®ij? (Elyitina foalter
CHITINA. ALASKA.
Entered as second-class matter,
November 12 1910, at tbe postoffice
at Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of
Congress of March 3, 1879.
Office: Hotel Chitina Building.
Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Published every Saturday by
Miters, Managers and Proprietors
•- K. Him, City Editor
ADVERTISING RATES:
Made know n upon application. The)
will bo found reasonable for the ser
▼ice given.
Application has been made to the post
office department for the entry of this
newspaper as second-class matter at the
post Office at Chitina, Alaska, under the
act of Congress of March I, 1179.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE:
One month...$ -SO
Six months. 2.90
One year. 3.50
CHITINA, SATURDAY. June 3, ’ll
^ .
LET US MINE
OUR OWN COAL
THAT “COAIj-TEA" PARTY.
Numerous Alaskans who are now
returning to the territory after spend
ing the winter in the states, tell of
the great sensation created by the
action' of the Cordova people in
dumping foreign coal into the bay
and going on record as the second
assembly of outraged Americans to
rebel against an unjust government.
A recent arrival in Chitlna informs
us that we cannot possibly conceive
of the excitement and comment the
"coal-tea" party has made, and that
it is no nine days’ wonder or sensa
tion soon to be forgotten, for not
only all the large dailies, but every
small town and country newspaper
are constantly adding more fuel to
the flame now started, particularly
throughout the Northwest, which now
suffers with Alaska in many large
districts because of Pinchot and his
cursed conservation. The progressive
people of the Northwest and Alaska
have no love for Mr. Pinchot and
his conservation plans. Capital only
of late years has begun to realise
the vast resources of the Northwest,
and Alaska, so the moneyed men of
the East who have been tardy in ue
curing a foothold in the West and
North are yelling conservation. They
don’t want to see this country de
veloped for tnev realize 'hat our re
sources are greater, and fear compe
tition from other combinations of
capital, which will greatly reduce the
dividends they have enjoyed for so
many years.
. For over seven years Alaskans
have been petitioning the govern
ment to throw open the coal lands
or at least grant patents to a few
bona fide claims which were filed
upon and all the requirements of the
law complied with many months be
fore the withdrawal of the same, but
they have not only been given the
"glassy stare,’’ but the lands are now
tied up tighter than ever, thus caus
ing one of the most absolute neces
sities of the country to be denied the
hardy pioneers, who are braving all
the hardships of a rigorous climate,
and who for years have been pour
ing millions of dollars into the Unit
ed States.
Conservation of our timber and
coal may be all right, if it is in
tended to keep it from being gobbled
up by unscrupulous monopolies and
corporations, but when it is bottled
up and the people denied its uses,
when they actually suffer for it, It is
all wrong, and it certainly looks as
though the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vir
ginia and other coal belts have an
axe to grind when they yell conser
vation.
Immediately after the passage of
the act of 1904, permitting coal land
claims to be taken up on unsurvey
ed lands, the surveys to be done at
the expense of the locators, a num
ber of entries were made by the
pioneers of Alaska. But seven years
have now passed since these appli
cations for patent have been made
and not one single mine has been
permitted to be opened; not one
pound of Alaska coal to be sold to
a consumer, or even utilised by the
locators, who have paid the govern
ment In ful lfor their claims. The
claims have and are now being held
up. ostensibly to investigate wheth
er or not fraud has been committed
and as a consequence many hardy
pioneers of the Katalla and Mata
nuska countries, who have bravely
held on all this time, are beginning
to feel as though justice will never
be granted, so who can blame them
for becoming desperate and in order
to receive recognition from an un
just government, commit acts which
may be against the laws of our na
tion. If the "Boston tea party” was
justifiable, .the action of-the Cordova
people Is also to be commended, and
from the reports reaching us every
lay, we believe the majority of the
>eople of the United States sympa
hize with Alaskans in their cry for
ustice.
