DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN FIGURING WHY A BLACK HEN * AYS A WHITE EGG—BUT GET BUSY AND GET AFTER THE EGG.
VOL. I.
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1910.
NO. 13
First Fire Alarm
Is Sounded
On Wednesday morning of this
week the dread cry of fire was heard
about 8:3x o’clock and the few who
were astir at that time claim to have
witnessed one of the most comical
Eights of their lives. The Are origi
nal ed in the new tent store recently
er.c.ed by Perry Jacobs, starting
n< ar the roof of the tent near the
stove pipe, and before it was ex
tinguished burned a yard or two of
good canvass from around the pipe.
An eye witness, who first saw the
smoke, stated that Perry rushed
frantically out into the street with
both hands up yelling fire at each
step. He then rushed back into his
store, but in a few seconds came out
faster than ever, yelling both fire and
water, and as he realized there was
no water to be had he became more
excited every second, causing a num
ber who were really in sympathy
with him to laugh in spite of them
selves. One of the boys, however,
seeing the danger, grabbed the fire
extinguishr from the Log Cabin bar,
and making a 10-second sprint, suc
ceeded in extinguishing the flames,
much to the relief of the nerve-rack
ed son of Israel. All week Perry
has been good-naturedly standing the
jibes of the Chitina citizens who
suggested to him that now was a
most opportune time for a “fire sale,”
but Perry said: “Ach! I can’t do it.
So help me, there vos no water and
no damaged goods, you see.”
Prospector’s Body
Is Found
The body of Duncan Clark, be
lieved to have been murdered in the
Chandlar country two years ago, has
been located by the census taker of
that district, John Cornell, but
whether the man came to his death
by his own hand, whether he was
killed by his partner, or whether hos
tile Chandlar Indians were responsi
ble for the tragedy, has not been
learned, as Cornell did not wish to
disturb the remains until after the
inquest.
That the body found is that of
the same Duncan Clark who disap
peared two years ago with Joseph
Geraghty, when the two were out
prospecting, there is no doubt, for
Cornell says that he was personal
ly acquainted with the man. More
over, books and papers found in a
gunnysack in the tent identified him
beyond a doubt.
The report of the disappearance
of the two men was first made a
year ago this coming winter and it
was currently believed that Indians
were responsible for their taking off.
Finally a warrant was sworn out for
the arrest of a certain Indian of sin
iater reputation, who was believed to
have been responsible for the death
of the two men and Otis Nicholson,
was deputized by U. S. Commis
sioner Marsh, of the Chandlar, to
make the service, a search being
made by the deputy for the two miss
ing men. No trace of them, how
ever, was found.
Read the Leader for the news.
Chicago, Dec. 17.—The Pittsburg
Club has an unknown man who
agrees to box six rounds with Jack
Johnson, and an effort is now being
fnade to arrange a match.
The House of Lords might, if it
were fully up to the latest phases,
perceive that it is on the edge of one
of those holes in the .air.
A German militarist now in this
country urges conscription as imper
ative. Also he says he does not be
lieve that wars will ever cease. Such
an unbiased opinion is, of course, in;
valuable.
Bring yonr Job work to the Lead
er office.
ran HIRE BUS 161
Ml TIE
EXPECTS TO RAISE AND
MATURE GRAIN IN ALASKA
Peter Schneider is an enterprising
rancher now in Chitina from his
homestead near the Tazlina crossing
on the trail to Fairbanks, about nine
miles from Copper Center. Mr. Sch
neider is very optimistic as to the
future agricultural results of Alaska,
and says his section of the country is
the best he has found for good soil
and apparently suited for the rais
ing and maturing of grain. He has
sent to the states for some Finland
black oats and other grains which
thrive in cold latitudes. He has fif
teen acres ready for cultivation and
will, by next summer, have as many
more. One of his neighbors raised
$3,000 worth of potatoes last season,
and he says hay and grain can be
matured as well as potatoes.
BLOUEX AXD POHLUER
OPEX THEIR NEW BAR
George Blouen, who recently open
ed the Chitina hotel and Rudolph
Plohlner opened their new' bar the
first of the week, which they call the
“Home Bar.” The partnership cov
ers the liquor business only, Mr.
Blouen still retaining charge of the
hotel part of the house. This makes
the third saloon to open in Chitina
and the firm say they are well sat
isfied with the patronage already ac
corded them. Mr. Blouen states that
his rooms are occupied each night
and wishes he had more to rent. The
firm carries an ad. in this issue of
the Leader. See what they have to
say.
