The Cordova daily times., 1921-02-12
PROPOSE RACE BY DOGS DOWN
 COPPER RIVER

Edward F. Medley, who has just
 returned from a weeks trip to the end of the railroad and back. brings an encouraging report of conditions up the line. He states that he found the communities of Chitina and Me Carthy rather quiet, but both towns are facing a period of development which insures them a prosperous flu ture. At Strelna, the only work going on at present is that being under taken by the Hubbard-Elliot people who are moving machinery and sup plies to their copper property on FL liott creek, preparatory to actual mining this coming summer.
 Mccarthy, being the center, of what is probably the richest mineral section of Alaska, with copper, gold quartz, gold placer, and other min erals nearby, is destined to be a min ing center of great activity in time Needed improvements to adequately open up the country to mineral de- velopment are a stretch of four or five miles on the Shushanna trail, which would obviate the necessity of mushers going across the Nizina glacier. This trail fit for double enders, could be constructed at an estimated cost of from three to five thousand dollars and would greatly reduce the cost of freight into the Shushanna, which varies now, accord ing to the conditions from 17 to % cents per pound. The trail would 1 be on the right side of the Nizina glacier, circling. Skolai lake, and would effectually dissipate the pos sibility of such accidents as hap pened last winter when two men were seriously frozen in crossing the glacier.
 Another important mineral section tributary to Mccarthy is the head waters of the Chitina river A few men are prospecting in there this winter, but prospecting would be greatly aided by the laying out of a trail between the Nizina and Chitina rivers. Prospectors now have the 1 benefit of the SOurdough hill trail for several miles on their way into this country, but between the Nizina and Chitina, distance of about 20 miles, l ic onh if froiI was slashed out, the grade being ex- cellent, it would encourage more men to go into this district. After reaching the Chitina river, the going is comparatively easy.
 While MT. Medley was at Mccarthy, he attended meeting of the Mo Carthy Chamber of Commerce, and assured the local body that 1t would have the hearty support of the Cor dova Chamber of Commerce in all matters looking to the development of their section A great deal of interest has been aroused over dog racing at Mccarthy and vicinity, and at the meeting of the Mccarthy chamber, the suggestion was made of an annual dog race along the Cop per river between Mccarthy and Cor dova. It was pointed out that this would be of great interest, not only | in Alaska, but in the states, and being purely Alaskan sporting event, would receive considerable publicity, which could not fail to act favorably on the resources of the Copper river valley. The conditions for the race would be better than in the Nome sweepstake in many partic- ulars. There would be a railroad and telephone line the whole length of the course, with section camps and towns always within reasonable dis tance. Then too, this section is ac. cessible all the year round by rail train, and boat, whereas Nome coun- try is cut off during the winter. Along with an entrance fee, it would make suitable prizes. The best time of the year for such a race according to oldtimers in the valley is the lat ter part of March. If properly handled no doubt, great interest would be raised in such an event, and dog mushers from all over the ter ritory would come here to compete. The communities up the valley signi- fled their willingness to contribute their share towards making good nurse for the contestants