The Chitina Leader
CHITIXA, ALASKA.
■ -r ; -y
Entered as second-class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice at
Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors and Managers—EABBT Q. STEEL
Office: Hlritel Ghltlna Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
• -- Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Month .i..i.I .50
Six Months . 2.00
One Year ... 3.50
ADVERTISING RATES
Made known upon application. They will be found reasonable for the service
given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper Rivet Cistrict.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1914.
PINCHOTISM LINGERS IN CONGRESS
The Pinchot bug is still working in the minds of some of
lliose House conferees who are considering the Alaska coal
leasing bill. These members, and particularly Representative
1.enroot, of Wisconsin, are not content that the royalties to be
paid lessees should be from 2 to 5 cents per ton. They wish to
have it so arranged that the maximum may be left with the
secretary of the interior, with the idea that if a good tract is
leased that the secretary might be induced to exact an
exhorbitant royalty. And of course the Pinchot adherents
would hope that this would have the effect of discouraging
capital from taking a lease. They would prefer that the coal
be kept for future generations. Then again the House conferees
think the Senate bill is too favorable to the claimants who
made their locations 8 or more years'ago and might have a
chance of getting patents under the Senate provisions. And
uf course that would not be to their liking. But it is hoped
tiiat even though the conferees fail to agree that the House
will be willing to pass the Senate measure, which is more fair
and workable than the House bill.
NEUTRALITY IN THE SCHOOLS
In Seattle, St. Louis, Philadelphia and other places, the
school authorities have placed a ban on war talk in the schools.
Teachers are forbidden to discuss the war or to refer to it. It
is felt that impartial consideration of the topic would be
impossible, even if facts were available, owing to variety of
nationalities and descents among both pupils and teachers, and
since the responsibility is yet a matter of controversy and so
little reliance can be placed upon censored details, it will be
better to postpone this subject until the war is ended.
Another consideration mentioned in Philadelphia may
bring joy to the children. There it has been advised by the
acting superintendent that where necessary to avoid reference
to the war, studies may be changed. Geography suggests
itself. Why, it is asked, burden the children with the task of
learning the boundaries and capitals and topography of the
warring nations when the war may make most of this labori
ously acquired knowledge obsolete? The juvenile population
will no doubt heartily approve of this idea.
But isn’t there danger of carrying this too far. of letting
the neutrality idea run away with common sense? If the
schools will continue their regular courses and leave the war
alone, just as they leave a Presidential campaign alone, there,
should be no necessity for this curtailment of ordinary instruc
tion. Even if the map is changed, knowledge of how it stood
before the change will not hurt anyone. History and geography
do not begin where each child starts school.
MISLEADING MINING REPORTS
/ -
/ The story of immensely rich gold finds in the Broad Pass
district, which has been exploited throughout the country, is
beginning to react. Newspapers as far east as New York
have given space to the reported rich find, and it seems that
they relied largely on a supposed interview that was given in
Tacoma by Mr. Birch, after he returned from Cordova and
Latouche. These prove to have been without foundation. The
San Francisco Mining and Scientific Press under date of
September 2fi, publishes the following from its New York
office:
New York had its first really thrilling mining news
in a long while last week when the daily papers published
an account of an interview supposedly given out ip
Tacoma by Stephen Birch, who is president of the
Beatson Copper Co., vice president and maanger of the
Kennecott Mines Co., Alaska Development & Mineral
Co., and a director of the Copper River & Northwestern
Railroad and the Alaska Steamship Co. Tn the alleged
interview Mr. Birch was made to say that in the Broad
Pass district, which is southwest of Fairbanks and north
east of Mt. McKinley, there is a newly discovered gold
bearing district surpassing even the Transvaal. The
gold-bearing veins, at the northwest, were from 200 up
to 2,000 feet in width. A 100-ft. vein averaged $15 per
ton across the whole width, and a 14-ft. ‘paystreak’ on
the hanging wall side averaged $250 per ton. The
poorest of these wonderful veins was supposed com
pletely to eclipse the Alaska Treadwell and Juneau.
