DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGO—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EQQ.
VOL. I.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1911.
NO. 29
Cordova Celebrates First
Shipment of Copper Ore
With the shriek of whistles, clang
ing of bells and the thundering
noises of exploding dynamite Cor
dova today greeted the arrival of the
first shipment of ore from the fa
mous Bonanza mine, over the recent
ly completed Copper River & North
western railroad to Kennecott. The
event was the occasion of a big cele
bration and April 8 will hereafter be
known in this part of Alaska as Cop
per Day.
The entire town is in holiday at
tire, practically every building being
decorated with the national colors,
while the stars and stripes float from
every flagstafT. A particularly attract
ive electrical display has been ar
ranged in front of the Cordova Pow
er Company's building, while appro
priate banners are stretched across
First street. At the dock there is a
streamer bearing the information
that Cordova is the gateway to in
terior Alaska.
This morning at 9 o’clock a spec
ial train, appropriately decorated,
and bearing the Eagle band and hun
dreds of our residents left for Flag
Point, where the ore train was met
and escorted to the dock. It was a
long train of flat cars, containing a
cargo of valuable mineral and as
it passed through town it received a
big ovation. The shipment of ore
consisted of about 1,200 tons of 7u
per cent or better copper glance,
which has a value of ?250,000.
Mayor Chase presided at the exer
cises at the dock and after a few in
troductory remarks read a telegram
from President Eccles, of the Coppei
River & Northwestern railroad, con
gratulating the people of Cordova up
on the completion of the road to tht
Bonanza and the first train of ort
and expressing the hope that open
ing up the interior would bring pros
perity to each and every resident of
this enterprising city. The audience
gave three hearty cheers for Mr. Ec
cles. General Manager E. C. Haw
kins and the Copper River & North
western railroad. A silent tribute of
respect was also paid to the memory
of the late Contractor M. J. Heney.
In addition to the speeches made the
program consisted of three well ren
dered songs by the school children,
entitled, “Alaska, My Alaska,” “Cor
dova, Oh Cordova” and “ Old Glory.”
The Eagle band discoursed several
selections which were much enjoyed
and demonstrated that this organiz
ation is making rapid strides and
will soon rank as one of the crack
bands of the territory.
Rev. M. E. Koonce, pastor of the
Presbyterian church, was the orator
of the day and delivered an able and
eloquent address, in which he paid
a glowing tribute to the men who
furnished the capital for the con
struction of a railroad to interior
Alaska, the builders of this magnifi
cent road and the pioneers of the
northland.
Mr. E. C. Hawkins, General Man
ager and Vice-president of the Cop
per River & Northwestern railroad,
responded to Mr. Koonce’s address,
and in doing so he paid a deserved
tribute to the men back East who
had financed this great enterprise
and made it possible for the rich
Bonanza mine to ship ore. He also
spoke of the hardships endured by
the prospectors in the early days and
the part they played in the opening
up of the resources of the country;
to the workers on the railroad, whose
manliness and hardihood counted for
much, due credit was also given. To
the absent friends, and particularly
Mr. Hene^, the speaker referred very
eelingly.
Local News
Guy Kennedy, a blacksmith, who
has been with E. R. Gray at Cop
per Mountain for several seasons,
was a passenger on Friday’s train foi
a few weeks vacation in Cordova.
Jack Quiring, who has been up the
line for the past month cooking at
the various construction camps was
a passenger on Friday’s train for Cor
dova, the celebration committee for
Copper Day having secured his re
lease for a few days to help out in
the Eagle band on Saturday.
In anotner column is a poem from
the pen of Mrs. Ora L. Burrows, who
in a letter to tne Leader, sends re
gards to all her friends and states
that she expects soon to be back here.
Frank Townsend, one of the oldest
locomotive engineers on the Copper
River & Northwestern railway, made
a trip to the front this week to dis
tribute a few shares of the well
known mining stock at McKinley
Lake, owned by Dan Rice, H. R.
Simpson, James Barclay and others.
He returned to Cordova on Friday
morning’s train.
Harvey McDaniels, of McDaniels
Bros, roadhouse on the new cut-off
trail, left yesterday with a horse and
double ender and about a ton of
supplies and tools necessary for as
sessment work at Tazlina. Mr. Mc
Daniels recently .returned from a trip
to Martin Glacier, near where he has
been doing some prospect work on
some quartz ledges.
O. E. Bennett made a business trip
to Cordova this week, leaving on
Friday morning’s train and returning
Monday.
Geo. MacMurray, who has wintered
In Chitina, left Friday morning for
Cordova where he expects to spend
a few days on business.
