The Chitina Leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice at i
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
H7-TT.T. A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .I
Six Months .
One Year ..
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, JULY 28, 1914,
REPUBLICANS TAKE WISE COURSE
The chairman of the Republican Territorial Committee
has felt the pulse of the leaders of that party in the various
divisions and as a result has announced that he will not call
a convention for the nominating of a candidate for Delegate
to Congress. There is no Republican candidate for the office
and there is very little prospect of the election of a man of
that political persuasion, even though one had the courage to
run. During past years the men who voted the Republican
ticket were those who opposed the election of James Wicker
sham. And it is safe to assume that they will continue to vote
against the perennial candidate, who devotes much of his time
in Washington to assailing the interests that are seeking to
develop the Copper River country. The fewer the candidates
the greater the probability for the election of the Democratic
nominee for Congress, particularly if he be that peerless leader
and true friend of Alaska, Falcon Joslin, of Fairbanks. Should
the Democratic convention at Skagway, on August 3, exercise
good judgment and wisdom by naming Mr. Joslin as the
standard bearer of the party, it is safe to assume that the
warmest political tight ever waged in Alaska would result.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?
Senator Borah says that the Nicaraguan treaty came
malodorously forth from some sink hole of tyranny and
corruption—or phrases to that effect—and would serve only
the purposes of modern buccaneers in the Caribbean Sea. Its
iniquities must be revealed, he says, even if he has to break
Senate restraints.
Let’s have the scandal with its details. The treaty recom
mends itself. Its provisions seem equitable and wise and fat
sighted. It- would establish orderly government in a country
this nation needs as an orderly neighbor. It would guarantee
Nicaraguan independence under a protectorate. It would give
this nation rights which seem valuable. It would contribute,
in compensation for these rights, the sum of $3,000,000 to the
relief of Nicaraguan indebtedness.
If this money is going into the wrong pockets let’s have
the story and correct the error, but the financial consideration'
is the least important of all involved.
._
SENTIMENTALITY AND JUSTICE
A German student of American civilization is sarcastic
about our courts. They are petticoat ruled, he says. A woman
who kills her husband manages by her skill of flirtation to
win over the jury and go free. By the same art of flirtation she
wins a verdict for heart balm in a breach of promise case. The
ease with which American women have their hearts broken
and the susceptibility of these broken hearts to cure by means
of damages is so comical and absurd, the writer says, that
none but an American jury could take a breach of promise case
seriously.
It is not so certain that America is more lenient to her
women murderers than Europe. When Mine. Caillaux shot the
editor of Figaro her prison cell was turned into a boudoir.
Wagonloads of flowers were sent to her by admiring men. It
is extremely improbable that she will pay the same penalty
for the murder that a man would pay. It is more than likely
that in the present trial she will soon be freed from the charge
of murder altogether. Somehow men the world over hate to
send a woman to the gallows or even to jail.
What the writer says, however, about our breach of
promise cases is pointed and justifiable criticism. The ease
with which any adventuress can drag a man into court and
demand heavy damages with which to salve her alleged injured
feelings is not to our credit. That juries can be easily won
over by the staged grief of such women shows to what height
of stupidity we are carrying our code of chivalry which warns
us “never to contradict a lady.” But it has ever been thus
and while there are but few of these cases in Alaska, yet it is
probable that human nature is no different here.
Attorney Cobb tried to put one over on the Democrats of
Juneau at the primary on Saturday. He announced that when
elected he intended to work for the nomination of Delegate
AVickersham at the Skagway convention. And then the voters
decided that they would allow him to remain at home and
nurse his AVickersham boom.
Hard luck never fusses very long around the man with a
determination to get there anyway.
It seems as hard for men to make good laws as it is for
laws to make good men.
AV omen’s dresses have shown their present form—now let
them reform.
A “pallonaro” is “one who inflates a toy balloon with
gas.”
Getting the worst of it at some time has often turned out
to be the best thing that could have happened to a person.
AAJien money gets so tight that no one will buy gold
bricks, then hard times will surely be upon us.
AA7e could be prosperous without money if wo didn’t know
we didn’t have it. i
NEW CHAMPIONS
The time lias about gone when there can be any conquering
nations in the field of sports. There are two many challengers.
Too many nations are learning the games and taking up the
sports. It pleasantly serves grandiloquence to have one’s
nationals sweep a field as the Americans have done, but the
days of all inclusive superiority are going. The next Olympic
games may set up a heterogeneous group of champions. At
Stockholm a Finn led the world in certain distances in running.
At Henley an Italian was unbeatable in sculling. A French
man is heavyweight champion of England. The Germans are
active contenders for honors in rowing, sailing, tennis, and
track athletics. A brown American, by annexation, is the
world’s greatest swimmer. Wait until the Japs, already fair
baseball players, have made their painstaking way into all the
western sports, until some huge northern Chinamen try the
weights, until the hill tribes of India develop runners.
