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, Managers and Proprietors—HABET G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .8 -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 P.iver Cistrict.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1913
A QUESTION OF TRAIL
The people of Skagwav and of the Yukon territory may
insist to their heart’s content that the shortest and most
feasible way to the new gold diggings is not by the way of
McCarthy’s and Scolai Pass, but they can’t fool many. It may
be the natural thing for Canadians to wish to divert the traffic
■to their own land, and they may succeed in inducing some of
the unknowing ones to try the long pull from White Horse. It
takes 22 days or more to make the Sushanna country from that
locality; Stampeders make it from Cordova in a week or eight
days, while the return has been made in four days. Can’t be
a very bad trail of 100 miles from Bonanza creek to McCarthy’s
that is mushed in three days. And many of the returning ones
have done it by foot in from three to four days.
Their misleading quotation from an old government
report, which seems to slightly favor the Canadian trail easily
falls to pieces when it is considered the comparison that was
made. In those days prospectors had to mush 180 miles from
Valdez to McCarthy’s, over mountain passes and treacherous
streams. It was before there was a Cordova. Now the distance
to McCarthy’s is made in 11 hours comfortable travel over a
finely equipped railroad. The mush from there on is only 100
miles, and while there are some bad stretches that need
improving it is not on the whole any worse than the average
Alaska Hail. And if the Alaska Road Commission could only
be induced to direct its efforts to the betterment of the trail
that leads from McCarthy’s on and beyond the Scolai pass,
stampeders will think they are on a pleasure jaunt.
| -o—o—0
OFFICERS OF THE LAW NEEDED
|C.r -
It passeth all understanding that some aspiring or needy
Democrat, or Republican, is not diligently seeking the position
of deputy United States marshal for the Wfiite river district.
There is a locality where officials of law and order may soon be
mighty badly needed. The hundreds from Dawson, Fairbanks,
Southeastern Alaska and the states are beginning to arrive.
With the consequent jumping of claims and shortage of food
there are likely to soon be gun plays. A marshal will be a
restraint to arbitrary and unlawful acts, even though he may
not be able to entirely prevent lawlessness. And with a United
States commissioner and recorder, versed in the law, and with
courage to meet the trying situations that will confront him,
there would be some assurance of security to life and property
in a new country that is likely to prove an important camp this
winter. Here is an instance where it is generally conceded a
lawyer would fill an important and almost necessary role as
United States commissioner and recorder.
_n-n-n- I
THE TERRIBLE TRAIL—FROM A DISTANCE
y
1
It is interesting to read the reports emanating from)
Canadians and the people of Skagway about the perils of the
terrible Seolai pass. Mushers who return from the Chisana are
speaking of camping and resting up in the pass, preparatory
to making the tedious, but uot dangerous, crossing of the eight
miles of Russel glacier, and continuing on the last stretch from j
Solo creek. Then again we read of the dangers of the Chitty-!
stone river, which is now pleasantly crossed by mushers on foot j
bridge, and easily forded by horses. Then the treacherous I
Nizina comes in for its share of the horrors. But stampeders
are safely ferried across by Indians or are afforded opportunity
to cross on horses kept there for that purpose. As a matter of
fact the route from McCarthy’s to Scolai and on to the Chisana
is the average trail of 100 miles distance to be found in most
parts of Alaska or Yukon territory. Possibly the Sourdough
hill section is the muckiest and most annoying. But with the
expenditure of $15,000 or $20,000 this shortest route to the new
gold diggings could be so improved as to eliminate it of all
objectionable features. And the expenditure of that amount of
money on any of the other trails would hardly accomplish the
same results. Even in its present condition when men without
horses mush the 100 miles from the Chisana diggings to
McCarthy’s in three days and when the 43 miles is mushed from
the head of the Chittvstone to McCarthy’s within 24 hours, it
really can’t be such a bad trail after all, even though there are
parts of it that require improving. Then of all the hundreds of
men and horses that have gone over this trail during the past
month or five weeks but one man met with a fatality and two
horses were lost in the Chittvstone. Otherwise not even a
serious accident has been reported, notwithstanding false
rumors that are sent by “wireless” and cable.
-o—o—o
There are some wise men in Fairbanks. Instead of taking
a month in trying to get up the Tanana river to the Chisana
they have traveeld over a good government road 300 miles to
Chitina, there to take the train for McCarthy’s and to mush
100 miles to the gold diggings. The latter route consumed
about two weeks, and what is better, the stampeders are
assured of reaching their destination.
-o—o—o
It is really unkind of that Canadian railroad at Skagway
to insist upon good Americans mushing 360 miles from White
TTorse when they can comfortably reach the Chisana by
mushing only 100 miles from McCarthy’s via Scolai pass.
For several years there has been a general demand upon
the part of the prospectors and mining men operating in the
Nizina country for assistance from the Alaska Road Commis
sion in constructing a bridge across the river and for the
improvement of trails in that country. A year ago practically
all the men operating in the White river country petitioned the
Chamber of Commerce of Cordova to assist in making a request
for government aid in improving the trail from Scolai Pass
to McCarthy’s.
These many men developing valuable copper properties
in the White river country set forth the advantages that would
accrue to them if they could take all their supplies by way of
McCarthy’s and Scolai. They showed a great saving in time
and cost of transportation by using this route instead of the
much longer and more costly routes either from White Horse
or Dawson.
