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.
. -——, —. ■ 11 i
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WIU A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HARRY G. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .* •®S
Six Months . *-V®
One Year .. 35B
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 River uistrict._____
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1914
BERING COAL—NOT JOBBERY—HAS MERIT
The official report that coal from the Bering River fields
in Alaska had failed to come up to standard in steaming tests
would be more of a blow, were it not that the statement of the
experts offers a confusing contradiction.
Chemical tests of this fuel, it is said, indicate that it
contains a higher efficiency in thermal units than the Poca
hontas product of West Virginia, which is in general use in
the navy.
Yet, when tried out on the Maryland, it is declared to
have registered only 43 per cent of the efficiency of the
Eastern fuel. It is said to have clogged the grate bars with
a molten substance like tar which cut off draft and hampered
steaming. Moreover, it produced enormous clinkers.
Ugly stories were afloat at the time this coal was mined.
It was openly declared that the sacks containing the product
to be tested were filled with rocks and dirt.
Sensational as these allegations were, they were never
denied with authority. Possibly, those high in office did not
care to dignify them with repudiation. Possibly, they could
not do so. ,
In any event, if the coal surpasses the Pocahontas
product in thermal heat units, it would seem that these other
objections could be overcome. Certainly, it should not be
allowed to override the expert who testified that when used
on the battleship Nebraska in 1908, it proved superior to its
West Virginia rival.
When experts fall out, the layman is hopelessly confused.
•When these experts are connected with the navy—tradition
ally one of the most honorable of all government services—
the confusion is “thrice confounded.”
The government owes it to itself to conduct other experi
ments, expressly designed to discover every advantageous
feature of the Alaskan article.
The navy needs a fuel supply on the Pacific Ocean. To
transport the “black diamonds” from the Atlantic is waste
ful business. Even the Washington Bureaucrats have been
forced to concede that much.
To condemn the Bering River coal on one experiment
would be absurd. It possesses merit. The showing of thermal
heat units demonstrates that much. Exhaustive tests under
various circumstances should be made before it is east
aside.—Seattle Times.
-o—o—o
When Congress passes the railroad bill there will be some
fireworks display throughout Alaska.
-o—o—o
CONQUERING ALASKA BY MOTOR
The following is an editorial taken from the El Paso,
Texas, Herald telling how Col. W. P, Richardson’s auto truck
made its first trip over the Chitina-Fairbanks trail last
summer, after Robert Sheldon’s auto had already negotiated
the trip. The editorial shows how barren and cold and
desolate Alaska really looks in the eyes of some of the out
siders, who know less of our great territory than they do of
the North Pole. And this mis-information comes from the
Lone Star state of flooded rivers and tidal waves as follows:
“A motor truck blazing a trafl through Alaska to within
two degrees of the Arctic circle, fording glacial streams,
skimming quicksands, finding a way through canyons and
crevasses with walls of ice 1,000 feet high, crossing icy
mountains by steep trails and passes never used before, blast
ing a road through boulders for forests—makes a story that
Kipling ought to tell to get the vivid facts into the human
mind. The facts are so new and powerful and vivid they
make a story that takes the breath away just to enumerate
them. The only difficulty the engineers missed was that their
engines did not heat up.
“An ordinary army motor truck driven by a group of
American engineers made the trip partly to demonstrate the
possibility of using motor trucks in Alaska, partly to find
a shorter route to reach the large interior towns, and partly
to show the Alaska board of road commissioners what could
be done in making a trail.
“Transportation has always been one of the greatest
problems of the Yukon country. With short seasons, glacial
washouts, slides of ice on cliffs, high mountains, swollen
roring rivers, deep snows, long, heavy rains, and quicksands,
Alaska has road problems as vast as her treasures of gold.
“The motor went with only ordinary equipment, except
that it carried road tools and more fuel than usual, and mail
sacks; it brought letters to some places where none had gone
for more than a year.
“Altogether the adventure was a brilliant success and
very hopeful for Alaska that the worst of her winter’s
imprisonment with snow and ice and cold can comparatively
easily be eased up.”
-o—o—o
Alaska’s emancipation is near at hand and as a result
there is a more hopeful feeling among the residents of the
territory, who realize the possibilities in store under a govern
ment policy that will permit of the development of its
resources.
