davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
THE COMING EBRATION

Everybody should support the
News Miner in its effort to get the
people of Fairbanks and the creeks
together for general celebration
The people OF the city and of the
creeks will all be benefited by the
plan. just as they were about year
ago when the big railroad celebra-
ton was held
When the railroad celebration
was held last year. times improved.
Such things always have tendency
to inspire people with business con
fidence and with new energy for
future efforts Whenever town is
isolated by the cutting off of all
transportation facilities. then it be-
gins to die. In the same way the
Individual who builds wall around
himself and refuses TO mingle with
others, is certain to begin at once
to degenerate. 1t is one OF the laws
of nature
tive from social intercourse as we'll
as from industry, When business
is good the working man benefits
for money is then in circulation
Thus the good effects of properly
conducted celebrations. which are
promoted for the benefit of the
community at large. are felt directly
by all
The Citizen is heartily in favor of
the proposed celebration. which is
being promoted by w. F. Thompson
manager OF the News-Miner, and ii
is to be hoped that all people will
take the same broad view of the az
fair and enter into it with the spirit
of good will and cooperation tina.
il deserves
Inasmuch as the people of the
creeks will be given free transpor-
tation to Fairbanks, and will be
called upon to pay nothing for the
entertainment features. including the
various picture shows, it would seem
that none of them will fail to come.
They know from past experiences
that the people of Fairbanks are
good hosts on such occasions, and
will aid Mr.. Thompson in maintain
ing this reputation.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
DAvIOSON'S TRICkE2Y

In the light of pas. events, the
charge made by Charles E. Davidson
secretary of the Alaska legislature
against Commissioner Dillon of Fair
banks seems to be prompted by per
sonal animosity. It will De remein
bered that when Mr.. Davidson was
residing in Fairbanks, before he was
appointed surveyor-seneral of the
Territory, he tried to dictate TO Mr.
Dillon in regard to whom the latter
should keep employed in the Com
mssioner's office, and failing to have
his demands needed. lie tried his
best to get Judge Fulle. to renov.
Mr. Dillon
Since that time, Davidson has been
an avowed enemy Of the local fed
eral commissioner, and 1t was to be
expected, taking into consideration
, Davidson's past political methods
that he would go out of his way to
cast discredit upon Mr.. Dillon, should
some kind of an excuse present IT.
self
1t is asserted by Commissioner Dill
Ion that he has fully observed the
Territorial laws as he has under
stood their requirements, in the face
of the fact that they do not agree
with the laws of the federal gov
eminent which usually take prece-
dence
Should the attorney general of the
United States rule that 81 instead
of 81 should be charged for re-
cording marriage records filed by
ministers, then Mr.. Dillon will be
required to pay into the government
treasury out of his own pocket the
additional dollar for each record for
which he has failed to charge the
federal fee.
People who know the responsibility of
the two men and who know both
personally will undoubtedly feel a
certain amount of contempt for the
cheap trickery of Charles T. David
son. self-imposed dictator of Ter
ritorial affairs.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
WAR BLOCKADE.

Now that the Germans are at
tempting to blockade British com.
merce and the allies in turn are
preparing to blockade German com
merce, the end of the war may be
hurried
We of the United States may OBJ
ject to the blockades from fin
ancial viewpoint, because it is GER
tain to stop the shipping of much
American produce abroad but look
ing at the matter in another way,
if the blockades shorten the war. the
loss will be repaid in other ways.
When we stop to realize that this
is the greatest war of all history,
viewed from the standpoint Of the
people affected by it and from the
fact that it involves greater ex-
penditure of money each day than
has any previous conflict, We must
realize that the blocking Of com
merce must play an important part
in its final termination.
If one side Of the great conflict
should suddenly be cut off from all
sources of food supply except its
own, and the opposite side should
have a free hand in buying supplies
from neutral powers, the war would
be just as good as decided, for none
of the nations now at war can sup
port itself while the fighting is con-
tinuing at its present rate. Thus
if all nations could be shut off from
food supplies. starvation would prob
ably do more to bring the matter
to an adjustment than anything else.
People of the United States. how
ever neutral they may be, are fussy
when it comes to interfering with
their expected revenues. We look
more seriously on threatened finan-
cial losses generally than upon hui
man welfare. At the same time
there is no country in the world that
mora oo,,i1N aro,,ooI u,hop
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
A SALOON MONOPOLY.

