10 THE OMATTA DAILY BEE : StTKDAY , JUNE 20 , 1807. /
WHERE BIG GUNS ARE MADE
A Monument of American Ingenuity , En-
erjy and Management !
ONE OF THE WORLD'S ' GREAT FACTORIES
Mn in mo Hi niilc-riirUr Crrntcil Wltliln
Ti-H Yrnrx IIHIIH-IIIC .Miichlne *
iiiiilo : | > < -i1 In MnUInu ; lliiKC
Deadly ' \Veiiiiinifl. |
( Copyright , HOT , by S. 8. McClure Co. )
Down In nouthcast Washington , on the
Bight of the old Washington navy yard , and
just eighteen minutes by the cable cars from
the Navy department , stands the United
State * naval gun factory , a model Institution
ot lt kind , and n monument to the Ingenuity
and pcrcavcrance of naval ordnance officers
nnd the skill and Integrity ot American
labor
To understand and appreciate what the
United States hao accomplished In modern
Eun construction It Is only nccctsary to
know the history of this great plant , Ita
creation , Its growth , the difficulties over
come In Its perfect equipment , and the
character of the products turned out. Four
teen jcars ago there waa not a modern ,
high power , breach-loading rifle In the
United States. Today ev ry large gun
eqtilped to our growing navy IH manufactured
at tlio Washington factory and conccdtd by
foreign ns well ns our own ordnance ox-
perto to Lo the equal , If not the superior ,
of any guns In the world.
Before the clvll wur , when smoothbores
and muzzle loaders were the only great
guns known on land or sea. and cast Iron
was the material used In their construction ,
the United States possessed the best guns
aflcat. But after the civil war a long period
of absolute Inactivity followed in this
country , both in the matter of shipbuilding
and the manufacture of guns , while the
great powers of Europe strove to keep pace
with the demands of the times In every
thing pertaining to modern warfare. The
condition to which our defenses , zshore and
afloat , were reduced , Is n matter of history.
With no ships worthy of the nitlon , we had
no guna capable of protecting us against
those of other countries.
But In 1SS1 a step was made In the right
direction , when four now modern steel
cruisers the Chicago , the Boston , the At
lanta and the 'Dolphin ' were laid down , the
foundation of a modern and efficient fleet.
A modern fleet necessitated modern guns ,
which wo did rot have , and , as these ves
sels nearcd completion In 1SS3 the question
of their armament had become a serious
one. Immediate steps were taken to meet
the deficiency , but It was not until the early
spring of 18S7 ( ten years ago ) , that a sys
tematic building plan was begun. The work
of building and equipping has proceeded ever
since , but slowly and gradually , that there
hould bo no Interruption In the construction
of mine.
MONSTER GUNS ON EVERY SIDE.
As the visitor enters the yard by the north
gates ho sees nothing unusual , save what
can bo seen at all navy yards the sentinel
walking back and forth before the entrance ,
the watchman standing near the guard tower ,
houses built close together on cither side of
the gate for ofllccrs' quarters , and tlu < long ,
low buildings which resemble storerooms ,
while the American colors float aloft from
a. fifty-foot flagpole , and beyond some snow-
white cruiser lies snugly moored at the
dock. Passing down the main walk toward
the water front , a long slate-colored building
la seen partially hidden by the high mound
to the right. As he approaches this ho sees
that this building Is an unusually largo one ,
substantially constructed , with a heavy Iron
root In which there are many skylights.
Over the east door of the. buildinghe sees
the words "Gun Shop , " and after patalng
through It finds himself In the center of the
building , and totally unprepared for what
lie sees , Ills first Impulse is to exclaim or
to hold hlo breath while ho tries to grasp
ttid enormity of the machines and material
before' him. Ho has never seen anything
like It. To the right there are monster
guns In all stages of construction , massive
lathes , turning lazily with their heavy bur
dens , giant cranes traveling back and forth
on overhead railways , while long shafts and
tremendous pulleys revolve at high speed
against , the west wall , and hundreds of
heavy belts turn and twist ns they transmit
the power that turns many Isrge and won
derful machines.
The Bight Is an Impressive one , even tea
a person who Is accustomed to seeing largo
guns , for , whllfl ho may have seen the larg
est machine shops , many times larger than
this one , containing a greater number of
machines , employing 100 timed more men and
requiring many times tlio power to run the
machines , ho lias never scon such large ma
chines , such heavy masses of steel being
operated upon , such hu o traveling cranes ,
while guns of all sizes are about him. In the
presence of a 13-Inch modern rlflo the ten
dency Is to keep Bilsnt. In the presence of
many such monster guns , which shlno like
glaps and are far larger than the finished
cannon , one Is Inspired with awe. The at
mosphere ot the place U In keeping with the
feeling of the * stranger , for scarcely any
nolsoU heard , very few men are teen , and
the largo and powerful machines f-eom to ruu
themselves.