OF GENERAL INFORMATION
Prospectors in the Totalanika
district south of Fairbanks, are
forsaking their search for golden
gravels and are taking to fox rais
ing. The first to make the change
\are Murphy Bros. & Cook, who have
been engaged in gold mining in
the Totatianika distrfct for a num
ber of years.
Arrivals from that section report
that the men have a beautiful sil
ver gray female and a male almost
black. Others in the district have
taken to fox ranching and it is pre
dicted that another few years will
see the district south of Fairbanks
transformed into fox farms.
H. Brown and Tom Watson, of
Ketchikan, were bound over to the
next grand jury charged with rob
bing the power fishing vessels Vic
tor and Ethan and the Seattle. They
were discovered and in trying to
escape upset the dory and had to
swim for it.
Three fires started in one week
in Ketchikan through the use of
gasoline. Fortunately they were
all extinguished without any ma
terial damage but a local paper re
marks that it is time to exercise a
little more care when handling
gasoline.
The Citizen’s Water, Light &
Power Co. of Ketchikan, claims to
have the best plant for customs pur
poses north of Vancouver. They
recently placed their second unit of
power of 1,000 horsepower in
operation.
The fishing boat Northland ar
rived at Cordova yesterday with a
capacity load of halibut which she
had taken at the banks off Cape St.
Elias. She had between 35,000 and
40,000 pounds of halibut which
were caught in one day. The fish
ermen report they never experi
enced anything like it in the
Alaskan waters. Every hook
brought to the surface was loaded
and the men worked like trojans
while the weather was fine. The
halibut will be shipped to the states
on the Sampson this evening.
It is now a well established fact
taht the banks in these waters are
extensive and that Cordova will be
headquarters for a big fleet of fish
ng boats next summer. The facili
ties at the dock for handling the
business will have no superior in
Alaska and the fish can be shipped
to market a few days after being
caught.
Information is brought from the
interior that officers are hot on the
trail of the perpetrators of the
Willow creek murders last summer,
and it is believed that they will be
apprehended shortly. The officials
of this division have worked dili
gently on the case following up
every clue which presented itself
and at last have gained knowledge
of the man who is believed to have
committed the murders.
Detective McGuire, who was re
cently in Cordova, was known to be
connected with the case, and as the
suspected man has gone outside
enquiry has developed the fact that
McGuire was a passenger on the
Mariposa southbound. The detect
ive spent several weeks in the
vicinity of the place where the mur
ders were committed endeavoring to
pick up clues and running them
down. His search resulted in find
ing evidence which leads to the be
lief that other murders may have
been committed. Prospectors,
while crossing the country, about
two miles from the place where the
other bodies were found, discovered
a pack and coat. The coat was
nearly new but the pockets had been
cut out. It would appear as
though the murderer had thrust his
bloody hands into the pockets of
his coat and then cut the pockets
out to remove the tell-tale stains. It
is possible that the pack discovered
was also the property of the mur
derer. The articles were found
near a cut-off trail from the scene
of the murders to the Chitina trail.
The murderer is believed to be a
Finlander who was travelling in
company with the victims. He was
known to be broke when he left
Fairbanks to walk out over the trail
to Valdez. Later he turned up in
Chitina and McCarthy where he
spent several hundred dollars drink
ing and gambling. He claimed to
have come out from the Shushanna.
He is known to have come to Cor
dova from McCarthy and McGuire is
believed to have received informa
tion that the man has gone outpide.
J. F. Emmett, formerly of Fair
banks, was held in Seattle on re
quest of the Valdez authorities un
til his possible connection with the
case could be cleared up. He had
also gone to Shushanna via Mc
Carthy but those who know his
movements believe it is highly im
probable that he had anything to
do with the murders.
McGuire Has Reputation
Few people are aware that Mc
Guire is a detective with an inter
national reputation. He was with
the Burns Detective Agency for
some time before coming north.' It
was through his efforts that the
Yukon government was Jrble.to ap
prehend and convict O’Brien, the
murderer of Clayson, Reive and
Olson, whom he killed while they
were en route to the coast from
Dawson. The detective was given a
free hand on the case by the gov
ernment and when O’Brien was
brought to trial McGuire was able
to account for every movement of
the accused after he left Dawson
hntil he was arrested on the upper
Yukon as he was trying to get out
of the country.
