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.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WIU A. STEEL—Editors, Man agars and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper River Cistrict.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1913,
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, THE DAWN OF DEVELOPMENT
,3 - U
There may be a few skeptics in this northland as to the
good intentions of the present administration to pass the
Alaska railroad bill early in the next session, but there appears
to be no doubt about it in the minds of any one in Washington,
who keeps abreast of the times. The next thing to pull for is
good roads. It will take several years before railroad con
struction is completed and in the meantime Congress will likely
be in the humor to make liberal appropriation for.' a very
necessary aid to the development of the territory. Those people
who seem to think that railroads are sufficient should take a
lesson from the actions of the various states in the Union.
Millions upon millions are being expended for good roads,
much of it in the older states where the railroads and electric
lines seem to run everywhere. And it won’t be many years
before there is a national highway running from the Atlantic
to the Pacific.
No country in the entire United States needs better roads,
trails and bridges than does Alaska. We have had an object
lesson recently in that section of the country leading from
McCarthy to the C’hisana gold diggings. When stampeders first
started out on trails that had long been negleeted they certainly
had hard going. But when the spirit of progress was awakened
and men were put to work making a passable thoroughfare a
marvelous result was achieved. Now mushers are going over
the road with speed, comfort and almost pleasure. And this
was accomplished in a short time by the judicious expenditure
of a few thouasnd dollars. But instead of the individuals or
companies who may operate in a country having to always put
up the money for public improvements how much more reason
able it is that Congress should make provision for just such
necessary work in the development of the mining resources of
the territorv. The same condition exists in other parts of this
northland, but after that “million-a-year” idea takes hold of
Congress it won’t be long until scores of mining camps are
being peopled and the precious metal taken from mother
earth.
_n——n
PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT
In another column we publish lengthy excerpts from a
valuable article written by our former townsman, E. E.
Swergal, now employed on the New York Central Railroad. Mr.
Swergal was in Alaska several years and during that time he
made a close study of the reasons that have combined to retard
the growth and progress of the territory. He suggests a
development program that is worthy the serious consideration
of Congress. If enacted into remedial legislation it would mean
an awakening of the spirit of progression in this northland that
would soon turn the stagnant waters of despair into a mighty
ocean of hope and activity. As he suggests, let the government
assure us of railroads, roads, trails and bridges, aids to
navigation, a workable coal law, and coaling stations, and this
neglected northland would soon blossom as the rose and a
patient but much afflicted people would soon come into their
rightful and well deserved heritage of material prosperity and
peaceful repose of the mind. And then would this land of rich
mineral and agricultural promise be peopled by millions of
good American citizens.
-o—o—o
A CAUSE OF PROSPERITY
Our neighbors in Juneau are not so much concerned over
railroad building and the opening of the coal mines as we are
in Southwestern Alaska. Over there towns are developing and
people are happy and prosperous because of the expending of
millions of dollars to develop immense low grade gold quartz
mines. During the past year great asquisitions have been made
to previous operations and more are to follow. Referring to
the work now being done by the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining
Company, the Empire says:
“In another column of the Empire this evening appears
an authorized review of the accomplished development and a
statement of plans for future work of one of the several great
mining companies that are operating and preparing to operate
in the immediate vicinity of Juneau, together with a summary
of what has been disclosed of the value of the properties upon
which it is working. The article carries its own lessons. With
out amplification or argument it tells the story of why Juneau’s
coming greatness. The intelligent man of today requires no
diagram to understand that the work of this company means
greater commercial importance for Juneau and Southeastern
Alaska.
“It tells of more than that. It tells those who think of
happier conditions and better opportunities for thousands of
people. It tells them of the coming of another city on the
Pacific coast where men and women may live, work and enjoy
life and solve the problems of civilization. One great mine
like the Alaska-Juneau as a basis means the development of a
busy community. The money, brain and knowledge invested
in one such wealth creating property renders a public service
of incalculable value.
“And the Alaska-Juneau is but one of several great mines
that are being developed in the immediate vicinity of this city.”
BLIGHTS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS
A big capitalist of Tacoma, and a man who was promi
nently mentioned for a seat in President Wilson’s cabinet, will
have to defend a very unpleasant charge against him in the
superior court. It is alleged that he is the owner of a hotel;
building which harbors fallen women. While this is not con- i
sidered a serious matter in some localities, even in saintly
Seattle good church people having formerly owned property
“below the line” that was used for questionable purposes, yet
it is known that President Wilson considers such ownership
a serious handicap to public office. So it is feared that Mr.