THE 110-TON TRAVELING CRANE.
The north end of the chop Is by far the
most Interesting , and to this every visitor
to the works will turn , In this part of the
shop Is the 110-ton trawling crane , than
which there is none more powerful In the
country ; eight massive lathes and an enor
mous rifling machine , all American creations ,
One of the lathes ls 130 feet long , and U tie-
signed ( o take a 16-Inch gun , which In the
largest and heaviest In existence , being fitly
feet loug and weighing 110 tons. Four others
ftro capable * of taking guna up to fourteen
Inches caliber , and differ from each other
only In detail. In any one of them the gun
can bo bored or turned. In fact , they are
to constructed and arranged that both opera-
Hone can bo carried on at the same lime.
All of thorn carry tool carriages and clamps
for cutting tools , eacji operating Independ
ently , The other three lathes are large , andre
ro nlxly-elBht foct long , but are- not de
signed for boring , while each baa sufllcleut
capacity to turn the exterior of the largest
gun adopted by the navy the 13-lneh.
By far the most Interesting machines In
this Interesting lot U the rifling machine ,
which Is iiwd to cut the spiral grooves In
the Interior of the bore that Impart to the
projwllp n totary motion. It can operate
on the heaviest gun mmle , whllo there arc
fcaturci about Its construction ns accurate
a nn natroLomlcol Instrument. The rifling
hcn-l , the creation of naval offlcers , Is a mnr-
vcl la design and workmanship , and carries
four cutters , each the counterpart of the
other and operating sliniiltnneoiisly. Tint
was a great advance In the operation of
rifling big guns , for previously ( he rifling
head had worked on one groove at n time.
Turning from this wonderful group of ma
chines , and the burdens , hardly less Interest
ing , which they carry , one sees near the
center of the building the shrinking pits nnd
furnaces where the operation of heating and
assembling the parts of a built-up gun taken
place.
In the couth end of the shop there Is a
greater profusion of guns nnd material than
In the north ebop , and forty lathes arc In
operation , guns being bored , turned , rifled
nnd whllo they would be very Interesting In
thernpolvcs , the disparity In size between
the guns nnd machines In this ohop and
thopc In the north shop impresses the visitor.
All guna of four Inches , and up to and In
cluding thos3 of eight Inches caliber , nro
made here , nnd comprise by for the greatest
number of guns used In our main battcrlio.
Hut tlicbe nro s toys compared to the big
thirteen-Inth KUIIS , for whllo the latter
\\elgh sixty tons each , the eight-Inch gune
weigh only fifteen tons. So It happens that
thu visitor will turn from this shop to the
gun enniago shop , just beyond and to the
westward.
In this building , which Is very elmllar
In slzu nnd outward appearance to the gun
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Gl
slant temperature. The Interior of each
piece Is accurately gauged by a most accu
rate gauge , -which la al u treated with great
care. When the tube and Jacket are ready
for a embllng , or arc prepared , rather , BO
far as the machine work Is concerned , they
arc lifted from the lathes and deposited at
thp shrinking pit , where some ot the most
Interesting details of gun construction arc
carried out.
FITTING THE TUBE WITH A JACKET.
The Jacket 1st placed In a vertical position
In the center of n cylindrical firebrick fur
nace , where It Is expanded. The brick fur
nace Is Inclosed In an Iron cylinder , with
n largo nlr spaed between , and a heavy Iron
cover fits over the top of both. A constant
supply of nlr IB forced into the bottom of
the outer cylinder , where It conies Into con
tact wdth burning petroleum , and the heated
gates resulting from combustion circulate
around the Jacket , nnd bring It gradually
up to the proper temperature , which does
not exceed 00 degrees. So gradual and
exjual must the expansion be , and eo par
ticular are thcso In charge to avoid an >
possibility of particles of grit or foreign
matter adhering to the metal , that the prod
ucts ot combustion are not brought into con
tact with the Jacket at all. It remains 4n
tlio furnace about thirty hours before It
reaches the proper degree of expansion , dur
ing which time HID cover Is occaolonnlly
lifted off , the cylinder gauged along Its tn-
tlro length , and Its temperature tested at
dincrent points by the application of strips
of fuslblo metal.
