The Chitina Leader
CHITIXA, 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—llarry G. STEEL
Office: Hote IChitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
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CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1912.
WICKERSHAM FORGETS HIS PLEDGE.
When James Wickersham of Alaska was making “square|
deal” speeches in Seattle a short time ago, he expressed sen
timents that really appeared to be worth while.
He said that so far as he was concerned, there was to be
an end of personalities; that the tirade of abuse of everybody
and everything connected with Alaska would stop, if he could
have his way. When Wickersham spoke those words, his ut
terances were hailed with genuine relief by a large number of
people who have become decidedly tired of vituperation; those
numerous citizens who see that the only salvation for Alaska
is to take all the problems relating to that territory out of
politics.
That attitude has been assumed by the Alaska bureau of
the new Seattle chamber of commerce. Its members are try
ing to bring about the development of Alaska; simply that,
and nothing more.
They realize that speeches dripping with “ muckrakerism ”
will besmirch the Alaska program, just as the growth of that
territory has been held back for a decade.
Accordingly, when the delegate from Alaska delivered
himself of the sentiments alluded to everybody who heard
about it was glad, and they all believed him to he sincere.
But they are mistaken. Wickersham ha> already broken
his pledge. He is delivering speeches in Minneapolis, and is
saying that President Taft never was a friend of Alaska; that
the Guggenheims are “looting” the territory—the same old
stuff that has sickened everybody with its untruthfulness and
malice, and has been a powerful factor in blocking the develop
ment of Alaska.
There is probably no way of stopping Wickersham, but
there is no escape from the conclusion that he ought to be
written down as a discredited territorial delegate who has
violated his pledge to the people of Seattle and Alaska.—
Seattle Daily Times.
-oooo
A NEW REVENUE CUTTER FOR ALASKA.
The Unalga—Alaska’s new revenue cutter, which will be
launched in February and which probably will start from the
Atlantic about September 1, will be a welcome addition to the
fleet in northern waters. Considering the work they do even
year, the Alaska revenue cutter fleet probably is the leas;
known portion of Uncle Sam’s floating property. Ancient
battered, veterans of many hard combats with wind and weath
ee, these vessels have performed a wonderful task in a sectioi
where they are compelled to depend almost entirely upon thei)
own resources. This paper previously has had occasion to re
mark that the revenue cutter service, particularly on the Pa
cific, suffers from lack of spectacular advertising. A vas
amount of important work is performed by the vessels even
year, the crews of the craft dare death as a matter of common
place necessity, and not infrequently they participate in res
cues of imperiled ships or marooned ci’ews where the element
of personal danger seldom is absent. However, it is considered
so much a part of the day’s duty that only those whose work
brings them in touch with these servants of Uncle Sam realize
how much they are handicapped and how surprisingly the.'
overcome such handicaps when necessity for action arrives
ft is sincerely to be hoped that the Uualga will not be the las'
new vessel for the Alaska service in the near future. Xo otliei
section of the United States needs more and better vessels
It will be some years yet before the dangerous water lanes o?
the north are so accurately charted and so thoroughly Iightei
that the ever-present danger to navigation will be reduced t(
a minimum.
--oooo
TELL THE TRUTH, MR, PINCHOT.
Under the above caption the Railway and Marine News
which is owned and edited by J. Parkinson, a former mining
and newspaper man of Nome, points out the many misrepresen
tations being made by the ex-forester in reference to condi
tions in this northland. Editor Parkinson thus comments 01
the deliberate attempt of Pinchot to malign and retard tin
development of Alaska :
In its issue of December 16th, the Saturday Evening Pos
lias for its leading article one on Alaska written by Gifforc
Pinchot. It is not our aim nor is it our prm ince to deal witl
this matter as a political issue and one in which the persona,
animosity of Mr. Pinchot is apparent, bir every publicatioi
has some defined purpose in life and this paper has for it
aim the extension and betterment of all traimportation facil
ities in the Northwest. Therefore when Mi Pinchot goes into
the transportation situation and makes a positive mis-state
ment and glaring error, we feel that it i the right of this
paper to voice its protest.
