DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGO—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EGG.
YOU 1
-CHITIVA, ALASKA, (HITINA. ALASKA, JL’XE 24.—
NO. 40 ?
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Local News
Dr. Whiting, who came down from
146 on Thursday, stated that the two
men who fell from the water tank
*t that camp are improving nicely.
■“Shorty” McFarland was pretty bad
ly bruised and is nursing a creck
ed rib. The men fell about thir
ty feet caused from a broken scaf
fold.
Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Andrus, C. M.
and W;. H. Van Cleek were passen
gers on Thursday’s train from Cor
•dova on a trip to the front. Mr.
Andrus, wTho is a son of the princi
pal owner of the placer properties
superintended by Geo. Max Esterly,
with his brother made a trip up here
two years ago, and made the thrill
ing trip down the rivers, at which
time two men were drowned and all
in the boat narrowly escaped death.
Chief Mail Clerk Alvah Ames, of
Valdez, arrived here on Thursday
night’s train and left the same eve
ning for a trip up the line.
Simons and Cordes, the Chitina
Heights merchants, finished install
ing a big display window in the cor
ner of their store this week, which
shows up their line of merchandise
to a much better advantage.
Mrs. Wildt, wife of Eddie Wildt,
who is running between here and the
front on engine 100, arrived from
Cordova on Tuesday evening’s train
and expects to remain here for the
summer. Mr. and Mrs. Wildt have
rented the cabin formerly occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. Carey, on Chitina
Heights.
A report front the steamer on
which Dr. Whiting shipped a few
Alaska squirrels to his wife in
Seattle is to the effect that the little
fellows gnawed thier way out of the
wooden cage in which they were con
fined and are now the real mascots
of the ship. The doctor shipped two
more this week, but not in a wooden
cage, putting them in an oil can, so
there is no chance for them to get
away.
E. O. Ellsworth, the well known
fireman, left on Friday’s train en
route to Montana, where he will join
his wife and relatives and recuper
ate from a bad attack of lung trouble
which has affected him so badly for
the last few days he was compelled
to quit work and advised by the com
pany doctors to take a rest for the
balance of the season. His many
friends wish him a speedy teturn to
health and Chitina.
Geo. Capped and S. B. Combast,
the mining men who have recently
acquired some promising looking iron
holdings in the vicinity of Mt. Wran
gell, and who recently left for the
coast on a business trip, returned
again on Thursday's train and with
John Gage left the following day on
another prospecting trip in the vicin
ity of Mt. Drum.
P. W. Pinneo, who left last week
for the Dan creek diggings, returned
on Wednesday and stated that the
Nizina river was too high for any
one to cross, and that even the hor
ses and freight outfit which went in
ahead of him, dared not come across
the torrent at the present time. As
the water may remain high tor sev
eral weeks yet Pinneo returned
Cordova yesterday.
Claude Snyder, one of the old
time boys from Cordova, who for
merly conducted a bowling alley at
the coast terminal, was an arrival in
town this week, and expects to leave
.for work at the front in a few days.
Henry Thoday, the well known car
penter, arrived on Tuesday evening’s
train and will be in charge of the
work of constructing the new depot
,for Chitina.
W. S. McCune and V. .1. Dwyer,
■two well known Katalla company of
ficials located at camp 146, were
down the first of the week on a busi
ness trip.
Mrs. V. G. Vance arrived in Chit
ina on Tuesday evening and left the
following morning with her husband
who is at work along the line with
the track and pile driver crew. Mrs.
Vance will remain a few weeks at
camp 146 or 149, and make this
her summer’s outing.
CITIZENS ENTHUSE OVER
4tU OE JULY CELEBRATION
Had a stranger dropped into town
on Tuesday last it would have taken
him but a few seconds to figure out
that there was something doing or
something certainly expected to hap
pen in the immediate future. Every
available man in town was pressed
into service, and Main street was
lined with busy workers preparing
the streets for the races and getting
things into shape for the coming cele
bration here on July 4. James Hart
ney donated his team and services
and was busy hauling stumps and
debris which powder, men and other
workers piled up for him. Every
property owner in town hired men
and even showed the proper spirit
by getting out themselves on a num
ber two, and the way most of them
handled picks, crowbars, shovels,
rakes, etc., showed that they had not
always been business men. Bakers,
barbers, dentists, merchants, saloon
men and all got busy and before six
o’clock in the evening Chitina had
a street which is a credit to any
town. M. W. Anderson, of the Town
site company, also caught the spir
it and like other business men tried
to hire all the men he could but
also gave Oscar Breedman and Tom
Cloninger a hard run in seeing who
could clear the most ground. Some
more eartu must still be hauled for
the remaining low places, after
which the street will be in first
class condition.
