Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-09-07

aiong TINS rock trains craWled, adding
their burdens TO the strength OF the
barrier Protected by this arm Of steel
and stone and timber lay the terminal
buildings OF the Alaska Northern, as
the Heidlemann line was called. and
there also lay the terminus OF the old
McDermott enterprise into which Our
It's Gordon had infused new life. Both
places showed plenty of activity when
O'Neil and his two companions arriv-
| ed late one afternoon.
Kyak they found was inferior TO
Omar I'm its public Accommodations,
| ter for the girls until his arrival was
made known 10 the agents OF the Alas
ka Northern. Then Mr. Trevor, the
| engineer in charge looked him up and
Insisted upon sharing his quarters with
the visitors. In Trevor's bearing was
no suggestion OF an enmity like Cor
don's. He welcomed his rival warmly
After dinner O'Neil took Natalie
10 see the sights, while Eliza prof
tied by the opportunity TO interview
Trevor. In her numerous tits with
O'Neil she had not been oversuccess
full from the point of view of her mag
aZine articles. but here at her hand
was the representative Of the power
best known and best hated for its ac-
tivities in the northland. and he seem
ed perfectly willing to talk. Surely
from him she would get information
that would count
Understand, I'm on the side OF your
enemies" she warned him.
$50 is everybody else" Mr.. Trevor
laughed. but that's because we're mis-
understood"
THE intentions of any trust warrant
suspicion"
He shrugged. THE Heidlemanns
are just ordinary business men. like
O'Neil. looking for investment They
heard of great big copper field hid.
den away back yonder in the noun
tains, and they bought what they con
sidered TO be the best group OF claims.
They knew the region was difficult OF
access. but they figured that railroad
from tidewater would open up not only
their own properties. but the rest Of
the copper belt and the whole interior
country. They began TO build a road
from Cortez, when some shoe stringer'
raised the cry that they had monOp-
olized the worlds greatest copper sup
ply and had doubled cinched IL by
monopolizing transportation also. That
started the fuss. They needed cheap
80 f.4cf IL.
needs II, but somebody discovered the
danger OF monopoly OF that and set
up another shout Ever since then the
yellow press has been screaming. The
government withdrew all coal lands
from entry, and 1t now refuses to
properly located. We don't own a
foot Of Alaskan coal land, Miss Apple ,
ton. On the contrary, we haul our
fuel from British Columbia, just like
ONeu and Gordon. Those who would
like to sell local coal to US are pre-
vented from doing So"
ut sounds well to hear you tell It,"
said Eliza. But the minute the coal
patents are issued you will buy what
you want, then freeze out the other
People You expect to control the
mines, the railroads and the steamship
lines, but public necessities like coal |
and oil and timber and water power
should belong to the people There
has been an awakening of the public
and the day OF monopolized
necessities Is passing"
LAS long as men own coal mines they
will sell them. Here we are faced not
by a question Of what may happen,
but Of what has happened. If you
agreed TO buy city lot from a real
estate dealer and after you paid him
his price be refused to give you a
deed, you'd at least expect your money
back, wouldn't you? Well, that's the
case of Uncle Sam and the Alaskan
miners. He not only refuses to deliv-
er the lot, but keeps the money and
forces them to pay more every year.
represent body Of rich men who.
because of their power, are regarded
with suspicion. but If they did any
thing so dishonest as what our govern
ment has done TO its own people they
would be jailed"
When O'Nen and Natalie returned
they found the two still arguing
Haven't you finished your tiresome
discussions:" asked Natalie.
Mr. Trevor has almost convinced
me that the octopus is a noble creature
filed with high Ideals and writing at
the thrusts Of the muckrakers." Eliza