The Alaska prospector., 1904-03-24
Chicken Correspondence.

Chicken Creek, February 2s-A special term of court has been or dered held at Eagle City March 2i. Many of the jurors have been sum- moned from the Forty Mile country. Of course no man objects to leav- ing his claim in the winter, paying man $S a day to take his place in the mine, and walk about 100 miles for the munificent remuneration of s4 day and 10 cents mileage, and the satisfying knowledge that he has fulfilled one of his many duties as . citizen.
 We of this section of Alaska are not complaining because a mans civil duties require his services as juror in our courts, but it does seem that it is rubbing it in rather hard when we consider that at each term of the court each petit and grand juror loses $4 per day every day he IS away from home and the cost of the trip less their mileage. Surely juror or witness should be paid a sum equal to the hire of a common laborer in this section. In the States the rule prevails to allow ju- TOTS an amount equal to the aver age between common and first-class labor. This is good rule and should be in force in Alaska. In this way a juror when subpoenaed could put another man in his place, and perform his civil duties with out mourning a financial loss.
 Now our laws provide, if I am not mistaken, that the fees for iur- ors and witnesses shall be fixed by the secretary of the treasury. Why not put the matter before him in proper light and have him remedy it? Let the Valdez Chamber of Commerce take the initiative in this matter. As things now stand the secretary of the treasury has not given us a square deal, probab- ly through a lack of proper infor- nation on his part.
 The report of the Senatorial Con- mittee on Alaskan affairs has ere ated considerable discussion among Forty Milers. Many points in the report are warmly supported and others are equally condemned. Our people seem to stand solid for good roads throughout Alaska and especially support road from Val. deg to this country, of course. That road we are goiug to have it we have to build it ourselves. 1t is a good thing and bona res impellet.
 As to the proposition of require ing the expenditure of any great sum upon a claim as prerequisite to the right to record, depends al- together upon the amount required and brings about more talk. We don't deny the general proposition that high assessment camp is quickest developed, but above this and all things else, must not be forgotten the primal factor in our life, that this country is now and must always be poor mans coun- try as well as rich mans, and upon no consideration whatever must the laws be made to work hardship upon the poor. The laws must never be such as to make it impossible for the poorest among us ito stake, record and hold claim, if acting in good faith.
 Chicken and Wade creeks are showing up well this winter. On McIntosh's claim, 9 below Chicken, o. J. Anderson recently took pan of dirt and got $1O3 in it. H. w. Fish went down the drift and se- lected a pan which showed up $12O Later some boys banned six pans from the same claim and got $166.
 Several self-dumping steam plants are in operation on Wade creed and large amount of bed rock is being uncovered. Very good pay is being found below low CT discovery this winter.
 Walter B. Allen.