The Chitina Leader !
CHITIXA, ALASKA.
Entered as second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
at Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
SYDNEY D. CHARLES, City Editor
Office: Hote IChitina Building. ■ Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the
service given.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Month. $ .50
Six Months. 2.00
One Year. 3.50
LET US MINE OUR OWN COAL.
n^1- ---■-.—
CHITIXA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, AUGUST lit. 15)11.
THE MINING GAME.
When mining is reduced to a scientific basis there is as
little element of chance as in any other business. Most people
seem to forget that it takes time and money to develop a
prospect into a dividend paying mine.
In Chitina, as well as Cordova, nearly every person is
dabbling in mining in some form or other. Some grubstake
prospectors, others make an occasional visit to the hills to see
what they may find and a larger class buy attractive appearing
mining stock. Unfortunately, some of these, not getting im
mediate returns, get discouraged and become pessimists. In
no other business would they expect to expend a few hundred
dollars and make tens of thousands in return, and, worse still,
in many such cases not even ordinary intelligence is used to
discriminate between stock that stands a show of netting some
thing in return and stock that is absolutely worthless. Con
servative business men, who usually exercise the utmost care
in investing their money, often buy stock from people whose
■word is known to be worthless.
The best man for a mining camp is the one who consistently
spend his money without any hope of immediate returns. It
is a matter of business with him each year to spend so much
money, and should all of his prospects and prospective proper
ties turn out to be so many holes in the ground, he never
complains. All he demands is that his money shall be honestly
expended in trying to find something, and he usually knows
those who can be trusted to do this. He knows that one paying
mine will put him all to the good. It is this class of man who
is the mainstay of any mining camp.
A better opportunity never offered in any mining com
munity for getting on the ground floor than is offered around
Cordova and Chitina at the present time. Despite the knocks
of a few soreheads, who declare there are no permanent values
in the country, that the formation is not right, that it is a
stringing country, etc., every day is showing up flattering
prospects from every part of the great mineralized belt tribir
tary to the railroad. Within a lmndred mile radius of Chitina,
i’or instance, can be found almost every mineral known to
science. ®It has taken millions of dollars to prove the copper
values, and many of these large properties are still in their
prospective stage, and it will also require a large amount to
prove the gold and other mineral values. It may also be said
in this connection that with the growth of the mineral devel
opment year by year, the development of the towns and com
munities dependent upon mining will also forge steadily ahead.
All we need to do at the present time is to play the mining
game consistently, and not look for returns too soon, nor be
come discouraged too quickly.
-oooo
ADVERTISE OUR RESOURCES.
The proposition to advertise Alaska at the New York
exposition should meet with the hearty support of everyone
interested in the upbuilding of this part of the country. Most
likely the mineral resources will be represented, since most
people naturally consider this a mining country, but there are
other resources just as important and these should not be
overlooked.
A representative display of the products of the soil, for
instance, would prove a valuable object lesson in teaching
easterners that the country is not one entirely given over to
ice and snow. Any samples sent to Agent Barry at Cordova
will be sent free of cost to New York for the display. They
could be handed to the station agent at Chitina, or at any
other point along the railroad.
Trophies of the chase would also show this to be a game
country, and exhibits of the wild flora and vegetation would
prove attractive. Alaska must continue an active campaign
of advertising and education in order to fully dissapate the
ignorance which still exists on the outside as to the true con
ditions.
Once public opinion becomes properly aroused and people
generally understand what pioneer Alaskans are really trying
to do in reclaiming a new borderland for the benefit of civiliza
tion they will demand that Congress enact constructive legis
lation. Already light is beginning to break through many
places and it is inconceivable that congress can much longer
deny Alaskans common rights, such as granted to every other
state and territory under the constitution.
Therefore no opportunity to advertise our resources and
show what has been accomplished already should be over
looked. More especially is this true of the east, where northern
conditions are least understood.
-oooo—
PRODUCTS OP THE SOIL.
Most conservative people are loth to advertise this part
of Alaska as a farming country, not because of any lack of
faith in the productiveness of the soil, but because of the hard
ship it might work by attracting people unfamiliar with the
conditions.
