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VOL. 1 CHITIXA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1911. XO. 45
Local News
Harry Thisted and Chas. Rosswog
two of Cordova’s business men who
were looking around our town and
mineral belt last week, returned to
Cordova again after spending a few
days prospecting around the hills
and say Chitina looks good to any
one who knows a mineral section
when they see it.
Frank Iverson who leaves for the
states on the Alameda is taking out
with him the well known Scotch
collie dog Prince, formerly belong
ing to the late M. J. Heney.
Claude Cloninger, brother of
Thos. Cloninger and Mrs. St. Clair,
left on Friday morning’s train en
route to Portland, Ore., where his
father is now critically ill in the
hospital.
R. M. Hathaway, brother of Mrs.
Fred Schaupp, who has been visit
ing here for a few weeks, left Friday
morning enroute to his home in Cal
ifornia.
Mrs. Henry Thoday, wife of the
well known contractor and builder,
who is now at work on the new
Chitina depot, paid her “hubby” a
visit on Thursday evening, return
ing on friday morning’s train to
Cordova.
Miss “Jack” Larsen, of Cordova,
who with Miss Mia Nixon has been
visiting friends up the line since
their arrival here on the Fourth,
returned to Cordova on Friday's
train. Miss Larsen reports a most
enjoyable visit and claims the dis
tinction of being the only lady yet
to go nearest the Bonanza mine
proper. Miss Larson is leaving on
the outgoing Alameda and leaves
many friends along the line of rail
way.
Hospital Steward Farrally, of
camp 146 left on Friday morning's
train for Cordova with two patients,
one of them whom goes to Seattle
and the other to Hot Springs, Ar
Kansas.
A1 Brimner, who has been out to
the Nicolai mines and McCarty creek
copper diggings was a visitor in town
a few days last week. A1 left again
the first of the week, and expects to
prospect around the same districts
and possibly go over to the Nizina
country around Dan, Chititu and
the tributaries of the Nizina.
John Hirst, alias the “Senator”,
alias the “Turk” and sometimes the
“Turkish Jew”, who for the past few
months has been engaged in the
restaurant business in Chitina, has
sold his interest in the Chitina Grill
to Joe Janey, and on Tuesday left
for Nugget creek to cook for a min
ing crew during the balance of the
season.
Jack Lowery, who left some time
ago on a prospecting trip up the
line, was back in town again this
week.
J. J. Ridgeway, formerly brake
man in the employ of the Copper
River & Northwestern Railway, at
the front is now “mix-en-up” on the
night shift at the Hotel Chitina Bar.
Mr. Ridgeway is an old hotel man
and Mine Host Breedman is fortu
nate in securing his services.
Wm. Lawson, the Chitina depot
agent, sold the wagon formerly be
longing to Frank Accles to Fagenberg
brothers at mile 191, and the vehicle
was shipped to their road house last
week Mr. Lawson also invested in a
team of horses brought out by the
Bigelow outfit from Slate creek and
is sure to make a good “spec” on
the investment as the horses will be
in demand this winter.
Deputy Marshal Joe Brown now
boasts of having the finest water on
Lis place in Chitina and is the first
to have been successful in digging
a well. He has installed a good
pump and if you want a good drink
call at the “Hotel ae Brown.”
Pete Carlson, who was one of
the party of prospectors with Tom
Holland, on leaving Chitina the first
of the week picked up a masonic
seal ring near old camp 133, which
may be a valuable keepsake to the
loser. The ring is now at the Log
Cabin bar, and the owner can have
same by proving property and paying
for the advertisement which appears
elsewhere In the Leader.
Billy Tibbs, arrived back from
camp 158 on Wednesday’s train,
bringing with him his barber chaii
and outfit, and will join his brothei
again in doing business at their pop
ular pool rooms and store here in
Chitina.
Send your job printing to the Chit
iua Leader. .
PLACER GOLD ON (HIM RIV I
#
>v _ * • *
Ancient Channel of Auriferous Gravel is Found to Contain Goood
Pay and flany Hiners are Now Prospecting
In That Section
Old timers throughout this miner
al belt, and a number now in Chitina
have had their eyes on the Xizina!
country for some time, and not a few
prospecting parties have already been ;
in there this year.