Tommy Richmond, who has been
"chief adviser” to Oscar Breedman
all fall and winter, left on Friday’s
train for Cordova. He left no word
as to whether he’d return or order
Oscar back to this end.
TRAVELERS AT THE
HOTEL CHITIXA
The following travelers were reg
istered this week at the Hotel Chit
ina:
Joe Askil, John Wild, Alex. Fow
ler, A. Simpson L. Levy, P. Hop
kins, W. Young and wife. Miss Gross,
Miss Sanderson, E. Bemis, J. Oliver,
S. Bush, J. Fitzgerald, C. Klaussen
Frank Berry and wife, R. Harris, G.
W. Davison, Mrs. Wright, Miss Hyde,
P. T. Cummings, C. L. Baker J. D.
Stevenson, P. R. Dusenberry, E. T.
Barnette, J. A. Jackson, L. E. Wing,
M. S. Hutton, E. A. Hegg, S. Wil
mer and wife Mr. and Mrs. Dan
Jacobson, J. O. Pearson, Frank Ba
bau, G. Kennedy, Thos. Lynch, Geo.
Pilz, P. McKay, E. Lynn D. E. Dun
bar, H. D. Milan, E. F. Gray, Barney
Simon, E. Clayton, J. D. Cowie, J.
Dougherty, G. W. Harp, J. L. Chur
chill A. Sanderson, W. Brot, H. R.
Short, E. Specht and H. Koch.
DR. WHITING FALLS
Hi-iR TO HOSPITAL
Dr. F. B. Whiting, the well known
physician and surgeon, who has been
with the Heney contracting forces
from the days of the White Pass &
Yukon, has been retained by the Ka
talla Company, now that his work
with the construction forces is about
at an end and will have charge of
the hospital work from Tlekel to the
Bonanza. The doctor left for Cor
dova on Friday's train, and during a
chat with the Leader man laughingly
stated that he believed he was the
first medico in the north to “fall
heir" to a hospital. He stated that
the Heney Company had given him
all the medicines and hospital equip
ment along the line of construction,
and that the hospital at mile 146
would be the headquarters for a time
at least.
The Skagway Alaskan rejoices that
the order of the railroad commission
reducing the rates over the White
Pass & Yukon railroad have been sus
pended and hopes the suspension will
be permanent.
PROSPECTORS PREPARING
FOR SEASON'S WORK
Quite a number of prospectors who
have wintered at their cabins on
Chitina Heights are now preparing
to get ready for the hills and there
promises to be a lively race among a
number who were out last season,
for the many “plumbs” that are
known to exist in the section of
country surrounding the already fa
mous mines at the Kennecott. Dur
ing the past week, several prospect
ing outfits have already made their
way up the Chitina as far as the
headwaters of this promising river,
where placer gold on the many
creeks tributary to it were found
in paying quantities last fall. There
is no question but what all the riv
ers and creeks within 200 miles of
Chitina will be fairly well prospect
ed this coming season, and it is be
lieved that gold quartz, as well as
placer and copper, will be found.
musTpaTthe
PENALTY
Fairbanks, April 8.—Accused o'
having criminal relations with Vio
let Meyers, aged 15, Wm. Reagan,
the Second avenue tailor, was indict
ed by the grand jury.
The girl is the daughter of Mrs.
Gussie Meyers, who was at one time
in the employ of Reagan.
He was arraigned recently an",i
pleaded not guilty. No bail was al
lowed.
Reagan has hitherto enjoyed an
excellent reputation in the camp and
his friends were bumbfounded when
they heard of the charge preferred
against him.
After the federal court session at
Seward, which convenes April 10, it
is possible that Judge Cushman will
go to Fairbanks this spring to re
lieve Judge Overfield, who will leave
for the Iditarod to hold court there
this spring. Next July the court
will make anotner trip to the Aleu
tian islands and coast towns holding
court at various points to dispose
of cases. Court will not be held in
Valdez again until next October.
deaTTusT is
Scranton, Pa., April 8.—Betweei
fifty and sixty boys lost their livei
as a result of a fire in the Pentocos.
mine at Throop. Most of the bodie:
have been recovered.
i
Scranton, April 8.—It was late
learned that the list of the dead i: ,
increasing, as sixty-five bodies have
been brought to the surface and fivt
more located.
DEPUTY MARSHAL MUST
DO COURT CRIER WORK
The time honored office of court
crier has been abolished in the fed
eral courts in Alaska and the famil
iar cry of “Hear ye, hear ye,” will be
heard no more.
