The Chitina Leader
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CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
at Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
SYDNEY D. CHARLES, City Editor
Office: Hote IChitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
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LET US MINE OUR OWN COAL.
CHITINA. ALASKA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1911.
ROOSEVELT WOULD SAVE ALASKA
“Alaska—It must be developed.” Editorial by Theodore
Roosevelt.
It is to laugh. This is an article from the virile pen of the
only living ex-president of the L’nited States. It is so full of
glaring error and inaccuracy and actual misstatements of facts
that it is worthy of a careful reply, notwithstanding the fact
that most of the article is supposedly one in defense of Alaska
and the long suffering Alaskans. This is the most amusing
part of the editorial, when it is considered that Theodore Roose
velt, as President of the United States, was the first to arbitrar
ily withdraw the coal lands of Alaska from entry and abrogate
the United States laws relating to the taking up and developing
of such lands. As the ridiculous Controller bay bubble figures
in this editorial, it is evident that the article was written when
Dick Ryan was for three or four days in the limelight. It is
also evident that the Outlook, in which the article is published
on July 22, had been in preparation or had run through the
presses after Mr. Ryan’s record had been published broadcast
in Washington and New York—a record which somewhat start
led the Pmchot Press Bureau.
For the benefit of our eastern readers who have only heard
one side of this controversy, and especially those who have read
the ridiculous article of ex-President Roosevelt, it should be
explained that Mr. Roosevelt could refer to the excellent maps
of the Coast & Geodetic Survey for verification of the statement
that a large portion of Controller bay, and in fact all that por'
tion which Ryan has been exploiting, is from one-quarter to
four fathoms in depth only; that Controller bay and its ap
proaches are not onlv filled with foul and shallow ground,
-n- —-* I----*—<• waivers on me
coast; that it is a wind-swept harbor with the exception of that
portion protected by the islands. We would like to see one of
our battleships or our transports, of which in times past Mr.
Roosevelt took such a great pride, attempt to anchor in Con
troller bay, or in fact, attempt to enter that locality. To be
perfectly plain, Mr. Roosevelt does not know what he is talking
about, and a man occupying his position in the literary world
to say nothing of his past exalted position, should be careful
before he goes into such statements wherein he shows himself
to be lamentably ignorant and somewhat devoid of nautical
knowledge. Of course Mr. Roosevelt has always been against
the corporations in their development of Alaska, and has se
cured his information from Pinehot and his followers, all of
which is a matter with which we have nothing to do.
That portion of the editorial dealing with the more or less
political side of the case, while being quite inaccurate, is merely
a rehash of past attacks. However, since the Outlook has been
published, Mr. Roosevelt has no doubt been fully apprised of
the fact that the Guggenheim syndicate has not the remotest
interest in Controller bay and that Dick Ryan never has and
probably never will be connected with them, and his whole ar
ticle is based upon a misconception of fact and an entirely er
roneous conception of Alaskan conditions.
In conclusion, he says: “If Congress fails at once to deal
with this matter it will be guilty of criminal neglect.” Does
Mr. Roosevelt have any idea how the people of Alaska and a
large portion of the United States x’egard his action in largely
contributing to the pi’esent deplorable state of affairs in Alas
ka, and now as an editorial writer on a gi’eat magazine falling
in with those who woxxld exploit Dick Ryan and dignify the
Controller bay bubble?
In the same issue of the Outlook the leading article also
dignifies Dick Ryan’s Controller bay. We will quote one of
these paragraphs to show jxist how far these so-called high class
magazines will go in misstatement of facts: “This is now in
substance the peril that has ai'isen in Alaska. Thei’e are .three
outlets to the great coal i-egion in which the Cunningham claims
are located. One is the town of Nelson. Here the Guggenheim
syndicate has the only railway right-of-way, for a government
anixy reservation prevents (except by the passage of a special
law that it woxxld be very difficult, if ixot impossible, to secui’e)
the building of any other road at that point. The second point
is Katalla bay. Here the Guggenheim syndicate also has vir
tual control. The third outlet is at Controller bay. At this
point the government has had eonti-ol—absolute control.”
