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.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors and Managers—USSY Q. STEEL
' Office: Hotel Chitina Building. " Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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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 district.•***
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1914.
A SLOGAN THAT WOULD WIN
The various legislative candidates embrace in their declara
tions of principles numerous subjects about which they
propose to go to Juneau and incorporate in the territorial
statutes. But no one seems to be giving any particular thought
to the enactment of an Australian ballot system. Throughout
the territory there is now much discussion and some confusion
as to the manner of conducting the approaching election. In
one division a ticket containing the name of a senator and
four representatives will he voted and deposited in one ballot
box. In another division the Delegate will be voted for
separately and thus two tickets and two ballot boxes will be
used. Then in the Nome division there is a practical agree
ment that the Australian system be used and the names of all
candidates for Delegate and legislature be printed on one
ticket and the voter mark the names for whom he wishes to
cast his ballot. And thus it goes, and even the gentlemen
holding judicial positions in Alaska are at sea as to the real
requirement of existing laws. And if there should be close
votes on one or more of the officers, contests will undoubtedly
result. All of which would be avoided if we had a definite and
clear election law. And we believe that the aspirant for the
Senate or House who would make that his slogan, if he had
the ability for accomplishment, would find it a well oiled
vehicle which would easily carry him into legislative halls. An
Australian ballot system is one of the great needs of Aalska
that the legislature can supply. Who in the Third division is
going to make it his particular businsss, if elected, to see that
we get it?
ONE OF THE KIND NEEDED AT JUNEAU
J. J. Finnigan is now acting U. S. Commissioner of the
Chisana district. He has had a varied experience in. law and
mining, and a long residence in Alaska. And being a pretty
level headed fellow generally he seems to possess more than
the average ability to successfully represent his constituents
of this division in Legislative halls at Juneau. Mr. Finnigan
formerly resided at Seward and has a wide acquaintance from
the far westward to the extreme eastward of this division.
Although he will not be able to personally participate in the
campaign he has a number of friends who are exerting them
selves in his behalf, and they feel that a few men with the
ability and experience of Judge Finnigan will be greatly
needed in the House of the forthcoming legislative body.
WATCHFUL WAITERS ON THE ALERT
Congress has so many things nearer home to look after
that it would be easy to lose sight of far-off Alaska. But
President Wilson and Secretary Lane have good memories and
when they said they were determined to open up Alaska they
meant it and have continually kept this northland in mind.
And when Congress becomes lax then these two staunch
friends of Alaska are right there to remind the members of
their duty and the debt the}' ow« to Alaska because of the
notorious past neglect.
COAL SOON AVAILABLE
After lo, these many years, an opportunity is given for
the mining of Alaska coal. It may not be done to any great
extent under the old policy of locators securing title to land
and then forming a company for the opening up of a mine,
but the important thing is that coal mines in Alaska may now
be opened and developed. The leasing bill will permit indi
viduals or companies to secure ground under lease from the
government and to mine and ship coal for domestic purposes
and for the various industries that are sure to be established
in various sections of Alaska. And further, the coal legisla
tion assures the construction in the near future, of a branch
line railroad to connect the C. R. & N. W. Railway \^ith the
Bering River fields. So even though the coal legislation may
not be all that was desired, yet if it results in the giving of
cheap fuel to Alaska,.with the varied industries to follow in its
wake, a great boon will have been secured to the people of
Southwestern Alaska. There may not be much left of the
public domain, but unless the sentiment that has been created
during the past eight years, very materially changes, it will
be difficult to secure coal lands in any parts of the United
States by the former method of location. It is expected that
some of the Alaska claimants, who made locations before the
Pinchot sentiment prevailed, may secure title to their claims.
Thus both systems, of operating under lease from the govern
ment and by direct ownership, may be tried out. In the mean
time Alaska will be getting cheaper coal, and many industries
will flourish.
Two weeks from today the election for Delegate to
Congress and of a Territorial Legislature will be held
throughout the territory of Alaska. Things politically are
just beginning to warm up. Cordova and the Copper River
country will from now on begin to realize that the political
war is really on. - j
/
PROMISING OUTLOOK FOR OUR COPPER SECTION
Notwithstanding the fact that the European war has
resulted in a reduction of one-half to two-thirds of the copper
production of the United States, the activity in the Copper
River section of Alaska continues. This is made possible
because' of the richness of the ore that is here produced. In
the Bonanza mine we have one of the wonders of the world,
and the Kennecott Mines Co. is developing a neighboring
property that will possibly excell in richness and extent the
first big and rich copper producer of Alaska. And there are
others that in time will be placed in this same class. One of
the most promising of these is the Mother Lode, located across
the hill from the Bonanza. Sufficient work has already been
done, and enough shipment made to the smelter to demonstrate
something of the extent and value of this ore, which runs from
50 to 60 per cent copper.
