r
Keep Your Friends In
formed by Sending Them
The Chitina Leader
THE CHITINA LEADER
Opening of Bering Coal
Means Smelters for
Cordova
Ore Shipments From Copper River Valley Are Over $2,000,000 Each Month
FITH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1915.
NUMBER 53.
CITY OF PEUBLA
DIRECT FROM
SEATTLE
The steamer City of Puebla arrived
in port last night for the first time,
having been chartered by the Alaska
Steamship Company to take the run of
the wrecked steamer Mariposa. She
came direct from Seattle to Cordova
via the outside passage, but in return
ing will take the inside passage. Ac
count of having a large quantity of
freight for the railroad she did not
sail for the westward until this after
noon.
The City of Puebla is a steamship
almost identical in size and freight
carrying capacity with the Alameda
and the Mariposa. Burning coal, she
makes about the same speed as either
of the two steamers and is able to
accommodate a few more passengers
than either the Alameda or the Mari
posa.
Her passengers for Cordova were E.
B. Wildt, W. S. D. Smith. Nels Haw
kinson, Mrs. G. C. King. For Val
dez: Mrs. B. Geragthy, P. V.
Cooper. For Seward: Marcus Meier,
Mrs. G. R. Chambers, Mrs. E. Mos
wain. For Anchorage: G. W. Rain
ers, Rose A1 verson.
THOS. Rices JR.
Commissioner Thomas Riggs, Jr.,
and a party of railroad engineers from
Fairbanks arrived in town in the train
this afternoon and are registered at
the Windsor hotel.
Mr. Riggs came from Fairbanks to
Chitina on the Dodge auto of the N.
C. Co. Mr. Riggs is going to An
chorage and Seward, where he will go
over the season's work with Com
missioner Edes, and where he will
outline his plans for next season and
figure on the money that will be re
quired on the Fairbanks end of the
road for next summer’s work.
After he has finished his report with
Chairman Edes, Mr. Riggs will go to
Washington, where he will boost Tor
the railroad appropriation. He will
return to Fairbanks over the trail.
-:o:
JOE JOURDEN, OF NOME
IS FROZEN TO DEATH
Joseph D. Jourden, a pioneer mer
chant of Nome, was frozen to death
the other night on the river, having
wandered away from the road during
< a storm which suddely blew in from
the north. His death adds another to
the long list of tragedies which have
resulted there since the discovery of
gold, as the arrival of winter has
never failed at claiming one or more
victims.
Jourden is an old timer in that dis
trict having been one of the first of
come north after the discovery of
gold on the beach there. Tie engaged
^in the mercantile business and later
opened a saloon on Steadman avenue,
where he was engaged In business
at the time of his death.
Jourden had been on the creeks
looking after some mining property
In which he is interested and was
caught in the storm while returning
to town- He had been in the river,
as his clothing was frozen when the
body was found.
-rot- — ■
New Railroad Equipment.
Part of the new equipment for the
Copper River & Northwestern railway
will leave Seattle on the freighter
Seward about November 5. It will
include a rotary, cabooses and larger
tanks for the two rotaries now here.
-:o:
H. A. Sprague, of the Lighthouse
Packing Company, Oregon, expects to
return within a couple of weeks and
establish a clam factory here.
POLITICS LIVE
TOPIC Ilf
The Democrats of Alaska are figur
ing on holding their territorial con
vention at Seward next spring, when
a delegate to Congress will be nomi
nated and delegates elee.r ri to the na
tional convention, as well as the ad
visability of putting a party ticket In
the field for members of the local
senate and legislature considered.
Although nothing definite has been de
cided and no candidates have as yet
thrown their hats in the ring the
probabilities are that patriots will
come forth in ample time and make
their aspirations known.
Chairman Herron, of the Republican
territorial committee, is now mining
to the westward and it would not be
surprising if he too decided that Sew
ard was the proper place for the hold
ing of the convention of the G. O. P.
It is reported that Delegate Wicker
sliam has returned to the fold and
seeks recognition, while on the other
hand two or three regular Republi
cans have their eye on the party nomi
nation for delegate.
