TELLS OF TRIP
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The Pacific Coast Banker, of a re
cent date, contains an article telling
of the experiences in Alaska of Bank
Examiner W. K. Wilcox, who made
the trip from Cordova to Fairbanks.
Throughout the nrticle gives the
render the wrong impression as to
conditions, leading one to believe
that interior Alaska is nothing but
a land of ice. and snow. It reads:
"Hard Sledding for Bank Examiner.
" 'When constabulary duty's to be
done,
A policeman's lot is not a happy one.’
"■—runs the iine of a chorus from the
old (lilbert & Sullivan opera of "Pi
rates of Penzance,' but what of the lot
of the bank examiner who has the
territory of Alaska allotted to his por
tion?
“Happy? Possibly, but hardly
wholesome, unless the examiner hap
pens to be such a hardy one as W. E.
Wilcox, to whom the Arctic inspec
tion of national banks has been en
trusted in each of the last three years.
There are three national banks in
Alaska — the First National In Ju
neau. the Harriman National at Sew
ard, and the First National of Fair
banks. The first two are easily
reached, but it is a long trip to Fair
banks, and for some reason or other
Mr. Wilcox has been required to make
his examination trips in the winter
season, and to inspect the one national
institution at Fairbanks has required
traveling the long overland trail from
Cordova.
“Over frozen trails and through
driften passes, with the mercury try
ing to burrow its way out through the
thermometer bull). Mr. Wilcox 'made,'
in traveling man's parlance, the dif
ferent towns on the Alaskan Interur
ban—the sled.
"Leaving Juneau with the thermo
meter at zero. Mr. Wilcox proceeded
to Cordova and over the Copper River
railroad, made famous by Rex Beach
in bis great story of the frozen north.
The Iron Trail.' Arriving at (•hltlna.,
a different temi>erntnre was encoun
tered. The inland towns are too far
removed to get the warming Influence
of the Japan current, as do such beach
cities as Juneau, so instead of a mere
zero the thermometer registered 45
degrees below the cipher.
"The difficulties of the journey —'
and the dangers, too — presented
themselves from Chitina onward.
I Sledges drawn by well trained, wiry,
mountain bred horses are employed.
■ the dogs being pressed into service
! when the trail becomes particularly
'dangerous and arduous. These horses
! are models of marvellous Instinct and
I sagacity.
“Can you imagine a trail but a few
feet in width — the one ribbon of
packed snow and solid ice threading
its way through immense soft snow
fields on each side -more theucher
otis than a Mississippi quicksand
bank? You will have to stretch your
imagination some, because if you were i
right there you wouldn't distinguish
it. so powdered is it with the sifted
snow to the same appearance as the
; vast areas contiguous to it. You say
; a little prayer, if you know any, and
trust to the horses. The trust is not
misplaced. Without faltering, these
animals pick the trail unerringly.
"For fear that Mr. Wilcox might
hold lightly the dangers of the trip
—the worst that had befallen him on
the up journey being a few spills into
the snow on the sharp turns — he
was treated to some trimmings on the
return journey in the shape of a rag
iiiB blizzard, which continued for two
Iliya and a half. Frequently the snow
would pile up on tli*| trail In drtfts
20 to 30 feet deep. The horses, cut
loose from the sleds, would plunge
Into these drifts, bucking and plough
ing o path through to where the trail
resumed on the other side.
"Two United States soldiers had
lost (heir lives on the trail a few
days before Mr. Wilcox traversed It.
because their horses were ordinary
steeds, unused and untrained to moun
tain travel under such conditions. The
general impression in our northern
territory seems to be that the govern
ment would do better to enlist the
native mountaineers and commission
them for Alaskan ranger duty, instead
of sending from the states soldiers
unaccustomed to the rigors of such a
life ami unacquainted with the de
mands it makes upon them. It would
he far more simple and much safer
a proceeding to make a soldier out of
an Alaskan mountaineer than an Alas
kan mountaineer out of a soldier."
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Lost—A diamond setting from a
ring, between Alaska Transfer Com
pany an the Blum, O’Neil corner. Re
pany and the Blum. O’Neil coYner. Re
wa rd.
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H. M. Fagenburg. of McCarthy, was
an arrival in town on yesterday's
train.
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Cordova Dressmaking Parlors. Work
guaranteed. Prices reasonable. Adams
building.
KOREAN MINES ■
AFTER APRIL ?
