DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGG—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EOQ.
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VOL. I.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1911.
NO. 38
Local News
Peter Cordes and C. W. Simons
have taken over the stock of John
Gage, and will conduct a general
merchandise and outfitting establish
ment in their building on Chitins
Heights. A door has been cut
through from the store to the second
hand department and as they have a
large miscellaneous stock of goods
th< v expect to do a thriving busin- ss
this summer.
Plans have been completed and
lumber ordered for the new Chitina
depot, and work of constructing the
much-needed building is expected to
begin in the near future.
W. Bryant, the well known assist
ant auditor with the Katalla Com
pany. who recently succeeded I. W.
Young as head store keeper, made
a business trip to Chitina this week,
returning on Saturday’s train to Cor
dova.
Roy Wilson, the young mining en
gineer recently returned from anoth
er trip to the Beaver Dam district
and states that the snow is still far
too deep to permit of any prospect
ing or development work.
Billy Tibbs is now nicely located
at camp 158, and in connection with
his store has a barber shop and baths
which keeps him on the jump most
of the time.
Ray McKinnon, nephew of the
well-known “Mike” was down from
the front on Friday. Ray has been
at work on the ditcher which had
to go to Cordova for repairs, but he
returned Friday evening for work
again at the front.
sammy innaeisiein, oniy son ana
heir of his daddy, M. J., of Cordova,
is paying a visit to his sister and
brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Sapiro
at Chitina. Sammy was looked after
by Jack Courtney on the train who
stated that he had to watch him
closer than a water glass. Sammy
and Ivory St. Claire Jr. are about
the busiest kids this far north these
days.
Mrs. E. F. Gray, wife of the well
known mining man at Copper Moun
tain, arrived In Chitina on Tuesday’s
train. She arrived on the Northwest
ern from Seattle and was met by her
husband at Cordova. They left Chit
ina Wednesday morning for mile 146
and on to Copper Mountain, where
Mrs. Gray expects to remain for the
summer.
P. J. O'Brien, the well-known
bridge superintendent, left on Satur
day's train for Cordova and may in
the near future take a run to the
states as soon as the work in his
line slackens up. “Pat,” as he is
familiarly called, has been accused
of having a longing for the “flesh
pots" of late, and as he has not been
outside for some time, is entitled to
a well earned vacation.
KATALIA COMPANY PAYORS
THE CELEBRATION AT CHITINA
.
I
On Saturday afternoon one of the
committee appointed for securing the
co-operation of the Katalla Company,
relative to a celebration at Chitina
interviewed General Manager Haw
kins, Supt. Van Cleve and Steamship
Agent R. J. Barry, a]l of whom
warmly favored the idea of a celebra
tion at Chitina. It is now up to the
people to get busy and see that one
of the best celebrations ever held
in the North is pulled off here. The
Cordova business men are much in
favor of an excursion being run to
Chitina, providing the railroad com
pany makes a round trip fare of $5,
as has been suggested. All are famil
iar with the stringent financial con
ditions at present, and the people
in Cordova who would hesitate and
refuse to go at $10 or more for the
round trip, would gladly go and feel
that they are able to pay five dol
lars for such an outing as this trip
will afford. This is the sentiment of
all the Cordova people spoken to by
the committee. There is nothing go
ing on at Cordova on Independence
Day, and the majority of the people
will gladly welcome a change. Many
people on the coast have long been
desirous of making a trip to the in
terior, and when the opportunity of
securing a ride of over 260 miles
along the wonderful Copper River
way for such an unheard of low
rate in Alaska, presents itself, there
will be but few who will not take
advantage of the occasion. On the
other hand, while the Katalla Com
pany officials are willing to make a
greatly reduced rate, it is only right
and fair that they be guaranteed a
sufficient number of people to pay
the expenses of the trip, and cannot
afford to run a large train at a loss.
Pinchotism has affected the Katalla
Company the same as it has the rest
of the people of Alaska and now ac
counts for the stringent times in
this vicinity, so we cannot ask them '
to take a chance on a loss any more
than we would ourselves.
Realizing this, the general commit-1
tee and people of Cordova have sug
|
gested that an excursion committee
of Cordova citizens be appointed, and
by the necessary advertising secure!
a sufficient sale of tickets to guar-;
antee an excursion train to run from
the coast here without a loss. As was !
