The Chitina Leader .
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postofflce ai
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
X . Published every Saturday by
. Y WILL A. STEEL, Editor ana Proprietor.
Office: Hotel Chitink Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan i
Seattle Office: 651 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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Six Months ... 2.00
One Year ... .... 3.60
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the servlet
given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper Rive: district._‘_
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 19lT
DELAYED ELECTI0N RETURNS
1 \ __
The election returns from the Third judicial division are
not yet all in. Other than the Chisana precinct all reports
have been received from the interior leading from Cordova. No
precinct was established at Nizina for the reason that the
section tributary thereto is a placer camp and all the men who
worked there this season quit work and left the precinct a
month or more ago. There are but half a dozen residents in
the precinct now in the different camps. To the westward it i
not expected that the cannery stations yet to hear from will
have any particular vote, as all the fishermen and othej
employes have left. It is expected, however, that a good vote
will come from the upper end of the Cook Inlet country. The
Wickersham supporters maintain that their leader has always
been strong in that section and that he will carry with him the
Wickersham legislative ticket. From the returns thus far
received it appears that Delegate Wickersham lias a lead in
the division of about 230, which is more likely to be increased
than diminished. The vote is running close between Price and
Hubbard for Senator.
The Afognak returns last night reduced Price’s lead to
17 and advices from Valdez indicate that the friends of
Hubbard are confident that the delayed returns from the west
ward will give him the election by a safe plurality. There is
considerable speculation as to how many votes will be polled
in the Chisana and who they will be for. Geo. Goshaw should
be the leading candidate there for the Senatae, with some votes
for Price and Chase, and but few for Hubbard, who is not well
known there. * # i
For the House Chas. Day, of Valdez, is leading. He is now
about 40 votes ahead of Tom Holland, who had been the high
man until returns from Golden and Afognak were received.
He will likely come in second. T. B. Tansy and John Noon are
the other two candidates who are reasonably sure of election.
EIGHT YEARS OF EMBARGO LIFTED
The following from an eastern exchange, indicates the
view papers throughout the country are taking of the effort
to open and develop Alaska:
With the passage of the Alaska coal land leasing
bill, the eight years’ embargo on the^development of the
natural resources of Alaska will be lifted. The campaign
against the exploitation of the mineral lands of that
domain was one of the early features in the movement
for conservation of natural resources, and was marked
by sensational incidents. Out of it grew the Ballinger
affair, one of the earliest indications of the Roosevelt
Taft split, which led to the bolt at the Chicago conven
tion and the formation of the third party. The political
consequences were far reaching, but the material conse
quences in Alaska were no less important to that
territory.
The immediate effect was the tieing up of the coal
lands and a stoppage of development there. Congress
was repatedly importuned by Alaskans to do some
thing, .cne way or another, so progress could be resumed
but conservation was deemed a dangerous subject in
some of the Western states and nothing was done until
this year. Now the leasing bill, framed to secure a
return to the government for the mineral wealth in the
public domain and at the same time to afford protection
against monopolistic exploitation, has been put through
Congress, assuring a definite plan upon which develop
ment can be resumed.
This consummation is in no sense a partisan achieve
ment, Secretary • Lane 'himself paying tribute to the
absence of partisanship in the consideration of this
once fiercely factional issue. It is expected that the new
law will invite genuine developmnt, as distinct from
exploitation, and with the prospect of transportation
the natural riches of Alaska will soon be placed at the
service of the world.
i • •.* -—:—. .1 . „:;___ii.
A CONSCIENTIOUS COMMISSION
Again we have a member of the Alaska Engineering
Commission with us, in the person of Lieut. Frederick Mears.
The other two members sailed south last month but the Lieut,
has remained to complete certain work. He is a hard and
conscientious worker and, with his colleagues, has given his
best efforts to satisfactorily perform the duties of the office to
which President Wilson named him. Whatever may be the
conclusions of the Commission as to the advantages of the
different projected railway routes it may safely be assumed
that they will be reached without prejudice and after a
thorough examination and understanding of the various
sections of Alaska through which it might be desirable to have
the government railroads run.
A term of court at Cordova, with grand and petit jurors,
may be looked forward to in the early spring. Valdez . is
having her turn now.
And today it is reported that Mexico has two provisional
presidents. It’s a case of the mnro merrier—for the
combatants.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
There are a number of precincts to the westward yet to be
heard from, and they may make a material difference in the
result of the Legislative ticket. Such precincts as Knilc, Ship
Creek, sunrise, Homer, Afognak, Nak-Nek, etc., might return
a couple -of hundred votes. Then the Chisana should poll 50
or 60. And what’s bothering the politicians is just who is to
be benefitted when the delayed returns are received. The
Wickershamites are confident that the totals will show an
increase for their candidates.
And now it is known that a federal official in Alaska has
voluntarily resigned. A week ago Judge Frederick E. Fuller,
of the Fourth division telegraphed his resignation from
Seattle to the President, and it has been accepted. The
scramble for the position should soon be on among the faith
ful. Possibly some of the defeated lawyers at the recent
election might be willing to have their wounds salved with a
judicial appointment. For instance “Senator” Tom McGowan,
of Fairbanks, or “Congressman” Chas. E. Bunnell, of Valdez.
The Cordova Chamber of Commerce today wired con
gratulations to Delegate James Wickersham over the splendid
victory which he achieved at Tuesday’s election. As this has
heretofore been one of the towns strongly opposed to Delegate
Wickersham the action of the Chamber is taken to mean that
Cordova has buried the hatchet and will hereafter be found
supporting the course of the Delegate.
