presidenttafts
ALASKA MESSAGE
*--—--- li&
The recent special message trans.
mitted by President Taft to Con'
gress, had the following with refer
ence to Alaska:
"There is no branch of th« federal
Jurisdiction which calls more tmper.
atlvely for immediate legislation
tnan that which concerns the public
domain, and especially the part of
that domain which is in Alaska. The
report of the secretary of the interior
which is transmtted here with and
the report to him of the governor of
Alaska, set out the public need in
this regard with great force and in
satisfactory detail.
"The progress under the reclame,
tlon act has made clear the defects
of its limitations, which should be
remedied. The rules governing the
acquisition of homesteads, of land
that is not arid or semLarld, or not
well adapted to the perfecting of
title to land made arable by govern,
ment reclamation work.
Would Ia”ne Patent In Five Yeara
I concur with the secretary of the
Interior In hi* recommendation that,
after entry l* made upon land being
reclaimed, actual occupation as a
homestead of the same be not re.
quired until two year* after entry,
but that cultivation of the same
shall be required, and that the pres,
ent provision under which the land is
to be paid for in ten annual install,
ments shall be so modified as to al.
low a patent to issue for the land at
the end of five years’ cultivation and
three years’ occupation, with a reser_
vation of a government lien for the
amount unpaid of the purchase price.
This leniency to the reclamation
homesteader will relieve him from
occupation at a time when the con.
dltton of the land makes it most bur.
densome and difficult, and at the
end of five year* will funlsh him
with a title upon which he can bor
row money and contiue the improve,
meat of big holding.
Favor* General Classification
«‘I also concur in the recommends,
tlon of the secretary of the interior
that all our public domain should be
classified and that each class should
be disposed of or administered in'
the manner most appropriate to that
particular calss.
The chief change, however, which
ought to be ffisde, and which i nave
already recommended in previous
messages and communications to
Congress, i8 that by which govern
ment coal land and phosphate and
other mineral lands containing non.
metalliferous minerals, shall be leas,
ed by the government, with restric
tions as to slse and time resembling
those which now obtain throughout
the country between the owners in
tee and the lessees who work the
mines, and In leases like those which
hare been most successful in Austra
lia, New Zealand and Nova Scotia.
"The showing made by Investiga.
Hons In to the successful wonting of
the leasing system leaves no doubt
as to Its wisdom and practical utility.
Requirements as to the working of
the mine during the term may be so
framed as to prevent any holding of
large mining properties merely for
speculation, while the royalties may
be made sufficiently low not unduly
to increase the cost of the coal
mined, and at the same time suffi
cient to furnish a reasonable income
for the use of the public in the com.
munity where the mining goes on. In
Alaska there is no reason why a sub.
stantial income should not be thus
raised for such public works as may
be deemed necessary or useful.
"There is no difference between
the reasons which call for application
of the leasing system to the coal
lands still retained by the govern,
ment in the United States proper and
those which exist in Alaska.
AlMk*’s Coal Fields
“There are now In Alaska only two
well known high grade coal fields of
large extent—the Bering River coal
field and the Matanuska coal field.
The Bering River coal field, while It
has varying qualities of coal from
the bituminous to the anthracite. Is
very much lessened In value and use.
fulness by the grinding effect to
which In geological ages past the
eoal measures have been subjected,
so that the coal does not lie or can
not be taken out In large lumps, it
must be mined In almost a powder
ed condition. The same difficulty
does not appear to the same extent
in the Matanuska fields. The Bering
River coal fields are only 25 miles
from the coast They are within easy
distance of an existing railroad built
by the Morgan.OUggenheim Interests,
and may also be reached through
controller Bay by the construction
of other and competing railroads.
Drawback to Controller Bay
“Controller Bay la not a good bar.
bor, but could probably be made
practical with the expenditure of
considerable money. The railroad
of the Morgan.Ouggenhelm interest*,
running from Cordova could be made
a eoal carrying road for the Bering
river fields by th« construction of a
branch to those fields n't exceeding
fifty or sixty miles. It Is practicable,
and If the coal measures were to be
opened «»» doubtless the branch
would be built. In the present condl.
tlon of thing* there is no motive to
build the road, because there is no
title or opportunity to open and mine
the coal.