In the first place Mr. Pinchot starts in with a roast on the
Copper River & Northwestern freight rates and says “it is not
the withdrawal of the coal lands that ha- retarded the de
velopment of Alaska. What is holding Alaska back more than
all other causes is the excessive rates for transportation.” Let
us here state that as far as the Copper River Route is con
cerned, which route appears to be the great bone of contention
of these conservationists, the line carries practically no freight
except its own. It has been opened but six or seven months
and as yet there is practically no development along its line
and its entire length of 200 mi|es has absolutely no bearing om
way or the other upon any of the past conditions in Alaska
whose area is close to 600,000 square miles. Furthermore al
most eighty per cent of the population of Alaska up to the
beginning of this year, 90 per cent of the industrial growth
of Alaska, were located some five or six hundred miles from
this railroad, over impassable mountain ranges. The railroad
has no bearing, nor will it have any bearing at any time upon
Southeastern Alaska, Northern Alaska, Bering Sea, the Alaska
Peninsula or other points. It would have liad a bearing if the
coal had been opened. But oil is used for f ml now. What Mr.
Pinchot evidently meant was that where a dog team had to be
employed to take a sack of bacon 360 mile i over the trail and
mountains into a new mining camp, making the freight rate at
times 200 per cent greater than the original ost of the bacon, is
what has hurt the country. All this argon ent, however, does
not mean that the Copper River country is u t bound to develop
Long before any of these activities were noticed, the Tread- ]
well mine had been shipping its product to this country from
Alaska and getting supplies sent in to its plant at Douglas.
This has been going on for the past quarter of a century and
we have never heard the Treadwell people complaining, and
yet that property was busy shipping gold when Gifford Pin
chot was at college or school.
As to the Alaska Northern. Mr. Pinchot entirely suppres
ses the fact that this unfortunate road is closed down and prac
tically bankrupt. This is the road they are now trying to have
the government buy.
In either case had the coal mines been opened it would have
given much tonnage and created a large pay roll to each road,
thereby greatly aiding in the upbuilding of the two sections
named.
As to the freight rates Pinchot mentions, he has taken
most absurd and unusual cases. He has not taken the troublt
to publish in full the tariffs of the company, which give fail
insight into the freight rate conditions.
Getting down to Controller bay as a harbor, Mr. Pinchot
says that Controller bay is by nature an excellent harbor. Ii
its present condition without lights, marks or buoys it is fai
[more safely accessible to shipping in all weather than New
York or Boston harbor would be under similar circumstances.
If Mr. pinchot believes that and if the Saturday Evening Post
wishes to stand for the utterance, all well and good, but it
seems mighty queer to hear a man like Pinchot make a state
ment after engineers in the employ of two railroads and the
coast and geodetic survey, as well as all the sea captains of
Alaska have declared it to be one of the worst harbors in the
world and could only be made possible by the expense of many
million dollars for breakwaters and dredging. Mr. Pinchot
has been there under trying circumstances and knows full well
that every word he has written on Controller bay in this con
nection is absolutely false and his statement only serves to
make him ridiculous in the eyes of those who know.
_nnnn_
ONE BY ONE THE MUCKRAKERS FALL.
The Pacific Monthly has gone to the wall and its subscrip
tion and advertising has been taken over by the Suuset, the
clever advertising monthly conducted along such admirable
lines by the passenger department of the Southern Pacific
railroad. For years this magazine has been maintained at a
heavy loss, borne by the Ladd brothers, the wealthy bankers of
Portland. They sought to put it on a paying basis, but after
expending over two hundred thousand dollars in the effort,
they grew tired of their job. In many respects it was an ad
mirable publication. But when it became the receptacle for
the effusions of John Lathrop and other muck rakers, it lost
the confidence of the public. It soon went the way of the
notorious Hampton’s although without even the least sugges
tion of any criminality. Hampton made himself and magazine
notorious and then tried to fleece the public into buying the
worthless stock of his publication, when it should have been
in the hands of a receiver, instead of maligning the men who
were trying to develop Alaska.
Prior to the sale of the Pacific Monthly nearly every Issue
of the magazine had contained some deliberate false state
ment of Alaskan conditions, and where the Pincliot policies
eould be bolstered up or the efforts of the Alaska Syndicate 01
the people of Cordova to build up the country, be hampered 01
embarrassed by falsehood, the Pacific Monthly was foremost.