Wallace will not now be likely to secure the apponitmnet of
ambassador to an important foreign country, to which it is
reported he was slated. In the eves of the President a ^ii
not qualified to hold office of V, S. Marshal if he at one time
may ha% e been interested m aav such property.
-o—o—o
BETTERMENT OF THE SERVICE
In liis reorganization scheme for the betterment of the
service, Attorney General McReynolds has determined to give
no thought to the term of appointment of United States district
attorneys. By reason of that conclusion some people are
beginning to wonder whether there will be a, change of officials
in the third judicial division of Alaska. They seem to overlook
the fact that the Hon. George R. Walker, a classmate of Will
Taft, and Guy B. Brubaker, are the distinguished officials j
holding down the job. How could their services be improved
upon? Perish the thought. Our wants are little here below.
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS
The reports of a rich gold strike from the country north
east of the Matanuska coal fields are very encouraging. The
people of Seward who are in close touch with the situation have
faith that the strike will be an extensive one. And there is
every indication that many stampeders will go to the new
district after the ground is frozen and during the early spring.
Much of the travel for a time at least will be from the westward
camps, where faith is the strongest. And as a consequence
supplies will be sent from Seward, which will deservedly
stimulate the liK^es and prospects of the patient people of that
town. Benefit will also undoubtedly accrue to Cordova, as this
town is so situated that communication with the interior
country is more accessible from this point than any othei1.
seaport town. The new strike is ciose to the Tazlina river
country and is accessible from Chitina by an easy grade. It
can also be reached from Valdez. Here’s hoping that the strike
proves so rich and extensive that during the next year thou
sands of prospectors will be flocking over all three routes to the
new district.
Charles Drury, of Tacoma, who recently visited the Yukon
territory and Alaska, has the following to say on a live
question:
“Good roads are attracting as much attention in Alaska
as in Yukon, and a system is being rapidly developed which
will cover practically all that district. What is being done in
both Alaska and Yukon may eventually lead to the formation
of an organization similar to the Pacific Highway association
of the coast states.”
When old time Alaska prospectors, that have spent weeks
on the ground in the Chisana district making personal inspec
tion of the country, disagree as to the prospect of developing
a good placer camp there, it would be well for those at a
distance to wait for further developments before trying to
arrive at a conclusion. There will be a sufficient number of
people in the Chisana during the coming winter to give the
creeks there a pretty good test, and by the time navigation is
open next year *-we should know more about it.—Juneau
Empire.
There are some anxious candidates for deputy marshal
ships throughout the division who are beginning to wonder
how long Marshal Brenneman expects to “think it over.” A
successor to himself as deputy at Katalla is about the only
I outside permanent appointment that the marshal has as vet
made.
Governor Strong knows that when he talks of a million
a year for Alaska roads that favorable action upon the part of
Congress will assure an early summer automobile boulevard,
320 miles, from Fairbanks to Chitina. And it will also mean
eventually good roads in all parts of Alaska, where they are
now so badly neded.
ihe optimism of Bob Adams over the future promise of
the Chisana gold diggings is pleasant to hear. And it is worth
its weight in words because Bob is one of the practical miners
who knows what he is talking about. He gained his experience
through years of toil in the Nome country and is competent to
express an intelligent opinion on present and future possibili
ties of a district that may turn out to be a second Klondike.
The latest reports indicate that the short winter route from
McCarthy to the Chisana is not only feasible, but that it will
soon be ready for teams to drive over the Nizina and Chisana
glaciers.
The trip of 320miles over the summer trail from Fairbanks
to Chitina a few days ago by an auto driven by Shelden and
carrying John Ronan and John Ferguson should not be
overlooked. That trip proved the feasibility of the auto in
the Northland. More, it proved the region can be provided
with suitable trails for summer travel.—Dawson News.
There is considerable controversy among the people of
McCarthy and Blackburn as to which locality is entitled to the
ptostoffice. It has been located at McCarthy, but it is said that
Postmaster Lattin, who has resigned his positon as station
agent, is willing to take the postoffice to Blackburn, if he can
get permission from the postal department.