Roy Wilson, the well known young
mining engineer, who is rapidly com
ing to the front as an expert of rec
ognized ability, together with Wil
liam Wales and Jack Lowery, has
just returned from a month’s pros
pecting trip to the headwaters of the
Chitina river. They have devoted
their time to examining a large and
ancient channel of auriferous gravel
lying on the divide between Young
| creek and the Chitina river. They
report the ancient river as it now
exists today as being about 2o miles;
in length with an average width of
three miles, and over 1,000 feet in
depth. At many points on this
channel prospectors have from time
to time demonstrated that it is gold
bearing to a considerable extent, but
owing to the fact that the gravels
are at this time in a semi-solidified
or conglomerate state, it has been
difficult to locate the pay streak, j
which no doubt is a good one, as
some of the pans taken from the
gravels heretofore have shown re-j
markably well in course and little
worn placer gold. Mr. Wilson and
associates have been looking over t
this ground in the interest of Geo. I
Cappellf who is representative for a
London company of capitalists, with !
a view of ascertaining the advisabil
ity of placing a diamond drill there
on. Mr. Wilson and party expects
to return in a short time but at pres
ent report the Xizina river very high
and difficult to ford, as well as
many of the smaller streams being
extremely high and almost impas-)
sable, a condition which they hope'!'
to avoid on the return trip.
There is an urgent and growing
necessity for the establishment of a
ferry for prospectors and passengers
at the crossing on the Xizina river.
The crossing or ford, which has been 1
used many years, is situated at a
point about 12 miles from mile 191 j
on the Copper River & Northwest
ern railway, and during the high
water season, in the months of July
and August, is almost impassable to
parties unacquainted with its many
treacherous and shifting channels.
It has been the custom of many in
the summer season to cross with the
United States mail carrier, or by
chance catching parties going across
with pack trains, but the increase
of travel to that section, due in a
great measure to the completion of
the railroad as far as the Kennecott
river, render it imperative that a
ferry be installed there. There are
many who are under the impression
that the building of two or three
bridges in this section and particular
ly the above named crossing, should
come within the province of the
Alaska Road Commission, but as
this commission seems as slow as
other government officials on matters
vitally important to Alaska, it might
be well for some private parties to
look into the matter, as it would be
a paying investment and one bound
to grow with each succeeding sea
son. %
The Fagerberg brothers are now
nicely installed in their new and
thoroughly up-to-date road house
and store, near the terminal of the
railway at mile 191. They are en
joying a good trade from prospec
tors and travelers into the Xizina
and surrounding mineral belt. Their
road house and store on Chititu
creek is also doing a much better
business than formerly, as that sec
tion has many prospectors in it this
year, and also quite a number of
parties looking for investment.
The prospects for the Xizina dis
trict this season are brighter than
for many years past. Xow that
the railroad is completed to the Bo
nanza mine, the country lying be
tween the railroad terminal and the
White river country is easily acces
sible and a great number of new
prospectors are coming in and tak
ing advantage of the new conditions.
Let us do your job work.
SLATE CREEK EMPLOYS 100 MEN
Fairly Good Pay is Being Taken Out—Big Dredging Plant to be
Installed There Next Season—Wages are $1 an Hour,
With Plenty of Labor in the District
The Bigelow outfit that took a
big Keystone drill into the Slate
creek district last winter, returned
this week having finished their
season’s work there. Mr. Bigelow
was somewhat conservative in his
interview regarding the work they
had done and stated that it was
the policy of the company to be
secretive whether encouraging or dis
couraging, for if glowing reports were
published as to the pay in that coun
try a stampede would likely result
and on the other hand a discourag
Ing report would give the country a
black eye, which would not be right
as there are parties in there now
who are taking out fairly good pay.
The fact of this outfit hiring a
number of men all summer and using
the big drill to put down a number
of holes over 70 feet to bedrock
looks significant, and it is believed
that a big dredging proposition will
be installed ther next season.
Mr. Bigelow stated that there were
in the neighborhood of 100 men in
that section all winter. Some have
been sluicing this spring while oth
ers are making preparations for (
hydraulicing and dredging. Miller,;
on discovery, is still into the pay,
as in former years and is employ- <
ing about fourteen men. Dempsey
and Malbern have about the same
number of men employed on their
properties. Swansen has ten men
employed. Hazelet has had a crew ,
of men sluicing the lower Chisno, j
and since the snow has gone has
been making preparations for more
hydraulic work. Tom Lynch, on
Bert McDaniel’s claims, Black Stro
bel, Bramer and others have all
been busy ground sluicing.
Wages are $1 an hour or $7
per day and board. This Is paid
by all operators excepting Miller,
who it is claimed pays less and takes
out more dust than anyone else
engaged. He has managed to keep
a crew of men, however, despite the
ill feeling against him, owing no
doubt to the fact that there are more
men than needed. Slate creek has
ever been a promising and a good
camp in the past, but Mr. Bigelow
advises against any labor going in
there at present.
LOCALJOTTINGS
Kinney Holden, who has been
spending a few days in Cordova
since leaving the steam shovel at
168, is back again on the Chitina
i division.
