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, 1ST9.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WTT.T. A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .•-.L'ilS
Six Months . “•?*
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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, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1913
APPOINTMENT OF MARSHAL
Everybody in this division will be glad that the question
of the United States marshalship has been finally disposed of.
If a resident of the Copper River country could not have had
the office there will be a general satisfaction in Cordova that
an applicant from our most deserving and neighboring town,
Katalla, should be honored with the appointment. The people
.who stood by their guns under the most adverse and trying
circumstances have shown a courage that is deserving of
substantial recognition. F. R. Brenneman has been a leading
candidate for the position from the start and his Indiana
sponsors have stood by him with a steadfastness and fidelity
that gives indication that they have faith in him as an indi
vidual and believe that he will creditably perform the duties of
the office and reflect credit upon himself and the administra
tion. That same feeling and hope will be entertained by a
large number of the people throughout the division. Cordova
extends greetings to the new marshal, hopes for his early
confirmation and wishes him well.
-u-u-u
ONE OF ALASKA’S CURSES
Where there is extortion and bull dozing in a commis
sioner’s district in Alaska, then it is to be expected that one of
the calibre of M. R. Healy should be found lurking about the
precincts. Healy was driven from office in the Chitina precinct,
but he is now found pursuing his old tactics as ‘ ‘ deputy ’ ’
United States commissioner and recorder in the White River
district, that includes the Chisana gold diggings. His old
impudence is asserting itself and he likely feels that he will
again have the protection of court officials, that formerly
extended from the bench to the office of the district attorney
and the marshal. But old prospectors will call the attention
of Judge Brown and the attorney general to the tactics of
“Judge” Morgan and Deputy Healy, and it is expected that
their sense of justice and protection to the courageous men
who have flocked to the new diggings will cause an early
change. In the meantime Morgan has secured his person from
the danger of vengeance upon the part of outraged miners by
departing for Dawson. It is reported that he personally drove
men off claims that some of his friends had blanketed, and
that he tore from his recording book 44 pages of locations that
had been “rearranged.”
Healy is now taking his turn and a party from Juneau
stated that among his first acts was to over-charge them for
filing location notices and affidavits of labor. Truly are the
men who live in Alaska or come to this territory law-abiding
and patient individuals. And that is as it should be, for in
time right and justice always triumph, however crooked and
daring may be the practices of some federal officials. As this
territory becomes settled and peopled with a permanent popu
lation possibly federal officials will have the same regard for
the rights of the people as they have in the older communities
f -n-O-O —
ECHOES OF FORMER DAYS
It is really unkind for James, Wkitam, McClellan and a
few other prospectors to take out five hundred to a thousand
dollars per day from their respective claims. And then for
McClellan to actually wash out $5,000 in two days, with only
five men shoveling simply breaks the limit. Those men haven’t
any regard for the feelings of the knockers, who look from afar
and, boldly proclaim that there is no gold in the Chisana
country. It certainly is discouraging to the big bunch of
tenderfeet to have all their theories exploded by the actual
production of the gold metal. But ’twas ever thus and the
echoes of the Klondike, Nome, Fairbanks and Iditarod remind
us that the agents of destruction were just as active then as
now. This point is illustrated by the following item which
appeared in the Valdez Prospector just ten years ago:
“T. P. Koehford returned this week from Fairbanks and
the Tanana, having polled a boat up the river to the mouth
of the Delta and coming from there to Slate creek with horses.
He reports the Fairbanks boom busted and most everyone
leaving there. Pay has not as yet been found, though there is
«ome gold there.”
-a—a—a
THE CHISANA KNOCKERS
Of course there are all kinds of opinions concerning the
value and the extent of the new gold diggings in the Chisana
country. But in that respect there is no difference between
the views held in the earlier days of the strikes in the
Klondike, Nome, Fairbanks, or Iditarod countries. And as in
those stampedes many hundreds are rushing to the Chisana
when they are so lightly equipped that about all they can do is
to turn around and mush out again. A large majority of these
men speak well of the country. It is mostly the men who
turned back at McCarthy’s, Chittistone or Skolai that give the
diggings a black eye. They are the kind of men who never
should have started, and the kind that the people of Cordova
sought to induce to turn back from here. Most of them were
lacking in both grub and courage, and left the states with the
idea that they were going on an exciting pleasure jaunt.
