THIRD YEAR.
CHITIXA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1012.
N I’MBER rt.
OF ■
SAETTLE, Dec. 17—The federal
government has instituted suit for
$100,000 against the Pacific Coast
Company, the Northwestern Com
mercial Company and the John J.
Sesnon Company, as the beneficiaries
of a conspiracy entered into in April
1008 to hold up the government on
certain coal contracts at Nome and
other parts of Alaska. This action
i- the result of the recent trial and
conviction of Chas. E. Houston, of
Seattle, and John H. Itullock, of
Portland. Their trial occupied
twenty days and was bitterly fought,
although a verdict of guilty was ren
dered on Oct. 10 and the two defend
ants are now serving terms in the
penitential y. These men were in
the employ of the Pacific Coast and
Sesnon companies, while the late
Capt. Jarvis was alleged to have re
presented the Northwestern Commer
cial Company. The matter is one
that has attracted wide-spread atten
tion, and the action today was not
entirely unlooked for, by reason of j
certain evidence brought out at the
recent trial.
-o—o—o
LITTLE HOCK, Dec. 17—A most
remarkable action was taken this ■
morning by Governor George \V. j
Donaghey, when he issued pardons!
to 320 convicts, who are under sen
tence in the Arkansas penileneiury.
For a long time a fight has been on
between two elements, one of wliich
desired to lease the penitentiary and
to pay so much for the keep of the
prisoners, they in turn to lie worked
on roads and in mills, under con
tract. The Governor has bitterly op
posed this method, but he has been
in a losing fight. And now, rather
than to see it put in effect, he has
taken the drastic and unprecedented
action of issuing pardons by the
wholesale. When the news was first
flashed over the state it caused great
consternation, and the excitement
promises to continue for some time.
-O-0—0
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18—Fred
Dennett, Commissioner of the Gen
eral I.and Office, made an announce
ment today that, while not entirely
unexpected, will be a sore disappoint
ment to the friends of Alaska. He
stated that he had concluded the in
vestigation for the year of the Alaska
coal claims, in the Bering river and
Mutanuska fields. He has had a
large force of special agents out for
many months past, nnd as their re*
ports have been submitted to him
Mr. Dennett has taken action. In-1
vestigation and report has heen made
on 030 claims, most of which claims
have been from time to time ordered
canceled. Of the two hundred re
maining of the 030, on which pre
vious action had not been taken, the
Conunisioner announced that he has
just ordered canceled 114. And thus
far he has not allowed one claim to
go to patent.
This action of Commissioner Den-1
nett seems to he in line with the
policy of Secretary Fisher. After
his return from Alaska in September
of last year he stateu that he would
allow patents to all hnna tide claim
ants. hut smingly intimated that up'
to that hour not one of such had
been found. The friends of Alaska
contend that Secretary Fisher and
Commissioner Dennett have thrown
so many peculiar rules and interpre
tations of law around their require
ments that it is impossible fo an hon
est claimant to get title. Their hope
is that some legislation may be en
acted by Congress which will give
them the right to go into court and
there prove that they have fairly and
reasonably complied with the law,
and that many of the interpretations
upon which the adverse action of
the Interior department is based are
not founded on the statutes. The
department seems desirous of retain
ing title in the government to all the
coal in Alaska, and to operate on a
leaking system.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10—Secre
tary of the interior Fisher has sub
mitted his annaul report. In it he
expresses the opinion that a terri
torial form of government is better
adapted to the needs of Alaska than
the effort to control the situation
from a remote distance. The infer
ence is that the control through Con
gress and by the bureaus has not
been a decided success. Mr. Fisher
still adheres to his oft repeated views
concerning the transportation and
coal situation of Alaska. He recom
mends that the government build a
trunk line railroad from some point
on tide water to the Matanuska coal
fields and on to the Yukon or lamina
rivers. He favors a leasing law for
the development of the minerals.
and especially of the coal, with a
sufficient reservation of coal to sup
ply the needs of the navy for years
to come. While Mr. Fisher per
sonally continues to favor the Seward
route, he has refrained from so ex
pressing himself because of the ap
pointment of a railroad commission
and the report that this commission
is expected to make in a few days,
when a specific route may be recom
mended.
-o-0—o
Victor Carmichael, who recently
came out from Cripple City, the main
camp of the new strike on the Innoko
and tributaries, brings word of a gen
eral rush into the Innoko country
from Ruby, Fairbanks and even as
far north as Nome.
“The winter digging has proved
the creeks richer than any one had
expected,” Mr. Carmichael said.
