DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGG—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EGG.
VOL. I. CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1910. NO. 19
Iran ;
Washington, Jan. 28.—Delegate
Wickersham is leaving no stone un
turned to injure Cordova and its
business interests, even if it of neces
sity affects other communities. His
latest move is to urge that the Idit
arod mail be forwarded via Seward,
instead of Cordova and Fairbanks.
sewarTtbail
Washington, Jan. 28.—The Senate
has adopted the amendment to the
Army bill, appropriating $50,000 for
a trail from Seward to the Iditarod.
Seattle, Jan. 28.—On account of
the sale of the docking property at
Tacoma the cableship Burnside will
likely be transferred, with Seattle
as Its headquarters.
TAfTWiLLlOUR
THE SOUTH
Washington, Jan. 28.—After the
adjournment of Congress President
Taft will make a trip to the South
ern states.
11
JLLED
San Francisco, Jan. 28.—Gustave
Postler, who was made a bankrupt
through his losses in a gambling
bouse, was instantly killed while re
treating from the Saratoga Giub,
which he held up and secured $1,000.
The proprietor waited until the rob
ber had left the place and then open
ed Are on him, dropping him in his
tracks
Seattle, Jan. 28.—John Robey, a
business man, is a victim of the
badger game. He was beaten and
forced to sign a check for $250. A
woman and her alleged husband have
been arrested for the crime.
Santa Rosa, Cal., Jaa. 28.—Dr.
Burke has been found guilty of dy
namiting a tent and attempting to
kill Luetta Smith and ehild, she
claiming he was the father of the
infant.
Chicago, Jan. 28.—The Great
Northern hotel caught fire at an ear
ly hour this morning and six hundred
half clad guests fled from the build
ing, but the flames were soon ex
tinguished.
Local News
Some one asked recently if the
Chitina people expected to put up an>
ice this winter. One saloon man said
there was no use, as he could get all
the ice he wanted on an ice claim
he staked here last summer, and as
all of Chitina had at one time been
a glacier, it was an easy matter to
dig down a few feet and get all the
cool stuff necessary.
C. O. Cracroft, chief dispatcher for
the Katalla Company, made a busi
ness trip to Chitina this week, ar
riving on Tuesday evening's train.
Mr. Cracroft expects to leave for the
states on a short vacation on the
next trip of the Alameda.
Louie Spitz, the well known Fair
banks liquor dealer, arrived on Wed
nesday’s stage from the interior me
tropolis en route to the states. Louie
who only reecntly arrived from the
states expecting to invest in the Idit
arod country, says he hasn’t changed
his mind about the new diggings. It
may be good and it may not, he says,
so he will try another whirl at the
states.
Invitations were issued this week
by Mrs. M. Wallace and Mrs. C.
Johnson for a card party to be given
at the Katalla Company boarding
house.
In a recent issue of the Leader we
mentioned that James Carscadden
was to rent or lease the Cordova
House in Cordova. We secured the
information in an authentic inter
view, but it seems the plans have
fallen through, as in a letter to Tom
Parker from Charley Ross, one of
the proprietors of the Cordova House,
he states that Thisted & Ross will
continue to do business at the same
old stand and to tell all their friends
so.
Oscar Breedman left on Friday
morning for a trip to Cordova after
a few days spent in looking after
business interests in Chitina.
Deputy Marshal Joe Brown ex
pects to move the prisoners and jail
from the present location to the new
building the first of the week.
J. T. Sale, the Fairbanks jeweler,
arrived in Chitina the first of the
week on a business trip to the out
side.
—
OUTFIT GOING INTO
THE NEBESNA COUNTRY
D. C. Sargent arrived the first of
the week with a big outfit and re
mained here several days preparing
for a trip to the Nebesna country,
or into the headwaters of the Tan
ana river. Mr. Sargent represents
some large capitalists and has been
doing prospective and development
work in that country for the past
seven years. He has a string of nine
cabins all along the river, and every
year takes in a big outfit of grub
and supplies. He purchased several
horses here from the Orr Stage Com
pany, and with one man will freight
up the river to Copper Center, where
he has another man awaiting him.
