The Chitina Leader
CHITIXA, 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
ui TT-T- a, STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HABBT 0. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 651 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .L oo
One Year .. ^
- 1 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 Rive; uistrict. _.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1913“
READY FOR STAMPEDERS
Reports from the outside indicate that during next month
the advance of the new stampeders to the Chisana country will
begin, and continue through the winter and spring, Cordova is
ready for them and has just completed a short and safe trail
to the new diggings. And if any of the prospectors hesitate
about going to the Chisana after they reach here, we will give
them the alternative of going to the Nelcliina. The short route
to the latter fields is from Chitina, and they can go in a few
hours in comfotrable cars over the railroad from Cordova to
the real starting point for either the Chisana or Nelcliina. The
popular objective point will be the Chisana, which is onl\
about 75 miles from McCarthy, with comfortable roadhouses
and relief stations along the way.
-o—o—o
BEGINNING OF PROSPERITY
It is pleasing news that comes irom juneau, vaiuez auu
Fairbanks concerning the development of quartz properties in
those localities. Whatever prosperity any community of
Alaska can secure from the long delayed development of the
rich resources of the territory .they are certainly entitled to.
Of recent years it lias been a hard pull, with the government
discouraging development by locking up the coal resources of
the north and the big capitalists afraid to invest their millions
in gold and copper properties, lest they not only lose money,
but reputation as well. However, a change of sentiment is
bringing about different conditions and Juneau particularly
is feeling the beneficent effect of the expenditure of large
capital in the development of the many gold properties in that
vicinity. Referring to the subject the Empire says:
“The interview given The Empire yesterday by Mr.
Hayden, head of the financial end of the Alaska Gold Mines
Company, calls attention to a condition at Juneau that it is
pleasing to reflect upon. He says the immensity of the gold
deposits in this section of the territory makes the gold mining
here comparable with the copper mining industry. That means
great tonnage, the employment of a large number of working
men and permanency. We are accustomed to think of gold
mining rather as the ephemeral pursuit of thsse looking for
fortunes to invest in something stable rather than as a perma
nent avocation. The situation here is different. Nature has so
arranged the formation of this section that gold mining will
be an industry as stable as anything anywhere. The difference
between Juneau’s greatest industry and those upon which
most communities depend for existence is that producers here
will not be at the mercy of precarious markets. They will not
be called upon to cease operations because of overproduction,
nor will they be compelled to sacrifice any surplus.”
-n—n—n
MORE DELAY IS THREATENED
And now when we were congratulating ourselves that it
would be but a few weeks until the government railroad bill,
providing for the expenditure of $40,000,000 in Alaska, would
be enacted into law, comes along a report that the opponents
of government construction are beginning to make their
opposition felt at the White House. While it might result in
railroads for Alaska, and the opening of the coal fields, it
would mean more delay in working out the new policy. Apd
its these continual delays that wring the hearts of good
Alaskans. Many in the northland may oppose the principal
of government construction and operation of railroads, but
they have gotten to that point where the crying necessity is
for relief of some kind, and soon. Unless the government
wishes to see many parts of Alaska depopulated within the
next few years, it will be necessary that some definite policy
be determined and government aid of some kind extended to
this northland.
-o—o—o
In Seattle recently when it was suggested that an effort
would be made to have Congress also include an appropriation
for the building of roads in Alaska, in connection with the
railroad bill, Delegate Wickersham is quoted as-saying, “I will
fight it, from start to finish.” Something kind of familiar in
that expression. It would be almost a shock to the people of
Alaska if Wick ever declared “I will support it, from start to
finish.” He is stronger on fighting than supporting. But he
gets away with the goods each time an election rolls around,
which illustrates the saying that “some people like to be
fooled all the time.”
-0—o—o
It now looks as though there would soon be something
doing in Mexico. The fireworks are expected to go off at any
minute. Uncle Sam will do the shooting. Some of the Alaska
army men would like to get into an engagement but they are
too far away to be called upon, and they are here to protect
our coal fields from “the yellow peril.”
- O-O—O———
Colonel Roosevelt and John D. Rockefeller have one thing
in common. Neither of them is on the list of noted men
retained to write reports of the world’s baseball series.
■-o—o—o
An exective order abolishing roller towels in government
buildings conveys new ideas concerning the luxury that is
supposed to prevail in the government service.
DEMOCRACY SEEKS CANDIDATE
A recent issue of the Fairbanks News-Miner states that a meeting of
the Tanana Valley Democratic Club was called for the purpose of agreeing
upon a candidate for Delegate to Congress, but that owing to the short
notice the gathering was not sufficiently well attended to take action. In
the same connection the Fairbanks Times states that it is the desire to
perfect an organization that would strengthen the candidate who might
l»e put into tihe field. And the Times further says that “when Governoi*
Strong was in Fairbanks he stated that President Wilson was very anxious
to see a Democratic delegate from the territory, and the chief magistrate
i.rged upon the Democrats the necessity of starting the campaign early."
