The Chitina Leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second-class matter. November 12, 1910, at the postoffice at
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1S79.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY O. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 531 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .f .50
Six Months . 2.00
One Year . 3.50
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the service
given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper River district.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1912.
THE XAZINA BRIDGE
The return of ojterators and work
men from the Xazina mining section
again reminds us of a sadly neglected
duty upon the part of the Alaska
Road Commission. For years past
operators and prospectors have en
dangered life through the necessity
of crossing the treacherous Xazina
river, in order to reach the rich min
ing section beyond. Possibly a score
of men have sacrificed life in attempt
ing to cross the ever changeable chan
nels of this dangerous quick-sand
stream. Horses innumerable have
been drawn in to their death, while
in some instances the riders have
narrowly saved themselves by swim
ming the swift current of the ice cold
waters. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been expended in pros
pecting and developing mines beyond
the Xazina. and many thousands have
been expended in the effort to keep
up a passable trail. But not one
dollar has Iteen used by the road
commission for the convenience or
safety of the courageous men who
yearly hazard life and lindi in the
effort to develop the rich resources
of that section of Alaska.
We have had repeated assurances
from Col. Richardson, president of
the Alaska Road Commission, that
the long prayed for bridge to cross
the Xazina river would be built this
winter. While returning operators
report that there is nothing doing in
that country to indicate construction,
we still have hope that it is the in.
tention of the Colonel to make good
his word and to give to a deserving
people that which will be the means
of saving many lives and materially
assist in opening up an important
copper and gold placer section. The
work of bridge building must I>e done
during the season when the water is
low. And the time is fast approach
ing when operations should commence
if construction is to be finished be
fore Spring. Col. Richardson . has
been fully impressed with the neces
sity and justice of this undertaking
upon the part of the Commission.
He stated that he would make pro
vision for the money necessary to do
the work, and even though there is
some seeming delay we still have con
fidence that the Xazina bridge will be
more than a myth by next summer.
-x—x—x
Some of the defeated candidates
can begin to figure out how much
money they will save by not being
compelled to serve the Territory in
the first Legislative Assembly.
-X-X-X
An esteemed contemporary de
clares that nobody is infallible. This
used to be a platitude; but in the
year of the Bull Moose party it comes
dangerously near being heresy.
-X-X-X
DEFEATING POPULAR RULE
The case of California, as set forth
by the decision of the Supreme Court
of that State, has attracted wide at
tention. By the action of the pri
mary law of that State, as operated
under the Roosevelt element, those
citizens of that State who wish to
vote for Taft are, as the Court as
serts, absolutely disfranchised. How
the Court came to uphold a law that
inflicts disfranchisement on a portion
of its citizens is a question only an
swered by the fact that the issue
of constitutionality was not raised
in the case.
It is a curious phase of the case
that this result was secured t>y the
party that makes loudest professions
of standing for “the rule of the peo
ple.” All political parties in this
country are in favor of this rule.
But the party which makes the great
est parade of its fidelity to popular
rule is the one that proposes to profit
by the practical disfranchisement of
a considerable element of the con
stituency.
Yet it is plain that popular rule
which consists in either denying
voters the chance to vote their choice
or deluding them into voting for men
who will defeat their purpose is a
mockery. Men who resort to such
tricks while professing fealty to popu
lar rule show the entire faithlessness
of their possessions. It reminds us
very much of occasinal tactics prac
ticed by certain “leading” citizens in
Alaska.
-X-X-X
(From Thursday’s Daily Alaskan)
HEARING BEFORE AN IMPARTIAL
JURY.
It was an interested assemblage of
people that gathered at the theatre
last night to hear a discussion of rail
road routes and construction and de
velopment possioiliies for Alaska.
The people of this territory are in
tensely interested in anything that
suggests progess. And now some
how there is a well defined opinion
that the members of the Alaska Rail
road Commission are to bring order
out of chaos by so recommending to
Congress that constructive action
will follow. This is a working body
of men. and they are seemingly sin
cerely desirioim of improving the de
plorable conditions that now exist in
Alaska. There is no question but
that they have been impressed with
the necessity of transportation.
