THIRD YEAR.
CfflTINA. ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1913.
NUMBER 22.
OF GENERAL INFORMATION
Among the passengers on the steamer Admiral Sampson to
pass through Cordova Monday was W. G. Whorf, who has
tiie distinction of having received the first coal patent granted
in Alaska. He had several men with him and machinery and
material to construct wharves and bunkers on his coal property
at Port Graham, near Seldovia. The man that he had secured
as Superintendent deserted him at Juneau, so a wire was sent
from Cordova this morning to Seattle, to have another man sent
up on the return of the Yukon.
Mr. Whorf expects to have the construction work completed
and the mine in operation before the close of the coming sum
mer and by the end of the year will have his equipment so ar
ranged that he will be able to furnish any amount of fuel for
local consumption that may be required.
He will rebuild the wharf which he built several years ago
and which was wrecked by a storm. From this wharf he sold
eoal to government ships at $4 a ton. After the conservation
craze struck the territory he was compelled to close down the
mine, and the government was forced to pay $17 a ton for coal
landed on this dock, and to pay Whorf $2 a ton for the prvilege
of putting it there.
The tunnel to the mine from which Whorf extracted the
coal has been partly caved in, but this will be cleaned out as
soon as possible after the crew of workmen reaches there, and
work will be commenced on another vein on the same property,
which, it is believed is composed of a much higher grade fuel
This vein was worked by the Russians long before the territory
was sold to the United States, and in the early *50’s shipments
of the fuel were made to California by a company whch was
formed to bring coal and ice from Alaska to the mining camps
of California . The invention of ice making machines and the
discovery of coal nearer to the market forced the company out
of business.
The patent which Whorf received entitles him to practically
the entire Port Graham waterfront, excepting for a roadway,
sixty feet wide, which is especially reserved by the government.,
He plans to employ a large number of natives on the construe-1
tion work and in the development of the mines.
“This is not a high-grade fuel,” Whorf said, “but it makes !
good steam coal. It is not a good coking coal, and would not \
be of any use whatever to a smelter. We expect to find a higher!
grado fuel, •however, in the unexplored vein. If it is coking!
coal, it will help matters in Alaska very considerably, because I
lack of coking coal is the thing necessary to the construction of I
a smelter on Prince William Sound or somewhere adjacent to!
that locality.”
JUNEAU, March 15—Yesterday afternoon the ITouse un
animously passed the Shoup bill, which gives to the women of
Alaska the voting privilege. There was a general demand'
from all sections of the territory to enfranchise women, and
while some of the Representatives were not very enthusiastic,
over the proposition they deferred to public sentiment and the!
bill was passed without any serious objection. Attorney Inger-'
soil, of Ketchikan, was opposed to the measure, but would not
vote against it, simply declining to vote. It is expected that
the Senate will ratify the action of the House. Senator Ro
den’s eight hour labor bill is expected to pass the Senate late
this afternoon.
WASHINGTON, March 15—Yesterday afternoon Secre-!
tan’ of the Interior Lane, accompanied by Thomas Riggs, Jr. \
and Col. W. P. Richardson, called upon the President. Mr.
Riggs is a candidate for the Governorship of Alaska, and has
developed considerable strength in his ambition. For several
years past he has been in charge of survey parties in the far
north, completing the boundary survey. He is thoroughly
familiar with every section of the territory and a number of
prominent Senators and Congressmen have given him endorse
ment. It is also regarded as significant that he accompanied
Secretary Lane to the White House, as the Governor of Alaska
is under the Interior department. Col. Richardson discussed
the needs of Alaska with reference to roads and bridges, and
gave the President a clear idea of what has already been ac
complished and the plans for the future.
WASHINGTON, March 14—President Wilson sent to tke
Senate the nominations of Franklin D. Roosevelt, of New York,
as assistant Secretary of the Navy; Dr. Beverly T. Galloway,
assistant Secretary of Agriculure; James A. Edgerton. of New
Jersey; purchasing agent of the post office department. The
President has tendered the appointment of assistant Secretary
of War to Joseph E. Davies, the present Secretary' of the
Democratic National Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 14—The Democrats have organ
ized the Senate, and have elected officers as previously agreed
upon. They include Senator James P. Clarke, of Arkansas,
as President pro tem.; Charles P Higgins, of St. Louis, Sar
geant-at-Arms; Thomas W. Keller, of Virginia, assistant Door
keeper; Rev. E. J. Prettiman, of Washington, Chaplain.