Jack Graham, the well known old
I stage driver who was with the Orr
Stage Co. all last winter, but who
I now is a full fledged road house man
having bought into Vaughn's place,
made a business trip to Chitina on
Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Cloninger,
Mrs. St. Clair, and son Ivory, return
ed from Cordova on Thursday’s train,
having gone down as witnesses in
the preliminary hearing of the String
er case.
The case of the United States
against Louis Stringer was heard
at Cordova on Wednesday and he
was bound over to the grand jury
which sets in Cordova in October.
W. L. Fuller, a mining man who
has been in Chitina for the past
week, left Tuesday to examine some
quartz prospects across the river
from mile 124. Mr. Fuller repre
sents some eastern capital and states
that this mineral belt is the finest
he has ever saw for evident future
prosperity.
Beal Smith the well known Cor
dova mixologist, arrived in Chitina
on Thursday evening’s train and will
preside behind the mahogany at
the Log Cabin bar. "Smithy” as
he is familiarly called, was here last
fall In the employ of mine host Breed
' man, when the thirsty station me
and railroaders who had been at the!
front for many months kept the 1
“mixer boys” on the jump through
out their shifts.
R. F. McClellan, the well known;
mining man, formerly superintend
ent of the famous Bonanza mine, is!
a visitor in Chitina this week. Mr. |
McClellan sent down a number of
samples to the Cordova Assay Of- j
fice expecting returns on same by i
Monday evening’s train.
H. A. Stanton, electrician at the {
Copper Mountain mines, who recent-j
ly returned from a trip outside, re
turned from Copper Mountain again
this week, and says Mr. Gray expects
soon to put a force of men on at his
mines on the Kennecott.
Chas. Ramstea, recently in the
employ of the Chitina and Strelna
river laundries, had a narrow escape
from bleeding to death the first of
the week. In a sudden haste to get
out from the bar room of Geo. Bleu
en’s, Charley ran his right hand
through a pane of glass, severing
the large artery in the wrist and bad
ly gashing the hand. Fortunately
Dr. Whiting was in town, who im
mediately stitched up the wound and
Charley is now convalescing nicely
though looking a little pale from
losing over a quart of good blood.
John Laurit, formerly in the em
ploy of Finkelstein & Sapiro at Cor
dova, is now in charge of the firms’
branch store here at Chitina. Mr.
Sapiro left last week to take charge
of the firm’s business at Cordova.
The senior partner of the firm ex
pects to leave soon on a business trip
to the states.
Little Louise Tibbs sustained &
a
nasty cut on her hand one day this
week by falling on a piece of broken
glass. They don't make them any
grittier than' “Uncle Billy’s little
sweetheart,” though, as she did not
even whimper at the pain or the
sight of the blood which nearly un
nerved her mother and older people
who were On hand to dress the
wound.
A large lathe and some heavy
machinery was shipped through
Chitina last week to the Kennecott
mines. Over 100 tons of expensive
machinery is soon to be installed
at these mines and thoroughly equip
ped and up-to-date machine shops
will be in readiness by the time the
snow flies.
George Pohly has succeeded P. H.
Newhouse as night watchman at
the Copper river crossing. Mr. New
house resigned the position to take
care of his business interests, the
new store in the Hotel Chitina build
ing occupying all of his attention.
Mrs. A. G. Morey, wife of our well
known druggist and postmaster, re
turned on Thursday from a week’s
visit in Cordova.
“Deacon” Jones, who has been at
the Kuskulana bridge since last
winter has accepted a position at
the Kennecott mines, and will be
employed at the machine shope
there.
U. S. Commissioner Healey made
a business trip to Cordova this week
returning on Thursday evening’s
train.
General Foreman McCoy and As
sistant Chief Engineer Wernecke,
were two busy officials In town on
, Thursday.
Mrs. E. Wdldt, wife of the well
known locomotive fireman, made a
trip to Cordova on Tuesday’s train
and after a few day’s visit with
friends at the coast terminal ex
pects to return home not later than
the first of the week.
Arthur Barrows, the well known
locomotive engineer, returned from j
Cordova on Thursday after a week’s
visit at the coast terminal.
F. A. Smith and John Icelanders |
report finding a ledge of free mil
ling ore about three miles from the
Beaver Dam trail near mile 111.
Delanders and Smith have had some
thing up their sleeve and have been
waiting until the snow went off to
develop their find. They left Chit
ina the latter part of June, Smith
returning last «week and sending in
three different samples for assaying.
He reports a clearly defined lead
of outcroppings of the ledge for 1400
feet and two claims have been
staked. The ore is free milling,
having panned out the pure ' gold
from the quartz, which also carries
telluride of lead and lays in a slate
and dirite formation.
The ledge so far seen runs from
four inches to four feet in width
the lead or formation laying favor
able to cross cutting. Old timers
who examined the samples believe
that “Appeal to Reason Smith” and
“John D.” as the partners are famil
iarly known, have struck it rich and
their many friends are congratulat
ing them on their good fortune.
