THE CHITINA LEADER
CHITINA, ALASKA
Entered as second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postofllce at
Chltina, Alaska, under the Act of Conbress of March 2, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Tuesday by
HARRY G. STEEL, Editor and Proprietor.
Offloe: Hotel Chltina Building, Cordova Office: Daily Times.
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CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1915.
‘ WILL THEY CALL A TRUCE?
A dispatch predicts that the war beyond the seas will
soon be over. It looks to one at this distance as though about
the most tremendous fighting of the war was imminent in
southeastern Europe.
However, the winter may cause the belligerents to agree
to a truce for a few months. Should this come then it seems
to us as though our country should urge the convening of
The Hague tribunal, to formulate a new international code to
include what in future should be a ground for war, and what
should be permitted or inhibited in the event of war.
That might settle some pending questions which, if left
directly to the belligerents, they would never be able to settle
until one or the other side should be utterly exhausted and
unable to fight longer.
But the prospect of even a truce seems most remote now.
The Teutons are making their drive down the Danube and
the allies are hurrying unknown forces forward to meet them,
and if possible turn them back. And when they meet the
echos of the Crusades and of Lepanto will be lost under the
roar that will be awakened. It will be by sea and land, in the
clouds and in the ocean’s depths, and by the acts of those
contending forces it will look as though both Mercy and Jus
tic ehad fled back into their native seats and given over this
planet to anarchy and death.
-:o:
GOVERNMENT SHOULD ISSUE BOOKLET.
Dr. Walter Lindsay, who recently made a trip to Alaska,
is writing a series of articles for the Los Angeles Times on this
northlaud, and makes the following recommendations:
My glimpses of Alaska satisfied me that it deserves and
needs the thoughtful fostering care of our national government.
It is in the same latitude as Norway, Sweden and Finland, has
a much better climate, more arable land, and is a much larger
territory than all three of those Turopean countries combined;
yet they have a population of 19,000,000, while Alaska has a
white population of less than 40,000. The Federal government
should issue 1,000,000 copies of a booklet, giving a comprehen
sive statement of facts in regard to this territory.
Where are its gold mines, its coal mines and its copper
mines!
What is the outlook for the prospector and the investor,
and where should he go!
Where are the agricultural lands, and what are probably
the most profitable crops!
What should a man of limited means do to secure a quarter
section of a section of agricultural land?
Who and where are the government officials with whom
he must confer in order to secure land ?
What and where are the various woods to be found in
Alaska forests, and what are the laws governing timber lands?
Where has oil-bearing land been discovered and what are
the prospects
What are the educational facilities?
Where are schools of designated grades?
How many teachers of various grades are employed, and
where!
Describe various trips that may be made through and
around Alaska.
Where and when may the midnight sun be best seen ?
Where are the most accessible glaciers?
Which are the most noteworthy?
What birds are to be found, and where?
Give sketch of laws governing killing or capture of birds
and animals.
Give names, location and altitudes of mountains and vol
canoes.
What is the rainfall and snowfall at various points?
Give extremes and mean of temperature in chief towns.
What tribes of Indians live in Alaska?
Designate locations of tribes and numbers of each tribe.
Are they increasing or decreasing in number, give data?
Such a book of information, accompanied by a reliable
map, would make a trip to Alaska far more illuminating than
it can be at present. It has—in America—been the general rule
that the youngest in the family is the favorite, but in a gov
ernmental way the United States should adopt the Englsh
plan of giving the oldest the preference. Alaska is our first
born of detached territories, and while Uncle Sam is pouring
money into the Philippines, Hawaii- Canal Zone and Poro Rico,
let him not for a moment neglect his oldest son.
:o:
It is beginning to look very much as though Postal In
spector Neil had in mind the “smoking out” of all Republican
hold-over postmasters in Alaska, as he reduced the clerk hire
allowance to such a minimum at Cordova, Seward, Skagway
and' Juneau that it was impossible to longer continue giving
efficient service, and as a result practically all of the post
masters affected have tendered their resignations. Possibly
when Democrats are appointed to these federal offices the de
partment will see its way clear to give them sufficient help to
properly conduct their offices. At least we hope so.