Judge Cushman recently received
word from Attorney General Wicker
sham at Washington stating that the
office would be abolished April 1 in
the territory.
In future the United States mar
shal or one of his deputies will have
to open and close court.
A. j. Daly, formerly of Nome, and
national Democratic committeeman
for Alaska, has confided an ambition
to again serve the party. There is
opposition to Daly on the ground
that he is not a legal resident of
Alaska, as he is practicing law in Se
attle.
Read the Leader for the news.
E. F. GRAY RETURNS
TO COPPER MOUNTAIN
E. F. Gray, who is largely interest
ed in copper properties near Copper
Mountain returned on Thursday
night’s train from a six weeks' bus
iness trip to the eastern states. When
seen by the Leader representative,
Mr. Gray stated that he was glad
to get back again as he was anxious
to do all the development work pos
sible this year.He said he had nothing
out of the ordinary for publication,
outside of the fact that copper look
ed better than ever, and that he
expected to have in the neighborhood
of 200 men at work this season do
ing assessment and development
work on the several properties held
by his company. He expects soon
to have a shipment of several tons
of copper ore for a test at outside
smelters.
WILL* OPEN
SOAUANOS
Col. A. M. Swanitz, chief engineer
of the Alaska Northern railway, has
returned to Seward, accompanied by
Jos. Watson his assistant superin
tendent, E. L. Davis, six engineers
and a bridge gang headed by H. Os
borne.
Col. Swanitz stated that although
capital sufficient to complete the un
dertaking had been secured no act
ive work would begin on the exten
sion until the coal cases had been
settled.
The company will, however, put
a force of men at work clearing off
the townsite of Baranof, near Sew
ard, where the company will have
its terminal. Another force of men
will be put in the field to prospect
the section through which the line
passes in order to gain a knowledge
of the extent of its mineral resour
ces.
Col. Swanitz states that the
chances of the coal land cases in
Alaska being cleared up shortly are
brighter now than they have been
for years.
*
A campaign for the construction
of a large, modern hotel has been
started at Valdez.
SOClMJSTWILL
NOT SERVE
Madison, Wis., April 8.—The So
cialist members of the committee ap
>ointed to welcome Theodore Roose
velt when he visits this city on April
15 have declined to serve because of
lis restrictions.
i'KLEPHOXE CREW
SUSPENDS WORK
The telephone crew at the front
who have had a strenuous job all
winter wrestling with snow and froz
en gravel, are now enjoying a few
days vacation.
There were fifteen in all of the
crew and they just managed >o get
connections with the end of the line
by the time the copper spike was
driven. Foreman Casey and Assist
ant Foreman Connors smiled bland
ly when. relay sang out “O K” as
far as Bonanza. Head Lineman Nels.
Swansen and Assistant Jimmy Hus
sey say they don’t want to see a
telegraph pole for a month or two
now.
The boys report the line and poles
in good shape as far as mile 160.
and from there on to mile 191 only
every other pole is set, but from
191 to 196 the work is quite thor
ough. There is a private line from
Bonanza mine proper to the ore
crushers, a distance of four miles,
so It is now possible to talk to tide
water from the mine, away above
timber line.
Katalla Co. Takes Over
Railroad Next Saturday
Now tnat the road is finished to
the Bonanza mine, the contracting
or construction company will turn
over the road to the Katalla Com
pany, which assumes charge on Ap
ril loth.
Superintendent Samuel Murchison,
who made a trip on Friday's train
to Cordova, was seen by a Leader
representative and stated that the
constructing company would have
everything in readiness by April 15th
for the Katalla Company to take
charge. There is, of course, consid
erable ballasting and track work to
do before the frost leaves, and the
Katalla Company will have a large
force of men working all summer in
making improvements. The steam
shovel began operations yesterday at
mile 158. and Mr. Murchison states
that this is now the busiest camp
along the line, there being over one
hundred men employed there. The
ground i8 only frozen to a depth of
about two feet and when blasted the
steam shovel has no difficulty in
scooping up the necessary gravel,
which is rapidly loaded into dump
cars and taken along the low places
in the line for surfacing the road bed.
The Katalla Company will take
over the remaining supplies in the
commissary line left at the different
camps, as they will have need of
them and more, as Mr. Murchison
states that nearly everything was
pretty well cleaned up. The horses
are all disposed of with the excep
tion of his two head, and the con
struction co pany regrets that they
did not retain the large shipment of
horses sent outside in the fall, as
there was a demand for all and more
than they had. A large number of
the men who have been in the em
ploy of the Heney company will
transfer after the 15th to the Katalla
1
Company and keep on working for
the remainder of the season.