SOME GOLD STRIKE VAGARIES
Many of the erroneous reports spread broadcast upon the
part of mushers who went in and immediately came out of tht
Chisana gold diggings, as well as from men who only got as
far as Cordova, will have a much desired effect, whatever maj
have been the real intention of the knockers. They shoulc
serve to warn the tenderfeet that the hardships incident tc
mushing into the new country and the effort to locate and work
claims is as difficult for them as it would be for a lawyer tc
make a success in a machine shop or a physician to operate a
flouring mill. Many of these men are neither temperamentally
or physically capable of running up against the discourage
ments of packing grub on their back for a hundred miles anc
then to endure the discomforts of seeking gold when they have
to mush around looking for new creeks with possible values
They naturally are soon discouraged. Some of them very wisely
turn back at Cordova, others have gone as far as McCarthy’s
and then thought better of their rush. Others went to Chitti
! stone or Skolai before they realized that their grub was
| running short and would only last a few days.
home oi the men who are giving out signed statements
| like Walter Soderburg, formerly of Nome, did not get beyonc
| Cordova. Walter was here a couple of days and heard tin
1 same kind of talk from the first contingent of discouragec
“near seekers” as did experienced men who have made f
[success of placer mining in the Nome country. But it didn’1
deter men like Tom Lane, George Bunker, A. D. Nash, Jake
Berger, Tom Noyes and Albert Fink from starting to the
interior, while Walter occupied a comfortable room on tlu
steamer en route back to Juneau. And the same discouraging
talk was heard by P. I). Burtt and C. M. Clark, two experienced
mining engineers from San Francisco, and by scores more
of men who went into the new country properly equipped and
expecting to stay during the winter.
Of course there may be and are honest differences ol
opinion as to the extent of rich pay in the Chisana. But it is
a matter that will have to be demonstrated by actual work,
Prospecting has proven that good colors have been found in
a dozen different creeks within a range of ten to fifteen miles,
It is further known beyond question that there are several
rich claims on three creeks where rich pay has been taken out
continuously for the past month. During the past week or two
much earnest work has beenf started by men who are practical
placer miners and who are equipped with tools and food
supplies to remain in the country and work during the winter,
Possibly nine-tenths of the early rush were the men who simply
went with 30 or 40 pounds of grub on their backs, and as it
was then impossible to buy food in the new country they were
compelled to immediately return. And many of them did not
have funds sufficient to buy food if it had been available.
Then again many of the mushers who went in soon
realized that the well known creeks had all been located. They
did not have the energy to strike out a little farther and try
to find colors and pay on some of the many other streams that
are tributary to the Chisana aud but a few miles distant. Il
is all right for men and newspapers to warn the tenderfeet tc
wait awhile, but when the assertion is made that there i nr
gold in the Chisana country, or that the Skolai trail from
McCarthy’s is something terrible to contemplate, malicious
misstatement is made, for the contrary has been undeniably
proven. And now comes Dr. D. D. Cairnes, geologist for the
Canadian government, who has just examined the Chisana field
and declares that gold is there and that it is the biggest strike
since the Klondike. After hearing from the doctor and having
heard the personal experiences and observations of scores ol
reliable mining men who have returned to Cordova, we arc
inclined to believe that Walter Soderburg may be slightly
mistaken about the Chisana gold fields.
————0—0—0
Tlios. Riggs, Jr., who has been connected with the Alaska
boundary survey in the fartherest parts of the north, for many
years past, is a visitor in Cordova. He has just completed a
notable work under most trying conditions. Mr. Riggs was
strongly recommended for appointment as governor of Alaska.
The one thing that operated to prevent his selection was the
fact that lie was not a bona fide resident of the territory, even
though he had spent several years here in performing a
hazardous undertaking.
Efforts are being made to construct a telephone line from
Valdez to Slump Bay, where it will connect with the line
running to the Gold King and Cameron-Johnson claims and
that shows enterprise upon the part of our neighbors in a live
mining town.
Harvey Sullivan says that lie always did hate to make a
change in his business arrangements during the dreamy
summer days. Time enough to think of disagreeable things
during the winter of our discontent. And Harvey further says
that he don’t care how many years President Wilson gives to
considering the United States marshalship question for this
judicial division. He is patriot enough to hold on until the
President disposes of the Mexican question and any other
matters of serious moment.
Judge Brown has sailed for Seattle from Juneau but he
! overlooked the little fact that he might have rewarded the
i loyalty of a good Democrat, and at the same time improved the
conditions in the Chisana gold diggings, by appointing a new
United States commissioner. He will likely attend to the
matter shortly.
Delegate Wiekersliam certainly hits the nail on the head
when he declares that the territorial treasury needs the 1 per
cent tax that the tariff bill imposes on the gold output from
Alaska.
Wonder how many stampeders are fooled these days into
thinking that the three weeks’ mush from White Horse is
preferable to the six days’ mush from McCarthy’s. On the
last steamer two stampeders got off at Skagway. They come
to Cordova by the fifties and hundreds.
The Dawson News Publishing Company will be the first
in the field at the new Chisana gold diggings with a newspaper.
The plant is now on the way up the White river and it is
expected that soon after the plant is established that a wireless
service will be furnishing the news of the world to the interior
country. The present editor of the Daily Alaskan formed the
Dawson News Publishing Company about 15 years ago and
established the first daily newspaper at Dawson.