Whether they shall recommend two
trunk routes, or only one, and
whether the sea coast terminus shall
be selected at Cordova. Valdez or
Seward, the members of the Commis
sion have already impressed the peo
ple with an abiding faith that what
ever their conclusions may be they
have been a-rived at in a spirit of
justice to the best interests to be
conserved. Cordova has made a
good presentation of her claims, both
in a public way and from data other
wise furnised. If the members of
the Commission have been favorably
impressed, it will be a glorious an
nouncement that may be flashed over
the wires from Washington in Dec
ember, stating that Congress has been
advised to acquire ownership or
rights over the Copper River &
Northwestern railroad in connection
with a trunk line to the inland waters
of the Tanana and Yukon rivers,
Then we will know that an era of
prosperity is about to dawn, and that
soon coal will also be available and
that the construction of smelters and
bunkers, as well as other industries,
will have an early beginning.
If fate shall decree that some other
locality is more favored, and railroad
construction should be ordered from
there, we will have confidence that
the members of the Commission acted
from their best lights. But it would
only temporarily delay what must
evetually terminate in a railroad from
Cordova to the coal fields and the in
terior country. However, there is
a generally satisfied feeling that the
merits of the Copper river line will
prove convincing both to the Com
mission and to Congress.
-Y-V-V
The President listened to the
Mayor of Boston singing “Sweet
Adeline.” We certainly do need bet
ter protection for our Presidents.
-X-X-X
International Bible students de
clare that there is no hell. If these
experts have not time to visit the
Balkans they might cast a glance at
the lower East Side of New York.
If Senator Dixon’s assertion that
the “big interests” are behind Wilson
is true, the Democratic campaign
fund statements at least indicate
that they are a long way behind.
And in a couple of days everyone
will settle down and forget that there
was an election.
—mm
TOO MUCH IMMIGRATION
People have been flocking to June
au from other sections of Alaska, and
even from the States, with the idea
that there was a boom on there and
that ready money and easy employ
ment was clamoring for eager arms
to envelop it. A number of people
have gone to Juneau from Cordova
and some have found profitable em
ployment and opportunities to en-:
gage in business. Other sections
have also sent their full quote until
now our neighboring town is be
coming anxious as to the outcome.
They think it time to call a halt for
he winter, at least. A recent issue
v f the Dispatch has the following to
siy on the subject:
“Juneau wants no destitution here
this winter. The town has never
known real poverty, but if the bands
of laboring men continue to come in
to the city in larger numbers than the
labor markets warrants, there will be
suffering before the winter is over.
Juneau entered a new era of pros
perity this summer when the “big
thing” for which the community
waited many years, was put through
with the reorganization of the Alaska
Perseverance Mining Co. into the big
concern known as the Alaska-Gastin
eau Mining Co. Business came with
a rush. Merchants who have always
done a substantial business, have re
ported that their business has jump
ed to unhoped for returns. Every
one has had money and the signs of
the times have been brighter than
at any time since the founding of the
camp. All summer men have been
flocking to Juneau on every boat.
And nearly all of them have found
work. The community was glad to
have them and the community wants
to encourage migration to Juneau.
But this migration should be of a con
servative brand, and men who come
here should not bank their hopes too
high, on finding ready employment
this winter. As one merchant stated
this morning: “There is no likeli
hood of any new ventures opening up
at least until spring, so additional
labor would be idle until that time if
more workers came into the city
now.”
(From Tuesday’s Daily Alaskan)
A MALICIOUS PREVARICATOR.
In the Valdez Prospector of last
Saturday an interview appears with
one S. D. Charles, of Cordova, in
which he says:
“Unfortunately, because of senti
ments expressed which were in no
sense representative of the actual
state of mind of Cordova business
men, there is a feeling in Valdez,
that the former are looking for ev
ery possible opportunity to decry
and knock Valdez. To speak plain
ly, a certain organ in Cordova, is
constantly seeking to belittle Valdez
enterprises. This is not the sen
timent of Cordova people.”
The “organ” he refers to is un
doubtedly the Daily Alaskan. And
the statement he makes is a delib
erate fabrication. For some time
past this malicious peddler of false
hoods has sought in every conceiv
able way to injure the business of the
Daily Alaskan. So long as he con
fines his efforts to home we are not
concerned. Here Charles is known
as an irresponsible fanatic, always
busy attending to other people’s
affairs, and has earned either the
pity or contempt of most of the resi
dents of the town. He may not be
so well known at Valdez, and for the
benefit of the people of that commun
ity we give him his true characteri
zation. He deliberately lies when
he says this paper “is constantly seek
ing to belittle Valdez enterprises,’’
and he knows it. We offer him the
use of the files of the Daily Alaskan
for months past, and challenge him
to find anything to substantiate his
assertion. If he can we will gladly
republish it. The contrary to what
he alleges is true. The Daily Alas
kan has referred to Valdes enter
prises and to the town itself, only in
the most friendly terms, and always
with hope of dispelling any factional
or antagonistic feelings. Such criti
cism as we may make of public offi
cials has naught to do with locality.