Later arrivals from Knik say that
Jack Dalton is making wonderful
progress in getting the coal from
the Matanuska down to tidewater.
Knik has taken on an air of pros
perity and many miners from the
westward are going to the Nelchlna
via that route as Dalton is render
ing them all the assistance possible
in getting their supplies up the
river.
Swift the disbursing agent, still
refuses to “disburse,” but Dalton is
going along as though he did not
know he was there. Swift, how
ever, is very docile and does not
bother around very much, for he did
not get much satisfaction from the
government when he sent in his re
port concerning his little tilt with
Dalton, other than being told that
all the government cared for was
that the coal be brought out to tide
water as rapidly as possible.
Mr. Dalton is relaying the coal
from the mine, and has matters so
arranged that he says he will have
i all of the coal on the beach before
| the end of February.
—
Owing to the cheap rates on the
steamers last fall from the interior
to the outside the roadhouses along
the trail from Chitina to Fairbanks
are not enjoying their usual pros
perity. Just before the close of
navigation the transportation com
panies put into effect a rate so low
that no person who intended com
ing out for the winter could afford
to walk. This has worked against
the roadhouse men as the stages
carry few passengers and foot
passengers are rare.
The freighting of last and previ
ous years is not working this year,
the “skinners” having a hard job
to make both ends meet. However,
there is a chance for a good finish
for the roadhouses when the travel
ers start to return north. If the
| Alaska railroad bill passes the
House next month, it is possible
that the Alaskans outside will hurry
back to get into the game again. At
any rate, something is needed to
make the roadhouse business along
the trail a profitable one for this
year. -*
CLERICAL FORCE INCREASE
SURVEY GENERAL’S OFFICE
The surveyor-general’s office force
at Juneau has been increased by
the acquisition of Edward P. Ken
dall, a draftsman who comes from
the land office at Santa Fe, New
Mexico. Prior to working in the
Santa Fe office, Mr. Kendall was for
ten years in the mineral department
of the Portland land office,
in the capital working for the enact
ment of laws which would exclude
all the Asiatic races from America.
The chairman of the committee
presented the views of the delega
tion to the conference.
-o—o—o
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION
DRAWS BIG CROWD
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan.
26,—Convinced that the state will
continue to aid in road building, in
view of the state-wide campaign
they will start in the near future,
delegates to the fourth annual con
vention of the Colorado Good Roads
Association today adjourned their
session. More than 1,000 delegates
attended this year's meetings.
-o—o—1>
MANY HAD MEASLES
IN WESTWARD TOWN
U. S. Marshal Brenneman has
received a letter from Deputy Mar
shal Carl Armstrong, of Kodiak,
telling of the epidemic of measles at
J
the westward towns, which has
caused many deaths.
A total of 263 cases were reported
from Kodiak, with three deaths,
while 260 cases were noted at
Afognak with 21 deaths, mostly
children. The marshal has started
the work of fumigation and hopes
to prevent any more cases from
breaking out, although a number of
children are sick at the Wood Island
school for native children, and it is
feared that all of the 60 scholars at
'that institution will contract the
disease.
HOUSTON. Texas, Jan. 2/.—Cot
ton and corn growers of Texas to
day formally requested all the
state’s representatives in Congress
to urge an appropriation of $200,
000 to furnish seeds for crops in
those districts which suffered most
during the recent floods.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Serial 01610
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE,
Juneau, Alaska, July 12, 1913.
Notice is hereby given that Ocha
Potter of Houghton, Michigan, as
signee of Barnard Needham, Calvin
Deputron and Elijah T. Fudge,
beneficiaries under Section 2306
Revised Statutes of the United
States, granting additional lands to
soldiers and sailors who served in
the War of the Rebellion, has made
application to make entry of the
lands in U. S. Survey No. 595, situ
ated about fifteen miles above the
mouth of McCarthy creek, a tribu
tary of the Kennicott river, in the
Chitina recording precinct, Juneau
Land District, Territory of Alaska,
and more particularly described in
the fields notes and plat of said sur
vey as follows:
Beginning at Cor. No. 1, a green
stone 16x8x6 ins. set 11 in. in
ground, marked S. 595 Cor. 1 on
side facing claim, from which Cor.