Right or wrong, the “coal-tea
>arty” at Cordova has had the effect
if drawing thb attention of the peo
-le from all over the United States
: o the shabby treatment that nas
been accorded Alaskans for the past
seven years, which, through the aid
of the press, has awakened our leg
islators so the powers that be are
already bestirring themselves and
have promised us a decision on our
coal patents this month.
There is more activity at and near
Chitina than any other Alaskan
town.
June first was our first really warm
spring day. The sun shone bright
and warm with the absence of the
UBual up-river wind, which has been
blowing steadily for the past month.
That $20,000 to be expended on
the Chitina cut-off trail looks pretty
good to us. As the season is so late,
it is hard to say just when the work
will be started, but the trail will be
put in shape for big bobs and double
sleighs to come straight from Paxon s
to Chitina next winter.
Considerable speculation has been
caused since the announcement that
the Copper River & Northwestern
railway would be extended on into
the White River country, and many
old-timers who are familiar with the
*
richness of that mineral belt, are al
ready headed that way.
A survey of the Alaska boundary
line will soon be made by F. H.
Mackie, representing the dominion
government, the work starting from
the head of Portland canal to the
open sea. The survey will, it is esti
mated, require about three seasons to
complete.
We are sorry to hear of the dis
continuance of the Juneau Record.
The Record was a bright, newsy dai
ly, fearless in its editorial comment,
and was ever a consistent booster for
Southeastern Alaska. May the pub
lisher soon find another field in Alas
ka to boost the interests of this great
northland.
Arrivals from Cordova claim there
are less people and less business now
at the coast terminal than ever be
fore in her history as a town. Con
ditions are much the same in every
town in Alaska. Wby? Ask Wick
ersham or Pinchot. They are the
boys who can give you a solution to
the problem.
Now that the Copper River &
Northwestern Railway is beginning
to ship ore, capital is not only looking
this way, but is already investing
in prospects which show anything
near like a mine or a producer. The
sale or bonding of the property near
the Lakina last week by Seattle par
ties is evidence of the faith in this
mineral belt.
That idea 01 opening me coat any
way, spoken of editorially in the Se
attle Post-Intelligencer, is worth
considering, and it is the opinion of
all Alaskans that little or nothing
would be done by the government,
should a bona fide entryman start
operations on his coal claim, locat
ed and the requirements complied
with previous to the withdrawal of
coal lands. Mine the coal, anyhow,
is right.
Our merchants frequently complain
of delayed orders from Cordova.
There has seldom been a time when
there were not at least two trains a
week, and oftentimes an order is
over two weeks in arriving here.
The business is usually done by mail,
and the only way Chitina people can
figure out the delay is that the Cor
dova business men are too busy to
go to the postoffice after the arrival
of an inland train. We positively
know that many people in Cordova
never go near the postoffice until
the arrival of an outside boat, never
thinking of mail from the interior.
Look alive, Cordova, and don't forget
that on each train a few dollars from
Chitina go your way. It’s annoying
to send money for goods and not be
able to get them by return train.
CHITIXA MAKING GOOD.
Now and then we hear the re
mark that there is nothing in Chit
ina, yet those making the remarks
admit that there are undeveloped re
sources all around us. We never ex
pected a boom here. We don't want
inflated prices or a mushroom growth
and when taken into consideration
that we are less than a year old
we have as good a population of en
terprising citizens and as healthy a
growth as anyone can reasonably ex
pect. A town of slow growth usually
makes a better impression on strang
ers than one in which a score of
buildings are placarded with " To
Let” or “For Sale” notices. Every
body is doing a little business here
and Chitina will yet be one of the
best towns in Alaska, for we have
the mineral, agricultural lands and
other resources all around us, and
being the division point of the Cop
per River & Northwestern Railway,
within a few years, branch lines will
be running from here tapping the
great interior and mineral regions.
Can't get away from it, Chitina is
bound to make good.