-X-X-X
If we remember correctly, the de
bate can be resumed at the point it
left off, namely: “Nobody is pro
gressive except us."
(From Thursday’s Daily Alaskan)
WE ARE OUT-CIiASSED
—
The Juneau Dispatch says. “The
Cordova Dally Alaskan, which used
to be classed as an administration,
paper, etc., We don't know just
what that might mean, but the fact
remains that the Daily Alaskan has
always been, under the present own
ership, one of the most independent
and fearless newspapers in Alaska.
We favor all the things that tend to
the advancement and development of
the territory, and have never hesitat
ed about condemning those acts or
measures that were a detriment to
the public good, without reference
to the attitude of the administration
or the men holding office under the
administration. We always prefer
to commend, at times just criticism
is not only neeesary, but it has a
salutory effect. And all officials or
politicians in Cordova and elsewhere
in the territory know that when there
is any criticism of their acts, they
bring it upon themselves because of
their own direlection or unsavory
methods.
Vice President R. W. Baxter, of
the Copper River & Northwestern
Railway, yesterday wired Superinten
dent Geo. Geiger the following mes
sage from Seattle:
‘ President Eccles and all parties
in the East wish to congratulate you
and your force in Alaska for the ex
cellent work done in repairing the
railway. I heartily concur.”
The Hallowe’en pa'vy last night
was a success, finandaly and socially,
even exceeding the most -jathusiastic
hopes Everybody was at >'agle lia.i
at some time during tl evening, and
the 1 orel features were enjoyed as
much as was the dancing. The dec
orations were very tasty and elabo
rate, the music was of the best, the
ladies were attractively gowned and
their smiles were so winning and
fetching that a couple of hundred
dollars were transferred from the
men's pockets into the treasury of
the Woman’s Guild, because of the
many novel attractions that were
presented for taking a chance. The
affair was delightful throughout and
was enjoyed by all.
Having taken his family to the
outside for the winter W. A. Dickey
is a returning passenger on the Ala
meda and will go on to Landlock
where he has extensive mining in
terests.
W. E. Dunkle, mining engineer for
the Alaska Syndicate, is returning
from a short trip to Seattle and will
go on to Latouche before returning
to Cordova.
Mr. and Mrs. Cope, who have been
residents of Cordova for a long time
past, left on the Sampson for Kodiak, I
where they expect to remain for
sometime.
George Kennedy is again gracing
the Will Clayson store, having re
turned on the Alameda from a short
trip to Seattle.
This afternoon the members of the
Alaska Railroad Commission are out
on the bay, making observations that
will undoubtedly satisfy them that
Cordova has one of the best harbors
in Alaska, with ample facilities for
navy coaling station. The Commis
sion has nearly completed all its
work up to the qresent time, and has
its records in good shape, prepara
tory to leaving on the Alameda for
Pyramid Harbor.
Geo. E. Baldwin went to Valdez
last night, and will devote the bal
ance of the campaign to rolling up
a creditable vote in his home town.
He expects to secure a majority of
the votes of Valdez and the adjoin
ing mining camps. After his elect
tion as Senator he will leave, not
later than the sixteenth, for the out
side, in order that he may attend
the annual session of the Amrican
Mining Congress at Spokane, Novem
ber 25 to 29. His voic„- will then be
heard in favor of unlocking the rich
industries of this teir!'. "y. At ail
times Mr. Baldwin stands for de
velopment.
S. W.Blackwood is a passenger for
Ellamar, where he will relieve E. D.
Vaught in the store department.
Sam Blum was a returning passen
ger on the Alameda, after ten days
stay at Seattle, where he went on a
business mission.
Judge V. G. Frost came over from
Katalla on the Sampson to attend to
business. He expects to return in a
launch, in time to vote.
SUMMARY OF VOTE BY DIVISION'S
Gilmore _ _ .
Wlckersliam
Jennings . . .