A New York patriot has issued a pamphlet urging that we
should speak American, a greater name for the greatest lan
guage. What’s the matter with talking United States?
Politics make strange bed fellows, and the usual mix-up
may soon be looked for.
ROAD TO JfflE RIVER
The effort to secure a road from
Mile 191 on the C. R. & N. W. rail.
| road, through the Nazina river sec
tion, across the Scolai pass and into
te White River country, has seeming
ly gone a glimmering. The Cor
dova Chamber of Commerce started
to circulate petitions for signatures,
asking the Alaska road commission
to extend aid to this desired project,
and the miners in the White river
country demonstrated considerable
anxiety for an outlet on the Ameri.
can side.
The peculiar transportation condi
tion which forces American mining
ct mpanies operating in American
territory to buy their outfits in Cana
da to escape payment of duty on
goods consigned to American terri
tory—the White river country, in
Alaska—and the necessity for rail,
ways tapping the remote points of the
interior to obviate this injustice to
American commerce, is strikingly il
lustrated by Maurice D. Leehey, of
Seattle, attorney for some of th;
American companies thus af* ‘Ctt-J.
Mr. Leehey cites the case jf one
concern, the Scolai Mining Company,
of Akron. O., which is sendiug an
outfit costing $50,000 into the White
river country this spring, an 1 com
pelled to expend this purchase monev
'•> Vancouver, instead of Seattle, be
cause of the collection of dutv l:v
the Canadian customs at tV term,
ina! of the White Pass & Yukon road
at Whitehorse.
As it is, the unjust condition pre
vails of American mining companies
being forced to buy Canadian goods
to transport into American territory
free of duty, which there is no pro
vision for collecting, and being pre
vented from taking in American
goods by the only route available—
into Whitehorse and thence over the
Whitehorse & Kluane road to Lake
Kluane, and across the boundary
from there, near its intersection by
the White river—without paying
duty, because there is no provision
for shipping such goods through in
bond and no means of customs col_
lection.
An extension of the Copper River
& Northwestern from Chitina over
Scolia pass—a feasiable and compar
atively inexpesive extension—would
obviate this costly anomaly which
throws the trade of a rich portion of
American capital to Canada.
It is the common belief that this
extension would have been made long
ago, as it taps a copper district ad
judged as rich in resource as the
Copper river country, had it not been
for the repressive attitude of the gov
ernment in its Alaska railroad policy.
Among other companies affected
jointly with the Scolai in being com.
pelled to purchase outfits in Canada
for use in American territory are the
Alaska Natazhat Copper Mining
Company, which has extensive hold
ings in the White river country, and
which has already expended more
than $50,000 in development work;
the T. company, which has large
holdings; Solomon Albert, David
Pugsley, Andy Taylor, all having
large properties in process of develop
ment and many others.
It is estimated that the board of a
packer in that country averages $12
a day, in spite of which difficulties
the copper properties are being de
veloped, and those who are spending
money for that development are
forced to make the outlay in Canada
to permit their accomplishment of
pioneer and development work in
one of the potentially richest and,
from a transportation view point,
most remote districts in all Alaska.
-3—o—o
T. B. Tansey is now located at
Kennecott, where he is in the employ
of the Kennecott Mines Company.
W. J. Holden, who has just returned to Cordova from the
interior, says that everything looks very encouraging. In
their camp, which was formerly the Berg property, the Kuska
lina Copper Co., has two shifts working on the Xo. 3 tunnel,
which they are pushing as fast as possible. They are making
a working tunnel there 8x6 in the clear. They are busy get
ting their provisions in for the summer, and are preparing to
work twenty men this coming season. The ore in Xo. 3 Tunnel
bids to be equal to or better than that in Xos. 1 and '2, which
was very satisfactory.
Work on the Rarus Group is going forward under the man
agement of Mr. lies. This is a part of the Alaska Consolidated
Co.’s property. Angus Mac Dougall, of Fairbanks, who owns
the property next to the Ranis, is reported in the Fairbanks
paper as having refused a cash offer of a million dollars for his
property, saying that he is holding it for two million.
The Great Northern Development Company, through Man
ager Gray who is now outside, is arranging to resume work
on a large scale on their Copper Mountain property. Xew
machinery will be installed and the necessary buildings erected
next fall. Another of Mr. Gray’s companies, the Regal, ex
pects to put in a tram and ship from their property near Ken
necott, this Fall.
The Alaska United Copper Exploration Company is pre
paring to resume work on their property located near the
Kuskulina glacier and over on the Porcupine, near the Great
Xortheru property. Thomas Lynch will be in charge of the
work there this seascon. This same company has had a force
of men working continuously for three years past at their
Westover copper property, near Dan Creek.
The Kennecott Mines Company is now busily engaged in
erecting the building at the mouth of the mine, that was burned
a couple of months ago, also in repairing the tramway. It is
expected that by summer they will lie working from six to
eight hundred men and will ship ore in much greater quantities
than ever before.
The holdings of the Mother Lode Copper Mines Company,
on the mountain side across the ridge from the Bonanza, will
be extensively worked this summer, under the management of
George E. Baldwin and William Ryan, the fiscal agent. The
machinery for a tram has arrived at Cordova, while the heavy
timbers for receiving and discharging ore bins will reach here
next week. By Fall shipments will lie made.
Mr Welker has gone in for the Houghton, Michigan,
people, on the property beside the Mother Lode claims, and is
preparing to develop that this summer.
The IIubbard-Elliott people have shipped in a large outfit,
including a compressor,, which is all on the way to the mine at
present time. They will work a large force of men under Mr.
Carl Hauser.
Certainly there is a promising outlook for mining develop
ment during the coming season in both the Kuskulina and
Xazina sections of the interior. The trains are running regu
larly and smoothly clear through to Kennecott, while Mr.
Holden says his return trip yesterday from Strelna was made in
a shorter time than ever before on his previous trips.
Arrangements are now being made to ship ore next winter
from the property of the Mother Lode Mines Company. It is
located a half mile or more northeast of the Bonanza mine and
across the ridge sperating Bonanza creek from one of the small
tributaries of McCarthy creek.
The Company has arranged certain litigation that has held
up improvements during the past year and work will now be
pushed to erect a tramway and several necessary buildings.
This it is rei>orted will be done under the direction of George E.
Baldwin.
On the last steamer machinery arrived at Cordova and on
the freighter Cordova that sailed from Seattle last Saturday
the Arctic Lumber Company shipped 65,000 feet of heavy
timber, which will be used in putting up loading bin at the
upper terminal and receiving bin at the discharge terminal.
The ore will be delivered by gravity to the ore bins, ready
for railroad transportation when the branch line is built. In
the meantime a wagon road has been built about ten miles, to
connect with the railroad at Mile 191, and ore will be taken out
that way for the present. The tram to be built will be of the
most modern, including an automatic loader. The towers are
now here, although the buckets and wire will be shipped later,
as they will not be needed for some time.
It is reported that the Mother Lode has a large quantity
of high copper ore. The property was examined by irennau
Kellar and it is said that the improvements now under way are
being made at his suggestion.
WASHINGTON, March 14—The chairman of the Senate
and House public lands committees have been discussing Alas
kan affairs and have been waited upon by various Northerners.
As a result of various conferences the chairmen announce that
they favor the appointment of a joint committee, whose duty it
would be to visit Alaska and make an investigation of existing
conditions and to report to Congress what remedies are needed
to open up the territory to development and settlement. All
of which indicates that it is generally realized that favorable
legislation is needed. At present the admini^4~ntion forces
are trying to satisfy themselves as to just “What's the matter
with Alaska.”
WASHINGTON March 18—The suggestion that a joint
committee be appointed from both houses of Congress to make
an invstigation into conditions in Alaska this summer, is viewed
with apprehension by some northerners who are here working
for the development of the territory. They fear that it might
result in delay in Congressional action looking to the building
of railroads in Alaska. Administration leaders and Senatorial
friends of Alaska declare that such is not the intention, but
that the idea is to secure information on general conditions.