SEOUL, Feb. 14. — Foreigners and
foreign judicial persons will hence
forth not be allowed to take out min
ing concessions In Korea. That is the,
broad significance of the revised min
ing ordinance for Korea which w-as
promulgated a few days ago, and
which will come into force on April
1. The new regulations possess great
interest for foreign business interests.
Although a detailed translation of I
the ordinance is not yet available, a I
summary by officials Indicates that an |
exception to the general rule men-1B
tioned above will be made in favor I
of such foreign judicial persons as are
recognized by the law in Japan. It is
explained also that the new regain
tions will not affect those foreigners;
or foreign companies actually in pos
session of mining concessions, and j
they are at perfect liberty to transfer
their rights to other foreigners. The
mining concessions secured by for
eigners by arrangement with the for
mer Korean government will also hold
good after the enforcement of the re
vised regulations. Tungsten and ten
other minerals have been added to the
list of mines which will come underj
the control of the new ordinances, the ;
total of such minerals being increased
to twenty-eight.
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WASHINGTON. Feb. 14. — Presi
dent Wilson returned to the White
House today after two nays spent
cruising around Chesapeake bay on
the presidential yacht Mayflower. Mrs
Wilson enjoyed the trip with her Inis
band. Contrary to expectations, the
President did not announce his choice
as successor to Garrison in the port
folio of secretary of war. If is unof
ficially reported that Wilson has not
as yet made up his mind as to the
appointment, although the list of cli
gililt.-s for the place is narrowing, sev
eral prominent candidates having
already been discarded. It is not like
ly now that the new secretary will be —
announced until near the end of the
week. :£
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JUNEAU BREWERY WILL BE :§
ENLARGED IMMEDIATELY.
Believing that Alaska w ill refuse *<> (iji;
endorse prohibition when the question
is submitted to the voters of the ter
ritory. the proprietors of the Eagle j S:
brewery at Juneau are preparing to|:¥
i :¥
double the capacity of their plant. Mr.
curia, the manager of the plant, after
aking a trip through southeastern
laska, declarer! that the concensus
opinion In Alaska is that the "tem
irance law In Washington Is a colos
I farce."
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fuller's ilarber Shop Is located at
laskan Motel. Drop In.
REGISTRATION NOTICE.
Beginning February 1 the registra
tion book of the Town of Cordova
will be open at my office at the P. O.
Store. Second street, Cordova. af~V!
hours during the day and evening. The
registration book will be closed at 4
p. m., Saturday, April 1, 1916.
CHAS. ROSSWOG, Registrar.
Cordova
MESSENGER |
SERVICE
Day and Night. $•;
Phone 98 |
Office: Alaska Building. g
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I
Empress Theatre
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1916.
Dramatization of lu x Beach’s Novel,
WITH BRIDGES BURNED.
A Three Keel Drama, Produced by Kdison Company,
Featuring Augustus Phillips and Mable Trundle.
A George Ade Comedy,
THE DEMAND THAT MUST BE SUPPLIED.
First Show 8 p. m. Admission 25 Cents.
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Bedding! Bedding!! Bedding!!!
Do You Sleep Warm
these Cold nights? If not we can fix you up.
An Extensive Line of
Blankets, Quilts
and Comforters
Feather-downs that weigh a few pounds, but with cons of
warmth; come in two sizes, 6x7 and 7x8;
$16.00 and $17.60
Corded Cotton Comforts, wool filled, etc.,
$2.00 to $7.00
Wool Blankets, gray, brown and blue,
$2.60 to $16.00
Denim Covered Comforters for Camp use,
$4.00
Sheet Blankets, white and gray,
$1.26 to $4.00
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The Blum, O’Neill Company
• » « * $ I, ! I t t ’ % |
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The Hanan Shoe
Offers the ease of soft,
pliable leather and the ^
eleganceof smart styles;
made premanent by the
very best material and
workmanship. Be con
vinced by purchasing a
pair of
HANAN SHOES
the standard
of excellence the world
over.
Clayson, The Clothier
Exclusive Representative
28 Steam Heated Rooms. With or Without Bath.
Hotel Overland Chitina
GEORGE BLUM, PROP.
POOL ROOM AND CIGARS
— —
Comfortable Lobby Upstairs.
Headquarters for the Public.
Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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Rates 50c, 75c, $100 • Chitina, Alaska.
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We have just received a
:S
consignment of
SUMMIT SHIRTS |
New Designs and Patterns |
BLACK BEAR |
'MACKINAW SHIRTS I
P
Guaranteed rain proof.
I
FINKELSTEIN&SAPIRO
THE STORE THAT SATISFIES^.
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