The Chitina Leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
at 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:
One Month... 3 -50
Six Months. 2'°®
One Year. 3-50
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1912.
IN THE WRONG FIELD OF LABOR.
Word comes from Seattle that Rufus Wilson will resign
from the so-called Alaska Square Deal League, and that very
soon. The league has been so beleaguered that its usefulness
has never been allowed to become apparent. It is an adjunct
to the LaFollette insurgent boom and is keeping alive the Pin
chot-Poindexter brand of Alaska dope. But the Daily Alaskan
is assured that Wilson is ready to quit. He sees the handwrit
ing on the wall and wishes to retire gracefully before the final
crash. It was only a couple of weeks ago that his forced resig
nation of secretary of the Seattle Commercial Club was ten
dered. and simply because of his misdirected efforts on behalf
of Pinckot. Mr. Wilson is a man of much executive ability, but
his field of labor in behalf of those things that are inimical to
the best interests of Alaska should be ’way back East, where
they don’t fully understand conditions out here.
-oooo
A happy New Year is extended to all the readers of The
Daily Alaskan. May the new year be fraught with peace and
prosperity to all Alaskanns.
-oooo
A New York jury has refused a surgeon his fee because the
patient died. If this is upheld, it will materially lessen the
number of successful but fatal operations.
-oooo
A German aviator has succeeded in staying in the air four
hours and 22 minutes. Mr. Roosevelt has kept a number of his
fellow citizens in the air much longer than that.
GOVERNMENT ROAD-BUILDING IN ALASKA.
Slowly the building of roads in Alaska proceeds under the
direction of the war department. The annual report of Secre
tary Henry L. Stiimson shows that there are now 800 miles of
wagon roads complete in this territory.
Winter sled roads aggregate 534 miles; trails, 1,107 miles,
and trails temporarily staked (winter), 450 mile-.
From the report of the road commissioner it appears that
duriing the season of 1911 there were built 41 miles of wagon
roads, 27 miles of winter sled roads, and 445 miles of trails,
and in addition many miles of trails were staked temporarily
for winter use.
The results are summarized by Secretary Stimson as indi
cating that “work progressed satisfactorily.” When one con
siders the immensity of the territory, the grand total of road
work to date appears insignificant; but the aggregate today,
in comparison with the utter absence of roads a few years ago,
is striking. The beginning has been made—and that is the
important fact in a new country like Alaska.
--oooo
Carter Harrison says the annual fall carnival of crime in
Chicago is as inevitable as the Mardi Gras in New Orleans or
the Veiled Prophets in St. Louis. But the Louisiana and Mis
souri festivals at least give the people some return for their
money.
-oooo
Secetary Wilson asks but fails to answer a question that
interests most of us. The farmer, he says, gets but 50 cents
for what the ultimate consumer pa5Ts a dollar for. Who gets
the rest? That is the real cost of living problem.
-oooo
WANT TO APPLY THE YARDSTICK.
The Iditarod Pioneer is not so far in the interior but that
it keeps up with current events. And now it wants Alaska’s
political aspirants to come to the fore so that the people of
that section may become acquainted with the ability and ca
pacity of candidates. In a recent issue the Pioneer says:
“It is yet too early to predict what is goiug to happen in
Alaska. Already leading Republicans and Demicrats are look
ing forward to the call for holding primaries at which delegates
will be elected—or perhaps appointed—to attend the several
conventions at which candidates for delegate to congress will
be nominated and delegates chosen to attend the national con
vention to be held next summer. Here we are anxiously wait
ing for the time when we may send somebody from Iditarod
to represent us in Southeastern Alaska, and perhaps at the na
tional convention next summer. Meantime voters are anxious
to become acquainted with would-be candidates. They want
to apply the yardstick to them and discover how much avoir
dupois they encompass. Let them come out. so that we may
get ready.”
-—oooo —
A Japanese train superintendent threw himself under a
train because a carriage derailed by a misplaced switch com
pelled the honorable emperor to be detained in a common wait
ing room for an hour. Are Japanese trains so punctual or is
the punctuality reserved for royalty alone ?
--oooo
Now there are some who are willing to admit that women
may be even better qualified for the suffrage than most men.
— -oooo
There may be something in Gotham being paved with gold,
after all. A Broadway plot brought $866 a square foot.