Manias
Krauczunas
Scattering . .
Total . .
1st
. . . 101
. . . (SOI
... :{;{($
... 24
. .. 227
... i:t
..1393
2nd
(18.1
290
270
4
271
*»
.128 1
3rd
539
730
2X1
00
192
838
4th Total
311—1720
1001—3335
2H1—1174
137— 2H1
00H-1 OHM
1— 10
3439—H220
JUNEAU, Nov. 2—The Dispatch
summarizes and analyzes the vote
cast at the election for Delegate to
Congress on August 13 last, as fol
lows :
The total regular vote cast was
8,220, divided among the four Alaska
divisions as follows: First, 1,395;
Second, 1,428; Thiid, 1,858; Fourth,
3,439.
By the irregular vote Wlckersliam
lost 28 at Candle, 8 at Kodiak, 4 at
Kantishna, 22 at New Camp and 10
at Trail Creek. Gilmore lost 15 at
Candle, 4 at Koyuk, 24 at Kodiak
and 36 at Naknek. Krauczunas lost 1
vote at Candle. Jennings lost 9 at
Candle, 8 at Kodiak, lat Naknek, 1
at New Camp and 12 at Trail Creek.
Harrias lost 3 at Kodiak and 4 at
Kantishna. Gilmore was the heavi
est loser by the light irregular vote,
with a total of 79. Wickersham’s
vote thrown out was 72. Jennings
lost 31.
The irregularities were due to a
number of causes. At Candle and
Trail Creek no certificate of election
was received from the clerk or pre
cinct judges. At Koyuk the ballots
used were illegal in form. At
Kodiak the election was held on the
wrong date. At Kantishna no cer
tified copy of the U.S. Commissioner’s
order and notice was received. At
New Camp the commissioner’s order
and notice was under date of July ii,
1912. Naknek's vote was illegal be
cause the copy of the commissiner’s
order and notice, received by the can
vassing board, was undated and un
signed, and the polling place or
boundaries of voting precinct not
designated.
In the First
Wickersham’s plurality in the First
division was 268 votes over his
nearest opponent, Jennings. Wick
ersham polled 604 votes in this divi
sion, Jennings 336, Krauczunas 227,
Gilmore 191,and Harrias 24. There
were 13 scattering votes and no irre
gularities. Wickersham carried
Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Sitka.
Yakutat, Douglas and Silver Bow.
Krauczunas carried the two Ketchi
kan precincts by a safe majority, and
was the winner at Petersburg. Jen
nings carried Wrangel by 26 plurali
ty. Jennings lacked 3 votes of car
rying Douglas, but carried Gypsum,
Sulzer and Tenakee. Gilmore car
ried Chichagoff and Killisnoo.
In the Second.
Gilmore of Nome, carried the
Second division by a plurality of 395
votes over his nearest opponent,
Wickersham. The vote in the
Second was Gilmore 685, Wicker
sham 290, Jennings 276, Krauczunas
271, Harrias 4, scattering 2; total
1528. Gilmore snowed all opposing
candidates under at Nome and many
other precints, and ran very close in
all precincts with light votes, which
went against him on pluarality.
The entire Second division was very
much for Gilmore, according to the
returns. In the Second division,
Wrickersham carried Bessie Road
Creek, Buck Creek and Bluff. Krau
czunas got pluralities in Upper Kou
tiouse, Casadepaga, Chinik, Gold Run,
Ophir No. 1, Osborn Creek, Patterson
and Utica. Jennings carried Solo
mon River, Taylor, Kotzebue, Iron
garok, St. Michael, Oregon Creek,
less Creek and Bangor Creek.
The Third.
The Third division was lightly in
favor of Wickersham. The vote was
Wickersham 750, Gilmore 539, Jen
ligs 281, Krauczunas 192, Harrias
i>6; total 1858. Wickersham carried
Valdez, Seldovia, Port Wells, Nizina,
inik, Kennecott, Ellamar, Eyak, Cop
per Creek, Chitina, Afognak, and
Jther smaller precincts. Gilmore
:arried Cordova, Latouche, Nusha
;ak, Valdez Reservation, Seward, Un
llaska and Unga. Jennings carried
ECatalla, Kenai and Sunrise. Krau
:zunas carried Copper Center and
Ihoup Bay. It is noticeble that in all
;he Guggenheim strongholds, where
in 1908 Orr ran so strong the vote
was well up for Wickersham.