:o:
EXISTS
The freighter Latoucfie arrived in
port at 4:25 o'clock this morning, and
reports a rough trip from Cape St.
Elias. On account of the fog it was
impossible to sight the barge Wash
ington, which was yesterday reported
water-logged three mile north of the
cape.
The Latouche brought a large cargo
of coal, gasoline, dynamite and lum
ber and as there has been a fuel fam
ine in Cordova, and at the other towns
to the westward her arrival is most
timely. It is expected that the freight
for here will be discharged by tomor
row night.lt consists of 400 tons coal
and a car of dynamite for the railroad,
100 tons of coal for town, 126,000 feet
of lumber for the Arctic Lumber Co.,
a car of gasoline for the Blum, O’Neill
Co. and a car of dynamite for the
Kennecott mines.
There is also aboard 450,000 feet of
lumber, 1,000 tons of rails and 100
tons of hoisting machinery for the Al
aska Engineering Commission, which
will be discharged at Anchorage.
ANCHORftGtGETS FUNDS
FOR SCHDIL PURPOSE
A message from Chairman Edes,
of the Alaskan Engineering Commis
sion, to Townslte Manager Moore, at
Anchorage conveys the very gratify
ing information that the sum of $5,000
is avaiable for the ensuing term of the
public schools of Anchorage. Gov
ernor Strong wired Chairman Edes to
this effect.
This handsome sum will permit
Anchorage to have adequate school
facilities to accommodate the 150
school children now in Anchorage.
It is understood that three teach
ers will compose the teaching corps.
Two of these are Miss Murphy, now
teaching temporarily at KiiIR, and
Miss Bennett. The third selection
has not been made.
The Engineering Commission is now
erecting a fine, commodious scnoot
building on the block reserved for
school purposes.
-:o:
R. C. Wood, president of the First
National bank, Fairbanks, arrived in
town on yesterday’s train. He is on
his way to California, to spend the
winter. Mrs. Wood is in Seattle now
and as soon as the banker reaches the
States they will leave for San Fran
cisco, to take in the big exposition.
While outside, the banker will also
take occasion to size up the financial
situation and general conditions in the
west. He will QGt go east.
BUNNELL LIKELY
FOR DELEGATE
Recent arrivals from Fairbanks
state that strong pressure is being
brought upon Judge C. E. Bunnell to
become the Democratic candidate ror
Delegate to Congress from Alaska at
the November election in 1916. They
say that he is the most popular man
in the Fourth division and would have
no difficulty in carrying it. During
the short time that Judge Bunnell has
occupied the bench he has won the
respect and confidence of the people
generally, not only in the Fairbanks
valley but also at Iditarod and Ruby,
where he has also held court.
Those who are in a position to know
declare that Judge Bunnell would
have the support of a large mapority
of the voters of the Fourth division,
regardless of political affliations, and
that he could be elected by the big
majority he would receive in what has
heretofore been Delegate Wicker
sham's stronghold.
While Judge Bunnell has not stated
positively that he would be a candi
date, his friends say that he is not
adverse to again entering the race for
this honor, and they believe that at
the proper time his hat will be in the
ring. When a candidate last year
Mr. Bunnell was little known outside
of his home town of Valdez, but in the
face of this fact he made a good show
showing at the polls.
Throughout the entire campaign
he conducted his fight in such a way
that his enemies were furnished with
little ammunition to direct a fire
against him. Being a man whose in
tegrity could not be questioned and
having always conducted big personal
and business affairs in such way that
he enjoyed an unimpeachable repu
tation there was no avenue of attack
open for unscrupulous politicians, tie
made a canvass of the territory and
although not successful at the polls
Judgfe Bunnel endeared himself to a
large circle of friends and is today one
of the strongest men with the peo
ple, in the territory.
:o:
The library ot the public school
building is constantly growing and
proving a source of much entertain
ment, as well as educational advan
tages, to the pupils. There are now
fifty-nine volumes, besides a set of the
New International Encylopedia, which
consists of twenty-two volumes; a set
of messages and papers of the Presi
dents of the United States, which has
eleven volumes; a set of Makers of
History, nineteen volumes, and a set
of the World’s Famous Orations, ten
volumes.
