KUSKOKWM COUNTRY LOOKS
GOOD TO COUSSKKfR HEAVY
Judge M. E. Heavey, United States
commissioner and recorder, whose
headquarters are at Georgetown, on
the Kuskokwim, is enthusiastic over
the prospects of his section. In fact,
he is an enthusiastic boomer of the
Kuskokwim, and he knows \.he coun
try well, having lived in it since
1906.
“We have gold and silver and cop
per," he said, “in abundance and
enough quicksilver to supply the
world’s demands for many years if
all other sources of supply were cut
ofT. And we have coal as well.
“The development of the Kusko
kwim country is just beginning. Next
spring we believe that 5,000 people
will come to that section, and many
of them will remain there and grow
up with the country."
The copper and silver prospects in
the Kuskokwim are located on
Heavey River, on the headwaters of
that stream. From a piece of the
ore as big as a man’s hand a piece
of silver as large as a 10-cent piece
was obtained; from another piece
of the ore a button, half silver and
half copper, was secured.
Judge Heavey is also ’nterested
in a coal location on the Kuskokwim,
27 miles above Georgetown. The
vein is about seven feet wide, and
the coal can be taken from the vein
and placed directly on a steamer at
the bank. Two hundred pounds of
the product were tested on the steam
er Lavelle Young, and it gave satis
factory results. One hundred miles
below Bethel there is another vein
of coal, which the natives have been
using for a number of years. The
coal is coarse and lumpy, and burns
freely.
Judge Heavey was told that 50 ct3.
to the pan had been found on Donlan
creek, 200 feet back from the creek
bed and it was claimed that the pay
is 250 feet in width. He did not see
the pay dirt, he says, but he did see
seme of the gold taken from it.
! On ground on the north of Julian
creek they are prospecting with a
drill in order to locate the paystreak.
They will also prospect claims on
Michigan and Kieland creeks with
a drill.
Georgetown is doing nicely. Judge
Reavey states. The Kuskokwim Com
mercial Company, which brought in
supplies last fall, did a good busi
ness. A few weeks ago Charles Fow
ler, of the company, started outside
with about $90,000, the proceeds of
the company’s sales at Georgetown.
The food supply is fair, everyone
having got an outfit last fall, though
there are shortages In some lines.
Five thousand people are expected
next spring, and Judge Heavey says
freight can be laid down at George
town from Seattle for $15 a ton.
Judge Heavey went into the lower
Kuskokwim country as commission
er and recorder in 1907. He had
his headquarters for a time on the
Tulksak, later near Kolmakofsky.
TAKES 45 DAYS TO IDITAROD
TRAVELING OVER SEWARD TRAIL
W. A. Dikeman, who owns discov
ery claim on Otter creek, and for
whom the town of Dikeman was
named, reached Otter on Monday,
having made the trip over the Sew
ard trail, says the Iditarod Nugget.
Mr. Dikeman was accompanied on
the journey by Charles Peterson. The
men were forty-five days making the
trip, but it was a strenuous task.
They were compelled to make long
detours on the other side of the di
vide in order to get across rivers
and streams, which were not yet
frozen, and which were swollen by
the heavy rains of the coastal coun
try. For this reason they had to
travel at least an additional 150
miles. There are practically no road
houses, except at long distances.
Edward Me Adam, who left here
with Ben Derrick, for Seward, was
met mushing along on foot, having
left Derrick or Derrick having left
him at Takotna. McAdam was “si
washing it,” and when met, had a
70-mile stretch ahead of him be
fore he could reach a stopping place.
However, he said he was getting
along all right. Doc Mading and
Harry Johnson were also met on the
trail, as were also Bob Griffin and
party, and a number of others at
different points along the route.
According to W. A. Dikeman, the
distance from Seward to Iditarod is
nearer 600 miles than 485 miles, as
the distance is commonly reckoned.
Mr. Dikeman also thinks that the
trail will be practically valueless this
winter, at any rate, for freighting
purposes. While it will be possible
to get to Susitna Station, from that
place to Seward it will be impossible
for horse teams to negotiate the trail
and difficult even for dog teams.
From Seward the trail will be bad
during any portion of the winter.
The country is broken and rough,
and even the railroad can not be fol
lowed from Kern creek to Seward,
as the railroad tunnels will be filled
with ice, rendering it almost impos
sible, likely, for even a dog team to
get through them.
