The Chitina Leader
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.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by _
WILL A. nm—Editors, Managers and Proprietors— EdEET 8. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 661 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .-.* -J®
Six Months . *■««
One Year . 2.50
_____ _
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, SATUBDAY, JUNE 29, 1912.
CUSHMAN’S SUCCESSOR
The fact of the Hon. Edward E. Cushman being promoted
to a life position as the federal judge of the court in his home
town does not interest Alaskans half so much as who will be his
successor in the Third division, or the judge of the district
court made vacant by the honor conferred upon him.
Who will be Judge Cushman’s successor? That is the
burning question, one commanding the attention of Alaskans at
the present time. The people take more than a passing interest
in the matter, not that they have any particular candidate they
are to push forward for the honor, but they are guarding with
a jealous eye the vantage gained, in not having to put up with
carpet baggers, who have proved so expensive to Alaska in the
past—a setback to the country—much the same as that brand
of cattle did to the South during the reconstruction period fol
lowing the civil war.
Alaskans know and Congress, or the administration, too,
we have in the country many able men capable of filling the po
sition. In the territory are many able jurists who are eminent
ly qualified for the bench, not only in legal training, but from
experience gained in the land of ice and snow where conditions
are as different to those in the states as the direct rays of the
sun are to those reflected to us from the moon.
In the judiciary department, Alaska has had ample oppor
tunity to compare the man who falls within the classification
“carpet bagger’’ and those selected from among the able attor
neys who go to make up the members of the Alaska Bar Asso
ciation in the four divisions. Comparisons are odious, we all
will admit, with more truth than poetry in the saying, but the
truth of the adage was never more accentuated than in exam
ples we have experienced here in the Second division, and we
believe the same holds good in the others, where the poeple
have been given a chance to make comparisons.
Lack of confidence is not easily cured when an ever-living
example is before the people, the narrow-minded, bigoted fel
low who is afraid of his own shadow, who fancies he is as good
as he needs to be, and therefore sneers at the idea of any further
effort, who is so afraid of contamination he shuts both himself
and his wee little coagulated brain within the space of four
walls, surrounding himself with an ammonia gas like atmos
phere, is not the jurist for Alaska. It is a broad country and
in need of broad-minded men to help on with its development.
There is lots of room for breathing space, one can expand his
lungs, heart and brain to the molulus of elasticity without
crowding the other fellow, and taking up reserved space—in
fact it is not the country for a man who has spent years crowd
ing his cranium into a groove that converged and met in a point
a few inches beyond his nose.
The bitter lesson administered to Alaskans through the
carpet bag system of filling offices has been driven home that
hard they are ready to be up in arms whenever the administra
tion tries to hand them a package no matter how neatly done
up. So in appointing a successor to Judge Cushman, the peo
ple of Alaska, even beyond the confines of the division where
the vacancy exists, are interested and vitally so, for they have
driven the nail into the coffin of the carpet bag system and are
watching to see if the nail will hold, or if the timber is so rotten
it will not withstand the strain and the promise recently given
by the administration was made just to be broken.—Nome
Nugget.
___
OUR VOTING POPULATION
The aggregate vote cast at the last Presidential election
fell short of 15,000,000. A summary of the males of voting
age recorded at the recent census gives the total as almost
27,000,000. Native whites of native parentage do not quite
make up half of this total, 48.9 per cent. Native whites with one
or both parents born abroad furnished 16.7 per cent. Foreign
born whites, naturalized, 11.2 per cent, and negroes, 9.1 per
cent, completed the 23,500,000 of possible voters, the other 3,
600,000 being unnaturalized, 13.4 per cent of the whole.
Exactly one-third of the males of voting age live in cities of
more than 25,000 population. But it is curious to note that only
22 per cent of those of native white parentage live in these
eities, while 45 per cent of those of foreign or mixed parentage
reside there. More than half the naturalized of voting age,
and an even larger proportion of the unnaturalized of voting
age live in the cities. But 21 per cent of the negroes make
their homes in the cities, about the same proportion as the na
tive whites of native parentage.