From our exchanges we should
judge that the postal banks experi
ment is proving most satisfactory to
Postmaster General Hitchcock, as he
recently ordered forty-seven more es
tablished, Which are supposed to open
their doors for business this month.
There have been 176 of these postal
banks established since January,
1911.
Keep your eye on Chitina and
watch h r grow.
Now is
Your Chance
If you want all the MINING and RAIL
ROAD NEWS of the Copper River Valley there
is no better medium through which to get it than
The
Chitina Leader
This is one of the Greatest Mineral Belts in
the North and Chitina is the Gateway to Inter
ior Alaska. Here’s where the rail meets the
trail.
Subscribe This
Month
As a special inducement to those who send
in their names during June the Leader will be
delivered or mailed to any address at the great
ly reduced price of
$2 Per Year
Strictly in Advance
This offer is only good for THIRTY DAYS.
The price is within the reach of all and if you
are already taking the Leader why not send it
to a friend for a year? It’s cheaper than writ
ing letters.
ALASKA COAST CO.
“The Inside Route”
To Juneau and Puget Sound Ports and Southwestern Alaska.
Steamer Bertha leaves Seattel April 20th.
Steamer Sampson leaves Seattle May 5th.
Steamer Bertha leaves Seattle May 20th.
Steamer Sampson leaves Seattle May 27th.
Steamers connecting at Seattle with the Alaska-Pacific Steam,
ship Company’s steamers sailing from Seattle Monday and Thurs
day of each week for California points. Through service. Low
rates.
Right reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without
notice. ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Local Agents
B. F. WATSON, General Agent.
ALASKA STEAHSHIP CO.
Fastest and most commodious f»- » sailing between
Cordova and Seattle.
Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova—
May 16.NORTHWESTERN.May 24
May 24.ALAMEDA.June 1
June 1.NORTHWESTERN.June 8
June 8.ALAMEDA.June 16
This company reserves the right to change schedule or
steamers without notice.
Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg.
Baggage or freight will not be received at dock later one
hour before sailing time.
R. J. BARRY, THOMAS TALLENT
General Agent. Ticket Agent.
Buy Your Clothing at the Home
Store and Save the Freight
We Will Sell You Everything
AT CORDOVA PRICES
FINKELSTEIN & SAPIRO
CORDOVA MEN’S OUTFITTERS
Chitina, Alaska.
.
HOTEL
WASHINGTON
ANNEX
SEATTLE
h _
►
’ New, modern and firepi-oof,
i. All outside rooms,
jj The most conveniently located
K hotel in the city,
r Looms and suites are partine
P laily large.
r Very desirable for families or
I parties traveling together.
RATES MODERATE
Auto-bus meets all boats and
trains. Write for booklet.
I J. H. DAVIS, Prop.
44HW»H4*HH»M-W»H4
Just Open
Billiards * Pool
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
Bowling Alley
TIBBS BROS.
Chitina
News
Stand
All the Latest
MAGAZINES & PEKODICALS
Cigars, Tobacco's, Confection*
ery and Soft Drinks
POOL AND SOLO TABLES
Barber Shop in Connection
You can play or read while
awaiting your turn
AL CHURCH & TOM BRADY,
Proprietors
Log
Cabin
Restaurant
X GOOD coffee j
Babbage
The Old Sour-Dough
Watchmaker and Jeweler
— , , _
I- ' - fH£ - v V
RAIL i OAl) TIMLKEFJPEIft
OP" AMtfJir A.
In Chitina Pharmacy, Chitina.
ED. S. ORR STAGE GO
Leaves Chitina
TUESDAYS,
FRIDAYS
andlSUNDAYS
Carrying Passengers Expresi
and U. S. Mail
Office in Hotel Chitina
Chitina Bakery
& Coffee House
GESSNER & STANGNETH
Proprietors
FRESH BREAD
Cakes and Pastry
Always on H/;nd
Main Street, — Chitina.