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, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WELL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HABBT O. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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One Year . •J :>u
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Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the service
given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral land.
of the Copper River district.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1913.
MAKE A START
The newspapers of the Pacific coast show a sincere desire
to aid toward the development of Alaska. On this subject the
Seattle Times says:
“The Territorial Legislature is showing good judgment in
requesting that President and Congress approve the substance
and recommendations of the report of the Alaska Railroad Com
mission.
“If this can be done, the beginning will be made for de
velopment. The commission has studied the question; it has
gone over the ground thoroughly; and it has submitted its
findings.
“To the average citizen the main problem is not so much
ine somewhat technical question of following blindly along the
lines blazed by the representatives of the previous administra
lion; but it is this—that a beginning has to be made some time
and any action is vastly to be preferred too no action at all.
“It is conclusive that the best plan with respect to Alaskf
is to begin at once and to follow the suggestions already sub
mitted.
“If that be done, if the beginning be made, there will be
a steady progression toward the development which all true citi
zens earnestly hope for the Territoir.”
-o—o—o
A DEMOCRATIC FIGHT
The Seward Gateway does not look with favor upon tin
suggestion to allow non-partisans to dictate the federal op
pointments in this division. In other words it favors the time
honored custom of apportioning the offices tmoug toilowers ol
the political party in power. And it is scarcely within the
bonds of reason to suggest that the majority element composed
of Republicans, Socialists, Labor Party, and other oppositior
followers, should be allowed to say whom a Democratic admin
istration should appoint. On the subject the Gateway says:
“Republicans and progressives of Valdez are proposing
a primary for the federal judge, district attorney and marsha
for this division. In other words, objection is made to the re
commendations of the democratic divisional committee. Thi>
paper’s view of the matter is that this is a democratic fight—if
indeed, there is a fight—and it is up to the democrats to settle
their own family rows, without outside interference.
“The editor of this paper is a member of the democratic
divisional committee. As such, he insisted that one of these
district offices should be allotted to a Seward man. In fact.. Iff
urged that Seward, Valdez and Cordova should have an office
An arrangement was made on this basis. Cordova choose the
judgeship, Seward the district attorneyship and Valdez the
marshalsip. Now this is an equitable distribution of the offices.
Of course, a kick was made, but the same thing would have
happened if any other persons had been recommended.
Of course, the committee’s endorsement does not mean tlial
the gentlemen named will be appointed. There is nothing tc
prevent anyone making a try for any office he may desire. But
the committee was called upon to make recommendations for
the offices in question; did so, and has no apologies to offer.’’
- v/ w
“FATHERS’ DAY” NEXT?
San Francisco the other Sunday, upon suggestion of the
boys’ division of the Y. M. C. A., celebrated the first “fathers’
day.” Mayor Rolph at once endorsed the idea, issuing a proc
lamation calling upon all citizens wl*o might be interested “in
the inauguration of such a custom in San Fracisco, which may
spread troughout the Nation, as ‘mothers’ day,’ first cele
brated in Philadelphia, has appealed to the people of the United
States.” Bishop Hughes, the principal speaker, said that for
centuries the mother had monopolized sentiment, half of which
at least was due the father. He sympathized with the Hoosier
who complained that “nobody never says nothin’ about who
paid for the bread that mother used to make.” He lamented
that no great poem in honor of father had ever been written,
seemingly forgetting that immortal lyric, “Everybody Works
but Father.”
This movement is the more remarkable as originating in a
suffragist State. Hoes it betoken that with the granting of the
ballot father may get his rights, too? Still, there does not
seem to be any crying need for a “ fathers ’ day. ’ ’ Every day is
father’s day more or less, to fire the furnace, shovel off the snow
and go out and hustle the coin. If he is not appreciated at his
full worth now, it can hardly be expected that setting aside a
day in his honor is going to help him any. Rather, it is likely to
cause another demand on his already overtaxed pocket for the
wherewithal to honor him. He simply can’t afford it. At least
such is the opinion of many Cordova fathers.
-o—o—o
“The fact that this city took the initiative in such an im
portant matter would demonstrate to Alaskans that Seattle is
their best friend and also would serve notice on the United
States that this place is the commanding American port of all
affairs having to do with the Territory.”
There are a large number of prospective Alaskan office
holders now in the city of Washington. Possibly some of them
will compromise on ‘ ‘ Minister to Dahomey. ’ ’
INVITATION TO VISIT ALASKA
The Seattle Times is enthusiastic over the idea of inviting
Secretary Lane and the members of the Senate and House
committees on Territories, in conjunction with the chairmen of
the committees on Public Lands, to come to Alaska this sum
mer. And the suggestion is further made that Seattle should
bear the expense of the expedition. The following editorial
an the subject has been published:
“Seattle should seriously consider, at the present time,
means by which it may advance the unlocking of Alaska’s
treasures for its own benefit and for the benefit of the entire
country.
“There is no reason to doubt that the Territory will be
given its initial development during the Wilson administration.
There is every likelihood that the present Democratic Congress
will enact important measures looking to that end.
“A joint committee on Alaskan investigation was appoint
ed by the Sixty-second Congress, but for various reasons it fail
ed to earn* out the mandate of the National Legislature.
“The committee comprises five senators and five represent
atives, with Senator Ivnute Nelson of Minnesota as chairman.
Of its membership, two—Senators George S. Nixon of Nevada
md Representative Joseph T. Robinson of Ai’kansas—are not in
the present Congress.
“Holdover members of the committee are: Senators Nel
son, Smioot, Simmons and Bankhead and Representatives Fitz
gerald, Slierly, Hamilton and Good.
“The House Committee on Territories has sustained the
loss of six members. The Senate committee misses one “lame
luck.” Their places will be fielled with new meu, of whom
there are a number in both chambers.
“There are only ten members of the Joint Committee on
Alaskan investigation. There are nineteen on the House Com
nittee on Territories and twelve in the Senate Committee.
“This makes a total of thirty-one, but as Senator Nelson
s on the Alaskan committee and also on the Senate Committee
>n Territories, the number of individuals is reduced to an even
thirty.
“These thirty men—together with the Chairman of the
House and Senate Comittees on Public Lands—will practically
lecide the fate of Alaska in the present Congress.
“Why should not Seattle get these thirty-two men—or as
nany of them as will accept the City’s invitation—and intro
iuce them to the Territory between the adjournment of the
special session and the convening of the regular one?
“The chances are that, with the attention of Congress
lirected solely to the tariff and a couple of hold-over appropri
ition measures, the special session will not be prolonged beyond
i couple of months.
“There would be time, therefore, before the reconvening of
Congress on the first Monday in December, for a Congressional
>arty to visit Alaska, see it thoroughly and return to Washing
on in advance of the opening day.
“It is altogether probable that President Wilson would
favorably consider having his new Secretary of the Interior,
franklin K. Lane of California, accompany the party.
“The President himself has announced that he will remain
it his desk in Washington during 1913. He must, therefore.
ie dependent, in large measure, upon the advice of his friends
n the cabinet and in Congress for his rulings on matters vitally
affecting the Territory.
‘The cost of such a trip would not necessarily be prohibi
ive.lt unquestionably would be worth every dollar put into it
by Seattle. £
-o—o—o
MUSIC BY WIRELESS
Music by telephone, although practically demonstrated,
has not yet come into such general use as foreshadowed in
Bellamy’s “Looking Backward.” Perhaps the success of an
experiment at New York points the way to a realization of that
ichievement on lines as much in advance of anything that
Bellamy dreamed of as his dream was of his own times.
Exeriments with a wireless telehopne on Long Island re
sulted iu a whistle by the operator being heard by the operator
on board a transatlantic vessel some distance off the coast.