The following new books and pic
tures were purchased with the money
realized from the entertainment given
by the pupils in Empress theatre last
spring.
Little Women, Louise M. Alcott;
With Fire and Sword. Henry Seinkil
wiez; Romona, Helen H. Jackson;
ITncle Remus and His Friends, Joel
Chandler Harris; Washington’s Young
Aides, Everet T. Tomlinson; Frank
lin's Autobiography; Beautiful Joe,
Marshall Saunders; Lorna Doone, R.
D. Blackmore; Aden Bede, George
Eliot; The Little Conoel Stories, Annie
Fellows Johnston; Dick Whittington
and Other Stories, Andrew Lang;
Some Successful Americans, Sherman
Williams; Kit Carson, Rockentyre;
Anne of Avonlea, L. M. Montgomery;
Heidi, Johanna Spyrl; Hans Briker or
the Silver Skates, Mary Mapes Dodge;
Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll;
Tour of the World in Eighty Days,
Jules Verne.
The large pictures are Stratford on
Avon and The Angelus, and the small
er ones include The Tiber, Castle of
St. Angela and Dome of St. Peter’s;
The Windmills, Corot’s Spring and
Aurora.
MW LAKE
MINES ARE
INSPECTED
Dr. W. H. Chase and George A.
Harmon returned on this afternoon’s
train from an inspection of the Ducky
Strike property in the McKinley I^ake
Mining District. Mr. Henley, a min
ing engineer, in on the property, mak
ing a complete survey of the ground.
Mr. Harmon surveyed the ground for
a tram and found the conditions favor
able. As far as Mr. Henley has
progressed with his examination he
is well pleased with what he has
found. Timber and water conditions
at the district are extraordinary well
situated for the development of the
property,
-:o:
R. M. Clark, one of the first stam
peders to the Chlsana placer district,
and who is now operatng on clam No.
10 Bonanza creek, Is in Cordova. He
is very optomistic as to the fu
ture of the camp, which he says has
not as yet been thoroughly prospect
ed. Mr. Clark came out for the pur
pose of getting a drill and he expects
to purchase one from the Harmon
Machinery Company.
Mr. Clark says that the prospects in
quartz mining, both gold and copper
are very encouraging in the Chisana.
On No- 9 Bonanza lie has traced a
ledge of gold for four hundred feet
in a southwesterly direction and a
thousand feet easterly he picked up
the ledge again.
A big body of copper has also been
located on the Sushanna glacier by
Mr. Clark, where he staked two
ledges, and the mineral can be traced
for a distance of 2600 feet. The ore
has been assayed and runs from 36 to
84 per cent pure copper.
AN ALL-ralcf
BY TWO FAIRBANKSAN5
Gene Huckins and E. E. Bennett,
of Fairbanks, will appear on the
vaudeville stages throughout the
country in an Alaskan sketch. With
him Mr. Huckins will take a full
blooded malamute dog, a real beauty.
The act will be booked over the
Class A circuits. It is fitting that
these two men, who worked on the
first survey of the government rail
road in the interior, and who mush
ed the trails of this country before
.the railroad was thought of should
introduce to the theatre going public
on the outside an Alaskan act.
The actors will feature Bob Craw
ford’s Alaskan song, “My Northland.”
Both of them are of the opinion that
the song will be the great success
of the act, as the tune is a catchy
one and the words are easy to learn.
The young Fairbanksan has gladly
consented to let the actors use his
song.
-:o:
LARGE OUTGOING LIST
ON STEAMER EVANS
The steamer Admiral Evans arrived
in port about 10:30 o’clock Friday
night and remained here until today
loading copper ore for the Tacoma
smelter. Those booking passage
from Cordova for Seattle were the
following:
G. H. Birch, F. A. Hotchkiss, Max
Rede, J. E. Currier and wife, Mrs.
E. J. Garrison, Mrs. J. McBride,
Geo. Osborne and wife, J. Bartlett,
A1 Doig, R. Johnson, P. Olsen, W.
