The Chitina Leader
V
CHITIXA, ALASKA.
Entered as second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
Mt Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
Office: Hote IChitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the
.service given.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
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One Year. 3.50
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1911
r—1 -
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB
(The business men of Chitina have organized a commercial
club that is to be a permanent institution. Whenever there is
need of concerted action to secure some advantage, we of
Chitina simply act without any preliminary' flourish of the
business interests of the town and there was no dissenting
voice when the subject was discussed at the Barrv meeting.
All were agreed that the union of forces would enable us to
cope with the problems that must of necessity come up in every
new community, and from this timely' organization much good
may be expected. The memorial to President Taft asking for
an appropriation for the building of permanent roads and
bridges, was of itself enough to call the commercial club into
existence but our work will never be finished for new prob
lems are constantly arising and the Ctitina way of solving
them will be the slogan of this club. Civic improvements in
the way of water, lights and streets will be threshed out and
disposed of in a business like way', to the advantage of the
-whole people. In due time the question of incorporation and
consequent self government will be considered and doubtless
■within the next year we will have a city government of our
own.
-oooo
GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA.
Two years ago there was a plan under way, backed by
the administration at Washington, for the government of
Alaska by a body which would be partly elective, partly ap
pointed by the president. The people of Alaska would elect
one representative from each judicial division, the president
would appoint four members, preferably from Alaska, and
these with the governor of Alaska would constitute the Alaska
assembly. It was a plan that could have been and would have
been put promptly into action.
The people of Alaska were not satisfied with it. They
wanted complete home rule. Working upon this natural and
laudable desire, unscrupulous politicians stirred a number of
good Alaskans into hysterical opposition to anything the
administration offered. The result is, the people of Alaska
have nothing. Most of them are now willing to admit that if
Alaska had accepted what she could get, she would today be
advancing under the benefits of a substantial measure of home
rule, and would not be one bit behind, but rather ahead, in the
battle for complete home rule.
Since President Taft’s former visit to the Pacific coast,
two years ago, he has met many more Alaskans than he ever
met before, and has learned many things about the territory.
The administration will now recommend a home rule bill for
Alaska which will permit the election of our own legislature,
with powers as great as the legislatures of other territories
have possessed; but the rest of the territorial government will
remain appointive as at the present time.
If the administration win: such a measure of home rule
for us during the coming session of Congress, it will be so
great a gain for the territory that the people should promptly
howl down anybody who endeavors to stir up an agitation
against it- We hope, wiih the president, that the mere poli
tician will choke for a time while public-spirited statesmen get
the measure through for us.
-oooo-—
ON THE MATTER OF ROADS.
«r -
The question of roads is of prime importance to every
community. This fact is so self-evident that it will not admit i
of argument. It used to be the theory of railroad builders
that roads were secondary importance, that a country must
first develop into a producer before being entitled to a road.
Jim Hill exploded that notion, and proved that it paid to
build the road first; commence creating earnings, and at the
same time develop the country to a state that would con
stantly add to those earnings.
That Alaska is lagging behind in development on account
of expensive transportation and the absence of roads is also
a matter so patent that no sane person can dispute it. Alaska
needs roads in almost every direction, but Fairbanks is
situated in the very heart of the territory’s resources and the
time is now here when some concerted action must be taken
that will arouse a thinking public to our necessity
It is fortunate that in the matter of getting a grand trunk
road from rail connection on the south to this place that we
have the co-operation tendered us of a united people on the
other end of the line.
Mr. Barry representing the people of Cordova is in the
city now for the purpose of assisting in the matter of making
plans for a united action, and a concerted movement of both
communities, toward the end that federal aid may be had, for
converting the present road into a highway over which it will
be possible to drive automobiles at all seasons of the year.
Let the people of Fairbanks grasp this opportunity to
create a favorable sentiment for a more liberal policy in thfe
matter of road building. Let the people agitate this question
and keep agitating till the cry for better roads become one
long appealing wail to haunt the halls of congress—and we’ll
get the road.—Fairbanks Alaska Citizen.
A REFRESHING STATEMENT.,
Professor Georgeson, may his name be blest, declares upon
his reputation as an agriculturalist that the possibilities of
Alaska as an agricultural country are unlimited- The soil is
the most prolific in the world, while he sees the fertile valleys
of the land supporting a population in the near future—and
never a single word concerning the Guggenheims trying to
grab it all.
