DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGO—BUT GET BUSY A
VOL. I.
CH1TINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1911.
7^ ' 3 <3
Local News
E. W. Exum received a letter this
week from the Nelson brothers, who
expect to return to Chitina by May
1st.
Hugo Pels, who is timbering the
big cut, has a crew of twelve men
hard at work and expects to get in
the new sills within thirty days, and
the timbering all in place by the
time the heavy thaw come3.
Oscar Breedman, who arrived
from Cordova on Wednesday, expects
to stay awhile and get acquainted.
The train crew, says it’s a cinch he
will stay until the snow goes at least.
No question about that hoodoo now.
Got him “pegged” and he can’t ride
while there is danger of a drift.
W. B. Vanderlip, a mining engi
neer, who represents big capital in
terested in Alaska, was an arrival in
Chitina on Friday morning.
J. H. Biggs, a mining man who has
operated in the Cook Inlet country
for some years past, was an arriv
al in Chitina Friday and will look
around this vicinity with a view to
investment.
F. A. Smith, the "Appeal to Rea
son” kid who has been in Cordova
since his completion of painting and
papering the Hotel Chitina, return
ed to Chitina Friday and says there
are better Socialists in Chitina than
Cordova.
Postmaster Johnston is getting his
new postoffice well under way and
expects to be able to move into the
new building by the 25th of this
month. “Oh, you kid” Hogan is do
ing the building and he is going some
these days.
Archie Shiels and W. S. McCune,
who have been outside to attend the
hearing of the coal cases in Seattle,
returned on the last Alameda, and
were shaking hands with friends in
Chitina on Friday morning.
Frank Accies, the well known
transfer man, returned to Chitina
on Friday, after being outside a few
weeks, where he was summoned to
attend the hearing in the coal cases.
M. E. LeBlanc, representing the
New York Life Insurance Company,
was an arrival in Chitina on Friday
morning’s train. He is on his way
to Fairbanks, Iditarod and Nome in
the interest of his company.
Clem Hurtel, who has been in
Chitina since last summer, left on
Friday’s train en route to California,
where he will enter into business
with his brother in a bottling works
at San Diego.
Al. Brimmer and Dick Ficken in
vited a few friends Thursday even
ing in honor of their friend, Clem
Hurtel, who is leaving for California
on the next Alameda. Those present
were Mr. and Mrs. Newhouse Mes
dames. Wallace and Rice, Messrs.
Palmer, Ficken and Brimmer.
Bishop Rowe arrived from his trip
to the interior on Friday evening. He
held services at the Red Dragon on
Sunday, and will hold Easter ser
vices again on Sunday.
Working on Trail to
Beaver Dam District
On Wednesday’s train the Katalla
Company sent two men, Thos. Val
entine and C. S. Bratton, to investi
gate the possibility of constructing
a trail this coming season from the
government trail on the Valdez-Fair
banks route, near Tlekhel, through to
the Beaver creek district, connect
ing with the railroad somewhere be
tween Chitlna and mile 109. The
men are experienced and capable,
and in addition to being old-timers
in this part of the country, have
already looked over the proposed
part of the trail connecting with the
railroad. They believe that the most
feasible point so far found is near
mile 104, there being a natural draw
in the mountains between there and
mile 109, which takes them around
the falls of the Tiekel river, The
MOUNT WRANGELL NOW
IN ACTIVE ERUPTION
Last night about 9:20 p. m. a
flash wh'ch was at first mistaken for
lightning, was observed at the sum
mit of Mount Wrangell. This was
followed in a minute or so by an
other, which was recognized then as
a tongue of flame issuing from the
crater of the mountain. In about
five minutes an Immense volume of
fire swept up into the sky. At a dis
tance of eighty miles it is difficult
to estimate the height of the column
but judging by the known height of
the mountain, it can hardly have
been less than from 2,000 to 3,000
feet. This was succeeded by a couple
of flashes similar to the first seen,
after which the giant mountain re
lapsed into comparative quiet, al
1 though clouds of unusually black
smoke continued to pour from the
I main crater for some time after
wards.
For more than two weeks the
mountain has been smoking far more
than even the oldest inhabitant re
members to have seen before; in
fact since the 21,st. of January when
a quite severe earthquake shock was
felt in this vicinity, it has been ur
usually active.
