The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1911-04-01

ton. But to all NJ. J. Heney was a
friend, and not taskmaster. He
was loved and respected by all his
men and the public generally.
As during his previous contract
Mr.. Heney had as his first lieuten
ant Samuel Murchison. He has
much of the same force and many
of the characteristics Of his chief
When the absence and illness Of Mr.
Heney required that he assume full
responsibility. Mr.. Murchison never
faltered. but took hold and labored
with a fidelity and energy that en-
deared him to his chief and won hin
the favor of all the employees. Since
the death OF Mr.. Heney the work has
been under the absolute direction OF
Mr.. Murchison, and he has made fol
himself such a record as will forever
establish him as one Of the foremost
and successful railroad builders OF
the country. He has splendid
knowledge of men, and his kindly
and courteous treatment of his en-
ployes resulted in securing their con-
fdence and loyalty to marked de-
gree and with such results as is only
achieved by men of giant force aud
great consideration.
The personnel of M. J. Heney. con-
tractor, is composed as follows: Gen.
eral superintendent, Samuel Murchi-
son; superintendent of bridges and
buildings. P. J. O'Brien; superintend
snt of transportation, w. C. Robin
SON; superintendent of motive pow
IT. H. R. Simpson; superintendent of
track, A. L. Mccoy; general foreman,
Daniel Hedican; chief surgeon, DR..
F. B. Whiting; chief storekeeper.
Archie Shells; assistant storekeeper.
Thos. Fitch.
The Heney company has consider
able work still to perform before
turning over to the Katalla Company
the remaining section from Chitina
to Kennicott. Filling in ties, COM
pleting trestles, ballasting, and some
general work will keep the present
employees busy until the 18th of Ap-
ril. On that day Mr.. Murchison will
turn over the last section of the
railroad to General Manager Haw-
kins. and from that time on all nee
essary ballasting and additional i'm
provements on the railroad will De
performed by the Katalla Company.
The work of the Heney company
has been energetically and skillfully
performed. Some delay was occa-
stoned by reason of discovered ice
seams and slides in heavy rock work.
This delayed the building of the Kus-
kulana bridge until an extreme bitter
season, and naturally resulted in nee.
essary delay in the completion OF
the work. Otherwise it was up to
schedule and such delay as there was
is attributed entirely to the ele-
ments.
The Bonanza Mine.
The direct reason for the construc-
ton of the Copper River & North
western Railway was to reach the
mining property of the Kennecott
Mines Company, which had been &C
quired by the Alaska Syndicate for
a consideration OF 100000. This
property now consists of thirty-two
lode claims and eighteen placer
claims, embracing total acreage of
3,240 acres. Practically the only de-
velopment was on the Bonanza group,
which had $6,O00,000 Of rich copper
ore in sight. But it was apparent
from the start that the Syndicate
would not be justified in building a
standardized modern railway to car
ry the tonnage Of their own property.
They realized the prospective devel-
opment of many greater producers
on claims close to the railroad and
so decided to build a substantial and
permanent road, in the belief that
development would give ample ton
mage.
The Bonanza mine is located upon
a high ridge between Kennecott gla-
cier and Mccarthy creek. 1t is six
miles above the foot of the glacier
and three miles from the town OF
Kennecott. where the concentratoI
and ore bins are located. The mine
is 1900 feet above the timber line,
at an elevation Of about $500 feet
with good trail leading to it. The
ore is practically pure chalcocite OF
copper glance, and is stained upon
the surface by copper carbonates
Comparatively little work has as YET