L*. S. L. 11. No. 595 bears S. 2.JO
chs. dist., said U. S. L. M. is a stone
30x20x8 ins. 15 ins. in the ground
marked with a cross on top and U.
S. L. M. 695 on side. There are
no natural objects or permanent
monuments other than the one Just
established available. Thence from
| Cor. No. 1 S. 10 chs. to Cor. No. 2,
thence W. 5 chs. to Cor. No. 3
crossing McCarthy Creek at 0.50
chs., thence N. 10 chs. to Cor. No.
I, thence E. 5 chs to Cor. No. 1,
the place of beginning, crossing
McCarthy creek at 3.30 chs. con
taining five acres.
Any and all persons claiming ad
versely any portion of the above
described tracts are required to file
with the Kegister and Receiver of
the U. S. Land Office at Juneau,
Alaska, their adverse claim thereto
under oath during the period of
publication and posting of this
notice, or within thirty days there
after, or they will be barred by the
provisions of the statute in such
case made and provided.
OCHA POTTER.
It is hereby ordered that the
foregoing notice be published for
the statutory period in the Chitina
Leader, a newspaper printed and
published at Chitina, Alaska.
C. B. WALKER,
Register.
First publication, .Tan. 21. 1914.
Last publication, March 25, 1914.
IN THE UNITED STATES COM
MISSIONER’S COURT, THIRD
JUDICIAL DIVISION. TERRI
TORY OF ALASKA, IN AND FOR
CHITINA PRECINCT.
In the Matter of the Guardianship of
Nels Oscar Sail, a mentally in
competent person, and his estate.
It is ordered that Friday, January
30th, 1914, at 10 a. m., be appointed
for the hearing of the application of
Charles G. Sail, for letters of guar
dianship of the person of Nels Oscar
Sail, who is alleged to be mentally
incompetent, and of his estate situ
ated in Chitina Precinct, Third Judi
cial Division, Territory of Alaska,
and it is further ordered that the
time and place of said hearing be
published in the Chitina Leader, a
paper of general circulation in said
precinct and territory, for four con
secutive weeks.
(Seal) PAUL d’HEIRRY,
U. S. Commissioner and Ex-Otticio
Probate Judge, Third Judicial
Division, Territory of Alaska in
and for Chitina Precinct.
Date of first publication, Decem
ber 23, 1913.
Date of last publication, January
13, 1914.
0. MRIMIMELSDH
U, S. Mineral Surveyor
CHITINA ■ - - ALASKA
« i»11111 n***
CHITINA: BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY GESSNER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON HAND
Chitina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Service.
Next to Cliitina Hotel.
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
Chitina
Pharmacy ij
♦ ♦ ♦♦-♦♦♦*»♦ ♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦
DRUGS,
STATIONERY, !:
CANDIES,
KODAK SUPPLIES
CIGARS & TOBACCO
If you cannot call, write
us. MAIL orders our
Specialty.
A, G. MOREY, Prop.
►
" f 5 1 f ■ f IP
: GROCERIES, HARDWARE j
| AND ::
! MEAT MARKET i
: _ ;
> ,
| We have a big line of Sec- «
| ond-Hand Goods, and can <
> save you money on your out- !
fit. Bunk House, with free !
, Cook House, in connection. '
> ,
; ___ ,
CHITINA HEIGHTS
1 C. A. SIMONS & CO. !
-__ «
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
HAY, BRAN, OATS, CHOPS,
ROLLED BARLEY
fc '
; We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
[CHITINA
| HOTEL
I WASHINGTON
I ANNEX
h SEATTLE
f ^ew' modern and fireproof, t
f All outside iooini f
l The most conveniently located J
l hotel in the city. |
V Rooms and suites are particle \
f larly large. ;
Very desirable for families or
parties traveling together. \
RATES MODERATE ;
Auto-bus meets all boats and J
trains. Write for booklet, i
l
J. H. DAVIS, Prop '
■ - - ....... . r m