Out of the 1,400,000 males of voting age in New York city
less than 230,000 are of native white parentage. There are
nearly 340,000 of mixed parentage, 318,000 naturalized and
over half a million unnaturalized. Chicago, with half the num
ber of voting age, has a slightly larger percentage of native
white parentage, and of foreign or mixed parentage, a material
increase in the naturalized and decrease of more than a fifth in
the percentage of unnaturalized. Philadelphia, with one*third
of New York’s total, has twice as many of native white parent
age in proportion, but about the same of mixed parentage, one
third relatively less naturalized and two-fifths less unnatural
ized. Boston, with one-seventh the total, has nearly a third
more of white parentage, rather a larger percentage of mixed
parentage and of naturalized, but more than a fifth less of un
naturalized. St. Louis, with something over a sixth of New
York’s total, has nearly double the proportion of native white
parentage, almost a third more of mixed parentage, but a third
less of naturalized and three-fifths less relatively of unnatural
ized. Pittsburg, with 166,000 of voting age, discloses propor
tionately over 50 per cent more white parentage than New York
and slightly less of foreign or mixed parentage, nearly 50 per
cent less of naturalized and two-fifths less of unnaturalized.
-oooo
ALASKA DISTANCES
A mere statement of the fact that the area of Alaska is
nearly 600,000 square miles means but little to the human minu
which cannot grasp the meaning of these figures. Nor does the
statement of the time it takes to travel from one point to an
other in the north give an adequate idea of the vastness of the
territory. During the summer months it takes nearly a month
to go from Valdez to Fairbanks, which to a stranger would in
dicate that Fairbanks must be near the Arctic ocean. In the
winter a traveler can easily “mush” it from the coast to the
interior metropolis in twelve days. But should a railroad line
run from Valdez to the Yukon, it would require less than twr'vc
hours to cover the 360 miles overland by rail.
That the people in the east have a very vague idea of the
distances in Alaska is but natural. They have not even a fail
conception of distances in the states. Easterners regard ?\iu
Francisco and Los Angeles as neighboring towns, whereas they
are more than 500 miles apart.
William A. Gilmore gave an apt illustration of the vast
ness of the northern territory when lie stated that if New York
were placed where Dawson is, Chicago would be at Fort Gibbon
! and San Francisco at St. Michael.
He said that he traveled 3,000 miles in coming from Nome
to Valdez by water, and would cover 8,000 more before return
ing home—A distance equal to that between Nome and some
point in France, traveling by the usual routes.
The westermost islands of the Aleutian group are as far west
of San Francisco as New York is east of ’Frisco, yet the aver
age resident of the states imagines that one travels north from
Seattle to get to Nome, instead of almost due west for a greater
portion of this distance.—Valdez Miner.
-oooo
WHEREIN THE DELEGATE HAS FAILED
It begins to appear as if the Alaska home rule bill will pass
i the Senate and become effective. All very well, as far as it
goes, but home rule is not so important as additional popula
tion to make up an important territory. This country's prime
need is adequate means of transportation and the opening and
development of the coal lands. Until these prime necessities
are vouchsafed us, we can’t grow much. We are bound hand
and foot until we may mine our own coal, and until we get the
means of transportation, our latent resources in the interior of
Alaska, or at least a great share of them, must remain in an
undevedoped state. The surprising thing about this situation is
that our duly accredited representative in Congress, Mr. Wick
ersham, does not appreciate this fact. His attitude on the rail
way question and the coal opening is very unsatisfactory, so
far as this sections is concerned, and the opportunity will be
afforded at the coming delegate election to evince, in a concrete
manner, our displeasure. We are not concerned with his per
sonal fight against the Guggenheim interests. These big fel
lows, financially speaking, don’t scare us a particle. If we are
damphools enough to be gobbled up bv a little coterie of finan
cial experts, then let them gobble, and be durned.—Seward
Gateway.
---0000
EDITORIAL COMMENT
The Democratic national committee recognized the regular
delegates from Alaska, thus adding prestige to Jennings’
strength in his fight as the nominee of the party for delegate
to Congress.
The new battleship Arkansas is declared to have proved
herself the swiftest in the world. Well, if we must have battle
ships it is some comfort to know we have the best—at least
until somebody else builds better.
A Chicago woman who sued her husband for non-support
was told by the judge to go home and cook his meals. As she
obviously does not want to cook his meals, we expect her to
start a movement for the recall of judges.
So long as revolution means intervention, and intervention
means annexation, there will be moneyed interests in the United
States to finance revolutions if they do not require too much
ready cash.