The trail follows a series of riv
ers, almost the entire way. In some
places the rivers are wide, and sub
ject to heavy overflows, like the Big
Delta in the upper country.
The railroad is not being operated,
it having been closed down for the
winter on November 10.
The stations and stopping places
along the route and the approximate
distances between points are as fol.
lows: Miles.
Seward to Kern Station. 71
Glacier Creek . . 7
Birch Creek ..4. 12
Old Knik . 60
New Knik . 25
Susitna . 35
Lake Creek . . . .'. 35
First roadhouse . 25
Second roadhouse . 6
Rohn River roadhouse. 12
Fourth roadhouse .. 32
Fifth roadhouse.-. 10
Nicolai’s . 25
Forks of Takotna. 30
Takotna . 15
Otter Creek .100
_
Total.525
At Lake Creek there are a road
house and bunkhouse, across the
summit from Rainy Pass; the next
roadhouse now consists of a tent, but
a log house is being built. At the
mouth of the Rohn River is another
roadhouse, while the next is 32 miles
away, on the Kuskokwim. At Nico
lai’s the trail leaves the south fork
of the Kuskokwim and strikes the
main branch of that river, which it
follows for about five miles, and
from that point a portage is made
to the forks of the Takotna. v .
Freight to Be Shipped Via Chitina
During the past week there has
been an improvement in business,
reports the Northwestern Realty &
Trust Company. Houses are begin
ning to fill up from a growing list
of arrivals on every incoming boat.
Old-timers are returning preliminary
to summer work, and advance ag
ents for investors, attracted North
by our phenominal mineral develop
ment, are dropping in from time to
time, and quietly sizing up the situa.
tion.
It is now found necessary to pro
long the court term here to at least
the first of March, and the revenue
from this source helps to swell the
growing volume of business. From
now until the opening of navigation,
travel to the interior will be brisk.
On the next boat will arrive George
M. Esterly, and other big operators
of the Copper River valley, and all
of their supplies will go through
Cordova this year.
The reduction announced by the
Copper River & Northwestern rail
way in freight and passenger rates
is already making itself felt. At
least two parties who had intended
to freight supplies via Thompson’s
Pass, and who had partly made their
arrangements, returned from Valdez
on the last boat to ship their sup
plies through Cordova. The lower
rates have also given stimulus to
freighting to Valdez creek and to
all points beyond Chitina adjacent
to and in the Copper River valley.
The railroad expects to be in po
sition to compete this summer with
the White Pass route and the St.
Michael route for passenger traffic
to the Tanana and heart of Alaska.
At the most, it is only a matter of
time until nearly all of the freight
and passenger traffic for the interior
of Alaska, as well as the mails, will
be handled through Cordova, sum
mer as well as winter. Automobiles
will be operated in connection with
the trains at Chitina next winter,
and the traveling time to Fairbanks
greatly reduced.
Mining activity continues. Until
better terms are given by many of
those owning and controlling pros
pects, it will prove a difficult task
to interest buyers. Investors may
be willing to Bpend money to open
up and develop properties, but they
will not buy a mere prospect for a
mine. Those who have capital to
open up their own propositions do
not need the aid of outside capital,
but those wh> must enlist the aid
of money will have to get values
down on a common-sense basis.
There is no question about the
mineral resources of the entire coast
section of Alaska, as well as the
interior, for that matter, but out
side capital will have to be enlist
ed before the country can enjoy its
full measure of prosperity. Every
mine that is opened up and becomes
a producer places a greater valua
tion upon other properties. Natural
ly, because of the numerous deposits
and the values shown up in the face
of what little has already been done,
serve to create boom prices. But
this is something that will readjust
itself, the same as the stock market
is now undergoing the readjustment
process.
It may be said, in conclusion, that
the outlook for the summer is much
brighter than it was a month ago,
even supposing nothing is done about
the coal. The officials of the local
railroad are doing all in their pow
er to encourage industrial develop
ment in every line. Moreover, they
aie desirous of seeing capital and
population and permanent conditions
in order that tonnage may be creat
ed for their railroad. They expect
a considerable tourist trade this
coming summer. They have already
interested a number of investors who
will be here shortly to study the con
ditions first hand.
