The Cordova daily times., 1921-06-21

ployed is mostly Chinese, imported from San Francisco for each season only. Orca is also United States post office, with monthly mails.
 The Copper river natives are dis tinct from the Aluet tribes on the coast, and seem to be more closely allied to the North American h. dians; their total number is prob ably less than 300. The country is apportioned off politically, each clan adhering closely to its own district in hunting and fishing. Until re- gently those best known to the whites were the Taral or Chittena natives, whose chief Nicolai has been mentioned by Lieut. Allen, Lieut.. Schwatka, and Dr. Hayes. Nicolai, however, has now lost his influence among his people, who, with unanimous Nraise, refer to Hanegetta as the most wealthy, pow erful, and capable leader of their tribe. The Tazlinas and Gakonas, constituting the Upper Copper river natives, are commonly known as Kul- chanes. They are said to number about 200, the Tazlinas about 125, and the Gakonas about 70. The Tazlinas occupy the country from the Copper river westward along the Tazlina river and lake to Knik river. The country from above Lake Klutena down the Copper to near Taral is occupied by the Stick na- tives, headed by the sturdy chief, Stiphan
 The Copper river natives on the whole seem to be honest. Though poor, they are hospitable and oblig- ing people, and on several occasions last summer they saved the lives and property of whites who had gone astray.
 Owing probably very largely to the liberal advertisement of passage to the Copper river region by trans portation companies, many prospec- tors and adventures bound for the klondike or to indefinite destina- tions in Alaska were led in the season of 1898, to try their fortunes in the Copper river country. Many , hoped at the same time to proceed by way of the prospective all-Ameri- can route into the gold districts of the Upper Yukon
 The influx began in February and continued until late in June, during which time it is estimated that more than 4,000 people and their out fits landed at Valdez, the great gate way to Copper. Of these, more than 5000 are supposed to have entered the Copper river basin over the summit of the Valdez glacier. In the meantime several hundred pros- pectors landed at Orca and attempted to ascend the Copper river from it's mouth, but very few of them reached Taral and the Chittena.
 The exodus began in May and con- tinued until late in October, many returning over the glacier to Valdez afoot and many down the Copper by boat; probably 300 remained in the country, mostly at Copper Center, during the winter of 1S9S-99, and a score or so at Valdez, on the coast. Among those in the interior numer- ous cases of scurvy, some of which were serious, are reported to have occurred.
 Letter mail taken from Valdez into the Copper river during the three months of August, September, and October, numbered more than 4,2OO. Applications for the establishment of an official postoffice at Valdez and Copper Center are now on file with the postmaster general.
 ANIMAL LIFE
 Several species of bear, caribou, and some moose were observed in the Copper river basin. In the mountains toward the coast sheep were shot. by prospectors, and wolf are also said to occur. Beaver are present on most of the tributaries and lakes. Red and gray squirrel are abundant; porcupine are con- mon.
 | The eagle, crow, hawk, goose, duck, ptarmlgan, grouse, sea gull, sand piper, snowbird, robin brown thrush,