1t was not to be expected that
Judge Bunnell would promise TO
limit the number of saloons in Fair
banks of his own volition If the
limited they have the power to do
so by refusing to sign petitions fol-
them. and the court acted properly
in not giving the council the assur,
ance that he would create a saloon
monopoly without the expressed de.
sire of the people for him to do so.
To give the present saloonmen a
monopoly of the business would aid
the men financially interested in
benefit the public. Indeed to limit
the saloons would mean that the
public would be the losers of a Ger.
tain amount Of license revenue, and
at the same time would not be cur
failing the sale of intoxicating liq
uors, for the limiting Of the number
of saloons would not stop people
from drinking.
TO say that the saloonmen should
be given a monopoly, would be just
as unjust as to say that some legal
method should be taken to create
a monopoly of the sale OF merchan-
disc or that only certain people
should be allowed to conduct res,
taurants. 1t would all be very nice
for the fellow who was given the
monopoly, but what about the other
people?
When people try to keep outsid-
ers from entering in business in
their town they are only hurting
themselves. Competition is said to
be the life of trade, and when you
kill competition, trade itself must
suffer If more saloons are estab-
lished in Fairbanks than the popu-
lation will support, some Of them
will be compelled to close, and il,
will be sure to be the poorest places
that will go out OF business. The
law of the survival of the fit
test applies in business life just as
1t does in nature. The saloonkeeper
who pleases the public the best Is
the one who will be doing business
when his rivals are run to the wall.
The council would indeed be un-
wise to attempt, as representatives
of the people of the city, to inter
this kind, and it may be supposed
that they will refuse to be made a
party to the affair by carrying the
matter further
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
Phone 26z Phone
OUR BIRTHDAY.

With this issue. The Citizen be-
II is with feeling of pardonable
pride that its owner looks back
over its steady growth in the years
ii has been published and realizes
the good will and confidence that the
newspaper has earned from its pa
irons
The Citizen has gained the dis
tinction of frequently being referred
10 as the best newspaper in Alaska
It's claim to having the greatest
circulation of the newspapers pub
lished in the Territory has not been
questioned and while other lines of
business have suffered by steady
decrease in population, The Citizen
has gone ahead
There are many good reasons why
The Citizen has prospered In the
first place, it prints all the news
obtainable. In the second place, it
takes care to be correct. Its mistakes
are certain to be unavoidable, and
are so seldom that it would be hard
indeed for any person or opposition
newspaper to call one to mind
Not only does The Citizen always
try TO provide its readers with all
the news, but 1t also endeavors con
stanuy to present the news in the
most attractive and entertaining way
consistent with the facts The result
OF this constant endeavor for per
lection i remarkably large per
centas9 ot the population that reads
1t ever Week. II j. probable that
fe" neWspas IN me United States
have as many sHascribers IN their
respective distress to each hundred
inhabitants as does The Alaska
CITIZEN.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
EMPLOYMENT BUREAUS.

Much good will probably be real
lied from the effort of the govern
ment to establish employment bu-
reaus throughout the United States.
Labor, like other things, will get
congested in one place while in
another there will be big demand
for it. If the postoffices of the coun-
try maintain employment bureaus
under a general supervisor, it will
be possible for the government to
keep unemployed men everywhere
informed regarding the labor condi-
tons in every city of importance.
When one thinks of it, it is a
wonder that the plan was not long
ago suggested and put into effect.
Undoubtedly. such system will
play a wonderful part in keeping up
wages. and will also be a factor in
balancing the conditions Of times
throughout the country
1t is true that many laboring men
have families and are not in posi-
ton to move from one place to an.
other to take work, but it is also
true that there is a large number
of laboring men who like to go
from one place to another. and who
are ever ready to respond to a
call to meet the conditions of the
labor market
If the labor OF the country could
be properly balanced, few men in
deed would have to go without work
for any length of time. For in
stance, in the south cotton and fruit
are harvested in the winter months,
and in the summer time there is
an increased demand for labor in
the north. There will probably
always be enough work in each To-
cality to meet the demands of the
married men. who are usually given
a preference in the matter OF jobs.
One of the good results to be ex-
pected from the proposed system is
that it will have tendency to draw
from the cities the mass Of men who
work only a part of the time, and
use up their savings the other part
of the time in living expenses. These
men will be directed to the country
district where work is found much
of the year
The system will not be made per
feet for some time, but it is to be
expected that ultimately the govern
ment employment bureaus will be
found to be just ats Indispensable as
are banks or postoffices.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
Alaska and Yukon
To Burn Oil Soon

Information received in Fairbanks
on one of the last mails from the
Outside is to the effect that the
Palatial steamers of the American
Yukon Navigation company, the AL
aska and the Yukon, are to be con
verted into oil burners. 1t is under
stood that Joe Mathews, formerly
Of the N. C. Co. here, has been Civ
en- the contract TO install the plants
and that he will commence the
work at once
The Alaska and the Yukon will
be the first oil burning boats to navi
gate the waters of the upper Yu
kon and Tanana rivers. The expert
ment will be watched with interest
and it is probable that. should ii
prove to be a success. oil burning
equipment will also be installed in
the remainder OF the boats of the
navigation company
The installing of oil burners on
the Alaska and the Yukon will mean
a saving OF much time to the boats
1t will also mean that the mode OF
travel will be made much more com
Portable to tourists and other pass
engers.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
TIME FOR ACTION NEAR.