The meanest husband has been discovered in New York.
He wanted his wife’s alimony cut down because she had gone
to work.
Now Colonel Harvey discovers that Champ Clark is a peer
of Abraham Lincoln. With the field so crowded with second
hand Lincolns, the popular preference may be for a man who is
just himself.
Perhaps Congress will feel disposed to find out how many
of the people are in favor of the “tom fool” proposition for a
single presidential term, and let the states vote on it despite
the prohibition of the sole antagonist of bosses.
Mr Choate declares the coffee suit “an unfriendly act to
ward Brazil.’ But with the third cup of coffee becoming so
widely popular, is not Brazil’s course in squeezing the United
States contrary to its laws the initial unfriendly act toward the
United Statest
Since he discovered that Woodrow Wilson was an “in
grate” in declining the use of Thomas F. Ryan’s money, Col.
Watterson has been on the search for another Samuel J. Tilden.
From the Colonel’s somewhat tart tone of comment on public
affairs, we fear that the thought is being forced upon him th*it
“there ain’t no such a person.”
HOME RULE BILL WITH
AMENDMENTS BY SENATE
Territorial government for Alaska,
the creation of a railroad commis
sion to investigate the best route for
a government railroad to the inter
ior of Alaska and the passage of a
bill providing for the leasing of coal
lands in the territory practically
nave been assured by two Senate
committees, according to late advices
from Washington.
The committee on territories has
finally reported the Alaska home
government bill, which previously
had passed the House, and it likely
will become law before adjournment.
The most important change in the
House bill was the elimination of the
upper branch of the legislature in
the proposed Alaska territorial gov
ernment. The bill, as amended by
the Senate, provides tnat there shall
be one legislature of sixteen mem
bers, four from each district. 1'he
amendment was bitterly fought by
Delegate Wickersham of Alaska. The
bill also provides that after the elec
tion this year the election of dele
gates to Congress from Alaska shaii
take place in November instead of
August as at present.
The bill also embodies a provision
for the appointment of a railroad
commission whose duty it shall be to
survey and ascertain the cost of a
practicable railroad route from the
Alaska seaboard to the coal fields,
and thence to the waterway system
of the interior. This commission is
to be composed of one engineer of
ficer of the army, and engineer offi
cer of the navy, a geologist In charge
of Alaska work and a civil engineer
not connected with any railroad.
The bill also directs the Senate
and House committees on territo
ries to compile and codify all laws
relating to Alaska.
The Senate public lands commit
tee directed a favorable report on
the Smoot leasing bill, which pro
vides for the leasing of coal lands in
Alaska. The royalty is fixed at not
less than 2 per cent nor more than
o per cent of the value of the coal
at the mines, and the term of lease
is fixed at fifty years. In addition
to royalties, lessess are to be charg
ed 25 cents per acre for the first
year of the lease, 50 cents per acre
for the second, third, fourth and
fifth years and $1 per acre for each
year thereafter. No lease is to be
of more than 3,260 acres and coal
lands must be taken in compact bod
ies.
The leasing bill will be fought by
Congressman Sulzer and many Alas
kans who are now in Washington.
OFFERED NOMINATION
BY TAFT LEADERS
ST. LOUIS, June 28.—
Governor Hadley, who lead
the Roosevelt light at the
Chicago convention, has giv
en out a sensational state
ment. He says that the Taft
leaders offered him the Re
publican nomination, for the
Presidency, but as the Colonel
objected he could not accept
same without being disloyal.
WILL MANUFACTURE ICE
FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION
On account of the snortage of ice
Smith & Glassbrenner, of the North
ern Meat Market, have decided to
equip their refrigerating plant so that
the pure aqua can be served in frozen
chunks to the residents of Cordova.
On account of the mild winter there
was no ice harvested, and, strange as
it may seem, there is an ice famine in
this town. But this will only be of
short duration as the necessary equip
ment has been ordered and within
a few weeks Smith & Glassbrenner
will supply the shortage.
-1 ■ O- -O O - - ■
CHITIXA NOW SUPPLYING
OUTFITS FOR INTERIOR
Last year the biggest outfit pur
chased In Chitina could have been
taken off in a sack. The complete
stock of the Chtina Cash Store is
changing this, and the bigger opera
tors are outfitting here. The heavy
business they do makes it possible to
sell at Cordova prices with only an
advance equal to the extra freight.
