VOL. 1
CHITIXA, ALASKA. SATURDAY, SEPT. 23, 1911.
NO. 53
1
Local News
The Ericson brothers, who discov
■eied the much sought ledge of free
milling quartz at the head of O'Brien
creek are in town showing some of
the finest specimens that have been
brought in this season. They have a
ledge forty feet wide that they have
followed for more than a hundred
feet that assays $11.45. They are
now at work on a tunnel which will
be completed this winter and the
movement of ore will begin in the
spring. They are about four miles
up the trail from mile 126 and are
making a good trail out to the rail
road. They insist that the property is
no fairy tale, but the real thing,
that will set business going in this
vicinity at a rapid pace. The activity
of tHe smaller concerns around Chiti
na insures a most prosperous sea
son next year.
The earthquake shock wnicn oc
curred Thursday night at 8:05 p. m.,
was the most severe that- has occur
red in this section in the memory of
the oldest inhabitants. It lasted for
only about one minute but that was
about 60 seconds too long for the
comfort of most of us. No damage
however has been reported aside from
a few broken dishes and lamps. The
•waves followed each ether in rapid
succession and apparently came from
the south. Many amusing scenes
v ere enacted during and just follow
ing the disturbance. Mount Wrangell
has been quiet for the last few days
-.and there was no demonstration from
that section the day following, so
the opinion prevails that the local
volcano had nothing to do with the
violent shake up.
A valuable shot gun belonging to
John Palmer, which was stolen from
the hotel about two weeks ago was
recovered by Marshal Brown from
a local restaurant where it had been
left by an unknown man for safe
keeping. No arrests have been made
Grading on the streets is prog
ressing rapidly and already the town
has taken an appearance cf a real
city.
Cordes & Simons have purchased
a team of herses and are doing a
heavy business with an old sled until
their new' wagon arrives. It is a
ten to one shot that “Pete” w’ill
have a stock of flying machines for
sale before the holidays.
Mrs. W. H. Bryant and Mrs. R. J.
Boryer of Cordova, are spending a
few days with friends in Chitina this
week.
George Bull, proprietor of the
Niue Mile Roau House was trading
with local merchants one day this
week and orders the Leader sent to
headquarters this week.
John Kron of the lditarod coun
try is in town enroute to Cordova.
Mr. Kron with Chas. S. Peterson,
were prospecting in the lditarod this
summer where *.*r. Peterson lost his
life by drowning. Mr. Kron says
that Peterson was transferring
freight from one barge to another
and accidentally fell from the gang
plank and was drowned before as
sistance could reach him. Mr. Kron
will prospect in the Ruby City vicin
ity next year.
The Log Cabin Bar and Rooming
House, Griffith & Hyland, proprietors
and the Log Cabin restaurant in
connection, Clement & Lund, proprie
tors, have both undergone a com
plete renovation the past week. These
progressive proprietors evidently
know just what the boys want and
have spared no pains to make com
fortable and even luxurious quarters
for those away from home. The
meals are well served and the rooms
and beds are models of neatness and
cleanliness. We predict that the Log
Cabin will be a popular place this
'season.
Mrs. Chas. Schutzman, blacksmith
for the Orr stage line is back tb
.town for the winter’s work.
Great Northern Development Company Has Demonstrated That Real Val
ues Exist in Ore the Deeper You Go, Contrary to the Con
tentions of flining Men and Engineers
The foundation for the tramway at the Great Northern
Development company’s Copper Mountain mine has been fin
ished. There will be thirty-eight towers from the terminal
station at the camp to the mill at the forks, a distance of a
mile and a half. From the foi'ks to the foot of Clear Creek
canyon, about another mile and a half, it is more than probable
a second tramway will be built from the millsite to the flats.
Material for the construction of the tramway will arrive at
Cordova for transportation to Strelna just as soon as it is pos
sible to freight it over the snow. An immense outfit, including
all kinds of machinery, such as a mill, air compressors, drills,
etc., will be shipped to the property this winter.