Later a phonograph plying “The Star Spangled Banner” close
to the receiver in the shore station was heard distinctly on
board the ship by the wireless operator and others who were
equipped with receivers.
Marvelous as has been the wireless telegraph, the technical
knowledge required to operate it has, of course, limited its use,
but a wireless telephone on which there would be no line to be
busy and through which we might hear our favorite songbirds
and orchestras without leaving our homes, by the simple process
of adjusting a receiver to our ears, opens such possibilities that
stun the imagination.
-o—o—o
As to fears in Washington that the new administration will
-Ot be embellished with as much social brilliance as its predeces
sors, the rest of the country will endeavor to bear up under that
peril with calm philosophy.
Ivatalla thinks it might be a graceful act to hold a mass
meeting and endorse their former fellow townsman, Major
Strong, for Governor of Alaska. This will likely be done to
night. At the same time there will be action taken calling
upon the President and Congress to enact favorable legislation
for Alaska at the coming special session.
-o—o—o
Reno will have to fall back on the prize ring next year
now that the divorce attractions are shut off.
-o—o—o
John D. Rockefeller is quoted as advising that you should
»et up from the table a little hungry. A number of persons are
prepared to prove that they have to, thanks to his initiative.
-o—o—o
Easter services tomorrow in all the Cordova churches will
?ive our people opportunity to commemorate the gladsome day.
If candidates for office don’t soon slue their hats into tlie
ring there is going to be a very quiet and uneventful election in
Bordova next Tuesday. One ticket has been put forth, and of
jourse if it is not satisfactory to any office seeker it is his good
American privilege to offer himself.
A STRONG MAN NEEDED 4
A strong man is needed as chairman of the Senate commit- 1
tee on public lands, before which will come at the next session }
all the important matters which concern the so-called ‘‘con- }
serration” states and Alaska. 2
A strong man also is needed as chairman of the sub- 2
committee which, shall be created from the public lands com- 2
mittee to deal with the vexatious Alaska siuation. 2
A man who will fit into either or both of these positions,
with assurance that the Senate will have a guide toward a safe
and sane policy in these important matters is Key Pitman, the
new senator from Nevada.
Already friends of a ‘‘square deal” for the West and for
Alaska are rallying behind Mr. Pitman. He will be a formid
able contender for either or both of these offices under the next
administration.
The fact that he is a new man in the Senate will not count
against him to the same extent as in sessions during the past
several years.
There will be numbers of new men in the Senate and they
have reached a fairly effective working agreement that they
will not permit old-timers to monopolize the chairmanships of
all the leading committees.
A new man is very likely to be chairman of the lands com
mittee and of the proposed subcommittee on Alaska affairs.
Pitman fits ideally into either place.
A long-time resident of Washington, a former practing
attorney in Seattle, one of those who fought the Noyes-Mac
kenzie ring in Nome during the plunder of the gold claims
there and acquainted with the entire Alaska country, he
possesses information that would prove invaluable to his
colleagues and his country.
One striking instance of his travels in Alaska is furnished
by the honeymoon trip he took with his bride from Dawson to
Nome, 2,000 miles over a wild country7 in winter.
Such a citizen is needed to direct the Senate in considera
tion of its public lands and Alaska policies. He will serve
the best interests not alone of the federal government, but of
the affected sections as well.—Seattle Times.
The law decreasing the number of
port districts throughout the country
from 160 to 50 and by reason of
which it is estimated that $700,000
will be saved annually, makes Port
Townesend a subport, and a large
part of the employes at the latter
place will, with the change, be trans
ferred to Seattle.
The names of some of the new
Western districts and the ports of
entry continued or created in those
sections are as follows, the first port
mentioned in each instance being the
headquarters of the collector:
Washington—Seattle, Port Town,
send, Aberdeen, Anacortes, Belling
ham, Blaine, Chopeka, Danville,
Everett, Ferry, Friday Harbor, Laui
er, Molson and Northport, Port An
geles, Roche Harbor, South Bend,
Spokane, Sumas, Tacoma.
