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THIRD YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY- AUGUST 5,1»13.
NUMBER 42.
Late Telegraph News
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.—The hearings by the House
Committee on Territories on the Alaska railroad bill will be
concluded next week. The next Democratic caucus will be
held on August 12, and prior to that time it is hoped to have
the bill reported favorably and placed on the House calendar.
Then when the caucus meets a strong effort will be made to
have this measure accepted for passage at the present special
session. The President is being importuned to lend his aid to
this program. While he may not decide it expedient to issue
a message urging the passage of the bill at this session, it is
believed that he will not oppose the plan and will give his
personal endorsement to it.
The bill provides for the expenditure of $40,000,000 for
the construction of railroads in Alaska, the routes to be deter
mined by the President. The lines to be built may connect
with any existing lines and be operated as a through route, or
the President may cause the railroads built by the government
to be operated by cotnract or lease. The Interstate Commerce
Commission is empowered to fix the rates of transportation of
freight and passengers. The bill will be reported favorably by
the committee, and will be substantially the same as reported
favorably by the Senate Committee on Territories on June 17.
-o—o—o
JUNEAU, Aug. 4.—The interest among old-time Alaskans
in the latest placer strike in the Sushanna district is becoming
acute. During the past week a great number have been making
preparations to leave here for the new diggings. When the
steamer Mariposa sailed at 4 o’clock this afternoon for the
westward, she took aboard 120 men who will get off at Cordova
and take the train for the interior country. Twelve horses
were also taken from here. It is expected that more men and
horses will board the ship at Skagway tonight. Mining men
generally are beginning to believe that the new placer strike is
likely to prove one of the richest yet made in Alaska.. More
will go from Juneau on later boats. Men returning from
Seattle state that hundreds will soon be flocking north from
the Pacific coast states. It is figured that about 40 took passage
on the Mariposa at Seattle.. Many horses will be shipped to
Cordova on the freighter Latouche.
_A__A_
The interior town of Chitina was all excitement last
evening upon arrival there of the first automobile from
Fairbanks. The machine was a Ford and contained John
Ronan and John Ferguson, who are bound for Seattle. The
distance of 320 miles was covered in 45 hours actual traveling
time.
In view of the present condition of the roads, which at
places are almost impassable, the feat is considered a most
remarkable one. It demonstrates however, that Colonel
Richardson’s boast that the present government road could
easily be converted into a boulevard, is made upon a knowledge
of the possibilities.
The machine reached Chitina at 5:30 o’clock and congratu
latory telegrams were immediately exchanged between the
people of Fairbanks and Chitina. A Cadallic machine with
passengers followed the Ford.
-o—o—o
VALDEZ, Aug. 4.—Robert Sheldon, with his Ford five
passenger car, and bringing John Ronan and John Ferguson
from Fairbanks, readied here at midnight on Saturday. The
run was made from Chitina in sixteen hours, making the
running time from Fairbanks direct to the coast, 54 hours.
Mr. Sheldon states that for a small amount of money the road
from Valdez to Fairbanks can be placed in fine condition, so as
to comfortably make the trip from the coast to the interior in
two days, and shorter time if necessary. A big reception will
be held here tonight in honor of Sheldon and his passengers.
Clarence Golden and A1 White have purchased the car from
Sheldon. It will leave here on the return trip upon the arrival
of the steamer Mariposa on Thursday. It is expected to reach
Fairbanks in 48 hours running time.
-o —o—o
SEATTLE, Aug. 1.—An announcement has just been made
by the management of the Marconi Wireless system that should
mean much to the business interests of Alaska that has been
complaining of the exhorbitant tolls charged for cable
messages. Work will at once commence on new stations at
Nome, Dutch Harbor, Juneau and Ketchikan. Effective
September 1st, the rates will be cut from 25 cents to 5 cents
per word, with no limit as to distance.
-o—o—o
JUNEATJ, July 31.—After a deliberation of two hours a
jury acquitted Joseph McDonald of the murder of Jones ten
years ago at Treadwell. This case is one of the most talked
of that ever came to trial in Alaska, and was one of the hardest
fought. It has been on trial for twenty-two days and about
eighty witnesses were summoned. The cost of the trial will
reach $200,000, about equally divided between the defense and
the government.
-o—o—o
A large number of people in Cordova received letters on
the train last evening from friends or relatives who are either
in the new gold diggings or on their way. The information
conveyed seems to be generally regarded as encouraging,
although the fact is accentuated that there is a shortage of food
supplies in the Sushanna country. This emphasizes the fact
that stampeders going in should have horses with which to
transport their freight, as it is impossible for a musher to pack
any great amount of food on his back.
DAWSON, YUKON TERRITORY, Aug. 5—Three hundred
stampeders have left Dawson for the new gold diggings on the
Chisana river. Nearly all started from here on steamers.