Perhaps the most remarkable exhibit that \Yill be found
at the New York Exposition next month will be the one just
arranged for by the Copper River & Northwestern Railway for
advertising the resources of this section. Geologists and min
ing engineers have long claimed that values in our copper belt
did not go down, being entirely a surface deposit. The exhibit
from the Copper Mountain mine disproves this established
theory. It will consist of samples of ore taken from that prop
erty at each 100 foot level, beginning at the surface and run
ning to 1200 feet. The values invariably increase with depth
and the entire exhibit is made up for the purpose of proving
to mining men the real values in regard to our copper belt.
A great deal of credit is due Mr. E. F- Gray for the courage
and skill with which he proceeded to open up this property.
His previous experience in copper led him to believe that
the indications on the summit of Copper Mountain pointed to a
valuable deposit of copper at depth. All old timers, while
acknowledging Mr. Gray’s reputation as a successful mining
engineer and knowing his previous excellent record in Nevada,
always referred to his work near Strelna as “Gray’s folly.” To
them there were no indications of great values in sight and the
spectacle of a man throwing away, as they wiewed it, $1,000,
000 for development purposes, seemed absurd. However, every
body liked and admired Mr. Gray and there was not a man in
the district but had a good word for him; every traveler and
prospector w&s welcome at his camp and he was always op
timistic. Time and perseverance have demonstrated his suc
cess for his prospect is no longer “a hole in the ground,” but
a full-fledged copper mine, and a complete triumph for skill
and experience. Mr. Gray knew by his chemical knowledge
that the oxidized iron deposits on the surface had at one time
contained copper, which leeched downward with the action of
water, and he felt convinced from the limestone that he would
run into a rich deposit at a great depth.
Every resident of this part of Alaska will be glad to know
of Mr. Gray’s success, particularly as it means so much towards
the upbuilding of the country. Before long a railroad branch
from Strelna will reach the property and big trains of ore will
be coining over the line to be loaded on vessels at the Cordova
dock, or better still if the government does justice to Alaska in
coal matters the ore will be treated at a smelter on Cordova bay.
Mi\ Giay’s success means that the Alaska copper deposits will
hereafter be regarded in a new light by the mining world. All
recognized the fact that we had a Bonanza mine, but regarded
it as a freak deposit, which though immensely rich was small
in volume and showed no evidence of depth or continuity. It is
safe to predict that the day the first train load of copper ore
leaves the millsight for Strelna, enrQute to the smelter, an in
creased value will be placed on every coppr prospect in the
district.
The known copper belt extends over 85 miles. The imagi
nation can hardly grasp the possibilities for such a district.
The Copper river valley has reached the point where the tide
is turning. From now on the territory along the railroad is
bound to go forward, even in spite of the unnatural obstructions
of the conservation visionaries.
LOCAL NEWS
Peter Monahan, one or the oldest
prospectors in this section of Alao
ka. is in town from his property on
Valdez creek and reports a good
cleanup this summer. While Mr.
Monahan has great faith in the Val
dez creek country he is of the opin
ion that the territory surrounding the
Little Bremner is the coming placer
country. He was the discoverer of
Monahan creek and has prospected
more of this country perhaps than
any other man now' in this part of
Alaska. He says that if he was not
tied up on Valdez creek he would
head for the Little Bremner at once
and show us some of the best leads
both placer and quartz that have ever
been brought out. In his opinion
the Valdez series extends to the
Bremner. where the quartz is more
abundant and much richer. All ex
perienced prospectors in this section
are agreed that there will be a rush
into the Bremner and KJu regions
in the spring.
A Sunday school was organized
by Mrs. Forrester and others last
Sunday at the Red Dragon. One
by one the good things of the out
side are reaching Chitina. All are
invited to attend Sundey school here
after at 3 o’clock P. M.
The slide which occurred at mile
126 last week -.elayed the train on
Friday until 4 a. m., Saturday morn
ing. An extra engine went down
and brought in the passengers about
midnight.
Attorney William O’Connor, of
Cordova was a visitor to Chitina over
Sunday, looking after some legal
matters, and in an' interview with a
representative of the Leader express
ed the opinion that Chitina was sure
ly destined to become the business
center of this district. He says that
ho has never seen a more beautiful
location for a town and that he was
surprised at the improvements that
have been made in so short a time.
The Finkelstein building is under
going some needed repairs which will
make tne place comfortable for the
winter.
