DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIOUR1NO WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGG—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EGG.
VOL. I.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1910.
NO. 12
MIXERS TAKING OUTFIT
INTO DEAN’S BASIN
H. S. Bean, L. B. Erickson and
Andrew Johnston, who last season
located some promising quartz ledges
about sixteen miles from Taral, near
what they call Dean’s Basin, will in
a few days start with a winter's
outfit for their prospects and begin
active development work on the
property. Mr. Dean left for Cordova
this week to purchase the necessary
supplies, while Messrs. Johnston and
Erickson left with their horse and
double-ender for Tonsina to pick up
some tools which will be needed at
their mines. They expect to run sev
eral tunnels and cross-cuts this win
ter, believing they will be justified
for their work, as the assay returns
from the samples of quartz sent out
are highly satisfactory.
BIG POTLATCH PROPOSED
FOR COMING HOLIDAYS
A petition is now going the rounds
lor donations toward a fund to have
a big potlatch in the vicinity of Chit
ina during the holidays and have the
different tribes of the Copper Rivor
Indians in attendance.
Agent Lawson, who is one of the
promoters of the entertainment, sa>’3
the petition is securing many sign
ers, and those who have never seen
an affair of this kind will never re
gret chipping in toward the fund.
Put your name down for what you
feel you can afford. It will help the
Indian to enjoy his Christmas, and
the novel sight of the natives go
ing through their dances, feasting
and religious ceremonies will be ap
preciated and a holiday treat to ev
eryone who witnesses it.
PLENTY OF SKATING IN
CHITINA FROM NOW ON
Ever since the fall of snow, which
spoiled the skating on the lake, lov
ers of this pastime have been agitat
ing a way of making a rink. Some
suggested scraping the snow off by
a horse and scraper, but a better way
is to flood tne lake, which will
make the best ice. This can easily
be done by the pumping station at
the big water tank, but, of course,
permission had to be secured from
the Katalla Company officials. This
was done on Thursday evening while
Superintendent Van Cleve was here.
He gladly gave his consent to have
the engineer flood the lake, and In
structed Agent Lawson to take the
matter up, so after this threatened
flurry of snow, the lake will be flood
ed and Chitina people can be assur
ed of a most pleasant diversion all
winter long.
INQUIRIES ARE MADE FOR
KUSKULANA BRIDGE MAN
The following communication wt>3
received by the editor of the Lead
er on Thursday evening, from Chas.
Dyer, foreman <?f the Kuskulan*
bridge, and, as will be seen, the men
at the bridge camp are anxious to
receive any information as to the
■whereabouts of one Dan Mclnnis, a
brldgeman, more commonly call’d
"Red” Mclnnis by many old-timers
who know him:
Editor Chitina Leader.
Dear Sir: One of our brldgemen
by the name of Dan Mclnnis has been
missing now for several days and
his friends are a little worried, as
Mclnnis has been acting very queer
of late, such as talking to himself,
singing and running up in the hills,
and the men who followed him would
find him climbing trees and suet
foolish things, and now that he has
gotten away unseen, the men fear
he may get frozen. He is a big fel
low about 6 feet tall, red hair and
beard, but harmless. Anyone who
could give any information as to his
whereabouts would do all of us a
great favor. If you will put a no
tice in your paper and try and help
us out you will confer a great favor.
Thanking you in advance, I am re
spectfully yours,
CHAS. DYER,
Foreman Bridge Qang, Kuskulana.
The court party and invited guests
who arrived from Cordova in a spec
ial car on Thursday evening, were
loud in their praise of the trip, the
scenic beauty along the Copper River
way, the courtesy extended them by
the railroad officials and the hospi
tality and reception given by the
Chitina people.
A buffet luncheon was served in
the coach while en route, and after
the train pulled into Chitina at 3:30
the party took a trip over the new
cut-off trail for a few miles, in
sleighs furnished by Manager Jesse
Martin of the Orr Stage company.
Through this kindness of Mr. Martin
the visitors got to see a little of the
new trail, which was highly approved
by them. The ride in the fresh air
gave all a good appetite and when
they arrived back to town the party
was divided, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
S haupp entertaining some of the
visitors at dinner, while Messrs. Ex
um, Healey and Weber entertained
the rest of the party at the Savoy
restaurant. Those taking dinner with
Mr. and Mrs. Schaupp were: Judge
and Mrs. Cushman, Mr. and Mrs. I.
