The Chitina leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered m second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
at Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
Office: Hote lChttlna Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaska |
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for Ut
service given.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Month. I -50
Sin Months..... -
One Year... 350
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 24, 1912.
|| A PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE
|| The people of Cbitina are beginning: to lose patience with
Hhe continued.existence in tlieir imdst of a man who is permit
Her to hold a responsible government position while lie is hmi
elf a subject of a foreign country. But while lie con
tinues to hold the office of United States Commissioner it
.appears to be the policy of Judge M. B. Healy to wreaK his
vengeance on the various individuals who had the courage to
ask the court, to remove an official who is legally and temper
mentally disqualified to hold a power that has to do with the
liberty of American citizens and the prosperity and content
ment of a growing young community. The pernicious intlu
■ ence exerted by Judge Healy lias east a blight upon the town
of Chitina. His poisonous trail is found in almost every ave
nue of discontent. He is feared by men who seek to be peace
able and law abiding citizens, for they know of the powev that
be unscrupulously wields, while others who are not so much
concerned with the observance of law and order flatter and
fawn upon him until his shifting eyes fail to see transgressions
and his cruel Ups refuse to speak the words that would counsel
moderation and ft respect for law.
--oooo—— -—
OUR NEGLECT OF DUTY
The editor of the Daily Alaskan and the Chitina Leader re
luctantly admits that he must take nnto himself much of the
responsibility for the continued existence of the deplorable
state of affairs thta exists in the promising little town of Cliiti
na. In defense of our neglect, however, we have to say that
it was onr hope that the United States commissioner and the
deputy marshal had profited by their grand jury experience
and were giving the people of their precinct a reasonably
square deal. Recent personal investigation convinces us that
the contrary is the fact. Had we presented the facts to the
public, the district judge and the attorney general weeks ago.
it is safe to assume that a new regime would ere this have re
stored confidence in thejChitina valley and created a new re
spect for the integrity and fairness of government officials and
the administration of justice by Americans for Americans. Ix;
the present instance foreigners have proven a woeful failure as
regards their interpretation of the rights of citizens of the
United States. It was a sad and costly lesson to scores of un
fortunate*.
-oooo-*
HOW RECIPROCITY WORKED
A statement, of the commerce between the United States
and Cuba during the year just closed offers remarkable proof
of the wisdom of the policy that established reciprocity be
tween the two countries. Since that agreement went into ef
feet, eight years ago, our exports to Cuba have trebled and out
imports have doubled. In the same period there has been a no
table decline in the trade between Spain and Cuba and Great
Britain and Cuba, our nearest competitors in that market, the
tendency being more and more ,to increase our commerce at the
expense of Europe.
Within a few years, it is eipected that we will sell the Cu
bans as much aa we now buy from them. American food prod
ucta, dpthing. and manufactures are rapidly monopolizing tin
Cuban market. Yet nine years, ago there were those who did
*ot>hesitate to predict, that reciprocal relations with Cuba
would be ruinous and who bitterly fought the proposal with ev
ery means at their disposal.
--oqoo
. A POLITICAL CROSS OVER.
’’’
<> ' 1 . 1
Qne of the inextinguishable humors of politics appears in
the swapping of places that has taken place between Demo
crata and. Republicans in, the House on the undeniable rights
of majorities and minorities. If anyone had predicted in 1909
that two years thence Cannon, Mann and Dalzell would be lift
ing their voices against the suppression of the rights of the mi
nority by jamming tariff bills through without giving time for
debate and amendment, he would have been jeered at as irre
eponsible. Also, if anyone had ventured to prophesy that
Champ Clark and his followers iwould provide only a few hours
for debuting,a steel schedule apd then jam it through with all
amendments absolutely excluded, he would have been sel
down as even a greater crank in the prophetic line.
Yet this remarkable crossover is accomplished without
apparently a remote notion of its laughable character. It is
hard to tell which side is most comic. The pathos of the Re
publican indignation over the infringements of the rights of
the minority is balanced by the smooth ruthlessness with which
the Democratic steam roller p4sses the bill over the prostrate
bodies of those who want to debate or amend.