Peter Cordes, our enterprising
second hand man Is back in town
from Tiekel with a supply of tents
and station supplies. Most of his
goods are in good shape but we are
at a loss to know what he expects
to realize on the empty dog houses
and whisky bottles.
Another good rain fell in the val
leys the first of the week while
snow covered the mountains making
the nights rather cold.
The lumber for the Brown resi
dence has arrived and as soon as
the building is completed we natu
rally expect that Joe will be making
a flying visit to the states.
Hoy C. Wilson is in from Tiekel
and is located in comfortable quar
ters in Chitina Heights.
Information has been received that
the postoffice department has con
tracted for a weekly winter service,
handling four hundred pounds each
trip_ from Fairbanks and Nulato to
the Iditarod.
This mail will be routed via Cor
dova and Chitina and is independent
of the regular service from Fairbanks
by Tanana and Nulato to Nome and
! St. Michael, and also of the proposed
experimental Seward-Iditarod service.
A pouch of first-c:ass registered
mail has mysteriously disappeared
somewhere between Seward and Se
attle. The railway postal clerk on
| the steamer Dora, running from Sew
!ard to Unalaska, delivered the pouch
at the former office and Purser Wm.
I Harris, who is also railway clerk,
’ receipted for it on the trip before the
I steamer Northwestern sailed from
I Seward on August 7. Upon arriving
I t Seattle he was short this pouch and
■an investigation is now being con
ducted by the government to locate
it.
The missing pouch contained ap
proximately 150 pieces of registered
mail, but the value of same has not
been made public.
The Red Dragon has received from
Rev. Zeigler twenty volumes of choice
literature which will be distributed
for the asking providing the books
are returned promptly after they
are read. As soon as these books
have been exnausted they will be re
turned for exchange.
Extra copies of tne Leader and Cor
dova Daily Alaskan may be bad at
the drug store as may also the cur
rent magazines anti latest works ol
fiction.
Opal Hopkins was brought to Chif
ina last week under arrest for the
theft of a diamond from May Jones
She was held to the grand jury in
$2,000 bonds which she has been un
able to furnish at this writing. The
marshal's office did a smooth piece
piece of work in securing a diamond
which is alleged to be the one stol
en after it had been sent to anothei
party at juneau.
General Manager E. C. Hawkins.
Supt. Geo. Geiger, and Dr. Smith,
of the Copper River & Northwestern
railway, were passengers arriving on
the Friday night train. They de
parted for the north Saturday morn
ing.
A sudden break in tile Ice which
enclosed a glacial lake caused a
washout near Kennieott which will
delay trains for two or three days.
Several bents of the bridge across
the Kennieott were swept away.
The heavy frosts last week am
considerable damage to gardens but
A1 Church is still bringing some
j choice lettuce and radishes to town.
A visit to the store of Cordes &
Simons, Chitina Heights, would sur
prise anyone not familiar with the
business of this enterprising firm. Al
most anything you may want in the
way of camp supplies and household
articles as well as tools and notion*
csn be found on their well stocked
shelves. They purchased most of the
equipment of the railroad camps and
are offering a variety of both new
and second hand goods at very reas
onable prices. Mr. Cordes is an old
time Alaskan and knows the needs
o* this section thoroughly, while Mr.
Simon's knowledge of the grocery and
meat business specially fits him for
this branch of the trade. They are
progressive merchants as their ad
i; the leader indicates.
The sealer caught near Unalaska
was fined $500 by the commissioner
at that point, last year. An addition
al fine of $500 was imposed on the
crew.
We have heard of the man who
| robbed bis right pocket with hlB left
hand but Chitina has him beat a
c:iy block when it comes to a stingy
man. This man is very fond of good
whisky if someone else pays for it,
but every Christmas he treats him
self to a two gallon jug of the cheap
article. Being also lonely he has
acquired the habit of talking to him
self. Every Sunday morning he
bakes a batch of bread that must last
him the rest of the week, and along
about Sunday morning the bread gets
l-retty stale but he bribes himself to
eat it.
