THIRD YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1913.
Nl’MBER 30.
Late Telegraph News
WASHINGTON, May 20—There are many evidences to in
dicate that the navy department is anxious to secure coal from
Alaska at the earliest possible moment . That a sufficient test
of the fuel of the north has already been made to satisfy the
department of its efficiency is evident from a statement made
yesterday before the Senate committee on Territories- Com
mander Boyd, a member of the Bureau of Steam Engineering,
of the navy department, testified that the coal from Alaska was
beyond question suitable for naval purposes, and that it was j
better than Pochahontas coal. The navy department is author
ity for the statement that incomplete tests of coal from the
Bering river field indicate that it will prove valuable for sup
plying the Pacific fleet. Final tests for determining the value
of the Bering coul for naval purposes will be made this summer
by the cruiser Maryland, which will soon sail for Alaska. Pay
master J. S. Higgins, of the bureau cf Supplies and Accounts,
of the navy department, also testified yesterday before the com
mittee. He declared that in case cf war it would take the
whole American commercial fleet to carry coal to the Pacific to
supply the government vessels, and a result would be a paral
yzing of all industries* The people o: Alaska who demand
the opening up of the coal resources of that territory have good
reason to feel encouraged that cam- action to the desired end
will he taken.
_rv_r\
WASHINGTON, May 19—Leonard M. Cox, civil engineer of
the Engineer Corps, U. S. Navy, appeared before the Senate
Committee on Territories late Saturday afternoon* He was a
member of the Alaska Railway Commission which recently
made a report recommending the construction of at least 733
miles of railroad in Alaska at a cost of $35,000,000. Mr. Cox
gave the committee some valuable data as to routes and the
cost of construction. He also made the broad statement that
the best harbor in Alaska for commercial and naval purposes
was at Cordova. He said further that the1 Cordova harbor
could be fortified at reasonable cost and made impregnable
against any attacks upon the part of an enemy at sea. It is
believed that this statement will have great weight, not only
with the Senators but also with the navy department in indi
cating that a coaling station should be established at Cordova
and a branch line built from the Copper River and Northwest
ern railway to the Bering river coal fields. He favors either
SEATTLE, May 15—From advices received from Washing
ton there is a general feeling here that the navy department
is thoroughly in earnest in its desire to soon settle the ques
tion of the availability of Alaska coal for the use of battle
ships and cruisers on the Pacific coast. Notwithstanding
the apparent waste of much of the $75,000 that was appropri
ated a year ago for the purpose of bringing coal from the Ber
ing gnd Matanuska fields, an additional appropriation was
secured from the last congress to do the work outlined in the
Matanuska field, as the efforts last summer and fall were di
rected entirely to the Bering field. George W. Evans, of this
city, has just been notified that he lias been appointed to head
the government expedition to investigate the merits of the
Matanuska coal for naval and commercial purposes. ILe is
a mining engineer of much note, and has had considerable ex
perience in Alaska, particularly the Bering fields. Mr- Evans
will have a party of mien under him and they will make a thor
ough investigation of the Matanuska fields and he will fur
ther direct the mining of a certain amount of the coal for steam
testing purposes. Secretary Daniels has decided to have the
coal brought from the mines to tide water by contract, instead
of the mere costly methods pursued in the Bering fields.
Those presumably on the inside insist that from the knowl
edge already in the possession of the navy department they are
practically satisfied that the quality of the coal from the Ber
ing field is superior to any other fuel on the Pacific coast, and
uu.t they are anxious to have a coaling station established in
* c iliest possible moment. The feeling is gen
eral that some arangement has already been made between the
navy department and the Copper River & Northwestern rail
roaJ by which a branch line will be built this summer from a
connection on the road tio tlie Bering River fi 'i-Is- The coal
would then be brought to Cordova, where a naval coaling sta
tion is likely to be established. It is also thought that the ar
rangement includes the procuring by the railroad of sufficient
coal to furnish motive power on their road and for a big smelt
er that the Guggenheims will erect at Cordova.
