MINING AT DRY ISLAND
Afogsak Correnpondent Writes of
Conditions In That Sec
tion.
Avooxak. Jan. St. 1903.
Alaska Pwsrixmii:
Dr. Stone arrived, recently from
Maaitla, Wash., with biwfamily anil
is staying in Kodiak. He went
down last fall with a. purpose <>t
interesting capital to work ipttartx
claims on Dry island, in which it
is said, he was quite successful..
As a result of his trip, tlurc is a
$’>,000,000 stock company organ
ized, with office in Seattle, to work
Dry island claims on an extensive
scale. It is estimated there is a
sufficient amount of funds, from
sale of stock, to warrant prelimi
nary operations without more de
lay. Already there are contracts
Wt for erection mi the ground of
two or three dwelling houses and
whip-sawing of a couple of thous
and feet of lumber. Actual iqx-ra
tions, it is believed, will commence
in March.
me claim owners, instead of u
•ash payment, as expected, will
receive an equivalent amount in
preferred stork, according to the
value of their respective claims and
services rendered.
Encouraging report have also
Wen received from Mr. J.McIntyre,
of Butte Montana, who has suc
ceeded in interesting capital to
work copper properties around
here. Mr. McIntyre owns some
valuable copper claims on I'ganak
and Thuyak islands and is expected
up early in the spring.
We hear that different parties
are coming up and some of them
have unlimited capital to invest in
biiiiing property around here.
In spite of the discouraging atti
tude of the tish and fur monopolies,
this section of Alaska is gradually
forging her way ahead as a mining
country. It has been the custom
of tishiug trusts and fur monopolies
to discourage permanent settle
ment of this country hv white pop
ulation, and if a resident’s wife had
*ot the particular company’s brand
on her underdress, things were
made unpleasant for him. With
the advent of mining it will l>v
different, us all sorts of people will
come, and eventually many most
desirable, will settle here per
manently.
When mining camps are estab
lished, then the existence of small
farms with happy homes, as pre
dicted by Prof. Georgeaon, can be
possible; then it will be practicable
to cultivate the soil or engage in
cattle or poultry raising. The
fishing industry and natural re
sources and wealth of our islands,
by right, should support a numer
ous, permanent and thriving popu
lation. But as it is monopolized
by powerful fishing trusts, whose
agents swarm our shores periodi
cally, and after devastation return
to tlieir haunts, benelitting neither
the country nor its people.
Why do they have exclusive
right to catch fish which are created
.by the Almighty for the benefit of
mil? Why do the lawmakers and
their agents pass the matter un
noticed? Perhaps it is a case
Where the constitution does not
follow the flag.
Mr. C. Pajoman paid 1175 fine
and costs for selling whisky and
wine unlawfully. Mr. C. Burns is
serving a term of fifty days in
Kodiak prison fur similar offense.
Mr. Martysh, the Russian priest,
paid for the transportation of his
household effects with the costs ol
court. It seems that no one who
deserves punishment can escape,
thanks to the efficient administra«
lion of law by our public ollicers in
Kodiak. Mr. Philip Gallagher,
the commissioner, and Mr. L. L.
Bowers, U. 8. deputy marshal, are
both highly respected by everyone,
and as long as they occupy their
resi>ective olliees, no law-breakers
will go unpunished.
The petition to modify Alaska
game laws was signed by every
white, creole and Aleut resident of
this place. A remarkable feature
of the petition was the numerous
crosses; from which it appears only
half a dozen, out of an adult popu
lation ef loO, could subscribe their
names; which is not very flatter
ing. either to the nureay of educa
tion or the efficiency of its agents.
From tiie inception of the gov
ernment school in Afognak. over
fonrteen years ago, we have.had
only two or three teachers who
have done good work and were
<|Unlitied for their positions. Since
the salary of the teacher decreased,
education is neglected; some win
ters suspended altogether or the
|sisition tilled by inroinpetencies, as
it is now.
With fast growing native |>opu
latiou, and 75 bright children of
school age, there should Ire more
attention paid by agents to educa
tional work in Afognak.
The existing deplorable state of
education has lieen brought to the
notice of Mr. Sheldon Jackson,
time after time, hut to no avail.
If the salary of schoolteacher is
only $500 or $(>00 a year. Mr.
Jackson has no right to approve
spending of this sum of money to
no purpose. The Karluk school
has had no teacher for the past,
half dozen winters.
It would !«■ timely *for the com
missioner of education to inquire
into the existing condition of edu
cational work in Alaska.