Quantities of supplies have also been sent from here on steamers
and they are now being landed at the junction of the Donjek
river with the White river. This is about 90 miles from the
new district. Stores and hotels will be opened there in a few
days and stocks of goods will be taken in to supply the winter
demand upon the part of mushers who will be going to the
Chisana from Dawson and White Horse throughout the winter.
All the goods sold will be those shipped in from the American
side. People here are anxious to know what will be the winter
route from Cordova and whether any supplies are now going
in from your section. Old-timers are getting the itch and many
will soon join the rush.
Encouraging news on the Sushanna, or as it is now being
called Chisana, gold strike, was brought to McCarthy last
evening by C. Bones, Zeke Miller and W. A. Bigelow. Mr.
Bones came through from White Horse and switched off to
run over to Chisana river. The other two were in that country
but a short time, coming out for supplies.
They express the belief that the strike will develop into
the richest ever known in Alaska. They say there is an area
of 15 square miles of rich placer ground, with work now being
done on many streams. There is much excitement in the
country and stampeders are coming from every direction.
Already there is fractional staking and some claim jumping.
Parties at the mouth of Bonanza Creek are getting out
dollar pans. A small creek tributary to Wilson has shown up
among the richest in the diggings. The returning men further
say that just before they left there were reports of several new
strikes of rich pay. The general feeling prevailed that the
greatest strikes are yet to be made. That the country is so
large that with further prospecting the richest kind of pay is
likely to be uncovered.
These men declare that the trail from White River to
McCarthy is in many places, very bad and even dangerous.
Stampeders who were going into the new country sent word
back that an effort should be made to induce the Alaska Road
Commission and the railroad officials to make needed improve
ments on the trail.
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Reports from Kennecott state that Stephen Birch,
managing director of all the mining property of the Alaska
Syndicate in this territory, has sent an expedition into the
Sushanna gold diggings. The party is in charge of Supt.
W. H. Seagraves, of the Bonanza mine, and he has with him
J. W, Forester, division engineer of the C. R. & N. W. Ry.,
Zeke Mullett, J. E. Barrett and another man from the mine.
They have five horses and supplies sufficient to last several
weeks. Mr. Forrester will only go as far as Scolai pass and
will note the improvements needed to improve the trail and
also what changes would be advisable in the survey made
several years ago for the construction of a railroad from
McCarthy’s to the pass. Mr. Seagraves will look over the new
gold field and possibly make some locations. Mr. Birch was
anxious to go himself and had made all arrangements to that
end. In fact he started out with the expedition, but after a
few hours he met with a slight accident that necessitated his
return to Kennecott. He then sent Supt. Seagraves to join the
party and take his place. It is stated that Mr. Birch is strongly
impressed with the idea that the Sushanna will turn out to
be a rich camp.
Yesterday morning a Cadillac automobile arrived at
Chitina with four stampeders for the Sushanna. They are
James Munchion, Billy James, Charles Freeman and James
Cowell. They brought with them five tons of freight, making
the distance in 48 running hours. The automobile left again
today for Fairbanks, taking back freight from Chitina for the
several road houses. The four men from Fairbanks have gone
on to McCarthy’s where they will secure horses and go to
the interior.
A1 Church sent to town from McCarthy a couple of ounces
of coarse gold nuggets which had been brought from the new
field. They have been viewed by a large number of interested
parties, and the feeling prevails that the new strike is going
to turn out to be extensive. That old-time interpid Alaskan,
Jack Dalton, is optimistic over the future development of the.
new diggings, as he considers that pay has already been found
on a sufficient number of creeks to warrant the establishing of
a good sized camp.
Dr. C. L. Hale returned early this morning on a speeder
from Kennecott, having been there and at McCarthy’s for the
past two weeks. He reports that several stampeders have
returned from the Sushanna country. They were among the
early ones who went in, located claims and immediately came
out to secure provisions. They returned with the intention
of prospecting their property. The doctor says that nearly
every one has brought out some coarse gold nuggets and that
all are optimistic and believe that diligent prospecting upon
the part of stampeders will develop an extensive area of gold
placer ground. . ..
Joe Brown, deputy United States marshal at Chitina, has
returned from a trip to the Sushanna gold fields. He left there
on Friday morning and reached McCarthy’s Monday night. He
made several locations and now proposes to secure an outfit
that will last him through the winter and return to the new
diggings, believing that pay dirt can be thawed out during
the cold months and washed out during the spring.
Brown substantiates the general report that there is a
shortage of food in the camp and practically no pans, picks or
shovels with which to do work. A great number of claims, have
been located on the various creeks, and he predicts mu<- i
irregular staking and subsequent claim jumping. He says ver
few prospectors have done any work on their claims and that
most of them are on the move, due largely to the shortage of
provisions. Many of the prospectors who mushed in were not
in a position to remain long, as they did not carry much food
and found it impossible to buy any.