Posters announcing the Fourth of
July celebration arrived on Thurs
day evening’s train and were im
mediately distributed around town.
The advertising committee also sent
a number of the posters to each !
camp along the railroad and to the
different mining camps in this vicin
ity. Sufficient money has been sub
scribed for the different events to
be pulled off, the committee on sports
being now engaged in arranging the
program for the day.
Encouraging reports have come
from Cordova relative to the ex
cursion being run from the coast
terminal, and by the next issue of
the Leader, definite information
should be had. The Katalla company
wants $500 to run the excursion
train, and it is said that more than
the necessary 100 people have ex
pressed a desire to attend, which
makes the required guarantee of the
amount at only $5 the round trip.
The Chitina ladies are also tak
ing an interest in arrangements, and
some have suggested a place for our
visiting ladies and children where
they can rest, prepare their toilet
and make it a place for the ladies
and children. The suggestion is an
excellent one, and the new buildint
belonging to Deputy Marshal Brown
which is directly opposite from th>
dance pavilion, has been thought t<
be the best place.
All arrangements for the sport:
and prizes to be given will be read;
for publication in the next week':
Leader and Cordova Alaskan anr
a program of events of the day wil
be printed for the benefit of vlsi
tors during the celebration.
Pass the good word along now.
Whoever you happen to see, tel'
them that Chitina is going to cele
brate and she's to go some too.
Let us do your job work.
INTERIOR TRAFFIC WILL BE
Jesse Martin, manager for the
Orr Stage Co^ who has been one
of Chitina’s leading citizens and
business men since early last fall,
left on Wednesday’s train for Cor
dova, from where he leaves for Val
dez on a short business trip after
which he intends joining his wife in
the states for the remainder of the
summer.
When asked by a Leader represen
tative for a story concerning the
past work of the Orr Stage Co. over
the new route and the work out
lined for the next season, Mr. Mar
tin said:
“I think I’ll be better prepared to
give you a story next September than
I am right now, for by then I hope
to see conditions which have greatly
annoyed us, as w-ell as the rest of the
property holders in Chitina, changed.
I feel now that I have a grievance
and couldn’t give you a very optimis
tic interview for before locating here j
the Orr Stage Co. was promised im
provements which have never been
made, and in consequence have suf
fered both in delays as well as in
a slight financial way. I don’t hesi
tate to say that the cause for all
this is the lack of street improve
ments, the road from the office to
the barns being so bad that the
blacksmith was kept busy making
repairs on wagons since the spring
break up. I have some photos of
the last mail in from Fairbanks
which was packed from the barns in
on the drivers backs, the boys pre
ferring to tote the sacks over the
slumpy trail in the townsite rather
than to take a chance of another
breakdown of the wagon.
“The Chitina Townsite Co. have
however, promised to remedy these
conditions, and I sincerely trust it
will be done before we begin haul
ing feed in the fall, for it not only
works a hardship on hs but our pas
sengers as well. We have spent con
siderable money in Chitina and feel
that the improvements promised us
should have been made some time
ago. However I am confident that
the Townsite Co. will at least build
a decent roa* out of town to the
government trail, but if not, some
radical action will undoubtedly be
taken. By reporting conditions and
sending the photographs of which I
spoke to the postal authorities at
Washington, government aid might
be secured in building a road out of
town in case conditions are not bet
tered.
“We expect t'o begin hauling feed
about the middle of September, and
I hope to see Chitina a thriving little
burg by fall. The road commission
will by then have the new trail much
improved, and if the Chitina Townsite
Co. evinces the spirit shown by your
citizens last week in making street
improvements for your celebration,
there is no question but what Chiti
na will be as good a little camp as
can be found in Alaska.
