The Cordova daily times., 1921-08-04
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1921
THE TREACHERoUs NIzINA
(From the Mccarthy News)


 Once more the treacherous Nizna claims a victim, and one whom we can ill spare from our midst, who bravely rode into the swirIing waters with smile on his face and was un- afraid He knew as we know the dangers of that stream, vet hisa business necessitatcd him making the trip to Chisana, the only trail to which lies through the Nizina river. It is only by an act of Providence that the one who re- claimed poor John Underwood from these waters k alive today, to give Us the details of the terrible accident which took place on the afternoon of the 27ih of July. He took hi, own life in hiS hands when he rode into thc swimming depth, cndravorin@ to save his friends life, and was in tine water for con- siderable time and then only recovered the mortal remains by ~uprrhuman efforts
 Time and again we, and other Alaskan pub- fishers. have made reference to the dangers of the rivcr and the necessity of d bridge, but that fact remains that it is still taking its toll of human life.
 Thousands of dollars can bc spent on the Chltna- Fairbanks trail in order that tourists may travel comfortably to the interior, but not one dollar is being spent toward the building of d bridge to safeguard the lives of those who aid in developing the country. For years we have waited and are still waiting, getting promises but promises will not save lives. Twenty-Five lives have been lost in this section of the river alone, and ii was estimated tcnI years ago that thirty-siX had met their deaths by drowning in the lower part of the river and on into Chitna, up to that time. In those days before the railroad was built, the river was used extensively when travel came from the coast. We admit the fact that bridges have been built but not substantial enough to stand any high water and it is certainly up to the l road commission to see that an appropriation is made from their funds to assist in the bridge building. We have territorial appropriation of $25,OOO towards the expense of new struc- ture but not a cent of tlis money has been 1'S@' m any way and it looks as if this appro- priation is one big bluff.
 Iii the meantime some steps should be taken towards ferry being put in operation imme diately. Last year a prOspectOr ran a ferry and no lives were lost though he could not | attempt it this year on account of less travel He states, however, that he would run any season if the government would allow him a bonus If this so-callcd bridge fund is not going to be used for bridge, why in the Sam Hill cant it be used for this purpose?
 None have better right than the citizens of Mccarthy to demand that mans life be made safe There are only a few of us left and all are more or less interested in mining on the other side of the Nizina, which includes the Chitina and Chisana camps, cheerfuly giving mp their time and money, also risking their lives for the development of their properties and what cooperation have they had from the government?
 This is a serious matter. Petitions private letters and articles in the territorial papers sol far have had no effect and we do not know to whom we can turn now for help. Do you!
 The Alaska people have reputation inI Washington of being kickers and soreheads. One of the papers of southeastern Alaska main tans that we are entitled to that reputation, if expressing our opinions of matters federal and territorial makes us earn it. The bridge