Brown says that there is no question about the richness
of some of the claims and expresses the opinion that with
development many valuable claims will be opened up, as pay
dirt has been found on numerous creeks. On discovery claim
when he was present a miner asked permission to take out a
pan. It was granted and lie found $16 in nuggets. The owner,
Mr. James, intimated that he didn’t know how to get the
values so he volunteered to show him and took out $ii4 from
a pan.
In Brown’s opinion the present development has simply
shown the possibilities of the camp, and he does not look for
big and rich strikes until next spring. In the meantime there
will be thousands of people in the country, with stores, hotels
and many conveniences. But he advises all going in now to
take provisions sufficient to last them a few months. He says
the trail in several places is bad but that with the expendi
ture of a few thousand dollars it could be made comparatively
good and the distance shortened about ten miles. He estimates
the distance the way the stampeders are now going at 100
miles from McCarthy’s.
Jack Dalton returned on last
night’s train from McCarthy, where
he went to learn some inside infor
mation in reference to Sushanna
from M. E. Bones, who has been
doing assessment work for him in the
White River district and had just
returned from the recent strike. Mr.
Dalton is optimistic as to the future
of the new diggings, upon which
he 3ays pay has been found on
three creeks and that $1 pans are
not uncommon. On account of the
great scarcity of grub and tools, but
little work has been done, in fact
not sufficient to demonstrate the ex
tent of the pay, although he states
that on eleven claims a limited
amount of prospecting has shown
the ground to be very rich, with
every indication that Sushanna will
E. L. Harwood has received a
letter from a friend at McCarthy's,
in which he says:
‘“Bill Carden was here from the
new diggings and has returned. He
had two ounces of nuggets. He
took in three horses well packed
with grub. Before leaving he stated
that gold had been struck on seven
creeks, with fair pay on all. James
took out 300 ounuces from Discov
ery and sent it to Dawson to secure
supplies, as he has heretofore done
all his trading there. He later
went himself, with more gold to
Dawson. There is very little work
being done in the new camp, be
cause of the shortage of grub.
Everyone stakes ground and then
leaves to get more supplies. Car
den says that the new diggings is
in a large rolling valley about 50
Edgar H. Davis received a letter
from Howard H. Fields, a mining
engineer who was one of the stamp
eders from Cordova. The letter was
dated July 27 and was sent from
North Fork Island shortly after
arriving there. This is the camp
of F. T. Hamshaw. The letter says:
‘‘The district is staked for miles
and up to date James on Discovery
has taken out close to $10,000,
and that Is straight. There seems
to be a possibility of some quartz at
the head of the creeks. The main
ones are Chatnenda and Genaenda
with their tributaries, Bonanza, El
dorado, Alder and Wilson, which
flow Into the Chisana river. Not
I much gold has been taken outside
make a good placer camp.
Mr. Dalton learned that for sev
eral of the claims, amounts ranging
from $40,000 to $50,000 have been
offered, b it so far h" knew none
had been sold. Ten days ago it
started to snow in the interior and
the prospectors were driven from
their claims, several miles above
the timber line, down to scrub
brush. Not only is there a short
age of provisions there, but also a
scarcity of water at this season of
the year, both of which have re
sulted in retarding the output of
gold. Mr. Dalton advises all who
contemplate mushing to the new
diggings to take horses and pack an
outfit with them sufficient to last
long enough to remain some time
in the country after arrival there.
miles square, and that bed rock is
shallow, averaging about 5 feet. He
says the country looks good to him
and that he believes it will make
a good camp.
‘‘Gus Johnson and Riley have
just arrived from the Chisana. They
each have a couple of ounces of
nuggets that run in value from 75
cents to $4. Gus says that the fine
gold is not saved because there are
no boxes. W. E. James had two
men working and cleaned tip over
$8,000 in eight days. Soon after
that he was compelled to quit work
because of a shortage of grub. Both
Riley and Johnson say tnat there
are five creeks that are rich enough
to make a good camp. All the pros
pectors need is grub and tools with
which to work, as bed rock is any
where up to five feet.”
James’ claims, but no one has any
tools to work with. Not much ean
be expected this year. Grub is
worth $1 a lb. and none for sale.”
Mrs. C. E. Nichols received a let
ter last evening from her husband,
who was at Scolai pass on July 27..
Among other things he says:
‘‘We are within 45 miles of th»
new diggings. Two men just ar
rived from there In 16 hours. It
will take us about 24 hours to
make the trip. We have been here
in camp since yesterday noon,
owing to a snow storm. The return
ing men have staked claims and
are on their way out to get sup
plies. They say that the camp is
rich. I saw four ounces of the
geld, which is very coarse.”