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
■yrTT.T. a. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HABBT G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the service
given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper River district.___
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11,1913
RAILROAD AND MAIL CONDITIONS
In the Fairbanks Citizen under date of October 27 appears
an incorrect and misleading article, presumably put forth in
good faith, but based upon a premise devoid of material truth.
Here we are accustomed to reading in the Valdez papers of
“miles of the Copper River Railroad having been washed
away” and other similar imaginings. But the Fairbanks
newspaper apparently accepts all such inaccuracies as fact. As
a consequence a long and labored editorial appears that in
light of subsequent developments must make the editor of the
Citizen feel just a little ashamed of himself for having been
so gullible.
Inquiry at the office of the superintendent of the C. R. &
A'. W. Railway brings forth the information that during many
months past no such condition existed at Mile 58, Mile 15,
between 58 and Chitina, etc., as contained in the Citizen’s
article. So naturally all that followed is simply tommy rot.
The first occurrence that disturbed the regularity of the
schedule on the railroad was on September 21, -when a veritable
cloudburst flooded the Copper river country. It affected the
railroad to some extent, but by reason of an efficient organiza
tion the damage was righted in a very short time. The bridge
at Mile 67 was washed out and it was not until the morning
of the 27th that trains were again running over it. There was
a slide at Mile 119, which was repaired in less than two days.
Another washout occurred at Mile 19, which was repaired in
a day.
And that was the extent of the trouble. There was no
difficulty in getting engines from either end to make repairs,
and there was only a delay of trains at either end of from three
to four days. The train due at Chitina on September 23,
arrived there on the 27th. The train due to leave Chitina on
the 23d ran only as far that day as Mile 114. A through train
left Chitina on the morning of the 27th and reached Cordova
that afternoon. And since then there lias been no delay either
of passengers or mail. A slide occurred last week in Aber
crombie canyon, but only on one train was it necessary to make
transfer of passengers and mail, necessitating the loss of less
than two hours.
And now that the rainy season has passed and the ground
is frozen no more earth slides are possible. There may be an
occasional slide of snow during the winter, but ample prepara
tions have been made to handle it through an efficient organi
zation upon the part of officials and men. During the past
summer several hundred thousand dollars was expended on
the railroad. Tracks were raised, snow sheds extended,
section houses built, fuel storage houses erected, supplies and
implements for men stored at convenient distances, and
general preparations made to prevent any recurrence of the
trouble experienced last winter. These arrangements are so
complete that Superintendent Corser is confident that if any
trouble is experienced there cannot possibly be any delay to the
train sendee lasting more than a day or two.
I he reference to Mr. r^ames upon the part ot the Citizen
is too silly to require an answer. He routes the mail over the
railroad because the government requires him to do so. But
at the time when there was a slight delay on the railroad the
mail was being sent on its summer schedule by way of
Skagway, White Horse and Dawson. Since the winter contract
started via Cordova and Chitina there has not been an hour’s
delay in the mail or express service. Mr. Eames in a pains
taking and conscientious official who has done much to better
the mail conditions in Alaska. The Citizen’s reference to him
is untruthful and a criminal libel.
The Citizen cries for relief from the splendid service that
they have received since the winter mail contract started from
Cordova and wants the iriail sent by team from Valdez over
the summit. But the Valdez press won’t be quoted in all
probability with a truism such as appeared in the Prospector
the fore part of the week, as follows: “The road over the
summit is now blocked by the recent storm and it will be
necessary for some action to be taken soon.” We think that
by this time the Citizen will have satisfied itself that its lengthy
article of criticism was entirely uncalled for and malicious in
effect, if not in intent.
There are certainly enough subjects to kick about in
Alaska without having to draw on the imagination to do some
man or service an injustice. The Citizen presumably is
protesting about some delay in the mail and express sendee
that has occurred this winter between Cordova and Fairbanks.
We challenge our contemporary to give dates and facts. The
only trouble on the railway occurred before the winter routing
started. And it was about the time when transcontinental
railroads were tied up for days. You can’t entirely defy the
elements, even in Alaska, as suffering Nome can well vouch
for. So be reasonable, Mr. Citizen, and be fair enough to
declare that you were not warranted by facts in giving
publicity to the following, which appeared in your issue of
October 27:
“ ‘The railroad bridge at Mile 58 is out and there are three
big slides between that and Chitina. The road on the Copper
River flats is flooded making it impossible to get engines from
either way to make the repairs. The bridge at Mile 15 also is
out and the track in several places on the flats is badly out of
alignment.”
“ ‘Mr. and Mrs. Ammens were arrivals Horn Chitina this
week. The blockade of the C. R. & N. W. has left a large
number of people to come out this way.’
“The foregoing item of news from the Valdez press is, and |
in truth should be, of intense and widespread interest to all j
residents of interior Alaska.
“The past has demonstrated the fact that the Copper
River & Northwestern railroad is a summer road and nothing
more. It was built for the purpose of freighting ore from the
Bonanza mine at Kennecott to the coast, and is fit for nothing
else. It doesn’t make any difference to the corporation, which
in law is a soulless entity, whether there is a delay of 30 days
caused by a bridge being out, a slide, a flood or a snow
blockade, but it makes a mighty lot of difference to the people
of Alaska.
“Here we are at the first approach of winter confronted by
an unwarranted and needless delay of our mail and express,
to say nothing of passengers enroute. And right now is the
time for the press, our Commercial Club and our citizens to
rise up in righteous indignation and send to Washington such
a storm and tempest of vigorous protest that it will awaken
the postoffice department there from its lethargy regarding
the rights of American citizens in Alaska.
