Douglas Island news., 1899-04-12

next morning found us at Halnes Ms sion, tied up to a barge on which pas sengers and freight are landed, for Haines has not yet been provided with a wharf Haines had a kind of "boomy" appearance, for real property is con- sidered valuable there, so valuable in fact that men and women fight for It. The new corners have settled on the property that is claimed by Col. Kip insky and the mission. They don't want to be called lot or land jumpers, and for that reason we refrain from using the expression. However 1t was Karl PretZel who said that:
 "A sckunk nit an onner name,
 SChmells yust the same"
 and he hit the nail square on the head.
 A few hours run from Haines brings us to Skaguay. A big crowd was at the wharf. The irrepressible hotel runner was there in large numbers. Touch a Skaguay wharf and you are at once i'm pressed with the fact that you are in good town. It is long way up to the business portion of the city from the wharf and it is necessary to cross the railroad track at one place. The Elks made it without incident until this track was reached. Blackett shied some and it was with some difficulty that bis brother Elks got him across the track in front of the engine. Poor fellow, he had not seen an engine or cars for so long time that he was really frightened.
 Well, we are in Skaguay. Our first visit to the city in daylight. What do you think of it? There is but one gen. eral opinion of Skaguay and that is that it is splendid. good town, and it should be for it is gate to the Klon- dike and the much Overestimated Atlin' district. There are lots of people in Skaguay, but we heard it said quite of ten while there that the town was dull and these people had but little money. One thing is dead certain; all branches of trade are over done. There are too many men in business for the size of the town and the trade it will have. But these things will all right them selver after while, and Skaguay will go right along and make one ot the best towns in Alaska.
 The newspapers are a pretty certain index as to what a town is. Skaguay supports two dailies and third one will probably have issued its first num- Der before this paper reaches its read CTS. The Daily and Weekly Budget Is a splendid paper and has mOney-mak ing patronage. The new daily will be called the Evening Banner, and k. J. White. editor of the News for some time past,will be at the head of the enter prise. Then the News will be published under new management. We met the new man, but we travelled with Elks, and one is apt to forget-or to notice things, at times, when following the herd around.
 Now we said that the newspapers are the index to the condition of the town. This is perhaps too indefinite. That is the rule. There are exceptions. Some awful good towns have slow, sleepy newspapers, and the people can't get rid of them. They will not progress with the town, and keep out men who would. We make this explanation so that we may not be misunderstood.
 But to return to our subject.
 Some time ago, prominent citizens of Skaguay desiring to organize lodge of Elks. or B. P. o. B. as it is common Iy called, invited Juneau Lodge No. 42O to come up to Skaguay and insti- tute a lodge pursuant to such request. In accordance with the arrangements made Judge Delaney, Past Exalted Ruler and ex-off1cio district deputy, organized a grand lodge of the B. P. O. E., in Montana Hall, in Skaguay, on the evening of April 4th, and after in- itiating the charter members, proceed ed to institute Skaguay Lodge No. 431, with the following officers:
 Esteemed Leading Knight. w. Church Esteemed Loyal Knight. ,.... D. Hall Esteemed Lecturing Knight MT. Hiislop Tyler. ,..........;,;;,. doe SmItn 11II
 After the election of officers, the Elks of the newly instituted lodge rendered