And notwithstanding the precarious and discouraging
financial conditions that have existed throughout the country
President Godfrey and the other officers of the Mother Lode
Copper Mines Company have succeeded in raising the neces
sary money to open up this valuable property and put in the
necessary machinery to place it on a shipping basis. This has
undoubtedly been an herculean task but the faith of the officers
and the men who have so generously responded to the call for
funds, has been justified. Recent reports of men coming from
the mine indicate that the ore is there a plenty and of high
values. And upon the arrival here from the outside of Presi
dent Godfrev on Tuesdav he found a telegram awaiting him
If • ^ o
from the superintendent telling him of the cross cutting of a
rich vein at 300 feet depth. This would indicate that the
copper glance goes down indefinitely and that the rich returns
from this and other mines may be looked for in the many future
years to come.
All of which is very gratifying to the people of Cordova,
as we are the base of supplies for the interior country. Every
good thing seems to be coming at once. The coal fields are
about to be opened up. the railway will soon connect Cordova
with the Bering river fields, coking ovens on the Copper River
flats will soon be making the coke necessary for the large
smelter soon to be erected along the shores of Prince William
Sound and contiguous to Cordova, while a naval coaling
station, big dry dock and various industries will be part of
this admirably located section of Alaska. The dawn of better
days has come.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
The Athletics were good losefs. They realized the superior
playiug of their opponents and when the end of the series
came the members of the defeated team were among the most
enthusiastic congratulators of the Boston Braves. They set
an admirable example to politicians. But then maybe ball
players are more broad minded than the average peanut
politiican.
Mr. Morgan knows that the government will need the
Copper River & Northwestern Railway to carry out its policy
of opening up Alaska. And he proposes that it shall he trans
ferred on pretty much any old kind of terms. He is not going
to stand in the way of Uncle Sam becoming a great railway
magnate.
There is all kind of speculation as to how the women in,
Alaska will vote at the forthcoming election. He is a wise man
who knows today what a woman will do tomorrow. And it
must not be forgotten that unto the fair sex is conceded the
privilege of a change of mind even at the eleventh hour.
After several years of agitation the Alaska coal leasing
bill is now almost on the statute books. It passed the Senate
yesterday afternoon and it will now be but a short step through
the House and into the hands of the President, where his
signature will make it a law.
Surveyors who have been engaged bv the government to
run a line to connect the C. R. & N .W. Railway via ’Rake
Charlotte to the Bering River coal fields have completed their
work. They say that they not only located an easy route but
that with a little more time they could have built the railroad
Now that the Alaska coal leasing bill has been read into
the statutes our next anxiety will be as to the time of announce
ment for the commencement of the construction of the line of
railroad that will bring that valuable resource into Cordova
from Bering field.
It is now pretty generally conceded that the Town Council
of Cordova took a wise precaution when they recommended to
tfie officers of the forthcoming election that they use two ballot
boxes for the two separate tickets that they believed it was
necessary to cast. Our friends at Valdez and Seward con
sidered that one ticket only was necessary, to contain the
names of candidates for Congress and Legislature. But they
may change their minds before the day of election.
There are other battles to be fought for Alaska and it
behooves the people of this northland to show our friends in
Washington, by every possible way, that their efforts in our,
behalf are appreciated. Telegrams and letters should go out
from every section of tins vast territory to the men who at
any time lift their voices or cast their votes in favor of a
measure that has for its object the betterment of condition^
in Alaska.
However way the voters of Alaska may cast their ballots
on November 3, the fact is patent that were President Wilson
or Secretary Lane candidates for any office before the people
of this northland they would receive practically the unanimous
vote of a people thoroughly appreciative of the great efforts
they have already put forth in behalf of long neglected Alaska.
Alaskan towns should remember that it is just asj
important to acknowledge the receipt of a favor or a just
demand as it is to make the original request. So let our
friends at Washington know that when they do us a good
turn we are alert to the fact and appreciative of the efforts in
our behalf.
Another fight is over, and President Wilson has won the
battle for Alaska. After years of anxiety we now have a coal
leasing bill that it is believed will be workable. It was the best
j that could be secured under the adverse sentiment that has
been created throughout the eastern and southern states.
1
Why Not Invest?
With the building of the government railroad from
Chitina to Fairbanks, the future of the Town of Chitina
is assured.
Lots are still offered at attractive prices and there
are many desirable ones remaining.
A few months later lots in Chtiina will be held at
largely increased values. Why not invest NOW?
GEO. C. HAZELET,
Agent Chitina Townsite Company.
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AAAAaaaa
TIN SHOP
IN SHUSHANNA
No more need to carry
STOVES and TINWARE
over the long trail to the
interior, as we are pre
pared to till all orders in
our tin shop.
W. H. CARSTENS & CO.
SHUSHANNA - - ALASKA
Chitina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Service.
Next to Chitina Hotel.
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
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j 0. ADRIAN NELSON !!
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: U. S. Mineral Surveyor :
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: chitina ■ - - alaska ::
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