So far. as. the attitude is concerned each side is exactly
where the other stood two years ago, and advocates the former
jtheory of the other, with the saipe passi on that it held the oppo
site then. As regards the meat of the -ubject matter, however,
there. is; this distinction. The Republicans jammed the tariff
hills through in the elder day to get the legislation done with.
The Democrats are now doing it to provide campaign ammuni
tion. Which is better—or more accurately worse—is to be de
cided by individual tastes.
■ . ■■ vyw
SAVE THE jSSAL HEED
Prof. Henry Wood Elliott, who has given many years’
itndy to the problems presented by the fur seal herd of the
Pribilof Islands, is prging upon Congress the passage of an act
forbidding the further killing of seals in the island rookeries
h for ® term of years. While he has consistently upheld the
f theory that pelagic.sealing was the primary cause of the rapid
•diminution of the*,herd, he also believes that the butchery of
eeal on the land has been a-contributing cause and one which is
far easier to stop than pelagic sealing.
He is able,- in support of jhis contention, to point to the
great success which attended the former Russian experiment
in that direction. The herd which resorts to the Pribilof Isl
ands fpr breeding purposes hepame seriously depleted during
Russian o^nership pf Alaska,,down almost to the present herd.
In 1834 it was determined to establish a definite closed period
for seal, continued for ten fpll years- The result was that the
herd in that interval attained the full proportions which it had
when the islands were first discovered and taken over by Rus
sia. At the time that Alaska was sold to the United States the
herd was estimated to consist of nearly 5,000,000 animals, while
there remain today not more than 50,000 breeding female seal
who resort to the rookeries.
The policy adopted in connection with the seal is precisely
the Opposite to that adopted in the attempts to preserve game
animals. The attempt has been made to penalize the hunting
and killing of seal in the open ocean, and to legalize only their
butcliry in the sanctuary.to which they resort for breeding pur
poses. Of course it is the contention that only the surplus male
animals are so slaughtered, but it might strike some that the
consistent killing of the best specimens of young male seal, con
tinued for more than forty years, in itself aloue would be a
large contributing cause to the great decrease of the herd. At
all events, the experiment suggested by Prof. Elliott is well
worth trying.
-oooo
CORDOVA’S NEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The new Chamber of Commerce started off with a good
feeling last night. Everybody seemed to be possessed with the
spirit of harmony. All believed that the time had arrived to
renew the effort that had been allowed to drag for several j
months, and to accomplish results beneficial to the town. In
its earlier days the former chamber was alert and accomplish
ed much good for the town. The necessity for action is uou
more necessary than ever before, and there is a disposition to
work in unison. Cordova is destined to be an important town.
The desired end can be accomplished much sooner than in the
ordinary way when a systematic and concerted effort is pul
forth to achieve results. It is well worth while to give the new
organization a trial. In selecting R. J. Barry as secretary, no
more efficient, enthusiastic or industrious man could be found
m the town. If he is given the proper aid and encouragement
by our citizens generally he will undoubtedly prove a tower oi
strength to the community. Much depends on the secretary,
and we are confident that Mr. Barry will do even more than is
expected of him. But the other members of the chamber have
a duty to perform, and it now looks as though they would ac
quit themselves with credit.
---i n »
RELIEF FROM HEALYISM
The people of the Chitina valley can again take on cour
age. The government officials who have intimidated them
and used their official positions to pursue a course of persecu
tion are about at the end of their string. Commissioner Healy!
and Marshal Brown have pursued a pernicious activity against
the men whom they could not control, while extending their fa
\ Qr to a few who fawned upon them and did their bidding. But
the day is not far distant when all men shall have equal rights
in the Chiitna precinct, so far as it is possible for fair-minded
and honest public officials to determine. The blight of Healy
ism has done an almost irreparable wrong to a section that
otherwise would be prosperous and contented. And the igno
miny of it all is that this czar sneaked into.the office without
disclosing the fact that he was a subject of a foreign country.