The Washington Newspaper, to be published monthly by
the department of journalism, University of Washington, in
the interests of journalism, has been born. Both Father
Editor Kane and child are doing well. The paper is good
humored and contains little enough of the “uplift” and' “se*r
vice” business to make it very acceptable among the news
papermen of the state.
Goodness does not more certainly make men happy, than
happiness makes them good. We must distinguish between
felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition,
and ambition to disappointment; the course is then over, the
wheel turns around but once; which the reaction'of goodness
and happiness is perpetual.
There is a great editorial battle being waged by the
Juneau newspapers over the form of government Alaska
should have. The Empire wants a full territorial form of gov
ernment and the Dispatch goes it one better by demanding
statehood for this northern empire. And the Ketchikan
Progressive-Miner rises to remark that the paramount issue
is a division of the territory, adding:
“It will take many years—if ever—before the second and
fourth divisions shall reach the present state of development
that the first and third divisions have; and if they are left at
tached to our natural progressive kite1 we shall be hampered'
in obtaining that which we are entitled to, and that is State
hood.’ ’ '*
According to telegraphic advices from Seward, naviga
tion is closed for the season on Cook’s Inlet, and five steamers
loaded with freight for Anchorage, were compelled to bring
their cargoes to Seward, where it will be discharged and re
main until next spring, unless a portion of it is freighted over
the trail this winter.
The popularity of the “unwritten law” as an apology for
killing seems to be waning. A Seattle woman was convicted
of murder, but it may have been due partially to the fact that
she possessed neither youth nor abundant beauty, two attri
butes which usually are held by juries to be of great virtue.
The National Temperance Union and the Wholesale
Liquor Dealers’ Association are both reported to have big
gobs of money for distribution wherever the cause at issue
requires a little expenditure of the lucre. Wonder how much
will find its way to Alaska next year, when we do the wet and
dry stunt
Col. W. P. Richardson is to resume his fight at Washing
ton for an increased appropriation for trails in Alaska. He
believes that with the building of the government railroad
there will arise a greater necessity for wagon roads as feeders
to develop the tributary country and supply tonnage.
That Secretary Lane may be successful in getting an ap
propriation of $8,000'000 from Congress, for prosecuting work
on the government railroad in Alaska is the wish of all resi
dents of the territory, who also want to see him promulgate
regulations permitting our coal to be mined.
United States Senator Bois Penrose, of Philadelphia, will
shortly formally announce his candidacy for the Republican
nomination for the presidency. He has been a member of
the Senate since 1897, and was recently re-elected to another
six-year term by a direct vote of the people of his state.
President Wilson, as fairy godfather of a set of Illinois
triplets, has agreed to furnish $500 for their education. For
the moment he seems to have forgotten the possibility of
eventualities in his own household.
Announcement by Lieut. Fay, the German momb special
ist, that h ed'id not think it worth while to attack munitions
plants because damage could be easily repaired, should
further boom the war stocks.
The Skagway Commercial Club is congratulating itself
that it has been invited to join the United States Chamber of
Commerce. At present Cordova is the only town in Alaska
affiliated with that organization, which is the largest repre
sentative body of business men in America.
The Democrats of Cordova have endorsed C. H. Scheffler,
of the Daily Times, for .the vacancy in the local postermaster
ship, and as he has been recommended for the position by the
leaders of his party throughout the territory, Mr. Scheffler is
likely to land the office.
Falcon Joslin is doing a little effective advertising as to
the mineral resources of this section of Alaska as he wends
his way to the National Capital, where he will make every
effort to have the coal fields of Alaska thrown open on a
workable lease.
Ihe steamers plying in Alaskan waters are receiving a
great many bumps on the rocks nowadays, which is a force
ful reminder that more aids to navigation are badly needed.