On the evening of the ninth, smoke
was seen issuing from no less than 6
distinct points, which has never been
seen before, so far as known.
The Indians are quite disturbed
over this extraordinary demonstra
tion. and the universal verdict is
“hi-yu smoke, hi-yu no good."
While Congress is bickering wheth
er or not they will give Seward and
Iditarod $50,000, a lone party of
mushers goes over the proposed route
and arrives with the statement that
it don’t make any difference whether
we get the money or not, there will
be no Iditarod-Seward trail that can
be practicable for even fair travel un
til the Alaska Northern railway is
built to Susitna station, and the
winds of heaven are tempered by a
kind and beneficent Providence.
Bob Griffis, the well known Nome
musher, has been over the trail twice
in the last four months. He left in
November with a party, carrying out
gold dust for the M. & M. bank of
this city. He returned yesterday af
ternoon after one of the hardest jour
neys of his experience in Alaska.
With him came E. Haley, who has
been in the Iditarod before, and as
far as the K. C. post on the Tokotna
came Hans Erickson, bringing back
the dogteam that had taken out Mr.
Fowler, of the Kuskokwim Commer
cial Company.
They were forty-one days from
Seward to the Innoko, and they snow
shoed all the way. They traveled
light and they traveled slow, and
slept in their snowshoes for fear they,
would disappear in the night.
Coming this way, Up. Griffis said,
they figured they would be over the
worst of their journey after cover
ing the 180 miles from Seward to
Susitna, after rounding Turagain
Arm. As a matter of fact their trou
bles had just commenced. They
bought all the dog feed there was in
the town and started out, from that
time on their journey was a weird
dream of white, dotted now and then j
with little currant bushes, which !
were in reality the tops of tall trees, i
They encountered the Goodwin1
party in difficulty just’ this side of
Rainey Pass, but were able to ren-1
der but little assistance. They were i
compelled to hurry on for lack or
supplies, and eacn day was but the
heart-breaking repetition of the hard
work of the day before.
According to Mr. Griffis, it is al
most idle to talk about a mail ser
vice between Seward and Iditarod un
i til the extension of the Alaska Nor
i
j them is built to Knik, cutting out the
1 almost impossible going between that
point and the present terminus of the
railroad. This part of the trail lays
over mountains and gorges, and is
; practically impassable for laden dog
teants. From Kern creek, the pres
ent end of the track, they follow the
railroad, dragging through the tun
nels on dry ground. These are gla
: ciered at the entrances so that it is
| necessary to cut one’s way in.
Even were the road built to Susit
na. the trail would not be practic
! able at this time of year unless con
stantly traveled, for the heavy fall
1 of snow and the constant winds of
the Kuskokwim are a positive men
ace. Later in the spring when the
snow packs, it will be fair traveling
from here to Susitna station, but the
balance of the journey to Seward will
be even worse than it is now.
On account of the adverse condi
tions, Goodwin's party has probably
accomplihed little In the way of
marking out a trail. Hide and his
party had done good work between
Susitna and Rainey Pass, but the
two parties were still 150 miles apart
when last heard from.
Contrasted with these rather pessi
mistic observations. Griffis reports
that Seward is quite coniident that1
the Alaska Northern will be extend
ed as far as Old Knik next summer,
with a branch to the Matanuska coal
fields. The work of the road com
mission, this winter, though not rich
in actual accomplishment, is extreme
ly valuable in experience and knowl
edge, and will set them off on the
right foot next summer and fall.
Seward is boosting strenuously for
the trail at the present time, but
there is danger that many a chechaco
will be up again it if not properly
prepared for this hard journey, which
is at least 600 miles long.—Idilarod
Pioneer.
“Senator” wants to see you at the
Nevada restaurant. It
I
CHITINA CARD CLUB
MEETS AND DISBANDS
The semi-monthly card club held
its last meeting for the winter on
last Wednesday evening and after a
most pleasant session agreed to dis
band until the tong nights come again
next fall. Prizes were played for
and won by the following members:
Mrs. M. Wallace won the highest
score for the ladies and received a
beautiful pair of gold cuff links.
John Palmer took the highest score
for the gentlemen and was awarded
a box of good cigars.. Mrs. Reeder
won a pretty prize by cutting the
cards in which all had a hand, and
Mr. and Mrs. Tibbs won the booby
and consolation prizes. Much mer
riment was caused over the booby
prize, Mr. Tibbs having to unwrap
(Beaver creek district, In which many
'prospectors and miners are now in
terested, promises to be well looked
over this summer, and in addition
to this a trail has long been talked
of and needed, from the govern
ment road near Tlekel to connect
with the railroad at a point lower
down the Copper River and North
western railway.