H. Lloyd, G. W- Hayseldem, C. Nel
son, W. H. Mendham, J. Brevig, P.
Heinrich, H. P. Fell, Mrs. Anderson,
J. Livingood, II. Pomeroy, W. W.
Bowman, L. T. Erwin, F. Douse, R.
Crawford, J. Lige, A. Sprunger, W.
Turnar, J. Spodnick and C. H
1 Shultie.
LB MINE 10
SOON SHIP
Ever since J. L. Harper, of Seattle,
took a bond on the group of claims
owned by the Lakina Copper Company
of Spokane in the Kennecott district
there have been rumors of big tilings
to be done with that property, and
recent developments appear to have
justified the rumors. Mr. Harper
has had a group of men at work for
several weeks working out trails and
building a wagon road from the mine
to the railway at Long Lake station,
and when that gentleman appeared
in person three weeks ago with an ad
ditional force of miners and laborers
the activities were materially in
creased. Two weeks ago Col. A. M.
Dewey of Seattle came in, accom
panied by Oeorge B. Baker and other
Washington capitalist, and it is now
reported that the funds for the moving
of a large tonnage of ore to the smel
ters at Tacoma are assured.
While prospecting the property on
Castle Mountain the miners in the
employ of Mr. Harper are said to have
opened up a large body of higb-grade
shipping ore, and this is now' being
sacked for hauling as soon as road
conditions make such movement pos
sible. Those familiar with the Ken
necott district freely predict for the
Lakinaw Mines a future as bright as
that of the Bonanza or Jumbo. Mr.
Harper is now building a wagon road
from the mouth of Mill Creek to the
mine on . the mountain, from which
point the ore will be hauled direct to
the raiyoad without transfer. A
camp for the accommodation of forty
men is now being equipped on the
mountain side near the mine and
overlooking the valley of the Lakina
River and the towering peaks of
Castle Mountain, Mount Blackburn,
Bell Mountain and glaciers, and the
majestic heights of several other
ranges. All of which spells “acti
vity” for this mining district already
made famous bv the greatest copper
producing mines in America.
Col. Dewey passed through Cordova
yesterday on his way to the outside.
To a Times reporter he spoke in the
highest terms of what he called “the
Harper plan” of mine management.
The Colonel is enthusiastic over the
ore showing on Castle Mountain, and
predicts a bright future for the Laki
na Copper mines. These mines are
owned hv a syndicate of influential
men in Seattle and Duluth, for whom
Col. Dewey made this trip of in
spection, Mr. Harper being the local
representative and manager in Alas
ka. Among those interested in the
property may be mentioned George
K- Baker, owner of much business
property in Seattle; J. W. and W. J.
Kahle, owners of the Crescent Manu
facturing Company of Seattle;
William H. Finck, retired Seattle
jewler, C. F. DesCamp and others.
Camp and others.
The Bakina copper mines consist of
a group of claims on which develop
ment work has been under way for
several years, but not until J. L.
Harper appeared on the scene during
the present season has anything
worth mentioning been accomplished.
The principle ore showing is of native
copper, bornite and copper glance, all
valuable ores as found in this district.
The Bonanza and Jumbo mines carried
these same ores at the surface.
-:o:
Judge F. M. Brown and the dis
trict court officials are now at Sew
ard to hold a special sitting of the
court to try the Seward townsite case.
In this case against. Frank Batlalne
and John Ballaine, W. J. Boland, cor
poration attorney for the Alaska Cen
tral Bail way, and F. C. West, will
represent the plaintiffs and counsel
for the defense Is James A. Haight, of
Seattle, and S. O. Morford, Seward.
Col. A. W. Swanitz comes as a wit
ness for the plaintiff.