The Fourth.
Wickersham lacked but 37 votes
of getting a majority of the entire
vote in the Fourth division, in which
the delegate resides. His plurality
over all the other candidates was en
ormous. The vote was as follows:
Wickersham 1691, Krauczunas 998,
Gilmore 311, Jennings 281, Harrias
157, scattering. 1. Total 3439. The
big vote centers went for Wicker
sham, he carrying Fairbanks, Ruby
and Iditarod. Krauczunas ran well
on the creeks, the Socialists general
ly supporting him.
Vote Fell Off.
This election saw 8,220 voters at
the polls. This figure was exceeded
in the elections of 1908 and 1910.
The 1910 vote was: Wickersham
4572, Orr 3267, O’Connor 1433,
Scattering 8. Total 9282.
In 1908 the vote was: Wicker
sham 3802, Chilberg 2383, Corson
2139, Ronan 1007, Clum 294. Total!
Geo. Howard Birch, manager of
the Dan Creek Mining Company, has
closed down work for the season and
came into town last night, expecting
to take the steamer Alameda for
Seattle and then to go to New York
for the winter. Mr. Birch had a
discouraging experience during the
latter part of the season on his prop
erty. With the aid of a saw mill
which he erected on Dan Creek he
got his lumber out in good time,
built sluice boxes, had them placed,
and was wasning out the placer gold
from trenches, some of them twenty
feet deep, when the heavens seemed
to open and sent a down pour that al
most changed the channel of the
creek and completly covered the
sluice boxes for a long distance.
Very little of the clean-up had been
taken out so that the loss of placer
gold alone is estimated at fifty or
sixty thousand dollars, while the
other damage will aggregate many
been put in the finest kind of shape
more thousands. Everything had
after nearly two years of work, to do
the disaster came. Nothing dis
couraged, however, Mr. Birch im
mediately started his large force of
men at work to repair the damage,
so far as it could be done this season,
until the heavy snows called a halt.
He will start in again early in the
Spring.
Geo. Max Esterly, the big operator
from Chittltu creek in the N'azina
district, came in on last night’s train.
Accompanying him were Mrs. Esterly,
Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Andrus, Miss
Florence Hougham, Fred Hotchkiss
and F. R. Tracey. These people
spent part of the season with him at
the camp. Mr. Andrus is a son of
Congressman John Emory Andrus, of
Yonkers, New York, who is a large
financial holder in the property which
Mr. Esterly is working. They
brought a large consignment of placer
gold, estimated by some to be about
$60,000, which was taken from the
ground this season. A fine hydrau
lic plant has been put in and it is
expected that next season the output
will be largely increased. The storm !
and heavy rains in September had a j
tendency to consideralbe decrease the
output for this season.
H. D. Foster came out with his
wife from Boulder creek in the
Nazina district, and will accompany
her to Seattle, where he will spend
a couple of months. Mr. Foster is
superintendent of the Westover cop
per property, where he has been
directing a force of men for three
years past, with very satisfactory re
sults. This, as well as other prop
erties situate on Copper Mountain,
near Kuskulina glacier, and on the
Chittystone, are owned by, and have
been worked for five or six years
past by the Alaska United Copper
Exploration Company. As a direc
tor and treasurer of the company,
Will A. Steel, of Cordova, looks after
the company’s affairs in Alaska, the
business office being at Seattle.
Chitina
Pharmacy
Drugs
Stationery
Magazines
Candy
Fruit
Cigars
A. G. MOREY, Prop.
GROCERIES, HARDWARE
AND =
MEAT MARKET
We have a big line of Sec
ond-Hand Goods, and can
save you money on your out
fit. Hunk House, with free
Cook House, in connection.
CHITINA HEIGHTS
C. A. SIMONS & CO.
PUBLIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any conte=t
or any matter before the Interior De
partment, write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, 90’ F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land OfficeL
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
HAY, BRAN, OATS, CHOPS,
ROLLED BARLEY
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITINA
HOTEL
WASHINGTON
ANNEX
8KATTEE
New, modern and fireproof.
All outside rooms
l'lie most conveniently located
hotel in the city.
Itoonis and suites are particle
laiiy large.
Very desirable for families or
parties traveling together.
RATES MODERATE
Auto-bus meets all boats and
trains. Write for booklet.
J. H. DAVIS, Prop.