty Eight Minora Caught in West Vir ginia Town. “FAYETTEVILL, W. Va., Feb. 6.-~ One hundred and sixty eight miners were caught in a coal mine explosion here today but all escaped with the exception of ten men. WARSHIPS TO BE BUILT ON THE WEST COAST. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—It was stated today in connection with the passing of the naval appropriations that three destroyers will bo construc ted in yards on the Pacific coast. BILL SIGNED MAKING ARKANSAS DRY. LITTLE ROCK, Feb. 6.—Governor Hays today signed the bill making Arkansas a dry state. DIPLOMATS MAY QUIT MEXICO ALTOGETHER. Dis-Satisfied with the Manner in which Carranza is Running Things. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—There is very good reason to believe that all the foreign diplomats in Mexico are now discussing the desirability of quitting the republic altogether chief ly because of the manner in which Carranza is treating them. Carranza is now apparently successful in the effort to grab the reins of power and the star of Villa seems to be ir the de scendant although he has taken on himself the title of president. It may be that he will try to follow out his old idea of dividing Mexico into two seperate governments. APPROPRIATIONS FOR TWO BATTLE SHIPS. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.—The nav al appropriations bill has passed. It provides for tw*o battleships at a cost of seven millions and a half each. 7 ho appropriations total thirty one million dollars. SOLID TRAINLOAD OF AUTOS FOR BUICK CO. SEATTLE, Feb. 6.—The first solid special trainload of automobiles ship to the Pacific Northwest arrived in Seattle on Friday last, and were un loaded by the Northwest Buick Comp any, local distributors. MILLION AND A HALF ALREADY FROM CANAL. PANAMA, Feb. 6.—The tolls col lected in the Panama canal up to the end of December amounted to a total of a million and a half. SLAYERS BELIEVED HAD GOLD BURIED. The body of Louis Schonbom, the Shushanna trader, murdered a few days ago, was found in a deserted cab in near the beach, where he had evi dently been dragged after being shot. Keys were missing from his person, it is suppossed the slayer believed that Schonbom had a cache of gold around his store. The slayer had not been found at last reports. Mr. Schonbom was a man about 62 years old, an old “sourdough” and came here from Dawson at the time of the rush into the Shushanna.—Cordova Alaskan. Beginning Monday February 8th ; the Troy laundry invities everyone to bring their bundles and take advant age of the reduced rates in gent’s | wearing apparel. 6th ave., next Sew ard hotel.