In the meantime the tubeIs placed In n
vertical posltlcn , muzzle down , In the
( shrinking pit , whore It is firmly clamped.
Above the rlatnrs stands seventeen feet ot its
length , bright and true , and over which the
Jacket must bo shrunk , whllo a hollow brais
cylinder projects from the floor below
through the center of the tube , through
JN FACTORY AT WASHINGTON.
shop , every gun mount used In the navy-
Is manufactured. As one enters the east
door ho finds hlmeelf In the center of a typIcal -
Ical , thoroughly equipped machine shop , pre-
wentlng a busier , If less Interesting , scene
than the great shop * he has just quitted. In
making his way around ho will pass between
and around almost every conceivable shape
of metal castings , bracket plates , bronze
cylinders , steel pistons and piston rods ,
large bronze , conical-shaped stands and
comblnatlono of wheels , levers , worms , racks
and pinions. These are in the rough form ,
In the smooth , and 'in all Intermediate stages.
Together with the lazy little boring ma-
e.hlnes , the small , light-running lathes , the
stem drills , hammers , pinners and all other
machines and tools for light work , the ma
terial covers almost entirely the available
floor space.
THE IJHEECH MECHANISM SHOP.
This Is all very Interesting to the pro
fessional mind and the mechanical mind ,
as they eeo thcso metals worked ac-
cuiately into odd shapes , but the layman
will pass on to the "brooch mechanism
shop , " where hundreds of small guns , com
plete and ready for service , bright and beau
tiful , shine and glisten like a newly polished
nickel plate , and many larger guns , Includ
ing the businesslike-looking and reliable
elgliMnch , are blocked up on high wooden
horses. In this shop all looks bright and
now , for here all bench mechanisms for all
calibers ore made nnd fitted , except the fit
ting of the mechanisms for the largest cal
ibers , which is done outside. This shop
rivals In Interest the north "gun shop , " al
though It is entirely different from it In
every feature.
Here every machine , every tool , looks keen
and delicate , while there everything looked
grand and heavy. Dreech mechanism , as the
name Implies , Is fitted In the breech ot each
gun , so that when the gun Is flrcd there will
bo no pofslble escape of gases to the rear.
Each and every part Is made of the finest
grade of steel , thoroughly tested before using ,
and must be made as accurate In every fea
ture , all dimensions as true as the best elec
trical drills and other tools can make them.
No work U more accurate than that of mak
ing and fitting a breech mechanism , for on
It principally the safety of the gun depends.
Silts and grooves , cogs and worm-wheels ,
racks , pinions and lovers , are scientifically
combined and perfectly fitted , All breech
closures In our naval guns nr > r the slatted
screw system , and 1 < . _ . proper to
note that all meciiunlsms mr 01 atlng the
breech plugs arc the Inventions of American
naval ofllccrs.
Hesldes the shopi mentioned , there ls an
erecting chap and power house , from which
all power and electric lighting for the ontlro
plant Is supplied , pattern chops , a bron/.c
foundry , chemical laboratories , testing ma
chines , Miilthery , drafting rooms and offices ,
all complete nnd thoroughly equipped , The
grounds cover an area of more than forty
acres , of which more than twenty acres are
occupied by buildings , Including officers'
quarters , and about twelve acres by shops
and olllces.
AssminuNO THE PAUTS OP GUNS.
AH modern high-power guns are built up ,
that Is , they are made up of many pieces and
the manner of assembling the parts has many
Interesting features. In machining the parts
of a 13-Inch gun a degree of accuracy Is re
quired In shaping , turning , boring and fitting
that Is ( ound In no other work done by1 ma
chines on large masses of metal. From the
moment each piece la placed In tbo lathe , un
til the labt groove Is cut the work must
bo done with the greatest care.
The gun proper consists ot a long centrul
steel cyllndr , called the tube , on the irreecb
end of which a larger steel cylinder , called
the Jacket , IB shrunk , and a number of other
cyllnderu , called hoops , shrunk on over all.
In preparing the parts for assembling , the
tube Is turned down to nearly accurate dl
menslons and bored out to accurate dlrntn-
slons. At the same tlmo the jacket Is turned
down to rough dimensions and bored out to
accurate dimensions , the Inteilor diameter
of the latter being a little lees than the true
exterior diameter of the former. When the
Interior of the jacket U flnUmod the tube la
turned down to Ita. exact exterior
diameter. The reason for this is
apparent , It the Interior of the jacket
fchould , through any possible acci
dent , bo bored too large , the tube could bo
turned to fit and the juris used without
endangering the strength of the gun ; whcrca * ,
It the tube were turned down too much , such
would not bo tlio case. To appreciate the
accuracy of the machine work In guu con *
structlon , It IB only necessary to know that
all the dimensions of tbo massive parts must
bo true to the 1000th part of an Inch.