Detroit’s $6,000,000 for good roads makes Chicago’s
proposed $2,000,000 look sick and it really doesn’t seem as
though $1,000,000 for Alaska roads is asking anything very
unreasonable.
Pacific coast merchants are making great preparations for
the fall shows of women’s costumes, which they say will be
“daring,” “down-to-the-minute” and “very Parisian.” The
day of the police-woman is surely dawning. Also there may
be enlargements of our best jails and asylums for feeble
Cordova, September 30
Among the arrivals on Saturday
night’s train were G. A. McNicholl
and J. J. Carroll. The former is
superintendent of the Grand Trunk
Pacific Railroad, with headquarters
at Prince Rupert. Mr. Carroll was
formerly of Nome but now has his
office at Seattle where he looks
after the sailings of the steamers
Prince Rupert and Prince George,
operated by the Grand Trunk.
These men have been on an ex
tensive trip through Alas'j^ study
ing the trad^ conditions and rail
T0.Z.ti Opportunities. They went
from Skagway to Dawson, Fair
banks and Nome, returning to Fair
banks and coming from there to
Chitina by automobile. They report
that there had been heavy rains and
that in some' parts the -roads were
badly washed out. As a result
they were compelled to come slowly
and lost considerable time in get
ting over bad places, so that it was
nine days before they reached i
Chitina. From there they went on
the railroad to Kennecott and re
turned by train to Cordova. ;.ast
night they went on a vessel to Val
dez and will later go to Seward,
expecting to return and go south on
either the Mariposa or Sampson.
Superintendent McXicholl states
that through trains on his road will
be running into Prince Rupert by
the fall of 1914. And soon after
that time he says he expects to see
the commencement of construction
of a line to run north into the Daw
son country and possibly to cross
over the boundary line into Alaska
and tap the White river country. He
declares that Prince Rupert is rap
idly becoming a small city of great
commercial importance, with a won
derful future before it. He thinks
it destined to become the principal
seaport of the commercial fisheries
of the North Pacific coast.
-o—o—o
W. G. Whorf, the Port Graham
coal and cannery man, proposes to
install coal bunkers capable of han
dling one thousand tons of coal. The
contsruction work will be carried on
this winter. A shaft of 125 feet,
located some distance from former
workings on the mine, has revealed
two ten-foot veins of coal, one en
countered at a depth of 85 feet, the
other 55 feet below this. The lower
vein is an especially fine grade of
coal, much superior to the upper
vein. Mr. 'Whorf has reason to be
lieve that there are two or three
veins lying beneath the lower one
encountered, and is having the shaft
continued to determine the matter.
Mr. Whorf declares he has orders
for more coal than he can fill at the
present time, but in the spring he
figures on being in shape to supply
the large market. The Sampson
mail brought him an order for 300
tons from one concern in South
eastern Alaska. He proposes to es
tablish agencies in all the "oast
towns to handle his product.
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE
To Alex. Nesbitt, his heirs, adminis
trator, assigns, successors or per
sonal representatives:
You are hereby notified that I
have expended in labor and im
provements for the year 1912, the
sum of One Hundred Dollars on each
of the following named claims, or in
total the sum of Sixteen Hundred
Dollars, the “Pacer,” “Mayflower,”
“Slocum,” “Red Jacket,” “Red
Jacket No. 2,” and “Independence.”
The “Hercules,” “Sandow,” and
“Sampson.” The “Rosey No. 1,”
and “Rosey No. 2.” The “Lucky
Strike;” “Fairview,” “Esperanza,”
“Webfoot,” and “Yankee,” all situ
ated in the Chitina Mining and
Recording District, Territory of
Alaska, and which have been duly
recorded in the office of the United
States commissioner, in and for the
Chitina Mining District, at Chitina,
Alaska.
The above amounts have been ex
pended in order to hold the said
claims under the provisions of the
law concerning annual labor upon
mining claims, being the amount re
quired to hold said above named
mining claims. And you are fur
ther notified that if, within ninety
(90) days after the last publication
of this notice you fail to contribute
your proportion of said expenditure,
which is one-sixth (1-6) of the
whole, your interest in said claims
will become the property of the
undersigned, your co-owner.
james McConnell.
First publication Sept. 23, 1913.
Last publication Dec. 23, 1913.
Chitina GRILL
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CHITINA
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