Mr. Phillips, chief clerk or inspec
tor for the river divisions of Alas
ka, arrived on the last stage from
Fairbanks. Mr. Phillips is making
a trip to San Francisco and on to
Washington, D. C. On his return he
w'ill go to the interior by way of the
Dawson trail, inspecting the different
postoffices along that route.
The fire this w’eek, which fortun
ately resulted in no damage should
be considered seriously by every
business man and resident in Chitina.
Chemical extinguishers or hand gre
nades are most effective if taken in
time, and as we have no fire depart
ment or even water with which to
fight any sudden conflagration, it be
hooves all who can to get the chemi
cal protection.
Ads in the Chitina Leader get re
ssults.
According to statistics and ilgures
given by the Engineering Ner-3, the
bridge now under construction at
Kuskulana, ranks with the highest
crossings in the world, and stands
twenty-third on the list:
The height of a bridge above the
stream or valley which it crosses is
sometimes a matter of interest mere
ly on account of being exceptional,
but in some cases it presents special
difficulties in construction and may
Influence the design of the structure
or the method of its erection. The
list of notable high bridges given be
low has been compiled with some
care and includes a number of the
highest bridges of the world. So far
as known the height given is the
distance from low water level to the
level of the rail or roadway.
above
water Length Date
ft. ft. opened
1. St. Giustina (Tyrol). 460 197 1889
2. Fades (France) . 435 1,330 1909
3. Zambesi (So. Africa. 420 650 1905
4. Garabit (France) . 406 1,852 1884
5. Viaur (France) . 380 1,508 1902
6. Namti (China) . 350 220 1908
7. Crooked River (Oregon, U. S.A.) 350 360 (not bit.)
8. Muengsten (Germany . 350 1,525 1897
9. Rio Grande (Costa Rica). 340 800 1902
10. Loa (Bolivia) . 335 800 1888
11. Constantine (Algeria) . 330 1,500 1910
12. Pecos (Texas, U. S. A.). 328 2,180 1892
13. Gokteik (Burma) . 320 2,260 1900
14. Sitter (Switzerland) .abt. 315 394* 1910
15. Belly River (Can. Pac. Ry.).. 307 5,327 1909
16. Kinzua (Penna., U. S. A.) old 301 2,052 1882
Kinzua (Penna., U. S. A.) new 301 2,052 1900
17. Wisen (Switzerland . 289 180z 1909
18. Bristol (England) . 285 705 1864
19. Cerveyrette (France) . 280 246 1890
20. Kentucky River (U. S. A.) old 275 1,138 1910
Kentucky River (U. S. A.) new. 306 1,138 1910
21. Verrugas (Peru) old. 256 575 1872
Verrugas (Peru) new. 256 575 1900
22. Malleco (Chile) . 248 1,140 ....
23. Kuskulana (C. R. & Nw„ A'ska) 238 .... __
24. Portage, (U. S. A.)... 235 850 _
25. Moldau (Bohemia) . 214 886 ....
26. Douro (Spain) . 201 1,167 ....
•Central span; deck truss. Total length of bridge.
zCentral span; stone arch. Total length of bridge, 689 ft.
The list is not assumed to be com
plete, and there are probably other
structures which might be interpo
lated, especially near the bottom of
the list. The St. Giustina and Cere
veyrette bridges are single steel-arch
highway spans over mountain gorges;,
the length of span is 197 ft. and 172
ft., respectively. The Clifton sus
pension bridge (with eye-bar chains
instead of cables) and the Wiesen
stone arch are the only other highway
bridges on the list.
The Garabit bridge has steel deck
truss spans on steel towers, and a
steel arch of 540 ft. span. The Fades
bridge has a three-span continuous
lattice deck truss (spans 378, 472,
’78 ft.) on masonry piers. The Zam
besi River bridge, on the Rhodesia
Railways, has a 500-ft. steel arch at
the gorge of the great Victoria Falls.
The Viaur bridge has a 721-ft. three
higed steel arch extended at each
end to form semi-arch cantilever
arms reaching to the approaches.
The Rio Grande bridge is of a very
similar design. The Namti bridge
is a “triangular” arch of 180 1-4 ft.
span, with towers on its haunches to
carry a line of deck spans. The Sit
ter bridge is a single-track, steel
truss deck bridge on high stone tow
ers with arch viaduct approaches.
The Crooked River bridge on the
Oregon Trunk Ry. (not yet built)
will be a steel arch of about 360-ft.
span. The Constantine Bridge has a
masonary arch as its main span.