Judge Brown says at the conclusion
of the townsite case the court will
take a recess to resume again at the
regular term commencing November
the First. The docket of cases for
the term of court has not yet been
prepared but it is probable that the
Anchorage and McCarthy liquor cases
will be tried, as well as several
others
OLD-TIME ALASKAN COMMITS
SUICIDE AT FAIRBANKS
FAIRBANKS, Oct. IS—Charles Skofland, well and favor
ably know in Cordova and the Copper River Valley, shot him
self in the head here last night, and while he has not yet died,
it is not expected that he can live. The shooting took place in
the California sallon, Skofland, being perefectly sober at the
time. The bullet entered the head on the right side behind the
ear and came out on the left side, lodging in the wall ten feet
away. Nothing can be learned here as to why Skfland should
wish to take his life, and from his acquaintances no intimation
of trouble can be larned.
Skofland, who is a native of Norway, about 33 years old,
is an old-timer in Alaska. He was in Katalla years ago during
the railroad days, and worked for the company there. Since
then lie lias worked at McCarthy, and last winter worked for
the Alaska Copper Corporation on Nuggett Creek in the Kuska
lana. He went outside for the winter, coming through Cordova
last March on his way to Fairbanks, where he has a brother
who is an operator on the creeks here.
-:o:
WASHINGTON, October 20—What is probably the be
ginning of a movement to oust W. W. Shorthill, private secre
tary to Governor Strong of Alaska, from his post, was launched
here today when Edward I. Ware, claiming to represent many
Alaskan Democrats, fill'd a written protest with jPresident
Wilson objecting to the continuance of Shorthill in his present
position. Charges against Shorthill were contained in the
letter written by Ware, which in effect state that Shorthill is
and always has been a Republican, tha$ his sympathies are with
that party, and that he is even an avowed advocate of Republi
canism, so that his incumbency of the important, confidential
and’ lucrative office of private secretary to the Governor, is ini
mical to the best interests of the Democratic party in Alaska.
The communication states that Governor Strong retains Short
hill in his present position in defiance of the protests of loyal
consistent democrats. The letter throughout is written in a
most vigorous and trenchant character, and is a strong attack
on both the governor and his secretary.
THANKSGIVING H IS SET
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21—President Wilson issued’ a proc
lamation to the American people setting Thursday, November
25, as a day of Thanksgiving throughout the republic. The
president’s proclamation dwealt on the many things that should
i make the people of tin* United States celebrate Thanksgiving
i Day with especial fervor this year, and said that we all should
thank God that our country was at peace with the world, and
[ contrasting the terrible conditions in Europe with the peaceful
pursuits and bumper crops secured by the American people.
He concluded “America enjoys peace while most of Europe is
at war, and humanity is being slaughtered in a most appalling
manner. Yet while this bloody conflict is progressing, the
United States lias safely passed through difficult negotiations
j with the warring nations, and maintained her honor, and se
1 cured the rights of mankind without breaking the firm bond of
friendship existing between this country and the great nations
engaged in the strife. ”
MOONSHIITER GIVEN HEAVY FINE
AND JAIE SENTENCE WITH IT
FORT SMTTH, Ark., Oct. 12—The first step in the famous
Moonshiners case came to an end today when John L. Casper,
the head of the gang which was making whiskey illegally in
this city, pleaded guilty to the indictments against him and was
sentenced to pay a fine of 33,000.00 and to serve three years and
three months in jail. Six of the other defendants, who also
pleaded guilty got rather light sentences.
There are other indictments still to be considered' most of
them against officers and employees of the Internal Revenue
Department charged with conspiracy in aiding Casper and his
associates to evade the revenue laws, and also charged with ac
cepting bribes.
The still was not like those in the mountain districts of
Kentucky, hid away in inaecessable regions, but was openly
conducted on public in this city. The plant was in a dilapi
dated, unsuspicious looking building, which at one time had
been a legal distillery, but inside everything was modern and
up to date, all the latest machinery being installed in the plant.
It was ingeniously arranged, and the contents could have been
dumped through a special sewer into the Arkansas river at a
moment’s notice.
The government was warned of what had' been going on by
an anonymous letter, and the investigation which resulted
ended with a score of indictments, of men in various states.
Six indictments in all were handed down, charging intent to de
fraud' the United States, bribery, accepting a bribe, conspiracy,
and illegal rectificaion of spiritous liquors.