THE CHITINA LEADER
CHITINA, ALASKA
Entered as second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postofflce at
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Conbress of March I, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Tuesday by
HARRY G. STEEL, Editor and Proprietor.
Office: Hotel Cnitina Building.
Cordova Office: Daily Times.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Ope Month ....*....$ .50
6be Months .. * 00
One Year ... s-5®
ADVERTISING RATES
^"^^TSad^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, JULY 20, 1915.
THE WATERLOO CENTENNIAL
Except for the war on the continent, the centennial of
Waterloo would have been widely celebrated in England this
year. As it was, little note was made of it, for this year
England is in much the same condition that Wellington was at
3 p. m. on that fearful last day of the great fight, when, wiping
his brow, through white lips he murmured, “Would that night
or Blucher would- come. ”
However, an English writer 1ms written a new description
of Waterloo and, strangely enough *he gives Napoleon credit for
all his old masterful genius in the planning of the Waterloo
campaign. He was confronted’ by two armies which combined
were greatly superior to his force.
His plan contemplated striking and shattering the one and
then in turn aiming a fatal blow at the other. He did strike
Blucher and hurled him back, then leaving Grouchy to see to it
that Blucher did not reform his scattered lines and come to
Wellington’s support, he turned and assailed the Iron Duke.
The English writer says that Ney did not read carefully enough
his orders, and so was rolled back. Grouchy had not the
genius to know by instinct when he heard the tremendous
cannonading at Waterloo, where he was needed, and permitted
Blucher to arrive at the very crisis of the battle and decide it.
But why speculate now about that battle?
Napoleon went down because his star had set.
The decisive hour in his career was not at Waterloo but
when in midwinter he determined to lead “The Grand Army”
back from Moscow to France.
After that his destruction was assured, only the Fates
blinded his eyes. He was not beaten ^by Wellington and
Blucher, but by the storms and cold of a Russian winter and
by the edict that was written by those who guide the destinies
of nations, that enough blood had been shed and that the work
of “the scourge of God” must cease. He had ridden over the
thrones and changed the boundaries of the nations for 20
years—a world’s terror; it was time that his career should end.
But is it not queer that just a century after that mighty
upheaval, the nations should converge in battle array at that
same storm center in Belgium; in that other storm center in
Poland, and in that third storm center on the Hellespont around
which all the nations of antiquity fought, to decide upon a new
world adjustment of boundaries?
This, too, almost 2,000 years after the cross, the sign of
Peace, was upreared on Calvary?
Is it not about time for the humble men of the earth to
assert themselves and decide to be their own rulers?
Our German friends seem determined to follow tlieir own
course and not listen to our Uncle Samuel as to how they shall
employ their submarines. Uncle Sam may become bull-necked
himself before this controversy is over and we venture to guess
that the administration down in Washington will show our
Teuton friends that the American people will not back water
when it comes to standing up for a great principle, the adher
ence to which will mean the preservation of our rights as
neutrals to sail the high seas without endangering the lives of
American citizens. If there is a rupture the universal Ameri
can standpoint will be one of regret. We want no trouble with
Germany. However, we dodge none when our course is.plain.
-;o:
Despite our desire to be entirely fair to our sister town of
Anchorage, and the government officials who are bossing
creation over there, we do feel that the sale of lots in Alaska
at the prices asked for them by the Land Office, is subject to
the severest criticism. The government of the United' States
is too big a corporation, too important an institution, to play
the part of a land speculator, and carry it off with good grace.
Recent arrivals from the interior bring the news that Bob
Sheldon made a trip between Chitina and Fairbanks in his auto
in seven days. This is the fastest time ever made between the
two cities for both ways, and is conclusive proof that the easiest
and quickest route to the interior is via Cordova and Chitina.
This knowledge is being grasped by more and mare people
every year, and is going to result in undoubted material pros
perity to this section before many years.
-:o:
Motor boating never enjoyed such opportunities as are
offered its devotees this summer. The fine night, cloudless and
warm keeps the boats on the bay and on the lake until the late
hours, or the wee sma ’ ones, just as you wish to call them.
-:o:
The fine weather this summer has been a great factor in
improving the flavor of the salmon berries. The luscious fruit
can be found in abundance and' many of the local house wives
are engage in preserving the delicious flavor in berries.
-:0:
There are two ways to advertise Alaska. One is the right
way, and’ the other is the methods adopted by the Seattle
Commercial Club.
-:o:
Politics are already shaping up in the States, and the
Republicans are preparing for a strenuous campaign, and feel
confident of victory.
-:o:
The weather man’s engine isn’t missing a stroke.
