1
,J SECOND YEAR
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JI NK 22, 1912.
NO. 87
Wireless reports received by the government station from
various places to the westward, in the volcanic zone, tell of the
death of three persons, one injured and one baby born.
At Uyak and Karluk, on Kodiak Island, and at Naknek
and Nushugak, on Bristol Bay, as well as at other prominent
cannery stations in the affected district, fishing operations have
been suspended temporarily. The flow of lava into the waters
in many places and the heavy volcanic ash which no doubt has
communicated some of the sulphur to the fresh water streams
emptying into the salt water, have stopped the fish from run
ning.
The wireless force formerly of the Kodiak station destroyed
by lightning, including Operator Martin, who used to be sta
tioned here, will take service on the Nero, the government wire
less boat at Unalaska. The revenue cutter Bear arrived at Ko
diak, but was not needed and returned to Unalaska.
Most of the buildings in Kodiak are intact, and the people
are getting settled. The sight of the gray desolation of ash
and sand in the place where formerly were garden patches, roll
ing grassy slopes and vegetable plots, with domestic fowls and
animals grazing about contentedly, has not deterred them from
a determination to reinhabit their homes. Their harrowing ex
perience seems only to have strengthened their home associa
tions for a place which their effoi’ts and years of toil had made
the garden spot of Alaska, previous to their misfortune due to
the violent eruption of Mount Ivatmai.
Since most of the cattle on the government farm wi-re
found alive, there is hope that some of the thousands of sheep
which grazed on the grassy slopes are also alive, as well as the
wild game and birds which abounded on the island, not to speak
of the famous Kodiak bear.
There is scarcely any feed left for the cattle at the govern
ment station, but the situation will be relieved with the arrival
of the Admira Slampson and the revenue cutter Rush.
Now that fuller reports have been received, it is known
that the flow of lava and more especially the fall of sand and
volcanic ash covered a wide section. The sand and ash reached
as far as Chignik to the westward, covered Kodiak, Afognak
and adjoining islands, as well as the mainland bordering Bris
tol Bay on the one side and Cook Inlet on the other, from one
foot upward. And it reached even as far as Ketchikan, 1.000
miles distant in a straight line, and the fumes in the air tar
nished the guns at the forts on Puget Sound. The seismograph
at Seattle on June 7 and at Washington, D. C., June 8, record
ed shocks which it is believed were due to the Katmai disturb
ance.
Later reports confirm previous press dispatches that Kat
mai is responsible for the outburst, although it was not con
sidered a live volcano by the people living to the westward in
that vicinity. From the distance the lava has been seen from
the mountain, it is certain that the flow must have been unu
sually heavy and that it will be found the landscape has under
gone a marked change.
Nothing has yet been heard from Douglas, Katmai and
other smaller native and white camps on the mainland in the
shadow of the volcano. The natives of the Bristol Bay side
have fled from the mountains and their homes and flocked to
the cannery stations, but no word, as far as known, has been
received from those to the south and west of Katmai.
An officer has been placed in charge of the refugees at
Afognak, and this would indicate that the several hundred peo
ple living in the village and on the island of that name are all
safe.
SEWARD, June 19.—Information has just been received
here to the effect that refugees to the number of one hundred
have been taken from the mainland near the Mount Katma’
eruption to Afognak, and that tugs are now looking for any
other inhabitants that may be in that vicinity.
The conditions on the island are not as bad as at first
leported, and the recent heavy rain has settled the ashes on
Kodiak, Afognak and Raspberry islands, and they have crust
ed to a depth of from one and a half to three feet.
It is thought that the fertility of the islands has been de
stroyed, which will mean a big loss to the residents, as they
were considered the garden spots of Alaska.
The revenue cutter McCulloch left here yesterday for Ko
diak.
News received by the local wireless states that the differ
ent revenue cutters are returning to their stations to the west
ward. This would indicate that the situation is well in hand.
A rain is reported which has settled the volcanic ash. So
far as known no further loss of life has occurred and conditions
are improving.