— -oooo
More than 100,000 former citizens of the United States
have annexed themselves to Canada since last April 1, and
Canada seems to be altogether reciprocal. That is the kind
of reciprocity which suits the land of the Maple Leaf.
-oooo----—
Possibly it may come to this, that the government shall
take over the manufacture of dynamite as a national monopoly
and take account into whose keeping it shall come, even to the
supervision of its own military employes.
--oooo
Enthusiasm for economy among the Democratic members
of the House does not extend to cutting out their mileage.
Which does not prove that they are any worse than the Re
publicans or any better.
And here is the Marquis of Queepsberry declaring that
England is too decadent for men of red Wood. And it does not
seem to be very invigorating for men of blue blood either.
London reports bigger babies, in weight and height. Seeing
the futility of trying to compete with New York in quantity it
•Vi r.0tr fniiimr hack op quality, is that itt/
* -- ..— nrr«i mu
FOR THE GOOD OF ALASKA.
The Seward Gateway puts itself on record concerning the
non-partisan convention on January 8, as follows:
“Seward will be well represented at the Valdez convention.
Our interests, we may rest assured, will be carefully guarded.
We believe we voice the sentiments of our delegates-elect when
we say that if the delegates from the other towns desire to meet
and harmoniously' discuss the needs of Alaska, eliminating all
political discussion, Messrs. Pedersen and Ray will be with
them. However, if there is any attempt to discredit the Fisher
policy, which Seward so strongly endorses, then there may be
something doing. We like to believe that the chosen delegates
from the various towns will meet and amicably discuss the sit
uation, all actuated by a sincere desire to urge legislation that j
will redound to the good of the entire territory. Certainly no
other policy which has hitherto been suggested is so compre
hensive in its scope as the plan decided upon by Mr. Fisher,
and endorsed by the administration.”
-oooo
And now Prince Arthur of Connaught, son of the governor
general of Canada, is mentioned for the viceroyalty of India.
If all the royalties are given jobs in the colonies and depend
encies and made to work for their salaries the British taxpayer
may find it less burdensome to maintain the numerous royal
I families
-oooo
THE FIGHT IS ON.
❖ - ^
Seattle is keeping up the fight for Alaska and through the
new Seattle Chamber of Commerce is sure to accomplish de
sirable results. The Post-Intelligencer says that “the fignt
for Alaska’s economic freedom is on at Washington. Like
many another battle that has vitally affected the development
of vast areas of the United States, the battle is being con
ducted at the national capital.
“Congressman William Sulzer of New York has introduced
the bill providing for the initial opening of the Matanuka field,
which, presumably, meets with the approval of Secretary
Fisher and President Taft. The bill contemplates production
of coal to supply the army and navy on the Pacific coast and
the construction of a railroad from Seward through the coal
fields to a point on the Yukon river.
“It is a beginning and from it—should congress see fit to
enact this bill into law—will develop the other things that
Alaska demands and needs. As soon as the coal fields can
supply native fuel at reasonable prices we may expect to see
railroad development. It’s a small matter—but like many
another small matter, it will develop into one of the biggest
incidents in the nation’s life. The purchase of Alaska was a
‘small matter’ in its day, and excited naught but derisive com
ment from the opposition, but it has proved itself one of the
greatest matters ever consummated by the republic.”
-uuuu
TO INSTRUCT CORDOVA DELEGATES.
A meeting of citizens has been called for Saturday after
noon, at city hall, to voice the sentiments of the community
as to the requirements of the territory, so that the Cordova
delegates to the non-partisan convention at Valdez may cor
rectly set forth the views of this section. The committee
lays particular stress upon a declaration for home rule. That
has almost ceased to be an issue in Alaska, as practically the
entire territory is now united in a desire, to have some meas
ures enacted by Congress that will assure us self government.
We doubt if there will be any objection to it voiced at the
public meeting, or at the Valdez convention.
Cordova is particularly concerned in securing a federal
building and the appointment of certain court officials in this
town; a revenue cutter to be stationed on Prince William
Sound; fixed aids to navigation; liberal appropriations for
roads, trails and bridges in the Kotsina-Chitina-Nizina mining
belt and for an all-year route between Chitina and Fairbanks;
in the early opening of the coal fields and the construction of
railroads thereto; in establishing a land office in this judicial
district, with headquarters at Valdez; also in some minor re
quirements.