Traditions of supremacy will not outlive many more inter
national meetings. English pride suffered the first shock as
the field of contenders widened. Our own practical training
may uphold us as a leading nation, but as challengers come
from farther mints of the earth there must always be expected
some superlatively equipped man like the Finn at Stockholm
and the Italian at Henley who will be unbeatable. Of course
there is still a hope that Alaska may come to the rescue of
America.
A BIG MARKET FOR ALASKA FUEL
Seattle will reciprocate for the wealth that the growing
north will pour into its lap, according to l)r. Alfred H.
Brooks, head of the geological survey in the territory.
A student of northern conditions for years, Dr. Brooks
declared recently during a visit to this city that the Sound’s
principal benefit from the establishment of the government’s
railroads in Alaska would be derived from the establishment
of steel mills in this vicinity.
He pouted out that there are deposits of iron ore in
Washington, California and also in Alaska, but adds that
“they have not been worked because no hard coke has been
available.”
The Matanuska fields, he is confident, will supply this
lack and he anticipates that the government railroad will
furnish the opportunity for the development of this business
which, in turn, will lead to the establishment of big steel mills
in and near Seattle.
Such a situation would make this city the biggest customer
of the northern coal fields and the most important patron of
the federal railway system. It would assure return cargoes for
all ships plying north with merchandise—a most desirable
condition.
With cargoes both ways, the rate on this coal should be
most reasonable, assuring a desirable profit to the mine owner
and a cheap fuel product for the steel mills.—Seattle Times.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
_ _ *
*
There have been rumors of a steamship rate war for some
days past. That they were not entirely unfounded was evident
by the announcement this morning by the Pacitic-Alaska Navi
gation Company that round-trip tickets to the westward would
be sold for one fare. We understand that this order applies
to all points from Juneau west, but does not apply to points
going east from Cordova.
Along with that old adage about counting your chickens
before they are hatched should go one about not henpecking a
man until you know he is your chicken.
It begins to look as though Carranza would soon be a
real President in Mexico. And then what ?
It is getting so that even talk isn’t cheap any more, except
in Cordova. An Oregon congressman has introduced a bill to
raise the salaries of our national legislators.
If other people could go from teax's to laughter as easily as
the little tots, this would be a much happier old world.
Of coxxi’se voxx have not neglected to do today the things
that were yesterday put off till tomorrow.
Everything is now as peaceful in Cordova as in Mexico.
Photo copyright, 1914, by American Press Association.
Naval Academy, Vera Cruz, Damaged by Shells
A doorway of the Naval ncademy, Vera Cruz, guarded by Americans after
the building had been shelled by the Chester and San Francisco. Note the
damage. Mexicans were either killed or driven out
Why Not Invest?
With the building of the government railroad from
Chitina to Fairbanks, the future of the Town of Chitina
is assured.
Lots are still offered at attractive prices and there
are many desirable ones remaining.
A few months later lots in Chtiina will he held at
largely increased values. Why not invest NOW?
GEO. C. HAZELET,
Agent Chitina Townsite Company.
TIN SHOP
IN SHUSHANNA
Xo more need to carry
STOVES and TINWARE
over the long trail to the
interior, as we are pre
pared to fill all orders in
our tin shop.
W. H. CARSTENS & CO.
SHl'SHAXX A - - ALASKA
(Mina GRILL
i
_ < \
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Service.
Next to Chitiaa Hotel.
CHITIXA : : : ALASKA.
0. MWMt NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA ■ - - ALASKA
CHITINA: BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY GESSN'ER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON' HAND
Chitina
Pharmacy
DRUGS.
STATIONERY,
CANDIE S,
KODAK SUPPLIES
CIGARS & TOBACCO
If you cannot call, write
us. MAIL orde-s our
Specialty.
A. G. MOREY, Prop.
*F==i Let Lewis Help fc=^
“Pointers for Amateurs” will help you to better
pictures—it’s free. Send us your films for develop
ing and printing. Enlarging. Developing 10c roll,
any size; printing. 1c up. Cash with order. You'll
find our work better. Photo supplies. Dept. S.
——————■———————^
GROCERIES, HARDWARE
AND==
MEAT MARKET
V.'e have a big line of .Sec
ond-Hand Goods, and can
save you money on your out
fit. Bunk House, with free
Cook House, in connection.
CHITINA HEIGHTS
C. A. SIMONS & CO.
Lumber
-- f
HAY, RKAX, 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
SEATTLE
•New, modern and ti reproof.
All outside icoins
The most conveniently located
hotel in the city.
Ivooms and suites are purlieu*
larly largo.
\ ery desirable tot families or
parties traveling together.
RATES MODERATE
Auto-bus meets all boats and
trains. Write for booklet.
| ,J.H. DAVIS, Pro