The Chitina Leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered ns second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice at
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 18 <9.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL, Editor and Proprietor.
* Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
* SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month ...*-Vn“
Six IVlonths .
One Year .. J au
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.lve; district,_
/ CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1914.
ALASKA’S GLAD DAY
Surely the skies are brightening for long-neglected Alaska.
One by one the obstacles to its development have been brushed
away, until now it is a matter of but few months when the
territory may expect a boom of some proportions. This season
of rapid development should begin about the time the United
States government indicates the terminus of the proposed
government railway.
A project on which the government intends to expend
$35,000,000 confers a very high degree of public interest on
the headquarters of such expenditure, and its determination
will induce an influx of new citizens from the moment of its
announcement. Further than this, the seaport that is selected
as the railway teraiinus is likely to continue, indefinitely, to
be the great commercial port of the territory.
The exhaustive pioneering for the alternative routes of
the railway has been completed, the survey pai’ties have
returned to Seattle with their data, and by the first of the year
President Wilson should be in a position to name the future
Alaska metropolis.
With its great wealth in gold, copper and other minerals,
and its agricultural possibilities made available by rail con
nections, there is no question of the ability of Alaska to attract
and employ a lai-ge population. The recent approval of the
bill for leasing government coal lands will add to the tonnage
possibilities of the railway, bring employment and wealth to
Alaskans and unlock a treasure chest of honorable business
opportunity. Altogether, there should be nothing bixt glowing
promise in the Alaska sky.
With all this Seattle is greatly concerned. Alaska is at
the threshold of the greatest development iix its history, and
Seattle’s heai't swells with joy and pride in the territory’s
good fortune, in which so many of our citizens are interested.
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
THE PROMISE OF A NEW YEAR
It is evident that the President is keeping well in mind
railroad construction in Alaska. According to Secretary Lane
the members of the Alaska Engineering Commission have been
requested to report at Washington and there complete their
work. It is expected that by the end of the year all possible
data concerning the available routes for government building
of railroads in Alaska will be ready for submission to the
President. It is then expected that he and Secretary Lane will
carefully study and digest the voluminous information sub
mitted by the commission and make an early decision as to
the route or routes that will best serve the people of Alaska
and tnd to the greater devlopment of the rich resources of the
territory. And upon that decision the immediate future of
Cordova will depend.
If, as confidently expected, it shall be decided to take over
the C. R. & N. W. Railway, and build a trunk line from Chitina
to Fairbanks, it will mean the permanency of this town. Or
if that should not happen and either the present owners of
the railway or the government should decide to build a branch
line from Mile 38 tnto the Bering river coal fields then all
possible doubt as to the future of Cordova would disappear.
Either construction, or both, would leave no uncertainty as to
the growth of this section of Prince William Sound. But it
would be particularly encouraging to know that a railroad
from here to the Bering river fields was soon to be constructed.
That would mean huge coal bunkers here, a naval coaling
station, big drydock, smelter and other industries. So soon as
announcement is made of the intention of the government, and
assuming that it be favorable to Cordova, then the influx of
new people will begin. Vacant residences will begin to fill,
empty store rooms will be rented, new buildings will go up,
real estate will take on an added value and will be in demand,
while business generally will hum.
THE DECLINE OF CANDIDATES
.
Different candidates for the Legislature from this
division have had their hopes raised sky high and several had
mental pictures of their occupancy of a seat in the high
councils of legislative government. But, alas, later returns
have dashed the hopes of some good men and today they find
themselves out of the running. This is particularly true of
the Senatorship, as returns from the Cook Inlet country have
given the place to Judge Hubbard of Valdez. It was hoped
that Cordova was to have representation in the person of
Tom Price. All the earlier reports indicated that he would be
the successful nominee, but the Wickersham wave in this
division landed the Valdez candidate in the coveted position.
For a time it also looked as though Judge Lyons and Dad
Ingram had been elected to the lower house, but they are now
out of the running. The distribution is equable so far as
locality goes. The successful men are John Noon of Seward,
Charley Day of Valdez, Tom Holland of Chitina and T. B.
Tansey of Kennecott. Mr. Holland is a Democrat, but with
out regard to party secured a good vote in all sections of the
division. The other three Representatives and the Senator
were on the Wickersham ticket.
NEW BANKING SYSTEM OPENS TODAY
The twelve federal reserve banks authorized under the
currency act opened for business today and the credit facilities
of the country are expected to be enormously increased by the
release of $400,000,000 of reserve money heretofore kept out of
the arteries of business and trade by the old law. Much good
to the country in general has been promised in the way of relief
from money famines in the future; but, in financial as whll as
in medical science, doctors occasionally disagree, and there are
among hankers many who believe the new system will disap
point the public in some respects; that it will not prove the
cure-all promised by its friends; that it will be more of a
benefit to the big interests in banking and business than to
others and that it will give the former a stronger strangle hold
on the public than they enjoyed under the old system. Those
who seem to be inclined to be the most pessimistic are bankers
and businessmen in the smaller cities—men who have studied
the subject as closely, and who are possibly as well informed,
as their big brothers. Optimists claim that state and national
banks will feel the effect of the opening of the reserve banks
through the enlarging of their credits, and these in turn will
have an increased ability to extend credit to their customers.
It is to be hoped that none but the pessimists will be disap
pointed and that all classes, including those who do not have
mortgages, “commercial paper” cotton, wheat, shingle or ore
receipts or bills of lading to offer as security for loans, will feel
the impetus of new business life caused by the injection of
additional blood into the nation’s arteries.