Me imposed upon the appointing power, and only' confessed
i is disqualification when he was before the grand jury and
feared to commit perjury'. There possibly has never been a
similar instance in the United States where a man held a judi
cial position, contrary to a clause in the constitution. During
his short tenure in office Commissioner lias certainly made a
record—but, ye gods, what a record!
-nnnn_
DEFINITION OF A SLOGAN
Immediately upon his return to Fairbanks, Editor Thomp
son of the News-Miner adopted for the slogan of his paper,
“Home Rule for Alaska.” In a facetious editorial explanatory
of his change in attitude on territorial government he says:
“It is a perfectly good slogan, and we are ready to back it
against all the new or old slogans in the camp for the speediest
arrival at the finish.
“Every school child knows what a slogan is, but as some
grown people do not, we will explain. You receive a tip or ac
quire a suspicion that something worth having is about to come
to the community, and you straightway begin to shout for it.
Tf it comes, you can claim the entire honor for having brought
the great god to the community. If it doesn’t come, you get
no blame for .having fought the fight.
“A slogan is a perfectly safe bet, for if some other Great
Common Good shoves its face above the horizon ahead of your
-logan, you can change for the new^thing and chuck your slo
gan into the ash heap. You have nothing to lose and every
thing to win, and an up-to-date paper always ‘hollers’ for the
winner.”
-oooo
A PINCHOT DREAM
Another instance of exaggerated stories that come out of
Alaska is contained in an article that appears in the Seattle
Times of a week ago. It refers to the presumed experience of
Peter J. Panchot, reputed to have been a champion long-dis
tance walker of the world. Among other things, the Times
says:
“Leaving here in the middle of last August, he has just
completed a trip that not many men would care to duplicate.
Going direct to Bering Sea, he remained there for some time
and then came farther south to Cordova, where he says he ex
perienced the coldest weather that he has ever seen, when it
was 78 below zero. After that he went to Vancouver, B. C., and
then home, stopping en route to visit friends.”
We think the Times must have gotten this old fellow’s
name incorrect. He certainly belongs to the Pinchot tribe.
Just think of it, 78 degrees below zero at Cordova, and in this
balmy land when in extreme weather the mercury scarce ever
drops down to zero. It would seem as though we might recon
cile ourselves to expect misleading statements about this north
land. It will take many years before thetruth is really told and
generally understood.
-norm
A FOREIGNER’S OFFICIAL PERSECUTIONS
It lias ever been the way that when a faithless public offi
cial is severely criticised through the public press he can find
a few sympathizers, however despicable may be the bets that
he has committed. That is human nature. And yet those same
men fail to appreciate the great public good that the press ac
•omplishes through its exposure of corruption. And then in
many instances the fear of exposure upon the part of an inde
pendent press has restrained many an official from wandering
from the path of rectitude. A newspaper seldom finds pleas
ure in exploiting the weakness of fellow man, and ofttimes de
fers too long in peforming what is an apparent duty. In the
case of M. R. Healy, United States commissioner for the Chiti
na precinct, sufficient facts were brought to light at the time
the grand jury was in session to warrant any newspaper in de
manding that he resign from the office which he had desecrat
ed. Unfortunately for the community, the Daily Alaskan at
that time refrained from giving publicity to the many con
temptible acts of this official. We believed that it was only
a question of a short time until he woul either resign or be
removed, and that in the meantime he, would conduct his office
with a due regard- for the rights of Others and in accordance
with the law. But instead lie has grown more arrogant and
merciless in his persecution of men who have dared to criticise*
his public acts.
In bringing to public notice many of the deplorable meth
ods of Commissioner Ilealy the Daily Alaskan is doing a pub
lic service in which it will not falter. And it is gratifying to
know that our action has the approval of almost the entire
community. Most of those who personally know of the actions
of the Commissioner are even more severe on him than we
have been. Many others think it a deplorable condition that
permits a man who is under sworn allegiance to another coun
try to hold in the hollow of his hand the liberty aud the rights
of American citizens. This crafty official gave the appointing
judge the double-cross when he refrained from disclosing the
fact that he had not become a naturalized citizen. And he has
not since had the decency to resign. Of course he will be rele
gated to private life when the court has the time to dispose of
the matter. But not willing to wait for that action, a resident of
tne Copper River country has written a strong letter to Attor
ney General Wickersham in which he sets forth the general un
wortliiness of the foreigner who sits in a temple of justice and
works his acts of revenge and persecution upon Americans.