“The Matanuska coal fields are a
longer distance from the coast. They
are from 150 to 200 miles from the
harbor at Seward on Resurrection
Bay. This is one of the finest harbors
in the world and a reservation has
been made there for the use of the
navy of the United States, a road
constructed from Seward to the Mat.
anuska coal fields would form part
of a system reaching from the coast
into the heart of Alaska, and open
the great interior valleys of the Yu.
kon and the Tanana which have
agricultural as well as great miner,
al possibilities
Would Be Great Trunk Line
The Alaska Central road has been
constructed some seventy.one miles
of the distance from Seward north
to the Malanuska coal fields, but the
construction beyond this has been
discouraged, first, by the fact that
there has been no policy adopted of
opening up the coal lands upon which
investors could depend, and, second,
because there seemed to be a lack
of financial backing of those engaged
in the enterprise.
“The secretary of the interior has
ascertained that the boldholders, who
are the real owners of the road, are
willing to sell to the government
and he recommends the purchase of
the existing road, such reconstruc.
tion as may be necessary its contin.
uance to the Matanuska coal fields,
and thence into the valleys of the
Yukon and the Tanana. It would be
a great trunk line and would be an
opening up of Alaska by government
capital.
"I am not in favor or government
ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency of service can be had
by private enterprise, but I think
the conditions presented in Alaska
are of such a character as to war
rant the government, for the purpose
of encouraging the developemnt of
that vast and remarkable territory,
to built and own a trunk line rail,
road which it can lease on terms
which may be varied and changed to
meet tha growing prosperity and de_
velopment of the territory.
"There is nothing In the history of
the United States which affords such
Just reason for criticism as the fail,
i ure. of the federal government to ex.
tend the benefit of its fostering care
to the territory of Alaska. There was
a time of course, when Alaska was
regarded as so far removed into the
Arctic ocean as to make any deevlop
ment practically impossible, but for
years the facts have been known to
those who have been responsible for
its government, and every one who
has given the subject —e slightest
consideration nas been aware of the
wonderful possibilities in its growth
and development if only capital were
Invested there and a good govern,
ment put over it. I think the United
States owes it, therefore, to Alaska,
and to the people who have gone
tnere, to take an exceptional step
and to build a railroad that shall
open the treasures of Alaska to the
Pacific and to the people who live
along that ocean on our westward.
Government Needn't Operate It
“The construction of a railroad
and the ownership of the fee do not
necessitate government operation.
Pursuant, however, to the recom.
mendation of the secretary of the in.
terior, I suggest to Congress the wis.
dom of providing that the president
may appoint a commission of compe.
jtent persons, including two army en
} gineers, to examine and repo'rt upon
(tue available routes for a railroad
from Seward to the Matanuska coal
fields and Into Tanana and Yu.
kon valleys, with an estimate of the
value of the existing partially con.
structed railroad and of the cost of
continuing t! • railroad to the proper
points in the valleys named. This
proposal is further justified by the
need that the navy of the United
States has for a secure coaling base
In the North Pacific. The commis
sion ought to make a full report also
as to the character of the coal fields
at Matanuska and the problem of
furnishing coal from that source for I
mercantile purposes after reserving
for government mining a sufficient
quantity for the navy.
Commission toim of Government
"I have already recommended to
Congress the establishment of a form
of commission government for Alas,
ka. The territory is too extended, its
needs are too varied, and its distance
from Washington too remote to en
able Congress to keep up with its
necessities in the matter of legisla.
tion of a local character.
“The governor of Alaska, in his
report, which accompanies that of
the secretary of the interior, points
out certain laws that ought to be
adopted, and emphasises what I have
said as to the immediate need for a
government of much wider powers
than now exists there, if it can he
said to have any government at all.
“I do not stop to dwell upon the
tack of provision for the healta of the
Inhabitants and the absence or In* I
adequacy ot laws, the mere state. J
rnent of which shows their crying
need. I only press upon Congress
the Imperative necessity for taking
action not only to permit the begin
ning of the development of Alaka
and the opening of her resources, but
to provide laws which suall give to
those who come under their Juris.'
diction decent protection.”
