The Chitina leader., 1910-09-24
C hitina the Gateway 7 To Rich Mineral Belt

To strangers arriving in any Of the ports of southern Alaska, one of the first things that strikes them is the new town of Chitina, on the Copper River X Northwestern Rail- road, and which, in the opinion of many promises to be he most inn portant inland commercial centers .-<f the richest mining country in the
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 N 2s.s townsite is situated on the the junction of the Copper, Kotsina and Chitina rivers, and is located in valley which slopes gradually to- wards the north. On the east it is seperated from the Copper river by a low range of hills On the south and fronting the town is one of the prettiest lakes in Alaska, which teens with the gamey trout, grey ling and other lake fish.
 The famous Copper River & North western Railway runs past the town, almost due east, turns north again, and crosses the Copper River about one mile above the town where a bridge is to be constructed second -only to the already famous and com pleted steel bridge which crosses the river between Miles and Childs gla- ,eiers.
 Commercially speaking, Chitina is one of the best located towns in Alas ka, as it will be the distributing cen ter for the renowned Copper River copper belt.
 The trail, or road from Chitina, which is being constructed to con- meet with the Valdez-r'airbanks trail at Willow creek, will be another most important faeter in aid of transpor- tatn& &n, and within the next few yearas tens of thousands of tons of copp@r ore will be mined within a tadiuI E of one hundred miles of Chit ina.
 The Copper River Copper Region fThe Copper river is joined about 133 miles from its mouth by its large eastern branch, the Chitina river, the general course of which is nearly west, north west, and the main branch of the Copper river first haorc to tho vortb xY-aC+ rhop cu-ip 0c north east and finally south east Thus the two branches of the Cop . per, Chitina and upper Copper riv- CTS, nearly surround the Wrangell mountains. The area included be- tween these two streams, and the leads of the White, Chisana or Shu- sana, together with the Nebesna rivers, is generally called the Copper river copper region.
 Chitina Valley
 The Chitina Valley is a lake dot ted expanse of flat land, with an average width of ten miles, the sur face being broken here and there by low. round topped hills and deep canyons of the streams which cross it.
 The Chitina river in its lower 50 miles has cut a deep channel in the valley, the greatest width being ap- proximately one mile, the banks hav- ing an average height of about two hundred feet, and over this gravel floor the river flows in numerous , branching sub-channels. The valley is we'll timbered and furnishes sup i, ply of wood suitable for all require ments. The greater part of the tim Der is spruce, but cottonwood is abundant on many of the river banks and deltas, and though of little value for lumber, it is nevertheless useful as fuel. .x.4
 Scenic Beauty.
 Mountain scenery which surpasses anything in the world can be viewed from near the townsite of Chitina. To the northward are the Wran yell mountains which run tov ard the southeast, and merge in'n the Skoli mountains. Peaks i;I these ranges vary sn altitude from S.Gc0 to 16.00O feet. Mt Blackburn beong 1G 400 feet and Mt. Wrangell II 4nt5 feet in height. The lofty summits of these peaks showing up above the mountain ranges with their ice-cov- cred ridges, form a sight that is never to be forgotten by one who has been so favored by the gods ever to have viewed them once. Would the American tourist who spends his money on going to Switzerland to view the renowned Alps only come to Alaska and view the magnificent mountains and the Copper river re- zion. he would undoubtedly on hi,