There is not any town at Nelson, not even a house or a
stick of timber, nor has the Guggenheim syndicate any railway
right-of'way there. As to Katalla bay, the Guggenheim people
gave that up long ago, after spending a large sum of money
to find that Katalla and Controller bay were absolutely impos
sible as a harbor.
The whole tenor of this leading editorial is just as in
correct. We eamxot state who wrote this, but it is on the title
page 597 of the Outlook, and above it appears the name Lyman
Abbott, Editor-in Chief; Hamilton W. Mabie, Associate Editor;
Theodore Roosevelt, Contributing Editor. If either one of these
eminent gentlemen will come to Prince William Sound and
hunt around for the town of Nelson, find the railroad rights-of
way referred to and anchor their vessels in Katalla Bay and
| Controller Bay, and then proceed to write an editorial giving
the facts in the case, it would at least be fair to the long
; suffering people of Alaska.
-oooo
ALASKA’S HANDICAP.
The charges made by President Joslin, of the Tanana
Valley Railroad Company, against Pinchotism are so serious
that they would hardly be credited if the evidence to sustain
them were less apparent to everyone who is interested in tin
development of Alaska, says the Portland Oregonian. The
people of Alaska anil most of the people of the Pacific coast
outside of Alaska are perfectly familiar with the difficulties
which are encountered by capital seeking investment in the
north. These difficulties, even with the most generous, broad
minded policy which the government might follow, are
sufficient to deter any but daring capitalists willing to take
a long chance by investing in Alaska. When such a policy
or even one that would give capital and intending settlers
what is sometimes termed an “even break” is withheld, stag
nation results.
American capital in amounts as large as are needed to
carry on development and railroad work in Alaska can find
employment nearer home, where it will not be subject to the
impossible restrictions that have been placed on it in Alaska.
Note, for example, the big coal mines in the Crows Nest dis
trict, just over the line in British Columbia. The Canadian
government made no objections to the enterprise of a few
American citizens who took up these claims, and after develop
ing them sold them to a syndicate. Development of these
mines has proved an economic advantage that is worth mil
lions to Canada, and today that country gladly welcomes
American capital for all its similar enterprises. This policy
in a large degree accounts for the fact that more than 150,000
Americans last year left this country for Canada, where their
labor and capital will be welcomed.
Canada may have faith in conserving her resources for
future generations, but she also recognizes a duty to the
present generation and is not frightening away legitimate
capital, nor is she placing an embargo on the development
of any of her resources. Development of all kinds is at a
standstill in Alaska and will remain in that condition until
the government is willing for capitalists to invest in that
far northern land.
Meanwhile the vanguard which in the face of great
odds has been endeavoring to make Alaska a habitable region
is depending on Australia, Japan and British Columbia for
coal supplies, and using the dog team instead of the railroad
as a means of transportation.
-oooo
WHELPING CONSERVATION CURS.
The Outlook, of which Theodore Roosevelt pnntriKi.n^
-an—, -„ciloc fn the defense of. Git ford Rinchot and holds up
its editorial hands in horror because a dozen papers of the
United States have shown that Gifford Pinchot, through his
family connections, is interested in eastern coal mines which
supply the Pacific war ships, thereby creating in Pinchot a
great desire to conserve the unlimited coal supply of Alaska
for all time.
It is an excellent editorial except in the fact that it de
fends a man whose every act in the case in question has been
on the side of his personal ambition and benefit. The editorial
quotes from Saint Paul’s characterization of careless slander
and refers to whispers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful
proud boasters, inventors of evil things, etc., and the editorial
closes with the quotation “Thou slialt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor.”