Hamburger, Mrs. Baird, Mrs. Mur
phy,Miss Mary Boyle and R. J. Barry.
The following names, who were en
tertained by Messrs. Exum, Healey
and Weber, made up the entire list
of those arriving on the special
coach: District Attorney Geo. R.
Walker, Clerk of Court Ed. M. Lakm,
Deputy Clerk T. S. Scott, Chief Dep
uty Marshal J. H. D. Bouse, Deputy
Marshal Geo. R. Goshaw, U. S. Com
missioner W. H. Ferguson, U. S. Com
missioner O. A. Tucker, Stenograph
ers Don Stewart and John Hamilton,
Deputy Collector of Customs M. S.
Whittier, Attorney R. J. Boryer, Su
perintendent J. R. Van Cleve, Gen
eral Agent R. J. Barry and Master
Signal Electrician Charles Murphy.
After dinner, Mine Host Breedman
of the Hotel Chitina, informed the
guests that the house was theirs as
long as they remained in Chitina,
the ladies repairing to their rooms
for a short rest be re the dancing
and entertainment, which began at
9 o'clock.
The large bar and billiard room,
which was completed only the day
before, was used as the reception
hall, and shortly after the guests en
tered the entertainment committee,
consisting of Messrs. Ferguson, Hea
ley, Brown and Bennett, introdu.ed
the Chitina people to the visitors,
after which the orchestra struck up a
waltz and dancing was enjoyed until
after 11 o’clock. Mrs. Burgun and
Messrs. Tibbs and Alba furnished the
music, and the only fault to be
found with this part of the evening's
entertainment was the wet condition
of the floor, which, of course, could
not be avoided, as a fire was only put
in the building the day previous.
No elaborate plans were made to
entertain the distinguished guests, as
conditions here at present would not
permit of it, so there was no forni'il
ity, but every one here tried to make
the visitors feel at home, which all
said they appreciated as much or
more than if they had been “wined
and dined” from the time of their
arrival to their departure.
All the party regretted not having
the time to make the trip to the Kus
kulana bridge, but the ride over the
new trail and a “mush” through the
big tunnel near town satisfied them
until they can make the trip again
when the road will have been finisn
ed and they can go on through to the
Bonanza mine nearly 200 miles in
one day to this great interior mining
belt by rail.
“Grapevine” Telegraphic News
For Benefit of Court Officials
While the dancing and merriment
was at its height on Thursday even
ing when the Chitina people were en
tertaining the court party who arriv
ed on the special car from Cordova,
Judge Ferguson stepped to the cen
ter of the floor and holding up his
hand for silence, remarked that a
few bulletins had just arrived from
Cordova which would no doubt be
of interest to the visitors, which he
read as follows:
Bulletin.
Received from the Daily Alaskan
at 7 p. m. Of interest to the court
officials:
Steamer Olympia wireless reports
the arrival of steamer at Cordova at
9 a. m, tomor 'w; departing for
westward ports at noon. Steamer
Alameda expected to arrive Monday
morning.
Recess appointments, confirmation
postponed indefinitely awaiting re
ports and results of the investiga
tions of the grand juries in the First,'
Second and Third divisions.
A stray cat became interested in
the local cable office; its “tale” .s
now appended to one of the numer-1
ous instruments; the boys are anx
iously awaiting the arrival of the
“chief” from Chitina. i
Suit was filed today against the
Katalla Company and Alaska Steam
ship Company by the Alaska Coast
Company to recover the attached
freight of the wrecked steamer Port
land.
Mrs, “Judge” Tucker is very busy
today in the recorder’s office. The
office is flooded with locations from
the McKinley lake region.
Sam Blum reports that the strong
box belonging to the U. S. marshal
and clerk of the court has been tak-'
en from the bank. He is anxiously
awaiting its return before the court
party arrives from Chitina. No ques
tions asked.
The “bulletins” certainly made a
hit, causing shouts of laughter and
a big “hand” given after the read
ing of each one. After the reading
of the Olympia’s arrival in the fir.!*
bulletin, Judge Ferguson remarked
that our guests might just as well
remain in Chitina a couple of days
anyway, as they certainly could not
make the boat to the westward, and
it was amusing to hear how busy
Agent Barry intended to get and hold
the boat before he saw the joke of it.
The second bulletin greatly amused
Judge Cushman and other ocurt offi
cials.
