The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1915-05-24
Town Gossip and Stories
b. The Tattier.

I wanted the pillow back today. so that
| ended it."
I Stopping How to keep people
War from getting too ami
Talk. mated in the discussion
of war topics about their
places of business has been a prob
lem that has confronted many of
the businessmen of Fairbanks But
| it seems that the Square Deal gro
Gerry store has solved the problem.
As one enters that grocery store
he Is confronted by sign which
politely suggests that war talk is
not tolerated in that store The eff
feet is all that is desired. usually
and probably that is one OF the
very few places about the town
where there is seldom heard a con
troyerSy about the war.
Operators on the creeks are said
to be puzzled sometimes in regard
to how this war discussion can be
eliminated. for men who have strong
sentiments for or against one or the
other side in the great conflict,
cause much discomfort by their
forceful manner of arguing war prob
lens.
There is one claim, it is said,
where all the men are favorable to
the allies. and they discuss the war
as much as they like. Whether
man favorable to the German cause
would be employed there is an un-
certainty However, on an adjoining
mine there IS German who is very
positive in regard to the justice OF
the cause of his mother country,
but he has proved his good judgment
by refraining from discussing war
topics when he visits the allied camp.
Wars While this foreign war
Hell p business is doing an
Alaska. immense amount OF
damage in Europe and
in Mexico, the people of Alaska are
beginning TO profit by it. If the war
lasts, this profit will mean much to
the miners of this Territory though
the trappers continue to be hurt by
the destruction of the fur market
as a result of the war
The war in Europe, at the begin
ming, had the effect of putting the
Alaska copper mines out of business,
but few months later the war was
the cause for the demand for cop
per to be increased, and the mines
have begun to be opened again.
Now the price of copper has reached
20 cents. more than it has ever been
since the Alaska copper mines
opened. and the copper miners be
live that it will yield them fortunes.
RDt tho latest Good affaTt n he
felt here from the war, or, rather,
from the war in Mexico, is the way
the price of antimony is going up
From word that has been received
here, it seems that the troops un-
der General Villa, in Mexico, cap
tured the big teams that freight an
timony from the Mexican mines into
the United States. This put a stop
to the shipment Of ores to the smelt
ers in San Francisco.
The chief effect of the stopping
of importation of antimony ore from
Mexico into the United States was
to increase its demand and thus to
raise its price Accordingly the
price has advanced from II and II
cents to 25 cents.
81 Scrafford has shipped a large
amount of antimony TO Cinema from
the antimony mine on Chatham
creek, to be sent outside, and he
expects to keep shipping the ore
outside during the season.
1t was learned here a few days
ago that the smelters in San Fran
cisco have become so interested in
the anthony mines near here that
they have sent a special man here
to look at the ore before it is ship
ped. He is now at the Chatham
creek mine. He is reported to be
highly pleased with the mine and
its product.
Supplies Up at the headquarters
Bought o. the Alaskan Engin
Here. eering commission it is
explained that practical
ly all Of this years supplies fer the
railroad engineers have been pur-
chased and sent out along the line.
s0pntes have all been pur-
chased in Fairbanks, and it is prob
able that not one ounce of supplies
that the commission will need here
this year will be imported.
Last year the same method was
adopted by the government, and it
is taken as a compliment to the
local merchants that they are Ell
abled to deliver supplies to the gov.
eminent at a more satisfactory
figure than it would cost to ship
them in here in wholesale quaint
ties
This state Of affairs is said not
to exist on the coast end of the
work, where the supplies are being
shipped in from the coast towns
A purchasing agent was appointed
for the commission early this spring
and he advertised for bids for sup
plies in San Francisco, Portland
and Seattle and it is understood
that the merchants Of the Alaska
coast cities were not considered in
any way.
Last year the commission spent
about 100000, of which probably
at least one-third was spent in this
district That means that the work
done here last year brought con
siderably more than 100000 to the
district. Probably not so much will
be spent here this year, but it
seems that more money from the
fund goes directly to the people
at this end of the line than is going
to Alaskans at the other end of the
line, except, perhaps, in the matter
Of wages.