G. A. Bigelow, who left with a pack 1
train, found it profitable to purchase 1
his outfit here.
. j a
MANY IDLE MEN GET
EMPLOYMENT OX TRAIL
Jack Ingram has been in Chitina
and has sent all the idle men he
could find out on the trail. The Chit
ina cut-off gets quite a share of the
appropriation this year, and the fa
vorable conditions ought to make
quite an improvement in this part of
the road. Mr. Ingram has now made
a trip to the outside and will prob
ably bring back an automobile with I
him.
-o—o————
BIG BODY COPPER ORE
LOCATED OX NUGGET CREEK
It is reported on good authority
that Ole Berg has struck a big body
of rich copper ore on Nugget Creek,
in the Kuskulana district. Berg
bonded this property last winter to a
large company and is now superin
tending the development for them.
This has long been considered one
of the most promising prospects in
tne country and according to reports
will now undoubtedly become a big
mine.
GILMORE MAKES GOOD
IMPRESSION AT KETCHIKAN
KETCHIKAN. June 29.—Mayor
W. A. Gilmore, of Nome, addressed
an enthusiastic audience here last
night, which was twice as large as
any that heard the other candidates
for delegate to Congress speak. Gil
more made a splendid impression in
his two hours’ talk and is certain of
a big vote in this section. He goes
from here to Juneau, where he ad
dresses a meeting Tuesday night.
-o—o—o
FORCE OF 430 MEN IS
SHORTLY TO BE INCREASED
The Copper River Railway has at
present four work trains taking
gravel from the Kuskulana pit, which
is being used in ballasting on the
Chitina branch. The company is
now employing 450 men, and Supt.
Geiger hopes to increase this force
materially during the next few
weeks.
—i-o—o—o
Political Atmosphere Clearing
There is a rumor afloat that Mar
tin Harrais will withdraw as a can
didate for delegate to Congress, in
asmuch as the convention that nomi
nated him failed to be recognized by
the Democratic national committee,
who seated the Jennings delegation
at Baltimore.
-o—o—o
The Chitina Hotel has just re
ceived $50u worth of Standard plpe3.
See them.
-o—o—o
An application has been made to
me postoffice department for the es
tablishment of a fourth-class post
office near the Great Northern Devel
opment Company’s copper property.
The annual meeting of the board
of directors of the Alaska Northern
Railroad, which was to be held this
month in Seattle, has been postponed
until some time in July.
Sitka’s live business men have
leased the only wharf in the town
from the United States government
and plans are under way to build a
plant for the mild curing of salmon,
a big ice plant and, in short, to place
Sitka on the map as one of South
eastern Alaska’s Ashing centers.
A two-stamp Hammond mill will
be installed on the Rambler Gold
Mining property at Shoup Glacier.
Billy Nevius, former tinsmith of
Fairbanks, has disappeared from Los
Angeles. His wife is unable to locate
mm.
Mrs. Mary E. Hart, wife of the
late Frank Hart of Cordova, has been
employed by the Commissioners of
the Panama Exposition to gather an
Alaskan exhibit for the fair.
Adolph Bock, with a Keystone
drill, has demonstrated that there is
pay a mile below the present work
ings on Sullivan creek in the Hot
Springs district.
The glacier stream at Valdez is
again running, filling up the dams
recently constructed.
Special Agent Jaffe, of the United
States land office, was in Cordova
yesterday on his return from the
westward.
Forever fighting U. S. commission
ers and deputy marshals, George
Hinton Henry, editor-in-chief and ink
slinger of the Hot Springs Echo, has
caused the arrest of former Deputy
Marshal Quiner for shooting grouse
out of season.
You will find most of your friends
at the Chitina Hotel.
. • »*>
0. ADRIAN NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA - - - ALASKA
Chitina
Pharmacy
Drugs
Stationery
Magazines
Candy
Fruit
Cigars
A. G. MOREY, Prop.
GROCERIES, HARDWARE
- ■ AND —
MEAT MARKET
We 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
Cordes & Simons
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.
D. A. GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs’ Building.
Chitina, Alaska.
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
HAV, BRAN, OATS, CHOPS,
ROLLED BARLEV
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITIIMA