From Our Exehangss
Haines merchants are discussing the advisabilty of raising
funds to employ competent prospectors to scour the neighboring
hills.
Werny Watts lately found a $30 nugget on Hammond river. He
is one of about twenty men who have been snip there during the
winter.
The Tanana Hot Springs district may yet become famous as a
tin-mining country. Tons upon tons of placer tin are run over into
the tailings on the placer grounds every year, and it is the firm be
lief of many that a rich vein of tin will be struck in the not distant
future.
The incorporation of the Bluff Mining Company a short time
ago authorized Prank Winchester, ot Valdez, to visit their proper
ties and take samples for a mill test and for assay test. Samples
were taken from the wall and from the ledge and sent to Assayer
Tanzy and one assayed $19 and the other $21 per ton.
“Would not be at all surprised to see the Katalla oil fields pro
duce from 20,000 to 30,000 barrels of oil before the end of this year.
I have never seen such a high-grade quality of crude oil, and in all
of my experience I have never seen such evidences of oil as are
shown in and about Katalla."—Charles O'Connor, manager of the
Amalgamated Development Company, to a Cordova Alaskan repre
sentative.
The Squirrel river barometer lias gone up a little again. Not
the weather device but the one that records prospects and condi
tions. According to current reports prospectors and oldtimers
continue to mush into the new country, which bespeaks their faith
in the fields which many have already given up in disgust.
Within four miles of the town of Seward several hardy sons of
Scandia have located a ledge which carries extremely rich values;
in gold. Development work is now in progress. The property
lies with n easy distance of the Alaska Northern railroad, and
when trains begin to run in the spring, it is the plan of the owners
to begin the shipment of the high grade ores to the smelter.
The Alaska Coast Company has determined to operate the San
Francisco steamship Admiral Sampson on the Alaska run in the
place of the wrecked steamship Portland, lost at Katalla. This
will be the first time that a double-bottomed steel, twin screw
steamship equipped with oil-burners has been regularly operated
on this route. The Admiral Sampson has accommodations for 160 j
first-class passengers and 200 second class- She can take 1,500
tons of freight.
The prospect of a railroad from Valdez again appears to be
good. In the past that town has had numberless booms on the
strength of proposed railroads to the interior, but now it is a short
electric road to the mines on Mineral creek. Surveyors have been
working on the line and a power company has taken up a site on
Mineral creek, where power will be generated for operating the
line. The plan calls for a naVrow-gauge electric line from Valdez
along the beach to the mouth of the creek, and thence as far up
the valley as conditions will permit.
Report comes from Sulzsr that never in the history of the
Alaska Industrial Company has the outlook for their property
tool-red as well as at present. The management has been develop
ing the ore bodies with a diamond drill, and in one hole drilled
from the lower tunnel (vertical) the drill was put down 120 feet in
ore without bottoming the ore body. It is reported that the man
agement contemplates installing a larger drill which will enable
them to go down 1,600 feet. The company has present about 40
men employed, and have been making semi-monthly shipments of
ore during the past sesson.
The Chitina Leader, commenting on the cut in rates by the
Copper River & Northwestern railroad, says: An outfit of 50 tons
of freight two years ago cost $10,000 to bring into the Copper river
country. This year the same outfit can be hauled for less than
$2,000, and, besides, it is not necessary to carry large outfits at the
mines, as supplies can be ordered at night, over the telephone,
from Cordova and delivered on the following morning’s train. The
rate to Chitina on groceries, such as potatoes, canned goods, flour,
ham and bacon, sugar, rice, beans, candles, coffee, etc., in small
lots, is reduced to 1 3-4 cents per pound. The rates in a great
many instances are less than half the old prices
This story was sent out from Fairbanks: It is not often that
TURN YOUR FACE TO
The Mecca
For Inspiration
Corner Second Avenue and Willow Street
George Auten Dave Ferguson
PAT KEYS AND PHIL MAYHAN, PROPS.
Telephone Main 64. Office at Ophir House, Willow St.
PASSENGERS, EXPRESS and FREIGHT
Leaves Ophir House, Iditarod, daily, except Sunday.9 a.m.
Leaves Flat Creek, daily, except Sunday....2 P-m
Passenger Rate, $5, each way.
Freight Rates: From Iditarod to Flat City, 3}c a pound. To Creek Points
above Flat City, Rc. To Discovery, Otter, 4.jc.
WIA IS DRY; PA IS WET
Ma is dry, and Pa is wot;
Somethin’ doin’ there, you bet.
Ma gets up and says to Pa
Ain’t no sympathy for law,
Waves her arms and hops around,
En Pa he tries to stand his ground,
Says ’at Jin’s a kind of crank,
En Ma says ’at Pit's a tank,
En that gots everybody bet—
Ma is dry, and Pa is wet.
Ma is dry, and Pa is wet,
Argument an' epithet,
Ma says down with the saloons,
En Pa says Ma is full of prunes,
Waltzes up and waltzes down,
Says they want to kill the town,
Bangs the table with his knucks,
En calls the drys a lot of ducks,
En that makes Ma redhot, you bet—
Ma is dry, and Pa is wet. —Ex. j
THE HEIGHT OF LUXURY
A steam bath, a nice lunch, a
furnished room to sleep in. Elite j
Baths, Caribou street.
The Pioneer for Job Printing.
Northern
Commercial
^ Company
THE ONLY PLACE
IN TOWN TO GET
I ■
_WE ARE THE SOLE AGENTS
Stores: Iclitarocl and Dikeman
caribou are so plentiful or so tame that they interfere with a man
who is hunting birds, yet that is the state of affairs that Charley
Robinson found in the Big Chena country, near the hot springs,
from which he had recently returned. More remarkable still, he
and Jack Healy, foreman for Henry Riley, killed a bull caribou
with shotguns loaded with fine shot, because the fellow persisted
in hanging around and disturbing the ptarmigan that they were
shooting. The first of the caribou appeared in the Big Chena
about September 12, from that date they increased in number until
October 1, when the big run passed through. Estimates on the
number of animals in the herd agree on the figure of 10,000.
John Rosene has returned to Seattle from a busine s trip
which took him to the European capitals, and has been guaranteed
the capital to finance the railroad from Haines to the interior. This
summer promises to be a lively one for Haines, and much develop
ment is expected. A force of men at Rainy Hollow and another at
the Three Guardsmen mines will be operated, and there will be a
crew on Glacier creek, and the canneries will be running, giving
Haines a promise fora busy season.—Haines Pioneer Press.
Rare Red Rogers to ft®
Had it not been for the grub which Red Rogers and W. V.
Perry furnished the members of the U. 8. geological survey, the
topographic and geological survey which had been contemplated in
the Bonnifield country last summercould not have been performed.
When the Capps-Bagiey geological party reached Wood river
they only had enough grub to allow them to stay one day. Perry
and Rogers gave the surveyors what grub they needed and the to
pographer and geologist i-emained in the camp for 11 days, or long
enough to make a fairly complete reconnoissance survey of the dis
trict, both topographical and geological.
Later, after the geological survey party had moved on toward
Donnelly’s expecting to receive supplies by the steamer Tetlin,
Rogers ‘and Perry learned of Berry and Hamil that the steamer
had been stranded, and so they took a fresh supply of grub,
headed the U. S. G. 8. party off and furnished them with more
supplies. The government men were therefore enabled to com
plete their work along the Delta.
RELIANCE UP FROM
WINTER QUARTERS
After about five weeks of preparation
during which she was overhauled by j
her crew on the river hank where she
was caught last fall, some 40 miles be-1
low Dikeman, the N. N. Co. steamer j
|
Reliance steamed to the city last Mon
day night and was enthusiastically wel
comed by most, of the city’s population.
Capt. G.eo. Green is in charge of the
vessel with Mate Harry Gunn, second
in command. Eddie Troughten is pur
ser, having returned to the company in
that capacity after several year’s va
cation. Frank Mackleson is chief en
gineer.
The Reliance brought the barge
Ermine with a few thousand feet of
lumber, several reels of wire cable and
a consignment of liquors for tho Board
of Trade saloon.
First Game of Dock Season
When the Str. Reliance steamed to
the f waterfront last Monday evening
the most welcome thing she brought
was the big bunch of game birds from
the lower river, which arrived to re
plenish a meager market and vary for
a moment a monotonous bill of fare.
Otto Nichols was on board and he had
about 200 ducks and geese, about half
of each. This game was shot about 85
miles below Dikeman in the Flats of
the Iditarod and was the first consign
ment of any magnitude to reach the
city.
Immediately upon the arrival of the
boat, Anderson & Barrett, who have
recently established a commission busi
ness here, secured the lot and inside of
24 hours had disposed of all of them at
good prices.
The whole town was game hungry
and the birds went like the proverbial
hot cakes. It is probable that there
will be more hunters in with the com
ing steamboats.
Work on the new A. B. hall is pro
gressing rapidly under the direction of
Foreman Bishop and with the assistance
of a large force of carpenters.
Knock out that grippe! Got a
Turkish bath. Elits Saths, Cari
bou street.
51NG AND SMILE
Charles the First, with stately
walk, made the journey to the
block. As he paced the street
along, silence fell upon the throng;
from that throng there burst a sigh,
for a king had come to die. Charles
upon the scaffold stood, in his veins
no craven blood; ca'.tn, serene, he
viewed the crowd, while the heads
man said aloud: “Cheer up, Charlie!
Stnile and sing! Death’s a most de
lightful thing. It will cure your
hacking cough, when T chop your
headpiece off! Headache, toothache
—they’re a bore; you will never
have them more! Cheer up, Char
lie, dance and yell; here's the ax
and all is well! I, though a humble
dub, represent the Sunshine Club,
and our motto is worth while: 'Do
Not Worry—Sing and Smile.’
Therefore, let us both be gay, as we
do our stunt today; I to swing the
shining ax; you to take a few swift
whacks. Lumpty-doodle, humpty
ding, do not worry; smile and sing!”
—Walt Mason.
Sale's Jewelry Store loves
Under the direction of Manager An
thonison, the Sale jewelry store was
moved during the week from the old
quarters in Landahl's emporium on the
corner of First and Richmond to the
new place in the McDonald hotel mid
way of the block on First.
Though not large, the new quarters
are decidedly attractive and with the
arrival of the varied stock and show
cases which Jack Sale is bringing on
the first boat, the place will quickly
become a first class gem mart.
Board of Trade Gets New Stock
On the Str. Reliance which arrived
from the lower river this week, a con
signment of liquors was brought for the
Board of Trade saloon, arriving just in
time to be of great use at the formal
opening of navigation.
This lot of goods was caught at the
lower town last fall, and has been sorely
missed by the connoisseurs of the city.
If you want your clothing cleaned or pressed
ring up Wile the Tailor—Phone 68
J. L. SALE,. Leading Jeweler of the North
IS NOW LOCATED
-IN THE
McDonald building
Call an 1 Inspect Our Display of Souvenir Jewelry
Cross-Country Riding
Coming Do wn Valley
With poling-boats for steeds and river rims for hurdles, the
two Hofseth brothers, Tony Freeman, Capt. Moore, Pete Murdock,
Albert Rudi and Ole Sanders had an exciting cross-country run
down the Iditarod valley early this week, arriving from the very
headwaters of that stream early Tuesday afternoon. They came
on the very flood tide of the high water, and in many places forgot
all about the river channel. It was a case of making cutoffs and
sidesteps, for in places the whole river bottom was covered with
water, and they sailed merrily along in the shade of the trees.
The party has been away for nearly a year, prospecting the
headwaters of the Iditarod and some of the tributaries of the Kus
kokwim. Tony Freeman and the Hofseth boys spent a great part
of their time on theKuskokwim side, and recently left the lower end
of the Holokuk, crossing over to the Iditarod side where they joined
Moore, Murdock, Rudi and Sanders, who had been putting their
time prospecting in the vicinity of Rainey and Little creeks.
Of the winter’s work they have little to say beyond the fact
that it was not encouraging. Disappointment attended most of
their efforts, and it is doubtful if they will return to that particular
section.
Rainey and Little ci’eeks have shown little and the men who
are in that section, including John Klonos and other old-timei's,
can be expected to drop in here at any time.
On the other hand, the Hofseth boys and Freeman are quite
enthusiastic about the prospects on the Holokuk, a left-limit tribu.
tary of the Kuskokwim, and will return there this summer.
GETTIN’ ON IN THE WORLD
A feller kin fail at. ever'thing an’
still be a good pool player. Seems like
the feller that wins two or three dollars
playin’ cards never wants t’ work agin.
It often happens that a feller's use
fulness ends when his salary is raised.
Lafe Bud has resigned his job at th’
sawmill ’cause it took too much o’ his
time.
The more important a feller gits
around a concern, th’ easier it seems t’
git along without him while he is on a
vacation.
It seems like the folks that go t’
work at eight or nine o’clock makes all
th’ money.
I guess A1 Timmons is consid’able of
a feller. He’s near on thirty, an’ never
failed in business ner had a fire.
Lots of folks git credit for having a
strong will power when tiler only pig
headed.
Somethin’s wrong somewher when
a feller can’t have as much as lie had
when iie wuz out o’ work.
Tilford Moots was exhibiting a wood
en chain at til’ postoffice yisterday that
showed con’sidabie genius. He jist
carved it out with a pen knife Monday
mornin’ while his wife was plowin'.
Til’ feller that argues with himself
alius gits tli’ best o’ it.
A friend that ain't in need is a friend
indeed.
A feller that don't advertise may
know his business, but nobuddy else
does.
Boys will he boys, an’ so will lots o’
ole men.
A feller kin have a swelled head an’
still wear a number six hat.
A word t’ th’ wise is unnecessary.—
Abe Martin, in Business.
FOR A LUNCH_
ulxu.Forks Coffee House
FORKS FLA T CRcEKMiss E. Lovcgren, Prep.
FOR QUIETNESS AND COMFORT SLEEP AT
Cold St.,
Flat City
Mutohler Bros. \
FREIGHTERS
Telephone 67 Wood for Sale']
; Rates: To Flat Creek, 3 1-2 cents a pound. To Creek Points\
\ Above Flat, 4 1-2 cents. To Discovery, Otter, 4 1-2 cents, |
: Stage Line Between iditarod and Flat Cityl
Leaves Flat City 8 a. m. Leaves Iditarod 2 p, m. s
Iditarod Office, Next to Sherburne House, Willow Street. S
: Flat City Office, Grand Hotel. jr