One of the market reporters has discovered a new art—
that of “picking” potatoes. Having completed that job, let’s
proceed to the harvest-home task of reaping the pumpkins.
Tlier eis another blockade of copper at Cordova, ore to
the value of $1,500,000 being piled up, and every southbound
ship taking a capacity load' of this precious metal.
There is about as much sympathy for poker players who
are robbed in a houlup as there is for John D. Kockefeller in his
failure to keep an art shop out of his block.
If New Brunswick get sthose 6,000 German prisoners in
Canada as loggers it is easy to see that they will always be at
loggerheads with their employers.
If Carranza is not inclined to deliver de la Rosa, the
bandit leader, to American justice, he might be induced to
swap him for Huerta.
Japan says the government of Yuan Shi Kai, by Yuan
Shi Rai, for Yuan Slii Kai, shill not perish from the earth,
just yet> anyway.
Wellington Koo is the new Chinese minister to the United
States. There’s no question about the dove of peace from
that quarter.
The fact that witchcraft causes the death of hundreds of
thousands each year in Africa is further proof that it is a
black art.
Notwithstanding the fact that a large number of towns
people will winter outside, Cordova’s population promises to
be larger during that period than for several years past.
President Wrilson and William J. Bryan have come to the
parting of the ways on the issue of national preparedness, and
the widening breach is being watched with intense interest.
They undoubtedly will meet in combat in the halls of Con
gress- and the combat promises to be warm and of far-reaching
effect.
That the wise men of the east are following the star of
Bethlehem Steel is indicated by that $599 quotation. The
shepherds of Wall Street are taking care of the lambs.
Charles M. Schwab is at the manger, but there is no song of
“Peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Stock exchange seats are up to $72,000. That’s because
there are so many ticker speculators.
The number of murders in California makes it look al
most like civil war.
An embargo on the entire anatomy as well as arms seems
to be needed at the border, judging from fig leaf reports.
Under Villa vice has thrived in northern Mexico. Under
Carranza it may be vice versa.
The wise merchant is beginning to plan his advertising
for the holiday season.
It’s none too early to think of your Christmas shopping.
1916 rumbles are heard in the distance.
The snow has evidently come to stay.
mu EPISCOPAL DEGTOI
HAS GONE TO ANCHORAGE
Rev. E. H. Molony, pastor of tne
Church of the Epiphany during the
past year, at Valdez, accompanied hy
his wife and family, left for Anchor
age. The members of the Episcopal
Church and the citizens of Valdez
generally regret their departure from
Valdez, and will wish them every suc
cess in their new field.
Mr. Molony had but recently re
turned from Anchorage, and while
there had received pressing invita
tions to settle in the new town and
establish a mission. The people of
Anchorage have promised him that
they will build a parsonage and en
gage a hall suitable for services rot
the winter and that next summer a
substantial church will be erected.
They have already subscribed $1,000
toward the new building, so anxious
are they that the church be estan
lished.
-:o:
SOURDOUGH DAYS ARE
REPRODUCED IN SEATTLE
The Arctic Club of Seattle held its
annual sourdough dinner last Satur
day evening, when caribou meat and
other Alaskan products formed a
greater portion of the menu. Three
hundred guests were present, and
good fellowship reigned supreme.
Following the dinner the annual
celebration was held, when the gamb
ling and dancehall days of the north
were reproduced. Many of the old
time gamblers were manipulating the
games with the same old players on
the outside of the tables.
Hundreds of persons who had never
seen the,northern camps during the
early days when gambling games were
run wide open, attended the afTatr to
see if the reproduction compared with
the stories they had heard of the
north.
A wireless instrument had been in
stalled on the roof of the Arctic Club
building, and during the evening mes
sages were received from Governor
Strong and other Alaskans, who re
gretted they were unable to be
present.
