IF m IIFORMtllON
Cordova, December 11
The dog is now a most familiar
sight in Cordova and has always
been an important factor in the de
velopment of the territory. Stamped
ers going into the Chisana or Nel
china are on the lookout for the
husky animals who make it possible
to easily transport small supplies t.o
the interior sections. The mushers
usually speak very affectionately of
their dogs, and some are inclined to
be critical of the man who fails to
extend the proper consideration of
his faithful companions. And in
this connection "Uncle Hi” Sheridan
believes that the reading of the fam
ous “Eulogy of the dog,” by the
late Senator Vest, would prove not
only of interest, but cause many a
hand or foot to stay its cruel re
proof. Although Mr. Sheridan has
been for years one of the leading
operating officials in the Southern
Pacific railroad system, he has had
considerable experience in the north,
having been among the first to go to
the Klondike. He resigned his posi
tion as general superintendent at
New Orleans this summer and
joined the first stampede to the
Chisana. He recently returned for
additional supplies and will return
to the interior in a few days. But
he loves a dog, and thinks that
everyone else should, and doesn’t
know of any better reason for It
than is contained in the following:
The Eulogy of the Dog, one of
the most famous speeches ever given
by the late Senator George G. Vest,
of Missouri, was made in the course
of the trial of a man who had wan
tonly shot a dog belonging to a
neighbor. Vest represented the
plaintiff, who demanded $200 dam
ages. When Vest finished speaking,
the jury, after two minutes’ delib
eration, awarded the plaintiff $500.
The full text of the speech follows:
“Gentlemen of the jury—the best
friend a man has in this world may
turn against him and become his
enemy. His son or daughter that he
has reared with loving care may
prove ungrateful. Those who are
nearest and dearest to us, those
whom we trust with our happiness
and good name, may become traitors
to their faith. The money that a
man has he may lose. It flies away
from him, perhaps when he needs it
most. A man’s reputation may be
sacrificed in a moment of illcon
sidered action. The people who are
prone to fall on their knees to do
us honor when success is with us,
may be the first to throw the sisne
of malice when failure settles its
cloud upon our heads. The one abso
lutely unselfish friend that man can
have in this selfish world, the one
that never deserts him, the one that
never proves ungrateful or treacher
ous, is his dog. Gentlemen of the
jury, a man’s dog stands by him In
prosperity and poverty, in health
and in sickness. He will sleep on
the cold ground, where the wintry
winds blow and the snow drives
fiercely, if only he may be near his
master’s side. He will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer, he will
lick the wounds and sores that come
in encounter with the roughness of
the world. He guards the sleep of
his pauper master as if he were a
prince. When all other friends
desert he remains. When riches take
wings and reputation falls to pieces
he is as constant in his love as the
sun in its journey through tho
heavens. If fortune drives the mas
ter forth an outcast in the world,
friendless and homeless, the faithful
dog asks no higher privilege than
that of accompanying him to guard
against danger, to fight against his
enemies, and when the last scene of
all comes, and death takes the mas
ter in its embrace and his body is
laid away in the cold ground, no
matter if all other friends pursue
their way; there by his graveside
will the dog be found, his head be
tween his paws, his eyes sad but
open in alert watchfulness and
true even to death.”
»- If' u - —
Cordova, December 12
Recent arrivals from the Iditarod
report that the government party
under Jack Dalton is making good
progress in preparing to bring the
coal from the Matanuska fields to
the coast. They have the buildings
for both men and horses finished
at Knik and several other points
along the trail and expect to begin
I the work of transporting the coal
in a few days.
They are of the opinion that if
given a free hand Dalton will land
the coal at the coast in good time
but report that there is a friction
between him and Swift, the pay
master for the government. Dalton
was anxious that the work should
be rushed with all possible speed
wrhile the weather was such that
men could work to advantage. He
hired every man he could get and
put them to work. The paymaster
objected, believing that only the
men brought from the states with
the party should be employed. Dal
ton was forceable in his arguments
and is now in undisputed command.
The paymaster is understood to have
reported the matter to the depart
ment at Washington and the men
are waiting to see the outcome. They
all like to work for Dalton and
hope that he will be left in charge
as he is experienced and knows how
to get results.
As a result of the operations of
the government, Knik is experienc
ing a period of prosperity such is
it has never enjoyed before. Every
man in the camp who wants to work
is being given an opportunity.
J. A. Murphy, of Latouche, circled
among Cordovans while the North
western was in port. Mr. Murphy
has a low grade gold proposition lo
cated near the head of Passage
Canal which he will finance while
outside. Engineers who visited the
claims lats summer report that an
immense body of low grade ore
which will average $2.74 a ton is to
be found on the claims. It is Ideally
situatd, can be quarried and milled
for ?1 a ton. A large water power
capable of furnishing all the power
necessary is situated near the claims
which are only 4,000 feet from the
beach, where a wharf can be built
to give a depth of 40 feet with 100
feet of poling.