The building of this trail will
throw nearly al lilie travel into Bea
j ver creek this way, the distance be
(iug over two-thirds nearer thin by
way of Valdez and it is also believ
ed and a much better trail can be
built from here, which will greatly
aid in opening a rich mining coun
try, as well as being a convenient
and short cut off to the railroad by
those traveling ove* tlje old go 'ern
niont trull.
and unwind nearly a hundred cov
erings before he came to a—bottle of
catsup. After the usual good lunch
eon the guests departed, regretting
that the club cannot go on through
the summer months.
LOCAL NEWS.
R. A. Casey, the telephone fore
man, who recently completed his
work to the Bonanza, will be an out
going passenger on the Alameda's
next trip south.
J. C. Reedtnan, the commission
er at Copper Center, sent an inter
esting description of the activity of
Mount Wrangel last week, which was
plainly visible from the well known
station on the Fairbanks trail. The
story appears in another column and
occurred on April 11th.
Mrs. Donna Shaw and Miss Min
nie Thompson, who have been inside
since last fall, returned to Chitina
this week en route to Valdai, where
they have a mother and sister re
siding. Their many friends in Chit
ina will be glad to welcome them
back.
Monday’s train was delayed two
days by the heavy drifts on the flats
at mile 60 to 70. Oscar Breedman
was aboard, but he said it wasn’t his
fault, when accused of being the offi
cial “Jonah.” *
Dr. B. F. Whiting, who made a
visit to Cordova last week to be
presen^at the coast terminal on Cop
per Day, returned on Monday’s train
and with Dr. Schrock left for his du
ties at the front on Thursday morn
ing’s train.
Julius Struck, of the Forty-Mile
country, who left early last winter
for a trip outside, returned on Wed
nesday’s train and says he’ll keep his
eyes open along our line of railroad
this summer, believing that there are
more opportunities for the prospector (
and Investor than anywhere else in
Alaska.
I TRAVELERS AT THE
HOTEL CHITINA
| Following are the guests register
ing at the Hotel Chitlna this week:
Frank Townsend, C. A. Living
ston, Ed. Gray Bishop Rowe, J. B.
Mathews, L. T. Erwin, E. A. Hender
son, Ed. McMullen, Jack Merritt, B.
Barclay, H. L. Vaughn, E. A. Ryder,
R. Manzie, J. W. Hill, M. Miles, Vol
ney Richmond, H. McCann, M. Lem
ley, S. J. Kendrick, J. \V. Barker
J B. Rockafellow, J. S. Newman, E.
Condon, A. Bubon, D. Dauer, Chas.
Milander Ferry Bartley, John Drist,
Wm. Richardson, Chas. Weinberg,
Frank Sellers, G. J. Lemon and wife,
Herbert J. Robson, Mrs. M. Shaw,
Miss Minnie Thompson Wm. Urton,
Mrs. Siele and child, Ed. Funk, R.
(Casey, A. O. Slavin, Irvin McConkey
and Carl Johanson.
I -
$1,000,000 CORPORATION
TO TRADE IN ALASKA
The Alaska Transportation & Com
mercial Company, of New York City,
was chartered under the laws of
West Virginia to conduct a general
| transportation business to and from
j the coast of Alaska and to deal in
furs, etc. The company has an au
thorized capital stock of $1,000,000
and the incorporators are: Capt.
I Charles L. Peabody, of Seattle,
| Wash.; L. R. Best, Frederick H.
Tinker, H. Coughlin and A. M.
Schwab, of New York City.
Thos. Cordosa, who was with the
Secrest engineering party last fall,
returned on Wednesday’s train from
a trip outside. Mr. Cordosa is a
friend of M. R. Healey, and is his
guest while here.
Dr, Schrock, who was with the
constructing company at the front
last summer and fall, returned to
Chitina this week to again engage
In work at the front, after a few
months rest on the outside.
S. P. Beecher has at last succeeded
in collecting the $350 that was ow
ing to him for services performed for
Dr. Cook's Mount McKinley expedi
tion. Now the doctor was one of the
most collosal liars the world has ever
known, in fact, he seems to have out
distanced all liars in the past. But
first in lying is no criterion that he
was first in paying his debts.