The Tanana valley is as yet not much of a quartz section
but the Fairbanks Commercial Club has succeeded in gather
ing an exhibit of specimens from 75 different properties. This
has been boxed and is now on its way out over the trail, to bu
shipped to San Francisco for the exposition. It will certainly
make a creditable exhibit and attract attention to the prob
abilities of this new quartz region.
Although there has been no government appropriation for
the gathering of an exhibit from Alaska, the various sections
have gotten busy, with the result that the mineral and agri
cultui’al resources of the territory will be well displayed before
the admiring and curious thousands who will come from every
section of the United States to the San Francisco exposition.
Alaskans who have heretofore gone to Seattle to have
their good time feel greatly discouraged over the result of
the prohibition vote in Washington state. They feel now that
they will have to move on into California, where it continues
“wet.” But they can continue to have a “fling” in Seattle
for a year yet, as the new dry law will not be effective until
January 19i6. -
It is predicted that after next year instead of the people
of Alaska sojourhing in Seattle during the winter the cry wii)
be “on to California.”
The voters of Alaska didn’t really think that President
Wilson needed Mr. Bunnell’s support in putting his Alaskan
policies through Congress. They know that the President is
strong enough to do it without the particular favor of any
Delegate, although he will have^all the support lie requires in
the continued activity of Delegate Wiekersham, wlio is now
becoming a constructive legislator.
Although not a lawyer, and consequently not so sharp as
some of the members of that profession, nor dishonest, like
others, Senator Price will soon impress his individuality on his
fellow members. He goes to the Senate to give the people of
Alaska a square deal, and his efforts will honestly be directed
to that end. Tom may be relied upon to be always on the alert
to find the joker in a bill.
One of the questions asked the voters in the state of
Washington was this: “Can we afford to confiscate $17,000,000
worth of property in this state; deprive the state of revenues
amounting to $2,600,000; destroy an annual export beer
business of $2,000,000; destroy hop and barley land values of
$2,000,000; destroy an annual payroll of $8,000,000; destroy an
annual incidental business of $12,000,000; and altogether
destroy business to the stupendous sum of $43,600,000, besides
throwing about 8.500 men out of work and depriving 32.000
dependents of their bread winners?” And the voters replied
“yes.”
It now looks as though the membership of the next House
of Representatives at Juneau would be controlled by the ‘“non
partisans,” or in other words Wickersliamites. At least three
on this ticket were elected in the First division, one in the
Third and three in the Fourth, with Nome having three
Independents.
The men who are trying to build up a Democratic party
and organization in Alaska might better start anew—and
eliminate the Shackleford methods. The day to permit politi
cians to run politics for their own selfish ends is in the gloom
of its decline.
The most surprising incident in the election in this divi
sion was the small vote received “by Candidate Bunnell in hi>
home town. Out of a total of nearly 700 votes he polled but
282, while for Senator Judge Hubbard polled 482.
While the Dr. didn’t Chase very far in the vote getting, he
may have the satisfaction of knowing that his candidacy
prevented the election of another Senator from Valdez.
Valdez reversed her usual procedure this year and failed
to vote for all of the candidates from that town. Possibly it
was because there were too many to remember.
Cordova and the Copper river country didn’t do so bad at
the recent election. One Senator and one representative will
make up some for.the neglect of two years ago.
That “eyewitness” at the front who.writes pieces for the
British press bureau must have been selected for his short
sightedness.
The Olympia manufacturers of “It’s the water” beveridge
might find something equally as good in the mountains of
Alaska.
Uneasy rests the head these nights of the candidate for
Legislative office who is one of the leaders in the race in this
division. Returns from remote precincts are likely to give
almost anv one of them a “iar.”
Over 5.000 voters in the First division dpela^d themselves
on the ouestion of linnor licences a ponr»lp of months ago, but
at the election on Tnesdnv orlv oTiopt 3 000 voted.
J rwilil-rtnl ,1-'V „ 1, n. -a linnn qofflpd 1T1
el lorr'* f-'w " J • O D ikflf fl-io-MA wr) 11 (Yrt 1H
’ . - .. i. r» ■» , vlul
Why Not Invest?
With the building of the government railroad from
Chitina to Fairbanks, the future of the Town of Chitina
is assured.
}
Lots are still offered at attractive prices and there
are many desirable ones remaining.
; • ; i ) W-: I • t '
A few months later lots in Chtiina will be held at
largely increased values. Why not invest NOW f
v>:. t* • •
GEO. C. HAZELET,
Agent Chitina Townsite Company.
TIN SHOP
IN SHUSHANNa
No more need to carry
STOVES and TIWVAItE
over the long trail to the
interior, as we are pre
pared to fill all orders in
our tin shop,
W. H. CARSTENS & CO.
SHUSHANNA - - ALASKA
Chitina GRILL
, j
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Seivice.
Next to Chitina Hotel.
\
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
0. ADRIAN NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA a - - ALASKA
CHSTINA: BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY-'gESSNER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON HAND
Pharmacy
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DRUGS,
STATIONERY,
CANDIES,
KODAK SUPPLIES
CIGARS & TOBACCO
If you cannot call, write
us. MAIL orders our
Specialty.
A. G» MOREY, Prop.
Let Lewis Help C3E^j
"Pointers for Amateurs*' will help you to better |
pictures—it’s free. Send us you* films for develop- I
ing and printing. Enlarging. Developing 10c roll. I
any size; printing. 3c up. Cash with order. You’ll I
find our work better. Photo supplies. Dept. S. I
GROCERIES, HARDWARE
-- AND=.~
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
Cook House, in connection.
CHITINA HEIGHTS
C. A. SIMONS & CO.
-I
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
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All outside rooms
The most conveniently located
hotel in the city.
Rooms and suites are particu
larly large.
Very desirable for families or
parties traveling together.
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J. H. DAVIS, Prop