And all the while its solicitors were endeavoring to secure
large advertising appropriations from the same corporation^
it was assailing. To Sunset, recognized as a California am
Pacific Coast magazine of rare artistic appearance and edi
torial ability we extend our sincere congratulations in thus
removing from the field a monthly that was a discredit to the
North coast.
-oooo
THE INTERIOR NEXT.
Claim speculators in Alaska would do well to get theii
claims patented with a minimum of delay. The time can not
be far distant when the investigators who have been busy in
the coal regions on the coast will be looking for something to
keep them in a job, and they will find a fertile field among the
association claims of the interior. Between staking coal
claims for speculative purposes and staking gold claims foi
speculative purposes, the difference is one of degree only.
Both'are repugnant to public policy, and the gold claim specu
lation will be stopped as surely as similar enterprise has been
checked in the coal fields.
It need not be surprising if many a claim hog in the in
terior, who today believes he is indulging in an innocent and
entirely legitimate pursuit, will find himself shortly rounded
up as a malefactor, just as the coal claimants were haled into
court—the most surprised people between the equator and the
poles. We have seen the government suddenly declare illegal
vvliat everybody believed to be perfectly legitimate, and we
have learned that when the government tolerates an abuse over
i long period of time, it is no guarantee that the abuse is sanc
tioned, or that the offender is immune.—Fairbanks Times.
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
As the time approaches for the holding of the political
conventions in the territory the interest in matters political
seem to be quieting down. Candidates are not very promis
cuous or active. The Democrats for a time had considerable
_>f a talkfest, hut since it became generally understood that
R. W. Jennings was to be the nominee for delegate, interest
has subsided. In the Republican party there are several can
didates who are reluctant to announce themselves. James
Wickersham, who runs as an independent element, thinks
that he has had about enough scrapping, and he seemingly
can’t get away from it if he remains in polities. But he mav
again think he hears a loud call from the dear people, and then
he will be in the fray, even though his better judgment tells
him to quit and try to make some money out of the law busi
ness. The Socialists and labor party are yet to hear from, but
it is expected that they will be able to trot out a candidate or
two later on,
CHINA’S PRESIDENT.
The election of Dr. Sun Yat Sen as President of the new
Republic of China by the Assembly at Nanking cannot be
regarded as entirely according to our republican standards.
But is must be remembered that China is nearly if not quite
in a condition of chaos and the Assembly which elected Dr.
Sun is as nearly a representative body as can be found in the
empire. Therefore he can certainly claim to represent tne
people more than any other man in China and he undoubtedly
loes represent the republican element in it with little dis
pute.
The new Chinese President has no light task before him.
At present with the Manchu court ready for flight and the
popular sentiment setting for a republic, his prospect is favor
able. But back of the immediate future is the jealousy -and
perhaps enmity of monarchial powers, the question whether
he can control the excesses of the masses, and constant possi
bility of reactionary plots. The man who can succeed . in
carrying China through to a stable self government will be
entitled to a high rank in statesmanship. Even the man who
tries and finds the task too much will deserve though he may
not get a rank among the world’s heroes.
Certainly, whatever the attitude of the powers, the United
States should have enough loyalty to its own principles of gov
ernment to extend the republican China its strongest sym
pathy and the utmost exertion of its moral influence for its
TWENTY MILLIONS FROM ALASKA.
Alaska is on the up trend. Judged by the large advance
n her mineral production in 1911, as estimated by Alfred H.
Jrooks, of the United States Geologocal Survey, over the out
nit for 1910, mining activities in the Territory during the
ast year have actively increased. This improvement is appar
ent notwithstanding the continued tieup ot all Alaskan coals,
the development of which would, it is believed, give a greatly
idded impetus to the territory’s various industries. The tuel
demand is being partially met, however, by the use of fuel
oil imported from the states.
The value of Alaska’s mineral production for 1911, is es
timated at $20,370,000. Of this amount $17,150,000 is to be
credited to gold production, against $10,127,749 for 1910. Mr.