APPROVE
ALASKAN’S
COURSE
The people of Chitina were almost
unanimously thrown into a spasm of
delight when the Cordova Alaskan
of Monday came to hand. Peace-lov
ing and law-abiding citizens who had
strenuously avoided allying them
selves with the dissention seemed for
the first time to realize their true
feelings. The knowledge thai their
efforts are to be supported rather
than suppressed has given them a
confidence that is bound.to mean
much for decency and material pro
gress in Chitina. Many honest peo
ple who have reluctantly supported
M. R. Healy from a feeling of ne
i cessity, but who in the meantime felt
a nauseating aversion to his egotism
and petty persecutions, have drawn
a long sigh of relief and look for
ward to a new era in Chitina.
No one in Chitina will accuse any
of the few staunch supporters of
Healy of being wrongly involved
with him. He commanded their sup
port because business men know the
injury a puny and autocratic official
can render when' he has the govern
ment behind him. In view of all the
facts disclosed, the people of Chitina
are almost one in demanding tha*
Heal.v and Brown make room for ■ f
ficials whom we can respect as men
and admire for ability and Intelii
gence. If we can’t have American
citizens for officers there is some
thing badly wrong. There are some
quiet researches under way that will
soon prove some very interesting
facts.
Bishop R. T. Rowe, of the Episco
pal Diocese of Alaska, has been in
Washington off and on since Con
gress convened and has made sever
al appearances before the commit
tees in an effort to have created
some Indian reservations in Alaska.
About 98 per cent of the territory
has already been reserved by the for
estry department, and the bishop’s
efforts have not been meeting with
very brilliant success. However,.:
through an arrangement with W. T.
Lopp, Capt. E. P. Bertholf and others
it is believed that the condition of
tne natives in Alaska will be amelior
ated through the Bureau of Educa
tion.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 23.—Thirty
officials of the National Cash Reg
ister Company have been indicted
for violation of the anti-trust laws.
The federal grand jury has been
making a thorough examination of
the nietnods practiced by this com
pany, and the indictments are the
result.
NEW YORK, Feb. 23.—Reports
state that a 9o-mile wind is blowing
along the Virginia coast. Five steam
ships have been blown ashore and
much damage has been done to the
shipping interests.
CHEHALIS, Feb. 23.—A sensa
tion has been caused by the arrest of'
Dr. F. D. Johnson. He is charged
with being an accomplice in the re
cent hold-up of the Farmers Bank,
at which time President Barr was
shot and killed.
JUAREZ, Feb. 19.—For the first
time in three weeks trains are again
running on the Mexican railroad. It
is expected that they will continue
to be operated.
KIEL Feb. 19.—Germany’s 12th
dreadnaught, Prinz Regent Luitpold,
wa« launched this morning in the
presence of the Emperor.
JOPLIN, Mo., Feb. 20.—The Dem_
ocrats of the state of Missouri are
now in session. They will declare
for Champ Clark for the Presidential
nomination.
BOSTON, Feb. 20.—The widow
of the famous Jim Flake has been
residing in this city for several
years past. Yesterday she died in
aoject poverty.
-MEXICO CITY, Feb. 20.—Rebels
are active in eighteen states, and if
mere was any leadership it is feared
that a good-sized insurrection would
oe well under way.
FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 20.—
Governor Harmon, of -Ohio, address
ed the legislature today on the sub.
Ject of public economy.
NANKING, Feb. 21.—Gen. LI
Yuan Hong has been elected vice
president of the new republic.
HOUSTON. Tex., Feb. 21.—A lire
broke out last night in the populous
residence section of the city. Fifty
houses were destroyed and there
were some narrow escapes from
death.
P. W. Carlson has been appointed
fourth-class postmaster at Ophlr. the
leading city of the Innoko district,
to replace H. J, Vinal, resigned.