Mr. Sargent is an old-timer in Alas
ka and knows the country thorough
ly. He says he has been in the
employ of these capitalists for sev
eral years, and that he has located
and prospected some excellent cop
per showings on the head of the
Tanana, and that while the principal
mineral in the Nebesna country is
copper, the entire country is also
highly mineralized in gold quartz
showings, with also placer indica
tions. Mr, Sargent will return again
in the fall and says he’ll certainly
go by way of Cbltina and glad he
doesn’t have to mush over Thomp
son’s Pass.
Commissioner G. C. Winn, of Ju
neau, has issued a warning to min
isters regarding the marriage of na
tives under age. The statute is very
strict on the subject, and it has come
to the notice of the commissioner
that several marriages, where the
contracting parties are under a*e.
have been performed. Under the
code, even the consent of the parents
does not make the marriage legal.
WELL KNOWN CHEF LOSES
TEN POUND BOX CANDY
George Hirst, the well known chef
at the Hotel Chltina grill, thinks he
is just about the best casino and
cribbage player this far north, but
he isn't.
One quiet afternoon this week, the
“Senator,” as he is more familiarly
called, though he often responds to
the name of “Turk” or the “Jew,”
made a remark in the presence of
Miss Sarah Schafer, the cashier of
the grill, that he wished some good
casino player would drift into town.
Pretty Miss Sarah replied that she
didn’t believe he knew the game,
and the “Senator” stated that he
knew it to the extent of a ten-pound
box of candy against half a dozen
neckties. fiss Sarah accepted the
wager and counted out while the
"Senator” was figuring on saving lit
tle casino and one ace. Miss Sarah
stated that she knew the "Senator”
was a good cook, and might possibb
be a good Turk or a Jew, but he
was a poor casino player. Anyway
the “Senator” sent down an order
on Friday morning’s train for a ten
pound box of the real girl kind of
chocolates, and says he overlooked
a bet in not stipulating in the wager
that she was to eat them all at once.
MeCUTCHEON AND GRIFFIN
OPEN THEIR NEW JAR
Bert McCutcheon left the first of
this week for a business trip to Cor
dova. Messrs. McCutcheon & Griffin
expect to open their new bar soon
at the old stand of Oscar Breed man
or the Chitina bar. Mr. Breedman
has purchased the fixtures of the
Columbia bar in Cordova, which will
be installed at the Hotel Chitina bar,
and the bar now in use at the hotel
has already been purchased by Mo
Cutcheon & Griffin for their new
place. The above named firm are
fixing up the building in first ciass
shape for their business, an-1 it is
believed that they will get their share
of trade when they open, as they are
well known and popular.
COPPER CENTER ROADHOUSE
LEASED BY J. C. READMAN
For the past two weeks negotia
tions have been pending between J.
C. Readman and R. Blix, owner of
the Copper Center roadhouse, for the
leasing of the well known inn, or
way station, and it was officially an
nounced this week when Mr. Read
man passed through here that the
deal had been closed to the satisfac
tion of both parties. Mr. Blix has
for some time been contemplating
a trip to his home in the old coun
try, and now that he has disposed
of his affairs here he will soou take
a well earned rest. He has acted
in the capacity of commissioner,
postmaster and general storekeeper,
as well as host to the travelers on
the trail, who generally make his
house the all-night stopping place;
so since the establishment of the
place he has been kept busy, and is
glad to turn it over to some one
else.
Mr. Readman is well known to
most all Alaskans, and a better man
could not have secured the lease.
He is sure to retain all the former
popularity and patronage of the
place, and will undoubtedly make
many new friends. For the past
year Mr. Read an has been at the
front with the constructing company,
in an official capacity, having been
a warm personal friend of the late
M. J. Heney. Prior to his coming
here he was in business in other
parts of Alaska and at one time was
largely engaged Ip business in Seat
elt, The Lender and his host of
friends wish him well in hU new
enterprise, and as everything points
to fairly good travel and outfttting
this year, he will, without question,
get his share of this world's goods
from his new venture.
