The Alaska daily empire. [volume], November 29, 1912, Image 2

About The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926

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ALASKA DAILY EMPIRE
J. F. A. STRONG.
TELEPHONE 3-74
Application has been made to the
postotttce depart incut for the entry of
this newspaper as second class mat
ter.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year, by mail $10.00
Six Months, by mail 5.00
Per Month, delivered 1.00
Jl'NKAU. ALASKA. NOV. 29. 1912.
GROWTH OF EXPRESS BUSINESS.
Kvidence of the growth of Juneau
during the past year Is also revealed
in the increase of the express busi
ness with outside points. According
to the statement of James \V. H'll,
Alaska superintendent of the Wells
Fargo company, it has doubled dur
ing the past year, and Mr. Hill is
coniident of a stilli greater gain dur
ing the coming year.
Of course this express company has
a monopoly in Alaska that is com- I
plete. but It also succeeded to the
business of a monoply. therefore the
increase shown has been due to ac
tual growth and expansion of the
business in this section.
Beginning on January 1, next, how
ever. the express companies of the
United States will have a competitor
in the parcels post system which will
be established on that date. That It
will make substantial inroads in the
business of the express companies .s
undoubted. It will be a competitive
factor that the express companies
will have to reckon with, but in the
reckoning they are not likely to cut
rates below those fixed by the post
ottlce department for the parcels post
servie. If they should the people
generally will be the gainer. For
many years the big express companies
were able to defeat any proposal look
ing toward the establishment of a par
cels post system, and were even in
fluential enough to cause the pres
ent law to be much more limited ir.
its scope than the needs of the coun
try demand. However, a start has
been made and the limitations now
placed upon It will be removed in
time, and Its usefulness greatly ex
tended.
At midnight on the tented field the
Turk sat dreaming?but we judge
with the Bulgars so hot on his trail
the Turk just now has no time for
dreaming.
A VENERABLE DAY.
Thanksgiving is over anil some have
given thanks orally and some silently
yet just as heartily. The season of
thanksgiving is older than the repub
lic but not the nation. History and
tradition tell us that the custom of
observing a day of fasting and prayer
was established by the Pilgrim Fathers
on the stent and rock-bound coast of
New Kngland.
It may be that they brought it with
them from Holland, where some of
them had lived as strangers and ex
iles. for conscience' sake, before em
barking for the new world.
At any rate we may lay claim to
it now as something that was cradled
on American soil, and it breathes the
spirit of the new world.
Originally, we are told, a day was
set apart for thanksgiving and
prayer, for mercies received, for pro
tection from enemies, for material
benefits?good crops of com. for in
creasing prosperity, for freedom, from
sickness and disaster?and thus the
day was strictly observed in the most
orthodox Puritan fashion.
In our Thanksgiving Day proclama
tions of the present time, may be
still observed traces of the language
and spirit of the olden time.
But Thanksgiving Day now has lit
tle of the fervor and spirit, we fancy,
of the days of the Pilgrims and their
immediate descendants, because times
have changed and we have changed
with them. With us it is, of course,
still a time of thanksgiving, but it
is also one of feasting, of reunion, of
recreation and pleasure ? features
that have been added to it with the
process of time.
But while it was yet per se a New
Kngland institution, the Puritans, re
laxing somewhat, added to it the feast
that though solemn was abundant, and
the wild turkey was introduced as the
national bird together with the ven
ison of which "no finer or fatter e'er
ranged in a forest or smoked in a
platter."
So It has become a veritable na
tional holiday with us.?just as much
as Christmas Day or the Fourth of
July. It is a cherished institution and
its origin is well worthy of being kept
in remembrance, for the land which
nurtured it and the people, who there
sought a home for the free and the op
pressed of every nation,?"God had 1
sifted the seed of three kingdoms for ]
the wheat for that planting." >
PENSIONS FOR PRESIDENTS.
Former President Roosevelt Bays
that he is not interested In pensions
for ex-presidents, but that he is vl
ally interested iu the poor niun and
his environment.
President Taft Is of record as ex
pressing the belief that the country
itself should make suitable provision
for the care of these officials when
they shall have been retired to pri
vate life.
These expressions of opinion were
the outgrowth of the plan proposed
by the trustees of the Carnegie Foun
dation to pension our ex-presidents.
The Empire is inclined to agree with
the views of President Taft; and the
idea of a pension from the Carnegie
Institution is not likely to be received
with popular favor.
