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FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, JUNE 16,1914.
NUMBER 35
OF 6E0 ML MESI
SEATTLE, June 11.—Today there is great jubilation in
this city over the news that has just been received from
Washington. It is to the effect that First Assistant Secretary
of the Interior Andrieus A. Jones has rendered a decision
which orders that a patent be issued to Charles C. Lightfoot,
for a coal claim in the Glacier fields. The particular significance
of this decision is its extreme broadness, as it is generally
interpreted to signify that practically every existing coal claim
in Alaska, where the work has been done according to the
ordinary provisions of the law, will be clear listed and ordered
to patent. It is believed that claims that were rejected under
former rulings of the department will be reconsiderd, with
possibly the exception of the Cunningham group, and that as
a result several hundred coal claims will soon be in the hands
of men who located them. Strong Alaskan supporters express
the opinion that the new policy of the interior department will
result in the early development of the Alaskan coal fields,
without reference to the passage of the ooal leasing bill, which
now seems assured. It is generally conceded that this will
assure the early construction of a branch railroad into the
Bering river fields, that will run from Cordova. If the govern
ment hesitates about building this connecting line it is assumed
that there will be no difficulty in securing private capital to
build this line, with the strong possibility that the Copper
River & Northwestern Railway will soon commence the con
struction of a line from Mile 38 over their surveyed route to'
the Bering fields.
WASHINGTON, June 11.—During the past couple of
days, upon an intimation from the White House, the Demo
cratic leaders of the House have been busy in the interests of
Alaska. The President has let it be known that he is sincerely
desirous that the Alaska coal leasing bill, the Alaska develop
ment board measure, and other bills of concern to the
development of the northern territory, should be passed before
Congress adjourns. As a result a majority of the members of
the House have petitioned the rules committee that a special
rule be adopted permitting the immediate consideration of five
measures, inQjudpjg the Alaska coal leasing bill. It is expected
that this petition will be favorably acted upon.
WASHINGTON, June 11.—Senator. Pittman declared this
afternoon that it is liis belief that the Alaska coal bill and also
the measure repealing the annual tax on Alaska railroads, will
pass both houses before adjournment.
WASHINGTON, June 12.—The Panama tolls repeal bill
was passed by the Senate last evening. It now goes to the
House for acceptance of the amendment which reserves the
right, under the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, for the United States
to make concessions in favor of our own shipping interests.
This amendment was acceptable to the President and it is
believed that it will be adopted by the House.
NIAGARA FALLS, June 11.—The mediation board has
been progressing slowly, but to them, in a seemingly satisfac
tory manner, toward the settlement of the Mexican situation.
But a snag has been hit. While it is accepted that Huerta must
retire, the question of whom shall be designated as a
provisional president, is now causing a tense feeling. This
afternoon negotiations, at least so far as the American dele
gates and the mediators, are concerned, was at the breaking
point. And it is all over the kind of a man who shall
temporarily take Huerta’s post.
SEWARD, June 16.—A big deal was closed this morning
by which Robert Ashland, formerly of Cordova, has purchased
the 38-acre homestead of Fred Laubner’s. It adjoins the city
limits and it is expected that it will be platted and sold in lots.
The price paid by Mr. Ashland was $30,000 cash, and he
expresses himself as well pleased with his bargain. He has
confidence that Seward has a great future in store for her and
that when it comes to make a decision between Portage Bay
and Seward for railroad terminals that there will be nothing
to it but Seward.
WASHINGTON, June 15.—The federal reserve bank
board is now complete, and this afternoon President Wilson
sent to the Senate the names and terms of the members of the
board, as follows: Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Charles
S. Hamlin, two years; A. Warburg, four years; Thomas Jones,
of Chicago, six years; Former Assistant to Secretary Lane,
Adolph C. Miller, ten years; S. B. Harding, eight years.
WASHINGTON, June 13.—It was announced late this
afternoon that the formal opening of the Panama canal will
occur in March, 1915. It will be the occasion of a general
celebration. President Wilson and his entire cabinet, if they
can possibly get away, will leave this city on March 15 and be
present at the opening, on which occasion an address will be
delivered by the President. The presidential party will pass
through the canal aboard the battleship Oregon and then
proceed to California, where they will attend the exposition
that will be held at San Francisco, in commemoration of the
completion of this great government undertaking.
The people of Chitina are making
elaborate preparations for a big
Fourth of July celebration this
year, and they are anxious to have
the Cordova baseball team go there,
for they realize that 75 or an 100
fans will follow in their wake. And
that will be a strong inducement for
the people from the various mining
camps between Chitina and Kenne
cott to turn out and help Chitina
celebrate the day. The committee
in charge is seeking to secure promi
nent speakers and mine operators
from other parts of the division to
be present and make addresses on
subjects of vital concern to the peo
ple. of the Copper River valley.
Besides the base ball game there
will be races of all kinds and
athletic sports, as well as an Indian
war dance. The pleasures of the day
will end with a big ball at night, to
be held at the Arctic Brotherhood
hall.