At last the long delayed report
of the Alaska Engineering commits
sion has been completed and filed
with the President of the United
States. AT this writing, it is not
certain if the President has official
posed road, but that he will do so
within a few days is almost GER
tain
Immediately following the adjourn
ment of congress, the President will
be flooded with work, for he must
determine which of the bills that
were passed in the last hours of
congress are to be approved by him,
and thus for short time he will
be overworked on matters foreign
TO Alaska.
1t is quite probable. however. that
Secretary Lane has already received
his orders from the President and
that the former is now at work
arranging plans for this summers
work.
From what Mr. Lane told the
house committee on appropriations
recently, when he applied for an APP
preparation for the work on the
railroad this year, it would seem
that he is not planning to begin &C
tive construction work in Alaska
until next June. He explained TO
the committee that he did not think
it would be possible to begin this
seasons work until June, but he
may have meant that it would take
until that time for the preliminary
arrangements to be completed
Even if the actual construction
work does not start on the coast un-
til June, it will be necessary soon
for the government to start prepare
tons for it. In the first place, il;
will be necessary to advertise for
bids for supplies. Then arrange
ments must be made for employing
a large force of men. Machinery
must be bought and shipped, and
by the time all this preliminary
work is done. navigation to the in
terror of Alaska will be open. and
if it is decided to work at this end
this year, there will be nothing to
prevent it.
Looking at the situation from
every point one must feel confident
that almost any day now we will
get word regarding the route Of the
road and something about the plans
for this seasons work
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08

THE man who fails to join in the
celebration is "piker."
FAIRBANKS is soon to witness
its first real dog race, and from
present indications the coming event
will be worth travelling a long dis
lance to see.
THERE seems to be a tendency on
the part Of the newly organized
Alaska legislature to pile up a mas.
Of bills. That is the weakness OF
most legislative bodies.
THE really economical person, who
wants every dollar to buy as much
as possible. will save money by
studying the advertisements OF the
local stores in this paper.
THE commencement Of court is
having the desired effect. Mer
chants are already feeling the new
stimulus of business. and in turn
everybody is feeling in good spirits.
REPORTS received in Fairbanks
are to the effect that good pay has
been found in Tolovana. II these
reports prove to be correct. this
should be very lively country this
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
FAIRBANKS WINS COLLEGE.

Fairbanks is to be the site Of the
Territorial agricultural college, and
even Mr.. understands political op-
ponents must concede that he is en-.
titled to credit for accomplishing
that important thing for this city in
the face Of opposition.
The bill passed by congress. pro-
viding for the setting aside of Sec
ton 80 in each township in the
Tanana valley for the support Of an
agricultural college and school OF
mines to be located near the ex-
detrimental farm, does not, it seems.
carry with it the necessary appro-
priation for the establishment of the
college in the near future. but it does
establish the fact that no other place
in the Territory is to get this inn
portant educational institution:
Now that congress has designat
ed Fairbanks as the site for the pro-
posed college, it will be possible
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
CITY CANDIDATES.

Every person who announces him
self as a candidate for the counct
should be requested to outline q
definite platform that he intends &c
enforce if elected and to go before
the people pledged to some policy
In that way the public can be ex
pected to profit
II is not enough that a candidate
is a good fellow, that he is homes,
in his business dealings and has q
good reputation generally. Even the
duced by the pressure of friend
and private interests to be silent on
matters that are vital to the people
But ii they are elected on their in
dividual platforms, they will be com
PEELED to carry out such platforms
or stand condemned before the pub
Nc
The average candidate will tell
you that he will use every means III
his power to reduce the cost of the
city's existence, but unless forced &c
do so, he will not tell you how he
will do this. 1t is easy to dodge
generalities, but hard TO get away
from a definite promise.
Unfortunately, the average voter
is lazy. He is lazy from the stand
point OF taking the initiative in pro
tecting the city's welfare, but moi
lazy when it comes to criticisine
other people for not doing what he
himself should have done in provid
ing means for the city's financial
protection. Usually the voter looks
to the newspapers to take care OF
the city's rights, and il they fail to
do this in the way he likes, he
charges them at once with neglect
of duty.
The city election is only month
away. and it is time that the people
most vitality interested in the at
fairs of the city government should
plan some means of reducing the
expenses OF the city, without I'M
necessarily Gripping the city's insti
tutions. In the past, Fairbanks has
lived up to its income every year.
and has failed to put aside anything
ixnnroyomontc Thore
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08

