ID1TAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Evening at Iditarod, Alaska.
I at 3 Geo. M. Arbuckle. Publisher No. 20
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MU vemsi lift; nuios uu Kuyiicmuni.
CONVENTIONS
Republican national convention. Chicago, June 18.
Democratic national convention, Baltimore, June 25.
A POSSIBLE WAY 01 T.
Some Democrats in the Iditarod claim to have received
information that leads them to believe Martin Harrais and
his followers were not without justification in taking the
action they did at Cordova. They lay the blame of the
rumpus on A. J. Daly, of whom it is asserted he tried to
run the machine according to his own inclination, irrespec
tive of the rights or feelings of anybody else. It may be
so. Politics is an uncertain game and is not always played
according to the rules. It is true that Jennings would have
been acceptable to the great body of Democrats and that
Harrais would not; that Jennings, with a fair show, would
be almost a sure winner, and that under tin1 most favorable
circumstances Harrais would be as sure a loser. Even so,
unfairness breeds resentment and it may be that the action
of the Harrais crowd is more to be deplored than censured.
In this connection the thought occurs that Jennings
himself is slow to enter a defense of the half of the con
vention that nominated him. Does lie hesitate because In
does not want to defend a wrong? If that is the case it is
creditable to him.
But the important point now is that everything is
shaping itself to the advantage of the stand-pat Republican
candidate. We are living in a country and at a time when
to take political folliestoo much to heart would be to burden
our sonis with unprofitable griefs. If the worst has to
come we should accept it as a matter of course and look
pleasant. There is yet sufficient time, however, for a good
many things to happen, and if it so falls that we can't ge
what we want we ought to accept any opportunity tliai
offers to confound our enemies, and, if possible, grasp such
advantages as are still within our reach. So, as things
stand at present, we shall look forward to the action of tli
Independent Republican convention called for Valdez May
•_M) as a possible means of escape from a rather precarious
poli tical i wed ica m eut.
--.
The name of Kazis Kraui-zunas, who is mentioned at ;
the socialist candidate for delegate to congress, appears ii.
the 1911-'12 edition of Polk’s Gazetteer as an immigration
inspector of the United States Department of Com mere,
and Labor, with headquarters at Ketchikan. His name
was frequently heard in the Interior a couple of years ag<
in connection with the work of the bureau of immigration.
So far as wo know his candidacy has been approved by nom
except the Socialists of Fairbanks district, where John \Y.
Chase, of Seattle, has lately been holding meetings and
delivering addresses. Laborites in Otter precinct held a
meeting some months ago and elected delegates to Fair
banks, in case it should be decided to put a labor candidate
in the field: but no such steps were taken and Krauczunas’t
candidacy has no connection whatever with such organiza
tion as the Laborites possess. That is all we know about1
the Socialist candidate. It does not seem to be sufficient
to cause him to be taken into serious consideration as a fac
tor in the delegate election. Our Fairbanks correspondent
last week seemed to take him seriously, however, and you
can't always tell.
The party composed of Charles
Worden, Ramps Peterson, Charles
Hoxie, John Holmes, Willie Ward,
Ralph Lomen, A. Stoner and Skipper
Larson, who went, down river May 3
for an outing, returned last Tuesday.
They report a very enjoyable time.
About GO miles below Dikemau they
turned tip the Yentnagentna, a left
limit tributary of considerable magni
tude, and ascended it for a long dis
tance. Some i f the party believe this
river navigable for small steamers for
a distance of perhaps 100 miles at a
fair stage of water.
The weather remaining cool, the
mosquitoes were not bud. Not man'
ducks and geese were seen, but enough
were taken to till the needs of the
party, with some left over for their
families and friends upon their arrival
home.
Quitclaim deed blacks—Pioneer.
NOW OPEN FIRST-CLASS ROOMS AND BONKS
Regina Hot
1. XV HOLM, PROP. \
Renovated* Iditafoil, Alaska Splendid Rooms
FRESH MEATS!
Beef Pork Vea! SVIutton
HALIBUT, SAUSAGE, HEADCHEESE, ETC.
iPITAROP i¥SEAT CO.
Second St. Phone 15
First Class in Fact First Ave., Editarod
BEATTIE HOUSE
Furnished Rooms, Bath Rooms; Spring Cats Good Stabias Adjacent
G. J. Hurley, President J. P. Gleason, Vice President A. Bruning, Cashier
American Bank of Alaska
Corner First Are. and Richmond St., Iditarod
CAPITAL $50,000,00, FULLY PAID IN CASH
General Banking Business Transacted Upon Libera!, But Conservative Lines
GOLD DUST PURCHASED UPON ASSAY VALUE
And we guarantee our assays against any of the government assay offices.
Clippings from your gold furnished you for t lie purpose
of obtaining check assays if desired.
We solicit your business, and assure you of our courteous, prompt and
careful attention combined with fair treatment, whether
your account may be large or small.
THE BIGGEST AND BEST
FLAT CITY
G’antz & Swanson, Props.