That is about the most refreshing thing about the
learned agriculturalists remarks and we would be willing to
avow it is the most refreshing thing we have come across in
a long while. Consider it a moment, untold wealth possibilities
like Dr. Johnson’s brewery, beyond the dreams of avarice,
and not a single conservationist in the bunch proposes that the
agricultural lands of Alaska be withdrawn from entry, and
opened up to lease holders only.
We can hardly credit that there are up-lifters who realize
that this immense resource is lying at hand for the man who
wants it, and never a financial magnate so far has seized it.
There must in truth be something wrong somewhere. Notice
whenever we take hold of a paper concerning the outside states
and the immense possibilities of the land in Arizona, say, or
Florida, in Washington, and Oregon, and notice we too that
these same lands are all corralled by syndicates.
We remark no unusual squabbling over Alaskan farm
lands, no scandals, no congressional inquiries, no vituperation,
no political knight errantry in the language of the poets, no
nothing. Seems to us then, that there is something wrong,
peradventure the professor painted the possibilities in too
roseate colors; peradventure likewise he added a little color
to the gilding of the refined gold of those possibilities, and
gave an extra touch of color to the lilly of prosperity surely
awaits the farmer in Alaska?
We do not call in question the facts as stated by Professor
Georgeson, with that we are in perfect accord; but what does
puzzle us how any such thing as even agricultural resources
can possibly be exploited without the aid of a syndicate or
moneyed men. We have been crying out for capital, and more
capital, we have been whining because the spirit city ignores
or knocked Alaska, fully satisfied that Alaska could not prog
ress without the good will and assistance of outside help.
No doubt at all that Georgeson knows what he is speaking
about, but how will Alaska support three million souls on!
its farm lands if no gracious syndicate gets a corner on ’em
first?
Somebody or something seems to be overlooking a bet.
and we would be well advised not to pursue the matter too
deeply lest another scandal is unearthed. Give everyone con
cerned some time, and the up-lifters and the syndicates will
be flying at one another’s throats over the relative agricultural
values which are being corralled. And in God’s good time'
The professor opens up the way for all kinds of political rag
chewing.—Nome Daily Industrial Worker.
-oooo
It is not necessary for Gifford Pinchot to proclaim a
“conspiracy” to despoil Alaska. The country fully under
stands that the kick which separated Giffy from his job was
a hard one, and that the place still hurts.—Kansas City Jour
nal.
-wui;
Mr. Garfield denies that he spoke for Roosevelt at that
progressive gathering, saying T. R- is able to speak for him
self, and adding parenthetically that he generally does. If
this is more generally remembered it will save some people a
whole heap of speculation and worry.
-oooo
Cordova is certainly forging to the front. Not being sat
isfied with the only broad-guage railroad it is soon to have
oil tanks and wagons, two theatres, roller skating rink and
what not.
-oooo
The new Turkish premier proposes to abandon the tra
ditional policy of the Sublime Porte and seek alliances for
self protection. The Turkish army would be a factor worth
trading something for in the European war game.
-oooo
An Asbury park cook is reported to have had her $1,500
worth of diamonds stolen. This looks like a deep scheme to
attract all the cooks in the country to the Jersey resort next
season.
CORDOVA. ALASKA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1911.
Even if Canada did knock out reciprocity, she is not nearly
as big as she hoped. Instead of a population of 8,000,000 ex
pected, the census gives her but 7,100,000.
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e&Ufcr~ .•afei-i-frrtsE-rt**;';*»-- o run tinariiimlWiT
New York, according to a trade paper, is oversupplied
with safety deposit vaults. Not if the burglary reports are
considered.
-oooo
The Nome Democrats have held their caucus, elected forty
delegates to the territorial convention and allowed a Seattle
attorney to pocket all of the proxies and take them to the
“spirit city” where they can be hawked about in the framing
up of a ticket to be nominated by the “unterrified” of Alaska.
-—oooo
Italy feels disposed to be generous and will compromise
by taking Tripoli without charging Turkey for its services.
The New 5 ork suffragists have adopted a yell, but it is
really a “scream.”
y Special Attention Given to Hot Baths at all hours a f
;; Rush Orders. Specialty. ♦
1 cm iuihorv mo bath house I
—.. :
MRS. BURROWS & MRS. GOODMAN J
+ I
” ’ Proprietors. +;
:: 11
:: Family Laundry Rough Dry 85c Per Doz. ||
(TIITIXA, - ALASKA Xj
New Westminister, Nov 3.—A $25,
000 loot at Montreal has been recov
ered in this city under a sidewalk.
