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.
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Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
Office: Hote IChltina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the
aervice given.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Month.;_ $ .50
Six Months.... 2.00
One Year. 3.50
LET US MINE OUR OWN COAL.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, SEPT, 23, 1911.
OUR AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES.
We have unconsciously started something and we are glad
of it. The recent editorial on the agricultural possibilities of
this section has brought a storm of protests to the Leader of
fice, and we will take up the gauntlet and defend our position
until a more plausible reason why this section will not produce
vegetables and hay and beef sufficient for our own needs, is
brought forth and demonstrated.
No claim is made that we are possessed of superior agri- ]
eutulral advantages but we are convinced that nature has so
endowed this countrv that most of the staples can be profitablv
produced here in sufficient quantity to supply local demands.
Timothy and clover both grow well and oats in large fields
is being harvested fifty miles north of us this year and garden
ing is no longer an experiment- True, it will require some labor
and patience but it can and will be done. When put in the light
of reason, all argument falls flat, and no one has yet demon
strated that farm produce will not grow here, when it is certain
that other native vegetation does grow abundantly, it seems
reasonable that with proper handling many of the necessities
could be raised at home. A fat steer on the streets of Chitina
today would bring $150, while many of us would be glad to
pay 25 cents for a quart of milk or $1.50 for a live chicken, or
even 75 cents for a dozen of fresh eggs. We repeat that the
<mportunity is here and in relatively the same proportion as
there was on the great plains in the early 70’s.
Perhaps the men who will pave the way for agricultural
advancement have not yet appeared upon the scene but they
will be here and the fondest hopes of the most enthusiastic
will be more than realized.
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GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY
Autumn is upon us and nature is vieing with itself to ex
cell in its offerings of rare beauty. We are all too busy to ap
jjreciate to the fullest, the wonderful colorings of mountain and
sky and rivers at this time of the year. Sunrise upon the great
slopes surrounding Chitina ushers in each day, a panoramic
scene of constantly changing splendor, unsurpassed in any
other part of the world. Every color and hue is penciled upon
the dying leaves with more delicacy, and yet with more cer
tainty than upon the canvas of the greatest masters. From
the dark green of the spruce in the valleys, to the spotless
white of the peaks, is presented a scene of wondrous beauty.
Jack frost has laid his merciless hand upon alder and birch and
fern and countless and nameless shrubs and blended the whole
into such a picture of rare beauty that we regret the coming of
winter. The limpid streams from perpetual snows and the
deep sparkling lakes, where sport the trout and grayling and
on whose shores the moose and caribou feed upon the tender
grasses, all belong to the Chitina landscape, yet hundreds of
thousands of citizens of the states annually go to Europe to re
turn and rave over the Alpine scenery that is not nearly soi
rugged or beautiful. Some day we predict that Chitina will
be the great center around which the sight seer and tourist
will circulate, and go home singing the praises of our wonder-1
ful land. z
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A TRINITY OF WONDERS.
One reason why the Swiss Alps are so popular and so
well advertised is because they are accessible. The people
of the little republic have made one continuous park of their
mountain peaks and slopes, covering them with a network of
fine substantial roadways. For scenery, the Alaska range
has the Swiss Alps beat to a frazzle, but only a few persons
know about it. The Alaska Alps are difficult to approach.
When the automobile road from Fairbanks to Chitina is an
accomplished fact, the trip between Fairbanks and the states
will be one of the wonders of the world.
The inside passage of the Southeast is already known
throughout the states as the most remarkable tourist trip in
Ameerican possessions. The railway trip from Cordova to
Chitina is coming to be known as a route of marvels, of glacial
scenery and engineering. And when automobiles may travel
comfortable over the Alaska range, the beauty and scenery
and the novelty of perpetual daylight will bring to our gates
hundreds of persons who otherwise would never come here,
and whose visits are certain to prove mutually profitable,
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We are in receipt of a communication from the Seattle
Carnival Association inviting Chitina as a distinct community
to take part in the 1912 Golden Potlatch by having a float
in the parades or in any other way showing the resources and
advantages of this section. They invite the commercial in
terests here to arrange to be present at the next festival in July
of next year. Thus the need of a commercial organization is
again brought to our notice as the editor does not feel like as
suming the responsibility of answering the letters without
authority. The letter of Secretary Pace is on file and may
be seen at the office of the Leader in the Tibbs building
IN DARKEST KANSAS.
