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,
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
Office: Hote IChitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upoir application. They will be found reasonable for the
service given.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Month..... i -50
Six Months. 2.00
One Year. 3.50
LET US MINE OUR OWN COAL.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, SEPT. 9, 1911.
In assuming the city editorship of the Leader the incom
ing editor begs to make his how with some misgivings. This
is my first venture in journalism, but under the guidance of
the retiring editor who is a newspaper man of wide experience,
I hope to be able to supply my readers with all the news that
is worth printing. The ownership and management in no
wise passes from those able veterans in the journalistic field,
the Steel Bros., of Cordova, but should I choose to inject
small doses of ginger into these columns occasionally, I am
assured of their hearty support.
Expressions upon questions of public interest are earnestly
solicited from our citizens and each one shall have careful
consideration. If you will report items that otherwise will
escape our notice it will greatly assist in maintaining the high
efficiency which is required of every enterprise in this richly
endowed section of Alaska. My efforts shall be to build up
and not tear down, to assist every worthy enterprise by accord
ing it due publicity with “malice toward none and charity for
all ” Let us pull together for a bright future for Chitina and
vicinity. DR. CHAS. THOM.
--0000
OUR AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES.
We wish to again call the attention of our readers to the
agricultural possibilities of the country adjacent to Cintina.
A trip into the hills north east of town between the govern
ment trail and the Copper river will reveal a vast tract of
practically level land covered with a dense growai of native
shrubs and grasses with only here and there a large spruce
tree.
A soil that will produce such vegetation will certainly
produce abundant pasture and hay, to say nothing of the
domestic grains and vegetables which experience has proven
will thrive in this latitude. Just why thousands of fanners
will eke out a mere existence on rented farms in the old
states while here free homes await them for a little effort b
hard to understand. Abundant timber for building purposes
is at hand and the finest water in the world flows inlo deep
mountain lakes, through sparkling rivulets from snow capped
peaks above.
The scenery, too, beggars description, putting to shame
the vaunted beauties of the Adriondacks or even the Alps
themselves. The skeptical should come and see for themselves.
-oooo
r> SULZER’S LATEST SCHEME.
Congressman Sulzer solved the problem of the govern
ment of Alaska when he suggested the division of the district
into three territories, each to have territorial government.
Here is the answer to the argument of the unwieldi
ness of the country governed under one head; here is the
remedy of the chief objection that has been raised against
territorial government. No man who has lived in Alaska can
honestly claim that Alaskans are incapable of self-government
—the difficulty as we have seen it has been that the territory
was too large, too difficult of access and with interests too
diversified to be handled as a unit without the tremendous
friction which has tended to make the name Alaska almost a
joke in the eyes of the American people.
There can be no doubt in the thought of any fair-minded
man that with anything like a square deal southeastern Alas
ka, under any name, is not only ready to be made a territory
with all the responsibilities that the word implies, but with
very few years of preparation would be fit to enter the Union
as a full-fledged state. The same is true of Southwestern
Alaska. Both districts are peopled by practically the same
kind of people. Both are adjacent to the seaboard, both have
almost the same class of resources, and both have permanent
towns and settlements.
The country north of the Yukon is different, as Mr.
Sulzer says, in climate and conditions it more nearly comes up
to the general idea of Alaska as entertained by the average
American, and it has been the thought of coupling our portion
of the district insolubly to this region that has deterred many
people from allying themselves with the territorial govern
ment movement prior to this time.
Now, however, these with those who have gone on in
advance and blazed the way can meet on a common ground and
work, not only for a territorial form of government for this
region, but for ultimate statehood. Sounds pretty good,
doesn’t it!—Ketchikan Miner.
-oooo
There’s something wrong with the man in charge of the
scenery at Controller bay. On account of a howling gale and
mountainous seas it took Secretary Fisher and party two days
getting on board their ship there, which is going some for a
“land-locked harbor wherein the navies of the world can lie
at peace every day in the year.” The “muck-rakers” will
have to get another man in as boss of the weather oVer there.
—Exchange.