The Muengsten bridge is a fixed
end steel-arch bridge with the arch
spanning 357 ft. The Loa bridge
on the Antofagasta Ry. is a steel via
duct. The Pecos bridge of the South,
ern Pacific Ry. is similar but with
steel decy cantilevers on two steel
towers for the river and flanking
spans. The Gokteik bridge on the
Burmah State Railways is a steel via
duct with a 40-ft. tower spans and
120-ft. intermediate spans. The Bel
ly River (or Lethbridge) bridge on
the Canadian Pacific Ry. is a via
duct with 67-ft. tower spans and in
termediate spans of 98 ft. 10 inches.
This structure is notable also for
its great length (5,327 ft.), and is
undoubtedly the greatest viaduct in
the world; the Goktiek viaduct in
Burma ranks second in length. The
Kinzua bridge on the Erie Ry. is a
noted steel viaduct, and was re-built
in 1900 on account of increases in
loads.
The Kentucky River bridge (High
bridge) on the Cinincnati Southern
Ry. is being re-built with the rail
level 30 ft. higher than on the or
iginal structure. The Verrugas
bridge as built in 1872 had three
steel towers carrying three deck
spans of 100 ft. and one of 125 ft.;
as re-built in 1900 it has two tow
ers (30-ft. span), a central cantilev
er span of 235 ft. and anchor arms
of 140 ft. The Douro Bridge has a
main steel arch span supporting the
deck trusses of a viaduct.
PROMOTERS TAKE OUTFIT
INTO XIZIXA COUNTRY
George T. Cappel and Billy Krum
arrived in Chitina the first of the
week, and after securing a good out
fit from Gage, the Chitina Heights
merchant, left • Tuesday for Dan
creek, a tributary of the Nizina. Ed.
House took them into the Nizina
country, using a couple of horses.
He returned Friday with one horse,
leaving the other animal with the
men, who expect to remain about
three weeks doing assessment work
and making preparations for active
placer mining in the spring. Mr.
Cappel stated that after January 1st
he expected to freight in about fir
teen tons of supplies and employ
twelve men on their property.
HARRY CHAMBERLAIN’S NEW
FEED STABLES NOW READY
Harry Chamberlain, who has been
busy all fall and winter preparing a
large log barn or feed tsable, now
has it in readiness for winter busi
ness and there is no question but
what he will be well repaid for his
expense and work, as a feed stable
is absolutely necessary in a town like
Chitina, and being the only one here
Harry should enjoy a good business
from now on. He has accommoda
tions for twenty-four head of stock
and the barn is built with a view
to warmth and comfort. Stcck can
be kept here by the day, week or
month at reasonable rates, and there
is always a supply of hay and grain
for sale to transient travelers. See
his ad. in this issue of the Leader.
Messrs. Anderson and Stevens, the
two steel workers who arrived in
Chitina on Thursday, reported that
both the shore spans were nearly
finished and that two pannels on this
end of the cantilever span should be
completed this week. Work started
on the pannels from the other side
this week, and as there are only nine
pannels in all, it is believed that the
work can be finished by the latter
part of next week, providing the
weather does not get too cold again.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Martin, who
have had apartments at the Hotel
Chitina, moved into their new home
across the street this week. They
have one of the neatest and most
substantial log cabin cottages in
Alaska, which will, unless destroyed
stand as a land mark for many years
to come.
Subscribe for the Chitina Leader.
Breezy Gossip About the Steel Workers
Superintendent A. C. O’Neil and
other officials in charge of the steel
bridge now under construction at
Kuskulana, report the work necessar
ily slow, owing to the cold weather
which has prevailed for the past four
weeks.
General foreman of steel construc
tion, Chas. Dyer, to whom the boys
have given the sobriquet of “ Geronl
mo,” is looking for the “duck” who
forged his name to a communication
to the Chitina Leader. He has an
able assistant in “Red” Mclnnis, and
if they ever get a clue to the perpe
trators of the “job” some one will
get theirs.
Deacon Jones is still holding down
his job on the “train” engine. The
boys say the good old deacon did
his best and is still living up to his
“rep” as a first-class hotair man, but
he fell down when the thermometer
settled below 45.
Geo. Reed, who has placer prop
erty on the Bremner river, is figur
ing on taking a run to the states
after the bridge is finished, where
he expects to organize a stock com
pany and sell shares of placer stock
to the Pennyslvania Dutch around
his old stamping grounds near Phil
adelphia.
Ray Taylor is running the down
stream traveler on this side of the
Kuskulana, with Johnny Nicholson
is on the same job on the up-stream
side.