For the tinnlnt ; special calipers ure mad *
and rigidly eel at the nlfTtreiit dimensions
by bringing Its points Into exact contact
with eaUi one of a ect of steel rods , one cor
responding to each different dimension , the
length of each rod being determined by a
measuring machine , which U kept In a con-
whlch there Is a constant flow ot water at
an ordinary temperature. This , that the tube
may bo kept at the same temperature
ihroughout and unaffected by the heat of
the furnace , only a few feet away. So Im
portant Is this that the slightest expansion
of the tube , oven the fraction of 1000th of
an Inch , might be a serious matter. As the
lacket approaches the proper degree of ex-
lanslon It Is watched constantly by the mas
ter mechanic.
Temperatures and dimensions are deter
mined frequently and with great accuracy ,
till , at the very moment the proper stage
Is reached , the master mechanic raises his
hand , the giant crane moves and Is halted
directly over the furnace. The cover la
quickly hauled out of place , the tackle
hooked to a < band aroun'3 ' the jacket , the
llock 'begins ' to ascend and the largo cyl
inder is soon suspended In mldilr. The
master mechanic once more and for the last
tlmo gauges Its Interior , It Is wiped oft thor
oughly , another signal , and the crane moves
a few feet south , bringing Its burden directly
over the piece it will soun encircle. Here
It Is accurately aligned and plumbed , one
finger Is raised by that careful man in
charge , and , guided by the asbestos padded
hands of strong ami perspiring mechanics ,
the heavy load slowly descends. Not a
word is spoken , and the master mechanic
never takes bis eyes from the burning hot
metal , but by the use of his fingers as sig
nals regulated the descent of tlio Jacket.
LAHGE HESULT3 OF A SMALL , EHHOn.
The accuracy with which It must bo guided.
Its great weight and the rapidity with which
the operation must be performed , combine to
make the shrinking on of a thirteen-second
Jacket a most delicate matter and the strain
on those in charge Is Intense during the fif
teen or twenty minutes that the Jacket moves
slowly Into place. From the moment It Is
lifted from its position in the furnace It be
gins to lose heat and every minute counts.
There Is a clearance of only 4-100ths of an
inch between the tube and the Jacket , and
the latter , hot and heavy as It Is , must nol
bo allowed to como Into contact with the tube
at any point , or , at any rate , any eontacl
must bo extremely slight and momentary.
Tlio slightest touch might form a burr that
would cause the jacket to stick , resulting In
endless trouble and expense , If not the loss
of the value of the Jacket In material and
labor. Happily , this accident lias happened
only once , as far as I am able to ascertain
and then It was not a very ecrioua one. Ir
all other cases thIJ operation has been a de
cided success , and usually the Jacket Is Ir
place In fifteen minutes after it Is taken from
tlio furnace ,
The parts remain In the pit for forty-eight
hours to cool , after which the combined tube
and Jacket are placed In one ot the large
lathes , where It is turned down to receive
tlio hoops , which are shrunk on the jacket
and about two-thirds of the length ot the tube
not covered by the latter. Each hoop is
heated and expanded and shrunk on whlk
the unfinished gun Is In a horizontal position
ono of the largo cranes doing the work , after
which this enormous weapon IB turned down
to proper exterior dimension ! and placed It
the large rifling machine and the tube rilled
The delicacy of this operation can be ap
predated when ono realizes that the piece
to bo operated upon represents nearly $100 ,
000 worth of material and labor. The grooves
must be cut Just the proper depth and wldtl
an * ! length , and a cut too dceit or a cut too
long , or any other mistake , may ruin the
guu. Uut the machine Is too perfect In Us
construction , too skillfully and thoroughly
adjusted and too carefully watched and
handled by the man operating It for an >
such accidents to occur , and , after ten days
or two weeks on the machine the rifling ma
chlno of the big gun Is finished. From the
rifling machine It Is lifted on to a largo ( la
cur In the center of the building and ruu
out 'into the yard , where it U deposited 01
blocks built up teveral feet high , a hous
built around It and the breech mechanism
111 ted , and thu guu Is roaiplcte. From th
factory It Is shipped down the Potomac rive
to the Indian Head proving grounds , wher
It undergoes many severe trstsi before bel.nt ,
Installed on board of ouo of our large Iron
dads , i
This marvelous product of machine worl
has been more than elx months in course o
construction , and < Is worth , complete , f 100,000
It is 471'.1 ' Inches long , weighs 60,5 tons , lire
a charge of BftO pounds of slowvburnlng pow
. der , a steel projectile weighing 1,100 pounds
thrown with a velocity of 2,100 feet pe
eecond , and developing a rnuzzlo energy o
33,027 foot tons , or 74,000,000 foot pounds
and ! capable of piercing 24 51 Inches o
tolld steel at a distance of 1,000 yards from
the muzzle.