“Hugh Marlin, on Eldorado, a tribu
tary of the Innoko, has struck dirt
that runs $7.50 to the foot. Louie
Grimsmore and C. Dean Officer struck
$2.60 dirt on Montana creek working
with a drill.
“Good pay has been taken out on
Fox gulch and many of the other
smaller creeks. Men are coming in
over the snow from almost every
camp in the North. The day before
I left a party of twelve arrived from
Nome. It looks like the next rich
camp in that country.”
Cordova, Dec. 17.
Dr. Chase returned from Chitina
yesterday afternoon, where he and
George Dooley worked a strong senti
meet favorable to the Fraternal
Order of Eagles. The Seattle aerie
already has twenty members at
Chitina, but after the two big chiefs
scoured the town thirty additional
applications were received and the
initiation fees paid over. In the
course of time these applicants will
be elected members and their initia
tion will follow. On Saturday night
at the Chitina hotel cafe the old mem
bers, and those who shortly expect to
be shown how high real live birds
can fly, tendered an elaborate ban
quet to the Chase-Dooley bird keep
ers.
■-o—o—u
NEW YORK, Dec. It—The federal
grand jury has indicted a high rail
road official for giving rebates. He
is J. Carstensen, vice President and
head of the accounting department of
the New York Central lines. This
actoin has caused quite a flurry
among railroad men generally, for
they know not where the lightning
may next strike.
It was only a few days ago that the
O’Gara Coal company and three sub
sidiaries of the New York Central
lints were indicted by the federal
grand jury on charges of rebating.
The railroads were held for giving,
and the coal corporations for accept
ing, rebates to the amount of $60,00
ment also was voted, against Thomas
O’Gara, president of the coal corpora
tion, but this was withheld until the
grand jury has had time to act on
other true bills against individuals,
officials of the railroads, and the coal,
company.
TRAIL TOR WHITE RIVER MINERS
Cordova, Dec. 16.
There is urgent need for a trail or
road to run from the Copper River &
Northwestern railroad at Blackburn,
or Mile 192,’through the Nazina and
Chittistone country and across Scolai
Pass into the White River country.
There are a large number of miners
and prospectors operating in that sec
tion, around Canyon City and other
localities. Heretofore it had been
practically impossible for them to get
their supplies in other than by the
circuitous and expesive route from
Dawson. The government is soon to
start on the construction of a bridge
across the Nazina river, and if the
Alaska Road Commission coulu se"
their way clear to expend an adcli ion
al $20,000 in the construction of a
trail that would benefit the country
referred to, and aid largely in its de
velopment, it would also be of ma
terial benefit to the large number of
men operating in the Nazina jountry.
A meeting of the Cordova Chamber
of Commerce will be held on Wednes
day evening next to discuss the mat
ter and consider a petition sent in
from the White river. At that meet
ing L. M. Price, the Katalla company
engineer, and the man who has made
a survey from the railroad junction
point at Blacburn, will be present
and give valuable information on the
supject that concerns all our people.
All possible argument and pressure
should be brought to induce the Road
commission to provide for the con
struction of this much needed trail,
and there should be a large attend
ance at the Chamber of Commerce
, meeting, where action will he taken
tending to encourage and advance the
project.
White River, Alaska. July 19, 1912
TO THE CITIZENS OP CORDOVA:
We, the undersigned, being inter
ested in the development of White
River, and wishing to secure the co
operation of the citizens of Cordova
in petitioning the Government to put
a trail through the Skolai Pass to
give us a means of getting supplies in
from Cordova, have made up this
statement setting forth the difficulties
we are laboring under to get our sup
plies under present conditions.
At this time the supplies being
brought in from Whitehorse and
Dawson, amounting to eighty or nine
ty tons annually, necessitate a trip
of three hundred and fifty (niiles each
way by means of pack horses from
Whitehorse and three hundred miles,
mainly by poling boats from Dawson.
This means a freight charge of 25 to
30 cents a pound for everything used
in here, which addedto the Initial
cost of supplies in those towns, makes
it prohibitive of any but just the
absolute necessities. Probably two
thirds of the goods used ,n here are
of American manufacture and conse
quently we also have to pay a duty
of 25 per cent to 60 per cent on
goods that are brought beak across
the boundary to be used.
With a means of getting our goods
in at a reasonable cost there would
be a great many more prospectors in
the field as the present high prices
are keeping out a number of men that
would be with us if conditions were
more favorable. There are several
properties in here that are showing
up well as far as present development
has shown but this development has
been restricted by conditions to just
the assessment work in most cases.