A large number of baseball play
ers congregated at the Chamber of
Commerce rooms last night and con
sidered various methods by which
Cordova could have a cracker-jack
ball team: It was decided that for
out of town contests the pick of the
railroad and town Xeams would be
combined in one invincible aggre
gation. Capt. A. E. Lathrop was
elected manager of the new team
and was given authority to make ar
rangements with Chitina, if possible
for a game on July 4th. C. O.
Fowler was selected as captain of
the team. The following letter from
Archie Cloninger, manager of the
Chitina team, and addressed to Capt.
Lathrop, was read at the meeting,
as follows:
“Your telegram brought joy *o
the hearts of Chitina people who
have been waiting for a chance to
see our home team make your aggre
gation bite the dust.
‘ The prize is $100, and it goes
to the best team. We do not know
how many teams there will be, but
probably only three, the Railroad
boys, your team and our team and
the schedule will be arranged so
that the best team will get the
money. We limited the prize to $100
because that is enough for any team
that plays the game for the fun of
playing, but there is nothing to pre
vent you and I having a little on the
side, and you will find that all the
Cordova fans of a speculative turn
of mind can be accommodated.
Fourth of July is the only time we
can figure on at present. If Cordova
should celebrate instead of coming
here then we will take the matter
up with you again, but both our
towns are small and why not come,
here this year and we will come to
Cordova next year if you get a
ground to pli y on.
“There are two automobile gentle
men here who would like to try
conclusions with your White Steam
er. There will be an Auto Race any
way so we want you to load on your
car when you come and take part in
the race. The distance has not been
fixed but probably to Paxson’s and
return will be far enough. Mr.
Haze.let attended our Fourth of
July meeting, mixed with the boys
and will give you all the informa
tion about the preparations we are
making to give you a good time.”
The matter of a prize, and a side
bet looked good to the boys and
Manager Lathrop stated that he
would send an answer suggesting
that each town back its team with
$500. Also that Chitina decide by
June 15 whether it wanted the. Cor
dova team to go there, on the terms
suggested in the following letter,
which was sent on today’s train by
Capt. Lathrop:
“Mr. Hazelet has handed me your
letter of this date. The $100 prize
mentioned is perfectly satisfactory.
Presume you expect to pay the ex
penses, railroad fare and hotel bill,
of the, visiting team, as is customary.
There will be 12 men in the team.
We expect to get a $5.00 round trip
rate.
‘We had planned a small celebra
tion here, similar to the one held
last ye.ar, but are willing to change
our plans and join you in celebrating
at Chitina providing this game can
be arranged.
“If you will put up $500 as a side
bet, depositing same with Blum &
Co.’s Chitina office, and advise us
that you have done so, we will de
posit an equal amount with Blum &
Co. here, and will guarantee to play
you at Chitina on some, date satis
factory to both sides, but not later
than July 4th.”
The question has not yet been de
termined whether or not the Cor
dova baseball team will go to Chitina
on July 4th. A letter received this
afternoon from Manager Cloninger
has got Manager Lathrop to guess
ing and he will refer the matter 'o
a meeting of the base ball boys, ro
be held likely tonight. The com
munication from the Chitina man
ager is as follows:
”1 have your letter and am very
glad the people of Cordova show
such an inclination to spend the
Fourth with us. Now regarding the
excursion we cannot tell from here
what the chances are of getting a
hundred people to come at $5 per so
will have to ask you to look after
that end of it. We have written
Mr. Corser that it is usual to carry
ball teams free and have no doubt
he will take care of your transpor
tation. We are not able to do it
ourselves. We are. a very small
town and there are many other
things to be taken care of but we
have managed to squeeze out an
other $50 for the prize which is now
$150. Regarding the $500 side bet
we prefer to cover your money on
the ground and will be able to ac
aomcdate everybody that wants to
make a bet on your team. Will you
let me know as soon as you can
whether your team will come, under
the conditions I have outlined, and
whether there will be an excursion.
If it is possible to call the Fourth by
any other name, this will be Copper
River Valley day, and we will have
visitors from the Shushanna to the
e«st, Beaver Dam to the west, Pax
son’s to the north and Cordova io
the south. We will try and give
everyone a good time and send them
away with a good word for Chitina,
and if you should win the game, we
will not grudge you the money or
the credit of winning. Hoping that
you will come at least a hundred
strong with money to back your
team.”
It now looks as though Cordova
would soon have an ordinance that
will permit of elections under a
modified form of the Australian bal
lot system. At the meeting of Town
Council last night Mr. Goodall intro
duced an ordinance that was read
and went over until the next me.eting.
The ordinance was drawn up by
Municipal Attorney Frazier and is
patterned after the Illinois law. The
preliminary features of the. bill with
reference to officers to be elected
and qualifications of electors are
similar to the present ordinance.
Ne.w features are as follows:
Printing of ballots and cards of
instructions to voters shall be paid
for by the town.
Any convention, caucus, or meeting
representing a politcal party may
make one nomination for each office
to be filled
Candidates may be put up by nom
ination papers signed by 20 vote.rs.
Nominations shall be filed with
the Town Clerk 15 days previous to
the election.
Withdrawals shall be filed not less
than ten days previous to election.