And in many instances these men are so far above him in hon
esty and manliness that he should wish to sneak away from a
community where so many citizens despise him, instead of us
o g the power of a high office to destroy them. It is an unfor
tunate state of affairs that exists in the Chitina precinct, but
until the cruel boss is shown of his official power there can be
no feeling of security there. As a private individual M. R.
Ilealy would bejiarmless. It is only his office that gives him
tlie opportunity to destroy and injure.
TO INVESTIGATE RAILROAD ROUTES
The dark clouds are at last breaking, insofar as legislative
relief for the Copper River valley is concerned, and the sil
ver lining was reflected in the dispatches from Washington
yesterday. Chairman Flood, of the Territories Committee, in
! reduced a bill in Congress providing for the appointment of
t committee of three competent engineers to visit Alaska and
investigate the different railroad routes from tidewater along
the coast to the interior navigable waters, so that intelligent ac
tion might be taken by the national lawmakers when it comes
to taking final action upon the construction of a government
railroad for Alaska. This is as it should be, and Cordova is
willing o take its chances with the other coast cities in being
^elected as the terminus for the proposed trunk line, believing
that the route from Chitina to the Matanuska coal fields is the
most feasible and advantageous one.
The appointment of such a commission has the hearty ap
proval of the Valdez Prospector and residents of that town. In
i recent issue the Prospect presents the following logical ar
gument in favor of the proposition:
“The railroad should be built for the benefit of Alaska as
■i whole and not for any particular section. The route which af
fords the shortest distance to Fairbanks via the coal fields
diould be selected. The cost of constructing ,and the annual
expense of maintenance on extra miles of railroad, as well as
the daily expense of operating trains over them will prevent
rhe residents of the interior from getting full advantage of
the minimum cost of tranportation tariffs. It is the duty of the
government to investigate the different routes an after an in
vestigation by competent engineers, who are absolutely im
partial. to adopt the route selected by them.
“To select the route to be followed by a railroad into the
interior without first knowing all the facts might be a blunder
on the part of the government which would stand as a perpet
ual monument to the ignorance of the administration under
which it was built. If the case is properly presented to the
members of Congress the fairness of the attitude of the peo
ple of this district must impress itself upon them. We do not
:-sk for the adoption of any particular route.'We ask that the
government appoint a board of competent engineers to select
the route which will prove of greatest benefit, not for the pres
ent alone, but for generations yet to come.”
--uuuu---—
R J. Barry, general agent of the Alaska Steamship Com
pany, and general freight and passenger agent of the Copper
River & Northwestern Railway, has resigned both these posi
tions, and will retire to engage in private business on March
1G. Mr. Barry has been with the Alaska Syndicate companies
for about two years, coming from the Southern Pacific Rail
road. Since coming to Cordova he has realized the future pos
sibilities of the interior country and last December tendered
i is resignation, so that lie might take advantage of several
opportunities that presented. President J. II. Young request
ed that he remain during the winter, and this he consented to
do. Since the organization of the new Chamber of Commerce,
and the election of Mr. Barry as secretary, he has been anxious
to establish an office. The matter was arranged this morning
and a cable from President Young informs him that Fred
Tracey will be sent to Cordova to take the position of agent for
the steanfship company on March 1G. Mr. Tracey is popular
ly known to the people in the towns of Southwestern Alaska,
as he has for years been purser on one of the company’s steam
ers, although his summers have usually been spent on the run
to Nome. As he has had no experience in railroad work or
rate making, it is not expected that he will have any connec
tion with the Copper River & Northwestern Railway, the posi
tion now held by Mr. Barry will likely be abolished. Mr. Bar
ry will direct his efforts as a mining broker and general em
ployment agent. He will also be the personal representative
to look after the interests of a couple of big mining companies
'nat are operating in the Copper River country, lie will also
give considerable time to devising ways and means to advance
the interests of Cordova through the medium of the Chamber
of Commerce. The people of Cordova will be more than pleas
ed to know that Mr. Barry is to remain in the town. He is a
man full of energy and enthusiasm, who knows the conditions
i nd has a wide circle of friends throughout this section of
Alaska, who will wish him unbounded success in all of his new
s entures.