:o:
WOMEN PETITION EOI
TERRITORIAL PROHIBITION
The Women’s Christian Temper
ance Union of Sitka has started the
fight for territorial-wide prohibition
It has directed to Congress a peti
tion asking that the territorial act
calling for an election be affirmed,
as follows:
“We most earnestly solicit your
support for the passage of a bill
through Congress validating the law
of the Alaska Territorial Legislature,
providing for a referendum to tne
people of Alaska upon the liquor
question. As you will see from read
ing the enclosed petition, among the
restrictions placed upon the Alaska
Legislature by Congress is one
against amending the laws relating
to the manufacture or sale of intoxi
cating liquors in Alaska.
“Our legislature has provided for an
expression of the Alaska people on
this subject at the next general elec
tion; but without ratification by
Congress this law will be ineffective,
even should the people of Alaska vote
dry, as it can reasonably be expected
they will. Whether you favor tne
sale of intoxicating liquors or not,
we feel that we may ask you to as
sist in securing for the American
people of this territory the right to
decide this question for themselves.
This is a natural right that American
citizens may not expect their Con
gress to withhold from them, and we
are counting you among our sup
porters in this matter. In this con
nection, we beg to call your attenion
to the memorial of the last Alaska
Legislature, asking Congress to re
move these restrictions from our Or
ganic Act.
“The vast territory of Alaska is di
vided into four judicial and legislative
divisions, and we petition, if the vote
of the people in any one of these di
visions is against the sale of intoxi
cating liquors no saloon licenses shall
be issued in such division, after
January 1st, 1918. These divisions or 1
Alaska are separated from one an
other by great natural harriers and
vast areas of uninhabited country, so
that none of the arguments against
local option can be raised against
this additional proviso.”
-:o:—
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26.—Gov
ernor Black, of the Yukon Territory,
has tendered-.ftis ^resignation. He
has accepted a commission as cap
tain of expeditionary forcqa^ aad
will enter a training camp near Van
couver.
The steamer Kansas City arrived
a port at 10 o’clock this morning j
rom Anchorage, where she was un- (
.ble to discharge her cargo, the ice
n the inlet being quite thick. She
ost one of her anchors, and the cir
ulatlng pump was put out or cam
nission, necessitating her coming -to
’ordova for repairs. Her cargo con- (
lists of about 1,600 tons of lumber,
ails and food supplies, and after
vaiting for three days at Anchorage
bund it impossible to land the freight,
vhich was brought to Cordova.
The Northwestern was enabled to
Hscharge part of her cargo by
irifting forward and backward with
;lie ice. The balance of her freignt
vas landed at Seward.
The steamer Dora, en route from
Seward to Unalaska, broke down at
Seldovia on Sunday, and it will be
lecessary for her to put back to Cor
lova to repair her high pressure
aiston rod.
-:o:
SAILED ALL NIGHT IN THE SAME
PLACE.
Just before the Farragut passed j
by the last time a schooner with a
cargo that included a barrel of whis
key was sailing into Kodiak with two
men for crew. The man who was
steering during the daytime threw
over the anchor but kept the sails
hoisted, and the other man came to
steer for the night. The wind was
fresh and the waves beat around tne
stationary vessel so that the steerer
in the dark thought he was making
good headway until day broke and he:
found he was still the same distance I
from shore. Then up came the day I
pilot with a large quantity of the
whiskey stowed away inside his belt j
and with alternate shifts to port and \
starboard. The mistake was discov- i
ered and the last seen of the boar j
she was tacking into the harbor With j
apparently as great a jag on as the
man at the wheel had.
:o:
Nome is just now experiencing a
revival of winter prospecting and
mining, and the activity is unusual.
Arrivals from Dexter Divide report
that much work is proceeding and
that several parties are hoisting pay
from claims around the place where >
the strike was made last spring.
Amongst those in the pay there this
winter are Owen Brown, who made
the rich- strike last winter. Others
operating there are Murray and Rose,
the Rowan brothers, Henniner &
Company, Richter and Bolster, loses:
and Warter, Taylor and partners, Dan
Connolly and brothers. Many are!
taking out winter dumps, and the;
rest are prospecting and trying to!
line up the pay.