The important action to be taken at Valdez will be con
cerning coal and railroads. There will be a unanimity of opin
ion concerning the need of both. There may be some differ
ences of opinion as to the methods that should be adopted in
opening up the Bering and Matanuska fields and the construc
tion of railroads to those fields and into the interior. Seward
naturally favors the expressed policy of Secretary Fisher, that
the government itself should open up and operate a portion
of the Matanuska coal, build and operate a railroad thereto,
and to establish a naval coaling station on Resurrection bay.
Neither Valdez or Cordova will object particularly to any ex
penditure of this nature upon the part of the government. But
Valdez wants the railroad to be built from that town into the
Matanuska coal fields, while Cordova thinks that the most
logical and economical route would be from Chitina, and to
bring the coal under traffic arrangements with the Copper
River & Northwestern railway, into Cordova, where there is
splendid opportunity for the establishing of a naval coaling
station.
One ot the important considerations upon the part of Con
gress will be the method of securing desired results in the way
of opening up the coal and bringing it to tide water. Many
Congressmen will oppose the idea of government ownership
and operation of railroads. ’But at the same time they will
favor guaranteeing the bonds of a company, or otherwise lend
ing assistance, where such companies desire to push railroad
construction over routes acceptable to the government. The
people of Cordova are also vitally interested in the building
of a railroad to the Bering river fields and the opening up of
the coal deposits there. This will only be of incidental con
cern to Valdez and Seward, and it behooves our delegates to
see that the matter is not overlooked in the adoption of resolu
tions looking to the needed development of the territory. It
may be that in agreeing on the important demands some of the
members of the convention will have to make concessions.
Our delegates may be instructed in a general way at a public
meeting, but they will have to exercise wisdom, discretion and
diplomacy when they run up against men like L. V. Ray, Ed
mund Smith, E. E. Ritchie, and others, who are particularly
concerned in demanding those things that they think will be of
particular advantage to their respective communities.
-oooo-—
SHOULD WOMEN VOTE?
This is no longer an abstract question to be considered
merely as a theory. The remarkable progress made by the
suffragist cause in the United States in the last few years has
brought it within the realm of practical politics and before we
realize it we may find that it is a condition and not a theory
that confronts us.
No man, therefore, no matter how he may deride it or at
tempt to ignore it, can safely push it aside as impractical or
visionary. He may be called upon to act on it much sooner
than he imagines. Whether he is opposed to it or favors it
he should buttress his opinion with facts so far as he can, and
it behooves him to look into the issue without much further
delay.
-oooo
Wisconsin’s new capitol is to have sleeping quarters. But
what Wisconsin and several other states need is a capitol where
the people’s representatives will keep wide awake.
--oooo
Mr. Aldrich says he retires from public life without regret.
iTery truef more so than he may have thought.
- - ' 1 ' — *' ..I N ■ ■ ■ —
THAT VAHISHXH0TRADE.
San Francisco is awakening to a realization that the Alaska
trade might be well worth seeking. The people down there
realize that Seattle has stolen a march on them, but they are
now beginning to figure on how they might recoup. On the
subject the San Francisco Chronicle says:
“It is a fact that a greater part of the trade with Alaska
is with this port, although much of it is indirect. It is to
California that Alaska people return for the winter. This is
the market for their gold and salmon. It is to a large extent
San Francisco capital which finances trade which is carried on
from northern cities.
“The fact that there is no established line of steamers
making regular sailings from this port to Alaska is unfor
tunate. It can, however, only be due to the failure of the mer
chants of this city to establish the trade to sustain such a
line.
“We have every advantage. In former years when the
fur and salmon industries were about the only contributions
of Alaska to the national wealth, San Francisco was head
quarters for both. It was here that most of those lived who
knew most about Alaska.
When the discovery of gold on the Klondike drew the
attention of the adventurous to that then unknown land, San
Francisco was the great center of activity. It was from here
that most of the fleet sailed bearing the early explorers.
“Then came the Spanish war and our people seemed to
drop all thought of Alaska. Reference to the newspaper files
of those days will show that while almost up to the outbreak
of the war Alaskan items occupied the most prominent space
in the press, after the war began Alaska almost disappeared
fr.om attention.
“And in the years following, while we were talking of war
and the Orient, the people of Seattle were sawing wood. And
their choice was a wise one. As a field for commercial ex
ploitation Alaska is worth two Philippines.