During the past years, hundreds of thousands of dollars
have been expended in the development of placer and quartz
properties in the country across the Nizina and along the
Chittystone. Since the completion of the railroad these
operators have transported their supplies from McCarthy’s by
pack team. Such temporary improvements that have been
made to the trail has been paid for by the operators and
packers.
And now that placer gold has been discovered in the
Cliisana country, just beyond the White river, there is more
reason than ever for a trail that will eliminate all danger and
give a safer and more expeditious route into the new fields.
Prospectors are going by the hundreds every week from
Cordova into the new gold diggings, and during the winter and
early spring this number will likely be largely augmented.
While it may not be the policy of the government to
construct trails into a new district simply because a stampede
is on, and may only be temporary, in the present instance this
fact is only incidental to a demand that has existed for several
years. But it is a strong additional reason why the work
should be done at the earliest possible moment, and thus
accommodate the possible thousands of good American citizens
who wish to come to Cordova, go over the railroad to
McCarthy’s and then over the shortest route to the new gold
fields. With a few thousand dollars spent on this trail there
would be absolutely no question as to its popularity.
Colonel Richardson and other members of the Alaska
Road Commission are cognizant of the necessity for govern
ment aid in improving the present trail to Scolai pass. It is
to be hoped that they may see their way clear to give
immediate relief to the petitions of the men of the Copper
river and White river countries. If that he found impossible
by reason of the lack of available funds, it is expected that
the gentlemen of the commission will recommend and urge the
matter before the proper authorities at Washington. A letter
representing the sentiment of the people of this section of the
country was presented yesterday to Lieut. Edgerton, who left
on the train this morning and placed the communication in the
hands of Colonel Richardson at Chitina
_/X_A_A_
Reports indicate that there has been considerable sri kc
during the past few weeks from Mt. Katmai. But it hasn’t
caused as much furore in this section of Alaska as have the
frequent and contradictory reports on the U. S. marshalship,
or the most feasible route to the new gold diggings.
Currency reform is causing much dissension among the
Democrats in Washington. Currency without any more reform
is what would unite the people of Alaska.
That Alaskan town that does not claim to be the gateway
to the Sushanna strike is either ambitionless or very busy with
other things. Juneau belongs to the latter class.—Empire.
The Alaska excursionists of the New Seattle Chamber of
Commerce spent 37 days in Alaska and Alaskan waters, and
they experienced but three hours rain. That is a pretty good
record for a North Pacific country.
i
that canard of the loss of 16 men and 12 horses in the j
waters of the Chitina river is blamed on some wireless operator. \
An investigation should follow. It is first up to the operator j
on the Humboldt to explain whether he really did catch an air ;
current that seemingly conveyed the report referred to. If he
did then who is responsible for flashing it through the air.
Possibly it was only a hot air flash emanating from a locality
close to the Canadian line. Next time they should be more
accurate as to location. The trail from McCarthy’s does not
cross the Chitina river.
The members of the Alaska Road Commission are in
possession of a communication from the Cordova Chamber of
Commerce which it is hoped will result in receiving favorable
consideration of the general demand for improvement of the
trail to Scolai pass.
Of course some of these stampeders who decided not to
continue their journey beyond Cordova are disappointed. But
better to turn back from here than to change their course
before or just after they arrive at the new gold diggings. With
out necessary food supplies the journey were futile.
The old sourdough believes that it is more than an even
gamble that he can make good in the Cliisana gold diggings.
And for that reason he is going into the country well provided
with supplies so that he can remain for months.
When the government bulletins refer to the trail from
McCarthy’s over Scolai Pass, it was before the railroad was
built and there was an additional mush of 180 miles from
Valdez to McCarthy’s.
Soon a few eordoroy roads and the clearing of underbrush
will greatly improve the trail from McCarthy’s to Nizina.
laking out 2,000,000 pounds per month of actual copper
from one of the mines in the Copper river country is not so bad.
It was a terrible marine calamity that occurred on Sunday
night in the waters of Southeastern Alaska. The loss- of life
was frightful after the big ship State of California struck a
reef near Garabier bay.
It is expected that so soon as Judge Brown returns from
.luneau to his own division that he will make an appointment
of commissioner and recorder for the White river district.
There is an official acting now but there is a general demand
for a man who is versed in the law. It is also expected that
authority will soon be received from Washington for the
appointment of a deputy marshal for the new gold diggings.
NOTICE TO PAT POLL TAX
Notice is hereby given to ail 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, sailors 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 collection 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 law for the sale of personal
property on execution, and that any
person who shall violate any of the
provisions of 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 tne
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.
ENTERPRISE AT MCCARTHY
A. E. Todd and wife and W. R.
Taddis, of Seattle, and formerly of
Nome, are at the Windsor. This
party will go to McCarthy’s tomor
row where they will start a hotel
and general store to take care of the
wants of the stampeders who will go
by this route to the new gold fields.
They also figure that they will be
advantageously situated to fill the
orders for supplies of men who come
out to replenish their stock. They
will put up buildings on a part of
the J. E. Barrett homestead, just
across from the railway station.
-o—o—o
Ail the latest news in the Alaskan.
Chitina GRILL
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:- -A»n -
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i
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CHITINA
1 - -■ ; «> - i
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