Brooks further estimates that the Alaska mines produced
22,900,000 pounds of*copper in 1911, or more than five times
the Alaska copper output of 1910, which was 4,241,689 pounds.
In addition to gold and copper, Alaska mines and quarries in
1911 produced silver, tin, coal and marble, and gypsum to an
estimated value of $380,000, an increase of over $200,000, as
compared with the value of the same products in 1910.
The total value of Alaska’s mineral production since min
ing first began.in 1880 is, in round numbers, $206,000,000, oi
more than twenty-nine times the sum paid to Russia for tin
territory. Of this amount $195,950,000 represents the total
value of the gold production. Alaska produced its first cop
per some ten years ago. Since then the territory has contrib
uted 56,700,000 pounds of this metal, valued at $8,170,000.
About 40 per cent of this total amount was produced in 1911.
The favorable showing made by the Alaska mining indus
try during the year is due, first, to the very large output ol
copper and, second, to the greater production, compared, with
1910, of the gold placer mines in the Innoko-Iditarod region.
Aside from the increased production, the most important
event of the year was the opening of the Copper Giver region
by the completion of the railway into it. The industries al
ready stimulated by this line strikingly illustrate the import
ance of railway communication to Alaska. As no progress was
made in the opening of the coal fields, the needs for cheap fuel
in Alaska are being met by the substitution of oil-burning en
gines. The importation of California crude oil is rapidly in
creasing, with a corresponding decrease in the use of coal.
Some new drilling was carried on in the Katalla oil fields dur
ing 1911, one or two old wells being reopened and a small pro
duction made.
Although most ot the gold still comes irom the placers,
much progress was made during 1911 in paving the way for
an increased output from auriferous lodes. This work was
carried on in most of the gold-bearing areas of Alaska, but
the most notable advances were in the Juneau, Valdez, Ivenai
Peninsula, Willow creek and Fairbanks districts. Aside from
the increase in copper mining the advance made in developing
gold lode mines is the most encouraging feature of the year’s
operations. Dredge mining also made great progress, notably
in the Nome region. Mr. Brook’s information is that, in the
entire territory, 22 dredges were operated for the whole or a
part of the open season of 1911. In addition to those operated
at least half a dozen were in process of construction.
At the close of the year 1911 there were 465 miles of railway
in the territory, compared with 371 miles in 1910. This mileage
is distributed between nine different railways from 5 to 196
miles in length. The existing railways emphasize the need of
additional transportation facilities. The most urgent need n
for a railway to connect an open port on the Pacific with the
Vukon basin. Until such a line is built only the richest placers
of the interior and only the most favorably located lodes can
be profitably exploited.
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AND THE TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL.
All loyal Alaskans have reason for feeling proud of the
achievements of the year just euded in the matter of giving to
the world some truth about Alaska. In this connection the
Daily Alaskan takes some personal pride in the part it has
played in this great work. ^Lt the present time it is not in
opportune to mention that this active campaign for justice has
brought about some good results. Hampton’s Monthly is in
the throes of a financial disorganization; The Pacific Monthly
•las been forced to the Avail, the advertisers of the Pacific
Northwest refusing to longer support it; Collier’s Weekly,
the paper which procured the great bulk of the appropriation
for muck-raking Alaska by its enemies, has been quiet for the
last five months and has not once come back; John E. Lathro]
the discredited newspaper man Avho helped to frame up the
‘Hick to Dick” transaction, no longer gets signed articles in
any of his papers and Rufus Wilson is down and out. But the
busy little Gifford is still at it, and our readers will therefore
pardon us for occasionally referring to him, he being the arch
enemy of this territory and the one largely responsible for the
muck-raking articles in all of the publications mentioned. But
his finish is in sight.
-oooo
PINCHOT AND HIS SUSPICIONS.
Still suspicious of everything and everybody Gifford Pin
chot now scents a plot to disrupt the Progressive Republican
League. “The Progressive movement’s greatest danger,” he
says, “now lies in the men who have fought it heretofore, avIic
begin to call themselves friends and will steer it into wrong
channels. ’ ’
Mr. Pinchot is a man who has enjoyed educational advan
tages; he is wealthy in a material Avay; he has many wholesome
notions concerning the broad question of conservation; prob
ably in most respects he is sincere; but he doesn’t seem to be
able to get away from the small view that any man who dis
agrees with him on any question is in some kind of colossal
conspiracy to strip civilization of all of its virtues and ad
vantages and to throw us back on the raw edge of barbarism
or savagery.