“It is certainly not creditable to San Francisco that we
have not established and maintained a direct trade with
Alaska such as befits the commercial and financial metropolis
of the west. But the press cannot help it. It rests with our
merchants. There will be ships enough if there are goods to
carry, but shipowners cannot be expected to finance our mer
chants by establishing steamer lines for which there is no
busineess in sight.
“One trouble is that none of our banks has branches there.
Our largest banks with highest credits are mostly national
banks, which cannot establish branches. Some of our state
banks, however, have the necessary capital and are sufficiently
well known to attract deposits to a branch.
“Apparently our state banks can establish branches out
side the state, as they are organized under the general corpora
tion laws, but as no one has ever tried it—at least under the
present laws—there can be no authoritative statements.
“But it is a fact that trade, banking facilities and trans
portation facilities must go on together, mutually assisting
each other and developing as necessities or opportunities ap
pear, and we have allowed other communities to get a great
start. It is a matter for our reorganized Chamber of Com
merce.1 ’
-oooo
WHY THE TANANA NEEDS COAL.
Now that it seems likely that the time is near at hand when
national legislation will be enacted for the benefit of Alaska,
the various needs and demands of the several sections of the
territory are coming to the fore. And it is well, for there are
many things Alaska should have that the people generally
know not of. And now comes the Fairbanks Times to throw
a little light on a new phase of the coal question. It says:
“lo say that the coal-land discussion is a matter that con
cerns the coast, and not the Tanana valley, is to speak with
out knowledge or foresight. On the coast, the development of
the coal fields is desirable and necessary principally as an aid
to transportation; the delusive idea no longer exists that there
is a wide-awake market for Alaska coal outside Alaska. But
even on the railways of the Alaska coast, coal is becoming a
less important item. Both the Copper River railway and the
White Pass line are now equipped to use oil imported from
California, and they are indifferent to whether the coal lands
are opened or not.
“Thus the coal problem is in fact more important to the
Tanana than it is to the coast; for it is the key to power. The
great problem that lies immediafely ahead of the Tanana to
day is the problem of securing power—power to make pos
sible the rapid development of the quartz mines that are now
just being pried open. The quartz mines of the Tanana are
rapidly passing beyond the hand-drill stage of development.
Water has never been a feasible source of power in the dis
trict. Wood will soon be out of. the question. The sole
source lies in the nearby coal fields.”
-—oooo
In these days of fatality and disaster on the Copper River
& Northwestern railway the sterling worth, wide experience,
executive ability, sound judgment, thorough knowledge of
condition, devotion of employees and many other admirable
qualities possessed by such former officials as General Man
ager E. C. Hawkins and Superintendent J. R. Van Cleve, are
sadly missed,
-oooo
Congressional opposition to the abandonment of the scat
tered army posts was fittingly characterized by General Wood
as due to the protests of a few hundred voters who were com
mercially interested in the maintenance of the posts and dis
regard of a policy that makes for economy and efficiency.
-oooo
Doctors bills for approximately $20,000 presented to New
York City for attending Mayor Gaynor after the shooting in
dicate a belief that New York can afford to pay a high price for
a good mayor. Or that it would be foolish not to push a good
thing to the limit.
-oooo-—
Some fuss is being made over the naval deserter who gave
himself up and goes to jail for a year to “clear his conscience.”
As a matter of fact the context shows that he surrendered be
cause of consideration for the trusts t
-oooo
The Democrats in the House want tariff legislation kept in
the forefront instead of trust regulation. Is this because there
is so little chance of getting tariff legislation through or be
cause of consideration for the-trust!
-—oooo-.——
Th United States Supreme Court is hereafter to hand down
tabloid decisions, thus saving a lot of time and labor. And in
cidentally a heap of controversy, as in the Harlan dissenting
opinion.
-oooo
Strange that the British government should have waited
so long before barring the beef trust on account of Federal liti
gation. Or does it only take cognizance when the trnst gets
into criminal dock!
■-oooo
The fatal accident that occurred yesterday on the railroad
starts off the new year with a blight that dampens the ardor
of the otherwise hopeful and encouraging aspect of things in
general. j
■ — Wtow HI ...i-U... — ■■ »■> —* ■ *«<■!> *■■■■.- -
* J
We Carry a Full Line of
■ * <;
General Merchandise
■ ► * *
4 ► < *
< ■ Including • j
4 » 4 .
