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 i, isiv.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building.
Cordova umce: JLiany Aiassan;
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper River district._______
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913.
PLAYING A LITTLE POLITICS
The Delegate from Alaska has wired the Cordova
Chamber of Commerce, and we presume all other commercial
bodies throughout the territory, that President Wilson in his
message strongly urged the passage of the bill authorizing
government construction of railroads in Alaska. And the wily
.James innocently adds, “MY” bill favorably reported to
House.” Presume that he will be telling us some day that “1”
induced the President, Secretary Lane, Senator Chamberlain,
Senator Pittman, Senator Jones, Representative Johnson and
all the other good friends of Alaska to support My lailioad
bill. But he won’t mention how difficult it was to get him in
line, and keep him there, in support of a measure providing
for government constrv.ction of railroads in Alaska.
-o —o—o
PATROL NEEDED FOR GLACIER TRAIL
It certainly is a wise suggestion that provision should be
made to patroi the trail from McCarthy to the Chisana, par
ticularly over that part of it leading across the glaciers
Strange as it may seem, men who are enjoying the benefits of
this short winter route are already committing various acts
of vandalism. Stakes are being taken out and used for fire
wood, the relief tents have been mutilated and their contents
destroyed, while again a patrol would be the means of afford
ing valuable assistance in the event of storms, to guide the
wayfarer to places of safety. The Cordova Chamber of
Commerce appreciates the keen necessity for protection of tnis
kind. At a meeting of the executive committee held on Thurs
day it was decided to send a wire to Colonel Richardson, who
is now in IVasliington, requesting his assistance in the matter.
The wire was sent and the suggestion was made that lie might
induce the war department to detail some of the soldiers now
stationed at Fort Liscum, Valdez, to perform this important
and necessary7 work. Similar assistance was given by the
government during the early Klondike rush, when soldiers
were stationed on the trail leading from Lynn Canal. They
proved of great aid in innumerable instances, saving much
hardship and many lives. It is believed that Colonel Richard
son may be able to impress upon the department the import
ance of sending several of the soldiers at Liscum to perform a
work that would be greatly appreciately by the hundreds and
possibly thousands of prospectors and miners who will mush
into the Chisana diggings during the present winter season.
-o—o—o
NELCHINA GROWS IN FAVOR
In all probability the Nelchina diggings will catch consid
erable of the stampeders from the outside this winter. Those
diggings have certainly given up enough good pay to indicate
the possibility of a future great camp. And it is pleasing to
know that the opinion is gaining a strong foothold that the
shortest and easiest way to reach the Nelchina is from Cliitina.
The distance is but little over 140 miles, with 58 miles over the
government trail and the balance along the river streams of
almost level grade. The new diggings embraces a large area
and there is still plenty of ground unlocated. Many who have
been there and are returning with supplies and thawers believe
that the winter’s work will develop rich pay.
-o-o—0
OUR DELEGATE IS PERPLEXED
Events are transpiring so rapidly at Washington in con
nection with the passage of the Alaska railroad bill that Dele
gate Wickersham can hardly keep up with developments. He
aims to keep a connection with the measure by wiring the
commercial bodies and newspapers of Alaska of events as
they transpire, but half the time he really isn’t informed as
to what is doing at Washington concerning the territory he
represents. Several weeks ago he sent out wires that “my”
bill was favorably reported by the territories committee in
the House. Nothing of the kind occurred and when the
Alaska railroad bill was finally reported in the House on
November 28 by Chairman Houston, it was a very different
bill from the one given to Delegate Wickersham to introduce.
But the administration is so pronounced for the bill that even
our fighting delegate dare not oppose it, and he is just a little
nonplussed as to know how to claim the credit for its favor
able consideration and the final passage that is assured it.
-o—o—o
The news from Washington with reference to the Alaska
railroad bill indicates that there isn’t much left to it but the
shouting. The present Democratic national administration is
certainly making good so far as Alaska is concerned.
Rare eggs are reported to have been discovered in a
Nazareth, Pa., attic, worth $10,000. Eggs of any kind are
rare these days—at least that’s what some of the Cordovans
say.
A Speaker in the United States who counts a quorum is
left at the distance post by the Mexican Speaker, who counts
“no quorum.”
Mushing from the Arctic Ocean to the Tanana Valley
during the winter season is a feat that makes the mush from
McCarthy to the Chisana look like a pleasure outing.
FOOLING THE VOTERS
The Fairbanks-NewsAIiner refers at length to a recent
editorial that appeared in the Cordova Daily Alaskan con
cerning the value to the territory that would result if a man
like Falcon Joslin were sent to Washington as the delegate
to Congress. Our contemporary says “the article is all right,
and the candidate is all right,” but then goes on to express
a grave doubt as to the possibility of electing a man with such
unselfish and high minded principles as is possessed by Air.
Joslin in his fights for the betterment of conditions in Alaska.
The News-Aliner insists that the voters of Alaska have been
imposed upon so long that they are getting used to it and
rather like it. Of course the awakening must and will come
some time, and possibly this is the year. Certainly no better
means of bringing about could be adopted than by presenting
to the people such a man as Falcon Joslin. Possibly he could
not be elected. AVe rather think he could, providing he could
be induced to enter the race and make the kind of light for
himself that he has been making for Alaska during the past
few years. The News-Aliner pays a high tribute to Air.