!
heretofore mentioned, there is noth- |
ing going on at Cordova on the
Fourth and the business people so1
far seen believe that at least 100:
tickets can be guaranteed, and it is ]
thought that more than 200 tickets!
can be sold if the fare is placed at
1 $5 the round trip. N'ot only the busi-1
ness men will be willing to go, but I
i those working for wages and a num-1
! ber of idle people wo’>M -‘ake advan-!
tage of the trip. There must be ai i
least 100 ladies and children in Cor- .
dova, and but few have ever taken j
a trip to the interior, so a great per
centage of these could be figured on.
Supt. Van Cleve has expressed his
willingness to run a train from the
front, bringing down all the men who
care to celebrate with us on tha- dav.
We should learn by he next issue of !
the Leader as to how the movement
is received and in the meantime it is
up to the committee here to get busy
on arrangements.
Once again, let everybody boost for
a good old-fashioned Fourth and try'
and forget for one day that there is
such a thing as conservation, in spite
of the hard times which our govern-J
nient has forced us to endure. The
Katalla Company has signified their
intention of helping us all they can,
so if we all do our part we are as
sured of one glorious day on July
Fourth.
Keep your eye on Chitina and
watch h r grow.
WELL KNOWN MEN LEAVE
FOR TRIP UP CHITINA
Roy Wilson, who is rapidly com
ing into prominence as an efficient
mining engineer. Jack Lowery and
T. J. Hendrickson will leave the iirst
of the week to look at some gold
quartz prospects situated on the Chit
ina about 25 miles above the mouth
of the Nizina river. Geo. Cappel,
who is agent for some London cap
italists, and who are spending consid
erable money in securing prospects of
a promising nature, is financing the
party, paying them wages while ou
their trip, and agreeing to give them
a percentage or share of the profits
should the property prove to oe a
producer. Mr. Cappel has financed
several prospecting parties, men who
know of likely looking prospects, and
taking the mining chance of staking
a number of claims in different parts
of this mineral belt, with the expec
tation of some of them proving pro
ducers. The payment of wages to
the men who are familiar with the
country, but who are unable to pros
pect or stake it for themselves, is a
big help, and the additional agree
ment to an interest in anything found
which proves to be of value, is also
most commendable and is bound tc
bring results.
Placer Mining Activity
In the Nizina Country
Considerable activity is contemplat
ed for the coming season by the var
ious placer mining outfits along the
Nizina, east of the railroad.
George Max Esterley has shifted
his base of operations from Chititu
creek to Rex creek. This has involv
ed the moving of 700 feet of flume
and 2,000 feet of 12-inch pipe for
a distance of two and one-half miles,
as well as the construction of a
penstock. The flume has been erect
ed and the work of fitting the pipe
is progressing rapidly. Owing to the
heavy grade of Rex creek the pres
sure will be in the neighborhood of
150 pounds per square inch, the
heaviest pressure the outfit has had
to date.
The hydraulic sawmill oir Chititu
creek is in active operation, and a
large amount of lumber has already
been sawed. The construction of a
good wagon road from Chititu to the
camp on Rex is under consideration.
The crew this year will be smaller
than usual, ten men working two
shifts under the direction of Fore
men Tracy and Irving Hearing.
It is said that there will be no
activity in the Kernan camp this sea
son.
Brooks, with a crew of four, is
busy erecting a flume on lower Rex.
On Dan creek, a brother of the
great “Steve.” with ten men under
the direction of Foreman Charlie
Range, are making ‘ arrangements"
to start mining next season. A new
steam sawmill and a big store are
under construction. Foreman Range
and part of the crew, among whom
is our fellow townsman, Bob Clark,
are damming the river and the mos
quitoes. It is said that this season
will be devoted to construction work
and that mining will be begun in
earnest next year.
Fagerberg brothers have been busy
bringing supplies to the Esterley
camp by pack train. They intend to
keep the pack train busy all season.
They are also busy on the construc
tion of their mammoth store at mile
192. It is a three-story building
and when completed it will be the
biggest log structure in this district.
Send your Job prlntlug to tho Chlt
ma Leader.
Conductor Clarkin Turns
The Laugh on Friends
Frank Clarkin, the popular con
ductor, who left last winter on a
furlough to sunny climes, reported
back for duty on Friday evening’s
train. The many friends of the pop
ular conductor were given the merry
ha, ha, on his return, as it was re
ported he was bringing back a bride.