“We expect to run the larger
stages and big four-horse freight
outfits directly into Chitina next
winter, and your town should en
joy twice the amount of traffic and
trade it did last year. As I said
in the start I hope to give you a
more optimistic interview on my re
turn here in the fall, and feel con
fident that the conditions of which
I have just spoken will be properly
adjusted. Like the rest of the prop
erty owners in Chitina, the Orr
Stage Co. expects to remain and do
business herd for many seasons to
come, but feel that the promises
made us by the Townsite Co. have
been rather tardy, and a public
statement may oe a factor in secur
ing immediate improvements be
fore our operations begin in the
fall.”
HANDSOME PRESENT GIVEN
TO MRS. WALLACE
Mrs. Wallace, the well known cat
erer of the Katalla company board
ing-house at Chitina, was made about
the happiest woman this far north
last week by receiving a beautiful cut
glass water set, presented to her by
Messrs. Wernecke, Spangler, Maker,
Brown and Durkman, some of the
boys, who while in the private mess
at Chitina, wished to show their ap
preciation to Mrs. Wallace before
leaving, of the many little courte
sies and kindnesses shown them by
her. The father of the two well
known engineers, L. and C. Wer
necke, chose the design in Seattle,
and the water set, which consists of
a lfhndsome pitcher, a dozen glasses
and a base or center piece of fine
French plate mirror, must be seen to
be appreciated and Mrs. Wallace is
justly proud of it. The present was
left on the private mess table as a
surprise and the following explana
tory note was tucked into the pit
cher:
“Dear Mrs. Wallace:
“As we are about to leave camp
we begin to realize what we are
about to lose, and feeling due ap
preciation for the kind and cour
teous way in which you have treat
ed us, beg to present you with this
humble token of our many thanks
and good will. We all join most
heartily in wishing you health and
happiness.
Signed YOUR BOYS.”
Chitina, Alaska, May 25, 1911.
P. D. Burke, the Long Lake ran
cher from mile 177 visited us again
this week. P. D. says there was
quite a forest fire around the lake
this week, which somewhat spoiled
the beauty for the propesed site of
the Alaska school of Mines and home
for the aged prospectors, but the ad
vantages are still there. He also has
a little bone to pick with Engineer
Spangler on transportation. Get him
to tell you about it.
C. Frost, C. Carlson, A. B. John
son, E. Anderson, Gus King, Chas.
Brown, John Sullivan, Mike Gra
ham, John Matthews, J. Gilkes, and
H. Baker are registered this week at
the Log Cabin Rooming House.
J. Gilkes, has rented the building
formerly occupied by Kimberlin, now
owned by Wm. Lav-son, and will
open a jewelry store and cobbler shop
in connection.
Jerry Rooney, the well known bar
! tender, who recently arrived here
frdbi Cordova, is presiding behind
the mahogany at the Nevada saloon
for McCutcheon & Griffiths.
j
Send your job printing to the Chit- :
ma Leader. J
THE GULKANA FERRY
GOES OX A NEW JOB
A new ferry built by the Alaska
Road Commission at Gulkana, broke
loose from the cable shortly after
being launched and floated down
the stream a few' hundred yards,
where she now lies. No attempt has
been made at last accounts to get
the ferry back to her place, cros
sing the river being accomplished
by small boats.
The breaking away of the ferry
was caused by a sudden raise of the
waters in the Gulkana. The craft,
being exceedingly heavy, the eye
bolts holding the scow to the cable
could not stand the strain and gave
way.
‘ Dad” Sullivan the old time car
penter, left on Thursday evening’s
train for work at the front.
Prank Iverson, the well-known
foreman at mile 146, left on Friday’s
train for a business trip to Cordova.
Frank brought down a few good
specimens from his gold quartz mine
near the Kennecott. S. B. Combast,
the assayer and expert who is with
Geo. Cappell, on examining the rock,
spoke highly of it, giving it as his
opinion that good quartz values lay
in the malibunmrite, which runs so
heavily through this ore.
Some uneasiness was felt among
railroad officials this week over the
higli water which threatened for a
time to again take out the bridge
over the Copper. The recent warm
weathSr has caused the waters to
rise rapidly and the drift wood caus
ed a slight kink in the track. A gang
of men are watching it, however, and
keeping the drifts clear, and if no
higher water comes, it is believed the
bridge will hold.
