Show COPPER DAY AT CORDOVA SPECIAL correspondence En route S S northwestern april 11 1911 saturday april 8 1911 copper day at cordova will go down into history as one of the important dates in alanskas industrial development it will rank with july 17 1897 when the first gold ships arrived at seattle early in the morning to the accompaniment of every bell and steam whistle within a mile of cordova the first freight train loaded with 1100 tons of high grade copper ore from the bonanza mine pulled through town and stopped at the wharf of the copper river northwestern railway the whole town took a holiday and the festivities of the hour were also enjoyed by excursionists from valdez seward katalla batalla Ka talla chitina chilina and other adjacent points the ore was sacked and a large force of men was at once put to work loading the shipment inthe hold of the northwestern and at the present writing the good ship is moving swiftly to seattle with its precious cargo the chambers of commerce of seattle and tacoma are preparing to receive the cargo on priday friday morning april with an appropriate celebration commemorative of the opening of alanskas first through trunk line and the initial shipment of remarkably rich copper ore from the interior the copper river northwestern railway has now been turned over by the contractors and regular train service has been inaugurated between cordova the seaport and miles into the interior reduced ore pates coincident with the opening of the railway its officials have voluntarily reduced the rates on ore and concentrates from all points on the railroad to the smelter at tacoma in line with the plan adopted by western railroads this new tariff is based upon the value of the ore so that the smaller shipper the owner of low grade ores and the prospector who is trying to develop the country gets the advantage of the lowest rates the rates run from per ton on the lowest grade ore to per ton on the ore which shows the highest value the announcement being publicly made on the day of the opening of the railroad created most favorable comment as it indicates the determined effort of the railroad company to develop the interior of alaska in giving to the small shipper every opportunity and advantage in prospecting and developing it is also act acting I 1 na as an incentive to prospectors to go into the country the rates quoted include transportation to cordova and handling at cordova and steamship transportation por tation to the tacoma smelter disastrous fire at Idi word has just been received of a disastrous fire which destroyed a large portion of the business district of Idi city on sunday april 9 the loss has been estimated at this place is the center of activity for the Idi district which promises to be one of the good producers during the year chicken creek in the Idi district is coming to the front and prospecting carried on throughout the winter has demonstrated it to be as rich as the famous flat creek several strikes are reported from this district the biglow brothers with W D nutley are outfitting outwitting out fitting at chitina chilina for extensive prospecting and development work in placer operations erat ions on slate creek which is miles from the new town of chitina chilina Ch itina they are making ready to leave for the interior with a most complete outfit and as this country has not been extensively explored in the past the results are awaited with interest seattle capitalists have secured the controlling interest in the alaska gold quartz mining company embracing five claims on willow creek back of knik the quartz is reported as being very rich and the three stamp mill which is now on the property will be increased to a seven stamp during the coming summer the rush of Stam peders As usual the stam peders have been rushing into the country weeks ahead of time and as a result valdez seward and cordova have been filled with men for the last month they have gained nothing at all by rushing into the country so early as it has been impossible to leave the town owing to the fact that the country has been covered with snow but now and until well on into june is the time to leave for the north the service is regularly maintained to southeastern and to southwestern aisaka while the route to nome kusko cwirn and Idi will not be opened until june the country back of seward continued excellent reports are being received from the country back of seward and while this section generally speaking the kenai peninsula has not enjoyed any boom stamp mills are going in and all preparations being made for one of the busiest seasons in quartz mining that the country has ever known canadian parties who are behind the alaska northern railroad which extends for seventy miles from seward are laying plans to extensively develop their tributary territory and with the opening of the summer season expect to play a most important part in the quartz development of that tion of alaska many experienced quartz miners are making up parties for a thorough study of the alaska situation these parties being largely drawn from butte montana and the nevada camps salt lake men interested A party of salt lake mining men has been formed to operate a large number of claims in the lake mckinley district another section which is making a favorable showing and which is just coming into life on account of the fact that it is tributary to the copper river road the competing steamship lines have announced the opening of the nome route commencing june ath and continued through the summer this will be the signal for one of the heaviest movements to the northland known since the early days of nome owing to the remarkably rich strikes made last year at squirrel river the Idi and other points which will be reached in connecting with the nome routes |