Harrals Organ Short Lived
After publishing a daily paper for
just one week, the Fairbanks World
nas suspended. The paper did not
get the support it expected in Fair
banks, and as the owners did not
have any capital, quit when they say
things were not coming their way. It
is said the paper intended to support
Martin Harrals.for delegate.
While Vice-President Baxter, of
the Alaska Steamship Company, was
in Ketchikan on his way to Cor
dova on the Alameda, he decided to
extend the company’s wharf tuere.
--o—o—o
The Overland Hotel caters to the
discriminating tarveler.
GEOLOGICAL WORK OF
IMPORTANCE TO NORTHLAND
Dr. D. D. Cairnes, of Ottawa, ex
plains that although he is not going
to be in the Dawson district this sea
son, the work in which he is to be
engaged along the 141st meridian—
the Yukon-Alaska boundary—north
of Yukon river, is of very great im
portance to the people of Yukon Ter
ritory, much more so than is gener
ally recognized, not only from a sci
entific but from an economic stand
point. This fact may not at first
thought be any too apparent to the
average northerner and miner in
particular, to whom all such work
is liable to be considered as value
less that does not immediately add
to the general wealth of the com
munity.
Each summer one or two Canadian
geological survey parties are engaged
in Yukon and their work is corre
lated more or less directly with that
in British Columbia to the south—
I. e., the various rock formations
have been followed from districts in
which their general relation to the
North American geology is well un
derstood to points in which they
have been found to occur in Yukon.
Alaskan geologists have not had this
advantage of correlation, as Alaska
is so far from other United States
points, and, in any case, the geology
of Alaska is more closely related to
that of the Asiatic continent, to the
west than with the formations and
structures characteristic of North
America. The result is that all for
mations in Alaska have necessarily
been given purely local names, fre
quently of but very limited signifi
cance, geographically.
It is apparent, therefore, the doc
tor explains, that it is very import
ant that the relation of the geologic
formations of Alaska and Yukon be
better known; and particularly is
this important to Yukon since eight
to ten United States geological sur
vey parties are engaged in Alaska
as compared with one or two Cana
dian geological survey parties in the
Yukon. If the Alaska and Yukon
geology could be completely correlat
ed the people of Canada and Yukon
in particular would, therefore, profit
very largely by the considerable
amount of very excellent geologic
work being performed each year in
Alaska. For instance, if a strike
should suddenly be made anywhere
in Alaska and a certain formation
should be found to carry rich depos
its of gold, silver, tin or other pre
cious metals, and if our Yukon ge
ology could be correlated with that
of Alaska, Canadian geologists would
be able to point immediately to all
the known points in Yukon in which
the same ore-containing formation
occurs.
The geologic section at present
being made along the Yukon-Alaska
international boundary will greatly
facilitate this correlation, and the
section will be regarded as classic in
nature. In connection with this work
a common formational nomenclature
will be adopted and in the future
both Alaskan and Yukon geologists
will attempt to tie their work to
this section, which will greatly fa
cilitate the geologic work in both
territoies.
in addition to tne above advan
tages relative to this work, there is
a considerable possibility that min
eral deposits of present importance
may be discovered along the portion
of this boundary line, at present be
ing explored—i. e., between Yukon
river and the Arctic. A particularly
likely strip occurs Just north of the
Yukon, where for 100 miles or more
no geologist has as yet been over
the ground, and placer deposits have
been found on the Alaskan side of
the line just south of the Yukon at
a number of points.—Dawson News.
-o—o—o
In the District Court
In the case of Conrad J. Miller vs.
Canadian Oil and Coal Company, the
trial having taken place at Cordova,
default judgment was entered. At
torney for defendant moves to set
aside verdict on the ground of ex
cusable neglect.
-o—o—o -- •
Let us do your jon work.