The plant , while just ten years old , ha
sulllck'iit capacity to more than supply th
demands for our growing naval armaments
Is north , Including an estimated value o
grounds and all buildings , nearly $4,000,000
&ad has an annual output of about fl.DOO.Oul/
Iir.NIlY A. WII-EV , U. S. N.
FISH IN ALASKAN WATERS
noihaustiblo Supply ) of Oed , Halibut
Salmon , Herring andOUier Variotics.
NDUSTRY ONLY AWAFTS DEVELOPMENT
npcrntlonn Xoir Cnrrlcrt On In n Stnnll
AVnr Slmw HIP INim
of tlip rtUnrt- for
SEATTLE , Wash. , June 17. ( Special Cor-
espomlonce. ) The statement line frequently
ccn made by men who claim to know by ob-
crvntlon that the codfish of Bering eca nrc
f such vast quantities as to bo Bitfflcicnt to
upply tlio world for n century. I do not pro-
end to have such definite knowledge ot
ho facts , but my observation of the extent of
he banks and the vast schools of cod known
o exist In certain portions , at least , tends to
orroborato In my own mind the above ap-
arcntly extravagant statement. .
tiering sea Is about SOO miles In extent both
ast and west nnd north and south. It Is
hallow , and n natural fish bank , exactly
uted ! for tlio propagation of n fish like the
od. So numerous and generally distributed
ro the cod In Ucrliig Bea that In no part of It
an a pertoi. scarcely drop a line without
nstantly catching one or more of them. The
sit crowd ench other no much tint they must
nd life rather uncomfortable , and they are
nown to Injure each other by biting.
The most extensive cod bank known Is that
ust cast of the main entrance to tiering
ea , going north from the North Pacific
ocean , which IF known as the Slime bank. It
) orders on the coast of southwestern Alaska
ud lies north of the Aleutian archipelago ,
caching out to its western extremity. This
s the field where practically all the codflsh-
ng of Llerlng sea Is now carried on. Vcs-
els reaching the banks cast anchor and
end out their dories. Without changing
ocotlon the ships are loaded ready for their
etuin voyufifu. It Is not a question of how
luny they can get , but how
nuny they can carry , for VCB-
els never fall to get full cJrgoen.
Only two companies are engaged In Bering
ca codflshlng. These have their headquar-
ere acd warehouses In San Francisco. The
ciocls ate generally brigs of 100 to 12G tona.
'ho crews and fishermen are taken from the
lome port , as well as men , material and
ppllanccs for salting. The salting Is done
n board. The fishermen are paid at the
ate of $25 for every 1,000 fish caught , and
lie fish must measure twenty-six Inches In
ength , else two are counted as one. Each
isherman expects to average $50 a month.
\\-o lines are lowered from each dory , each
outlining : two hooks , and one line U drawn
rom either side.
SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
In my trips to the Arctic ocean in a period
if five years It haa been a frequent occur-
enco to bo becalmed on Bering sea. For a
hango of diet , under * fiuch clrcuniKtanccs ,
fish have always been , plentiful , and they
lave easily been caught In from twenty to
Ixty fathoms of water. Only two years ago
vhlle becalmed In plain sight of St. Law-
enco island , the most northern , a well as
he most extensive Island in Bering sca , In
ess than an hour , with a single line , as
nany cod were caughtas -were needed far
he balance of a six -weeko' cruise. This
mnk was not on any of the'Charts ' , and there
was nothing to show that cod aboundud there
o any extent , so our party claims the credit
if having discovered It.
On , the Siberian coast , In Okatsk sea , IB
another and a well known bank , but the
ndustry ot fishing is not carried on to any
extent. Once In a while a "vessel may stray
n there. This bank wna known as long ago
as when the Russians occupied Alaska.
