Iditarod Pioneer
One Doei.au Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1911. . Two Bits Per Coi y
I PITAROD-FLAT TRAMWAY 13 SOON TO BE BUILT
Happy Getting Ready
To Take Her Place
Every prospector and promoter in the i
camp is now keeping a watchful eye I
open for further developments on j
Happy creek, where the latest disclos
ures are very promising, and where
there are plenty of indications that
point to a valuable addition to the pro
ducing creeks of the Iditarod district.
The Keystone drill now working on the
Washington association, near the head
of the creek where they are cross-cut
ting with a line of holes, ran into good
pay in the fifth hole Wednesday, and
the news is leaking out in spite of the
efforts that are being made to keep the
operations secret.
Many are of the opinion that Happy
will prove to be in a class with Flat,
and the latest work is tending to prove
this prophesy. Besides the deal of last
week, on the Ray fraction where Ells
worth J. Ives bought the Gagnon lav,
there are a number of deals pending of
a magnitude which indicates that those
who are in on the “know,” have the
utmost confidence in the future of the
creek.
The Keystone drill is now prospect
ing in the interests of Frank iDgles, |
who purchased Dan McCaskill's hold- j
iogs on Happy two weeks ago. As j
there is a payment of $10,000 due under j
the option in May, it behooves them to
do some quick prospecting, and it ap- j
pears they are already getting results, j
The plant of Wiseman, Whalen &!
Chambers lay on the Texas has been j
installed, and they are preparing to!
take out a dump from ground that is !
reckoned very good.
MORE SENSE TO
LIQUOR RULING
There was some misapprehension in j
regard to the ruling of the attorney |
general on the liquor license question j
recently announced and it can be stated j
with some pleasure that things are not I
so bad as they first seemed.
When the news was received here, it j
appeared that the new ruling precluded j
ail holders of retail or barroom licenses I
from selling liquor in bottles, or in I
other words, that all patrons of these i
places would be compelled to drink j
their liquor on the premises.
Doc Donaldson, who just arrived from ]
Fairbanks, reports that this new ruling :
was meant to apply only to roadhouses, !
and that a distinction had been figured j
out between roadhouse licenses and re- I
tail or barroom licenses. This con- j
struction was aimed at those roadhouses j
who have been selling liquor to Indians ]
and now gives some shadow of an excuse
for its existence.
Ladies’ Finery Arrives
in Large Profusion
With a $30,000 stock of the latest im
portations in ladies’ furnishings and lin
gerie, Mrs. Milan, an associate of Mrs.
Mary Andersen of Fairbanks, who has
for years conducted one of the largest
ladies’ furnishing stores in the North,
arrived in the city yesterday afternoon, |
and is already looking for a location }
where she may open for business.
She iyas brought dowu from F'air- j
banks by Claude Shea and George I
Adams with two dogteams, who, be
sides their passenger, carried nearly a
ton of merchandise. Most of the goods
belonged to Mrs. Milan, but there were
also consignments to Brumbaugh, Ham
ilton & Kellogg, the Red Cross drug
store, and Billy Casey of F'lat.
Tho party made the trip in 23 days,
having left Fairbanks on the evening of
March 7. They encountered very cold
and storm)- weather, and a trail that
seemed specially designed to delay them.
The going this side of Lewis Landing
was especially heavy, and the travelers
show unmistakeable signs of their rough
journey.
Claude Shea reports that he delivered
his passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Harry St. |
George, safely at Fairbanks, and that he |
enjoyed his stay of nine days in the
Tanana inetropcl.s to the utmost.
Iditarod Post Cards. Red Cross Drug
Store, First are.
Recording Fees Reduced
Federal officers throughout the ter
ritory have been notified that after the
1st day of June the fees for recording
instruments will be reduced, according
to Fairbanks papers.
By the new rates recording fees will j
bo 30c per folio instead of 40c. The fees
for indexing will remain as at present, i
The minimum charge for recording a
document of three folios or loss will
thus be $1.95, instead of $2.45 as before.
Judge Malt by has not yet received
official notification of the change.
Mexico Put At Peace
Washington, March 14—The Mexi
can ambassador here today received
assurance that the American warships
on the Pacific aDd Gulf coasts would
do no more than call at the Mexican
coaling stations for fuel, and that they
would then probably withdraw.
Mr. Finnegan, of Minshall &
Finnegan, poolroom proprietors ot
Flat, came iti on business today.
Snow Blasse*. Red Cross Drug Store,
first «v«. *»d Willow si.
- I
Local Capitalists and Freighters Solve Perplexing Problem of Freight Transfortation Be
tween This City and the Creeks and Will Have Horse Tramway Operating
Soon After the Opening of Navigation
With plans made for the beginning of building op
erations in a few days’ time, the selection of the most
available right of way, and the cruising of timber nec
essary in the construction of the roadbed and rails, the
most momentous achievement in the history of the Idit
arod is about to be realized, the future of the city as
sured and a vast saving to miners, operators and all
consumers affected through the construction of a horse
tramway between Iditarod city and the mouth of Plat
to be built by local capital, and to be ready for opera
tion shortly after the first boats arrive in the spring.
The trucks and necessary material for the first cars
have already been ordered from the Outside, to be
shipped over Lebarge, and it is expected that by the
first of June the track will be laid at least as far as the
top of the divide between Iditarod and Otter, permit
ting the negotiation of the swampy portion between the
river and the hills. As fast as conditions will permit,
the track will be laid down Cottonwood creek, and it is
hoped that practically all of this season’s freight will
be carried over this line.
The news became public this week and originated
with the firm of Mutchler Bros., the widely-known
freighters, who have taken upon themselves this im
portant solution of the Iditarod freight problem. They
have secured the backing of various money interests
here, upon the representation that an adequate tram
way can be built at an estimated cost of construction
much below all previous figures, which will not only
facilitate the rapid handling of large quantities of
freight at a reasonable rate, but will bring in handsome
returns on the investment. They will be able to handle
every kind and description of machinery and supplies,
and in any quantity that the shippers require, since
this is but a matter of increasing the trips per day and
the number of teams and cars used.
Just who are behind the scheme at the present
time is not known, but it is understood that all the
money will be raised here. The investment is con
sidered an excellent one, and with the completion of
the line all other methods of transporting freight to
the creeks will be most effectually put out of business,
as the promoters are prepared to haul freight from
Iditarod to Flat for three cents, or even less, if it be
found that it can be done at a profit. This of necessity
will eclipse the Otter creek route, since it is not pos
sible to make money at less than five cents on that
stream. They are taking no contracts for the reason that
they have declared a flat rate of $60 a ton for the first
part of the season, and intend to stick to that as re
gards all shippers.
The details of construction have not been fully
gone into, but it is designed to run cars with concave
I rims on the wheels, permitting them to run on round
: rails. The track will be laid on the top of the moss,
and will follow a route somewhat different from the
present road to Flat, as it is thought possible to avoid
some of the grades. With ties and slabs, it will be
firmly ballasted, and between the rails wfill be packed
with sawdust for the horses. The line as now pro
jected goes only as far as Flat, but it is quite possible
that if the scheme prove successful in every particular,
they will also build to Discovery, in order to supply that
industrious portion of th« camp.
Already there has developed rivalry among water
front locators in bidding for the privilege of being the
terminus of the new line. Prank Miiler offers induce
ments for the foot of Willow street, in offering his
dock and providing more wharfage room. The N. C.
Co. dock at the foot of Richmond street also offers ad
vantages, but the objective point has not yet been
selected.
The news of the determination to build this line, is
the most important thing that has occurred for the
benefit of the city of Iditarod since the town was
founded. With this city as a base and distributing
point for the creeks, and a quick and adequate line of
communication between, the prestige of the Iditarod as
the metropolis of this district can never be questioned!
But aside from this feature, there is also the important
consideration, the signiti ■ f which must not be
overlooked. This is the great reduction in the cost to
the consumer of his necessary supplies and machinery,
which will eventually make it possible to mine ground
that cannot now be touched at a profit.
It has long been realized that something of the
sort was vitally necessary for the proper development
of this district, and although its advantages as an in
vestment seemed obvious, people began to despair of
seeing a line put in this year, and many contracts have
already been signed for transporting freight by way of
Otter creek. However, it now developes that the
Mutchler Bros, have been considering the proposition
for some months, and have only recently reached a
point in their negotiations where they could give out
assurance that the tramway should be built.
Mark Sullivan Dies Suddenly at Fairbanks
Containing only the information that Martin Lane
Sullivan, known throughout Alaska as Mark Sullivan, a
prominent attorney and wealthy mine-owner of Fairbanks,
had died suddenly on March 23, a message was brought to
this city yesterday evening by Frank Grace, assistant travel
ing auditor of the N. C. Co. and delivered to Charles Sitter,
merchant and business associate of Mr. Sullivan, The
manner of death or the cause are matters of mere conjee
ture, for the message contains only the bald statement ot
death. The end appears to have come with little warning
however, since the latest preceding reports indicate that he
was in the best of health and enjoying life to the utmost.
He left here in F'ebruary in company with Wm. Barrett,
Ed Lewin and N. N Jaffe and after an easy trip over the
trail, arrived at Fairbanks on March 12. From the letters
written along the wav to Charles Suter, he seemed to he
enjoying the trip greatly and spoke of the prodigious meals
he was eating at all the roadhouses. He stopped in Fair
banks to attend to some matters of business and intended
to proceed on his way Outside to join liis wife and baby
daughter who have been .-pending the winter on the coast.
Nothing is known regarding the arrangements for his
burial pending word from his widow in Seattle and from
his sister in Maine, the ancestral home of the Sullivans. It
is thought however that the remains will be shipped to New
England to be buried by the side of his mother who passed
away about a year ago.
Mark Sullivan was cite of the pioneers of the North. A
graduate in law from the Univerity of Michigan, he prac
ticed in Nome during the early days of that camp, and after
wards moved to Dawson, where he became associated with
John L. McGinn, a firm that has been well known through
out Alaska ever since. They moved to Fairbanks about
1904, and built up a large and lucrative mining practice
which made them both independently wealthy. They were
associated with Captain Barnette and Henry Cook in the
famous Dome creek litigation, and took [.'art in all the big
cases of the Fairbanks district.
He was a life member of the Arctic Brotherhood, but
whether or not he was affiliated with other fraternal organ
izations is not known. Last fall he was elected president
of the Iditarod Club, and has ever been active in the social
affairs of the cities in which he lived. He was an able and
upright citizen, and a staunch and true friend.
Besides his widow and daughter his closest relatives
are a brother and sister living in Maine. He carried life
insurance to the extent of $15,000 and leaves an estate of
approximately $125,000, most of it being in cash.
Flat City’s New Hospital Will Be Ready for Business June 1
Attended by 150 working men and 20 operators, a j
meeting was held at Flat City Thursday night, whereupon
an organization was effected and a resolution passed calling
for bids on the erection of a hospital to be ready for occu
pancy by the 1st of June. A committee consisting of Jack
Ronan, John H. Scott, George Friend, John Connolly and
Con Buckley was appointed to deal with prospective bid
ders.
A keen interest in the matter was apparent from the
beginning, and the conviction seemed fixed in the minds of
all that a hospital is an absolute necessity for the coming
season. There being little argument as to the need of such
an institution the body proceeded directly to the means of
establishing a haven for the sick amt injured, and it was
decided that doctors and all other persons interested be
called upon to furnish bids and estimates for the erection
and maintenance of a suitable building to be ready for use
in two months, or about the time the active sluicing season
begins. According to the request of John H. Scott, secretary
of the committee at Flat City, to whom communications
should be addressed, these bids should specify the approxi
mate size of the building, the number of patients that can
be cared for, and what will be furnished, such as board,
nursing, medicines, etc. They also desire to know upon
what terms, or upon what amount having been paid the
hospital may become a public one.
The manner in which collections shall be made from
those who are to contribute .should !>e set out, and how
much per month will be requited lor June, July, August
and September, as well as for the balance ot the year, dur
ing the closed season.
It is understood that agitation is on foot to get all work
ing men on the creeks to join the movement, to the etui
that a regular contribution can be collected each mouth
from the miners, who will thus be entitled to hospital
accommodation should they fall sick or meet with accidents.
An earlv reply is asked for and when all bids are in a meet
ing of the committee will be called by chairman Jack Ronati
to consider the same.
$50,000 Assured j
for Seward TraH
Seattle, Mar. 14—Delegate Wick
erskam, who is now a guest of this ;
city, prior to a special session of;
Congress, stated today that the
$150,000 appropriated for Alaska
roads, passed both the house and
the senate, with the understanding
that one-third of the amount would
be expended upon a road between
Iditarod and Seward.
Delegate Wickersbam further
stated that Alaska was now being
recognized for what it is worth and
that when the delegation from con
gress visits the territory this sum
mer, Alaska will undoubtedly profit
greatly in future legislation.
Congress Economical
Washington, March 14—The esti
mated total of appropriations by
the session of Congress just closed
reaches one billiou and 25 million
dollars.
Wood Reports All Quiet
Augusta, March 14—President
Taft today received word from Gen.
Wood that the mobilization of
American troops in Texas was com
plete and that there would be no
increase in the present number
amounting to about 10,000. He re
ports all quiet and anticipates no
further hostilities.
Ballinger Is Out, Fisher Is In
Washington, Mar. 13—Secretary of
the Interior Fisher assumed office this
noon. There were no marked cere
monies to record the event, nor did
Secretary Fisher make any radical
statements, as was expected by many
Ballinger adherents. The new secre
tary requested Pierce of the Ballinger
regime to remain in office temporarily,
until he gets acquainted with the
duties of his office. Whether Pierce
will remain in not known.
[Note—This is, the first notification
received here that Ballinger had re
signed. The telegram does not state
what Fisher has received the appoint
ment.—Ed.]
No Coal Legislation
Washington, Mar. 14—In aa inter
view with numerous congressmen,
Maurice D. Leehey, a prominent Se
attle attorney, was informed that there
would be no bill passed for leasing or
court appeals in Alaska coal land cases
during the next two years.
Distemper Remedy for Dogs. Red Cross
Drug Store.
ANOTHER TICKET
NOW IN FIELD
City politics is livening up in a most
encouraging manner and another ticket
is in the field for the city council.
This ticket is called the “Citizens’
Ticket,’’ and contains a number of good
names for office if the town goes for in
corporation on April 11th.
The Pioneer has gone on record as
supporting the Business Men’s Ticket,
named last week, but since the election
will cot be fought along any particular
line except for the best good of the
city, the introduction of another ticket
into the field can only be welcomed in
giving the voter plenty of opportunity
to decide for himself whom he believes
best fitted to control the destinies of
the new municipality.
The interest thus manifested in the
personnel of the council argues strongly
for incorporation, and indicates that
the measure will carry by a safe ma
jority. .
Two of the names on the Citizen s
Ticket for councilmen also appear on
the Business Men’s Ticket, indicating
the strength of Frank Miller and D. S.
McDonald. The names they have
selected for school trustees will doubt
less meet the general approval and will
unquestionably receive the votes of the
supporters of both tickets.
The Citizen’s ticket is as follows :
For council- Frank Miller. D. S. Me
Donald, T. L. McGrath, J. E. Beattie, !
Chas. Krutsinger, Dave Mutchler, J. }
D. Barnes.
For School Board—L. S. Robe, J. A. i
Slippern, Frank Dunham,
Declaration of Principles
By the Citizens' Ticket
In another pirt of this issue is
given the names of the candidates
on the Citizens’ Ticket for the
council The following is what
they promise to do if elected :
We pledge ourselves to give to
the citizens of Iditarod an efficient,
intelligent and economical adminis
tration of city affairs.
An active and well-equipped fire
department.
A fair, fearless and honest police
department under the control of
Pat O’Connor as chief of police.
An energetic and capable street
and sidewaik department.
A modern school for the children.
Equal rights for all ; special
privileges to none.
It large assortment of latest Phonograph
! Records at GOLDSTEIN'S.
The Pioneer for Job Printing.
i
CANINE CONGREGATION
CAUTIOUSLY COMING
About the 7th of this month, oi nexl
Friday, there will be the biggest aggre
gation of malamutes, huskies and un
pedigreed eurs gathered in this citj
that has ever invaded its classic do
mains. With it will come Contractoi
Snow, a band of Siwashes, the mai
and about ten tons of fresh meat, the
last of the famous shipment of beef,
pork and poultry which left Fairbanks
last fall for the Idttarod on thesteamet
Minneapolis.
Early this week, Dikeman received
a visitation of dog teams, there being IE
teams in town at once. They broughi
a large portion of the meat to that
point, and Jim Ryan brought it to Idit
arod with horses this week, making a
total of 12 tons that have been broughi
in. Doc Donaldson, who just arrived
from Fairbanks, was interested to the
extent of counting the dogs at Dike
man. He got past the 300 mark before
he got tired.
Snow will come right through witl
the final load of meat now at cache neai
Diskaket. He will have 21 dog teams
and the city seems destined to hear t
few selections from the Yukon grant
opera. He will bring the mail, ant
will boubtless hurry back to Nulato, a:
it is his intention to bring in two math
in April and thus cut out the May trip
FOR SALE—Three dogs and sled
cheat). Inquire Riverside hotel
Saloon Licenses for
Discovery Assured
That Judge Overfield of Fair
banks has expressed hitnself ns
opposed to playing any favorites in
the matter of granting creek saloon
licenses, and that the applications
for licenses at Discovery Otter, will
in all probability be granted, ts the
repot t brought back by Claude
Shea, who got in Irom Fairbanks
yesterday afternoon. Mr. Shea met
Judge Overfield while there, and in
discussing tite matter of licenses,
particularly in regard to the appli
cation of his father, Gordon Shea,
received the unofficial assurance
that in the absence of other valid
objections the licenses would prob
ably be granted.
There are four applications in but
it is not known whether all of them
.re going through in regard to put
ting up the license money, which,
it is understood, has not been done
in all cases. These are the appli
cations of Pete Michels, Hutchison
ft Kintnau, Gordon Shea and Bates
& Hately.
The possibility of Discovery be
ing without the two mile radius of
Flat, the headquarters of Commis
sioner Taylor and the marshal’s
office, seems to have received some
consideration. It is possible that a
commissioner will be appointed for
Discovery.
GILL FOR WITNESSES
STOPS DEVELOPMENT
As a result of the summoning of
numerous wit nesses to Fairbanks from
the Hot Springs district and particu
larly from Sullivan creek, it is said
that the bright prospects hare been
considerably marred in holding up de
velopment.
Doc Donaldson, who got in last week
from Fairbanks, reports that he met
the party on its way to Fairbanks and
there appeared to be about 10 witnesses
besides the defendants.
The latter were Alice Taylor, i harged
with lifting a poke of $.100, G. A. ITes
cot, under five indictments for burglary,
robbery and other pleasant ci argns,
and Tom Patterson, accused of stealing
dogs.
Each case had its own quota of wit
nesses, and as a result Sail; vat. creek
was wellnigh depopulated.
Fiat Greek interests
| One of the big mining transfers of
I the past week, is the sale teported from
| Happy creek where Ellsworth Ives pur
! chased the lay of Jim Gagnon on the
; lower half of the Ray fraction, which
; lays below the Texas association.
The purchase price is given at S5000,
indicating a belief on tiie part of the
purchasers that the paystreak found in
the Texas continues on into the Ray.
The prospecting that has been done on
the ground, although giving encourag
ing indications, has been held up by
water, and the true value of the ground
is unknown. The purchasers, which
are thought to include the Manley
Aitken interests, will open the ground
| up in the near future.
Catholic Priest Visits Camp
I
Having left Fairbanks on March
3 and visiting the dependencies of
the church along the way, Father
Monroe,head of the Catholic church
at Fairbanks, arrived in Flat city
yesterday, coming in by way of
j Opbir. He will remain there for
j two or three days and will spend a
like period in Iditarod, after which
he will hurry back to Fairbanks
before the breakup of the trails.
He came to this section on a
general tour of inspection, and will
report the needs of the district in
regard to the establishment of a
church, a mission or a hospital.
While here he will administer to
J the needs of all members of his
j faith, bttt will probably not conduct
any public services.
THE WAR IS OVER
But we are still selling the FAMOUS
OPTIMO CIGAR for $3.50 a box. We
have reduced the books in circulating
library to $2 each for the remainder of
the winter, if you call and look the
books over you are sure to join the li
brary. la'ndahl’S EMPORIUM,
Iditarod. _
FOR SALE — North Star restaurant,
Dis. Otter, completely equipped. In
quire Shonbeck, Discovery.
FOR SALE — Fine cooking range.
Apply Beattie House.
1 Snow Blasses. Red Cross Drug Store,
Firs! are. and Willow it.
Save the pieces! broken lenses re
traced at Simpson’s,