WASHINGTON, May 14—Senator Key Pittman to-day In
troduced a bill revoking the order of former President Roose
velt creating the Chugach forest reserve in Southwestern Alas
ka. It provides, hoyever, that the coal lands shall not be
which is almost treeless, and the conditions are such as to
which is almost treelessh, and the conditions are such as to
render any measures for the conservation of water absurdly
unnecessary. The Senator contends that such scattered tim
ber as may be found for small uses should be freely available
to assist in developing enterprises and to encourage settlers.
There is still another forest reserve in Alaska known as Ton
gass, in the Southeastern part of the territory. It is con-’
tended that this reserve has an abundance of overripe timber,
some of it of inferior quality, the removal of which would tend
to conserve the forests. All of which, in the opinions of many
Alaskans, go to prove that many of the rules and requirements
of federal forest supervision, while possibly applicable to set
tled countries, are entirely out of place in Alaska and should
be abolished. . .It is contended that the Chugach reserve has
for years been a joke, and that it is one of the forms of enter
tainment when strangers ride on the railroad from Cordova to
the interior to point out the miles of treeless land and explain
that it is a part of the famous Chugach reserve.. ..
BERING GOAL SCANDAL
Cordova, May 15.
Gossip with reference to the
coal scandal last srnmer at the
Bering river coal fields was revived
yesterday by reason of the presence
in our midst of one of the men who
was on the ground to watch the min
ing from the Cunningham claims,
of which he was in charge. Roger
Sammy contends that from the start
there was conflict between the navy
department, that was in charge of
this expedition, and one or two em
ployees secured from the bureau of
mines and Sumner B. Smith, mine in
spector for Alaska. Dr. Downey '
a physician in the navy department, j
was paymaster and the man on the !
ground with full authority. lie 1
had for his foreman a Mr. Williams, j
who was supposed to be a practical
mining man, and who was suggest- ]
ed by Dr. Holmes for the place. !
Sumner Smith was supposed to be 1
“present” because of orders re
ceived from the interior department.
He had no authority in connection
with the expedition, but people of
Katalla contend that no move was
made by Williams without first con.
suiting Smith,
When the Cunningham claims were
reached it was decided to take the
eight or nine hundred tons of coal
that the navy department required '
for testing purposes from that prop- ;
erty. Sammy contends that in
stead of entering the tunnels and
taking from the seams of high-grade
coal exposed. Inspector Smith advised
following smaller seams and mining
what the men employed there re
garded as an inferior quality.
The work went on and Mr. Downey
presumed that he was getting a fair
average of the fuel as it was brought
to light and placed in sacks. It was
finally reported to him that 855 tons
had been properly sacked and was
ready to be transported to Stillwater,
rom which point it was to be brought
about 16 miles to the sea. Ar
rangements were made for the over
land haul and then the party return,
ed to Katalla in October, and on
Vovember 3 finally sailed on the Yu
kon for Seattle.
After returning to Washington, as
the story goes, Dr. Downy caught
on to the fact that he had been
duped, and an investigation fol
lowed, showing to the department
that not seven hundred tons had been
mined, and that much of it was
slack and of inferior puality. the
good grade having been deliberately
overlooked by orders of Smith and
u Ilhams. The facts brought out
indicated that the latter two were
prejudiced in favor of the Matanu
ska coal and that they were not
desirous of making a good showing
of the Bering river fuel.
Dr. Dawney returned from Phil-1
adelphia a few days ago and is now
at Katalla awaiting the rise of the
water to take barges up the river
to Stillwater. These lighters each
hold fifteen tons, and will be taken
up the river by gasoline launches,
that have a capacity of 75 horse
power. It is stated that it is the in
tention of the Doctor to have all the
coal examined and re-sacked, with
the possibility that from one.third
'o one-half will be rejected, because
of its worthlessness, that would give
a false idea of the real value of the
Bering river coal This will result
in more delay and may cause the
"i Iser Maryland to be held in Cal
:f. nia for several weeks yet She
■ to take the coal aboard and give
a est for steaming purposes.
-0—0—o
CHITINA HOTKIi GRILL
T. W. Cloninger, the genial pro.
prietor of the Chitina Hotel, has
purchased the Chitina Grill from C.