It is realized that the new Legislature at Juneau will memorial
ize Congress for consderable legislation and some deem it wise
that a joint emmittee visit Alaska, so that Congress may have
first-hand information when the committees of the two Houses
submit reports on needed legislation.
It is regarded that the report of the Alaska Railroad Com
mission is one of the most complete, exhaustive and intelligent
reports ever submitted to Congress on a subject of such vast
importance. It is known that the members were unprejudiced
in their conclusions, and the high character of the personnel of
the Commission gives added weight to the facts as set forth.
A question will likely arise as to the advisability of starting
both the Seward ami Cordova lines at once. They will un
doubtedly both be built in time, but if only one line is authorized
at the special session or next regular session, there can be no
question but that it will start from Chitina, a connection of the
Copper River & Northwestern railway, with of course a branch
to the Bering river coal fields.
To bear out this contention it is only necessary to read two
concluding paragraphs in the report of the Commission, as
follows:
* “‘After its study of all available harbors, the Commission is
of the opinion that the one at Cordova is, without question, the
best. It has no disadvantage not possessed by all and one great
advantage possessed by no other, namely, an ample area of good
anchorage.’ Seward is evidently the seaport for the Matan
nska coal and Cordova the logical outlet for the Bering River
coal. The comparisons of transportation rates given in the
foregoing table show that for an output of 500,000 tons an
nually it will cost $1.90 a ton more to haul Matanuska coal to
Seward than it will to haul the Bering River coal to Cordova,
and the analysis further shows that for double this output
the additional cost will be $1.11. This places the Matanuska
coal at such disadvantage that it could probably not be mar
keted at tidewater in competition with the Bering River coal.
“It is evident that, on the Cordova route, the first invest
ment will be less than on the Seward route; the resultipg freight
rates will be lower: the terminal port offers a better harbor than
the one at Seward; and the tributary coal field promises the
earlier development because its product can be marketed cheap
er. Each of these economic features [joints clearly to the ad
visablity of reaching the Tanana Valley via the valley of the
Copper River, and the Commission therefore recommends the
construction of a railway from Chitina to Fairbanks. .
WASHINGTON, March 18—Z. R. Cheney, of Juneau, who
was recently elected a member of the Democratic National
Committee from Alaska, to succeed the late A. J. Daly, is taking
a prominent part in the discussions as to the availability of can
didates for office in the territory. After the arrival of Major
J. F. A. Strong the latter was accompanied by Mr. Cheney to the
office of Seretary of the Interior Lane, to whom he recommended
the Major for the appointment of Governor of Alaska. Com
mitteeman Cheney has further endorsed L. T. Erwin, of Fair
banks, for the IT. S. Marshalship of the Fourth division, to
succeed Henry K. Love. He is also favorable to the appoint
ment of Charles E. Davidson, of Fairbanks, to succeed William
L. Distin. as U. S. Surveyor General and ex-officio Secretary of
the Territory. The resignation of Governor Clark has been
received and it is expected that his successor will be the first ap
pintment made for Alaska. His term does not expire until
next Fall, but he has indicated a willingness to be relieved of
the duties of the office at the convenience of the President.*
It is expected that practically all the other officials will prefer
to serve out their terms, although several Judges, Marshals and
District Attorneys will be ready to retire in June, when their
terms expire..
WASHINGTON, March 18—Several conferences have been
lieid during the past week concerning the time for commencing
the special session of Congress. Democratic floor leader Un
derwood has urged a postponement of a week from April first,
ve itl* the idea that the ways and means committee would then be
in better positon to submit a report. Yesterday Piesidcnt
Wilson issued a call for the extra session, commencing Monday,
April 7. He stated that he would later, in a public speech or
letter, point out specifically what he wishes to be considered at
the special session. There is a strong effort upon the part of
many of the Representatives and Senators to have legislation
confined to the tariff and the passage of the two big appropria
tion bills that were vetoed by President Taft. However, there
are many who favor taking up the Alaska transportation ques
tion. And it is believed that before the President expresses
himself on the matter he wishes to further hear the repre
sentatives from Alaska and the Congressmen who favor early
action. A conference is to be held with the President on Thurs
day of this week by the friends of Alaska, and after that.it is
‘expected that President Wilson will soon reach a conclusion.