AH far south as Slmconoff , and at the Shu-
nagln group , about the Islands of Magipopf
and Unga , and in the vicinity of the Kadlal !
group of islands , cod are found In great abun.
dance.
I -was once offered $30 a ton for all the
cod I could bring Into the Seattle harbor , eo
: apprehend that In San Francisco they maybe
bo worth about $40 on the wharf. I under
stand that the best market for cod Is In
Japan. In San Francisco they are dried and
cured for transshipment to various places and
countries. The coasts of Mexico , Central
America and South America will undoubtedly
become markets for cod in the future , but
they are not developed as yet. The same
may be said of the islands of the South
Pacific , and the time may como when vessels
will go both fishing and trading. They may
take their cargoes of cod in Bering sea and
go to tb/ southern countries , or Pacific
Islands , and come back to San Franclsco-and
Puget Sound laden with coffee , spices nnd
tropical fruits such as will bear transport
ing. In speaking of a market for fish , It Is
a common saying here that the people must
bo educated to their use as a food. Enter
prising dealers are already sending their
traveling men Into Interior towns and min
ing camps to use every means to get people
to "try 'era before they buy 'em. "
Next to the Alaska cod should bo men
tioned the halibut , which is found In vast
quantities In the waters of the Inland canal ,
among the more shallow waters of the North
Pacific , and In some portions of the Bering
sea. They often welsh 20ft or more pounds ,
and ono oC the pleasures of tourists Is catchIng -
Ing these fish from the decks of steamers
while at some station. The halibut Is a
staple article of diet , both fresh and dried ,
with the natives , and it is said that the
Alaskan halibut will compare favorably , if
not excel , those caught on the Atlantic coast.
A fishing concern In SUka put up a quan
tity of smoked halibut , which proved a most
delicious article of food. It has also been
done In Victoria and Seattle to a greater or
less extent , but very little effort 1ms been
made to force the sale. However , the curing
of halibut In this nay may eventually prove
ono of the leading Industries of the north
west.
SUGHTLY DEVELOPED AS YET.
Halibut fishing as an Industry Is now going
on In a small way , and Is a source of con
siderable profit to those engaged In It. In
the summer time a fleet of small schooners
and sloops , hailing from Seattle , engage In
fishing for halibut ofC Cape Flattery. In the
winter those of tlfo fleet which are the most
seaworthy go north to fish In , the waters of
Alaska as far soutli as Cape Scott and Queen
Charlotte sound. The main banks are at
Ketchiktm and Kllllsnoo. From ( ho landing
places of the steamers plying between Juneau
and Seattle the halibut are shipped to the
latter city fresh , preserved In ice. This is
thu usual method of halibut fishing , The
listening cruises are with a larger and stilt
more seaworthy class of vessels. The method ,
as with the Bering sea codfishlng , Is simply
to carry salt aboard fopjpriiservlni ; the ball-
but , known then as fletchrs.
Far the most Important fish of Alaska ,
speaking for this preterit time from an In
dustrial standpoint , IB the salmon , Thebo
excellent fish ire found In great numbers In
the streams from the Mower extremity of
southeastern Alaska to the Arctic ocean. The
most favored varieties iaro those known as
the red or silver salmonywelghlng from eight
to fifteen pounds each , and the king salmon ,
often weighing as mu'ch as fifty pounds.
The latter variety Is found only In a few
localities In southeastern Alaska , and In the
upper Yukon river. I have heard It stated
that specimens of them-weighing I'M pounds
have been caught. The first salmon can
nery In Alaska wag erected In 1878 , and at
the present time there are nearly fifty , most
of which are In Deration , The Industry
grew apace , new canneries costing $50,000 to
$100,000 being built. It wad In the form of
speculation resulting from large profits , but
the coimimptlpn of canned salmon did not
equal the output. In 1892 the canneries
formed a combination , closing down teveral
of their number , with a uhare of the profits
to each of those not In operation , based upon
their earning capacities , It Is rare that
more than one cannery Is located on any
ealmon stream , but at Karluk , on the north
west coast of Kadlak Island , on a small
stream not more than sixty feet In width ,
there are five canneries , The salmon In that
stream seem to bo Inexhaustible. The river
at Its mouth , and foi a long distance Into
tall water during the spawning eeasou , seems
to be fairly swarming with salmon. They
are so crowded In the water as to almost
dam It up , and in their eagerness to ascend
thu iher those above are crcwded eo that
their flus stand out of the Rater with tlulr
bodies In plain view. I applied the name
"River of Life" to the Ptnom.
OPPOSED TO SETTLEMENT.