TAFT IS SURE OF VICTORY
r . vra : »> . *ri • .•
, <1 -
❖ ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
❖ ❖
^ PRESIDENT’S FRIENDS ON EVE OF ^
^ GREATEST POLITICAL VICTORY IN HISTORY ^
❖ - ❖
^ CHICAGO, June 21 (4 p. m.)—The Roosevelt vote ^
^ is sloughing, and there is no longer any hope of tiie ^
^ Colonel being a factor in the Presidential nomination, ^
^ which from present indications will be made tomor- ^
^ row. ^
❖ ❖
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
CHICAGO, June 17.—A movement has been started in be
half of Justice Hughes as a compromise candidate for the pres
idency by William JI. Hotchkiss, of New York, a close friend of
Mr. Hughes. The Roosevelt forces have agreed on Senator
Box-all as their temporary chairman and Governor Hadley as
their leader on the floor of the convention. During the night
Roosevelt was in confei-ence for moi-e than an hour with Editor
Rosewater, of Nebraska, the national chairman, who sought the
interview. Today Rosewater announced that the temporary
i-oll prepared by the committee would be made the temporary
roll of the convention.
CHICAGO, June 17.—The Republican national committee
lias completed its labors and everything is now in readiness for
the convention, which convenes tomoi-i-ow. Saturday was a
strenuous day, and in disposing of all the contests Taft w is
awarded 235 and Roosevelt 19. The Texas delegation will be
divided, Taft having 26 and Roosevelt 4 votes. In the state of
Washington the President’s forces won out and the fourteen
votes will be cast solidly for Taft.
The conditions are tense and the air is full of rumors.
Roosevelt has arrived and x-eceived a welcome at the depot that
was almost hysterical. It is intimated that he and his friends
intend to take forcible control of the convention, which attempt
will be resisted by the administration delegates.
Roosevelt delivered one of his most vindictive speeches
yesterday, in which he said among other things: “This is a
naked fight against theft, and theft will not win. The recip
ient of stolen goods is as the thief who plans said adoption.”
Under the direction of Roosevelt the convention shall not be
- - ,
organized with contested delegates seated, and to this end the
Colonel has determined that a roll call will be demanded when
the first proposition comes before the convention.
WASHINGTON, June 17.—The Senate committee on ter
ritories has reported favorably the home rule bill for Alaska,
which was recently passed by the House, and is likely to be
come a law before adjournment. As amended by the Senate the
bill provides for a legislature of sixteen elective membrs, four
from each judicial division, and dispenses with the upper house
or Senate. Provision is also made for the creation of a railway
commission with full power to make a thorough investigation
of the different routes for the construction of a government
built railroad and report the most feasible one. Seward and
Chitina both claim that they are the logical terminals for the
coal fields, while Valdez has also put in a bid for the road.
Should the above bill pass, and there is now every reason
to be lieve that it will, the date of the delegate election, after
this year, will be in November instead of August.
CHICAGO, June 18.—At exactly two minutes past twelve
o’clock Chairman Rosewater, of Nebraska, called the Republi
can national convention to order, and a battle royal is now on
between the political gladiators of the nation. Every avail
able seat was occupied when the gong sounded, and the game
was started which will settle the fate of the aspirants for the
Presidential nomination.
The Taft forces gained the first victory when Chairman
Rosewater ruled out of order the motion of Governor Hadley
to remove certain names from the temporary roll and substi
tute others in their stead. This was a trick of the Roosevelt
managers, but it failed to connect with the ideas of those who
are shaping the course of the convention.
The test of strength of the opposing factions is centered on
the temporary chairmanship, dames Watson placed in nomina
tion the name of Senator Elihu Root, of New York, who is the
Taft candidate. Job Hedges, of New York, seconded the nomi
nation.
Governor McGovern, of Wisconsin, was named as the
choice of the Roosevelt followers by Coehems, of Wisconsin.
Governors Hadley and Johnson and Francis ,1. llenev seconded
the nomination.
(Continrued on Page Four.)
*’ '• r
R. W. Baxter, vice-president, and 0. J. Jones, traffic man
ager, of the Copper River & Northwestern Railway and execu
tive officials of the Alaska Steamship Company and allied in
terests, returned yesterday from a trip of inspection over the
railroad, and were busy today inspecting the local yards in
company with Superintendent Geiger, Attorney Boryer and
Agent Tracy.