H. Saindon, the former proprietor.
After thoroughly renovating and re
pairing the place, Mr. Cloninger has
engaged Senator Hurst, well and
favorably known as one of the best
Chefs in the business in Alaska,
and last Sunday opened the Grill
with a special Sunday dinner which
was enjoyed by a large number of
people. The bill of fare would
have done credit to a metropolitan
cafe, and those present stated that
they could not get as good a meal
in Seattle at the price. Mr. Clon
inger promises to make the Sun
day dinner a feature of the Grill
throughout the summer.
GENERAL ALASKA NEWS
Cordova, May 16.
William H. Whittlesey, of Seward,
circled among friends in town to-day,
being a passenger on the Alameda,
bound for Seward. He was a wit
ness in the Frost coal cases at Chi
cago. and later joined the colony of
Alaskans at Washington. He had sev_
erai interviews with President Wil
son, they having been classmates at
the University of Virginia. While
Mr. Whittlesey had been endorsed by
the organization in Alaska for the
office of district attorney for the
Third division, he states that he made
no effort to secure the appointment,
and rather intimates that the pres
ent incumbent. George R. Walker,
will be allowed to serve out his term,
which will not expire until the end of
the year 1914. He states that the
inclination of the heads of the admin
istration is favorable to the appoint
ment of Alaskans for positions in
the territory.
In every instance thus for the rec.,
ominendations of the National com.
mitteemen and the Territorial con'V
mittee have been recognized and h" I
looks to see this policy continued. He
states that it is generally understood
that the appointment of John Y Os
trander, for Judge of the Third di
vision, will shortly be announced.
He is the only active candidate for
this office discussed at Washington.
There has been some effort to secure i
favor for Fred M. Brown, of Valdez, I
but he has not been an aggressive j
candidate and did not seek the en
dorsement of the organization, which*
is on record for Judge Ostrander.
Mr. Whittlesey is very much im
pressed with the desire of the admin
istration to assist in the development
*
of Alaska, and looks for favorable
legislation upon the part of Congress.
Both he and Mr. Sexton look for a
large number of distinguished tour,
ists. including many members of
Congress and possibly President W‘!«
son the latter part of July or August,
There is an epidemic of scarlet
fever on Douglas island and strin
gent quarantine regulations have
been put into effect. On Monday
Governor Clark issued a quaran
tine order that provides that chil.
dren under the age of 16 years are
not permitted to enter or leave
Treadwell until further notice. The
order is similar in all respects to
the order issued forbidding chil
dren to enter or leave Douglas. M
J. O'Connor, Mayor of Douglas, has
with the order of the Governor, for
bidding the children of Douglas to
gather in public places, and Tread
well has made an order that chil
dren must not go from Treadwell
to Douglas or from Douglas to
Treadwell.
The international boundary sur
vey parties have arrived in the White
river country, and have resumed
their work of marking the line be
tween Yukon Territory and Alaska.
The Canadian party mushed over
land from Whitehorse, while the
American party, headed by Asa Bald
win, went from Cordova on the rail,
road to McCarthy’s, whence they se
cured horse's and freighted in their
supplies. It is expected that the
remaining work will be completed
by fall.
Quite an unusual ice jam oc
curred at Mile 109, that fir a time
seriously Interfered with the com
fort of Section Boss Webb and his
crew. The ice floes from the Cop.
per river began piling about their
tents and threatened to destroy ev
erything about there, as well as
placing in jeopardy the lives of some
of the men. Quick action, however,
was taken and the coverings and
contents were moved to a place of
safety, while the jam continued to
grow in alarming proportions
The Alaska Road Commission has
started to work with thirty men near
| Juneau, on the Sheep creek divis
ion. It is expected to get the two
other divisions—Salmon creek and
Douglas Island roads under way
very soon. In alt there will be
employed upwards of one hundred
men during the greater part of the
summer,
... o-0—0—
The cleaning up spirit is every,
where in evidence.
k
INTERIOR MUG NEWS
Cordova, May 17.