-O-o-O
Cordova, December 13
To see Alaska, or a large chunk of
the territory, by dog team is the
purpose of Deming Wheeler, a
Hoosier state banker. Neither the
element of time nor the expense en
tailed in the overland journy, will
cut any figure with Mr. Wheeler.
He is in Alaska for an outing; has
plenty of money at his command,
and is entirely free to follow his
own designs and inclinations.
Mr. Wheeler has outlined for him
self quite a lengthy mush, which will
take nearly the entire winter. His
plan is to start from Cordova, go to
Fairbanks, from thence to the Eagle
and Forty-mile regions; thence to
Ruby and the Iditarod, and from
thence to Seward. There is nothing
arbitrary about his planned itinerary
however. He will be guided in his
course entirely by his own whim or
caprice, and go wherever he may
wish.
While in Seward Mr. Wheeler
purchased a fine dog team from F.
L. Bailaine and Brorius & Noon
made him ■a sled just suited to the
purpose in view.
The pleasure seeker will be ac
companied on his journey by Scotty
Dalton, who has purchased a dog
team from Oscar Christiansen. Dal
ton will depart on the Northwestern
to join Mr. Wheeler at Cordova,
soon after which the mushers will
set out on their way.
Chlckimun Creek, In the Nelchina
district, is regarded as a stream of
splendid possibilities as a gold pro
ducer. It is a fairly large creek and
flows from the left limit into the
lower reaches of Crooked Creek. Its
name, in Chinook Indian nomencla
ture signifies money, and it seems
very probable now that it was a
happy thought that caused the orig
inal discoverer to so designate it.
In a letter received from William
Elliott, better known as “Billie the
Horse,” the writer ventures the
opinion that Chickimun will prove a
winner. This belief is founded on
prospects obtained by Elliott on this
creek. At the time he wrote he had
penetrated the overburden and at
tained a depth of three feet in wash
gravel, through which coarse gold is
liberally prevalent. Such a strong
indication very naturally inspires
the faith of Elliott, who writes that
he expects to find rich pay on bed-'
rock.
Cordova, December 15
Malcolm Brock, manager for S.
Hlum & Co., returned on the train
last night from a trip to Chitina. He
reports the interior town as lively
and says the business men are doing
a good business. This is especially
true of the hotels owing to the
heavy holiday travel from interior
points. Men are also constantly
coming from and going to the
Chisana and Nelchina camps. Sev
eral outfits left Chitina for Chisana
wh'Te Mr. Brock was there. They
were men who had been in the camp
and had located ground and had
come out for supplies.
Mr. Brock states that the people
of Chitina expect to hear of several
new diggings being reported in the
upper Tanana before spring. There
are many parties of prospectors scat
tered along the river who failed to
reach the Chisana owing to the low
water which prevented the steam
ers from reaching their destination.
The miners have spread out over
the country in the vicinity of the
places where they were frozen in,
intending to prospect until the
rivers were frozen and they could
proceed to the Chisana. Some of
them are sure to find pay as the
upper Tanana has always responded
to intelligent prospecting and the
Fairbanks men are experienced
miners.
The members of one party crossed
the divide and have been prospect
ing in the Slate Creek district. They
are reported to have found pay on
a creek but have not done sufficient
work to know’ how extensive it is.
The prospectors are working on
streams on both limits of the Tan
ana and as they have big outfits
many of them will not be heard
from until the opening of naviga
tion unless some other prospector
meets them by chance.
There is one sure thing and that
is that the streams of the upper
Tanana will be prospected during
the winter as they have never been
before.
Emil Mande is in a position to
fully realize the truth of the biblical
teaching that “vengeance is mine
sayeth the Lord.” He is the guest
of the city where he is working out
his fine of $90 and costs at the rate
of $2 per. The costs amounted to
$40.95 so Emil will be absent from
his usual haunts for about 65^
days. It is possible that the law
may overlook the 95 cents worth of
time if he proves himself handy
with the snow shovel.
It appears that the trouble started
when John Christianson poked Mr.
Mande in the eye. It was not an
upper cut, swing or fancy blow.
Just an ordinary garden variety of
poke. It did not even discolor his
optic. He swore to have vengeance
and after this will no doubt be satis
fied to leave it to the future to bal
ance accounts rather than attempt
to do so through the medium of the
commissioner’s office.
Mande swore out a warrant and
had Christianson arrested. His
friends tried to pursuade him to
let the matter drop but he wanted
vengeance. When the case came to
trial Christianson pleaded guilty to
handing Emil one and was given a
fine of $12 and costs. Christianson
then had Mande arrested on the
charge of assault and brought sev
eral witnesses into court to prove
his contention that he was not the
aggressor.
Judge Adams did not relish the
idea of Mande attempting to get
even by using his court to punish
Christianson for something which
he had started and could not finish.
The judge handed him a package
which will insure him a Christmas
dinner unless some kind friend
comes along with the $130.95. In
that case the services of the under
taker will be in demand as several
people will drop dead.