“Patent Leather” Burke didn’t re
main on the job long enough to take
Supt. O’Neil's place. He left some
time ago. Some of the gang state
that Burke’s particular friend (?)
Dr. Smith, advised him to remain
here, but Burke thought a man might
aspire to a superintendency in a
■warmer climate just as well as in
Alaska, though he deeply regretted
to leave his friend, the doctor.
"Geronimo,” Geo. Reed and Wal
ter Norris are busy with the traveler
on the other side of the stream.
Red Mclnnls has charge of the
derrick car and says if he had his
way about it he’d like to finish the
job in about fifteen minutes.
“Curley” McTague Is one of the
“main squeeze” foremen on the job
on this side. He still retains that
lovely bunch of "red lilacs,” and says
while he wouldn’t think of talking
about anyone, he doesn’t believe that
Ray Taylor, Deacon Jones or any of
the gang, have any feeling for a man
with red whiskers, and believes that
“Red” Mclnnls will take the same
stand with him.
Tonsorlal Jimmy Farr is keeping
the boys’ hair well pruned up. He
doesn’t believe in letting his fellow
steel workers look shabby, even if
it is cold weather and far away from
the fair ones.
Tom Anderson and Art Stevens
left the job this week and expect to
take the Alameda for the outside,
where they will revel among the
flesh pots until spring. Both men
worked on the Miles Glacier bridge
last year, and the gang say they
ought to be pretty "fat.”
All the gang are praying for good
weather, so they can eat their Christ
mas dinner with the knowledge that
the work Is done. If the weather
holds soft, many will no doubt eat
their Christmas dinner in Chitina or
Cordova.
Bring your job work to the Lead
er office.
Record Trip From
Iditarod
W. Casey, the well known Fair
banks hotel man, is authority for the
statement that Lewis Rothermel has
Jap Wada backed clear off the north
\
ern map when it comes to mushing.
Mr. Casey is also interested in
the liquor business in Iditarod Ciy.
He and Thos. Aitken recently left the
Iditarod diggings with a good outfit
and twenty-two dogs, making good
time to Fairbanks, averaging 40
miles per day and often more. Roth
ermel, who started at the same time,
mushed the entire distance, keeping
ahead of the teams, and landed in
Fairbanks four hours ahead of the
party, fresh as a daisy and ready for
the mush to Chitina the following day
He also beat the Orr stage into Chit
ina, though he started several hours
ahead from Fairbanks. Mr. Casey
says the actual distance from Chit
ina to the Iditarod is less than 1 000
miles, but the way the musher goes
it is even farther. Rothermel walk
ed the entire distance, and while at
the Hotel Chitina seemed as fresh
as any of the party.
Locate Coal Land
As Homesteads
The passage of the act allowing
surface entries on lands classified as
coal lands has been a relief as against
the tension created by keeping the
enormous area of over 80,000,000
acres from settlement. These lands
I
are now open to agricultural entry
with authority to issue patents on
full compliance with law, except that
the patentee secures no right in or to
the deposits of coal that may be
found in the lands.
Great activity has existed in con
nection w’ith the lands opened un
der the enlarged homestead act of
1909 allowing entiy of 320 acres.
There have been classified and open
ed for entry under this act approx
imateliy 18 8.000 acres, and from
time to time further classifications
w ill be made and the lands so classi
fied opened to settlement.
The existing withdrawals of coal,
oil, phosphate, and water-power
lands aggregate at this time, in
round numbers, over 91,000,000
acres.
A failure to release much of the
lands now under withdrawals by new
and amendatory acts directing the
manner of their disposition will in
hibit development and greatly re
tard the new and struggling set
tlements and industries of many of
the Western states and Alaska.
Washington, Dec. 17.—President
Taft has decided that the hours of
the department clerks are too short,
and hereafter they will work half
an hour longer.
Read the Leader for the news.
The proposition to guard the ap
proaches to the Panama canal in
time of war by a fleet of submarine
torpedo boats at each end, made by
a Republican congressman, would
if it should reinforce the submarines
by aerial fleets, have the advantage
of being strictly up to date.
A New York opera singer who gets
$1,800 a week for singing at the
Metropolitan opera house tried sing
ing on the streets the other day and
collected exactly $3.16 in pennies and
nickels. Who can doubt the popular
musical culture of the metropolis
after that?
Chicago is proposing to limit the
height of future skyscrapers to 200
feet. This will spread out the busi
ness district on the level Instead of
pushing it up in the air. It wou' *
probably call for a little more ’
estrianism in business; but it
also permit an occasional ray
shine to penetrate to the st
Read the Leader fo