We have asked the Goverment to
grant us a post office and have rea
son to believe it will be created in the
near future, giving us a service from
Chitina as also a recording office,
for our recording has been done at
Steele creek on the Fortymile and at
the Nebesna office.
It is the opinion of men here that
have been over the Pass that it will
take probably twenty thousand dol
lars to put a trail through in shape to
bring goods in by means cf pack
horses or sleds from the railroad.
We hope this will meet with your
approval and support as it will great
ly benefit us and will also be to the
advantage of your city.
(SINGED) R. W. Wiley, Mine
owner; Dora Keen; Andrew M. Tay
lor, Miner; Edward Benson,, Miner;
E. Fred Wann, E. M.; Leonard Scho
field Surden, M. D.; W. E. James,
Prospector and miner; Geo. W. Han
dy; Mrs. W. E. James. Prosepector;
H. E. Morgan, Capitalist; Joseph
Hutching, Miner; Edw. E. Hale,
Miner; Joseph J. McDonald, Miner;
Solomon Albert. Miner; J. P. Mc
Lallan, Miner; E. W. Carden, Pros
pector; G. Skelly, Miner; John C.
Griffith, Prospector; E. Mullett, Min
er; Lee Green, Miner; Thos. Clair,
Miner; James Livingston, Miner; O.
O. Gunsmore, Mine owner; J. Dalton,
Miner.
RECOVER BODIES FROM SLIDE
Cordova, Dec. 18.
The bodies of all the victims of
the snow slide at Copper Mountain
have been recovered. This after,
noon Chas. X. Crary came down from
the mine and brought the bodies of
Bud Gallagher and Leo Muth. The
former will be shipped to Ely. X'eva
da, and the latter to Walla Walla,
Wash. The body of .John McGavock
is also at Lambert’s undertaking
parlors, awaiting shipment to Den
ver. The body of Tony Suzumoto
the Japanese waiter, had just been
buried at Copj>er Mountain when a
wire was received to ship it to Cordo
va. It was taken up and will be sent
here on Friday’s train, and will be
buried by the Jap boys in town. Axel
Fast will be buried tomorrow at
Chitina. The remaining four bodies
have been inteiTed on Copper Moun
tain. They are Hugh Arnold, Gunder
Gunderson, Fred Walile and John
Barkko.
Mr. Crary states that the upper
camp has l>een practically abandon
ed. Superintendent Xagle, Bill Ar
nold and a few others are at the low
er camp, about three miles distant,
where the saw mill is located. They
will spend the next couple of weeks
getting out logs, awaiting the arrival
of general manager E. F. Gray, who
will sail from Seattle on the ‘JOth.
It is expected that arrangements will
be made to immediately put up new
DEAD BODIES RECOVERED
John MoGnvock, Engineer.
John Harkko, Miner.
Bud Gallagher, Miner.
Leo Math, Blacksmith.
Axel Fast, Engineer.
Hugh Arnold, Miner.
(Jus (Junderson, Blacks, helper
Fred Wahl. Cook.
Toney Suzumoto, Waiter.
RECOVERED ALIVE
W. W. McCarthy, Mner
Key Oda, Jap Cook.
buildings and get things in readiness
so that the work at the mine can be
continued. Nothing, however, will
be definitely known until the arrival
of Mr. Gray. Mr. Orary states that
Mr. N'agle and several others had
narrow escapes from get in;' caught
by the avalanche of snow. Some of
them were knocked down but man
ageed to get away from the force of
the slide, which came suddenly and
with terrific force.
On Saturday last another dead
body was recovered from the snow
slide that occurred at Copper Moun
tain on Dec. 8th. It was that of
Axel Fast, an engineer. That
makes six bodies recovered, with
three still buried under the avalan
che of snow. The body of John Mc
Gavock is now at Cordova, awaiting
shipment to Denver Axel Fast’s
body was brought to C'nitina and will
be buried there Tuesday. The other
bodies will be interred at Strelna.
A force of men is still at work on
the snow and it is expected that the
three other bodies will be recovered
in time. Of the two men who were
only slightly caught by the slide and
soon relieved from their dangerous
predicament, W. W. McCarthy now
feels no bad effects from the accident,
and is about as usual. The other,
Kay Oda, is in the Cordova hospital,
with both legs broken, but it is get
ting along very satisfactory
AVhen the accident occurred E. F.