Joslin’s worth, as follows:
“There isn’t a reasonable doubt but that Falcon Joslin
is easily Alaska’s foremost citizen in enterprise, unselfishness
and intelligence. In our opinion, there can be no two views
of his abiilty—no other man in Alaska or out of it could
represent this territory in congress as ably and well as could
Air. Joslin. It would be worth millions of dollars to Alaska
to have Falcon Joslin its official representative at Wash
ington. Still, he could not be elected, so what’s the use of
sacrificing our best material.
“Nearly sixteen years of close study of the men of the
North has convinced us thoroughly that in questions of public
moment you can fool them easier than you can any other
people we know of on earth. They are so easily fooled that
there are times when we honestly believe they hanker after
the experience and go out of their way to bump up against it.
There is a vein of romance in their natures and they like to
think that there is a vast, wide and deep conspiracy on foot
among the rich men of the world to rob them of something
they do not possess but which a residence in Alaska entitles
them to possess when it shall have been discovered and uncov
ered. Every railroad builder or smelter builder or mining
operator in their opinion must be in cahoots with this
unknown and unlocated force which is after the lifeblood of
the Alaskan, for it takes money to build railroads and
smelters and to operate mines, and all moneyed men are
members of the same organization of highbinders, whether
they are real or phoney moneyed-men. Falcon Joslin was
able to build a little stretch of railroad here. He has not been
able to make it pay, and probably never will be—at least he
cannot now see how he can. He will have to borrow money
this year to pay the interest on the bonds which brought the
money which built the road. He is a poor man. having only
his salary to live upon, yet because he is connected with the
Tanana Valley Bailroad every Alaskan believes he is a rich
man and hand in glove with the Guggenheims (none of
whom he knows personally) and that whenever lie wants
money all he has to do is wire Guggenheim, and it is forth
coming. Consequently, he has no chance of election in
Alaska, because he is of the rich and monopolistic class—in
the opinion of the people.
“This is not Mr. Joslin’s fault. The sentiment has been
created against him by the man who would profit most by the
discrediting of all other able men of Alaska—the man who
remains ‘up’ mostly through his ability to tear down the
reputation of other men and at the same time fill the common
people with his stories of the awful fight he is making to
protect them against a bugaboo which is of his own construc
tion. However made, it exists, and no man can make head
way among such people with such a handicap. Not one man
in a thousand in Alaska reads the higher order of newspapers
and magazines. Not one man in a thousand in Alaska receives
the government reports or knows what is really being done
in or for or against Alaska, or who is doing it. They are
content to take a joker’s word for it, and to maintain the
‘joke’ at Alaska’s expense, although the joke is on them.
They want nothing better than they are getting, for if their
troubles and menaces were removed what would they have to
worry about?
“We would like to see a Falcon Joslin in Congress. He
could and would do more for us there than any other living
man. Still, we haven’t a belief that he could be elected, and
we would hate to see him sacrificed.”
-w--u
President Wilson is making good on the prediction that
the present national administration will do something to open
up Alaska. And after the passage of the railroad bill we may
look to see legislation that will permit the development of the
coal fields.
And soon the women of Alaska will have an opportunity
to register for municipal elections. We shall then expect
great improvements in—everything.
The real stampede to the Chisana and the Nelchina will
not start until after the first of January. Then watch the
future millionaires come.
The women folks of Cordova are keen on clubs. We have
musical clubs, walking clubs, bridge clubs, poker clubs, gym
clubs, and now there is talk of organizing a snow shoveling
club. It is said that the men strongly favor the latter move.
That Delaware congressman who quotes the Bible in the
attempt to justify the whipping post cannot be ignorant of
the facility with which the same Book was once quoted in
defense of slavery.
A secretary of agriculture at Washington who seeks to
stop the free distribution of seeds renders himself liable to
impeachment by an indignant and virtuous House for urgent
common sense. Just think what would the agricultural towns
of Cordova, Valdez, Seward, Katalla, Nome, Ketchikan,
Juneau and thousands of other similar places do without those
congressional seeds.
Envoy William Bayard Hale’s negotiations with Carranza
seem merely to have heartened Huerta’s defiance bv evoking
the Constitutionalist reply that they too want no United States,
interference. , I
Judge R. W. Jennings decided'
last week that he would issue no
additional licenses for the town of
i Juneau until after July 1, 1914.
| There are already 19 drink em
1 poriums in the capital city and the
judge considers that should suffice
for the present. Within the next
few days Judge Jennings expects to
leave with his family to spend the
holidays at Seattle, where a daugh
ter is attending school.
-o—o—o
J. E. Chilberg, of the Scandi
navian American bank, of Seattle,
came north on the Northwestern to
Ketchikan, in the interest of quartz
mining. Mr. Chilberg is interested
in the Miners’ and Merchants’ bank
of Ketchikan, and it is said expects
to start a bank at Cordova sometime
in the future when business would
justify such a move.
Last week a number of native
Indians held a three weeks’ conven
tion at Juneau. They decided to
form a new order to be known as the
Alaska Native Brotherhood. There
were delegates present from Juneau,
Douglas, Sitka, Killisnoo, Wrangell,
Klawock and the Chilcat settle
ments.
BAKU, Russia, Dec. 9.—Prince
Dadiani, an officer in the Czar’s
Guards, today commenced serving a
sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment
for murder. In order to obtain
Princess Dadeschteliani, with whom
he was madly infatuated, he had her
husband killed by hired murderers.
-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-0
NOTICE OP 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
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
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 Dec. 23, 1913.
0. ADRIAN NELSON
U. S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA - - - ALASKA
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