From the above it would seem as though the Democracy of the terri
tory proposes to be a factor in the election of a Delegate to Congress in
November, 1014. And with a national administration favorable to the
development of Alaska, there is a natural desire that a man should be sent
to Washington in whom the President and Congress would have confidence
and with whom they could advise and learn of the true necessities of this
northland. It is a well known fact that since the territory was given a
voice in the House of Representatives very little has been accomplished by
our delegates. Of recent years our representative has devoted most of his
time to wrangling and antagonizing the elements that are necessary to
secure accomplishment. We have had no delegate whose sympathies and
efforts were along the lines of the party in power. And we all know what
the result has been.
The Democratic national administration has given evidence that it
proposes to bring about remedial legislation such as will result in the.
opening up of Alaska through the development of her rich and varied
resources, and make a discouraged people take on new hope that will be
justified in subsequent prosperity and happiness. And if President Wilson
wishes a man sent from this territory who would be one of his political
family and with whom he could safely and profitably confer, it would seem
that the thought of self-interest upon the part of the people of the terri
tory would be sufficiently strong fo result in all elements and men of every
IKditical faith, uniting in an.effort to send to Washington one of the
strongest, cleanest and most progressive of all our citizens.
The Tanana Valley Club is certainly entering upon a most patriotic
duty in the endeavor to advance the candidacy of some man who wouid
creditably represent the territory at Washington and secure results such
as are sorely needed. It will undoubtedly be difficult to secure men who
will permit the use of their names to enter a contest for the nomination
and to afterwards endure the liazards and mud slinging of a campaign.
There are undoubtedly some of the desirable kind to be found in Alaska
but many of them may be disinclined to wage a contest to secure a namina
tion. There will be others, perhaps much less worthy, who will inject
themselves into the fight and seek the honor more for personal gain than
for any good that they would expect to accomplish for the territory. We
have seen that illustrated in the past.
We do not know whom the Democrats of Fairbanks and the Tanana
Valley may have in mind as their candidate. But we believe that we
reflect the sentiment and hope of a very large majority of the people in
this section of Alaska, embodying men of all political shades, when we say
that if they can induce Falcon Joslin to stand for the office that they will
accomplish an act that would forever redown to the credit of their judg
ment and result in everlasting glory and profit to the territory. A year ago
Mr. Joslin returned from the interior with the Alaska Railroad Commission.
At a public meeting at Cordova he made the first suggestion of two trunk
lines to the interior, and set forth his views of the necessities of Alaska so
clearly, earnestly and eloquently, that he at once impressed the large
audience with the idea that here was one big, unselfish man of extra
ordinary power who would prove a tower of strength and accomplishment
as a Delegate to Congress.
But a few days ago Mr. Joslin was again in Cordova and Valdez. Scores
of men at both places urged upon him that he allow his name to be ”»ed
as a candidate for delegate. But to all he stated that he was not a seeker
after place and that he had no desire to forsake business to pursue the
elusive nnd fickle mistress of politics. And he meant it. Mr. Joslin is an
extremely modest man and has never sought honor or glory for himself.
For others and for the territory of Alaska he has been an indefatigable
worker. We venture to say that no man who has ever appeared before the
various Congressional committees at Washington, has done more valiant
and unselfish service in behalf of Alaska than has Falcon Joslin. He is in
possession of more facts and figures concerning the territory and their
application to future development, than possibly any other living individual.
And he is sincere and absolutely honest and reliable.
We could conceive of no higher mission or more honorable accom
plishment than for the Democracy of the Tanana, with a united might
and right, to compel the candidacy of Mr. Joslin. He would make an ideal
delegate. Towering in stature, of kindly and pleasing ]iersonality, with
Honesty of purpose a fire-long cnaracteristic, possessed or a keen and
exceptionally bright intellect, with a fearlessness and utter unselfishness
that it as exceptional as it is pleasing, with a sharp wit, a ready flow of
words and an earnestness that is all absorbing in a discussion on Alaska
that marks him as a fluent and convincing speaker, and withal a keen
appreciation of the rights of others, Mr. Joslin would soon take a com
manding place in the councils of the administration at Washington.
He would be recognized as a good fighter for Alaska but an honorable
antagonist to those who opposed his just demands. Never would he seek
to gain advantage through bitter attack or personal assaults. Rather
would he use persuasion and reason to convince the benighted legislator
who might oppose the necessities of the territory. He would command the
respect, confidence and friendship of the men who would be his colleagues,
for they would alw'ays find Mr. Joslin fighting for what he believed to be
fair and right, and to attain benefit for his constituents and not glory for
self. There may be others in Alaska who might prove a factor in a
contest for selection over the present incumbent. But to our mind Mr.