With considerable expenditure
of money the government has
erected school buildings all over
Alaska with the aim of elevating
the native population-in knowledge
of civilized people—a grand aim
which should command the admir
ation and praise of all men. Why,
then, stop at half way purposes
unaccomplished! Teax-U him to he
provident, self-dependent and in
dustrious ; acquaint him with rudi
mentary knowledges; educate him
to In* loyal and patriotic. That
who will may he ready to step in
the march of progress and civiliza
tion, and will not he the prey, as
he is now, of the shrewd trader,
selfish Russian priest, or other un
scrupulous i arsons.
The natives here, who are with
out exception, adherents of the
(ireek orthodox faith, and quite
fanatical, observed the holidays of
Russia iu their usual manner. Ou
the first two evenings of Christmas
week paper stars and lanterns,with
caudles burning inside, were car
ried from house to house by natives,
wlio after singing songs iu each
house received either money, candy
or a piece of pie
The Russian New Year’s Day
was observed by the firing of shot
guns anil lilies, as usual trying to
outdo the celebration of American
New Year’s Day by white men. On
the sixth of January* (old style)
Jordan was erected from spruce
I branches, on the lake where the
priest blessed the water. During
the performance altout half a dozen
natives were tiring at intervals with
big charges of powder from shot
guns, making a terrible noise, pre
sumably to frighten away the evil
spirits. After the successful trans
formation of swamp water into holy
! water, the supply of it was repten
! ished by thoughtful natives for a
vear. By natives the hoi v water is
I , . *
i kept in their houses, and while
traveling they carry’ it along in
vials, and believe it is beneficial in
emergencies to take in small doses
internally, or apply externally.
The holidays with their merry
making were passed without any
| notable event, but it was not so last
: winter. When the newly-appoint
1 ed priest—a young lad, and a prig
1 full of chimerical ambitions—on
Christmas day meet ou the road a
respected native, Mr. M. T., who,
full of joy ami happy in spirit, was
celebrating the holiday us a true
son of the Russian church; but te
the super-mundane Rev. Father the
celebration of it by Mr. M. T. ap
peared obscene, and he undertook
to correct it there and then in a
terrestrial manner by striking with
his band, bis wide sleeves Hying,
the face of Mr. M. T. And now he
is waiting for promotion.
The Rev. Father made a great
; mistake in the selection of his pres
ent profession; but even now, if lie
would acquuint himself with
Queensbery rules, and after train
ing, would undoubtedly make an
interesting go with some Ike, the
Gory-Roots, or Mysterious Cyclone
, Rater. A. F.
Valdez -House
■
Newly find Elegantly Furnished. First-Class
in Every I'nrtieular. Best, Heated House in
Alaska. Oflice, Reading Room and Parlor in Con
mvtion. P. P. if N. Co. Office in Building. C. 8.
Telegraph Office neat door. Half Block from
Post-office
J. H. FFolding, Prop.
New Process Steam Laundry.
Fine Laundry Work
A Specialty.
Third SU West of Alaska Av. Valdez.
C. C. B0QARDV5
Assayer and Chemist.
Gold and Silver $ 1.00 Gold Silver and Copper $2.50
60 Coi.vmria St., Skatti.k, Wash.
Dr. L 5. (amkia.
Dentist and Optician.
A Full Line of Sjieotacleson Hand. Clocks
and Wateiies Kc|>aircd on
Short Notice.
McKini.ey St. Valdez.!
WM. WORKMAN P. MAGXESON
Workman’s Road House
First roadhouse built on Government
Trail. Can aeenmodate .'>0 jieople. lias large
wann barn for 20 horse* ami good quarters
for ilogs. Good meals ami everything the
musher desires.
Twenty Miles From Valdez. .
CHX7BCHES SOCIETIES ETC.
"Endeavor Cong. Church—Cor.
Glacier Avenue ami Hobart
Street. Rev. I). W. Cram. Pastor,
Rev. G. L. Hosford. acting pastor.
Services every Sunday at 10:30 a,
m. and 8 p. m. Prayer meeting
Wednesday night. Christian En
deavor Society meets Sunday even
ing at 7 o’clock, Melvin Dempsey,
President.
Church ok the Epiphany—Cor.
Glacier Avenue and Hobart
Street. Services on Sunday at 11
a. in. and 8 p. in. Rev. P. S. Tay
lor. Rector.
Oh he r ok Alaska Moose, Pioneer
Tent Xo. 1. Meet in their own
Hall on Reser
vation Avenue,
every Thursday
evening at 8
o’cloek. W. H.
Crary, Ruling
Spirit; (’has.(>.
Wulff, Keeper
of Wa Wa.
Kmgiits of Pythias Ci.m—W.
A. Rvstrom. Pres., W. E. Bouschor.
Sec. Meets 1st and 3d Monday of
each month in club rooms over
Shaw & Williams.