Mr. Pinchot’s charge of treachery within his own political
camp, the mean assault his suspicion has prompted him tc
make upon sincere men who have been blind enough to folloAA
his unwise leadership, will probably for the time mean his po
litieal undoing, for it again sIioavs his total unfitness to shape
and lead the public opinion of this country, on any question
of large public moment; and probably eflso Avill become auothei
potent factor in the sobering influences which happily now
seem to be at Avork in the political life of the republic.
-oooo
A Congressman by the name of Lafferty lias introduced a
bill in Congress which provides for the federal-owued rail
way system from Controller bay to the Bering river coal fields
and from thence on to the interior through the Copper river
pass. The measure provides for coal bunkers, wharfage facil
ities, etc., at some point on Controller bay. The surprising
thing about this proposition is that a man bearing the good
name of Lafferty should exhibit such dense ignorance of the
geographical situation up here. The bill is so absurd and gro
tesque and displays such a gross lack of knowledge that it
merits no consideration and is unworthy of serious comment.
—Seward Gateway,
-oooo
The London Times’ discovery that British swords are
made in Germany has eauesd another spasm in England. II
would be terrible if the Teutons unloaded inferior weapons on
them and then declared war, wouldn’t it?
New York was scared by a toy bear appearing on Fifth
We Carry a Full Line of X
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fm X
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HARDWARE ♦
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HORSE HARNESS X
FURNISHING GOODS ♦
BLANKETS X
FUR CAPS 3
SHOES AND RUBBER PACS \
Also 1
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< ► ◄
:: _:
<» <
CHITINA CASH STORE
E. H. GILLMAN, Manager.
Forwarding Agen t, S. BLUM & CO.
CORDOVA’S BIG STORE
First-Oass Hotel in Chitinn
Prices Reasonable
Hotel Chitina
J. PALMER and T. C 1.0 M Mi Kit,
Proprietors.
The Only First Class Hotel in Chitina
Heated Room, Bath, Ladies Parior
Bar with all Standard Liquors and Cigar®
First-Class Dining Room in Connection
Chitina Alaska
WHEN COMING TO CORDOVA REMEMBER
Cordova Steam 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 F. A. JONES, Manager Second Street
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 Alasl.a-I’acinc Steam,
ship Company's steamers sailing from Seattle Monday and Thurs
day of each week for California po.nts. Through service. Low
rates.
Right reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without
notice. ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Local Agents » -
B P. WATSON, General Agent.
ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Fast and commodious steamers sailing between
Cordova and Seattle.
Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova—
Jan. 8.ALAMEDA.Jan. 16.
Jan. 16.NORTHWESTERN .Jan. 24
Jan. 24 .ALAMEDA.Feb. 1.
Feb. 1.NORTHWESTERN .Feb. 8.
This company reserves the right to ciiunge 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.
R. J. BARRY, THOMAS TALLENT,
General Agent. Ticket Agent.
“When I read I don’t like to think.” is a remark credited
to Thomas A. Edison. A good many others feel the same way,
which is a possible explanation for the abundant output of
light literature that calls for no thought in the process of its
perusal.
-oooo
The President occasionally shows thai without being pre
cipitate when the time comes to act he does it with promptness
vigor and effectiveness.
-oooo
England is now threatened with a coal strike. If it comes
our British cousins might hold another general election and
trust to their super-heated brand of politics to keep them
warm.
-oooo
If China is embarrassed over the question what will it do
with its baby Emperor if it makes him an Emperor Emeritus,
it may reassure itself with the reflection that at least there is
no danger of him becoming a contributing editor.
■-0000
It must annoy the progressive monarchies of Europe to
have the oldest empire in the world seriously elect the Presi
dent of the republic that is to succeed the empire.
-oooo--—
England may not have much to learn as regards punitive
expeditions into Naboth’s vineyard, but she is under the re
straints of civilization and will find itdiff ieult to stomach