Late Telegraph News
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—Since his arrival in Washing
ton, where he came on official business, Governor Clark and
officials of the Treasury Department have been searching for
some means, under present law, of establishing and maintain
ing quarantines in Alaska, and of enforcing sanitary and pub
lic health regulations, such as are enforced elsewhere. At first
it was thought that there was no present legal means of dealing
with these matters, and that it would be necessary to look to
Congress for special legislation. The urgency of the situation
was emphasized last summer when travel into Alaska was de
layed and serious epidemics threatened on account of the
smallpox cases in Dawson and in the Canadian Porcupine coun
try; as well as by the prevalence of dangerous diseases in near
ly all the native villages.
It has now been found that under a broad construction of
certain existing laws, it will be possible to establish quaran
tines promptly at any point in Alaska where occasion may
ari^e. Thus commerce and indutsrv, as well as the protection
of human life against contagious diseases will be protected. It
has also been found possible to station in Alaska an important
officer who will perform all the duties and have all the author
ity of a territorial commissioner of health; a part of whose du
ties, with the co-operation of several assistants stationed in the
principal towns, will be to enforce a simple set of sanitary
regulations. These regualtions will not conflict with any that
may have been promulgated by the local authorities in incor
porated towns. Details of the plan are now being worked out
at conferences between the Treasury Department and Governor
Clark.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—In a special message to Con
gress, the President declared against the government owner
ship of telegraph lines. He set forth his reasons at consider
able length. He can see no necessity for the government tak
ing hold of public utilities when they can be equally as well
run by individuals or companies. In this message he recom
mended that the postal rate for carrying magazines and news
papers be increased from one cent to two cents per pound. It
is believed that if this increase is made it will have a strona
tendency to reduce the rate of letter postage from two to one
cent an ounce.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.—A bill introduced by Congress
man Henry D. Flood, of Virginia, has received much considera
tion and discussion. It provides for the appointment of a com
mission of three men, to whom shall be referred the transporta
tion question of Alaska, as to the proper method of bringing
out the coal and developing the territory. Mr. Flood’s bill
would give this important work to an officer of the United
States engineer corps, an experienced railroad engineer, and a
mining man with practical experience and knowledge of coal
transportation. It is generally conceded that this measure will
scon be favorably reported from committee, and that it will be
placed on the calendar for early action. The Alaska delegation
here and the men representing the Pacific coast commercial
bodies feel jubilant at the success with which their efforts are
meeting.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 20.—President Yuan lias caused a sen
sation by telegraphing to Wu Wong, urging that he secure the
election of Dr. Sun to take his place. He gives as a reason that
“I am unable to control the involved and complicated situa
tion in China, and my impaired health makes it necessary that
I retire.” He added, “I have wired the minister of war at
Nanking to dispatch troops to Manchuria to quell the upris
ing.”
LONDON, Feb. 20.—A dispatch from Tientsin states that
Prince Su is financing the movement to establish a constitu
tional monarchy over Manchuria.
LONDON, Feb. 20.—A cable from Tokyo says that Japan
contends that Manchuria is now without a government and
that the secretary of war is dispatching troops in plain clothes
to occupy the province.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20.—William R. Ilearst has giv
en his assurance to the supporters of Champ Clark here that
he will do all in his power to secure, a Clark delegation from the
state of California. He wired this fact to his New York news
paper and in addition he stated that Clark should receive the
support of the Democrats in every state. This positive declar
ation in favor of the presidential nomination of Speaker Clark
will, it is believed, act as a great stimulus to the supporters ot
this favorite son of Missouri.
SEATTLE, Feb. 21.—This city was in the throes yester
day of a great non-political primary. Under the new charter
political designations were not permitted on the ticket, the
two men receiving the highest number of votes for an office
to be pitted against each other at the general election to be
held on March 5. The great contest centered on the mayoralty
nomination. A signal victory was won by Hiram C. Gill, the
man who was elected two years ago and within a year defeated
at a recall election by George W. Dilling. Gill was by far the
leader. Out of 95,000 votes cast he had a majority of about
10,000. The real battle was between the other three aspirants.