Pekin, Nov. 3.—There is a whole
sale massacre of natives at Hankow
by Imperialists. The slaughter has
greatly interfered with the peace ne
gotiations inaugurated by the Pre
mier and Rebels. An exodus from
Pekin is anticipated on account of
the massacre.
Shanghai, Nov. 3.—The revolu
tionists have captured the natives in
the city of Shanghai.
, London, Nov. 3.—Lady Colin
Campbell is dead.
Washington, Nov. 3.—An intense
cold wave is sweeping from the Rock
ies to the New England states.
St. Louis, Nov. 3—Norman J. Cole
man, the first Secretary of Agricul
ture is dead.
Seattle, Nov. 3.—The sound steam
er Fairhaven, while tied at the wharf
filled with water and sank, the crew
barely escaping. *
Skagway, Nov. 3.—There are no
new developments in the murderous
assault recently made upon Agent
Guptill of the Alaska Steamship com
pany. His condition is improving
rapidly and he is now conscious but
does not say who assaulted him.
Berrlman, his assistant, who was ar
rested for the crime, proved an alibi
and was dismissed. There are no
further clues.
New York, Nov. 3.—Theodore
Roosevelt, in an editorial, points out
that the wars at Tripoli and in China
as a result of “utter inefficiency of
paper treaties.”
Worchester, Mass., Nov. 3.—Harry
Atwood, the aviator, is making prep
arations to cross South America in
his machine.
Malta, Nov. 3.—It is reported that
the whole Italian fleet left Tripoli
for Turkish waters.
Tripoli, Nov. 3.—The eighty-sec
ond Italian infantry is forced to fall
back into position.
Chicago, Nov. 3.—Papke announ
ces his retirement from the ring.
Yuma, Nov. 3.—Aviator Atwood is
stranded in the Arizona desert and
has ordered oil shipped to him on a
special train.
Fremont, Neb., Nov. 3.—Speaker
Champ Clark, in a speech delivered
says, “nine tenths of the people of
this country favor the annexation of
Canada.’’
New York, Nov. 3.—On President
Taft’s trip he received senatorial
pledges of the early ratification of
the arbitration treaties with Great
Britian and France.
Chehalis, Wash., Nov. 2.—Eight
girls and yohng women were burned
to death by the destruction of the
plant of the Imperial Powder Com
pany,
Pekin, Nov. 3.—The British con
stitution with the strictest limita
tion powers for governing the sov
ereign has been adopted for a model
for China.
I
Notice Is hereby given that all
business of the Golconda Mining Co .
must be O. K.’d or signed by Edwin
H. Sellars, Seperintendent and Gen
eral Manager.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We do all kinds.
—o—
DEVELOPING:
3A Films.10 cent.'
3A Prints or postcards ... 7 C‘nt. '
Other work in proportion.
NELSON & NELSON
Chitina, Alaska.
D: A GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs’ Building.
*
Chitina, Alaska.
DR. CHAS. THOM
Physician and Surgeon
Now permanently located at Chitina,
Alaska.
Hay & Oats;
We have only the best feed!
at the LOWEST PRICES.
It will pay you to see us.
0- A. NELSON & COMPANY,
Chitina, Alaska.
;l I MMM'I 11 MM I !♦»»♦♦♦♦*
Just Open;
!«» MMW——WI «*
Billiards S-OPool ;
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
_ i »
« , « ►
jjj Bowling Alley ij
i; TIBBS BROS. H
44444444444+44444»44444444
* Chitina Bakery :
| & Coffee House t
+ ?►
4* «►
I GESSNER & STANGNETH ::
t Proprietors J'
$ 4
4 FRESH BREAD 4
| Cakes and Pastry £
4 Always on Hand 4
.... t
PUBLIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any contest
or any matter before the Interior De
partment, write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, 002 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land Office),
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and wh»re to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
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■■ PRACTICAL
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Jeweler
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' ' CORDOVA, - ALASKA
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«• Watches and Jewelry at , ►
ii Outside Prices ::
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• ’Leave Tour Work at the Leadera{a.
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' 1 Office
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Pete’s Lodging
House
AND
SECOND HAND STORRE
FREE COOKING HOUSE
—
CHiliNA HEIGHTS
Hunks 25c; Bods 50c.
PETER CORDES. Prop.
Chitinal
! Grill |
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; The Only First-Class Cafe ;;
• In Chitina. ' i
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• _ a a
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I Everything the market af- 1 ►
• fords in the eatable ‘ « >
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! Caterer for Banquets
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; Private Parties a suecialty ; ►
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; WE CAN PLEASE \ •