Vai.dkz Masonic Cm’ii—
’Meets every Wednesday ev
ening at rooms over Sliaw
«S Hliam's, at « o'clock. J. XV.
Leedy i>res. John Lyons, sec.
Brotherhood ok Alaska Pioneers
Arthur Rohgal, Chief, W. J.
McDonnel 1, Secret a ry.
Headunarters, Afognak, Alaska.
Valdez Odd Fellow’s
i Club—Meets every
Friday evening in club
rooms. A. K. Hcilig, Pres.; P. S.
Hunt, Sec’y.
ORLAN CLYDE CULLEN.
Counsellor-at-Law*
IT. 8. Supreme Court, Registered Attorney IT.
S.Patcut Office, I’nited States Mild Foreign Pat
ents, Caveats,|Tradc Marks and copyrights.
No. 700 7th 8t. N. W.,
Opp. IT. 8. Patent Office .
WASHINGTON, D. C.
nun h (lit to.
Complete abstracts of title
to all mineral and other
dawns in the VaMez Min
ing district, including the
Prince William Sound,
Copper River, Chistuclii
na and the Chisnu dis
tricts.
Mads Ustd It Valdez
Ittfi Itls
■
Valdez, Alaska
WHERE
IS ? Who?
STOP
Everyone From Valdez.
AT THE
FRANKLIN
OF COURSE,
Onlv FirstClas* European Hotel in
JUNEAU.
John T. Spickett Proprietor
80 YEARS’
EXPERIENCE
■ V ^ J ' L J
™ fill j . I
^^B V ■ ■ k ■ 1
Tradc Marks
RHIC Designs
rrm’ Copyrights Ac.
Anyone sending a sketch and description may
gwtekly ascertain our opinion free whether an
Invention is probably patentable. Communica
tions strictly conttdentfal. Handbook on Patents
sent free. Oldest agency for securing patents.
Patents taken through Munn A Co. receive
ipceial notice, without charge. In the
Scientific American
A handsomely illustrated weekly. largest cir
culation of any scientific Journal. Terms, 93 a
year: four months, 9L Bold by all newsdealers.
toUKSSsM*
*
Brown & Hawkins
Wholesale Grocers.
McKinley St., north of Reservation At.
. /
Fresh Butter, Eggs, Vegetables
We have Just Receiver! a Large Consignment of New
(tootle.
Large Outfits Filled on Short Notice.
C. DEBORD J. GRIFFITH STEPHENS
Copper River Trading Post
AND FERRY.
at the Junction of Copper River and the Tonsina River. ROAD
HOUSE. Prospector's Supplies and Storage. The most centrally lo
cated Roadhouse and Supply Post in the Copper River Watershed!
The Wayside Inn : :
At Foot of Snmmit on Route t« Interior. Best Ac
comodation* for Man ami Beast. Freighting to all
Point* Contracted for. Address Valdez.
21 Miles From Valdez.
WILSON, DAVISON A LITTLE, Proprietor*.
Notice
To Miners and Prospectors.
On May 1st Tin- XIZIXA TRADING COMPANY
will erect a large handsome store in the rich Xizinn
Mining Camp, containing a $60,000 stock of General
Merchandise, Hardware, etc., which they will dis
pose of at the lowest possible figure, as their
freighting train, consisting of 100 horses and sleds,
will enable- them to take their goods into the
interior at a very’ small cost.
For further particulars see if. ffass, at the
Valdez House.
Nazina Trading Co.
Herman Meyer,
Generaf Manager
Tourist Lodging House.
Warm, Comfortable Beds, also
First-Class Bunks. Xext Door
to Theatre Building, Third and
Alaska Avenue.
W. A. McMCI LEy,
Proprietor
Seattle's Great
Paper.
THE DAILY,
MIDDAY,
lWiCE A WEEK
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Write hr ik.
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and Sunday edition 75c pci month
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_ . The largest and roost comp eta Sun
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fashion, of women s news. Sun
day edition $2.00 per year
Twite a Week (itioo tie Seattle Poit-ltte'i en
ter.
All the news of the w-efc in . on ise
detailed form THE TWICE a
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AB POSTHAilfRjTwiTTre S B,».
POST • Hlfll'fBC (?„ ■ f*T \\ h/s
S. P. WESTON, Business Mann jer
You can’t begin to write a letter
to the old folks or the wife, that
will convey half the information
the Prospector does. Send it to
them.
PATENTS
eoe^mllataH&Sffi
__ H»» FOB HCTMIl UK
Inventor*. Manufacturer*. Seller* and Users
Secure farther Particular*.
••CAR A. MICMCl RCOISTCRIO ATTORRCV,
as* RROADa+AT. NSW VORH. «