-o—o—o
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
IS NOW WELL LIGHTED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—Penn
sylvania avenue, the big broad
thoroughfare leading from the
Capitol to the White House, now
flames like Fifth Avenue. Here
tofore the avenue has been dark—
very dark—in spots. Washington’s
business men bestirred themselves
when they found that folks were al
luding to this historic thoroughfare
as a dark park, and obtained an ap
propriation which will result in to
night’s great illumination.
-0—o—o—.
BE A BOOSTER
MEXICAN CONGRESS HAS
ADJOURNED UNTIL APRIL
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 16.—Con
gress adjourned yesterday to con
vene again on April 2, 1914. Many
of the legislators expressed them
selves as being pleased with the op
portunity of getting away from the
political storms which have been j
disturbing the capital.
WASHINGTON^ Dec! 16.—The
House committee on immigration
and naturalization favorably re
ported the Burnett bill back to the
House with the recommendation
that it become a law. The bill is
accompanied by provisions providing
for the exclusion of Asiatics and
anarchists.
This is the measure in which the
western members of the committee
attempted to insert the joker which
would have classed the Japanese
with the Hindus and excluded them
also.
TO BE CONFIRMED AS
IDITAROD POSTMASTER
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—The
nomination of Albert Weil to be
postmaster at Iditarod was sent to
the Senate this morning for con
firmation. There was no opposition
to his appointment.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—The
House voted down the bill approved
by Postmaster General Burleson
authorizing contracts to be made for
the transportation of mail by an
aeroplane service. The members
did not appear to take the proposi
tion seriously and laughingly sug
gested that the department ought to
try it out in the more remote parts
of the country, particularly in
Alaska.
-O-0—o
OLYMPIA, Dec. 13.—Governor
Lester has intimated that he will
pardon former chief of police Wap
penstein of Seattle at an early date.
Wappenstein’s friends have been
active in their efforts to secure a
pardon and the governor has stated
that there was nothing to be gained
by keeping him in prison any longer.
In his opinion the shame and humili
ation which had been heaped upon
him by his conviction and sentence
were sutticient punishment.
-o—o—o
FRANCE INCREASES
BUDGET FOR 1011
PARIS, Dec. 16.—The increase in
Prance’s 1914 budget is estimated
at $160,000,000 over this year’s ex
penses according to an announce
thement made today. Army expenses
have increased $95,000,000 for
1914. Of this $41,000,000 went to
Morocco and $34,000,000 to defray
the cost of the three-year compul
sory military service instead of the
two-year service. France’s entire
budget for next year is estimated at
$1,100,000,000.
-o—o—o
Dr. C. L. Smith, accompanied by
his wife, left on this morning’s train
for Chitina, where he intends to
locate.
Dr. W. W. Trabue, of Fairbanks
is a recent arrival at the Windsor.
Jake Nafstedt, the well known
roadhouse keeper, is a guest at the
Rainier-Grand, having come from
Chitina on Sunday’s train. He has
been subpoenaed as a witness in a
case which is soon to be tried in
Valdez.
James J. Carscadden is able to be
about again, after having been
housed for some time with an attack
of rheumatism.
Commissioner L. A. Jones, of
Copper Center, arrived on last
night’s train. He is on his way to
Valdez to attend court and is regis
tered at the Windsor hotel.
Despite the fact that the change
in the schedule of the departure of
the trains for the interior was adver
tised, several passengers were left
this morning when the train pulled
out at 7 o’clock.
H. C. Feldman, of the North
western Hardware Company, who
has been in the states for the past
few weeks on a business trip, is ex
pected home on one of the first
boats. It is possible that he is a
passenger on the Alameda due here
Monday night.
mmsmmmsm
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Steamers via the INSIDE PASSAGE calling at Ketchikan, Juneau,
Katalla, Cordova, Ellamar, Valdez, Fort Liscum,
Latouche, Seward, and Kodiak.
STEAMER JEANIE
SAILING FROM SEATTLE ON
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10
California connections at Seattle with Alaska-Pacific S. S. Co.
Right is reserved to change this schedule without notice.
B. F. WATSON, General Agent. ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Agent.
Fast and commodious steamers sailing between Seattle,
Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Skagway, Cordova, Valdez,
and Seward, via INSIDE PASSAGE.
Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova—
December 10.ALAMEDA.December 19
December 20... .NORTHWESTERN... .December 29
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WHEN YOU ARE IN CHITINA
Why Don’t Yon Stop at the
OVERLAND HOTEL
The Best Hotel on the Copper River
A large reading room and lobby on the second floor for the
comfort of the traveler. ,
If you stop with us, you are sure to meet all your friends.
First-class Bar and Cafe in connection
H. T. STAFSHOLT and JAMES HYLAND, Proprietors.
HORACE LEACH, Manager.
* The Only Modern Hotel in Chitina
> Hot Water, and Baths Parlor and Heat
>
> Commercial Hotel
> John Palmer, Propr.
> FIRST CLASS BAR AND DINING ROOM
> CHITINA, I [ALASKA
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