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It is something of a shock to see that the Kansas Secretary
of Agriculture deemed it necessary to start a popular subscrip
tion for the defense of womanhood in that state. Yet the two
cases he has in mind justify his interest. Because a woman was
elected mayor of Hunnewell last year the Conncilmen have de‘
liberately and defiantly obstructed her attempts to perform
the duties of that office and the power of the state is now being
invoked to compel them to recognize the legality of her position
even if it is impossible to shame them into a sense of chivalry.
This, however, is not so surprising after the incident at Shady
Bend, Lincoln County, where a respected young lady school
teacher assisting in a general store during the vacation season,
was decoyed on the pretext of a drive to a lonely crossroads
and stripped and tarred bv several of “the most prominent men
and boys in the community” because the women, jealous oi
envious, of Shady Bend, had gossiped about her and had incited
their men folk to drive her out of town
Beside this outrage the insulting attitude of the council
men of Hunnewell to the woman mayor is absolute gallantry.
But what must be thought of a state where such things are
possible? Kansas too; Kansas that has prided itself upon its
progressiveness, its chivalry, its ideals! Of course, the whole
state should not be judged by these two cases, but it is a
humiliation none the less. The prosecuting attorney of Lincoln
County has already had the young woman’s decoy escort sen* i
teneed to a year in jai! for his part in the affair, but the “prom-;
inent citizens” are fighting desperately against a like penalty,
the punishment for assault and battery in Kansas, and seeking
to escape with fines. It is to secure the very best of legal
talent to assist the prosecutor in securing jail sentences for
these mockeries of men that Secretary Coburn has appealed;
for financial aid. Here's hoping he may be successful and that j
Shady Bend may be deprived for the statutory term of the
presence of every “prominent citizen” who took part in the
shameful affair. It is a pity that nothing can be done to the
evil-minded and vicious gossips who instigated it. i
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PINCHOT AND THE ICY MIT.
That able and versatile writer, Elmer E. Ritchie, who ^
usually calls a spade by its right name, could not refrain from
again taking up the pen when some one offered the suggestion
that Pinehot ought to he given the glad hand in Valdez. The
Alaskan republished his eastigration of the ex-forester in the
Prospector and today’s mail brings a copy of the Miner in
which the ex-editor does not attempt to conceal his utter con
tempt for the man who is trying to deceive our people into the
belief that he is the friend of Alaska, if we are to judge from
his past actions. In a signed communication here is what Mr. j
Ritchie has to say of Pinehot:
“He is no more entitled to notice than any other tramp
tourist. Still less, in fact.
“Most stray tourists have never done Alaska any harm.j
Pinehot ought to get what the Tacoma Ledger predicted in
cartoon—the icy mit.
“All Pinehot got in Cordova and Seward was the civil
treatment that any man is entitled to if he refrains from dis
orderly conduct. What he and his claquers want is an excuse
to wire outside the false reports that Alaska is enamored of
him. Just another boost for his absurd campaign for the
presidency
i “Pinehot worked off an interview in Seward in which he
said he was saving Alaska from the corporations, and men
tioned that salmon eanners pay no tax.
“He did not mention the fact that they paid a tax of 4
cents a case into the Alaska school and road fund until the
Roosevelt administration allowed the tax to be amended into a
new law permitting the eanners to swear off the tax by alleging
liberation of salmon fry.
“This was lobbied through congress by Roosevelt s mend
Captain Jarvis, manager of the Guggenheims fisheries com
pany, and Roosevelt signed the bill. All the valuable conces
sions the Guggenheims have in Alaska today were annexed in
he Roosevelt reign, about the time Pincliot persuaded the
colonel to create the preposterous Chugach forest reserve ot
50,000 square miles, mostly glacier, snow and hard rosk.
“Also while he was sequestering vast areas of grazing
lands in the western states into forest reserves in order that
the rents might swell the earnings of his political forestry
bureau.
“Barnum discovered a good while ago that the American
people liked to be humbugged, but why should Alaska kowtow
to a public nuisance?”
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With Pincliot chaperoning her on one side, and Seattle’s
motherly care of her on the other, poor Alaska feels very much
like the* young married man when his stepmother and his
mother-in-law both came to visit him at the same time.—Fair
banks Citizen.
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Walla Walla is going to try commission government. The
town ought to demand commissions on the jokes that have been
wrung out of its name.
