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
ft jjrT- A. STEEL_Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
' Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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CHITINA. ALASKA. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1913
TRAINS ON SCHEDULE TIME
Mlien one realizes the efforts put forth and money
expended to insure regular traffic on the Copper River A:
Northwestern Railway this winter and the coming spring, it
should be apparent that only the ordinary delays to which all
well managed railroads are subject, are likely to result. It is
assumed that the experience during the past two months is but
the forerunner of what we may expect all winter. And during
that time passeugei-s and government mail have been can-ied
on schedule time^ The few difficulties encountered were met;
and disposed of with “neatness and dispatch.” Traffic was
not interfered with and everything has been running along
with the smoothness of a mountain railroad that might have
been in operation for a score of years, instead of but thiee and
a half years. Over three hundred thousand dollars was
expended during the past summer and fall in order to make
improvements and additions that would tend to guarantee a
regular schedule this winter. Both A ice President Baxter and
Superintendent Corser have exerted every effort to pro\ ide
for emergencies that are likely to arise in this country during
the seasons of floods and snow slides. In addition they have
been assured of the faithful and loyal service of all employees,
so that it is easy to realize that the combination should prove
effective and redown to the benefit and accommodation of the
traveling public. a.
-o—o—o
WINTER TRAIL A CERTAINTY
The doubting Thomases who keep insisting that the
glacier trail to the Chisana is not practicable are kept busy
controverting all the good news that keeps a coming with
reference to the great success with which expeditions are daily
meeting in their travels over the glaciei-s from McCarthy. The
Hazelet expedition has just completed another trip from
McCarthy to the Chisana and i-eturn. and the members of the
party are enthusiastic over the splendid trail that has been
established. Horses and double enders are daily going in and
thev have no difficulty in drawing 1,200 pounds to the horse
over the summit, as the grade is gradual and not steep. If any
one had any doubt about the practicability of the short winter
trail of 78 miles from McCarthy to the Chisana, it is time that
it were dispelled.
As was our experience with the summer trail, it required
several weeks before that was accepted as the only practicable
way of reaching the new gold diggings, we have had to battle
with public sentiment before the winter trail would be
accepted. It is time now. however, for every one to take it as j
an accepted fact, and quit expressing any doubts on a question i
that has ceased to be an uncertainty.
It is now up to every citizen of Cordova and the Copper
river country to assist this newspaper in spreading the facts
about the winter trail and to help bring to Cordova the j
hundreds and possibly thousands of miners who will leave |
from the states this winter for the Chisana. Nature has again j
favored us by making Cordova the gateway to what may prove j
to be one of the biggest placer camps in Alaska. Let’s take'
advantage of it.
NO ABSTRUSE PROBLEM HERE
Most people who know something about Alaska, or who
assume to know something, are in favor of the government
building railroads in this territory, or making such conces
sions as will enable private enterprise to do the work.
Similarly most people who have some knowledge of Alaska's
coal resources believe that these should be made use of now in
a legitimate and helpful way and not tied up indefinitely for
the use of posterity. At the recent meeting in Philadelphia,
the American Mining Congress for the fifth time advocated
the development of Alaska coal mines. It is not because there
are not many influential men in public and private life who
are interested in the development of the territory, that it has
made little headway in development the past few years; it is
because the so-called conservationists have raised false issues
and befogged the question. It is now time that the fogs were
cleared away and a rational, progressive policy of develop
ment inaugurated by the government. This will mean the
elimination of fads and fancies and a return to common sense
methods—methods suitable to the development of a pioneer
country by a pioneer pepole.
No one in Alaska, or outside of it, so far as we know,
desires to see the country’s resources exploited or monop
olized; these should be carefully safeguarded, but that can
be effected without locking them up and losing the key. No
abstrxise problem confronts the government in solving this
question. All it needs is the rule of reason applied to it and
the open sesaixie will follow, and Alaska’s resources will be
developed and conserved at one and the same time.—Juneau
Empire.
Ex-President Eliot says the poor are safer morally than
the inch. Does this explain the traditional “poor but honest”
phrase in Alaska?
The Hazelet trail to the Chisana has been demonstrated
and soon hundreds will be going over it.
A MATTER OF TERRITORIAL TAXES
Every occasionally there is an echo from some part of
Alaska, indicating that when Congress gave Alaska a home
rule bill it was very much in the form of a lemon. The action
of the first territorial legislature is often severely criticize*!
as very little seems to have been accomplished other than the
levying of taxes. Cexdain acts that might prove beneficial ai*e
practically inoperative because of the lack of funds to carry
out the provisions. And more appropriations by the legislature
means more taxes cn the people. While at present every man
is required to pay a poll tax of $4, it is expected that the next
legislature will levy a tax on property. The Fairbanks News
Miner thinks the voters deserve the bixrden and calls upon the
people of the Tanana to take their medicine, as follows:
“On town and ci*eeks the poll tax collectors are after you.
and you should meet them half way and hand them the money.
If you have paid poll tax once this year, that does not affect
the case—the first collection was illegal, but the present collec
tion is according to the new ook of Hoyle turned out by our
fii'st legislature, and is therefore a law made by yourself or
your personal agents.
“For 20 years Alaskans have cried for home rule. Finally
it was given them. It costs money to maintain a territorial
legislature, and the people have to pay it. It will cost every
man in this town between the years of 21 and 50 $4 per year
to keep the tenitorial legislature working 60 days in every
two years, or 13 cents per day per inhabitant for every day’s
work done by the territorial legislature—that is. it will cost us
that in poll tax; there are other ways in which we will be
assessed to keep the home rule game going. It’s worth it. so
pungie up.