GROCERIES
4 .
HARDWARE
.. < ...
DOG HARNESS X
4 ►
HORSE HARNESS
4 ►
FURNISHING GOODS
BLANKETS
* ►
FUR CAPS t
t X
t SHOES AND RUBBER PACS t
j- Also |
HAY AND DRAIN t
!;: - j
I CHITINA CASH STORE
I
E. H. GILLMAN, Manager. 1
;; Forwarding Agen t, S. BLUM & CO. |
CORDOVA’S BIG STORE J
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▲ T
, | • i". ."•■ s i i i i i i i i. i ... > i « i ...... r T * (
!! Only First-Class Hotel in Chitina Prices Reasonable ! !
■ I < i
I I 4 1
I . 4 1
. I 4 »
Hotel Chitina ij
• >
;; J. PALMER and T, CLOMXGER, \\
J | Proprietors. \ |
« i
The Only First Class Hotel in Chitina
* » * »
; Heated Room, Bath, Ladies Parior
Bar with all Standard Liquors and Cigar*
• » ^ m * 1
First-Class Dining Room in Connection
■ » « »
4.
Chitina Alaska
• • ■ »
WHEN COMING TO CORDOVA REMEMBER
C);ii7A St earn Laundry
THE ONLY REAL LAUNDRY IN TOWN
Let us wash and clean your canvass covers, blankets, clothes,
overalls, etc.
If you are in a hurry we can do your work in an hour's time if
necessary.
Leave your work at any hotel, rooming house or barber shop
and it will receive prompt attention.
•PHONE 57 P. A. JONES. Manager Second Street
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
% ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY t
A Fast and commodious steamers sailing between A
A Cordova and Seattle. A
^ Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova— ^
A Dec. 18.NORTHWEvSTERN.Dec. 27 A
A Dec. 24.ALAMEDA.Ian. i A
A Jan. 1 .NORTHWESTERN.Jan. S A
A Jan. 8.ALAMEDA. Ian. 1(5 A
^ This company reserves the right to change schedule of steam
^ ers without notice. ^
^ Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg. ^
^ Baggage or freight will not be received at dock later than one ^
^ hour before sailing time. ^
A R. J. BARRY,. THOMAS TALLENT, A
A General Agent. Ticket Agent. A
A AAA AA AAAAA A AAA AA AA AAA AA AAAAAA
ALASKA COAST CO.
“The Inside Route”
To Juneau and Puget Sound Ports and Southwestern Alaska.
Steamer Bertha leaves Seattle December 20th.
Steamers connecting at Seattle with the Alaska-Pacinc Steam,
ship Company’s Bteamers sailing from Seattle Monday and Thurs
day of each week for California points. Through service. Low
rates.
Right reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without
notice. ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Local Agents . „ -
B F. WATSON, General Agent. >
-- ■ — . i
A HUMAN KALEIDOSCOPE.
The territory of Alaska may be said to be peopled by a
human kaleidoscope. First the stampeders met on the trails
to Dawson and congregated on the banks of the Klondike. Af
ter that the fun began, To Atlin went one wild rush and to
Nome another. Then came a flight to Fairbanks and smaller
flights from various quarters to Valdez, Seward, Katalla and
Cordova. From all those points they stampeded and met in
Iditarod. Then came the breakaway for Nome, Fairbanks,
Squirrel river, Good Hope and .Ruby. In the meantime they
were crossing each other on a thousand trails in various parts
one feverish with haste to arrive at the place from which the
other is dying to get away.—Ruby Record.
--oooo
Cases have been known, too, where persons were obsthfate
enough to prefer to be wrong rather than admit the possi
bility of their being mistaken.
The corporation counsel of New York City rules that it
would be an unjust discrimination to prohibit women from
smoking in places where men are allowed to. Undoubtedly
logic; but if we are going to bring logic to rule in the woman
question where shall we land? For the women will not listen
to logic when it works against them.
In Columbus charges .«re made that candidates for the
Board of Education distributed campaign candy among wom
en voters. If it was no better than the campaign cigar it could
rat have been much of a bribe. A
*—* ommam i in m in Ninn«Mi|a •-*- ■•.wgswkwwvs?**’**’*»■■ - ---~-1? *■•&*■*& '