The Chitina Leader
, CHITINA, ALASKA.
f __________________
Entered ns 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
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—EABBY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .* -50
Six Months . 2.00
One Year . 3.50
ADVERTISING RATES
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 Cistrict.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12,1913.
THE STAMPEDE IS ON
The town of Cordova is today filled with old-time mushers,
some of whom have been in every stampede in this northern
country. They are on their way to the latest gold strike in
the Sushanna. Several having been asked as to whether they
considered the present limited development sufficient to warrant i
the great influx of prospectors replied most positively in the
affirmative. They state that the fact that $10,000 was taken
from discovery claim by crude methods in a few days is good
enough for them. Then the fact that colors have been so
generally found is another indication that the streams tributary
to the Sushanna are likely filled with gold. They say that when
several hundred or thousand prospectors, properly equipped
with tools, get to doing legitimate work in the new diggings
that there is a strong probability of developing another Klon
dike or Nome, with the difference that bed rock is much nearer
the surface in the Sushanna.
They realize that a large proportion of the people who
follow all stampedes are not sufficiently equipped, either
physically, mentally, financially, or with food supplies, to long
engage in the great scramble for gold. It is a case of where
many rush in and few are chosen. But the lure of sudden
wealth is most tempting and cannot be discouraged. Past
experience has demonstrated that oftimes the most inexperi
enced miner will prove lucky on locating the most valuable
claim and a few months labor will make him independently
wealthy for life.
It now seems as though the stampede were on in real
earnest and that hundreds and thousands of men will continue
to swarm into that country tributary to the headwaters of the
Tanana. They will go from Dawson, Fairbanks, Nome, Juneau
and from the Pacific coast states. Arrivals on the Mariposa
say that the interest and excitement at .Juneau is intense and
that all available accommodations on the next two or three
steamers have already been sold. The sale of tickets for the
Mariposa had to be discontinued, after 120 had secured passage
and then a dozen or more came as stowaways.
Cordova is the natural outfitting point for all prospectors
going to the new diggings. Our merchants here are familiar
with the kind of goods required and are well stocked with all
the necessities. And their prices have not been raised in any
instance. They are the same that town people pay and have
been paying for the past year or two. Neither are the prices
any higher than similar goods can be purchased for at Seattle,
with the additional cost of freight added.
Many of the stampeders arriving from Juneau brought
supplies with them and explain that they were informed by
thei merchants there that prices at Cordova had been raised
“out of sight.” This of course they soon found to have been
a fabrication, as inquiry at the various stores satisfied them
that the prices here are about the same as Juneau prices, and
in some instances even lower.
]V : -o—o—o
FEDERAL OFFICIALS FOR CHISANA
f .
All reports being received from the new gold diggings
indicate that there is likely soon to be a most positive need for
a United States deputy marshal in that territory. The pros
pectors now there already realize the necessity of an official
to preserve law and order. They have indicated a willingness
to call a miners meeting and select a man if they can secure a
satisfactory person to act. They tried to induce the deputy
marshal of the Chitina district and the chief of police of
Cordova to remain and accept the duties of the office, but
neither of these men had sufficient supplies to remain, and
neither cared for the office.
The proper thing to do is for the United States marshal of
this district to wire the circumstances to the department of
justice at Washington and to secure authorization for the
appointment of a deputy at Chisana and have some provision
made for the extraordinary expense of travel to the diggings
and maintenance while there. If the facts are properly
presented it seems most reasonable that the attorney general
will issue such an order that will permit the marshal to select
a deputy of ability who would be willing to go there and give
assurance that life and property would be safe this winter.
It is reported that there is already considerable claim
jumping, filing on claims by power of attorney and recording
the power days afterwards, locations by aliens, and many other
irregularities. Many questions are likely to arise that would
seem to make it necessary that the United States commissioner
should be an attorney, so as to have a knowledge of the law and
to be in position to properly interpret it. He shouuld also be
a man of irreproachable honesty and integrity. The present
official, who was appointed last May is a man who has been in
the White River country for several years and has mining
interests there. He may be fair and honest, but we are informed
he has no knowledge of law.
-o—o—o
LONDON, Aug. 12.—A dispatch to the Telegraph from
iPekin intimated that the Manchu have planned a decided coup,
and adds that Gen. Chang Hsun has declared himself emperor
of China. It is further stated that the general intends to fight
his way into Nanking and to impose his rule. As a result it is
expected that there will he many conflicts and much blood shed.