Joslin is the towering figure in all Alaska to wage a fight for this office with
any man who might be pitted against him. But the probabilities are that
he could not be induced to buckle on the armor of contest.
It cei-tainly would be well worth the trying upon the part of all sections
of Alaska to induce Falcon Joslin to make the race for Delegate to Congress.
His election would mean true representation at Washington and unques
tioned loyalty to the best interests of Alaska. He is not an office holder,
nor an office-seeking politician in the remotest sense. And for that reason
he would have the opposition of a certain element who might feel that
they could not use him. As he is a successful business man he would also
be opposed by the demagogue. As he has been the means of bringing many
hundreds of thousands of dollars into the territory for the purposes of
development of course he would be accused of representing “big interests."
In fact Falcon Joslin would have the same opposition that every honorable
and unselfish candidate for public office has to contend with. He would be
in the same kind of disfavor that the Honorable Woodrow Wilson was when
he was first put forth as a candidate in New Jersey.
We believe that the time is fast arriving when the voters of Alaska
will longer refuse to be blinded to their true interests; when they must
realize that we are not effectively represented in the halls of Congress; when
they will decline to accept hlattant demagoguery and insist upon getting
results; when shallow talk about monopolists seeking to gobble up Alaska
will not influence honest men from casting their ballots for Mr. Joslin or
some other reputable and high minded candidate for Congress. So we say
to the Democrats of the interior, good luck to you, and may you name from
an enlightened valley of the Tanana a man for Delegate to Congress who
shall command the confidence and support of men of all classes from every
part of Alaska. If you cannot induce Falcon Joslin to get into the running
Rive us a man half as good and you will have done a commendable service
for the territory.
SEATTLE, Nov. 3.—The Chamber
of Commerce is making a renewed
effort to have Seattle designated as
the place for the government to hold
their sale of furs, instead of St.
Louis. Until this year the govern
ment sale of furs has been held in
London, England, and when the
bureau about a year ago made an
effort to have the sales held in
Seattle it was stated by Commis
sioner Beuers, of the department of
fisheries, that it was necessary to
hold the sales in London because all
of the extensive fur buyers gathered
there annually. However, with the
coming of a new administration, the
place for holding the sales was
changed to St. Louis.
It is claimed by Seattle fur deal
ers that this is the logical place to
hold the sales because of its
close proximity to the great fur pro
ducing regions of Alaska and
Siberia. It is pointed out that the
sales being held at St. Louis, it is
necessary to carry the furs through
Seattle and thence via railroad to
the Missouri city.
-o—o—o
BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 3.—Unique
among public buildings in America
is the new custom house which
is being erected in Boston. It
is to be a tower, 505 feet high, and
in design is virtually a monument
to crown the pyramidal sky line ot
the city. The old pyramidal shape
of the city with the golden dome of
the Statehouse at its apex has been
destroyed by the building of sky
scrapers. Boston’s building laws
now forbid the erection of private
structures more than 125 feet high,
and the new custom house is de
signed to rise above its surround
ings and form the dominating fea
ture in any view of the city.
-o—o—o
NOTICE OP 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
aw 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.
0. ADRIAN NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA - - - ALASKA
CHITINA: BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY GESSNER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON HAND
Chitina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Set vice.
Next to Chitina Hotel,
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
Chitina j
Pharmacy j
DRUGS, $
STATIONERY, j
CANDIES, 1
KODAK SUPPLIES j
; CIGARS & TOBACCO 1
►
► If you cannot call, write
; us. MAIL orders our
► Specialty.
►
► ■■ 1 ———————
► —---—-—
\ A. G. MOREY, Prop.
►
i GROCERIES, HARDWARE I
; AND=_ = i
! MEAT MARKET
>
> ___
»
•
| We have a big line of Sec
• ond-Hand Goods, and can
> save you money on your out
. fit. Bunk House, with free
i Cook House, in connection.
»
CHITINA HEIGHTS
; C. A. SIMONS & CO,
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
HAY, BRAN, OATS, CHOPS,
ROLLED BARLEY
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road, Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITINA
HOTEL
WASHINGTON
ANNEX
SEATTLE
New, modern and fireproof.
All outside rooms
The most conveniently locates
hotel in the city.
Rooms and suites are particu
larly large.
Very desirable for families or
parties traveling together.
RATES MODERATE
Auto-bus meets all boats and
trains. Write for booklet.
.J- H. DAViS, Prop