A map recently issued by the |
Alaska Railroad Commission gives
the survey of‘a line of railroad from
McCarthy’s over Skolai pass into the
White river country. It is the route
surveyed originally by the Copper
| River & Northwestern Railway for
I an extension of their line. It
leaves McCarthy’s, winds around
Sourdough hill and crosses the
Nizina river between Chittitu and
Dan creeks, follows the Nizina to
the mouth of the Chittistone. and
then instead of following that river
it continues up the Nizina and
around the Nizina glacier to Skolai
creek on to Skolai pass, and along
Russell glacier and around a lake
and then over to the headwaters of
the White. This is practically the
winter route that the Alaska
Boundary survey party and others
use during the winter season. The
only difference is that Russell
glacier is crossed and the detour
around the lake is saved, shortening
; the railroad distance from Me-'
j Carthy’s to the mouth of Solo creek
| from 69 miles to 65 miles. As the
j distance from the mouth of Solo to
| Bonanza creek in the new diggings
is generally accepted at 2S miles it j
would make the length of the winter '
trail 93 miles, apportioned as fol- j
lows:
__ I
Winter Route from McCarthy’s
Miles
McCarthy's to Dan creek. 15
Dan to mouth of Chlttistone. . 5
Chittistone to Nizina glacier.. 11
Around part glacier to Skolai
creek . 5
Along Skolai creek to Skolai
pass . 17
Over part Russell glacier. C
From glacier to Solo cabin.... 6
From cabin to Bonanza creek.. 28
-!
Total . 93
Another winter route to the new
diggings has been discovered that
it is believed will prove shorter
and more accessible, and which
avoids Skolai pass. It follows the
route as above for 31 miles to the
Nizina glacier. Then it crosses the
j full length of the Nizina glacier and
j its continuation Chisana glacier to.
the mouth of the Chisana river, a,
distance of 38 miles. From the \
mouth of the Chisana it is about 13
| miles to discovery on Bonanza or j
to the mouth of Wilson creek, mak- j
| ing the entire distance from Me- J
j Carthy's to Bonanza 82 miles, as
I follows:
_
Xew Shorter Winter Route
stiles
1 McCarthy’s to mouth of Chitti
stone . 20
Chittistone to Nizina glacier. . 11
Across Nizina and Chisana
glaciers . 38
From headwaters Chisana river
to Bonanza or Wilson creek. 13
Total . 82
- ;
Slimmer Route from McCarthy's
The present summer route to the
Chisana gold fields is about 99
miles, as follows:
Miles
McCarthy’s to Nizina Roadhouse 12
To Dan creek. 5
To Glacier creek. 15
To Breedman’s Chittistone road
house . 17
To Skolai pass . 6
To Russell glacier . 2
Across glacier . 8
To Solo cabin . 6
j To Bonanza creek. 28
| Total . 99
The revenue cutter Thetis is ex
pected in Valdez any time now,
| bringing the members of the float
; ing court from the westward. Judge
i Jennings will take up any unfinished
! or pressing business at Valdez, as
l the last term was adjourned until
| the fore part of this month. lie will
| go to Seward and hold a special term
I there on September 22, returning to
j Valdez in time to open a regular
! term on October 15. After finishing
there and if there is business to
justify it, a term of court may be
held at Cordova. In the meantime
Judge Brown will hold court in
Southeastern Alaska.
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.—The
Senate committee on banking re
ceived a deputation of bankers to
day. They presented the objections
of the bankers of the country to the
present currency bill. This visit
was the result of a big conference of
bankers recently held at Chicago,
where the bill was thoroughly dis
cussed. ,
i • - <—•
Chitina GRILL
Good Pats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Set vice.
Next to Cliitina Hotel,
CHITIXA
ALASKA.
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Pharmacy
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If you cannot call, write
us. MAIL orders our
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GROCERIES, HARDWARE
■■ ANP=r ~
MEAT MARKET
We have a big line of Sec
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save you money on your out
fit. Bunk House, with free
Cook House, in connection.
CHITINA HEIGHTS
C. A. SIMONS & CO.
Feed, Fuel
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HAY, BRAN, OATS, CHOPS,
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We can make prompt ship
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road.' Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITINA
KILLARNEY, Ireland, Sept. 2.—
Earl Kenraore suffered a severe loss
last night. Killarney castle, famous
for many years, was almost totally
destroyed by fire.
VANCOUVER, B. C„ Sept. 2.—A
big crowd last night witnessed a
good fight between Leach Cross and
Frank Barrieau. They boxed for
12 rounds and at the conclusion it
was declared a draw.
ALBANY, Aug. 29.—Lieut. Gov.
Glynn has been formally recognized
as the acting governor of New York.
It is noth thought that Governor
Sulzer will offer much further pro
test, but will now direct his efforts
to building up his defense for the
impeachment trial next month.
PANAMA, Sept. 2.—The last bar
rier to the Pacific end of the
Panama canal was removed yester
day afternoon when a charge of
dynamite created the final opening.
It is anticipated that now every
thing will rapidly go forward to
completion.