This is good and coming from such a magazine as the Out
look is worthy of condemnation, except, as noted before, it
is directed in the defense of a man utterly unworthy of such
defense. Gifford Pinchot and his highly paid press bureau
have been all that this editorial characterizes. The articles
emanating from Gifford Pinchot and his press bureau have
been invariably inaccurate, misleading, wilfully, wickedly,
maliciously false. In the preceding page of this same issue
of the Outlook, under the caption of “Controller Bay,” one
of these editorial writers puts himself down as an unmitigated
liar, to say nothing of an ignoramus who is writing about
Alaska with an entire lack of knowledge on the subject. If
the editor of the Outlook objects to backbiters, why should
the leading editorial of that magazine contain a deliberate
falsehood?
Again, if Mr. Pinchot and his defenders so seriously object
to this backbiting, etc., why is it that they have not stopped
Collier’s Weekly, a muckraking paper of New York City, and
Hampton’s Magazine, a muck raking monthly, both of which
are in the paid press bureau class and each one of which has
continually lied about the conditions in Alaska and when
shown that their articles were entirely false and malicious have
refused to print such retraction? The truth of the matter is
that at last the boomerang has fallen at the feet of Gifford
Pinchot and in falling it has landed not far from those who
are prominent in the editorial offices of the “Outlook.” If
the Outlook, of New York City, is possessed of one ounce
of editorial decency it will retract some of its false statements
but it is useless for it to crv “slander” when the entire Pinchot
conservation matter has been carried on with falsehood and
slander, inaccurate, incorrect, and foolish statements. Collier’s
Weekly and Hampton’s magazine, as the muck-raking leaders,
and the Outlook as a supposedly high class journal of
criticism, have not been alone but have been followed by a
pack of whelping conservation curs with slander and back
biting as the catchword and poor Alaska as the innocent
sufferer.
-—oooo
Governor Deenan knows the Illinois Legislature too well
to have any douhts about the “jackpot.”
—--oooo
And not one of those Commoner tickets was headed by
W. J. Bryan. Is all hope abandoned at Lincoln ?
NATIVES HOLD HI
VB POTLATCH
_
Last Thursday saw the end of a
six day’s hl-yu potlatch given b>
Chief Good-la-taw to the tribes of
the Copper rivet- valley.
Assembled for the occasion were
Indians from Gulkana. in three boats
under the leadership of Chief Swan,
a veteran over seventy years old; In
dians from Tonsina. from Kotsina.
and in fact from every section of the
water shed drained by the Copper
and its numerous tributary streams.
Chief Good-la-taw boarded all of
the visiting Indians at his own ex
'pense, and Wednesday night a great
potlatch dance was held. The chief
gave away practically all of his earth
ly possessions, and the Indians began
to return to their homes again Thurs
day. This was the first potlatch neld
in years, on so large a scale, and will
probably be the last. It was the
first one given by Chief Good-la-taw
to the tribes of the Copper river val
ley.
The chief is having Sidney D.
Charles prepare a petition to have
enough acreage set aside to include
the ancient home of the Indians and
give them a home for all time.
Liverpool, Aug. 11.—The large ar
my of strikers is now under control
of the joint police, as the cavalry,
squadrons of scouts and guards drove
the rioters into the side streets.
Washington, Aug. 11.—The Con
troller of the Treasury, in constru
ing the naval appropriations, holds
that every employee in naval ship
building must work only eight hours
a day.
San Franciscoi Aug. 11.—Elabor
ate preparations are being made for
the grand aerie sessions of the Fra
ternal Order of Eagles to be held
here August 21-28.
London, Aug. 11.—The lord's pass
the veto bill by a vote of 131 to
114.
SAVOY
RESTAURANT
Opposite Chitina Trading Co.
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Chitina
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Chitina, Alaska.
_
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Main Street, — Chitina.
PUBLIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any contest
or any matter before the Interior De
partment, write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, 902 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land Office).
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
: Log
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