Fairbanks-Chitina Men
Combine for Business
D. S. Coombs, the well known
transfer man from Fairbanks, who
made the round trip over the new
route recently, and Frank Alba, of
Chltina, have formed a partnership
and will do a general freighting and
passenger business to the interior
this winter. Mr. Coombs will come
as far as Paxton’s roadhouse, where
they will make their relay station,
and transfer the freight taken by
Alba’s teams on double-enders from
here. Frank Alba, who now has four
horses, has already engaged to
freight two tons of supplies to the
different roadhouses, and will make
another trip Tuesday, taking 1,000
feet of lumber with him for the
Woodland roadhouse. He made the
first trip this week, returning Fri
day night. While at Copper Center
he met Mr. Coomos and his daugh
ter, who were on their way home to
Fairbanks Frank says the road
houses all along the trail are mak
ing new improvements and figuring
on the travel coming this way, and
also anxiously awaiting the figures
on freight rates by the railroad com
pany, as there is a rumor of a reduc
tion, which will meet the same rate
the freighters will make from Val
dez.
Hotel Chitina Now Ready
For Interior Travelers
Oscar Breedman now has his big
hostelry in readiness for the tran
sient and regular trade, there being
e. dozen handsomely furnished rooms
already tor the guests. They are
warm and comfortable, a coal heater
in each room, and the furniture as
good as can be found in the major
ity of hotels. Two car loads of fur
niture arrived the first of the week
and a number of men are busy in
stalling it, fixing up small stoves and
heaters and making the building look
more modern and comfortable every
day. Travelers from the states to
the interior and Fairbanks people
outward bound have already regls£
tered at the Hotel Chitina and ex
press their satisfaction over the
rooms, though of course they realize
that everything is still new and the
accommodations are not yet as good
as when the hotel will be complete
throughout. The one story addition
to the hotel is now up, in which the
bar and pool rooms will be located,
and the lobby and other store rooms
will be ready this coming week. The
Orr Stage company will occupy one
store room and application has been
made to remove the postoffice to the
central part of the building between
the lobby and the stage company
office. The hotel desk, which is a
home production, is a credit to the
new hotel, and was made by the
well known old-timer, Tom Cochran,
the cabinet maker and best all-round
mechanic who ever worked in Cor
dova. The hotel piano is also here
and the social ones are anxious for
the big opening to take place, when
Mine Host Breedman has promised
them a dance.
First Interior Stage
Left Friday Morning
Thursday evening’s train brought
twenty-seven sacks of mail for the
interior, and the stages on flat cars
for the Orr Stage company. At six
o’clock Friday morning, the stage
left Chltina with five passengers for
Fairbanks and 1,600 pounds of mail.
The passengers were Albert Berry
and wife, J. L. Sale, the Fairbanks
jeweler, and H. E. Bergman and
daughter.
The first stage leaving Fairbanks
with mail and passengers for Chit
ina arrived here Thursday evening
about six o’clock with six sacks of
mail and seven passengers, among
whom were D. T. Kennedy, the well
known former stage man, who has
sold his holdings to the Orr Stage
company, J. A. Jackson, president of
the Washington-Alaska and Fair
banks Banking Co., and wife, Mrs.
Golden, wife of the merchant at
Grail, and three others whose names
we did not learn. A special train
was run by the railroad company,
which got the passengers in Cor
dova at 4 a. m. Friday morning and
gave them plenty of time to catch the
steamer Victoria for the states. The
passengers were highly elated over
the splendid connections and rapid
time made, which was a record
breaker from Fairbanks to the coast.
Bluen’s New Building
Opened as a Hotel
All speculation is now at an end
as to what Geo. Blouen intended do
ing with his big building, for on
Wednesday evening an all night sign
was hung in front of the place.which
read “Chitina Hotel.”
George has six nicely furnished
rooms on the upper floor, some of
which are already rented and he is
•working every day on the lower
floors, putting them in readiness for
occupancy. The big corner room he
may fix up as a bar and pool room,
and there Is another partitioned off
which parties are negotiating for as
a store and barber shop or possibly
a restaurant. To a Leader repre
sentative Mr. Blouen stated that
within a week or ten days, he should
know exactly what he intends doing
with the entire building, and would
know as to whether a bar would be
established in the building or not.
Chitina Boosters Return
From Trip to Copper Center
Clarence Stairs and “Ole” Condon,
who left last week for a trip over
the new trail, went as far as Copper
Center and distributed considerable
advertising matter from our merch
ants along the new route, besides
boosting the new trail at all the dif
ferent roadhouses as far as Copper
Center. In one of the Leader’s of
recent issue we mentioned that Cop
per Center would no doubt be a stop
ping place for lunch with the stage
line, but Mr. Blix, of Copper Center,
and others who have been over the
trail think it should be corrected,
as they believe that Copper Center
will be the first all-night stop out
from Chitina. There is a diversity
of opinion as to the time that will be
made over the new trail and the con
flicting opinions relative to the real
condition of the trail are really amus.
ing. A Fairbanks man will come
over the trail and say there couldn't
be a better one; a Valdez sympathiz
er makes the trip and says it’s rot
ten, and fit only for double-enders,
while a few Chltina residents and
old trail mushers differ as to the
feasibility of freighting over the first
fifteen miles with four horse teams
and bobs or double-enders. D. S.