Mr Baxter shows an earnest desire to acquaint himself
with everything corncerning Alaska. He and Mr. Jones in
tend later to make a trip to the Tanana with a view of learning
conditions first-hand. This will be in line with the already well
defined policy of the company, which is not only thoroughly
and systematically advertising the territory traversed by its
railroad, but is including the whole of Alaska in its descriptive
literature.
Mr. Baxter says he was surprised at the excellence of the
railroad’s roadbed and rolling stock, especially in view of the
light volume of business which offers. He said many of the
eastern roads which handled heavy tonnage and paid good divi
dends were not so well equipped. Throughout his talk, how
ever, Mr. Baxter showed that he was optimistic and fully real
ized that the resources tributary to the railroad would in time
pay for the investment.
“We must have patience and wait until the government
fully understands the conditions so it can take intelligent ac
tion,” he said. “We believe there is beginning to be a much
better understanding about Alaska and the part industrial en
terprises are playing in its development in the East, and that
when the truth once becomes known the pioneers, as well as
those whio have invested their money in good faith, will come
into their own.
“What impressed me above everything else,” he contin
ued, “is the splendid American men and womanhood that forms
the backbone of Alaska. The reception to Mr. Gilmore last
evening showed a gathering which for intelligence and wide
awake men and women has no superior counterpart any place
on the American continent. The same impression was strong
est one I received on the trip to the interior, and wherever I met
Alaskans in the coast towns. I am proud that I am associated
with an industrial enterprise which affects the interests of such
people. And even with all that has been said about Alaska and
the industrial opportunities I doubt if the people outside, even
those having interests in the Northland, fully realize the im
mense possibilities of the country. Moreover, the pioneers who
have stayed with it through its darkest days will reap the re
ward to which their patience and efforts entitle them. It shall
be my aim to do all in my power to see that people outside are
4
informed as to the true conditions.”
Mr. Jones when interviewed told about plans for attracting
the tourist trade to Alaska. He said the company through rail
road agencies and other organized sources had placed before
the people the scenic attractions, the hunting paradise and
other things which would appeal to those seeking novelty, rest
and recreation.
These efforts, he said, were already beginning to bear fruit
in the increasing volume of business trending northward, and
more especially in the flood of inquiries being received at the
Seattle office from every section of the United States.
Arraugments have been perfected for a lecturer to accom
pany tourists from Cordova to Miles glacier, whose business it
will be to give a recital of interesting data not alone relating
tc the magnificent glacier, but treating on every part of Alaska.
A special train will take the tourists from the boat to the gla
cier and other points of interest on the line, and a steward and
waiters will accompany this to prepare lunches. Pathways will
be cut from the railroad station to the glacier, so that it will
be made easy of access. As Mr. Jones pointed out, in view of
the light tonnage offered from business in the interior, the com
pany will endeavor to make the tourist trade pay, or help to
carry the load, until such a time as the tonnage from the in
terior will justify additional extensions. In time, the increas
ing tourist trade and volume of tonnage will call for a good
many improvements, and Cordova, of course, as well as Chiti
na and other points along the line, will benefit accordingly.
Among the many tourists who are booked to visit this part
of Alaska this season are Commissioner Clark, of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and R. M. Bixby, the present receiver
for the Wabash Railroad and a prominent figure in the indus
trial world.
“You understand,” said Mr. Jones, “that many of the tour
ists who will come north will be men of prominence in the in
dustrial world, and the consequent advertising they will do by
word of mouth and through personal correspondence will prove
greatly beneficial. Also, many of these men will be seeking in
vestments and by seeing conditions first hand it will make it
much easier for those needing capital to develop prospects and
other commercial enterprises to secure the money. Both Mr.
Baxter and myself realize that Alaska some day will furnish
homes for a large population, and it already has the pick of
men and women from the pioneer class of the states. It was
that same pioneer spirit which made those states outside great.
All that is necessary for the people now on the ground floor is
to grit their teeth and hang on, and they will surely be amply
rewarded.”