Reporters scurried off to find Daniel Guggenheim, and
persuded him to say that if Mr. Birch said such things
they must be so, which was promptly rendered in the
papers as a statement that*Mr. Guggenheim had a tele
gram from Mr. Birch confirming the wonderful discov
eries, and that Mr. Birch was bringing sackfuls of the
ore to New York with him. A few days later Mr. Birch
arrived in person and explained that he had not been in
Tacoma, nor had he visited the Broad Pass region,
concerning which he had no information. TTe had
actually been on the east slope of the Wrangell moun
tains, and had there seen some quartz veins that were of
promise as prospects. On this slender basis, probably
from an overheard conversation, the wild story was set j
afloat. /
EDITORIAL COMMENT
From all reports there is a strong indication that the Port
Wells district will prove one of the rich gold quartz producers
of Ajpska. And f number of Cordova investors are helping
to establish the wealth of that mining section, wdtli the prob
ability of also enriching themselves.
When the Australian ballot lawxis in vogue in Alaska all
[those questions about ballots and boxes will have been
effectually answered. The law will be clear on the subject,
and the will of the people will not be subject to technical
I interpretation.
Some of the delegates to the Skagwav convention who
(were instructed to vote for certain men, and who betrayed
j their trust by entirely ignoring the matter, don’t even think it
necessary to offer any explanation to their constituents.
It was reported that George Grigsby, of Nome, was too
busy to accept a nomination for Congress, that a few proxy
holders didn’t intend that he should have. But he has time to
run for the state senate.
With a coal leasing bill in operation and the granting of
patents to individuals for coal lands there should now be no
trouble about capital arranging to open up the Bering river
fields.
An idea seems to be abroad in Washington that we must
have a merchant marine without revising the laws that make
it an impossibility.
Czar Nicholas is reported determined to march to Berlin
if it costs him his last mou.jik. But moujiks don’t cost him
much.
The King of the Tonga Isles has declared his neutrality.
In other words, he has his fingers crossed.
Cordova’s Town Council believe in being on the safe side.
While there is so much agitation over the question of one or two
ballot boxes the Council believes that the safest way is to have
two, and so recommended to the election officers just chosen to
conduct Cordova’s election on November 3.
The preacher who fills his pews every Sunday 52 weeks in
the year, performs a harder task than the lecture platform
orator who draws large crowds at every stop, always with the
j same old talk that has been polished up a little bit after each
I delivery.
The members of Cordova’s Town Council have given,
: evidence that they are not strong partisans and are willing to
respect the wishes of all political parties. With five election
| officers to be named four political parties were represented in
i the selection.
It being fully settled that Mr. Depew rode out of France
I in a cattle car, it seems that the progress of history can
continue.
Education that educates a person above work is the
harmful kind.
The people of McCarthy are again concerned in the
keeping open of a trail this winter to the Chisana gold camp,
j They say that about 200 men will remain inside and that a
good trail is necessary in order to keep them supplied with
food and the mail. Some of our neighbors think that the Alaska
Road Commission should be induced to expend a little money
on this trail. It would be a good idea, providing that august
body could see the necessity and reasonableness of extending
assistance.
Dresses are to be plain, it is reported, because the
! European supply of ornaments has been cut off. The man who
{pays the freight may moralize that it is an ill wind, etc.
It is distressing, too, to think of the number of things that
i never happened that we will have to unlearn after the war is
over and the truth comes out.
If the war spreads oVer much more of the eastern world,
there will be no argument left for a tariff high enough to keep
out our foreign made goods.
A boy is a problem that can be solved by properly dividing
: his deviltry and energy and getting him to apply them to
! proper tasks and pastimes.
One of the fundamentals of our government is free speech.
; and yet we allow our ehautalkers to charge a couple hundred
| dollars a lecture.
It seems to be difficult these days to work up much
I political enthusiasm in this neck o’woods. The Legislative
[candidates do not seem to be much on the move, although a
lot of Cordovans are anxiously looking forward to the
expected visit of A1 White, the whirlwind campaigner of
Valdez.