. nnnn—__
PORTLAND, Feb. 23.—One of the biggest colonization
schemes ever attempted in the west is now well under way. The
projectors are Louis W. Hill, president of the Great Northern
Railway, and W. P. Davidson. They have purchased 800,000
acres in eastern Oregon, and soon they will formulate plans
for securing settlers. It is their purpose to work on a big
scale and to induce settlers by the thousands to come from the
east and middle west states. Big irrigation ditches, clearing
of the land and other improvements are contemplated. Mr.
Hill is greatly interested in the project, and it is reported that
he will shortly resign so that he may give his undivided atten
tion to this new work.
Steamers approaching Cape St. Elias about nightfall are
usually compelled to lay to for well on to twelve hours. If there
is a-snow flurry or thick weather it is almost impossible to pick
up the cape. This will be remedied when the light house is
erected, for which the government will likely appropriate
$115,000 at this session of Congress. It is only one of the many
needs of Alaska.
-*—oqoo
Democratic Btate committees are being hard put to in the
effort to avoid boarding the wrong band wagon.
We Carry a Full Line of
General Merchandise
Including
GROCERIES
HARDWARE
DOG HARNESS
HORSE HARNESS
FURNISHING GOODS
BLANKETS
FUR CAPS
SHOES AND RUBBER PACS
Also
HAY AND GRAIN
CHITINA CASH STORE
E. H. GILLMAN, Manager.
Forwarding Agent, S. BLUM & CO.
CORDOVA’S BIG STORE
Only First-Class Hotel in Chit in a Prices Reasonable
Hotel Chitina
J. PALM Kit and T, CLO.\i.\GKlt,
Proprietors.
The Only First Class Hotel in Chitina
Heated Room, Bath, Ladies Parlor
Bar with all Standard Liquors and Cigars
First-Class Dining Room in Connection
Chitina Alaska
WHEN COMING TO CORDOVA REMEMBER
Cordova Steam Laundry
THE ONLY REAL LAUNDRY IN TOWN
Let ns wash anti clean your canvass covers, blankets, clothes,
overalls, etc.
If you are in a hurry we can do your work in nil hour's time If
necessary.
Leave your work at any hotel, rooming house or barber shop
and It will receive prompt attention.
’PHONE 57 F. A. JONES, Manager Second Street
The Prospector’s Resort Restaurant in Connection
LOG CABIN BAR
& ROOMING HOUSE
GRIFFITHS & HYLAND,
Proprietors,
A Fine Line of
WINES, LIQUORS
AND CIGARS.
Solo, Pool and Billiard Tables.
Comfortable Chairs and Reading Room
I ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY i
> Fast and commodious steamers sailing between ^
► Cordova and Seattle. ^
y Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova—
> Feb. 16.NORTHWESTERN.Feb. 24 «
► Feb. 24 .ALAMEDA. March 1 ^
> March 1.NORTHWESTERN. March 8 ^
> March 8 .ALAMEDA.March 16 ^
y This company reserves the right to cliunge schedule of steam
y era without notice. • ^
y Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg. ^
y Baggage or freight will not bo received at dock later than one ^
y hour before sailing time. ^
► R. J. BARRY, THOMAS TALLENT, ❖
► General Agent Ticket Agent. ^
Alaska Coast Co.
“THE INSIPE ROUTE.”
To Juneau and Prince William Sound Ports and Southwest
ern Alaska.
Seattle Sailing dates:
BERTHA—March 20, April 20, May 20.
SAMPSON—March 5, March 27 and April 15.
JEANNIE—March 10th.
The JEANNIE carries explosives for Southwestern Alaska, anr
goes to Kodiak.
Right reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without
ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Local Agents.
B. F. WATSON, General Agent.