The order recently made discon
tinuing the postoffice at Tonsina
July 31, haB been rescinded by the
| postoffice department.
Local News
________ i *
'Chas. Stewart, the well known
mixologist, who has been in Chitina
since early last fall, left on Tuesday
morning's train for Cordova, and ex
pects to take a trip outside on one
of the next steamers.
Has anyone seen “Slats”? That's
the little wire haired terrior belong
ing to P. R. Newhouse. The dog has
been missing since July 1st, and the
owner fears the animal has been shut
up some place and is possibly suffer
ing. If anyone knows of the where
abouts or seen the dog in the past
week, kindly inform the owner at
his store in the Hotel Chitina.
Wm. PatriCK and wife. Miss Ewing.
Billy Soule, Emil Johnson, Gijst Hy
stadt, John Nelson, Jim Riley, W,
Donaldson, G. Kring. E. Anderson. C.
Skofland. T. B. Vaugn, J. Jackson.
Ole Berg. Harry Thisted. Henry Heln
man. Carl Adler. F, A. Smith, W.
Brown. H. P. Sullivan. Tom Richmon.
R. S. Tarr, Lawrence Martin, A. X.
Frazer, Helen H. McEnvoy, R. G.
Feaster. R. E. Hegner. Frank Miller,
F. C. Painter, J. Witherspoon, A.
Stanton, R. S. Tarr, and Chas. Sim
stad were registered at the Hotel
Chitina last week.
Walter McGee, Wm. Jacobson. P.
Kingston, Andrew Lind, Chas. Brown
C. Harlan, E. Kreuger, E. G. Metz
dorf, Xels Swanson, Jim Kennedy,
P. Carlson, A. Andrews, C. Snyder,
A. P. Spall, Frank Meyers, F Hager.
A. Blinkman, and F. Williams were
registered at the Log Cabin Room
ing House this week.
A. Fash~J. *Gyer, W. T. Oster, V.
G. Vance, Mrs. V. G. Vance. J. W.
Williams,'F. G. Miller, D. A. Stanten,
F. W. Bayforal, G. A. Bigelow. C. W.
Bigelow, R. Allen, W. D. Nutley. W.
H. Crarv, F. J. Bingham, H. B. Erd
lets, S, T. Brightwell, Norman Scales,
G. B. Roer, R. F. McClellan, F. A.
Iverson. R. S. Tarr, Russell S. Tarr,
Lawrrence Martin, Mrs. F. R. Tracey,
and L. R. Butler were guests at the
Hotel Chitina this week.
R. Rusted, Chas. Brown, R. Ram
stedt, Chris Norsted, Dick Welsh J.
W. Wilkinson, Chas. Cameron, E. D.
Office, O. Anderson, P. Carlson, John
Rankin, E. Galen, and Earl Carmwil
are registered at the Log Cabin
Rooming House.
Storekeeper Dyer, who has been
located at camp 146 all spring made
a business trip to Cordova on Tues
day morning's train.
Deputy Marshal Sam Brightwell
of Cordova, made a business trip to
Chitina on Monday's train, sub
poeaning witnesses for the Stringer
case which came up for hearing in
Cordova on Wednesday. ,
FOI’ND—Gent’s solid gold ring, mas
onic emblem, picked up at camp 133.
Owner can have property at the Log
Cabin bar by identifying same and
paying for this ad.
FEAK DROWNING OF
SIGNAL CORPS MAN
On the afternoon of July 6th, W,
C. Reeves, a signal corps man sta
tioned at Copper Center, left on a
raft down the Copper river and has
not been seen since late that evening
about nine o'clock. The Indians re
port seeing him about three miles
above Chitina off Camp Comfort at
that time and it is now feared that
he must have capsized, possibly at
the trestle across the Copper river,
where several other parties on rafts
and in boats have had narrow es
capes from drowning.
Reeves received word that his
mother in the states was dangerously
ill and secured permission from the
signal corps authorities for a fur
lough of sixty days leaving on tin*
raft at three o’clock in the afternoon
from Copper Center with the inten
tion of taking the train from here
for Cordova the following morning.
The natives at Taral claim to have
seen nothing of the man or raft,
and there are grave fears that Reeve*
is only another of the victims of the
treacherous Copper.
A searching party composed of
Norman Scales, a signal corps man,
G. B. Borer, of Dry Creek road house,
and W. U. Patrick, the saw mill
man of Copper Center, arrived in
Chitina early Wednesday morning
and reported that they had order*
from the government to search in
the vicinity of Chitina and along the
bars of the Copper River for a num
ber of miles in hopes of getting som#
trace of the missing man. A