As a concrete matter of fact for
a former president of the United
States to accept such annuity would
be a distinct reflection upon the
American people. We do not want
our ex-presidents to depend upon a
pension of this kind for their mainte
nance. This provision should come
from the Congress and the people
would not object. None of our pres
idents has been rich, in the modern
acceptation of the term, but none has
ever lived in penury after his retire
ment. though some have not been
even in what might be called "easy
circumstances." if history Is to be
believed.
In more recent times Grant,?a j
failure as a practical business man
through an unfortunate business con
nection?paid off his debts through
the sale of his memoirs and left a
substantial sum for his family after
he died. Hayes was not wealthy but
he had enough after he retired; Gar
field's family never complained, and
Arthur was accounted comparatively
wealthy. Cleveland after his retire
ment increased his bank account in
the practice of law. and so did Har
rison. who was one of the ablest law
yers of his time, and when he died he
left his family comfortably provided
for.
Cleveland's enemies asserted that
he accumulated much money dur
ing his two terms as president, but
it was a base calumny. When he died
he left only a comfortable estate?
enough to support his family in inde
pendence. however.
McKlnley had business reverses be
fore he became president of the
United States, but he had loyal
friends to come to his aid, but at no
time was he a wealthy man. As mod
ern fortunes are estimated, Roosevelt
is not a rich man. Still he is not de
pendent upon anyone for his living.
His wealth was inherited, and besides
he is something of a money-maker
himself and will continue to be with
out doubt, for a good many years to
come.
President Taft says that he will
return to the practice of law In Cln
cinnatt after he retires next March,
and it goes without saying that he
will soon have a lucrative practice.
He is yet a comparatively young man
and should occn vvl dSwffl fll
and has a number of years ahead of
him. in the ordinary course of na
ture. He is not wealthy either, but
he has an advantage of having wealthy
and loyal relatives. So, on the
whole, it would seem as though Car
negies munificence should not be di
rected toward our ex-presidents. The
United States, however, should make
provision by law for thir maintenance,
should it ever be needed.
Considering the confessions of the
dynamiters, the wonder is that any
building in the country into which
steel went, escaped.
The European status quo is certain
ly the tenderest plant in the hothouse
of civilization.
THE FORESTRY AUTOCRAT.
The American Mining Congress, in
session at Spokane, denounced the
policy of placing four hundred million
acres of land under the domination
of one forestry official. This official
is the chief forester, an office creat
ed and held by Gifford Plnchot, for
a time. The criticism of the mining
congress is eminently fair, from The
Empire's point of view. Too much
arbitrary power is placed with one
man, and when it is exercised by
an enthusiast of the Pinchot kind,
to use a mild term, new regions?
such as Alaska for instance?arc
bound to suffer grievously.
The trouble with Mr. Pinchot was
that he permitted his zeal to outrun
his discretion, and he has Impressed
many who have come in contact with
him as lacking in sound judgment.
Most people believe in the conserva
tion of the nation's natural resourc
es, but they do not believe that mil
lions of acres of the natural resourc
es of a country, such as is Alaska,
should be closed to legitimate devel
opment at the whim or .caprice of a
school of ultra-conservationists.
In his forestry and conservation
policies Pinchot had the support of
President Roosevelt, who appointed
him to office, and then began that 1
policy of setting aside immense re- 1
serves, and withdrawing coal lands i
from entry?all of which aro not, nor
can they ever be, of any use bavo for J
natural resources which, they con
tain. The result has been only too
apparent. Development has been
chocked, handicaps that are almost
intolerable have been placed upon
those men who would be only too
glad to have the opportunity of male '
lug these latent resources productive. 1
In a country such as Alaska we do 1
not believe in limiting the opportunity
for human activities. Encouragement. 1
not deterrents and handicaps?Is. 1
needed, but these aro what the pio
neer, the developer, the prospector,
and the capitalist have encountered
through the operations of as crass a
policy as was ever Inflicted upon a
helpless peoplo.
Continue the policy of the last
eight years, the next four years and
the debacle of Alaska will be almost
complete. Reform must be had, and
speedily, and one of the first consid
erations should be the placing of lim
itations upon the chief forester?at
least so far as Alaska is concerned.
There Is honor among every class
of thieves except those who steal an
other's reputation and give nothing in
return.
i m 1111 m m m m 111 "i"i' i'
I Alaska News Notes I
T'l 1 1 M'HMM'MH-H 1 1 1 1 M-H
The wharf of the "Alaska MetalB
Co., at Bruce, on the weBt coast of
1'rlnce of Wales island, collapsed to
gether with the ore bunkers recently,
and 200 tons of ore went Into the
ocean with the wharf.