Last wdnter it was reported he mar
ried a former Chitina lady while out
side, and on his return to Cordova
some of the gang “started some
thing” by reporting that his wife
and two children had returned with
him. When these reports were prov
en to be a “job,” the newest thing
to precede him here was that he had
actually started for Chitina with his
wife, as he was seen helping her
aboard the train at Cordova. On
arriving at Chitina. Mrs. Wallace,
who had made a trip to Cordova,
was helped from the train by the gal
lant conductor, and the first query
iliat met him was: "Hear you were
married. Frank; where's your
bride?” Frank “twigged" in a sec
ond, and seeing a chance to get even,
tipped the wink to Mrs. Wallace, and
replied: ‘Sure 1 am; here she is;
was married in Cordova yesterday,
and I don’t see any rice or old shoes,
either. Pretty frosty reception, I
take it, front a bunch of old rails
whom I thought would give me the
real swell reception on my return.”
For some little time the pair kept up
the joke, until one or two of the gang
thought it really might be on the
square. Frank says he is even now,
but Jimmy Arnot, the “solid finan
cial mining man,” now on the local
run between here and Cordova, says
Frank still has something coming to
him and it won’t be an unfounded
j rumor either.
REMAINS OF C. W. BARRAGE
SHIPPED TO Jl'XEAU
The remains of C. W. Babbage,
who suicided here last month, and
which were interred temporarily atj
the Chitina cemetery, were taken up
on Thursday and shipped on Satur- j
day’s train to Cordova, where they ,
will be embalmed, and then taken
to Juneau as a final resting place, j
Mrs. C. Wj. Babbage, widow of the
late jeweler, came up on Tuesday’s
train and made all the necessary ar
rangement! and will accompany the!
remains to Juneau.
While in Chitina she appointed A.
G. Morey administrator of the estate
of deceased, and will ..handle all
claims for and against the estate,
the administrator’s notice appearing
in this issue of the Leader and Cor
dova Alaskan.
Mrs. Babbage states that through
a misunderstanding of the Elks and
Masonic orders, the body was not tak
en care of at first as should have
been done, but that they authorized
the removal and any expense of the
burihl and would see that the body
was properly taken care of.
Mrs. Babbage wishes to express her
thanks and appreciation of the efforts
of the people here in taking care of
her husband’s remains and the many
courtesies and kind acts shown her
while en route. Dr. Whiting fur
nished an expensive airtight casket]
for the shipping of the body, which j
was in a perfect state of preservation
when disinterred.
CONSIDERABLE ACTIVITY
NEAR SLATE CREEK
Henry Struck arrived in Chitina
Thursday after an all winter's stay
in the Chistachina country. He has
been with the Bigelow outfit since
the beginning of their work on the
upper Chistachina. two miles below
the mouth of Slate creek and states
that Bigelow is steadily boring away
with the big Keystone drill taken in
from here last winter. As the sea
son is very backward, work has been
done principally on the benches and
a depth of 83 feet has 90 far been
reached. This is considered deep
enough for the necessary results and
as far as they care to go with the
amount of pipe they now have on
hand.
Mr. Struck stated that while noth
ing was given him as to the value
of the dirt, he believed that the op
erators were more than satisfied with
the showings already made, and that
if a dredge is installed there next
season, as is now talked of, there
will, in all probability be a small
stampede to that district, as the pay
is undoubtedly there. Mr. Struck
reports some trouble or breakage in
some of the large pipes, while be
ing driven and raised, which may
necessitate the taking in of more ma
terial, which Bigelow assured Jack
Lawrence, who took Hn the outfit, J
would be done in case it was need
ed, for they were there to work the
season through. Mr. Struck expects
to remain away about 30 days before
returning to the camp.
! LAST MAIL ARRIVES
FROM THE INTERIOR
The last interior mail for the out
side arrived in Chitina on Thursday
evening, which closes the mail con
traci over the new route until the
first of next October. John Donnell,
the Orr stage company driver, who
brought in the last mail, also took the
first consignment of mail from Chit
ina on Its way to the interior. There
are only two freight outfits now on
the trail, the last of which is due
here tonight or not later than Mon
day. Charley Littlejohn and Jack
Graham are the two drivers with the
last freight teams, which left last
week for Copper Center. Manager
! Jesse Martin states that the company
will begin hauling feed about the
middle of September to the different
stations along the trail, and that a
larger supply than usual is to be tak
en in, as a number of the govern
ment outfits along the trail has great
ly reduced the supply of feed tak'm
in last year. Considerable work is
yet to be done on the living quar
ters at Chitina for the Orr stage com
pany employes, but outside of the
few men retained on this work the
stage company’s affairs are wound
up here until next fall.
