DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGG—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EGG.
Chitina the Gateway
To Rich Mineral Belt
To strangers arriving in any of
the ports of southern Alaska, one
of the first things that strikes them
is the new town of Chitina, on the
Copper River & Northwestern Rail
road, and which, in the opinion of
many promises to be he most im
portant inland commercial centers
richest mining country in the
townsite is situated on the
bank of the Copper river, near
the junction of the Copper, Kotsina
and Chitina rivers, and is located in
a valley which slopes gradually to
wards the north. On the east it is
seperated from the Copper river by
a low range of hills. On the south
and fronting the town is one of the
prettiest lakes in Alaska, which
teems with the gamey trout, grey
ling and other lake fish.
The famous Copper River & North
western Railway runs past the town,
almost due east, turns north again,
and crosses the Copper River about
one mile above the town where a
bridge is to he constructed second
only to the already famous and com
pleted steel bridge which crosses the
river between Miles and Childs gla
nders.
■ Commercially speaking, Chitina is
one of the best located towns in Alas
ka, as it will be the distributing cen
ter for the renowned Copper River
copper belt.
The trail, or road from Chitina,
which is being constrneted to con
nect with the Valdez-rairbanks trail
at Willow creek, will be another most
import <Ht facter ln“»id of transpor
tation, and" witffin the next few
yeaqs tens of thousands of tons of
copper ore will be mined within a
4fadiuU of one hundred miles of Chit
ina.
fYie Copper River Copper Region
rThe Copper river is joined about
133 miles from its mouth by its
large' eastern branch, the Chitina
river, the general course of which is
nearly west, north west, and the
.main branch of the Copper river first
‘bears to the north west, then swings
north east and finally south east.
Thus the two branches of the Cop
per, Chitina and upper Copper riv
ers, nearly surround the Wrangell
mountains. The area included be
tween these two streams, and the
leads of the White, Chisana or Shu
sana, together with the Nebesna
rivers, Is generally called the Copper
river copper region.
Chitina Valley
The Chitina Valley is a lake dot
ted expanse of flat land, with an
average width of ten miles, the sur
face being broken here and there by
low, round topped hills and deep
canyons of the streams which cross
it.
The Chitina river in its lower 60
miles has cut a deep channel in the
valley, the greatest width being ap
proximately one mile, the banks hav
ing an average height of about two
hundred feet, and over this gravel
floor the river flows in numerous
* branching sub-channels. The valley
Is well timbered and furnishes a sup
> ply of wood suitable for all require
ments. The greater part of the tim
ber is spruce, but cottonwood Is
abundant on many of the river banks
and deltas, and though of little value
for lumber, it is nevertheless useful
as fuel. , ,.
Scenic Beauty.
Mountain scenery which surpasses
anything in the world can be viewed
from near the townsite of Chitina.
To the northward are the AA'ranrell
, mountains which run tov ard the
southeast, and merge in’o ihe Skoli
mountains. Beaks in these ranges
a vary *ji altitude fiom S.OvO to 16.000
Uet, Mt. Blackburn beong 16 400
feet and Mt. Wrangell 14.•'•(■5 feet
in height. The lofty summits of
these peaks showing up above the
mountain ranges with their ice-cov
ered ridges, form a sight that is
never to be forgotten by one who has
b<-en so favored by the gods ever to
*> have viewed them once. Would the
American tourist who spends bis
A money on going to Switzerland to
# view the renowned Alps only come
to Alaska and view the magnificent
mountains and the Copper river re
gion, he would undoubtedly on hlf
I
return home tell his friends what a
marvelous country this great north
land is, and we would have, within
a few years, thousands ot people
here, living and working one of the
fairest lands that the Master Hand
of .nature has ever produced.
Natives Knew of Copper
Long ever before the white man
entered this great copper belt, native
copper was used by the Indians for
their spear and arrow heads, perfect
specimens having been found in the
sluice boxes on the Chiuiu and Dan
Creeks. Even today ceremonial
knives of native copper are used by
the Indians for cutting the first
salmon caught at ,je beginring of
the season's run. Lieutenant Allen
tells in his work on the Copper riv
er country, how Chief Nikolai show
ed him specimens of bornite and
told him of native copper to be found
on Chititu creek. He also showed
him bullets of native copper obtained
from the Indians “over the moun
tains” most probably at the head of
White river,
Now a Region of wrest Future
This region promises to be the
greatest copper producing center of
the world. Until the building of the
Copper River & Northwestern Rail
way. the Copper river copper regions
were reached during the summer by
the government trail from Valdez to
Eagle, or by lining boats up the Cop
per river and in the winter months
by the first named route, or by the
Tasnuna and Copper rivers. The
mineral resources of this region have
remained undeveloped for years, for
the want of reliable and economical
means of transportation.
But with the building of the rail
road, and the mines now being so
developed as to place them on the
productive stage, this region prom
ises to be the greatest copper pro
ducing center of the world. A town
so fortunately situated as Chitina
with all the natural wealiu and re
sources within its very doors, is
destined ■ to grow into a large and
flourishing city within the next few
years.
So many blasts on the vast amount
of construction work in and around
Chitina, causes but little comment,
but now and then an unusually heavy
shot, causes the inmates of tents and
temporary roofs to rush outside and
gaze anxiously skyward. Last week
a flying rock crashed through the top
of the saloon deck of the steamer
Chitina, just missing the head of the
steward, who was carrying a platter
to tbe table, taking part of the plat
ter with it to the deck, while the stup
ified seward gazed in helpless won
der at part of the dish, which he
retained in his hand.
Frank Ackles, the well known
teamster, has two teams in Chitina,
[ and he is kept busy hauling from
morning till night with baggage
'transfers, and hauling of all kinds.
RIVER STEAMERS
ARE DISMANTLED
With the exception of the river
steamer Chitina. which will be kept
in readiness for commission, in case
of necessity next season, all the riv
er steamers which have plied the
great Copper River the past two
summers, and have been such im
portant factors in getting supplies
and construction material to the
front, are now skeletons in the bone
yard on the south bank of the Cop
per river near Mile 133. The engi
nes and machinery were taken out
of the Tonsina and Xizina this week,
and loaded on cars ready for ship
ment to the coast. Most of the equip
ment has been put on sale at great
ly reduced prices and finds a ready
sale among the new comers at Chit
ina and to prospectors and miners,
who can replenish or secure nearly
an entire outfit at prices far below
what the goods could be purchased
for in the states. Nothing but the
steamers’ hulls will be left, and they
will be used as bunk houses for the
steel workers and bridge men, when
work begins on he second largest
bridge in Alaska.
LADIES ENTERTAIN AT
DELIGHTFUL DINNER PARTY
The first social event in our new
and thrilling town of Chitina was
given this week in the form of a
dinner party. Mrs. L. C. Stringer
and Mrs. Dan Reeder having the dis
tinction of being the first ladies to
set thfe social ball a rolling. The
dinner was given in honor of Port
Captain George Hill in the large tent
on Chitina Heights, where Mesdames.
Stringer and Reeder are making
their temporary home. The table
and rooms were beautifully decorat
ed with ferns and golden autumn
leaves, which grow in such profusion
on the beautiful hillsides surround
ing Chitina. Those presiding at the
festive board were Captain George
Hill, Commodore Brady, Captain D.
S. Reeder, Mrs. Reeder and Mrs.
Stringer. After all had done ample
justice to the delicious menu, a toast
in sparkling champagne was drunk
to the first soflal event in Chitina,
and “another one” to "future social
events, hoping that all may be as
pleasant as the first dinner party.”
Send ns yonr Job Printing.
VISITORS WELCOME
ON RAILROAD DAY
Sunday is “Railroad Day” and ev
ery ciizen of Chitina should con
stitute himself a committee of one
to see that our visitors enjoy them
selves. From what the Leader can
learn there will be several nundred
visitors and as they and the railroad
officials are making this a general
holiday let us all mingle together
and make this celebration a big
"happy family” affair. E. W. Ex
um, Capt. Hill, Judge Ferguson, and
the townsite officials, as well as all
our business men and citizens gen
erally have been untiring in their
efforts and unsparing in their con
tributions to make “Railroad Day"
the success it deserve:, to be and wt
feel assured that those who make
the trip over the road to the coming
Copper Belt City, will have no cause
for regret. All those who can will
ride or walk over the newly made
trail for a distance of several miles,
while others who prefer the sports
can enjoy the dancing and contests.
The committee on arrangements an
nounce that the train will he neld as
long as the visitors care to remain
and dance. The train, the town and
surrounding country are yours, so
we ask you to make the most of the
day.
Below we print the program of
events which is subject to change:
The events arejree for all.
Boat race on lake, three men in
boat and cockswain.
100 yard dash, prize $10.
Tug of war, good cash prize to be
announced.
100-yard, three-legged race. Cash
prize.
50-yard dash for boys, prize an
nounced.
50-yard dash for girls, prize an
nounced.
50-yard sack race, prize announ
ced.
Boxing contest.
Grand prize waltz in pavillion.
Prize $10.
Cash prize for best couple.
Other events may be pulled off.
"t
TOWN RAPIDLY FILLING
UP WITH FAMILIES
A lonely bachelor who arrived in
Chitina last week, having an eye for
the beautiful, and has a warm spot
in his heart for the dear sex, re
marked that he could see ojly one
drawback to this town, which was
that he had seen and knew of but
two or three ladies in the commun
ity. It may be of interest to the
gentleman, as well as many other
gallants in Chitina, to know that
there are at least fifteen or twenty
ladies already here, the names of
some of whom we print below:
Miss Clara Krueger, Miss Dixon,
Mesdames. Stringer, Reeder, Dixon,
Tibbs, Sherman, Cloninger, Burk
hart, Schaupp, Healey, Carey, Myers
Hull, Gage, Newhouse and King.
There may be others, of whom wre
did not learn, and before October
1st there will no doubt be doulbe
the number already here, for sever
al of the business and married men
will have their wives join them as
soon as comfortable quarters can be
provided.
The hale oid follower of all fron
tier camps, James Hartney, is located
in Chitina. He has a good team of
horses and is doing contracting and
hauling, having just finished a can
tract for hauling timbers for the
Kuskalina bridge.
Governor Talks On
The Needs of Alaska
Chitina had as her guest on Wed
nesday Hon. Walter E. Clark, gov
ernor of Alaska, whose party had
the honor of being the first passen
gers to reach here in a through train
from Cordova since the Copper Riv
er & Northwestern railway has been
completed to this camp. The wel
come accorded Governor Clark was
a hearty one and his visit appreciat
ed by every resident of the interior,
and he has many close, personal
friends here. A Leader reporter se
cured the following interview from
him, which will be read with much
interest by our readers:
“Long ago I reached the conclu
sion that one of the most essential
things for the development of Alas
ka through the reduction of freight
rates and the lowering of the cost
of supplies was the establishment of
lighthouses all along the coast of the
territory. I don’t know whether you
grasp the full significance of this talk
about lighthouses. Some seven or
eight years ago I began to write ar
ticles about the great importance of
lighthouses on the Alaskan coast.
There is a goo deal in it besides the
safeguarding of human lives. Marine
insurance rates in southeastern Alas
ka at this time—I do not know wheth
er they are as high on the steamers
that are running to your coast—are
something like twelve or fifteen per
cent. It was said last winter that
if these large vessels continued to
make the inside passage to Cordova (
the rate would be raised to twenty
per cent. There is no reason why,
with proper aid for navigation, ma
rine insurance rates should not be
decreased to one-half or one-third of
the present amount, and, of course,
a lower rate of insurance must mean
a smaller cost of operation to the
steamship companies.
"From this it logically would fol
low that there should be a reduction
of freight rates, and a reduction in
freight rates would mean a lower
cost of living in southwestern Alas
ka and in the interior, and, of course,
in Chitina as well. It is a very large
subject, and I do not believe that I
made any mistake when I went to
Washington last winter with the
proposition that the lighthouse board
snould spend the $60,000 which had
been available for the last two years,
but which had not been expended
because the board could not decide
what particular kind of acetyline
light they wanted in the waters of
southeastern Alaska. A light was
adopted, and it was promised that
twenty-nine of them should be plac
ed at points where they would be of
incalculable benefit every night in
the year to steamers plying between
points in southwestern Alaska and
Seattle.
“I am satisfied that the time has
come when it is not only desirable
but vitally nesessary to further de
velopment, that we have a railroad
from tidewater to navigable water on
the Tanana or Yukon rivers. In my
Chitina-Fairbanks Trail a Boulevard
1 *~*
If there is any doubt in the minds
of the skeptical as to whether there
will be a trail from Chitina to Wil
low creek, on the main Valdez-Fair
i banks trail this winter, they should
take a trip out over the six miles
of road now completed on this end.
Superintendent Ingram and Fore
man Lars Holland have a large force
of men and are not only doing most
I effective and rapid work, but are
, constructing a trail upon which
■ teams can make the best of time,
when the ice will have come, and
with a view to permanency, so the
| trail can be used both winter and
summer.
The first five miles of the trail
from Chitina is now a good wagon
road in the summer time, and the
most profane teamster in the North
couldn’t conscientiously use a “cuss
word” while driving over it. In
fact, it has been suggested by some
of the Chitina residents who have
been over the new trail, that the
first few miles be called the Chitina ]
Drive, or Boulevard, as it wends its
way around the magnificent hills and
mountains, beautiful little valleys
and many picturesque lakes.
Foreman Holland, who has charge
of the work on this end of the trail,
is the right man in the right place,
he having put in nine years in what
he vernacularly terms “mud sling
ing.” He was in charge of the work
under Capt. Abercrombie and built
the trail from Valdez to Tanana, be
fore the existence of the Alaska Road
Commission. In the course of a few
more years, as more people begin to
explore this great northern territory,
the cry for trails and transportation
facilities made itself heard in far
away Washington, and Congress
made an appropriation for roads and
trails in Alaska and appointed a road
commission of army officers, consist
ing of Major Richardson Captain
Pillsbury and Lieutenant Orchard.
Captain Pillsbury, who Ib one of
Uncle Sam’s most able engineers, has
since been succeeded by Captain
Pope. Since their appointment, the
work of these four efficient army of
ficers speaks for itself, as there is
scarcely a camp of any consequence
in the North which has not been ben
efited by their untiring efforts in se
curing good trails for the develop
ment of Alaska.
Foreman Holland, who was in
terviewed by a representative of the
Leader this week, stated that with
men working on both ends of the
trail, the work should be completed
by the latter part of October or the
first of November, if no unforseen
circumstances prevented.
“I have a force of about sixty men
on Lhis end of the trail,” Mr. Hol
land stated, “and have been three
weeks completing six miles, having
started work on the 7th of Septem
ber. From now on I expect to make
more rapid progress, as 1 have added
more men. The work is somewhat
slower than some may think it should
be, for the reason that the trail U
J
being built on permanent lines.
Small bridges are built substantial
ly and will need no repairing for
summer use, the culverts and grades
being the only part of the work
which is now hurried, or any way
slighted, for when winter sets in they
will be in good shape for travel and
will need but little improvement for
next summer’s use.
“The trail from Willow creek to
Tonsina, a distance of 24 miles, iB
practically completed, although there
are a few men doing work on that
end, but the bulk of the work yet
to be done is between here and Ton
sina, a distance of 15 miles. A good
gang of men are working from Ton
sina this way, and we hope soon to
hear the ring of the picks and shov
els from both working parties.”
Mr. Holland located the thirty
nine miles of trail now being built
between Chitlna and Willow creek,
and says the money subscribed and
appropriated for this work could not
have been put to a better use.
travels on the creeks in that coun
try, which occupied about all of one
week, I saw a great many things
which impressed upon my mind this
need of railroads, and I saw a very
good illustration of the thing at one
place in particular. There a man
was firing a boiler, which ran a hoist,
at one of the placer mines outside
of Fairbanks. Ho had about two
hundred feet of rails leading to a
^woodpile, and on the rails was a
little tram car, and he hauled his
wood in there to fire the boiler. The
superintendent of the mine told me
that if he did not have that particu
lar arrangement it would be neces
sary to hire another man at $5 or
|6 a day and his board, which would
almost make the difference betweeen
profit and loss in a bad season on
that mine. The thing which that
two hundred feet of rails with a lit
tle tram car did for that one mine
would be done, of course, on an enor
mously larger scale by a railroad
from tidewater to navigable water
on the Tanana river. I am satisfied
that there are thousands of acres of
low grade placer ground in Alaska,
and this is only one of the reasons
why we should have a railroad.
“I bib of the belief that there are
thousands and thousands of acres
which are capable of producing enor
mous wealth, but which will never
produce it until we have a railroad,
because it will be impossible to bring
the cost of living down to a figure
where it will be possible to work
that ground. I believe that from
what I have heard of the Bonnifleld
country—and some of you have heard
reports coming from there recently
—that in the event of the success
of a certain operation which has
been begun over there, there will ue
hydraulic workings in the region,
which will be larger than all the com
bined nydraulic mines of the world
oday. it will be absolutely neces
sary in many portions of that great
area that we nave cheaper transpor
tation before we get the values out
of the ground—before we can woric
that ground in such a way as to make
a profit for the operator.
“In regard to mining laws, I be
lieve the man who jumps or relocates
a mining claim upon which no as
sessment work has been done, or
upon which there is no sign any
where of assessment work having
been done, is at least forty times bet
ter than the man who holds that
ground without doing any work. I
am not prepared to say whether any
other method should take the place
of recording actual assessment work
on the claim, but I made up my mind
some time ago to this proposition,
that as long as we have in force the
power of attorney we should require
of those who locate association claims
of 160 acres to perform not $100
worth of work, but $800 worth of
work. As I understand it, it is pos
sible at present for one man, with
seven powers of attorney—I do not
know' whether it is true that these
powers of attorney represent dead
men—to locate 160 acres of placer
ground and do the assessment work
on the whole tract only to the amount
of $100. I am not ready to say that
we should abolish the power of at
torney, but I am clear on this, that
if the power of attorney remains in
force the assessment work should be
done on all of the ground which
these powers of attorney represent.
“There have been a great many
requests and a great many sugges
tions, and a great deal of advice
given to me, and I always welcome
advice whether I am able always to
follow it or not. It goes without say
ing that I cannot agree with every
body in a country which is in the up
building stage like this. The opin
ions and views of citizens are bound
to be as diverse as their interests.
But I want the people of Alaska to
give me credit for one thing, that I
am always ready to listen to them,
and that I have listened attentively
to what they have said, and will re
member it. There are a great many
things which they have requested
that I would like to do, but there
are many of those things which it
will be impossible for me to bring
(Continued on page two.)