AT THE SENATOR’S
There's a small cafe up Chitina way
Where the tired may eat and rest.
There’s chicken and steak and oyster
pattee
And the Senator’s smile for zest.
There are onions and greens
And colored ice creams
And a coffee cup a la gem,
But what strikes one most,
Save the smile of the host
Is the collection of good looking men.
AT THE SENATOR’S 6-17-tf
Let us do your job work.
Seattle, June 19.—The fleet of the
Alaska Steamship company has been
reinsured. Part of the business has
been placed with domestic com
panies> but most of it taken by for
eign underwriters. It Is understood
that the rates on the various vessels
vary from 10 to 20 per cent, but
the average is reported to be a frac
tion more than 14 per cent.
Local News
••
Dr. Griffin, the well known den
tist of Chitina. returned on Tuesday
from a business trip to Cordova.
Tommy Burns, the well known
trainman, returned from a few days'
leave in Cordova on Tuesday’s train
and is again on one of the trains at ,
the front.
Judge Hayes, the well known con
ductor, who sustained a badly frac
tured ankle last week, is improving
nicely.
E. A. Hegg returned to Cordova
on Wednesday’s train, after going
as far as the Kennecott and snapping
the scenery enroute. He took a photo
of the temporary trestle across the
Copper river here, as at that time
the high water was threatening to
take it out.
P. J. O’Brien, the well known
bridge superintendent, left Wednes
day morning for Cordova and ex
pects to take the next steamer for
Seattle on a well-earned vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed House left Wed
nesday for Cordova. Mr. House has
been engineer at mile 173 all spring,
his wife joining him there last
month. He expects to go to work
for the Karalla company at Cordova,
but says he may take a trip else
where for a change.
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Carey left on
j Wednesday’s train for Cordova, en
route to Seattle, where they will join
Mr. and Mrs. John Gage on taking a
steamer for the Iditarod country.
Rev. E. P. Newton came up from
Cordova on Tuesday, and returned
on the next morning’s train, having
but one evening to spend here as
he intends leaving for Katalia on
Friday. Mr. Newton feels disap
pointed that there is not more in
terest taken in the branch of the
Red Dragon club here, but believes
that when winter sets in people will
have more time, and hopes more in
terest will be taken.
Bill McDonald, one of the well
known firm of the Cordova Com
mercial Company, in Cordova, who
succeeded J. T. Bridges & Co., ar
rived in Chitina Tuesday evening and
is one of the party of engineers
headed by T. M. Price, going to run
preliminary lines from the end of the
railroad into the White river coun
try.
Ernie Werner, the popular brake
man who has been on the local run
between here and Cordova all win
ter, rode up on the “cushions” last
Tuesday enroute to the front where
he has accepted a position on one
of the trains. Ernie says he can’t
| save enough for a winter overcoat
on the local run, so asked for a
transfer to the front and expects to
be good and “fat” when lie comes
down.
Mrs. Chas. Saindon, who has had
charge of the cook house at mile 109
all winter, was a passenger on Tues
day’s train for a trip up the line, re
turning on the same train and after
straightening things up at the 109
section, returned the first of this
^ week enroute again for the Kenecott,
where she has accepted a position
to cook for tlie Kennecott employ
ees. Mr. Saindon expects to follow
her the latter part of the ween.
Excavation ,.orl: fr>r the founda
tion of the new depot began last
week. Engineer Spangler and party
running the lines and locations for
the building the first of the week.
The new depot is to be a two story
structure with plenty of warehouse
room and when completed will be a
substantial looking addition to Chit
ina.
R. J. Barry, P. D. Burke, L. Mon
sov, E. A. Hegg, W. S. McCune, V.
G. Vance, E. J. Newton, Ed. Lindberg,
T. J. Renaux, F. Landmark, Mrs. C.
Saindon, Chas. Lightoll, L. A. Levan
saler, A. H. Thoday, C. W. Snyder,
P. W. Plnneo, Ed Lynn, Frank Iver
son, S. G. Murray, Geo. Cappell, S.
B. Combast, John Gage, and O. E.
Ellsworth were guests at the Hotel
Chitina this week.
Seattle, June 19.—The Pacific
Coast Steamship company is to great
ly improve its service by building
two twenty knot passenger boats.