? ? ?
While making a test run on Nov.
22 at Prince Rupert a new automo
bile overturned, killing one firemun,
breaking the arm of a second and dis
locating the wrist of the chief, and
Inflicting minor injuries on a number
of others.
? ? '
H. C. Anderson, a Danish prospect
or, killed himself with a 38 caliber
Colt's revolver at Ketchikan. Nov. 25.
He had been a resident of that sec
tion for twelve years. He is supposed
to have relatives in Pierce County,
Wash.
? ? ?
A rich placer 'strike Is said to have
been made in the Innoko district and
a stampede has been on from Fair
banks and the Iditarod.
? ? ?
There are sixteen stamp mills in
the Fairbanks recording precinct,
twelve of which are located on the
mines themselves, and all of which
will be at work before Dec. 1.
* ? ?
The total clean-up of Ruby district
the past season was in excess of
$100,000, of which the most came from
Long creek.
? ? ?
A new road is being built from Ruby
to the diggings, 30 miles diRtant, and
the freight will be about 5 cents per
pound as compared to the summer
rate of 12 cents.
? * ?
An immense slide was the cause of
the breakdown in the Wrangel-Sltka
cable. It began within a half mile of
Wrangel and for nearly three miles
tons of rock had slid down on the
cable putting it out of business.
MEANING OF THE
APPELLATION KANAKA.
When Evert Nymanover, the piano
expert, now in Juneau, visited trop
ical Hawaii, he was once called in to
tune a piano of the old Mozart type,
the property of a genuine Kanaka
chief. Turning round while at work,
he found the whole family watching
him.
Breaking the silence, the tuner
said: "May I ask you, Mister, what
race you really belong to.
"I am a Kanaka." the chieftan
said.
"What does that mean'" Herr Ny
manover asked.
"It means a human being," said
the chief.
"And you, then?" turning to the
old mother of the family, "what are
you?"
"I am a wahini. It means a wom
an."
"And you are satisfied at that?"
"Yes, we Hawailan8 are perfectly
satisfied at that," was the quick re
Joinder.
The Kanakas, as an island people,
are in the north equatorial division of
the great Polynesian family found by
Capt James Cook in 1778, and who,
according to a Fijian tradition, came
from Africa. Capt. Cook was killed
by a Hawaiian or Sandwich islander,
as those islands were then called, be
cause of his many extortions.
Have you seen them? Beautiful
IVOItY CARVING SETS at W. H.
CASE. tf.
PLEASANT TIME PROMISED.
On the night of December 12 the
laides of Trinity church will give o
ball which promises to be a long re
membered social event
Father Bruckhart
0
Industrious Priest'
Rev. Father Bruckart, of Douglas,
la the moat Industrious priest that ^
i-ver cumo to Alaska. He bolleves
that work la good for both body and
mind. Almost any day he can be seen
out with hla hammer and aaw, or
spade, as the case1 may be, trying to
build up and add to or trying to make
some corner more productive or
more beautiful.
Since coming to Douglas ho has
remodeled the Interior and exterior
of the church. He haa also remodel
ed and enlarged the club building.
He la now building a stage In the
club room. The atago not only adds
to the appoarance or the club room,
but It is necessary for the enter
tainments which are one of the fea
tures of the club during the winter
months.
Father Burckart renlizes that It la
necessary In this day and generation
to play aa well as to work and pray.
This priest 1b deserving of much cred
it for trying to give to the people of
Douglas good, clean entertainment,
rather than have them look for such
entertainment as they may find.
NOTICE.
In order to Insure the publication
f advertisements In The Daily Em
ilre, copy should reach the office not
ater than 9 a. m.
Newest stylos In IVORY JEWELRY
ust In at W. H. CASE. tt.
The Juneau Steamship Co.
U. S. Mail Steamer
GEORGIA
Juneau-Sitka Route ? Leaves
Juneau for Hoouah, Gypsum,
Tenakeo, KUlisnoo and Sitka?
8:00 a. m., Nov. 5, 11, 17, 23, 29,
Dec. 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, Jan. 4, 10,
16, 22, 28, Feb. 3. 9, 15, 21, 27,
March 5. 11, 17, 23 and 29.
Leaved Juneau for Funter and
Chatham, 8:00 a. m.?Nov. 17,
Doc. 11, Jan. 4, 28, Feb. 21,
March 17.