Some neighbors passing by his cab
in recently, heard him mumbling to
himself, and knowing his peculiari
ties watched him through the open
door and vouch for the following:
Sitting at the table with nothing on
it but stale bread he drew forth the
treasured jug which he bought Iasi
Christmas, and pouring a brimming
cup full said to himself: “Now old
boy, if you will sat this bread you
may then drink this whisky All
right partner, I’ll do it.” He then
set to work and filled himself full of
the dry bread, then carefully taking
the cup, smelled of the beverage,
but shaking his head addressed the
drink, saying, “you are good all right
but cost too much money.” Thereup
on he poured the whisky back into
the jug, thus; bribing himself and
then beating himself out of the bribe
A correspondent writes as follows
to the Valdez Prospector.
Dear Pinsh:
Sorry you had to hurry back so1
soon to resume your labors for cor
respondence school government of
Alaska. However, you knew ail
about Alaska before you came, and
a week or two along our coast was
*.
enough to confirm your eternal fixed
stock of knowledge. Still it is a pity
your tootsies are so tender that you
couldn’t walk 40 miles to the Chica
loon coal over a better trail than
Alaska roughnecks have in most
places and let the flies bite you
enough to give you the first degree.
So long, mamma’s pet, and try to
forget us. Then we may forget you.
A RUFFNEK.
Seattle, Sept. 25.—The Washington
Oregon and Idaho products amounted
to 67,000,000 bushels of wheat, which
is a banner crop. j
Leader Leads
c
We visited several bachelor's cab
ins one afternoon recently and count
ed nine dirty frying pans, eight bunks
unmade, twelve unswept floors and
seventeen pipes. Young ladies are
left to draw their own conclusions.
The wise man of a neighboring
country road house has handed us
the following problem for solution:
If a gallon of coal oil costs a dollar
in Chitina today, what will John D.
have to pay for an ounce of water
a thousand years hence.
A rumor was current that a young
lady from the outside was due on
last evening’s train and nine tenth's
of the bachelor population suddenly
discovered that they had business at
the station when the train came in.
The rumor proved unfounded.
If you do and it is contrary to law
Judge Healy will tell you about it,
and if you don’t do it according to
law he is also liable to give you a
gentle reminder.
A man tried to touch the editor for
ten dollars the other day. His pre
sumption has given us renewed con
fidence.
It is noticeable that a man don't
cut wood witu the same vim when
boarding at the hotel de Brown as
he does on a cold morning when
working for himself.
When a merchant refuses to adver
tise we arrive at one or the other of
two conclusion: Either he is asham
ed of his goods or he has all the busi
ness he wants.
An exchange says that both the
church and the saloon are absolutely
necessary but Kennicott is getting
along nicely without either.
When a young man marries lie
never thinks of the divorce courts.
the wife usually looks after such,
trivial family affairs.
The northern lights bear little re
lationship to the will-o-the-wisp but
they are just as elusive.
A traveling salesman came to town
the other day and asked where he
could find a garage. A sourdough
directed him to the city jail.
A woman recently died in Ver
mont who always minded her own
business and now they are taking up
a subscription with which to raise a
monument to an extinct species.
if the lover of nature finds no de
light in the autumn scenery of Alas
ka he had better pass.
The election for three school
directors was held in Chit
ina on Tuesday and keen competi
tion brought out a full vote. There
were two tickets in the field early
and for a time the voting was spir
ited which proves the interest in
school matters in the newiy formed
district.
One ticket was as follows: Treas
urer, F. M. Scnaupp; Clerk, 0. C.
Hull; Director. T. H. Howland. T.ie
other, Treasurer, F. M. Schaupp;
Clerk, O. A. Nelson; Director, C. A.
Simons. All seemed to be agreed
that Mr. Schaupp should be treas
urer hut the two other offices were
the ones which were hotly contested.
The final count of the vote gave,
Schaupp, 152, Hull, 96, Holland 96,
Simon 59, Nelson 56.
There were 156 votes cast of wulch
about a dozen were ladies. While
the interest at times was very kern
the utmost good feeling prevailed
throughout the day and no ill-feeling
was at any time apparent.
The candidates were all good men
and we are assured of a clean, busi
ness administration of Chitina's first
3chool.
Valdez, Sept. 23.—J. E. Smith, who
is a partner with Pete Monahan, in
the Tammany placer bench claim on
Valdez creek, reports that they are
in 13 dust, and that Monah’an is com
ing out soon for the first time In two
■ears.