BONANZA FOREMAN
GOES OUTSIDE
Frank C. Wilcox who has been
employed as foreman under Supt.
McClellan at the Bonanza mine for
the past year, was an arrival in
Chitina on Thursday night’s train
and left Friday morning en route
to California, where he expects to
spend a couple of months and then
leave for Montana. Mr. Wilcox
states that there are only ten min
ers at present taking out ore, under
the foremanship of Jos. Carson, who
recently arrived from the Couer
d'Alene country. Supt. McClellan,
who left for the outside last fall, has
been succeeded by Manager Emery
who is expected here this month.
, Donald Follis, the “two-story" na
i five son, is back in Chitina after
an absence of a few weeks on a sec
tion between here and Cordova.
L. B. Erickson and H. S. Dean
are busy these days taking supplies
ito their uT'rterent caches between
here and Dean's basin.
! Supt. Murchison and Paymaster
Lester were down this week to bid
: good-bye to Supt. Simpson and at
tend to business matters.
Judge Ferguson, who has been on
a business trip to Cordova, return
ed on Saturday.
Cloninger & St. Clair are to be
congratulated on their neat back bar,
which is finished in mission style,
and filled with all the standard
brand of case goods. Their new pool
and billiard hall is now in opera
tion and the rooms upstairs will be
finished in the near future, which
will make the Log Cabin Bar one
of the first-class places in Alaska.
Local News
Assistant Chief Engineer L. Wer
necke left on Friday's train for a
trip to Cordova after spending a
busy week at the front and around
Chitina.
A small attendance was at the
Wednesday night card club of this
week. Owing to the coming long
days, the club has decided to hold
one more meeting on next Wednes
day night, which will be the last
during the summer season. Suit
able prizes have been purchased and
a full attendance is desired at the
last meeting.
Work is progressing rapidly at
the crossing of the Copper near Chit
ina for the reinforcement of the tem
porary bridge.
Messrs. Healey and Weber left on
Monday's train to spend a few days
at the front. On their return from
Bonanza they stopped off at the
homestead of P. D. Burke, at mile
177, on Long Lake, where the "Alas
ka School of Mines” is to be located.
Gust Wilson was given 22 day3
at Hotel de Brown on Tuesday for
helping himself to a tent which be
longed to someone else.
Mrs. Norman Rice who was with
us last fall, returned to Chitina on
Thursday night’s train after spending
the winter in Cordova.
Mesdames. Cloninger and St. Clair
were the guests of Dr. Whiting on
Thursday afternoon, taking a run out
to camp 146 for dinner and returning
the same evening.
Supt. Samuel Murchison made a
trip to Cordova on Friday’s train to
observe Copper Day. He expects his
wife and daughters on the next
steamer from Seattle.
Supt. H. R. Simpson, who left re
cently for Seattle being summoned
to appear on the coal cases, did not
arrive in time for the hearing, but
will remain outside about two
months, after which he expects to re
turn and look after his mining in
terests near McKinley Lake.
HARVESTING ICE
ON TROUT LAKE
This past week a number of men
are at work on Trout Lake cutting
ice for the summer. Geo. Blouen
has built an ice house and is putting
up many tons of the clear crystal
blocks, averaging over two and three
feet in thickness. Cloninger & St.
Clair will put up a supply for their
own consumption and other business
men expect to put up a supply, so
there is no fear of an ice famine in
Chitina this year. The lake is grad
ually beginning to overflow, so it’s a
case of “make ice while the frost
holds.”
NEW BARBER SHOP
AT TIKRH BROS.
At the popular pool and billiard
resort of Tibbs Bros., a first-class
three-chair barber shop has been in
stalled, and from now on patrons can
step inside the shop and await their
turn. The chairs are all of the lat
est hydraulic pattern and a neat rail
ing encloses the shop from the main
room. A sanitary basin and hot wa
ter arrangements are an important
part of the shop fixtures and as the
location and barbers are everything
that is to be desired, the shop will
undoubtedly enjoy a good business
from the start.
Billy Oliver, formerly connected
with St. Clair & Cloninger at the
Log Cabin Bar, left on Friday’s train
for Cordova, after being at the front
all winter.
Isaac Smith well known in Chit
ina, made a trip to Cordova on Fri
day morning’s train.
Peter Schneider, the Copper River
ranches was in town this week and
secured his horse from the contract
ing company. He took out his grain
and farm supplies shipped here to
Harry Chamberlain, besides hauling
about a ton of freight for Charley
McCourt of Our Home roadhouse.
Job work at the Leader office.