M Finkelstein returned yesterday
from a trip to Chitina. When there
considerable excitement was caused
in the camp by the arrival of two
prospectors from the Kotsina coun
try. They came to town to get
additional supplies for the season
and brought with them samples of
free milling gold quartz that spark
led with flecks and nuggets of the
precious metal. The miners re_
ported that there were several inch
es in width of a stringer that they
believe came from a good lead
They will follow the stringer and
feel hopeful that they will develop
a vein that will soon warrant the
placing of a stamp mill. The prop
erty is located right off the Kot
sina river about twenty miles
from Chitina. It is across from Mr.
Gray's camp on Copper Mountain,
and three miles from the property
o? the Alaska-California Company,
that is owned by Capt_ Lathrop and
associates. The two men who made
the rich discovery are named Cen
tino and Canning. Tehy were for
merly section hands on the rail
road, but left last summer to go
prospecting.
A party of eight arrived on the
Alameda and will take the train on
Monday for the interior, going on
a prospecting and hunting expedi
tion to the Tiekel river country. In
the party is a family of three from
Lead, South Dakota, consisting of
W. C_ Hoppe, wife and boy. Oth
ers are William Clark, Alex Buchan
an. Ole Bravick, Mr. and Mrs. Jas.
Lewis. Mr. Lewis is known as
Black Beaver, the trapper." He
is one of the old time fur traders
and explorers, who has spent up
wards of twenty.three years in all
parts of Alaska. In 1893 he made
a trip by dog team from St_ Michael
toPoint Barrow, and from there to
the mouth of the Mackenzie river.
Mr. Lewis will be in charge of the
present expedition, which will lat
er be joined by two others from the
East. They will hunt glacier bear
and do some prospecting during the
summer They have puhchasedma
terial from the Arctic Lumber Com.
pany and will erect permanent quar
ters at Tiekel_ Expeditions will be
made from there.
Mr. and Mrs, H. F. Andrus, of
New York, who have been in town
for a week past, left for the inter
ior on the morning train They ex
pect to cross the Copper river at
Chitina in a small boat and will then
go on to McCarthy. From there
they will take horses and ride twen
ty-five miles to their camp on Rex
creek. Mr Andrus and George
Max Esterly are associated together
in working vast deposits of placer
property. Mr. Esterly is on Chit,
itu creek, about three milbs dis
tant from the Andrus camp. Mr.
Andrus took with him this monr
ing more than twenty men, as Mr.
esterly had wired that the present
force should be increased They
have been working these properties
lor several years and have all the
necessary hydraulic machinery in
stalled to make a good gold clean-up
this seasin, which continues until
George E. Baldwin is very hope
ful of future results from the prop
erty of the Mother Lode Mines Com.
pany on McCarthy creek. He re
turned from there on Friday, and-in
an interview states:
"A tram 6,600 feet long, which
was manufactured in St. Louis and
shipped to the claims has been de
livered on the ground, along with
60,000 feet of Washington fir and
the crew of ten men are now work
ing to install the tram that the ore
from the upper tunnels may be sent
to the creek and later freighted to
the railroad at the mouth of the
creek
“The engineers who have exam
ined the property claim that more
than 8,000 tons of b "it Trade ore
has been blocked out by the work
done and thiit the success of the
mine has been assured.
“The company will be on a ship
ping basis early this fall and will
continue shipments to Tacoma all
winter. The ‘ ore is of the same
grade as that shipped from the Bo
nanza, and the claims join the Gug.
genheim property.”
Exum, of (Mina,
for U. S. Marshal
i _
WASHINGTON, May 20—laito t!iK afternoon the I’reMklcnt sent to
tli” Senate the name of K. \V. K\uiu as l . S. Marslvtl for the Third di
vision of Alaska. , ,,
WASHINGTON, May 20—There has been a big light on over
the appointment of a United States Marshal for the Third di
vision of Alaska. National Committeeman Cheney and the
“organization” at first endorsed Al. Dowling, of Valdez, then
it was found that some of the members of the Territorial com
mittee personally gave endorsement bo both Bob Ferguson anti
George Dreibelbus- Mr. Cheney then switched his endorse
ment to Frank Kernan, and a strong effort was made to land
him. In the meantime E. W. Exum, of Chitina, appeared on
the ground, and Senator John Sharp Williams, of Mississippi,
immediately got, busy in his behalf. lh- secured the support
of a number of Southern Senators and Representatives. To
day it is reported that the President lias practically given as
surance that he will soon send tD tin* Senate the name of Mr.