MAY DO MISSIONARY WORK
Despatches note the departure of Governor Strong for
California, where he goes to attend a meeting of one of the
commissions having in charge appropriations for the two
expositions. This will give the governor another excellent
opportunity to exercise his ability as a publicist and to dispel
some of the erroneous ideas regarding Alaska entertained and
nourished by people who are perhaps well informed about
other and more accessible portions of the nation’s possessions.
An entertaining spectacle at the Exposition would be a verbal
duel between the governor and that southern member of
'Congress who recently advertised his superior knowledge in a
speech in the House by stating that, “Alaska isn’t worth
spending another dollar on in the way of an appropriation, as
its only resources are glaciers and ice.” This Congressman was
opposing the bill which will tend to emancipate Alaska.
PROSPECT IS NOT FAVORABLE
The Third judicial division of Alaska is becoming so law
abiding that District Attorney Spence finds difficulty in
keeping himself and two deputies busy. He says that while
it would be a matter of convenience to have an assistant
District Attorney at Cordova, the business of the office would
not now justify the request for another assistant, and he does
not think that a request of that nature would be favorably
considered by the Attorney General. The last effort made to
secure consideration for Cordova and the Copper River
country in this particular was last spring just before District
Attorney Walker went out of office. Judge Spence thinks that
with new railroad construction and the establishment of new
industries in this section, the natural influx of new people
would then likely result in the department of justice taking
favorable action on our request for a deputy to be
located here.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
The jingoes and dealers in armor plate and war supplies,
who point out that Servia has a bigger army than the United
States, neglect to mention in the same connection that the
United States spends $250,000,000 a year on its army and
navy, which is more money than Servia spends on its whole
government.
In Washington, D. C., they are discussing playgrounds for
adults. It’s different up here in Alaska, where the entire (
country is a vast playground, with each man a flying wedge,
trying to break through the line to a touchdown back of Dame
Fortune’s goal. Xo discussion of this kind is needed here.
A war tax on soft drinks is talked about. The govern
ment experts who have been defining whisk and wines will'
now have a chance to define what is a soft drink.
Still the question insiduously worms itself into discussion:
Is not $500,000 a pretty big price to be paid for Monticello by
a government that has to levy war taxes?
The war permits us to establish a new classification. There
aye war experts and there are ordinary people who don’t know
liueh more about war than the experts do.
/ McCarthy is growing until it is becoming quite a small
'metropolis. There are a number of children there and the
necessity for a school is apparent.
What the powers began fighting for no one seems able to
tell. But what they are fighting for now is to make the other
fellows pay the bills.
England claims to have captured over 200 German
merchant vessels. This certainly confirms her title as mistress
of the high seize.
The Germans will never capture London. If they should
try it that tight English censorship would bar the way with
a prohibition.
A subscriber from McCarthy writes to inquire how long a
United States Senator is elected for. In answer we reply six
years.
If the “safety first” rule were followed to a logical con
clusion, all nations would be disarmed to prevent further wars.
There is considerable bitterness in Valdez over the result
of the recent election and a fight between the factions will
likely be carried into the next municipal election.
Now that the election smoke has dissolved, the boards of
strategy about lmtel lobbies, irrigation parlors and other
slopes wbpr-p rnen most do con^re^ate in all the towns of the
nnnntrv win smpirt fqlrp tin fbeir duties in connection with the
Fnronpnn war. This branch has been somewhat neglected for
fwr» wfiplrs.
Why Not Invest?
With the building of the government railroad from
Chitina to Fairbanks, the future of the Town of Chitina
is assured.
Lots are still offered at attractive prices and there
are many desirable ones remaining.
f
A few months later lots in Chtiina will be held at
largely increased values. Why not invest NOW ?
i
GEO. C. HAZELET,
Agent Chitina Townsite Company.
TIN SHOP
IN SHUSHANNa
Xo more need to carry
STOVES and TIXWARE
over the long trail to the
interior, as we are pre
pared to fill all orders in
our tin shop.
W. H. CARSTENS & CO.
SHUSHANNA - - ALASKA
Chitina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Seivice.
Next to Chitina Hotel.
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
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E 0. ADRIAN NELSON i
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£ i»
t U. S. Mineral Surveyor j
l CHITINA ■ - - ALASKA j
i4WW»W»»K»H»WH»
CHITINA: BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY GESSNER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON HAND
►444-444444 444444444 4444444
[ Chitina
Pharmacy jj
44444 4 4 4444-r4444 4 44444 «;
DRUGS,
STATIONERY, ::
CANDIES,
KODAK SUPPLIES ;;
cigars & tobacco ::
If you cannot call, write : I
us. MAIL orders our •;
Specialty. ;
A. G. MOREY, Prop.;j
4444444444444444444444444
jjp® Let Lewis Help
n ''Pointer* for Amateurs" will help you to better
pictures—it’s free. Send us you.- films for develop
ing and printing. Enlarging. Developing 10c roll, |
any aize; printing, Jc up. Cash with order. You’ll
find our work better. Photo supplies. Dept. S.
I GROCERIES, HARDWARE !
| —- AND- = |
| MEAT MARKET f
i — \
f We have a big line of Sec- f
? ond-Hand Goods, and can 4>
? save you money on your out- X
X fit. Bunk House, with free X
X Cook House, in connection. 4
I CHITINA HEIGHTS t
J C. A. SIMONS & CO. X y
J
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
hay, bran, oats, chops,
ROLLED BARLEY
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITINA
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