Gray, general manger of the Great
Northern Developent Company, was
in New York. He is now on his way
across the continent and expects to
reach Seattle in time to take the
steamer Mariposa on the 20th.
Until he arrives it will not be defi
nitely known what his plans are for
replacing the destroyed buildings and
continuing with work in the tunnels
Orders had been placed at Cordova
for turkeys and all the other accom
panying good things for the thirty
men, for Christmas dinner. But it
is not now expected that more than a
dozen will be there.
SAYS BARNETTE GUILTY
VALDEZ, Dec. 1*1—For eight days
past the trial of Capt. E. T. Barnette,
; formerly President, and Lew Wing,
, formerly cashier, of the defunct Alas,
j ku* Washington hank, of Fai -banks,
has been occupying the attention of
Judge Lyons court. The indictment
on which tli »se two former officials
were being tried charged ho til with
making and issuing a false statement
of the true condition of the bank.
The jury was out fire hours and when
they reported this morning it was
that Capt. Barnette was guilty and
Wing not guilty* The case was bib
terly contested from the start and a
deep interest was evidenced by the
crowds that always attended the
court sessions.
In the scores of indictments that
were returned by the grand jury
against the various officials and |
others who had dealings with the j
defunct bank, eight were against'
('apt. Barnette. The first indictment |
tried charged Capt. Barnette and B.
R. Dusenberry with intent to deceive
and defraud in publishing a certain
bank statement. A jury was waived
and the case was tried by Judge
Lyons. He decided that the defend
iints-were” not~guilty.^Tlie~second
ease was taken up on the 11th. The
indicted men were (’apt. Barnette
and Lew Winn. They were charged
with perjury, in swearing to a false
hank statement.. .The evidence soon
brought cut the fact that neither men
made affidavit to the statement, so
in a short time the court directed the
Jury to return a verdict of not guilty,
which they did without leaving the
box. In all there ore eight indict* j
ments against "crnette and
another will djw g., U> trial*
If OF
AN ALASKA FARMER'S
IMMENSE CROP
P. J. Rickert. the well known Fair
banks farmer, passed through Chitina
on his way to the states last Tursday.
Mr. Rickert has been engaged in
farming and truck gardening near
Fairbanks since 1906, and now has
fifty acres under cultivation. He
has three hot houses 100x20 feet in
area and employs five to twenty men
the year around. The crops raised
by Mr. Rickert illustrate the wonder
ful productiveness of Alaska's soil.
He raised 30 tons of potatoes, for
which he eceived five cents a pound,
thirty tons of cabbage at 7 to 10
cents a pound, fifteen tons of carrots
at 7 to 10 cents per pound, tlires
tons of beets at 7 to 10 cents per
pound, 12 tons of rutabagas at 7 to
10 cents per pound, 1 ton of parsnips
at twenty cents per pound, 50 tons of
oat hay at fifty dollars per ton,
twenty thousand heads of cauliflower
In addition to the above Mr. Rickert
marketed quantities of onions.rad
ishes, lettuce, tomatoes and straw
berries raised under glass as well as
500 cantaloupes which he sold for one
dollar per pound. The succe?j which
has attended Mr. Rickert’s eft arts
leads one to think that mining for
spuds and vegetables in the Tatiana
may be even more profitable than
mining for gold.
-o—o—o
FORMER CH1TIXAITE
STRIKES IT RICH
J. Luterman worked for Bob Mc
Intosh the freighter, at Chitina, last
winter. In March, he left for Fair
banks with fifteen dollars in his poc
ket. Arriving at Fairbanks, he pros
pected for quartz with such success
that he came through Chitina less
than nine months later with a draft
for twenty thousand dollars in his
pocket, a five hundred dollar diamond
on his finger, a three hundred dollar
coat on his back, a couple of thousand
dollars for spending money and twen
ty-one thousand dollars due him on
the first day of July of next year.
All of this the result of one summers
work. And yet some people say that
the day of quick fortunes in Alaska,
is over.
A wire received yesterday by Mar
shal H. K Love from Deputy Mar
chal Harry Sheppard, of Iditarod, who
is now in Cordova, state's that the
Seward trail is not open at this time
and he will have to come by way of
Fairbanks in traveling to his post in
the lower river camp. It is apparent
that but little Iditarod travel has
been directed by way of Seward this
winter, for had the trail been broken
at all, Deputy Sheppard would have
attempted the route.—Fairbanks
Tini'es.