“Every little village or hamlet in the States containing
ten or twenty souls, and even the sparsely settled farming com
munities, have their mail and parcels post packages brought
to their doors, and any act or omission of any carrier or dis
tributing clerk that effects in the least the facility of delivery
is punished by summary dismissal.
“Here in Alaska, however, approximately 25,000 patriotic
Americans are overlooked, snubbed and maltreated, and deaf
ears turned to our appeals for relief.
“Nothing but prompt action on our part—nothing but a
unanimous remonstrance will avert a repetition ot last winter’s
shameful and almost criminal routing of our mails by Mr.
Eames who, at Cordova, occupies the position of distributing
clerk. This man is either being paid by the railroad company
for his persistence in routing our mail over their line of road,
or he is a consummate ass. In either event he should be
discharged forthwith.
“He may fool the department at Washington by pretend
ing that he does not know if a blockade exists, but lie can’t
fool us. Even when he admits that he does know, he has the
nerve to hold our mail at Cordova until the blockade is lifted
instead of routing is via Valdez, from which locality we have
always had our mail regularly and an efficient service in all
respects.
“It shows indiscretion for one to lock the barn door after
the thief has escaped with his booty. We will exhibit a lack
of judgment if we wait until several large consignments of
important mail matter is at a standstill on the C. R. & N. W.
before filing our objections at Washington. As in law, so in
this matter. Equity rewards the diligent, not those who sleep
upon their rights.”
-o —o—o
A CHANCE FOR REAL PROSPECTORS
All kinds of opinions are held even among experienced
miners and prospectors regarding the possibilities 01 die
Chisana and streams tributary to the White river. And it is
a subject that Cordova and the Copper river country is particu
larly interested in, for practically nine-tenths of the traffic
from the outside must come this way. We have established
short and safe routes, for both winter and summer, unto the
new land of promise. For the first few months that work has
been done there, the prospect looks brighter than has been the
case under similar circumstances in other Northern camps.
The richness and extent of the new diggings will not be demon
strated for possibly a year or two. Many thawing machines
will be used this winter and there is a hope that new finds will
be discovered that will at least establish a permanent camp. It
is expected that before spring several thousand prospectors
will have gone into the new diggings, and upon the result of
their work will largely depend the further influx of prospectors
into the new country.
Thus far all the supplies and grub received at the new
camp has been taken in on the backs of men or packed in with
horses. As a result food has been scarce and high. But witli
the coming of ice on the rivers and snow on the ground this
condition will soon be changed. Over the new and short winter
trail the distance from McCarthy is only about 75 miles. Horses
and double ender sleds will cover the trail in from three to
four days and take on an average of about 1,000 pounds to a
horse. When the numerous sledding trains get to work and
carry supplies from 10 to 15 cents per pound there will be a
material drop in the price of all freight and there will be
abundance of everything needed. Stores will be established in
the Chisana and every want will be supplied.
-_A_A A
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS
Victor Morawitz says that the administration currency
bill will cause a contraction sufficient to make a panic, while
Prof. Platt Andrew sees in it the cause of inflation. The
opponents of the bill should get together on what it will do.
An epidemic of measles is afflicting hundreds of natives
to the westward. The government has ttaken prompt steps
to eradicate the destructive element.
And its all a difference of opinion. Most people think
Pan Reeder was fortunate in getting a light sentence while
Dan has different ideas about justice.
Roger Sullivan has been endorsed for the United States
Senate in Illinois. It will soon be time for Mr. Bryan to make
a few remarks about how he is to be “put over.”
Women vote in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and in nine
northern states of this country. Are there any southern
governments where the women have an equal privilege?
The construction of the much needed bridge across the
Nizina River will be entered upon and. completed this winter.
Tt will prove a great boon to stampeders and prospectors next
spring and summer and will eventually add to the develop
ment of the great mining country tributary to the Nizina river.
Roger Sullivan is a prospective candidate for United
States senator from Illinois. It will be interesting to see what
Mr. Bryan has to say about it.
The Juneau Empire has the fol
lowing to say about the expedition
that is now en route to the west
ward to freight the Matanuska coal
to tidewater:
“The governmetn coal expedition
will probably have a ship in Juneau
en route to Knik on November (>,
with all of the horses, sleds and
other paraphernalia necessary for
transporting the coal from the
Matanuska fields to tidewater on
board. Jack Dalton has been placed
in charge of the matter of getting
out the coal and he is now in Seattle
getting his outfit together.
“A call has been sent to Juneau
to secure teamsters there, if pos
sible, that are used to the wintei
teaming of this country. Surveyor
General Charles E. Davidson has re
received instructions from Dr. J. A.
Holmes, director of the United
States bureau of mines to hire ten
first class teamsters to leave Juneau
on the government’s special steamer
that will leave Juneau about Novem
ber 6. The men are expected 10
spend the winter on the Matanuska.
The government will pay the travel
ing expenses from Juneau to the
destination and $125 per month and
board from the date of their arrival
at Knik while work continues. Only
first class men, experienced in win
ter teaming, are desired. There are
900 tons of coal to be moved from
the Matanuska fields to tidewater
and it is expected that all or the
greatetr part of the winter will be
consumed in getting it out.”
-o—o—o
LONDON, Nov. 11.—Death came
last night to Sir Richard Solomon,
who was one of the prominent fac
tors in England. He has been high
commissioner from London for the
Union of South Africa. He had only
been ill for a few- days.
-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,”
ana Kosey wo. z. me cucKy
Strike;” “Fairview,” “Esperanza,”'
“Webfoot,” and “Yankee,” all situ
ated in the Chitina Mining and
Recording District, Territory of
Alaska, and which have been duly
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 the said
claims under the provisions of the
iaw 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 Dec. 23, 1913.
0. mm NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA - - ■ ALASKA
CHITINA: BAKERY
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CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
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