It may not bo fair to make the charge , but
It la stated that the canning compafles have
worked ngnlnst the peltlomeut of Alaska.
Their Influence has alwajn been In that di
rection. All the help for the canneries comes
from clsewlicic. Fishermen nnd canncrs are
brought from Oregon , Washington nnd
Ilrltlsh Colombia , the canners being China
men. The canneries of New Metlnhnhtln nnd
Klnwnk are exceptions , however , each ot
them employing native Indians. No great
amount ot skill Is required to catch ealmon ,
yet the practice has been for the
companies to take the mm Into
the country In the spring and
bring them hcmc again In the fall at the
close of the Benson. It .has also been the
custom to not pay the men until t-hoy have
reached their homes , thus taking nway the
product of the streams , and not leaving n.
dollar for It , but depriving the country of any
benefit resulting from the labor "employed ,
which would contribute to the development
and support of the country. If white- men nl-
together were employed It might be the means
of 1'iiportlng a clnttt that would find some
thing else to do during the season when can
neries are closed.
The packing of salted salmon Is an Im
portant brunch ot the fishing industry. So
great la the salting business that fully 7,000
barrel * , weighing HOO pounds each , are prepared -
pared for market annually. Notwithstand
ing the fact that southeastern Alaska Is cov
ered with a splendid growth of cedar , hem
lock nnd spruce , which should servo ns ix
means of employment for many men , the
enormous qiumtitlcts of barrels and boxes arc
shipped In and put together na needed. The
sawmills of Alaska are not recognized ot-
patronized by salmon cinncrs.
The canneries are taking great liberty In
the matter of trap flshlng , and it 1 carried
on to such an extent that few flsh ever escape
at the mouths of certain streams. Til ? people
who are to Inhabit Alaska In the
future , as well as the present popu
lation , and the native Indians who have sub
sisted largely on salmon food , may well look
with nlnrni upon this unrestrained method.
It may mean thai In a very few years th ?
once unlimited supply of Alaska salmon Is
to be practically exterminated. A law was
passed by congress to stop the dejiudntloii ot
the water ot salmon by this all too thorough
method , but It became Inoperative early be
cause of no appropriation to carry out Ito
provisions. Meanwhile the trap fishing goes
on unhindered.
IinilRING ALSO PLENTIFUL.
Immense schools ot herring are found In
most of the estuaries of Alaska , and They
form a food supply for the Indians. The
greatest run Is found at Kllllsnoo , on Ad
miralty Island , where the largest flsh oil
plant In the world was erected about four
years ago. The herring are caught by the
lighter load , nnd as many as 1,600 barrels
have been taken at a single haul of a seine.
They arc superior , large , fat and filled out
so well with fatty substance that they ciueh
up Into oil , keeping the factory In operation
five or fclx months In the year. The bones
and refuse are manufactured Into fertilizer
and shipped to the Sandwich Islands.
The oollkon , or candle flsh , are found In
some of the channels adjacent to the coast.
They belong to the smelt family , are about
eight Inches In length , nnd nearly round.
The name candle flsh Is applied because after
being dried the fish may be lighted with u
match and will burn up entirely , with a
glare like a candle. When boiled the candle
( Ish have a sweet , delicious flavor , and aio
very tender. The oil is considered a rare
delicacy by the natives , and its extraction
Is quite an Industry among those at remote
points from other fish supply. The natives
are more partial to this flsh than any other.
Over 100 varieties of flsh are found In the
waters of Alaska , according to the best au
thorities. The food fish Industry Is In Ito
Infancy , but even now the salmon produc
tion Is by far the greatest Industry of Alaska.
What the future may bo able to develop In
other native resources of that vast territory
remains conjectural , but from "surface
showings , " as the miner would say , It looks
as If fishing Is destined to take and hold the
leading rank for many years to come.
3IINER W. BRUCE.
People with hysteria locomotar ataxla ,
partial paralysis or St. Vltus dance have
weak , watery blood. ' PHI Anaemic Pink
makes rich red blood and will cure any of
thcso diseases If persistently taken. ( Made
only by the Mercer Chemical Co. , Omaha.
CONMJIIIAMTII3S.
How many women who have been mar
ried ten years can remember Just what their
husbands said when they proposed to them ?
It Is ono of the strange things of this life
that every now and then a girl will glvo up
a fifteen-dollar salary to get a ten-dollar hus
band.