Master Signal Electrician Charles
Murphy wore an anxious look for a
few seconds while he listened to the
‘ tale” of the cat coming off the tape.
R. J. Boryer was advised to cut
out the dancing and get busy on a
demurrer In answer to a suit tiled
against the Katalla Company.
Judge Tucker was told he came
at a most inopportune time, as he
might have succeeded in forming «
stock company and floated several
thousand shares of mining stock
from all those locations at MciKnley
lake which were recorded by his wife
in his absence.
Deputy Marshals Bouse and Go
shaw, with Clerk Lakin were advis
ed to wire immediately to hold Sam
Blum or lequest Superintendent Van
Cleve to call out a special engine ;o
take them on the trail of that strong
box. Not a few inquired if all the
bulletins were “authentic,” but Judge
Ferguson stated that no questions
were to be asked.
NEW DINING ROOM TO
OPEN IN HOTEL CHITINA
_ i
By th,e middle of the month it is
expected that the dining room in the
Hotel Chitina will be opened to the
public. John Shafer, who has had
the Chitina restaurant and lunch
counter since early summer, has suc
ceeded in securing a lease from Mr.
Breedman and will manage the new
grill. He has secured two of the best
chefs in Alaska, Jesse Brown and
Geo. Turk, more familiarly known
as the “Senator,” and as they are
to have the best the market affords
it will not be long until the Chitina
Grill has a reputation second to none
in Alaska. A broiler, silver ware,
linen and all equipment for a first
class cafe has been ordered, and by
the time the holidays will have come
the epicure can have a dinner in
Chitina that will rival those served
at first-class cafes outside. i
In a recent issue of the Leader we
mentioned that J. Z. Kimberlin was
the acting city agent for the Chitina
Townsite Co. This was an error. Mr.
Kimberlin has been handling real es
tate, but on a commission for him
self only, Messrs. Anderson and Ex
um still handling the Townsite com
pany’s business.
Thos. Lloyd, the first man to plant
the Stars and Stripes on the sum
mit of Mount McKinley, was a Chit
ina arrival from Fairbanks this week.
Engineer Spangler arrived from
Cordova on Thursday evening's tram.
$500 Nugget is Found
On Valdez Creek
According to a number who have
recently arrived from the Valdez
Creek district the digings at that
camp are still holding good, though
nothing of a startling nature has de
veloped in the way of rich pay. A
party of six who recently arrived
from the diggings, stopped at Chit
ina a few days, and say that there
were not as many men in the dis
trict this year as in former years,
but those who were at work had
fairly good success. A number of
men who found the diggings pretty
deep on their property put in most of
the season prospecting up the creek
from discovery. They say the gold
is course, and, in many places, hard
to reach bed rock on account of the
water. A few are of the opinion
that Lucky Gulch, a tributary of Val
des creek, constitutes the main pay
Btreak, one of the Gray brothers hav
Ing found a $500 nugget there this
past season, and the previous sea
son a $900 nugget was discovered.
J. B. and J. L. Gray, C. P. Tol
ston, Clark Duff, Wm. Grogg and
Chas. Garwood are the names of the
party who mushed out, making the
trip to Chitina in eight days. They
came out by way of the Susitna wa
tershed and down the north fork of
the Gulkana, a distance of about 125
miles, striking the trail at Gulkana
and Copper Center. At this time
of year the traveling is fairly good
there being a low divide and short
portages of about ten miles over
lakes, which are at this time of the
year frozen over and make good
traveling.
The party were loud in their praise
of this route and stated that all the
winter travel to the Valdez crook dig
gings would no doubt go this way
in the future.
Louie Stringer is back again to
the old stamping grounds. Louie
looks as good as ever with the ex
ception of an ulcerated tooth, which
makes him look like he’d been in a
football scrimmage or up against a
swift kick from a good old webroot
mule, but if Doc. Griffin can't fix it
Mrs. Stringer will 'have him out in a
tew days, smiling and busy as ever.
G. Hunter, manager for the M. A.
Pinska Clothing Co., of Fairbanks,
was an outward bound passenger
from Fairbanks this week.
Judge Ferguson, who has been at
tending court at Cordova, says he is
glad to get back to his work in
Chitlna.
John Gage, the affable Chitina
Heights merchant, made a business
trip to Cordova this week.
Paymaster Lester, of the contract
ing company, made a trip to Cor
dova on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Martin arriv
ed in Chitina the first of the week
and have apartments at the Hotel
Chitina until their cottage is ready
for occupancy.