A New York woman claims to have discovered a mountain
11,000 feet high in the wilds of British Columbia. She left a
cairn with her name and other evidence. Anyone who doubts
it, as the Colonel said, may go there and see for themselves.
An argument for or against prohibition: Were it not for
the fact that so many girls get intoxicated with love, few of
them would get married.
As an indication of how sentiment is changing in this
territory the story comes from Fairbanks that Tom McGowan,
Democratic nominee, is to be elected a member of the Senatej
j with practically little opposition. There is nothing strange
about that, for Tom is an able lawyer and a man who knows
how to frame desirable legislation. But for years he has been
the attorney for the Northern Commercial Company, and the
“down with capitalists’’ never thought the day would come
when the attorney for one of the big corporations could be
elected in Alaska to anything.
A woman has secured a divorce on the ground that her
husband talked too much. Woman has certain prerogatives
that must be respected.
Between Australia and New Zealand there will be nothing
left in the Pacific for the Japanese to pick up.
It begins to look as though the Alaska coal leasing bill
would be finally passed before the end of this week. While it
has been necessary to cater considerably to the conservation
element in order to .secure the passage of any measure it is
hoped and expected that the bill as finally passed will be a
workable measure.
Delegate Wickersham was in Cordova a couple of hours
last night *and succeeded in creating considerable enthusiasm
among the faithful. The Judge is looking well and vigorous
and says that he kind of likes campaigning in Alaska.
Why Not Invest?
—- \
With the building of the government railroad from
Chitina to Fairbanks, the future of the Town of Chitina
is assured.
Lots are still offered at attractive prices and there
are many desirable ones remaining.
*
A few months later lots in Chtiina will be held at
largely increased values. Why not invest NOW ?
GEO. 0. HAZELET,
Agent Chitina Townsite Company.
TIN SHOP
IN SHUSHANNA
No more need to carry
STOVES and TINWARE
over the long trail to the
interior, as we are pre
pared to fill ail orders in
our tin shop.
W. H. CARSTENS & CO.
SHUSHANNA - - ALASKA
(Mina GRILL
Good Eats for Particular People
Prompt Service. Popular Service.
Next to Chitina Hotel.
CHITINA : : : ALASKA.
M4H4WWWW*********
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10. ADRIAN NELSON I!
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: U. S. Mineral Surveyor :
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CHITINA S - - ALASKA jji
CHITINA : BAKERY
AND
Coffee House
HENRY GESSXER, Prop.
FRESH BREAD, CAKES AND
PIES ALWAYS ON HAND
| Chitina j
Pharmacy I
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4+4444 44444t4» 44444444 --
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DRUGS,
STATIONERY, !’
:: candies, ::
:: kodak supplies
;; cigars & tobacco ::
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° o
j j If you cannot call, write : I
•; us. MAIL orders our - •
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BLet Lewis Kelp
er* for Amateur*” will help you to better I
i—it’s free. Send us you/films for develop- I?
: printing. EnLirtin*. Developing' 10c roll, I
e; printinir. 3c up. Cash with order. You’ll 1
r work better. Photo supplies. Dept. S. I
■: GROCERIES, HARDWARE f
::=AND== |
;i MEAT MARKET §
* ’ 2
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< • *fr
j | W’e have a big line of .See- *
«■ ond-Hand Goods, and can %
■ > save you money on your out- i.
. > fit. Bunk House, with free 2
« » ^
,, Cook House, in connection.
i:- !
•: CHITINA HEIGHTS a
< > C. A. SIMONS & CO. 5
feed, fuel
-..nil ,fei;
Lumber
HAY, BRAN, OATS, CHOI’S,
KOLLKB BAULKY
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed is the very
bear quality.
_
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CH IT l\A
hotel |
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SEATTLE j
> New, modei n and fireproof. < •
‘ All outside rooms ■ >
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! The in out conveniently located \ \
\ hotel in the city. ' >
, Rooms and suites are part leu* |
| larly 'large. 1 1
■ Very desirable for families or ’
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• | 1111 J. H. DAVIS, Prop j