THE MAKING OF A CITY
The fact that Cordova today is probably the largest
shipping port in Alaska, if we are to measure shipping by the
value of exports, indicates two things,—first, that the Copper
River & Northwestern railroad has justified the faith of its
builders, and, second, that it takes more than a railroad to
make a city.
Many people in the history of the west have banked' their
all upon the coming of a railroad to make them rich by
creating a metropolis of the town to make them rich by
to find out that it takes more than the operation of freight
trains and wharves and the transfer of merchandise or raw
materials from rail to ship to make a city. We do not mean that
Cordova will not grow large and become prosperous, but it will
do that because it is the center of a country full of rich
resources, the development of which will give employment to
labor. Growth and greatness did not come ready-made with
the railroad, but they will come slowly and gradually with the
development of the surrounding country and the payrolls which
that means.
Two things make towns grow—pay rolls and becoming the
centers of distribution for prosperous sections of the country—
and those usually do not come with a rush. In fact mushroom
growths seldom are of the enduring variety.
Without a railroad and without immediate expectation of
one, Juneau is growing at a satisfactory pace. She is accumu
lating that safest of all foundations for a permanent city—a
pay roll—and she is a distributing center for a rich, developing
country of practically unlimited possibilities.—Juneau Empire.
-:o:
With just a little encouragement by our government in
regard to the coal fields, Cordova and the great Copper River
Valley would become the premier copper producing region of
the world. Natural wealth not utilized is a severe criticism of
the efficiency of the people Vunning things at Washington.
Wilson has gone far in helping us, but much remains to be done.
It is not so much the president, who has shown his sincere
desire to be a friend of this territory, as it is the departmental
officials and clerks, who lazily go about the business of putting
into effect the laws which the Democrats have passed in an
effort to help Alaska. What is being done about the coal
leases!
A receiver lias been asked for the city of Nashville, Tenn.,
which is said to he insolvent. The directors have consumed all
assessments made against the stockholders and the stock
holders decline to pay additional assessments. They are much
disappointed in not receiving any dividends and complain, as
well, that money spent on plant and in operation thereof has
been wasted. That is a story to fit about 99 out of 100 Ameri
can cities. A federal court receivership for one of them might
he a lesson for the rest of us in adequate management. What a
rattling up among the old stagers there would be with, sav, a
United States army officer, as the receiver of a city. That would
be saleratus biscuits indeed.
-:o:
All that Cordova and the Copper River valley needs is half
a chance to develop. Even under the present adverse condi
tions with government delay and procrastination holding up
the opening of the coal fields only a few miles away, we are
leading all the other ports of Alaska in point of exports to the
states. *What a wonderful country Alaska is, to have survived
and struggled to life after all the death blows that have been
administered to it by the roll top officials down at Washington.
:o>
With the Russians sending soldiers to assist in reducing
the Dardanelles forts, they will now be in a better position to
ask for control of that waterway as a share of the spoils of war.
Russia wants the Dardanelles, and the wish is the result of
centuries of desire. The eastern temperament is evidenced
largely by a huge stock of patience, and mayhap the patience
of the Slav is about to be rewarded. '
For a sample of efficiency one should watch the way Super
intendent Corser and his assistants are handling the big ship
ments of copper ore. Everything on the railroad is running
along as smooth as can be, and it is impossible to find a hitch
anywhere. The secret is that elusive quality known as esprit
de corps, which Mr. Corser has succeeded in instilling into the
railroad boys. The boys are proud of their boss and the boss is
proud of his boys.
-:o:
A man who killed another was acquitted on the theory that
he was temporarily insane. Then he was made a deputy sheriff
and he killed another man. His defense is already provided'.
But what defense is possible by the authority that made an
armed officer of him?
-:o:
It will make an interesting situation if the government
doctors%at Anchorage refuse to take out a territorial license as
reported. Let us hope that the Aleska Medical Board will
stand on its dignity and demand that they practice medicine
in Alaska on the same footing as anyone else.
The Seward is busily engaged today stowing away about
$300,000 worth of copper ore in her hold. Silent but effective
testimony that the only tonnage route for a railroad in Alaska
is the Copper River route.
-:o:
The Kaiser’s dependence on the Milwaukee vote looks like
the biggest piece of sagacity since Spain in ’98 thought that
llie South wouldn’t fight.—Boston Transcript.
-:0:-—
Venice never will know what war is until a German sub
marine bobs up right in the middle of the main street and sinks
a few gondolas.—Philadelphia North American.
■--:o:
The boats leaving Cordova for the States are unable to
take away the huge shipments of copper ore that lie here
waiting for them.
-:o:
Everthing that glitters is not gold, but the tidal wave of
copper ore that is flowing down the railroad from Kennecott
litters with a simon pure sheen, and goldvor no gold, the glitter
is the real thing.