Leaves Juneau for Tyee, 8:00
a. m.?Nov. 23, Dec. 23, Jan. 22,
Feb. 21, March 23.
Juneau ? Skagway Route ?
Leaves Juneau for Pearl Harbor,
Eagle River, Yankee Cove, Sen
tinel Light Station, Jualin, El
dred Rock Light Station. Com
et, Haines, Skagway,, 8:00 a. m.
?Nov. 3, 9, 15, 21. 27, Dec. 3,
9. 15, 21, 27, Jan. 2, 8, 14, 20,
26, Feb. 1, 7, 13, 19. 25. March
3, 9, 15, 21, 27.
Returning loaves Skagway the
following day at 8:00 a. m.
WILLIS E. NOWELL, MANAGER
" FERRY TIME SCHEDULE
JUNEAU FERRY & NAVIGATION Co.?Operating Ferry Service Be
tween JUNEAU, DOUGLAS, TREADWELL and SHEEP CREEK
Lv. Juneau for
Do UK las nnd
Treadwoll |
?8:00 a. in."
9:00 a. m.1
11:00 a. m.
1:00 p. m.
3:00 p. m.
4:30 p. m.
6:30 p. m. i
8:00 p. ni.!
9:00 p. m. I
11:00 p. m. 1
Lv. Tread
well for
Juneau
*S: 25 a. in.
9:25 n. m.
12:00 noon |
1:40 p. m. j
3:25 p. ni.
4:55 p. m.
0:55 p. in.
8:25 p. m. |
D:2? p. m.
11:25 p. in. |
Ix-nvcn
Douglas for
Juneau
*8:30 a. m.
9:30 a. m.
12:05 p. ra. |
1:45 p. m.
3:30 p. ra.
5:30 p. m.
7:05 p. m.
8:30 p. m.
9:30 p. m.
11:30 p. m.
Leaves Juneau daily
for Sheep Crock
11:00 a. m.
4:30 p. m.
Leaves Sheep
Creek for Juneau
11:40 a. m.
5:10 p. m. ,
From Juneau for
Sheep Creek
Snturdny Night Only
11:00 p. m.
for Juneau
Returning Leaves
Sheep Creek
11:40 p. m.
Leaves Treadwell
11:45 p. m.
Leaves Douglas
11:50 p. m. _
I Sunday Schedule same a* above, except trip leaving Juneau at 8 a. m. U omitted
HUMBOLDT STEAMSHIP CO.
Tin- Ala ka Kly? r S. S. HUMBOLDT The Alaaka Klycr J
NORTHBOUND NOV. 26
SOUTHBOUND NOV. 27
DOCKS AT JUNEAU CITY WHARF
Seattle Office, 716 Second Ave. GEO. BURFORD, Agent
|m| | ,| 1.1 | |-|-|. 1.1..|. | 1 H-H-H I I
ALASKA STEAMSHIP CO.
'' STEAMERS CALLING AT kETCHIKAN, WRANGEL, PETERS- ??
BURG, DOUGLAS, JUNNEAU, HAINES AND SKAGWAY
STEAMSHIP DOLPHIN
-? NORTH NOV. 28, DEC. 9, 21
I! SOUTH NOV. 29, DEC. 10, 2? !!
" Tickets to Seattle, Tacoma, Victoria and Vancouver. Through
t tickets to San Francisco.
!! ELMER E. SMITH, Douglas Agt. WILLIS E. NOWELL, Agt. "
. -i-i-I"|..H-i-H"H"I"l"I"Ill"l"l"l"li,l"I-,I"l"I"l"l,,l"l"l"l'*l"l"l"l"l"H"l"H-I-l"l-I"l-l,il"l"l"I"i'
. ?
I NORTHLAND STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Operating S. S. ALKI and S. S. NORTHLAND
S. S. ALKI, South, DEC. 7
First Class Fare to Seattle ? - - $19.00
Second Class Fare to Seattle $12.00
H. C. BRADFORD, Mgr., Pier 4, Seattle.
SOWERBY & BELL, Juneau JOHN HENSEN t CO., Douglas
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO.-B.C.CoastService
Sailing from Juneau for Port Simpnon, Prince Rupert, Swnnson. Alert Bay. Vancouver
Victoria and Seattle
PRINCESS MAY DEC. 5
Front and Sewnrd St*. C. P. R. TICKET OFFICE J. T. SPICK ETT. Ag?. j
THE ALASKA DAILY EMPIRE
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opening up and development of Alaska?especially South
eastern Alaska?along legitimate lines.
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Office: Main Street, between Front and Second