Mrs Wade Baker of Goldstream
visited friends in town one day las,
week
Marcus Rosenthal, the Ester mel.
chant, was an arrival in town Satur-
day evening.
j. p. Schoeser of Fox City is one
of the recent arrivals at the Shaw
House.
Alois Sagan. the Ester and ST Pat
rick creek mining man. paid bust
ness visit to the city last week
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
FUNERAL Of
MILLER HELD

At Eagle Hall yesterday afternoon
at 1870 O'Clock, the funeral of Will
lam Miller was held. a large number
of Eagles being in attendance. The
ceremonies We're conducted along
the lines Of the Eagle ritual, George
w. Pennington delivering the funer-
al Grafton. Appropriate music was
rendered by a male quartette.
At the conclusion of the ceremon-
les the body was laid to rest in
the Eagle plot at the Fairbanks
cemetery. Those who bore the body
to its last resting place We're e. E.
Dilley, Clarence NJ Critics w. J
Campbell, J. II. Patten. Harry NJ.
Badger and j. Kane.
Miller was the man who accident
ally shot himself at his cabin in the
Beaver country about two weeks ago
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
Correspondence

Editor Citizen: Judge MacCauley
was known in Dawson to give from
one to four months on the woodpile
to disreputable individuals who pub
licly used vile, filthy. slanderous
and abusive expressions.
If that judge were here there
might be something doing to put a
stop to the talk of never-work I'M
desirables who have a parasitic way
of living.
The News-Miner recently stated
that good deal of the slanderous
rumors and abuse might be traced
to one source. The recently organ
lied Civic club have now an oppor-
tunity OF showing its usefulness by
drawing the attention of the grand
jury, now sitting, to this matter
OBSERVER.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
ADVERTISED LETTERS.


Mr.. and Mrs. Sites of Ruby, have
arrived in Fairbanks from the Out
side, where they spent the winter.
Dick Funston, line constructor for
the signal corps telegraph line, ar
rived in Fairbanks Friday evening,
having served out his enlistment
He will take short vacation before
re-enlisting,
Florence Warren was granted a
divorce from Robert Warren Friday
Anna Fife has been granted a
divorce from w. w. Fife.
Walter Adami, one OF the propre-
tors Of the Arcade restaurant has
left for California to attend the ex-
position in San Francisco.
A. Book, Sam Campbell and Jim
Goodrich departed down the river
Saturday morning.
Divorces as follows were granted
by Judge Bunnell Thursday: Mrs
Lillian Martin from Fred A. Martin
Mrs. D. G. Ferguson from D. G.. Fer
guson, and f. NJ. West from Maud
West.
Deputy Marshal and Mrs. John c.
Wood are the parents of girl baby
born last Monday morning at ST
Matthew'S hospital
DR.. l. Overgaarde who is quartz
mining on Skoogey Gulch, was among
the city visitors last week
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
ALASKAN BIRDS DESCRIBED.

Alaska are entertainingly described
in a beautiful illustrated book that
has just been received by The Citi-
zen from Washington, d. c. 1t is
entitled alaskan Bird Life" and
contains articles from number of
writer's 1t is edited by Ernest Inger-
soil, The book which is neatly
bound. is published by the National
Association of Audubon societies.
The Illustrations include seven col
ored plates.
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08

for aid comes from a distressed peo-
pie than are the Americans
Thus We find that in the present
situation there is much objec-
ton raised TO the proposed blockade
because it hurts us financially. but
after the war is ended it will prop
ably be apparent that it is all for
the best, even for the nations now
at war
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08
SERVICES POSTPONED.

Rev. II. H. Lumpkin. rector OF
St. Matthews Episcopal church. has
made announcement that he will not
hold services at Fox and Ester as
contemplated. owing to several mat.
tiers which have lately come up. but
will postpone the meetings until
next week. He will be at Ester
City on Monday evening. March S,
and 1t Fox on Tuesday March It,
The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-08

matters that will need money. and
il there is any way in which the
cost OF maintaining the city can be
accomplished il should be agreed
upon by the candidates before cleo
ton time.