FHUnSS WHS lit
Mill H IS GiSI
Interior Alaska, thrust from the
glare of governmental spotlight by
the better sensation-yielding south
ern section, has opened a campaign
to reclaim federal attention to needs
of its own as vital as those of the
Katalla-Cordova-Seward district.
The fight for attention is being
waged through the local chapter of
the American Mining Congress, and
Secretary of the Interior Walter L.
I Fisher is the present objective.
Fairbanks was disappointed thai.
the secretary’s tour did not include
the “inside country” but the citizens
believe that while the secretary’s at
tention is rivited to northern affairs
the season is propitious for a cam
paign for legislative needs from any
part of the territory, and they are
working earnestly to get a fair rep
resentation of their plight before
him.
Two memorials have been formu
lated by the Fairbanks chapter, and
have been forwarded to the visiting
cabinet member by telegraph. They
tell their own story in the eloquence
of brevity. The first is as follows:
“The Tanana Valley is 400 miles]
long by thirty miles wide. It has
millions of acres of fertile agricul
tural lands and enormous undevel- j
o^ed mineral resources.
“Our greatest need is a trunk
railroad from the coast to connect I
with 4,000 miles of navigable river
system.
“Railroads started by private en
terprises have been discouraged by
the government's action. Railroads
probably cannot and will not be built
as commercial enterprises on account
of sparse population, v, ithout govern
ment aid.
“The Fairbanks section of the
American Mining Congress commend
the general plan of tne Chicago street
railway system as adapted to Alaska
conditions, whereby interest on the
cost of constructing lines in guaran
teed by the government and the prof
its after paying t.he working expen
ses and interest are divided equally
between the railroad builders and the
territory.
“We ask your favor and influence
I on behalf of this or some c..lier form
of government aid.”
The second memorial is as fol
lows:
‘‘This community consumes from
j 00,000 to SO.000 cords of wood year
ly. Wood is its only fuel, its aver
age cost is $10 a cord. The supply
within reasonable hauling distance is
practically exhausted.
‘Great coal fields at least five
times tlie area of the Bering and
Matanuska fields combined exist
within fifty miles. These were with
drawn from entry by the President’s
order of July 1. 1010.
“Coal is greatly needed for fuel
and power. The extensive mineral
deposits and other resources cannot
be developed without it. The stated
purpose of the executive orders cited
in the foregoing was to aid legisla
tion. Since the orders were issued
Congress has held two sessions with
out amending the existing law' or re
questing aid.
‘ The Fairbanks section of the
American Mining Congress respect
fully represents that the President’s
orders in effect abrogating the exist
ing law to aid leislation were not
legal or justifiable and request your
help to revoke same.
“Many coal entries have been pen
ding here five years and others have
been offered and rejected on account
of the President’s order of 1906. It
appears that such rejections have
been pending before the commission
er of the general land office without
action. The entrymen are thus de
nied access to tlie courts to test the
validity of the President's orders.
“We respectfully ask you to caus<
these appeals to be decided without
further delay. We submit that Alas
ka coal can and should be opened
by executive action. The existing
coal law is sufficient. Monopoly un
der it is impossible and further legis
lation is unnecessary.
“We appreciate your visit and your
j efforts and confidently hope for
speedy relief.”
—
When in need or job printing of
any kind give us a call.
DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO
SUPPORT WIC1RSHAM
_
The latest political dope from j
Fairbanks is to the effect that A. J. :
Daly, a Seattle attorney, who is the j
Democratic national committeeman
for Alaska, recently went into the
Iditarod for the purpose of tempo
rarily locating there In the hope of
aiding James Wickershant in secur
ing the nomination of that party for
Delegate to Congress.
The Tanana valley Democrats re
sent this alleged frame-up and de
clare that they have no more use for
Wickersham than the Republicans;
that he is a man without party, who
has no standing at Washington, and
they do not propose to have him
foisted on them as their candidate.
It is the intention to hold the con
vention at Valdez early next year,
probably in March, and to see to it
that no one but a Democrat be nom
inated or supported by the party.
Falcon Joslin, of Fairbanks; J. F. A.
Strong, of Iditarod, and Itobt. W.
