The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-05
DECLARE DIVIDEND
Alaska Fish and Lumber Com.
pany Is Prosperous.
Ten Per Cent Profit to the Stock
holders---Improveme Are Con-
tempIated to Plant.

At meeting of the board of direc-
tors of the Alaksa Fish 81 Lumber
company, held at their Office in this
city few days ago, it was voted TO de-
clare ten per cent dividend on the
outstanding preferred stock, and the
fortunate possessors of this issue will
receive their cash as soon as the Off
GERS can get matters in shape, which
will be between the first and fifteenth
Of January.
For this splendid showing the COM
pany is to be congratulated. = The
great amount of labor performed since
the organization of the corporation is
something bordering on the sphenome-
nal. The original purchase of the
company included saw mill, store,
several houses, steamboat, ETC., in
Guiding one of. if not the finest water
powers in Alaska This purchase was
made in December, 1901. In Febru-
airy, 1902, it was determined by the
board Of directors to construct sal
mon cannery. To this end, men and
supplies were sent to Shakan as soon
as posi- BILE and on the 18th day of
March the first pile was driven for a
wharf. This wharf has water front
age of over 300 feet and is $50 feet in
depth-the largest, finest and most
substantially built of any in Alaska,
outside of the principal towns. Nc
other cannery or saw mill in the terri
tory has anything that will compare
with it either in size or stability. A
warehouse 4Ox2O0, two stories high, q
cannery building, 6Ox20O story and 9
half, with cooling room about 40x6(
comprise the buildings for canning
and use of cannery. In addition tC
these large structures, which are built
especially strong and substantial, il
should be noted that the company hal
erected since that date fine two story
store building 30xS0, two story mess
house. a Japanese and Chinese mess
and bunk house, new residence fol
superintendent and several small
houses for sleeping purposes. All thu
machinery for first class up-to-dat'
cannery was purchased and installed
thousands of feet of fishing nets wer,
made up, a large number Of fishing
boats and two fishing scows were con
structed, and great many oShe
things were made ready for the sea
SON S work.
1t is hardly necessary to say that thu
undertaking of so much construction
work in single season, and gettin.
everything in shape to can fish Oh
July 4th, involved great outlay o
money and no little amount of push
But it was accomplished. and the re
suits of the years business, when i
is known that the salmon run was Gu
short by nearly three weeks by heav.
rains and consequent high water il
the fresh water streams, is certainl
gratifying. The company claim tina
had the season for fishing been tn
usual length they would have put a
at least 90, 600 cases. AS it is, the
put up 30, 900, which is about tn
average of Alaska canneries and an IN
| usually good record for a new COZ
Germ.
8 But the end in improvements is nc
7 yet. The business of the company re
quires enlargement of the saw mi
building and the induction of cor
siderable amount of new machinery
The demand for lumber is more tina
double the present capacity of tn
. plant and the, directors feel that tn
way to make money for the stockhold
ers is by keeping up with the times
A new large steam boat, capable c
making ten knots per hour must b
had forthwith. In fishing season thi
boat will be used in towing salmo
and in other portions of the year
will tow logs and lumber and PEI
form any other heavy work that ma
be beyond the power of the company
present steamer Gasoline launche
have proven very valuable about can
neries for light work, and one of thes
will be bought. The stock of good
, in the store is entirely too small 70
: the growing trade and complet
line of clothing and dry goods will b
added. a.. twill require considerabl
ready cash to meet these OUTLAWS
which are indispensable to the prope
and profitable conduct of the business
and it has been decided by the boar,
of directors to place few thousan,
4 dollars worth of the remaining treas
ury stock on the market. This i
what is denominated preferred stock
1t is issued in shares of $50 each. sell
at par and carries with it guaran
teed annual dividend of 10 per cen
before the common stock can partici