NEW PLACER MINING LAW
■ ■ ... -
The following from the Dawson Daily News is an inter
esting article on a subject that is of general interest throughout
Alaska:
“The new mining law which was enacted in Juneau for
Alaska a few weeks ago is causing widespread comment
throughout the North. Yukoners are so close to Alaska and
so many have interests in Alaska that the law of the neigh
boring territory is being watched in Dawson as well as
elsewhere in the Northland with keenest interest. The discovery
of the new placers on the Sushanna and the protests heard
from Nome dredgemen in respect to the new law has caused
quite a number to look more carefully into the new act.
“One of the most interesting features of the act is that
requiring discovery work to the extent of $100 in value to be
done on each claim within 90 days after discovery. It also is
required that $100 in work be done on a claim annually. The
object of representation work, which is required in placer and
quartz fields the world over, is to make the staker work the
ground or get out of the way and make room for a man who is
willing to work.
“It is particularly desirable in rich new placer fields that
ground not lie idle too long. Men flock to the region by the
hundreds and often thousands. If the ground is available, the
men wdll work the whole country, and the resources will be
developed quickly. If the men are not given an opportunity, the
majority will be discouraged, and will leave the place, and the
region will be slow in development.
“In the Ivalgoorlie regions the deposits were so rich men
were limited to tracts 100 feet square, and could not leave more
than a limited number of hours without forfeiting the ground.
The result was that thousands were digging in a short time, and
produced a fabulous yield.
“Of course there are exceptions, and conditions have a
great deal to do with affairs. Some from the Sushanna now
say ninety days are not enough for the prospector to stake, go
out and get an outfit into that remote region sufficient to keep
him over winter. If the time is too short, there is a serious
defect in the law. The sushanna prospectors are petitioning
for an extension of time. It does not seem likely an extension
can be secured because the law is made by the legislature,
which is not to meet again for many months. The recently
enacted law becomes effective August 1. The stakings made in
the Sushanna to date, therefore, are under the old law, which
is more generous.
“One thing knocked out in Alaska recently is the
unlimited use of the power of attorney. Formerly one man
was allowed to carry any number of powers of attorney and to
stake without limit. Now one man is restricted to two
powers of attorney, and is permitted only after interval of one
month to stake again. One man cannot give his power of
attorney to several men.
“While there are good features to the new Alaskan law,
hasty legislation on mining is not good. It would have been
well had the Alaskan legislature framed proposed new laws,
and submitted them to the miners of Alaska for a term before
finally putting them through the legislature. The Yukon
enacted a code several years ago, and before deciding on the
provisions thereof had a commission travel through the
territory and get the opinions of practical men on every mining
creek, and to take evidence from experts of the country. The
result has been that so little complaint has been heard that
very few amendments have been found necessary, and few, if
any more are likely to be made.”
v u-yj
THE DISAPPOINTED MAY KNOCK
Soon some of the disappointed stampeders may he expected
to return and knock the country. Many who came from other
sections and started from McCarthy’s oyer the trail had
scarcely sufficient food to get them to the^new gold diggings.
In some instances they will be compelled to, return after a day
or two there, not having had sufficient time to even look over
the ground. Others have returned when only partially in, while
again some came only as far as Cordova, wisely realizing that
they did not have the means to purchase the food necessary to
remain in the interior and do any locating and prospecting.
Naturally some of the men referred to will knock the country
in order to explain their failure to make good. It has been this
way ever since gold stampedes have been heard of and likely
will continue.
-o—o—o
AID NEEDED FOR TRAIL
As yet we have heard nothing to indicate that the Alaska
Road Commission is familiar with the fact that many hundreds
of prospectors are swarming over a poor trail from McCarthy’s
to Scolai Pass. Hundreds of thousands of dollars had
preciously been expended, and half dozen lives lost in the
Nizina country, before it was decided to erect a bridge across
the treacherous Nizina river, which will likely be built this
winter. A few thousand dollars is badly needed on the trail.
An emergency now exists, and if the road officials in Alaska
are helpless in the matter, or disinclined to assist the venture
some prospector, possibly the authorities at Washington may
figure out a way to render needed and much deserved aid.