Job work at the Leader office.
The Nome Industrial Worker is
now issued daily, which would indi
cate that things are picking up on
the Seward peninsula.
Washington, April 15.—Represen
tative Hayes has introduced in the
House a drastic bill having as its
purpose the regulation of immigra
tion of the Asiatic race.
Read the Leader for the news. |
Quartz Lead at Mile
109 Being Prospected
About three miles from the rall
; road track on mile 109, there is a
ledge of splendid looking gold quartz
i which was located last summer and
a group of twelve claims recorded.
The big ledge is plainly visible for
a distance of more than three miles
over the mountain, and the prospect
ors who are interested in the claims
staked believe they have s'ruck a
good thing.
Joe Westbrook, Jim Kennedy and j
Paul Blackhead have a group of sev
en claims, while Arthur Barrows,
Geo. Powell, Dan Rice, Mike Norton
and Paul Blackhead, have an ad
joining six clais and a mill site. Geo.
Powell and Jim Kennedy arrived on
last Wednesday night from Cordova,
and are making preparations to be
_ ’ * ' # ' •* •# .« "
Local News
»
——
I. N. Young, storekeeper at Cor
dova for the Katalla Company, ar
rived in Chitina on Friday in com
pany with L. Wernecke and other of
ficials and proceeded to the front,
where he will assist in taking over
the commissary and stores of the con
traei ng company on Saturday.
fs H. H. McCutcheon, of the Nevada
Saloon, made a flying business trip
to Cordova on Sunday, returning on
Thursday evening’s train.
Harvey Delvig, who has been
[working with the Spangler engineer
ing party at the front, took a flying
trip to Cordova on Friday's train to
meet his brother, who arrived on the
Alameda, returning on Monday's
train.
Geo. Cappell, who has been operat
ing on some claims up the Chitina,
brought in some ore samples on
Thursday and sent them to Cordova
for assaying.
M. W. Anderson, of the Chitina
Townsite Co., writes that he expects
to sail for Chitina about the 16th.
Mr. Anderson was recently married
and is bringing his wife back with
him.
Herbert J. Robson, the London
capitalist, who went into Fairbanks
recently looking for investment in
hydraulic propositions on a large
scale, was a returning passenger on
Wednesday night's stage and took the
following morning's train for Cor
dova.
• Bert Slavin, whc was in partner
ship with J. W. Wood on a wood con
tract at mile 146, after spending a
few weeks in Cordova, returned to
Chitina on Wednesday’s train.
W. E. Brown, the relay man at
the depot in Chitina, left on last
Sunday's train for Cordova on a
short business trip, returning on
Wednesday evening’s train.
Isaac Smith, who took advantage
of the excursion rate last Friday,
returned from Cordova on Wednes
day evening.
Geo. MacMurray, who left for a
short trip to Cordova last week, re
turned on Wednesday’s train.
C. A. Sim ons, the “mayor” of
Tiekel, arrived here Wednesday ev
ening from the once busy camp,
stopping in town over night on a
short business trip.
Charley Miller, the well known
restaurant man, of Cordova, Clyde
Finbone and Tony Peterson arrived
on Wednesday’s train as far as mile
109, from where they expect to pros
pect along the big granite showing
around the prospects located by Jos.
Westbrook and others last season.
Mr. Miller says he has great confi
dence in this part of the country and
believes that the Beaver Dam propo
sition will one day be a big produc
er.
W. L. Martin, who has been with
the Katalla Company for the past
two years in the engineer’s office at
Tiekel and 146, will be an outgoing
passenger on the Alameda to enter
the hardware business with his broth
er at Ellensburg.
gin active development work just as
soon as the snow will permit.
Eddie Funk, the well known con
ductor, who has been at the front
steadily for some time, expects to
leave on the Alameda for an ex
tended trip to the states and is talk
ing seriously of going to South Amer
ica. Jack Reed sees where Eddie is
right, as, next to his beloved Mexico,
South American sonoritas and seen
ic beauty are the main things to be
considered when on a trip outside.
J. O. Pearson, a mining or civil
engineer, was a passenger on Wed
nesday’s train en route to Copper
Mountain. Mr. Pearson is a friend
of E. F. Gray and expects to spend
some time in the copper belt.