Jennings, of Juneau, are mentioned
as available timber. either of whom
the leaders of Democracy consider
would make a strong candidate.
mtnuii me
urn ID SINE
. kan h rancisco, Sept. D.—A strike is imminent on the Har
nman lines, because Julius Kruttschmitt, director of main
tenance refuses to recognize the federation. This road has
always recognized the individual unions, but will not submit
to have grievances submitted to the federation. As the em
ployes receive ten per cent more wages on the Harriman lines
than any other operations tlie fight of the men is not consid
ered a just one and if they go on a strike a long and bitter
straggle will ensue.
•unSaq scq nosBas Xjps p?.> i
aq; ;r?i[) saAoad Apjaui aamrnou oijujaouiaQ aqj si,* a.uj!
-naaxa Aasuap AvaN aqj poddus oj Xpjjij ajojajaqj si paAasoojj :
piapisajj aauuoj ‘sapiqujuoa ^aAasooa jojipg Saijnqujao')
qoiqiii o* uorpjoqqnd aq* ui pajt?addt? seq uosn aa 'alojpooaa
no apipiB aAipqoajddu uu asnuoaq pjqj uoipaSSns aq^
ALASKA.
Grand, rugged country, of the north,
Who's mighty mounds of copper
stand.
Held by its ribs of iron, forth.
As vaunted wealth on every hand.
Rich, in your hoarded store, of gold
In some deep gravel bed you hide.
Or in your veins of quartz you hold,
The wealth, for which man has
died.
four mountains in their beauty wild!
Of giant race, a banished part
While I, though but a puny child,
May clasp your freedom to my
heart.
Your snow clad peaks, rear crested
heads.
To meet the northlands, changing
lights.
Where the forest king, his snow bride
weds,
And shrieking winds, with the
storm clouds fight.
While cuddling close to the moun
tain's feet.
Are lakes as clear as a maidens
glance,
Where millions of blossoms, the air
makes sweet,
And like fairy's at play, the sun
beams dance.
In you the mighty forces dwell
Wealth, health, and freedom, bend
the knee ,
For you, does nature care, full well,
Oh mighty land, beside the sea.
ORA BURROWS.
fW flora,
EUfiOPEAtT-. fDkm
||/**Cams.Perry, mgr.
PTHI BtST Or EVItYTHINO *
iNTnEmASTorratcin
135 RoonsWiTtiBATH-50SAMPif Rooms
FORFEITURE .NOTICE.
Notice is hereby given Charles Gar
■vood that his interest in the Tjose
rig rgoup of mines, will cease at the
?xpiration of the publication of this
lotice, unless he pays $30 as his
0i a re of the assessment work for
1904, $30 for 1905, $50 for 1906
mil $30 for 1909.
CHRISTIAN TJOSEVIG.
Dated this 14th day of Aug., 1911.
PHOTOGRAPH V
We do all kinds.
DEVELOPING:
3A Films.10 cents
3A Prints or postcards ... 7 cents
Other work in proportion.
NELSON & NELSON
( liitina, 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
P Opposite Chitina Trading Co.
|l The Only First-Class Cafe in
[ Chitina
> An.ericun and European I’lan
C
► i
* «
; Dinner 75c up :
*
A la Carte all day J
Cater to special dinner parties, j
Just Op
Billiards Pool
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
Bowling Alley
TIBBS BROS.
Chitina Bakery
& Coffee House
GESSNER & STANGNETH
Proprietors
FRESH BREAD
Cakes and Pastry
Always on Hand
Main Street, — Chitina.
U-44-44-44 4 44 44444444~4444-4~4
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, go2 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land Office!,
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatablc upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
J..t__•_(_•_•_L • t. * • •
OSBORNE
THE
PRACTICAL
Jeweler
CORDOVA, • ALASKA
Watches and jewelry at
Outside Prices
Leave Your Work at the Leader
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Pete’s Lodging
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AND
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CHiiiNA HEIGHTS
Bunks 25c; Beils 50c.
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r 1 ...... .
Chitina
Pharmacy
Drugs Toilet Articles
and magazines our
Specialties
Parisian Chocolates
The Best of the Bast
Mi Eleccion Cigars
An All-Havana Smoke
A. G. MOREY, Proprietor
Chitina, Alaska.