Right now there are excellent opportunities, in this part
of Alaska for farming to the exteut that a market affords by
virtue of the mining and industrial development. For instance,
many thousands of dollars are sent outside every few months
for products which can be grown successfully at home.
Naturally the first cost of clearing land and getting it
ready for crops is the greatest cost. It may also require
several years of experimenting to determine the kind of
products that will grow best in different localities. A sandy
ioam hillside with a southern exposure might be just the thing
for potatoes, for instance, and be totally unfit for other kinds
of vegetables.
The movement of the railroad for an experimental farm
at Long Lake is a good one. Already in a small way farmers
are giving practical demonstrations of the value of the soil
in raising many kinds of vegetables, but the experimental
farm can conduct operations on a much larger scale and try
out many things, grains and grasses, for instance, which would
not come within the scope of the small farmer.
-oooo
THE SECRETARY’S ALASKAN TOUR.
Every resident of Alaska is vitally interested in the forth
coming visit of Secretary Fisher, which is fraught with much
significance. We are all ready to receive him most courteously
and to extend the proverbial Alaskan hospitality. But at
the same time our people will not lose sight of the purpose
of his coming.
And every loyal resident of the territory will have no
hesitancy in frankly setting forth the actual conditions as
they appeal to the narrator. Secretary Fisher is presumably
honestly seeking light on the present situation. He wants
facts, even though they must be presented in a way seemingly
to cast reflection upon the policy of the government.
The Secretary is a candid man and will undoubtedly ad
mire the candor and earnestness of the men who tell the story
of Alaska’s wrongs. Speaking in line with this thought the
Denver Republican says:
“Secretary Fisher of the department of the Interior is
coming west. This will be his first official visit to that part
of the country with which his department is most closely con
nected.
“He will be given a warm welcome, for the people of the
far west are hospitable, and they habitually show officials of
the federal government all the respect due their office. In the
case of Secretary Fisher this disposition will be strengthened
by the hope that he will, upon returning to Washington, be
guided on what he learns of this part of the country and of the
sentiment of its people.
“Secretary Fisher is a resident of Chicago, but, although
a western city, Chicago is too far removed from the Rocky
mountains and the Pacific coast to appreciate very clearly the
spirit of the far west. The secretary has not learned in Chica
go what the people of this section desire or what the condi
tions which give impulse and character to public sentiment
really are. There is reason to believe that his conjectures con
cerning far western sentiment and his views respecting the
policy which should guide the administration of the depart
ment of the interior have been colored by the opinions of
residents of communities less in touch than even Chicago with
the interests, the opinions and the hopes of people living west
[if the one hundreth meridian.
“Before starting on his tour Secretary Fisher should so
rar as possible free himself from all preconceived notions,
lest he view far western conditions through glasses colored
by prejudice.
“While in the far west he will hold many communications
svith subordinate officials and agents of his own department
ind the department of agriculture. But he should not be
unmindful of the fact that to base his conclusions respecting
ar western conditions and public sentiment upon what de
partment officials stationed in the far west may say would
iiffer but little from shaping his policy upon what the same
officials might say to him in Washington.
“His western tour will be valuable to him in proportion
to what he himself learns by observation and what he gains
by direct communication with the people who live in the far
west, who know more about it than the inhabitants of any
uther section, and who are the most deeply interested in its
welfare. Unfortunately, it is sometimes true that when an
ufficial of high rank visits this part of the country lie- assumes
—all unconsciously no doubt—the attitude of one who announ
ces to the people what the government already has determined
to do, rather than that of one who desires to learn what course
the people wish the government to pursue.
“Secretary Fisher win prove himself an exception to the
rule if he recognizes that the people of the far west are some'
thing more than mere petitioners waiting to hear what answer
may be made to their appeals. He will do well and promote
the success of his administration if he reveals a sincere desire
to conform to the wishes of the citizens of the far western
states. He will still further do well if he recognizes that, being
the most deeply interested in far western matters, the people
of this section have the primary right to be heard in regard
to what the policy of the government should be.”