JOKE TURNED Oil
Dave Dunbar and Sam Newman,
the two Seattle drummers, who ar
rived Saturday, are telling a good ’
little story on themselves, the title !
of which is “How They Treated
Themselves," or “Beaten by a
Roughneck.” For refreshments
while on the way across from Cor
dova to Chltina the two commercial
travelers had purchased a few bot
tles of beer, with the Intention of
opening them when finally possessed
of a real thirst.
Several hours passed by, in the
little caboose tacked onto the rear
of the train that was trailing the
rotary, when one of the passengers,
who had become acquainted with the
Seattle men while on the way, in.
vited them to have some beer on
him. The bottles were produced and
they drank to the health of the one
setting them up. A little later, feel
ing that it was incumbent on them
to treat, Dunbar and Newman went
rummaging for their beer bottles.
No trace of refreshment of any
kind was to be found. Suddenly a
flash of comprehension illuminated
the dark places; they paused looked
understandingly into each other's
faces, then settled back very much
interested in the snowy landscape,
but “never a word spake they.”—
Fairbanks Times.
distIgTcourt
The ease of the United S'ates vs.
Jack White, charged with larceny at
Tiekel last August, was on trial to
day.
Judge Cushman approved the ap
plication of J. E. Fitzpatrick for the
renewal of a liquor license at Sew
ard.
Jack C. Readman was appointed
by the court as United States Com
missioner at Copper Center to suc
ceed R. Blix, who resigned and has
gone outside on an extended visit.
H. R. Robbins filed a suit against
the Port Valdez Investment Com
pany to compel the latter to trans
fer to him 975 shares of stock in the
company.
_
)
Helena, Mont., Feb. 18.—The
breach among the Democrats con
tinues, with little hope of being able
to agree on a compromise member
of the party for the Senate. The
present incumbent, Senator Thos.
Carter, has 48 votes and la'-ks but
three of enough to elect.
Albany, Feb. 18.—The legislature
continues to be deadlocked on the
election of a United States senator,
but the Tammanyites insist that
Sheehan will finally win out.
Des. Moines, Feb. 18.—There is
no change in the senatorial situation
in this state.
Denver, Feb. 18.—The legislature
is unable to agree upon a candidate
for the United States Senate.
- j
8t. Petersburg, Feb. 18.—The gov
ernment asks Duma to vote $60,000,.
000 for the construction of battle
ships by 1915.
If you have good furs and want
to realize 100 cents on the dollar for
them, see Perry Jacobs. He will give
you a square deal. 12-17-tf
I. J. ST. CLAIR T. W. CLONINGER,
Proprietors
THE WORKINGMAN’S RESORT
LOG CABIN BAR
WINES, LIQUORS,
AND CIGARS
Solo, Pool and Billiard Tables. Comfortable Chairs
and Reading Room up stairs.
Restaurant and Assay Office in Connection
CORDOVA’S BIG STORE
S. BLUM & CO.’S
WE SOLICIT YOUR ORDERS
We Carry a Large Stock of :
General Merchandise
Of Every Description
Having been in the outfitting business for many years, we are
particularly well equipped to furnnish your outfit, whether large
of small.
t
We have reduced the price of hay & oats t > *50 per ton (in ton lots)
Prompt Attention to Mail Orders
We Will Save You Money Cordova, Alaska.
DR. JL JjJEllflLICH
. . PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
MacCORMAC HOTEL. CORDOVA,
Telephone 29
Pete’s Lodging
House
AND
SECOND HAND STORRE
CHITINA HEIGHTS
Bunks 25c; Beds 50c.
PETER CORDES. Prop.
OSBORNE
THE
PRACTICAL
Jeweler
CORDOVA, • ALASKA
Watches and Jewelry at
Outside Prices
Leave Your Work at the Leader
Office
FRED M. SGHAUPP
Manufacturer in
Sheet Metal
STOVES,
RANGES
and
HEATERS
RED CROSS DRUG CO.
iMRS. C.|M. king
Drugs, Stationery, Fruit
Tobaccos, etc.
Mile 133
SAVOY
RESTAURANT
Opposite Chitina Trading Co.
The Only First-Class Cafe In
Chitina
American and European Flan
Dinner 75c up
A la Carte all day
Cater to special dinner parties.
THE CHIT1 HOTEL
Warm, Comfortable Beds
HOME BAR
in connection
Here is where you will find
your friends.
GOOD BEDS
GOOD LIQUOR
GOOD CIGARS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
GEO. BliOUEN, Proprietor