The Alaska daily empire., 1917-04-24
BUSINESS IS
 AGAIN NORMAL
 ON THE ISLAND
No Further Subsistence Is Reported of the Land Over the Water
 Filled Mines.
CONTEMPLATED STEPS


 The pessimism which prevailed at Treadwell and Douglas Sunday and part of yesterday, owing to the disaster by the cave-in which flooded the three mines on the Island. is be- ing dispelled and a spirit of opti- mism is beginning to overhang the Island.
 Absolutely nothing new has oc cured at the scene of the cave-in, outside of falling of earth, loosened by the tide, into the main hole and there has practically been no subsi- dence of the land over the water filled mines. Scores of miners, who were suddenly forced out of em- ployment by the disaster, have been given other duties to perform on the surface or have been lined up for work by the companies on the Jul neau side. Many drew their say ings from the banks and intend to either go south or to Anchorage or the Interior
 While the mine management makes no statement as to the future plans and while the potential damage is $15. 100000. it might prove. far less. It is known that tentative plans are being discussed for the ultimate min ing of the great ore bodies of the Treadwell, Mexican and 200 mines, and even for the salvage of the ore that is broken or blocked out in them These tentative plans also suggest possible acquiring of an other property It is predicted that the great mills and power plants will again be as busily whirring as be- fore last Saturday night. The whole population is an engineering prob lem and Treadwell has the services of some of the greatest engineers in the world.
 Bradley Gets Word General Manager P. R. Bradley of the Treadwell Company this morn ing received cable from his broth CT, F. w. Bradley, of San Francisco, president of the company. to whom he sent a message Sunday morning, telling of the disaster at the mines.
 President Bradley was evidently out of the city when the message ar rived. His answer this morning ex- pressed surprise at what had hap pened. but pleasure that there was no apparent loss of human life. No outline for future operations was con- tained in the message from President Bradley.
 Will Aid Douglas
 Former Mayor NJ J. O'Connor. one of the largest renters of homes in Douglas, announced this morning that, as an inducement for those who have been thrown out of work at Treadwell and who may accept positions across the Channel to make their homes in Douglas, he will, be- ginning the first of May, reduce rents on all his property. Houses and apartments which have formerly rented for $15. per month will go for $10 and better houses and apartments which have formerly commanded $20 per month will be reduced to $15. Although all of Mir. O'Connor's hOus- es are now occupied. his tenants will have a pleasant surprise in store for themselves when they pay their rent for May.
 Business Is Normal
 The notices We Sell for Cash Only" which were posted in many of the Douglas stores yesterday have mostly been taken down today, and business is going on as usual.
 Positive faith in the ability of the Associated TreadweH companies to either reopen the damaged mines or extend their operations at other plac- es on the Island is expressed by all merchants and the citizens them selves. and the life on the Island has resumed much of the normal frame of mind that existed before the oc- curence of Saturday night.