The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1899-02-21
Reports Business Badly Hurt
by Alien Law.
CANADIANS INDIGNANT.
and steamship compan-
les Generally Complaining OF
injury Caused BY Exclusion
Law.

One Of the arrivals on the Cottage City
Sunday was ex.Alderman w. F. Ma|loek
who has been absent from the city since
January 6. He has been below, at his
home in Pendleton, Oregon, looking after
business interests he has there. Mr.. Mat
lock was seen shortly after his arrival BY
a DAILY ALASKAN reporter, and In thu
course Of an Interview gave the following
interesting news:
"People below are greatly agita,ed ovel
the antl-alien act, and manv thousand thai
would have passed through Skagway en-
route to Atlin this spring are deferred from
coming, In consequence Of the act. ! con
slider that at least 90 per cent. OF the trafti'
from Seattle and Portland has fallen of
since the passage Of the act. Even at Van
eouver and Victoria the merchants arr
making most strenuous protests agalns'
the law as II is, materially injuring thelI
business. As nearly as ! can find out
much mote serious objections are beinC
raised by our Canadian brethren than By
our own citizens.
"The Officers Of the Pacific Coast Steam
ship company are also registering very VIC
lent protests, as thew claim that their boats
are bringing no more passengers to Skag-
wav than they are taking back on their
return trips. myselfm and talked with
no less than two hundred Of my friends.
who would have gone into Atlln had II
not been tor this allen law. The general
opinion below seems to be that the law
will not long be enforced, and Hook for a
big rush Of people through here the early
part Of next summer, all holding them
selves In readiness for the trip.
"The Porcupin, country Is arousing con-
excitement, and but for the mis-
taken impression that each and every one
that locates claims In that country gets 40
acres. thereby exhaustlng all the available
ground in a comparatively short time,
many would 20 there who intended to 20
to Atlin. As soon as they ascertain that
the size Of claims NAV be limited b. local
regulations, look for quite a rush into
that section. stopped at Juneau on my
way up, and found great deal Of excite
ment there over the new country. Oh,
YES; and BY the wav, heard something
else at Juneau that will interest the people
Of Skagway. A full grown report was
current on the streets there that the White
Pass road had ceased operation, and the
work on the road would not be prosecuted
any further.
81 believe the passage Of the alien law
will tend to benefit our own country, and
lltl mately prove the greatest advantage
that our people ever received. OF course,
At the present Ii me, II Isl decided detri-
nent to Skagway and her resources, and
s working an Injury upon American eiti-
tens In general, but look for a reaction In
he very near future, and we will all bless
he day that the law was passed. | heard
nothing In particular about the proposed
Of Skagwav to Canada, the
general impression seeming to be that
nothing will ever come Of the matter.
"a am much pleased 10 find Skagway as
as she is, and notice many very
decided Improvements that have been made
turing my absence. While have extern
,lve business interests In eastern Oregon, ]
have a very warm place In my heart for
Skagwsy, and shall always feel the deep
st interest in her welfare. found things
At home in highly prosperous condition,
Eastern Oregon being blessed with an ex'
;eptionally large wheat crop, but II was
with no feeling Of regret that returned TO
Skagway to become once more Identified
that her interests While absent visited
Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and other points
On the sound, and found business very
,ulet -