Evelyn Thaw has changed her mind and says she will not
testify against her husband. Evelyn’s force of character is
no thicker than her stage dress, and' she can change her mind
again in plain view with just as little embarrassment as she
could change her clothes before a large and enthusiastic
audience.
-
Alaska and Cordova is not behind the times. Even here
we have that evidence of business acumen resulting in the
combination of competing stores that will mean reduced prices
on the staples for all consumers in the Copper Kiver valley.
-:0:
Employes of the state department gave Mr. Bryan a fine
gold watch, and now he can keep his speaking engagements
promptly.
--:o:
China and Japan have again demonstrated their unfitness
to rank with civilized powers by signing a treaty that assures
peace in the far east.—New York World.
--:o:—
The government at Washington thinks it may have to fire
a bullet to repress the ebullient Haiten. Just one is likely to
be enough.
-:o:—
The Turks are acting natural once more. The dispatches
yesterday chronicled a massacre of Christians at Lake Van.
SUPPORTING A NEWSPAPER
The Daily Times yesterday spared no expense or individual
effort on the part of its staff to give the people of Cordova
metropolitan sendee when the big fire in Valdez was learned
about. Our expenses for cable tolls yesterday were double
our usual sum, and we cheerfully incurred the additional
expense for it is our business to get the news and serve it to
the people.
The town without a newspaper would be deader than the
proverbial door nail. Yet the people of the ordinary town will
not appreciate this fact, while some one is struggling to give
them good sendee, and they selfishly refuse to do their share by
supporting the paper. The most criticism should be directed
against the business man who refuses to advertise. There are
some in Cordova, who eagerly await the evening issue of the
Times to peruse the war news, and yet who are unwilling to pay
their share of the freight by advertising. We have no quarrel
with these business men, neither do we hold any ill will against
them, but we do think they are mistaken, and there can be no
doubt but they are far from being public spirited. They are
faking the benefit of the other merchant’s money who does
advertise. They are getting something for nothing, and boiled
down it is nothing but selfishness and a narrow business policy
on their part. A live newspaper is a necessity in any town, and
the business man who refuses or neglects to do his share in
helping to keep one there, is utterly lacking in a proper com
munity spirit.
-:o:
VALDEZ
The heartfelt sympathy of the people of Cordova goes out
to our neighboring city of Valdez over the terrible fire which
devastated the business section of that city yesterday morn
ing. That Valdez will rebuild, and become a greater and better
city because of this calamity, we have no doubt, for the people
of that town have withstood many reverses and the courage of
the northland is in their veins. It has been the history of our
American cities, that whenever one of them has been destroyed
or all but destroyed by fire, they arose from the ruins finer and
cleaner municipalities than before. Boston, Chicago, Baltimore
and San Francisco, wTith their great buildings and fine streets,
evidence this undaunted spirit of the American people, and
Valdez will live up to the traditions of our race.
—-- -:o:
$20,000,000 WORTH OF COPPER
The unprecedented demand that the war has created for
copper, and the assurance that the destruction by the war of
that metal has been such that the demand will continue
indefinitely after the war shall have ceased, has created any
activity in the Alaska copper industry that will make that
metal a lively competitor with gold and fish for first place in
| the value among Alaska’s exports for the present year and the
years that are to come. It is estimated that Alaska will have
shipped more than $20,000,000 worth of copper during the year
1915 as against a production of three and half million for 1914.
The indications are, further, that next year and the years that
follow—as long, in fact, as copper remains at present figures—
there will be a continuous gain in the value of the exportations
of that metal.
The prince "William Sound and Copper River countries
are the leading sections in the production of copper, with South
eastern Alaska following. The prices prevailing now will
increase the output in both sections. The Sulzer copper mines
will resume shipping soon, and other Southeastern Alaska
copper properties are likely to become active.
But the principal increase in the copper output is likely
to be in the district that is now the greatest producer of the*
metal. The consolidation of all of the so-called Guggenheim
companies, which have raised $10,000,000 for further develop
ment of other properties than those now working—the Bonanza,
Jumbo, Beatson and other mines.
The result of this development in copper will increase the
exports of Alaska this year to considerably more than
$50,000,000 according to present indications.—Juneau Empire.
-:o:
The British government is at last clearing away the veil of
secrecy from the mysterious departure of the soldiers from its
shores. Big armies were being raised' and nobody knew where
they were going. From yesterday’s dispatches we learned
that some of the English troops were fighting in Serbia, and
harassing the Austrians along the border. If the British
censors will only see the light in a few other places, the people
will begin once more to have a little respect for those peculiar
officials.