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It begins to look as though someone has wished a Maxim
silencer on Roosevelt.
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Russian women, we read, want equal rights. Poesn 1
seem as there ought to be any great difficulty in obtaining
them.
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Champ Clark asserts that there is not a single expert on
the Tariff Board. Xo expert traders certainly. _
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF
PARTNERSHIP.
This agreement made and entered
into this twelfth day of August, 1911,
by T. W. Cloninger and I. J. St.
Clair.
Witnesseth, That it is mutually
agreed that the partnership hereto
fore existing under the firm name of
St. Clair & Cloninger be and here
by is dissolved and that all accounts
for and against the said firm shall
bee paid and collected by T. W.
Cloninger.
I. J. ST. CLAIR.
T. W. CLONINGER.
Marshal Joe Brown was a visitor
to Cordova the first of the week.
J
Jesse Martin, manager of the Orr
stage line has resigned his position
and will move to Valdez where he
has large interests that demand his
undivided attention. His successor
has already been named and is ex-i
pected to arrive at an early date.
Under the management of Mr. Mar
tin the business of the company was
handled very efficiently and the pub
lic regrets the going of Mr. Martin
and his accomplished wife.
Stump pulling in the principal
streets of Chitina -is progressing rap
idly and grading will be begun at
once. The streets now look as though
a cyclone had struck the town but
order will be brought out of chaos
in the next two weeks, to the de
light of every citizen. Some of the
stumps were large and let go their
hold very reluctantly but the donkey
engine in charge of Engineer Tibbs
eventually won over all obstacles.
Many moss roofs have been leak
ing very badly during the late rains
which proves that more substantial
coverings must be provided for our
dwellings.
J. N. Steffgen, Ed Sellers and
Leslie Rice are in town from the
Golconda where tney have been put
ting in a hydraulic outfit this sum
mer. They report the work finished
for the season on the Goicouda.
• 1
Mr. J. L. Gage departed for Cor
dova Saturday where he was to meet
Mrs. Gage who arrived from Seattle
on the Northwestern.
$I«up Both
EUROPEAN.
SEATTLE
Cmas. Peppy, am#. ^
TIE BEST OF EVERYTHING *
IN THE HIAKT Of THE CITY
l^lta<i«Wimii>nt-503«HPif Books
FORFEITURE NOTICE.
Notice is hereby given Charles Gar
wood that his interest in the Tjose
vig rgoup of mines, will cease at the
expiration of the publication of this
notice, unless he pays $50 as his
share of the assessment work for
1904, $50 for 1905, $50 for 1906
and $50 for 1909.
CHRISTIAN TJOSEVIG.
Dated this 14th day of Aug., 1911.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We do all kinds.
DEVELOPING:
3A Films.10 cents
3A Prints or postcards ... 7 cents
Other work in proportion.
NELSON & NELSON
Chitina, Alaska.
When in need of Job printing of
any kind give us a call.
D: A GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs’ Building.
Chitina, Alaska.
DR. CHAS. THOM
Physician and Surgeon
Now permanently located at Chitina,
Alaska.
SAVOY
RESTAURANT
Opposite Chitina Trading Co.
The Only First-Class Cafe in
Chitina
American and European Plan
Dinner 75c up
A la Carte all day
Cater to special dinner parties.
Just Open I
Billiards §• Pool
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
• m .
Bowling Alley
TIBBS BROS.
X Chitina Bakery ♦
♦ & Coffee House ;
i x
$ GESSNER & STANGNETH X
♦ Proprietors *
f 4
X FRESH EREAD X
X Cakes and Pastry |
X Always on Hand 4
4- 4
X Main Street, — Chitina. 4
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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. \V. (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.
OSBORNE
THE
PRACTICAL
Jeweler
CORDOVA, • ALASKA
Watches and Jewetry at
Outside Prices
Leave Your Work at the Leader
Office
Pete’s Lodging
House
AND
SECOND HAND STORKS
FREE COOKING HOCSF*
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CHiltNA HEIGHTS
Bunks 25c; Beds- 50c .
PETER COKDES, Prop.
Chitina
Pharmacy
Drugs Toilet Articles
and magazines our
Specialties
Parisian Chocolates
The Best of the B»st
Mi Eleccion Cigars
An All-Havana Smoke
A. G. MOREY, Proprietor
Chitina, Alaska.