The output for the Nome camp this
year was just about three million dol
lars, and the customs office record or
arrivals and departures show tnat th»
population this winter is about two
hundred and fifty more than it was
last year.
Several blizzards and a great snow
fall have piled high the drifts much j
earlier than in any other winter In1
the camp's history. About a hundred
people are at the scene of the Dime
Creek strike, and others are leaving'
daily for It. It is a fairly good low,
grade placer camp.
Since the last boat went out it has \
been found that a dog famine exists
there, owing to the purchases made by
[he French government for the war.
-:o:
TEACHER GETS PERMIT.
The governor's office has issued to
Miss Ethel Bennett, who has been en
gaged as one of the teachers at An
:horage, a permit. Miss Bennett nan
i diploma from the California State
S’ormal School. ]
¥
Win. Kin
IS PLAYED IN
ALASKA
The political game hunters of Alas
ka are beginning to beat the “woods
if Alaska" for likely candidates. So
ar there has not been much success
n flushing the game. While a nmn
ter of prospective candidates nave
teen driven into the open, tney have
ihowed no special inclination to stay
here.
In other words, while several. like
[tarkis, are willing, and might accept
lominatlons if handed them on a sti
ver platter, they don’t want to tie
Raced in the position as though seek
tig political honors.
Naturally, the main fight for dele
tate will continue to center around
Delegate Wickersham. All or tne
[tarty politicians are trying to guess
tvhat he will do. And Mr. Wicker
iham, following his usual baffling
tactics, is letting the “other fellow"
io the guessing. Whenever it suits
him he will announce his candidacy
in his own way, should he decide
again to run, and meantime no one
knows save himself, and he is not
talking for publication.
It looks to a man in a tree as
though there is a widening split with
in the inner ranks of the Democratic
party in Alaska, the same ns there
has been within the ranks of the Re
publicans. The latter, however, ar©
showing more of a disposition to get
together and forget old differences,
while the former, with ripe plum trees
loaded with fruit so temptingly close,
seem disposed to quarrel about tne
best way of shaking down the fruit.
Regarding the Republicans, terri
torial affairs are in somewhat tne
same shape as national affairs. While
a number are mentioned as possible
candidates, no particular choice seems
to have been made ns yet, and the
candidate will have to develop as
the time for the convention draws
nigh. There is a percentage of the
Republicans who are still opposed to
Wickersham no matter even should
he come in under the wing or the
party and subscribe to the Republican
principles. There is another percent
age who decry the tactics of playing
a shut-out game against Wickersham,
who believe that Republicans should
have the right to vote for him in the
primaries as long as they pledge
themselves to stand by the person
nominated, and as long as Wicker
sham is willing to also subscribe to
the Republican principles. There is
still another percentage who are so
solidly for Wickersham that they
might subscribe to the Republican
principles, but who would bolt from
any convention which refused to nom
inate their choice.
Any way a person looks at the
game, it is full of interesting possi
bilities. Things are beginning to
warm up all over the territory, ana
there is already considerable quiet
manoeuvring at the present time, all
of which is preliminary to the main
event.—Juneau Dispatch.
:o-.
NEW LOCOMOTIVES BE THE
LARGEST USED IN ALASKA
The three new loeolomttves for the
Copper River & Northwestern rail
way, which are now en route from
Schenectady, N. Y., to Seattle, are of
the Grant make, and when they ar
rive in Cordova will be the largest
in use in Alaska. The new rotary snow
plow, which recently arrived , is in
readiness for any emergency that may
arise in keeping the road open, and
when the other extra equipment is
receive dthere will be two trams daily
run between Cordova and Chitina, in
order to handle the Increased ore
shipments from Kennecott.
-:o:
FREIGHTER SEWARD EN ROUTE
TO ANCHORAGE.
The freighter Seward, of the Alaska
Steamship Company's fleet, sailed
irom Seattle Saturday night Tor An
chorage with a capacity cargo for the
mgineering commission. The Seward
ivill be the last steamer of the sea
ion which will attempt to make Cook
nlet'
v- i
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