“The poll tax collectors should staid their work in the
right way. and not in the catch-as-catch-can manner which has
characterized the work of the poll tax collectors to date. Every
man should pay his tax instead of putting the burden upon a
few. Every collector should first obtain a list of the voters
who voted at the last territorial election, and they should be
made to pay poll tax first, as their votes made the tax. After
they are collected from, all others should be collected from.
The voters should be the first to pay, for they are the men who
cause the imposition of the taxes.”
-0-0—o
PROTECTION OF DUCKS AND GEESE
The post Intelligencer remarks:
. “There are literally thousands of acres of wild ducks on
their fall feeding grounds on Puget Sound, untold millions of
birds; but the only person privileged to eat game is the man
who has the leisure to go hunting and the skill to bag it after
he finds it. Our game laws are utterly ridiculous.”
Ihese assertions apply to Alaska with greater force than
m the state of ashington. Ducks and geese should be
protected, only, during the time they are nesting and raising
their young. They migrate to the far south when cold weather
comes, where they are shot by gunners hired for that purpose
and left to rot in the grain fields, on account of their destruc
tiveness. These migration game birds .are here todav. in
Canada tomorrow and away south next week. How fool’sh
for the law makers to restrict the killing and selling of these
birds. Especially is this law obnoxious now, when meat is
so high priced.
-o—o—o
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS
The fact that England blundered into premature recogni
tion of Huerta because it mistook ex-Ambassador Wilson for
President Wilson is no consolation to John Bull.
A walking club among the ladies of Cordova is the latest
innovation. Healthful exercise is sometimes superior to pink
teas and talkfests.
Steamers continue to run into icbergs in the North
Atlantic, the last one that performed that feat having reached
St. Johns with her bows a mass of wreckage. If icebergs will
not keep out of the way of steamers, the steamers might avoid
some damaging collisions by keeping away from the icebergs,
as they do in Alaskan waters.
Roosevelt is to cross the Andes in an automobile. More
rough riding in prospect.
If Sulzer can prove that Murphy returned that $25,000
campaign contribution to Brady he may yet overthrow the
Tarnmany leader. Tammany is not likely to stand long for a
leader as foolish as that. \\ by even in Alaska leaders would
hesitate long after a campaign was over before making anv
such return.
The howls that used to go up when the Republican custom
inspectors dumped the contents of trunks on the pier and
pawed through it is nothing to the outcry that is being raised
when the Democratic inspectors produce a pair of shears and
snip off aigrettes from the latest Parisian creations. If women
get the vote customs officers will be abolished. Wonder what
notion our Alaska women voters will take when thev go to
the polls next November. Will they be satisfied with the
election of a few of their own sex to the legislature or will they
insist upon having the delegate to congress.
Superintendent Corser makes a fair suggestion to the
merchants of Cordova, and one that is somewhat unusual.
Instead of taking action that would add to the convenience and
lessen the expense of the railroad company in handling freight,
he first consults the interests of the people concerned in the
town. If he is expected to move his present buildings on the
wharf and erect a new warehouse for the fishermen, he is
certainly within reason in desiring at the same time to enlarge
the warehouses of the company and handle all the freight from
that point.
Tennessee enjoys the momentary distinction of having
enacted a law that prohibits the owners of live stock from
running at large. A sample of the care with which legislation
is framed.
Parrm^a the Mexican Constitutionalist leader, is said to
have promised representatives of the Ended States govern
mert that if opr conntrv will lot arms be shipped to Mexico b
W.ll drive out TTliprto ir +llp mrt of ppxt vp„r pllf ^
~ ^ Torgr it will be after tlmf Wore br
* - o? PAfl
WASHINGTON. Nov. 22.—Wil
liam F. McCoombs, who just re
turned with his bride from abroad,
had a conference this afternoon with
President Wilson. Afterwards he
said to the reporters that he be
lieved the Republican party would
be the chief contender in 1916
against the Democrats for the presi
dency. He evidently does not attach
much importance to the Progressive
movement, which he stated was grad
ually waning.
SEATTLE, Nov. 22.—The plans
for Seattle’s Potlatch, which it had
been decided to hold next May, may
have to be changed. It was a closely
debated question whether or not a
Potlatch should be held next year,
and the one thing that caused an
affirmative decision was the fact that
a fleet of warships were to be at
the navy yard next May. This after
noon the Potlatch management re
ceived a letter from Secretary of the
Navy Daniels who explained that
previous arrangements had been
changed and that it would be impos
sible to send the fleet here in May.
As no other time was suggested it
is assumed that the fleet is not to
be sent at any time next year. And i
again the question arises as to j
whether Seattle will have a Potlatch
in 1914.
CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 22. — The
home football team won a signal
victory this afternoon over Yale.
The crowd was immense and the ex
citement throghout was keen. The
final score was Harvard 15, Yale 5.
-o—o—o
NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS
The annual stockholders' meeting
of the Bonanza Gold Mining Co.
will be held at Blackburn, Alaska,
at 12 m. December 29th, 1913.
F. A. IVERSON, Pres.
-o—o—o
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
i Strike;” "Fairview,” “Esperanza," .
i“Webfoot,” and “Yankee,” all situ
1 ated in the Chitina Mining and
! Recording District, Territory of
! Alaska, and which have been duly
j 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 th: 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 Doc. 23, 1913.
0. MHIHI MU
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA - - - ALASKA
CHITINA: BAKERY
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CHITINA HEIGHTS
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CHITINA
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