-oooo
In the latest issue of the Outlook former President Koose
velt contributes an article undeer the caption, “Alaska Must
Be Developed!” In view of the fact that the strenuous one has
done more than any other one person to harass and retard the
development of this vast and rich domain, by reason of his.
unconstitutional withdrawal of the coal areas from entry and
location, the inconsistency of his present attitude is apparent.
Of course, he maintains that this withdrawal was for the pur
pose of preventing a monopoly of the coal fields of Alaska.
A rigid investigation into all coal locations, at that time, would
have answered the purpose, without the necessity of a hold-up
of all the coal areas of the territory. Roosevelt may fool all
the people part of the time, part of the people all of the time,
but he can’t fool all of the people all of the time.—Seward
Gateway.
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF
PARTNERSHIP.
This agreement, made and entered j
into this twelfth day of August. 1911,)
by T. W. Cloninger and I. J. St.
Clair. !
Witnesseth, That it is mutually
agreed that the partnership hereto- j
fore existing under the firm name of
St. Clair & Cloninger be and here
by is dissolved and that all accounts
for and against the said firm shall
bee paid and collected by T. W.
Cloninger. •
I. J. ST. CLAIR.
T. W. CLONINGER.
Seattle, Aug. 19.—Another fatal
automobile accident occurred, by a
machine plunging off the Spokane
Avenue bridge. Miss Linda Hodge
son, cashier at the Bon Marche, was
instantly killed and Mrs. C. E .Sor
enson. fiancee of G. M. Fisher, re
ceived injuries which resulted in her
death.
FORFEITURE NOTICE.'
Notice is hereby given Charles Gar
wood that his interest in the Tjose
vig rgoup of mines, will cease at the
expiration of the publication of this
notice, unless he pays $50 as his
share of the assessment work for
1904, $50 for 1905, $50 for 1906
and $50 for 1909.
CHRISTIAN TJOSEVIG.
Dated this 14th day of Aug., 1911.
D: A GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs’ Building.
Chitina, Alaska.
DR. CHAS. THOM
Physician and Surgeon
Now permanently located at Chitina,
Alaska.
• «
SAVOY
• i
! RESTAURANT;
• _ «
» •
* «
» Opposite C.'iitina Trading Co. «
1 •
■ ,
» ,
* i
| The Only First-Class Cafe in J
I Chitina I
• •
» a
* <
| American and European Clan <
• _ <
• .
■
: Dinner 75c up :
> *
1 •
[ A la Carte all day J
’ <
• «
■ -
I ,
* I
■ Cater to special dinner parties. <
• <
•.
Chitin
Ph rmacy
Drugs Toilet Articles
and magazines our
Specialties
Parisian Chocolates
The Best of the Bast
Mi Eleccion Cigars
An All-Havana Smoke
A. G. MOREY, Proprietor
Chitina, Alaska.
Pete’s Lodging
House
AND
SECOND HAND STORRE
CHIIINA HEIGHTS
Bunks 23c; Beds SOc.
PETER CORDES, Prop.
Chitina
News
Stand
All the Latest
MAGAZINES & PERODICALS
Cigars, Tobacco's, Confection
ery and Soft Drinks
POOL AND SOLO TABLES
Barber Shop in Connection
You can play or read while
awaiting your turn
AL CHURCH & TOM BRADY,
Proprietors
Just Op
i
*
TIBBS BROS.
:: Chitina Bakery x
;: & Coffee House t
i;: t
i X GESSNER & STANGNETH X
I • ■ Proprietors £
j:: FRESH BREAD t
;; Cakes and Pastry £
• ► Always on Hand >■
I f
< •
• • Main Street, — Chitina. £
<> T
PUBLIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any contest
or any matter before the Interior De
partment, write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, 902 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen'l Land Office),
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
t Log |
l Cabin \
4 4
l Restaurant l
4 4
4 4
i — i
| GOOD COFFEE |
i OSBORNE I
• • < ►
! ! THE ; »
;; < ►
■ • PRACTICAL ! ►
M * »
Jeweler
* ►
’ CORDOVA, • ALASKA ! ►
j I
I > Watches and Jewelry at [
;! Outside Prices I;
is \:
< 'Leave Your Work at the Leader! '
Office ! !
: ::