-o—o—o
It will be unfortunate for Seward if the government should
figure out a more accessible way of reaching the Matanuska
coal fields. The people of that town have demonstrated so
much pluck in placing their faith in the future importance of
their delightful little city that they deserve to see a growth,
rapid and substantial. And they surely will have it if the
government accepts Seward as the terminus of a railroad to
the Matanuska coal fields and Kuskokwim gold country. They
have one of the prettiest town sites in Alaska and a substan
tially built little city, populated by enterprising and hopeful
people.
-o—o—o
In the preliminaries of the legal contest at Juneau the poll
tax held its own. Judge Brown upheld the legality of the
present law and the second round will be fought in a higher
court.
NOTICE TO PAY POLL TAX
'v *.
Notice is hereby given to all whom
it may concern that by the provisions
of Chapter 54 of the laws passed by
the first legislature of the Territory
of Alaska, entitled, “An act to impose
a poll tax upon male persons in the
Territory of Alaska and providing
means for its collection," approved
May 1, 1913, and ineffect from and
after said date, an annual tax in the
sum of four dollars ($4), designated
as a poll tax, is imposed and levied
upon each male persons (excepting
soldiers, Bailors in the United States
navy or revenue cutter service, vol
unteer firemen, paupers, insane per
sons and territorial charges) within
the Territory of Alaska or the waters
thereof, over the age of twenty
one years and under the age of
fifty years, to be paid and collected
in the manner provided in said act;
and it is further provided in and by
said act, among other things, that
the commissioner of each precinct
in said territory shall collect said poll
tax from each person residing within
his precinct subject thereto. That
said tax shall be paid between the
first Monday in April and the first
Monday in August in each year, that
it shall be the duty of every person
liable to pay said tax to pay the same
to such commissioner within the
time in this notice below specified,
that it shall be the duty of the com
missioner to receipt to each person
(by a receipt from books thereof
with stubs, supplied by the terri
torial treasurer) upon payment of
said poll tax, which receipt shall be
the only evidence of payment, that
every person indebted to one who
neglects or refuses, after demand, to
pay a poll tax, becomes liable there
for, and may deduct the same from
such indebtedness, that it shall be
the duty of the commissioner to col
lect and enforce the coJleetion of all
unpaid taxes by giving notice to each
delinquent, personally or by mail,
and each delinquent shall pay a pen
alty of one dollar in addition to such
tax, that the commissioner, after de
mand and refusal of payment must
collect said tax, with said penalty in
addition, by seizure and sale of any
personal property owned by such de
linquent person, in the manner pro
vided by lawr for the sale of personal
property on execution, and that any
person vBMtshall violate any of the
provisionsftf said act shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon convic
tion thereof shall be fined in a sum
not more than one hundred dollars
nor less than five dollars, or impris
oned in the federal jail for not more
than thirty days nor less than one
day.
And notice is hereby further given
by the undersigned, to each and
every person subject to said tax ac
cording to said provisions of said act,
that said poll tax is due and payable
between the date of the first publi
cation of this notice, to wit, the 29th
day of July 1913, and the first Mon
day, to wit, the 4th day of August
1913, that payment thereof on or
before said last named date is hereby
demanded by the undersigned from
each and every person in the Chitina
precinct subject to said tax, that the
payment thereof will become delin
quent as provided in said act, to wit,
on the expiration of the last named
date, that in case of failure to pay
same, penalties, as provided in this
act will be imposed, and that it is
the duty of every person liable to
pay said tax to pay the same, within
the time in this notice above speci
fied, in person or by mail to the
undersigned commissioner at his
office, on Main Street, in Chitina,
Alaska.
PAUL d’HEIRRY,
U. S. Commissioner, exofficio Poll
Tax Collector, Chitina Precinct,
Third Division, Territory of
Alaska.
-o—o—o
**********
* *
* SAY, MR. GOLD SEEKER? *
* - *
* Why don’t you order the *
* Daily Alaskan sent to the *
* folks at home. The price is *
* $1.00 per month. They can *
* then keep posted on the de* *
* velopments in the Sushanna *
* country. The real news will *
* always be contained in the *
* Daily Alaskan. Your friends *
* would appreciate it. *
* *
**********
-o—«—o
Buy your Sushanna outfit at S.
Blum & Co ’s and be sure of getting
the right goods. ■■ ^
Chitina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Service.
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CHITINA : : ALASKA.
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* We have a big line of Sec- < >
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HOTEL j!
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> New, modern and fireproof. < *
» 4 b
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Rooms and suites are partici* ! !
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WM »♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦«« 11 l«»H