"Boys , " says the Waycross ( Ga. ) Journal ,
"our girls are as fair as the crystal water
and as lovely and modest as the zephyrs of a
Juno afternoon In the classic woodlands. "
Whoop ! What's the fare to Waycross ?
Dr. Robertson Nlcoll , editor of the Book
man , Is engaged to be married to Miss Cath
erine Pollard , a 'Hertfordshire ' woman of a
family well and honorably known for gener
ations among the Friends. Miss Pollard la
an artist of considerable skill and has had
pictures on exhibition.
Joseph Dupuls of Kankakoe , 111. , aged 93 ,
married Miss Josephine Iluneau , aged 38 ,
last Monday. The groom Is wealthy and
the bride was his maid servant , It Is Mr.
Dupuls' third venture In matrimony , his second
end wife having died eight \\ecka ago. The
groom Is only three feet nine Indira In
height , his bride towering a foot and a half
above him.
Miss Jane Campbell , with whom the course
of true love did not at first run smooth , has ,
the cable tells us , secured her princely hus
band , who is said to be both rich and hand
some. Italian princes are not usually over
burdened with the good things of this life ,
but 'Miss ' Campbell has n moderate fortune ,
and a homo In tlio IJarberlnl palace and the
title of Princess dl San Faustlno have a flavor
of romance about them that would turn al
most any head.
'Boston ' has had a monopoly of smart wed
dings this spring , and that of Mr. Larz An
derson and Miss Perkins was the smartest of
them all. 'Money ' was lavished upon every
thing and the old Arlington Street 'Meeting
house , which figured largely In Boston's early
history , lost its dingy and time-worn aspect
under such a prodigality of flowers and greenery -
ery that It looked more like an ancient bower
than a place of worship. The bride and her
attendants were superbly costumed ,
After a San Diego man got a divorce from
his wife the other day ho wont homo and
found her there. She asked him to tilt down
to dinner , after which she asked him how
ho liked the new arrangement. "First rate , "
ho replied , "but I can't understand It. "
"Oh , that's all right , " said who ; "wo can
Ilvo this way In contentment. The other
way wo quarrel. Now , then , suppose you
retain mo as housekeeper ? Twenty dollars
per month and board Is all I ask. " This
struck the ex-husband favorably and the
bargain was closed on the spot. The couple
have not had a sign of trouble blnco , al
though they were in hot water for thirty-
two years , fretting under the marital yoke.
They dare not quarrel much now , for fear
ono will leave the other In the lurch , Ho
must hove his fueals cooked , and eho must
have a place to stay. Together they are
happy now , and the bargain promises to last
to the end ,
FOR
; TORTUREI
1
An'l rest for tired mother * in a warm liath
wUh C'rru't UA to\i' , and a lnjle ; application
of furruu ( olitia : < nttho ) great skin euro.
C'uncinA ItLMr.Diw afford liibtant relief ,
&nd polnttoan > ccdy euro of torturing , dl -
i.
ing , crusioi ) , bc.ily skin nml scalp humors ,
with Ion of hair , when all else falls.
Bold rirnu.'houllbt world. I'orni : Unto i u Cuiu.
CoRr.lMc Trolii. , lli.twi.
iff " lluw to Cur kiln-Tortured Bllltt , " tttt.
O'/IU CO A I n na iinir nnutiflfi i/
C\IH ! olwLr ivnc-uiutoiv.
TAILOR
more days and our present tempting
proposition for first-class tailoring will
be a matter of History ,
Many a hundred economical dressers have
placed their order with us : They were quick
to realize the advantage of a prompt
order , and we rest easy in the assurance that
we have won many hundred new friends
who will become permanent patrons of our
new store.
Do you think that the garments we make
to your order for as little as $15 and $20 for
Suits and $4 , $5 and $6 for Trousers will not
satisfy you ?
Do you think that the material making r
trimming and fitting must necessarily be in
ferior ?
Then convince yourself quickly !
Examine carefully the woolens we offer.
Notice the quality of the trimmings.
Then ask to see the garments made up.
If you see a fault don't hesitate to tell us of
it. We want to know.
Our salesmen take delight in showing the
different fabrics. They will be pleased to in
struct you regarding the difference between
"shoddy" deceptive cheapness and first-
class garments at moderate prices based
upon a "cash basis' '
TROUSERS -$5-$6-$7 $ $ $
SUITS $15-$20-$25-$28 $ $ $ $
An honest reduction of from 25 to 40 per
cent from our regular prices.
We mean to be generous with you. If we
can't please you we won't take your money.
207 South 15lli. UOUGLAS. FAUNAS HUTWKIJN AND