By an order signed by Judge Ful
ler, at Fairbanks, permission to in
coruorate was granted to the town of
Tanana. An election to determine
w'hether or not the town should in- j
corporate was held a little more than
a month ago and 85 voted for incor
poration with only 21 against. A
town council has already been elected
and from this time out it w'ill be em
powered to act officially for the town.
Adrienne Arthur, who joined the
“Red Rose” company at Seattle last
v/eek, is the wife of Albert G. Stamm,
formerly a newspaper man at Valdez.
Miss Arthur last year was in vaude
ville. She comes of a family of ac
tors. She met Mr. Stamm in Valdez
last summer while with a party of ex
cursionists. and a wredding followed.
-o—o—o
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18—The
President has sent to the Senate the
re-appointment Of Wm. L. Distin, as
Surveyor General and ex-officlo Secre
tary of the territory of Alaska. This
is a position that Gen. Distin has
held since his appointment by Presi
dent McKinley In 189?.
RAISING OF FOXES
A PROFITABLE VENTURE
Frank Small who resides on the
railroad between Chitina and Kenni
cott, brought in a fine specimen of
silver gray fox. last week. The fox
was alive, having been caught in a
trap by an Indian. Mr. Small sold
the animal for $800 to the represent
ative of a New Brunswick fox farm
association. The New Brunswick
people have purchased a number of
live foxes lately. McCrary of Copper
Center having sold Two black foxes
and two blues for a total price of
$3,400, Fur traders say that the
furs of the Copper River Valley are
the fienest in the world and bring
the highest prices in the London
market.
-o—o—o
A NOTED CHIEF
HOLDS POTLATCH
Chief Goodlatoh held a potlatch at
Taral commencing Firday and lasting
three days. Indians from Tonsina,
Long Lake. Lakina and Chitina at
tended and partook of the chief's
bounty in the old time way. Es-kil
data. the trapper, who lives at Mile
126 will give a potlatch next week.
-o—o—
Miss Celeste Barrus gave a party
on Monday last in honor of her
eleventh birthday. The entire juve
nile population of Chitina attended
with the exception of a couple who
could not walk. All the kids had a
glorious time and Miss Celeste was
the recipient of many pretty birth
day remembrances. The following
were present; Misses Louise Tibbs.
Annie Heney, and Margaret Foster;
Messers, Jonnie Solomon, Eugene
Tibbs, Joe Pfeister and Donald Fos
ter.
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
Chitina Hotel
Gust Johnson, Strelna; Jack Tim
mins. Annie Stern. Jennie Smith.
Chris l.arson, J. Droxen, Dan Bran
nigan, Louis Desmanel, Paul Hopkins.
J. Lutteman, Miss Tillman, Fair
banks; G. Johnson, Valdez; Axel
Thompson, J. Anderson. John Cycr,
Seattle; tl. P. Shepard, Iditarod;
Emma Peterson, Los Angeles; Jas.
Carson, Kennicott; Geo. Fraser,
Strelna; Frank Clarkenn, Chltina; P.
O. Chalis, Cordova; Mrs. McDonald,
Copper Center; T. C. Small, Dry
Creek; John McDaniel, Valdez; O.
Larson, Cordova; Ed. Smith Valdez;
Ole Berg. Strelna; Ben Richardson,
Chitina; J. H. Ingram, Valdez; John
Nieyo, Meyers; Jack Hobb, C. C.
Howard, Valdez; W. W. McCarthy,
Copper Mountain.
Overland Hotel
O. J. Berg, Kennicott; O. A. Rad
abough, H. C. Hamilton and wife, J.
E. Barrack, J. C. Sayers, Sergt. Jas.
Egan, P. J. Rickard. Fairbanks; .Jas.
Belix, Kennicott; T. H. Whlae. Cleary
City; A. Hill, Kennicott; Dr Hale.
Cordova; M. Sullivan, Co' it
Murphy, Kotsina; J. Lewis, Ruoy;
Thos. McMahan. Flat Creek; Geo.
Hamilton, Iditarod.
-o—o—o
Two new show houses are in con
struction at Juneau. One for Spic
kett & Mclvor will be called the
Orpheum and the other is being built
for W. D. Gross, at present conduct
ing the Grand Theatre. Both play
houses will be modern and fitted up
elaborately. Vaudeville and motion
pictures will be played.
-o—o—o
The firemen of Cordova will make
merry on New Year’s eve at Eagle
hall. They will hold their annual
ball, and it is expected to be a notable
affair. One of the strong features
of the evening will be an up-to-date
fruit punch. The beBt of music,
elaborate decorations, and a lively
crowd will start oft the new year in
a way long to be remembered.