Coombs, the Fairbanks transfer man,
emphatically declares that he can
take a fiur-horse team load up at
Chitina and go clear through to Fax
ton’s without taking to the double
enders, and he is backed up by an
old stage driver for the N. C. Com
pany, who has driven over nearly ail
the trails in Alaska, and who drove
a team all fall over the new road
between Chitina and Tonsina. Oth
ers who have been over the trail
claim it is fit for an automobile at
any stage of the year, and yet a few
who have recently made the trip
claim that only double-enders can be
used from here to Tonsina; that the
curves are too sharp to permit of a
four-horse team being used to ad
vantage, and that after the Tonsina
roadhouse is reached it will be clear
sailing to Paxton's with the big
teams. Time will tell, of course, but
the majority are of the opinion that
as fast time as will be scheduled be
tween here and Fairbanks, will be
made over the new cut-off trail.
Mr. Condon states that new barns
are being completed at Tonsina and
Willow Creek and preparations all
along the trail are being made for
the winter travel.
Local News
Tommy Richmond, Oscar Breed
man's “Handy Kid,” who has been
spending a few days at the coast
terminal and incidentally some of
his "velvet” money, returned on
Wednesday night’s train and said he
was glad to get back ’ome.
Messrs. Struck and Micewicz, who
outfitted this week for a trapping and
prospecting trip to the Chestachina,
left three days later than at first
planned, owing to the big dog which
they had just purchased having got
ten away. The second day after they
left the dog came back, and John
Gage, his present owner, has been
wondering what happened him. The
trappers purchased another team,
however, but say it will go hard with
anyone if they ever learn the dog was
being held, as it cost them some valu
able time besides having to purchase
other dogs for their team.
Have a talk w’ith Kimberlin if you
are figuring on buying property or
want to rent a cabin or building.
11-5-tf
C. E. Davidson, one of the Fair
banks mining promoters who arrived
in Chitina the first of the week, is
making a trip to Ohio and New York
on business. "He has secured an op
tion on one of the paying creeks
near Fairbanks and expects to in
stall a dredging proposition on a
large scale.
Jesse Martin, manager for the
Orr Stage Co., arrived in Chitina ov
er the new trail on Wednesday ev
ening about 6 o’clock, having come
in by the way of Valdez.
Benny Thompson, section foreman
in charge of the switchback tracks,
has been transferred to 146.
G. S. Lewis, a Fairbanks business
man .passed through Chitina the first
of the week, and is en route east
and to California to spend the win
ter,
Charley Turner, the well known
jeweler, who all last summer con
ducted an eating house and store at
Miles Glacier, and who has been in
charge of the “20 minutes for lunch”
station at mile 78 this fall, is again
a Cordova business man, having pur
chased the barber shop and curio
store at the Horseshoe saloon.
John Reed, better known to hi?
many friends as “Mexican Jack," is
now running one of the locals.
Harry Pollard, head waiter at the
big bridge camp, savs he expects to
have his New Year’s dinner in Seal
tie if possible. Anyway, Harry is
holding the Job down and says he’ll
stick it out till the bridge is finish
ed, and then he’s off for a well earn
ed rest,
FOUND—A gentleman s watch and
chain. Owner can have same by
inquiring of Wm. Tibbs, proving
property and paying for this adver
tisement.
FOUND—Trail dog, markings of
Gordon setter; weight about 70 lbs.
Had leather collar with brass hook
attached. Present owner has been
in possession for nine days. Owner
can have dog by paying for this ad.
or after 30 days present owner claims
full possession.
W. H. Black, the well known cook
who has been in charge of the kitchei
at mile 140 for the past three months
left on Wednesday evening’s train fo
Cordova. Mr. Black will go to th<
Sitka hot springs for a few weeks a
least, as he is now suffering witl
rheumatism.
Subscribe for the Chitina Leader.
RED GROSS DRUG GO.
MRS. G M. KING
Drugs, Stationery, Fruit
Tobaccos, etc.
Mile 133
Copper River
Trading Post
NEWHOUSE & CO., Props.
Opposite Chitina
MILE 133
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
Seattle Prices
Cheapest Place In Copper Belt to
Buy Supplies
SAVOY
RESTAURANT
Opposite Chltina Trading Co.
The Only First-Class Cafe in
Chitina
American and European Plan
Dinner 75c up
A la Carte all day
Cater to special dinner parties.
BRADY HOWARD
General Contractor
Log or Frame Building
CHITIJfA HEIGHTS
Satisfaction Guaranteed
STRINGER'S
“The Hangout”
Where you will find your friends
POOL
And Solo Tables, Cigars, Confec
tionery, Magazines, Periodicals and
Stationery.
Watch this Space
Something Doing all the time
L. C. STRINGER, Proprietor
I. J. ST. CLAIR T. W. CLONING ER,
Proprietors
THE WORKINGMAN’S RESORT
LOG CABIN BAR
WINES, LIQUORS,
AND CIGARS
....Restaurant and Good Lodging House in Connection....
CORDOVA’S BIG STORE
S. BLUM & CO/S
WE SOLICIT YOUR ORDERS
We Carry the most complete stock of
GROCERIES, HARDWARE, SHOES, CLOTHING,
FURNISHING GOODS,, AND FURNITURE. : : : : :
WRITE US FOR PRICES
Prompt Attention to Mail Orders
We Will Save You Money Cordova, Alaska.
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(MINA TRADNG CO.
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