Exum .
WASHING'!'! )N, May 20—Late yesterday afternoon the Pres
ident sent to the Senate tin* name of Emmet R. Jordan, of Nome,
to be U. S- Marshal for the Second Alaska division. He will
succeed Thomas Cadcr Powell, formerly of Portland, who is
about completing his second term. Mr. Jordan has resided in
Nome for six or seven years past. For a time he was engaged
in mining and of later years has been an excavating contractor.
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, May 16-—Somewhat of a startling propo
sition was presented to Congress yesterday. It was in the
form of a joint resolution, introduced by Representative John
Hall Stevens, of Texas, a member who has served for sixteen
years. He explained that lie* offered it at the request of the
Universal Peace Union, of Philadelphia- The resolution pro
poses to cede, as ail act of international courtesy, a strip of land
in Southeastern Alaska, five hundred and forty miles long and
ten miles wide, so that Western Canada can have an outlet to
the Pacific ocean. As the boundary line between the United
States and Canada was only established a few years ago, and
the lines not yet entirely miarked, and as the question now
raised was discussed and disposed of at that time, fe wof the
members take tin* resolution seriously.
-U-U—u
WASHINGTON, May 1(5—Sesretary of the Interior Lane,
since his induction into office, has given serious thought to the
Alaskan situation. He has heat’d tl • opinion of Alaskans
from every section of the territory am! ins studied the acts of
his predecessors and the presidential withdrawal orders. Be
ing a Pacific coast man he naturally - an insight as to the
conditions in the north. He has evid dy reached his conclu
sions, and the result is a firm friend the territory. In a
letter sent yesterday to Senator Ivey I'd nan, chairman of the
Senate committee on territories, the Secretary endorses the pro
ject of a government owned railroad as the best means of bring
ing the mineral and agricultural sources within the reach of
the wtorld. He goes further and adds. “It is tin* only way to
make that northern country a real part of the world."
-A-A-A
Cordova. M"y 20.
Nine men lmd a narrow escape from being engulfed in the
waters of the Pacific ocean Sunday night. Five of them are
residents of Cordova, as follows: Thos N on Sponser, Carl
A. .Johnson, Carl Carlson, Ben llinna and Ed Oss, while four
were fishermen from the Orca cannery. At the mouth of
Martin river, near Katalla, tin* Northwestern Fisheries Com
pany is engaged in driving piles for a iisli trap. The steamer
Bancroft, a pile driver and a scow was at that locality on Sun
day. The steamer sailed away and toward evening a gale of
wind and a heavy sea played havoc with the scow and pile
driver. After dragging their anchors and chains, and break
ing six anchors, both the driver and the scow, with men on each,
were blown adrift about live o’clock. They were tossed about
for hours by the angry waves and finally the barge was blown
ashore about fifteen miles distant, while the driver had a sim
ilar experience. When the storm, subsided the Bancroft re
turned to the river and could see no trace of either scow or
driver- She then steamed to Orca to take on more coal and
early Monday morning started back to locate the missing craft.
It was alter eleven o’clock when they located the hai ge with the
men all safe, and soon after discovered the driver. The top
part was blown away, and an elf r* was then made to free the
driver, which was successful toward evening. The steamer
Bancroft then steamed to Cordova and arrived here this morn
ing at five o’clock with all tin* men and the damaged driver,
which is now being repaired. The live men hem Cordova are
members of the Eagles lodge and last night ( uptain Burkee
took Secretary Dooley and a committee on iiJv launch to Orca,
preparatory to starting on a hunting expedition for the miss
ing men. Manage Ivownuin had secured word that all were
saved, so the Triton returned to town.
-o—o—o
The Ruby mining district is daily giving many evidences
that hereabouts is one of the richest gold fields of Alaska, anel
the elefeat of incorpioration of Ruby can in nowise be connecteel
with any question of the former fact. The defeat of incorpora
tion was due principally to the cries of “taxation’’ and
and “graft,” both of which are absolutely groundless, and
for which there was no justification.—Ruby Record.