The names of all candidates to he
voted for shall be printed on one
ballot, all nominations to be placed
under party appellation, or suitable
title.
The size of type is prescribed for
printing the party appellation and
names, while a circle is printed for
marking a cross to indicate that all
cadidates under that title are voted
for.
Full instruction as to voting shall
be published.
A number of booths shall be
erected in the polling place where a
voter shall prepare his ballot.
A voter shall receive an official
ballot from a judge of election.
Two election officers may assist a
voter to prepare his ballot if he
swears that he cannot read the Eng
lish language or is physically unable
to mark his ballot, but no intoxicated
person shall Teceive assistance.
No electioneering shall be done
within 100 feet of the polling place.
GENERAL MU INTEREST
JUNEAU, June 10.—The Democrats of Alaska will
assemble at Skagway on August 3rd. This is the conclusion
of the Democratic Territorial Committee which met in this city
yesterday afternoon. The call will provide for the nomination
of a Delegate to Congress and the transaction of such other
business that may come before the convention. Each of the
four judicial divisions of Alaska will be allowed fifty delegates,
to be selected in such manner as may be decided upon by
divisional committeemen. It is provided, however, that in
incorporated towns primaries must be held to name the dele
| gates to the convention. The divisional committeemen are
authorized to apportion the fifty delegates from their district
among the various precincts.
After the meeting of the committee the Juneau Democratic
Club met last night and voted that it was the sense of the club
that the Democrats should nominate a legislative ticket for the
First Division. This matter will also likely be taken up by
the Territorial convention, which may decide that legislative
tickets be placed in every division. In that event it is likely
that the delegates from the respective divisions meet separately
and name their candidates for the Senate and House, the
convention to afterward ratify the selections. Each division
will elect one senator and four members of the House at the
election on November 3. At the same time the Delegate to
Congress will be elected, instead of in August as has been the
custom and law heretofore.
SEATTLE, June 12.—Announcement was made this
afternoon by officials of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company
that their Alaska service would be extended to Prince William
Sound ports. Commencing this fall the steamers City of
Pueblo and Umatilla will be placed on the run. They will go
from Seattle, via the inside route as far north as Skagway and
then across to Cordova, Valdez and Seward. These vessels
have been on the Seattle-California run and will be in addition
to the City of Seattle and Spokane, now sailing north from here.
John W. Frame, chairman of a wing of Democracy, has
wired us from Valdez that a Territorial Convention of
Progressive Democrats has been called to meet at Valdez on
Thursday, July 30th, and to complete an organization through
the territory. The official call is sent to the Alaska press, which
is expected to give the necessary publicity. Wilson Progressives
are asked to hold primaries in every precinct of the territory.
Valdez hotels will be thrown open to all who attend the
convention. Alaska’s present Delegate to Congress is expected
to be in Valdez the latter part of July. Mr. Frame further
wires that a full legislative ticket will be named for each
division, and that excursion rates are being arranged.
Delegate Wickersham sought to get unanimous consent
yesterday afternoon to secure a vote on the bill to repeal the
tax of $100 per mile per year on the railroads of Alaska.
Representative Houston, of Tennessee, and Representative
Watson of Virginia, pleaded with the members of the House to
permit the bill to come up for passage. But several members
determined that the regular order should not be interfered
with. Delegate Wickersham also sought to have the bill
providing for a post office building at Fairbanks come up, but
his efforts met with disappointing results.
The Alaska Road Commission has performed a creditable
work in the construction of a substantial wagon bridge across
the Nizina river. It is said to be one of the best structures in
Alaska, and will prove of untold advantage in the saving of
life in the crossing of one of the most treacherous streams of
Alaska. But while the bridge is complete, it is still practically
worthless so far as traffic is concerned. The approaches are so
steep that even a pack horse finds it impossible to ascend from
either side. The operators and prospectors who have necessity
for crossing the Nizina to valuable placer gold and copper
quartz properties beyond are still compelled to cross over
Sourdough Hill and receive no benefit from the new structure,
in the interior, and a demand is made that the Daily Alaskan
call attention to the proper authorities to bring about the
necessary work to make this new bridge of some value. It is
stated that Engineer Edgerton and Superintendent Ingram
are'conversant with the conditions and know exactly what
should be done to afford the people the benefits that they could
enjoy if the proper approaches were built. Now that summer
travel is on between McCarthy and the Chisana it is important
that mushers and pack trains utilize the new bridge. Of course
the lack of money is pleaded by the Road Commission, but
surely a few thousand dollars more should now be expended in
order to make valuable the present investment of about
$23,000.
SEWARD, June 16.—Quite a little excitement was occa
sioned last night by a light fall of sulphur dust. It was feared
that it was but the beginning of a greater fall, indicative of an
eruption. But fears have since been quieted as there has been
no further evidence of a volcanic outbreak.
MEXICO CITY, June 16.—General Barron has tele
graphed the authorities here that he had won the eight days’
battle that has been waged against the rebels at Zacetecas. He
states that 3,000 Constitutionalists had been killed but neglects
to say how many federals had been wounded or killed.