The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-12-16
KNOCKERS AT IT.

The publications .u the North that never miss an opportunity to strike skarvay blow under the belt, are taking turns in reproducing the follow ing from the Vancouver Ledger.
 Apparently che editor of the Ssag- way Alaskan has che impression that autbe Canadian north was handed over to tbe United States by the recent award of che boundary commission. i,s annexation is only a matter of time. The Ssagvay paper is eadeavoriug to keep up courage by che loudes, kind Of shouting. of the prosperity which Is Co be the experience of that forlorn DOT, next season. The while, its advsrtis- iog columns are crowded with sales of merchants. who. finding ], impossible Go continue. are giving up and leaving tbe doomed spot Any person who is acquainted with the conditions which exist in Skarway must know cha, half the houses and shops are empty and that real estate cannot be sold for the taxes.
 "Bu, wl,h this hopeless condition of atovn which only cl.uss to existence because the traffic o, che Canadian yu- ko1 is transferred past its doors, it is refreshing ,o read chat ,he new strike of good placer ground in Canadian ter- rtory are to give Skagway another boom Incidentally u may be u.,ed that che dying burg lays claim Co che trade of the Atliu country. iu way which should impress more clearly the lesson already learned by recent events that the coas, railway line Co che north is or first importance for the Ca- madam west.
 The Daily Alaskan paid DO attention t0thc foregoing when |. appeared first iaths Vancouver Ledger. as !. was ua- ders-5od Co have been inspired by a pique over che boundary decision and produced by a mind as daase.y ignorant Of the true conditions as was che proc verbal swine about tte art and theory oimo5eru warfare among civilized na- uous. Neither was attention paid Co .- when other irresponsible sheets repro duced t vi.hoa. comment They did not know any better. T5tbam ]. sImr- ly meant "copy But now -ha, The Juneau papers are quoting r with evi- dent relish. notwithstanding chat Ssag- way has done more for Juneau during the las, six years. -han cha, town has done for herself iu che same lime. .t might be well to call attention to a few facts.
 Ssagvay is DO, a .or.oru .ort l, has done more business during the year ,ha- is about to close than ], did las, year The business interests of this city were never in a condition as hsal,hiu as ,bey are at tae present time. There are fewer "snoekers" among residents of this city ,his year than has ever before been thecase
 Itsssid tha, the shops of Skagway are empty and that others are leaving That is not true. ssagway has sut- s,aotaIy che same uambsro of business houses that it had three years ago. and they are stronger than they were then by three prosperous years.
 There is not business man iu this city lou, vha. win say chat the outlook for next years business is decidedly eu- couragiag. In fact there is scarcely 50 house in che city which is not making efforts Co strengthen i.s position in order that it might better handle an increased business
 The situation in SSaguay isunythiug bl. i0rl0rn.
 The claim that che construction Of an all-Canadian. mountainous. s2o00oo00 railroad will kin che White Pass route and with it Skagway. is no, worthy consideration. To is SD silly that it au- swers itself