Job work at the Leader office.
Local News
Harry Warner brought out 36
l.ead of fine beef steers on Tues
day's train. The animats were in
hrst-class condition, averaging 1.600
pounds each. They were fattened on
good old eastern corn, and will oe
driven from here to Fairbanks for
the market. As there is good feed
all the way along the trail, it is ex
pected that the animals will be in
prime condition on reaching the Tau
ana.
Jack Courtney who has been run
ning one of the engines at the front
all winter made a trip to Cordova
last week returning again Tuesday
night, and is now scooping “foreign
diamonds'1 into the four-spot.
Mrs. John Gage left Wednesday
morning for Cordova enroute to Se
attle where she will purchase supplies
and get things in readiness for her
worthy spouse who leaves next week
to join her. They will take a mer
chandise and trading outfit into the
Iditarod country expecting to locate
next winter at Georgetown.
Mrs. M. Wallace left on Wednes
day’s train for Cordova returning
Friday evening. She expected to take
a trip outside but may not leave now
until after August 1.
The Nelson brothers, who recently
arrived from a trip outside last win
ter to their homes in Missouri and
Iowa, are putting on a new coat of
paint to their building on Fairbanks
avenue. Messrs. Hull and Sapiro
have completed painting the front of
their building and the Hotel Chitina
looks like a different building since
“Appeal to Reason” Smith has been
slinging the paint.
Larry Kearney, the bantom boxer,
was taking a whirl in town this week
and says he'll be here on the Fourth.
He offers to don the mitts with Eddie
Mullen, Ivory St. Clair, Vic Hender
son, Dr. Whiting, Oscar Breedman or
any one his size for a ten round go
on the national holiday as a free ex
hibition. or anything from dried sal
mon to a likely looking malamute
pup as a side bet. Larry is there
all right, and if you don’t think so
just mix with him for a round or
two.
A large donkey engine and a car
load of six inch pipe wont through
here the first of the week con
signed to the Kennecott mine.
Chris Roysted has relieved R. H.
Pollard at the lower Tonslna road
house, and according to Mr. Pollard
has purchased the station at that
place. A new and up-to-date road
house will be built on the new trail
a mile from the old site, the logs and
material already being on the“ground.
Mr. Pollard, who has been at the
roadhouse two years, left for a trip
up the line and says he will hang
out around this mineral belt.
Esterly’s Black Bear Creates
Consternation in Camp
“Teddy Roosevelt,” a pet black
bear belonging to Geo. Max Esterlev,
escaped from his domicile early in
May. After playing hookey in the
woods for three weeks, and doubtless
finding pickings pretty poor, ‘ Ted"
spied a pack train approaching camp.
Surmising that the pack train with
a load of grub would be co-incidental
with an increased liberality on the
part of Chef Ed., Teddy blew into
camp at dinner time. Irving, hear
ing of “Ted.’s" arrival, deftly lassoed
the bear. (Irv., by-the-way, is a
reformed cowpuncher).
Fred Tracy succeeded in getting a
spring-line fast to “Ted's” off fore
leg (beg pardon, limb). Mr. Ester
ley came running with a quart of
chloroform, and for upwards of an
hour a battle royal waged, the by
standers wagering heavily on the re
sult, and evolving theories anent first
aid to the injured. After an heroic
struggle, “Ted” was finally subju
gated and incarcerated, and the vic
tors withdrew, leaving the vanquish
ed bear looking a picture of woe
begone dishevelment, and evidently
under the impression that he had
%
been subjected to an "unbearable”
outrage.
Teddy is. or rather was. the part
ner of "Bill Taft,” who was done to
death by "Shelly and Hank” this
spring. "Bill” had eaten one of
Ed's doughnuts, and Shelly says “we
thought he was all in.” They re
moved his bide in a temperature of
10 below zero, and poor "Bill' froze
to death. The press has already
printed a garbled account of this sad
occurrence, but we hope that the pop
ular verdict of willful murder will
now be changed to "death resulting
from acute indigestion.”
“THE SENATOR."
Now when you feel that goneness
In the region of your mid-reef.
And you feel a nice rare T-bone
Would give you much relief,
Just step into 'The Senator's,”
You’ll find it worth your while;
Just whisper in “The Senator's” ear.
And watch his golden smile. S-20-tf
Oscar Breedman made a business
trip to Cordova this week, returning
on Tuesday’s train.