Kennedy, the photographer, arriv
ed on Thursday evening from Cor
dova, on another of his photograph
ing tours.
F. C. Bleeker and wife, E. E.
Bleeker, Miss Williamson, Thos.
Lloyd, D. R. Davis, J. R. Sloan H.
Jepson, G. Hunter and L. Wilev,
were Fairbanks arriveis registering
at the Hotel Chitina this week, on
their way outisde.
M. W. Anderson made a flying bus
iness trip to Cordova this week, re
turning on Thursday evening’s local.
Capt. Geo. Weber returned from
Cordova Thursday, having been sub
poenaed to atten dcourt.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Johnson
moved into the Bowker cabin this
week, and now have one of the most
comfortable homes on Chitina
Heights.
Geo. Elder, head waiter at mile
146, under Steward Hans Holmes,
has resigned his position at the big
camp and expects to leave for the
outside soon.
Have a talk with Kimberlin if you
are figuring on buying property or
want to rent a cabin or building.
STEWARD FRODENBERG
MARRIED IN CORDOVA
Hospital Steward Frodenberg, who
was for so long in charge of the hos
pital at the Katalla Company head
quarters at Cordova, but who last
summer was sent to the front under
Doctor Whiting, was married last
month to Mrs. Ida Nelson in Cor
dova.
The Leuder failed to chronicle the
nuptials owing to the fact that Mr.
Frodenberg left on the next steam
er for Seattle after the ceremony, and
several of his friends reported that
the marriage had not yet taken place.
It is authentic, however, that the Jol
ly steward is now a full-fledged bene
dict, and the Leader, together with
his many friends, wish the couple
all the joys of domestic bliss.
CORDOVA BUSINESS MAN
TO OPEN STORE IN CHITINA
Perry Jacobs, who formerly ran
a new and second-hand store In Cor
dova. arrived in Chitina last Satur
day night, and within 48 hours had
the foundation and frame tip for a
store building. He is located on the
lots belonging to S. Blum, and next
week expects to have his stock of
goods in and be ready for business.
Perry is an old-timer, having start
ed in business at old Eyak when the
railroad first started from the coast
terminus, and is considered a shrewd
business man in his line. He will
conduct here what he calls a trad
ing post and outside of his stock
of goods will deal In furs and sec
| ond-hand goods.
“HAPPY” COTTNER IS NOW
ON THE WATER WAGON
H. Cottner, whom most everyone
knows as “Happy,” has purchased
the water wagon and business of L.
B. Erickson, and Is now supplying
the citizens with the necessary aqua
pura. Happy is all business, too,
and before the winter is over should
clean up a nice little bunch of mon
ey. He purchased the tank made by
Schaupp, the sheet metal worker,
which is made in two compartments
with a stove in the center to keep
the water from freezing. To anyone
never having seen the outfit, the tank
on a double-ender, with the horse
and a big smoke coming from the
stove pipe, resembles a combination
of horse and steam power.
STEAM SHOVEL BOYS
BURN THEIR OVERCOATS
"Handsome" Johnny Reed, engi
neer on the steam shovel at mile
116, and "Kenney” Holden, the
craneman, will have to "separate”
themselves from at least six-bits
when they get to town, and the gang
is giving them the horse laugh since
last week. While the weather wa3
good and crimpy last week, and con
sidered most too cold to operate the
big shovel, it was rumored the gravel
pit would be closed down. Kinney
and Johnny were so highly elated ov
er the prospect of a lay-off, they be
gan to clean up and just before
quitting time on the day they were
supposed to have closed down, they
hurled their good old greasy over
coats into the furnace and warbled
the happy little ditty, “Don’t care a
d—n if we never go back,” as they
went to supper. That night Kinney
had beautiful dreams of dashing
soubrettes and lime-light, while John
ny had his feet under his own table
with his family in Cordova. But,
alas and alack, railroad orders are
like the minds of women—subject to
change, and the happy dreamers were
rudely awakened at 5 a. m. next
morning with the information that
the steam shovel would continue to
run, and the boys had to buy moro
clothes. The gang told us we hadn't
better print what they said.
Mr. Cleave, who has been work
ing in the warehouse for the con
struction officials at the front, left
this week for a trip to the states.
He has not been feeling well for
some time and will spend the winter
in milder climes.