As between them George F. Cotterill had the highest number
of votes. Thomas T. Parish came next, but he was 2,000 shy
of winning the race. A close third was Ilulburt Wells, the so
cialist, who was under Cotterill by 3,000. In politics Gill is a
straight Republican. Cotterill is a Democrat with pronounced
Prohibition tendencies. Parish is a Republican who made
a bid for progressive votes. The result seems to indicate the
election of Hiram C. Gill as Mayor, in March, by an over
whelming majority. The combined vote of Gill and Cotterill
was 64,000.
JUNEAU, Feb. 21.—At a Democratic caucus held in this city
last night ten delegates were elected to attend the territorial
convention at Valdez on March 29. They were instructd to
work and vote for R. W. Jennings as the nominee for Delegate
to Congress. They were also directed to work for a plank in
the platform to abolish conservation as now applied in Alas
ka, and which has been the cause of holding up the develop
ment of the territory and causing a feeling of unrest and dis
content.
VICTORIA, Feb. 21.—The government has introduced a
bill in the parliament of British Columbia providing for the
appropriation of $40,000,000 to aid in the construction of 800
miles of new railroads that are projected. Provision is made for
a bridge across Seymour narrows and the running of a trans
continental line into Victoria. The passage of this measure
will give this city a great stimulus and immediately start an
activity. \
LONDON, Feb. 21.—Ominous rumblings have been heard
for some days past among the coal miners and a threatened
strike has been imminent at any time. The government has
considered the situation so serious that it has decided to inter
vene and if possible prevent the strike of 800,000 employees.
Th premier has directd th operators and represntatives of the
miners to meet him tomorrow to arrange a settlement.
NEW COAL FIELDS
TO THE WESTWARD
Like a great curved dagger, 120
miles in thickness at the hilt and
trending south and west for a dis.
tance of nearly 600 miles, the Alas
ka Peninsula present* one of the
most striking land formations. Be.
yond It stretches the chain of the
Aleutian Islands a thousand miles
farther. The coast line of the penin.
sula is ragged and irregular, with in
numerable indentations and bold
cliffs and headlands.
“The Geology and Mineral Re.
sources of Parts of Alaska Penin.
sula” is the title of a report by Wal
lace W. Atwood, recently issued by
the United States Geological Sur.
vey. During the Russian occupation
of Alaska many facts concerning
the geology of the peninsula were
collected, but the study by Dali and
Becker, of the Geological Survey, of
the coal and gold deposits of Unga
Island and of some of the coal beds
of the mainland in 1895 represents
the first attempt at systematic Inves
tigation of the mineral resources.
Martin, in 1903 and 1904, made the
first examination of the petroleum
seepages. Meanwhile other invest!,
gators had contributed to the knowl
edge of the general geology.
The prosecution of the survey's
plan of investigating the coal re.
sources of Alaska led to Mr. At.
wood's work, which included the
of Chignikj Herendeen Bay and Un
ga. Incidentally he collected consid.
arable information in regard to the
general geology and mineral re
sources of the entire peninsula.
Mapping was done in some detail
in the surveyed coal fields and the
results are set forth with considera.
ble confidence as to their accuracy.
Far less definite information was ob
tained as to the areal and strati,
graphic geology and mineral depos
its of the rest of the peninsula. If
funds are available, more detailed
investigations of the geology and the
mineral deposits will be undertaken
when the mining advancement seems
to demad them. As early as 1854
attempts were made to mine coal on
Cook Inlet. Coal claims were staked
on Unga Island in the early seventies!
and ten years later some systematic
mining at this and other localities
in southwestern Alaska was begun.
The rapid deevlopment of the more
accessible coal fields of California,
Washington and Vancouver Island,
which began about 1870, supplied
the west coast market, and from that
time until very recently little atten.
tion has been given to Alaska coal.
Mining to supply local demand has,
how’ever, continued in the peninsula
to the present day.
The coal of Alaska Peninsula is not
of as high grade as that of the Ber
ing river and Matanuska fields, but
the fields are more accessible. The
fields described in the survey report
are all near good harbors, a location
that will give them an advantage
over the higher-grade coals of other
Alaska fields. Moreover, their close
proximity to the great circle route
from Puget Sound to Yokohama will
certainly eventually accrue to their
benefit, though it must be confessed
that their immediate use for trans.