If ypu have gopd furs and want
to realize 100 cents on the dollar for
them, see Perry Jacobs. He will give
you a square deal, 13-174*
TIBBS BROS. OPEN THEIR
BUILDING FOR BUSINESS
Chitina now boasts of another bus
iness firm, and it’s a good one. Tibbs
Bros., who recently completed their
new log store room, are now out for
business, and there is no question
but what they will get their share.
They are well known and popular,
and aside from this they have the
necessary attractions to get the
trade. They have two pool tables
and one billiard table and in a few
days expect to install a bowling al
ley, which will certainly get the
money. Besides their solo tables
they have a fine line of cigars, to
baccos and soft drinks. Billy Tibbs
prides himself on making about the
best lemcnade this far north, and if
you try it you will say so. A whole
lemon well “muddled and well shak
en,” is Billie’s motto, and you must
drink it 10 appreciate it. If you want
to spend a quiet and pleasant hour
drop in. They will make you at
home. See their ad. in this iss le.
On Monday morning’s train the
new dining car will be placed on the
Cordova-Chitina run.
FAIRBANKS MAGAZINE PAYS
TRIBUTE TO LEADER
The Alaska Churchman, publish
ed at Fairbanks, reprints in full the
article written by E. P. Ziegler, de
scribing his trip to the Bonanza cop
per mine, with the following intro
ductory remarks:
“There is a little newspaper, the
Chitina Leader, which has just be
gun its history. Across the top of
the first page is this rather “breezy”
sentiment: “Do not waste your time
in figuring why a black hen lays a
white egg—get busy and get after the
egg.” The sentiment is descriptive
■vf much that is Alaskan, and among
other articles in this little paper is
one which is too full of real life for
us to allow it to be lost to view.”
TOOK 12 DAYS TO MUSH
HERE FROM VALDEZ
Two weeks ago we published a
story of Charles Graber and J. W.
Steffegren going into the Gulconaa
country with a hydraulic outfit and
that the remainder of the company
had started from Valdez at the same
time. Ed. Dose, L. A. Decker, Les
lie Rice, Ed. Sellers and Henry Edler
left Valdez January 2, and after
twelve days hard mushing arrived at
the Chitina roadhouse.
During the seve-e snow storm
when the train was stalled for a tew
days the boys report the fiercest
winds they ever experienced on
Thompson Pass, with a heavy fall of
snow. A snow slide buried their
horses, five in number, and one man.
and they were twelve days making
the trip from Valdez. They take
their horses and outfit to the end of
the line, now at mile 160, from
where they haul their freight into
the Guconda country.
WARNING!
A few weeks ago we mentioned
that there were several complaints
of petty thieving going on, and af
ter that issue of the Leader we are
glad to state, there were no com
plaints for some time, but now comes
this week a complaint that lumber
from several cabins and business
houses has been stolen and in one
barber shop even the tonic and soap
has been "swiped,” together with
anything elese that may have been
left without one "keeping cases" on
it. Now, from the “roar” that has
gope up about the missing articles,
the next thing that comes up miss
ing it will just about mean a search
warrant and some one is going to get
caught. There is nothing dirtier
than a petty larceny sneak thief, and
the people of Chitina are just about
at the end of their rope on these
things, so look out, That’s all
Washington, Jan. 87—The salary
of the President’s secretary has been
increased to fio.ooo a year.
Local News
Dr. B. F. Whiting spent a Tew
days in town this week, coming in
from the front on Monday evening’s
train. The big doctor is most opti
mistic regarding the future of the
country all along the line of rail
road, ani in particular from Chit
ina to the Bonanza.
L. B. Ericwson returned this week
from freighting supplies to Dean’s
Basin. Dick Fick, John Gage and
Al. Church are interested in the
quartz there, and will drive a 30-foot
tunnel in the spring. They received
returns on an assay going $27.35 to
the ton. The ledge is 13 feet wide
and runs over the mountain for over
four miles. The boys are satisfied
it's something good.
It was some cold this week. The
lowest report was 52 below in Chit
ina, while across the river it was
down as low as 62.
Harvey Palmer, an old-time cook,
who has been at the upper Tonsina
roadhouse for the past year, arrived
in Chitina on Wednesday’s stage. Mr.
Palmer, after a few days’ rest, will
return to work, but at the lower
roadhouse at Pollard's, instead of
the upper one.