Alaska— Juneau, Eagle, Ketchi
kan, Cordova, Sulzer, St. Michael,
Skagway, Unalaska, Wrangell, Forty
Mile, Fairbanks, Nome.
Through the efforts of the Alaska
bureau of the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce^ a general movement of
the entire West to have President
Woodrow Wilson send a special mes
sage to Congress urging the immedi
ate passage of a bill to provide for
the construction of railroads In Alas
ka has been under way for the past
month.
St. Paul and Minneapolis news
papers are devoting considerable
space to the advocacy of the project,
and the Association of Commerce and
the Northwest Development League
are actively working in furtherance
of the proposition. Fred B. Lynch,
Democratic national committeeman
from Minne8otaj and several others
prominent in the development of the
Pacific Northwest have been using
their influence with President Wil
scn.
NEW YORK, March 25 — The
board of arbitration chosen under
the Erdman act has been engaged for
the past two weeks in hearing the
differences between 54 Eastern rail
roads and their 35,000 firemen. The
board consists of William L. Cham,
bers, of Washington, chairman and
netural member; W. W. Atterbury,
vice president of the Pennsylvania
lines east, representing the railroads,
and Albert Phillips, third vice presi
dent of the Brotherhood of Locomo
tive Firemen and Englnttmen. They
have until April 2 to take testimony
t.rd reach a decision, from which :
there can be no appeal. Chairrpan '
Chambers formerly was chief Justice i
rf the international court at Samoa i
and was a member of the Spanish i
treaty claims commission. i
CHICAGO, March 22—Marshall
Cillion, formerly attorney for Mrs.
Eaton, has made public a letter in
which the wife of the Admiral asks
him how she might get rid of her
husband, who recently died very sud_
denly.
CHICAGO, March 22—This after
noon communication was gradually
being restored throughout the middle
western and southern states. The
fury of the storm has abated and
telegraph and telephone wires are
again being righted, while trains are
making slow progress. It is believed
that in a day or two everything will
again be in working order. Over one
hundred have been killed and serious
ly injured, while the damage to prop_
erty and crops will exceed six hun
dred million dollars.
SEATTLE, March 22—Reports in
dicate that the storm throughout the
middle west continues. It is the
worst blizzard that has been experi
enced for years. The damage will
run into many millions of dollars.
So far sixty have been reoorted as
having died from the effects of ex
posure and cold, while many hun
dreds have suffered much angufsh.
TROY, March 22—Former Govern
or Black died at his home last night,
surrounded by the members of his
family.
SEATTLE, March 20—Commenc
ing July 1, this city will become the
headquarters of the customs service
of the state under the terms of a bill
prepared by Secretary of the Treas
ury McVeagh and sent to the Senate
by president Taft.
WASHINGTON, March 22—it :s
announced that soon George M. Low
's will retire from the position which
be has long held as Commissioner of
the bureau of Fisheries. His ch.e'
deputy, Dr. Hugh M. Smith is slated
to succeed him. This is a position
under the department o' Commerce
un.l Labor, and has jurisdiction over
iii the fisheries, includ :ur those of
Alaska.
ATHENS, March 22—Prince Con
stantine, the son of the assassinated
King, has taken the constitutional
uath and is now the King of Greece.
SEATTLE, March 22—A deal has
lust been completed here which will
nean enlarged development in the
ittle Susitna river country, north of
Seward. The Gold Bullion Mining
Company have sold their property of
ive claims on Willow creek. The
uerchaser is L. C. Thompson, of Tor- <
unto, and the consideration is an- !
•ounced as $450,000. This is a fine j
ree gold proposition and considers. }
ule of the yellow metal has been cak- <
m out. It is the Intention of the j
tew purchaser to put in a larger mill j
ind to open up the property on a j
nore extensive scale. <
Chitina
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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.
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.
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CHITINA 1
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