Pacific shipment does not seem prac
ticable. On the other hand, unless
petroleum is found, they furnish the
only local source of fuel for Alaska
Peninsula, which is without timber.
Some drilling for oil has been done
on the peninsula, but it has not
shown either the presence of the ab
sence of a commercially valuable
pool. It appears, however, that the
geologic data at hand warrant the
continuation of the search.
So far as known geologic condi
tions like those on Unga Island,
where successful gold mining has
been carried on for many years, may
be found in other parts of the prov_
ince, so that there seems to be a
field here that warrants the attention
of the lode prospector.
Except for the absence of timber,
the conditions in Alaska peninsula
are more favorable for mining than
in many other parts of the Territory,
winter is less severe than in the in.
terior or in Seward Peninsula. Num.
erous good harbors are open to navi,
gation throughout the year. The
luxuriant growth of grass in the pe.
ninsula, except in the high moun.
tains, favors the use of horses, and
the many streams and lakes render
much of the region readily accessi.
ble to small boats.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.—Repub
lican conventions are beginning to be
held in various parts of the country.
Up to date 32 delegates have been in
structed for the nomination of Pres,
ident Taft.
The steamer Santa Ana, ’./hich re
cently went aground at Karta Day.
on her return from the westward to
Seward, has been repaired and is
now loading lumber in Seattle for
a new cannery to be built by German
& Co. at i oint Ward.
EL PASO, Tex., Feb. 23.—Miss
Nellie Wflson, daughter of Governor
Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, lias
had an unpleasant experience while
traveling through Mexico. With
some of the Madero followers she
was marooned at Chihuahua and the
rebels are refusing to allow the train
to proceed to Juarez.
Where you are always treated
right—Fairbanks Saloon.
NOTICE.
Notice is hereby iven that the
partnership heretofore existing be
tween Dan McMillen and Swan Elm
green at Copper Mountain, is this
day dissolved and tnat Lucy Grimm
has taken the interest of Swan Elm
green. All debts of the former part
nership and *11 accounts due them
are assumed by the new partnership.
SWAN ELMGREEN.
Chitina Bakery
& Coffee House
GESSNER & STANGNETH
Proprietors
FRESH BREAD
Cakes and Pastry
Always on Hand
Main Street, — Chitina.
Pete’s Lodging
House
AND
SECOND HAND STORRE
FREE COOKING HOUSE
CHITINA HEIGHTS
Bunks 25c; Beds 50c
PETER CORDES. Prop.
D. A. GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs' Building.
Cbitlna, Alaska.
LUMBER
Hay & Grain
We can give you lowest
rates in carload lots or less
0- A. NELSON & COMPANY,
Chitina, Alaska.
IKE LOG CABIN
RESTAURANT
Has o|>ened under tlio new
management of flcnunent &
Ijund.
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
Meals Served at All Honrs.
Come nnd see us and get a
square.
Horse Shoeing
and Repairing
J.O; PEARSON
At Chamberlain's* feed &
tale stable.
PUBLIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any contest
or any matter before tjie Interior De
partment. write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, 902 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land Office),
Washington, I). C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
Chitina
Pharmacy
THE DAYLIGHT STORE
♦+♦♦+♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
DRUGS
STATIONERY
CANDY
CIGARS
TOBACCO
MAGAZINES
and PAPERS
aTgTmOREY, Prop.
Mrs. J. L. GAGE
DEALER IN
Ladies and Children’s
Furnishing Goods
Mail Orders Promptly Filled
CH1T1NA, ALASKA
HOTEL CHITINA
and
Hotel Chitina Bar
Only First Class Hotel in Town.
Heated Rooms, First-class Cafe, Courteous Attention
PRICES REASONABLE
We are general agents for the famous PARK
FORD Whiskey and can fill your orders, promptly. Re
member the brand, “PARKFORD,” bottled in bond
and uaranteed by the makers, Woollier Distilling Co.
PALMER & CLONINGER Chitina, Alaska
Copper River & Northwestern Railway
Good Passenger and Freight
Service to Interior Alaska
For Rates and Other Infomation Apply at
DEPOT OFFICE