Dick Fick made a trip to mile
146 this week to visit an old friend
of his, who is now in the hospital
at that place with frozen feet. Dick
says the man is getting along nicely
and will only lose a few toes from
the freezing.
Mrs. Jack Sapiro arrived on Thurs
day evening’s train from Cordova,
and Jack now wears a smile that is
broader than the one he wore at the
potlatch last week.
A dog out at mile 146 was fool
ish enough to put his tongue to the
steel rails one frosty morning this
week, with the result that the poor
animal was held fast. Some work
men, seeing the predicament of the
animal, attempted to cut him loose,
and in doing so severed over half
the poor dog’s tongue, and he had
to be killed.
Tommy Brady, the old-time con
ductor and trainman, who has been
in business in Chitina for several
months, couldn’t resist the call of the
road, and is now pilot on the snow’
plow between here and Cordova. He
still retains an interest in his bus
iness here, however, his partner, Al.
Church, looking after the store in
his absence.
Tom Parker, the well known Alas
kan, w’ho has been doing extensive
prospect work this past season, and
who has been in Chitina the past
two weeks awaiting the return of his
partner, has decided to start out with
the supplies the first of the week.
He will take a dog team and pro
visions and go to the headwaters or
the Tanana river, where his part
ner, Roy Wilson, is now at work.
Wm. Lauson, the well known sta
tion agent at the Chitina terminal,
received a telegram this week an
nouncing the death of his wife in
Seattle. The sad and unexpected
news was a severe blow’ to Mr. Lau
son, and he has the deepest sym
pathy in his bereavement.
Messrs. Coleman, Saplro, Scott and
Bennett received a cordial invitation
the first of this week to attend a
potlatch given by Chief Escaldita
near Taral this week. Ask any one
of the quartet if they went. It isn’t
safe to ask ’em in a bunch.
Peter Cordes has moved all his
second-hand goods into his new
building on Chitina Heights, just
back of Gage’s store. If you are
looking for anything in the second
hand line, such as stoves, dishes,
tools, etc., it will pay you to see
Peter, for he has a good stock of
goods in his new place of business.
Louie Spita, Mike Larsen, D. C.
Sargent, W. J. MacDonald and wife,
J. V. Winchester, J. L. Sale, J. C.
Readman, Sam J. Newman, D. E.
Dunbar, C. W .Tolber, Max Schmidt,
W. H. Mendham and Mrs. Cronin
were guests registering at the Hotel
Chitina this week.
New York, Jan. 28.—The Stand
ard Oil Company has instituted pro
ceedings against Hampton's Maga
zine and Cleveland Moffett, the auth
or and newspaper man, in a damage
suit for $250,000, for charging the
Standard Oil with supplying glucose
to confectioners.
LATEST USE FOR
Houston, Tex., Jan. 28.—Houston,
the French aviator, today gave an
exhibition of herding cattle with his
flying machine.
Pueblo, jan. z8.—A lone bandit
boarded a Colorado & Southern
coach and held tip the pas engers.
While escaping with his loot he was
shot and captured.
WAITING TOR TRE
San Diego, Jan. 28.—An architect
has been employed to design the
Panama exposition buildings of the
Spanish Mission style, in case the big
fair is held here.
IN SEATTLE
Seattle, Jan. 28.—Dr. Ghiyllone,
the Italian consular agent here, has
appealed to the governor and the po
lice for protection against threats
from the Black Hand Society. Secre
tary of State Knox has also made
a request that the authorities not on
ly protect the agent, but also rid the
community of this notorious organiz
ation.
Seattle, Jan. 28.—Chas. D. Hill
man, the millionaire real estate brok
er, who was indicted for alleged
swindling of clients, has been found
guilty in the federal court of send
ing circulars to the jurymen.
Portland, Jan. 28.—The Hill elec
tric and steam roads of Oregon have
been consolidated with the Spokane,
Portland & Seattle Railway, with a
capitalization of $62,500,000.
Washington, Jan. 28.—Collector
of Customs Harper was today reap
pointed for the Puget Sound district.
The passenger rate on through
tickets from Seattle to Fairbanks,
via Chitina has been reduced $15.