FURNISHED
ROOMS
Dining Room
and Bar
Stables in Connection
».km QUflft’Q K“£'5mb™ Men's H.avj Sliees I
s« m", jJJiyU 0 1111 Men's Fine Shoes !
$2.50 Shoes Reduced to... $7,50
$9.00 “ *• “ 7,00
$8.oo “ “ “ 6,00
$7,00 Shoes Reduced to... $5,00
$6.00 “ “ “ 4.00
$5.oo *. 3.00
Mo Mahon, Flat City j
_'■ar-Tggwpr
Famous OSd Quaker ftlaid Rye
-ffiaMBSBB
DRAUGHT BEER, DOMESTIC CIGARS
Good Music Every Evening
- — Fla t City - -
Sf
stop at Stanley’s ^ city!
Oiean Furnished Rooms Fine Cafe in Connection ♦
COOD STOCK CIGARS AND LIQUORS I
Large Stables, Warm Dog Kennels Open Day and Night ♦
THE HOME FLnT c‘JLr ^ j
Furnished Rooms, Clean Spring Beds, Bath, Dry Rooms, andi!1
p FUR SEALS c
In 1786 a Russian navigator, by the I
name of Gerassira Pribilof, discovered j
five little desert islands, the largest of j
which is only about 13 miles long, in j
the North Pacific ocean, 2,<?00 miles j
from Seattle and 214 miles from Una- j
Utska, the nearest port. It is upon two j
of these little islands, the St. Paul and !
the St. George, that this once great j
American fur seal herd breed during I
the summer, and then, in the fall, j
leave and proceed through Bering sea
and the passes between the Aleutian
islands into the Pacific ocean, going at
times as far south as Santa Barbara
channel, off the coast of southern Cali
fornia, returning about May to the
islands for the summer.
When the United States purchased
Alaska this herd was variously esti
mated at from two to seven million
seals — the best estimate is probably
about 4,000,000—and from then until
now they have been so wantonly de
stroyed that they now number less
than 140,000. They are the only spe
cies of their kind in the woild and
even now, in their depleted number,
are the largest known herd.
During the firjt 20, veacs of Ameri
: can ownerslnpytj^jit^IfiO.QOO.were killed
J each year and the. skins sold through
I out the world; and not only did the
[very rich ladies wear sealskin coats,
but ladies of moderate means as well.
From 1899 down to the present time
the number secured has rapidly dimin
ished, until now the yearly killing on
these islands does not exceed 12,000.
They have chosen as their abode
these little desert islands of volcanic
origin, far removed from all civiliza
tion, in a region cold and dreary and
useless for all purposes other than the
one for which nature, under a wise
Providence, seems to have provided
them. Their food consists principally
of a small fish even now unclassified,
and not used by us for food, and are
certainly entitled to the protection of
those into whose possession their home
has come.
Since the purchase of Alaska, in
1867, the United States has received
from leases, according to Mr. Lerubkey,
the agent in charge, about $11,000,000,
and as Alaska cost but $7,200,000, they
have much more than paid the pur
chase price. In addition to this, add
the customs our government has col
lected from the reimportation of the
skins after being dressed in London.
The trade in skins by the citizens of
the United States since the purchase
exceeds $50,000,000, and we are there
fore charged with the care of this herd,
not oniy from a humane standpoint,
but from a commercial and financial
standpoint as well. .*■
The governments of the United
States and Great Britain have endeav
ored to 'protect the seal so far as they
can, and the United States has placed
them under the care and keeping nf
the Department of Commerce and La
bor. This department lias been care
ful lo kill only a certain percentage of
the male seals in a manner least likely
to disturb or injure tlie females, and as
the seal is a polygamous animal, hav
ing harems composed of as many as 30
or 40 females, this killing of the males
is pretty generally conceded as doing
no injury to the herd, and at the same
time produced a total revenue of $436,
105.19 for the year 1910; and after de
ducting tiie entire cost of the killing,
sales, and the feeding and caring for
the natives on the island (some 300 in
number), netted Uncle Sam $303,043.37.
Imagine, then, what a vast revenue
can lie obtained from this magnificent
asset of the United States if we will
but care for what we have and make
provisions so that a great increase may
be obtained.
You may naturally ask what has been
the cause of this great decrease and
why has it not been prevented long
ago? First, raids were made upon the
seal islands from time to time, and
many seals, both male and female, were
killed, their skins taken and carried
away. Besides the number thus killed
many others were injured, and the seal
herd disturbed and annoyed, doing
great damage and injury. Then there
came into vogue about 1880 what is
known today as pelagic sealing, or in
oilier words, sea killing. This was the
great agent which brought about the
depletion, and if not soon discontinued
will totally annihilate the seal, and
they will become as the buffalo.
The seals, principally female, leave
t he island for several days and go for
a distance of from 150 to 200 miles at
sea in search of food, intending to re
turn and nurse the pup, which is left
on shore. The seal must come to the
surface very often to breathe, and after I
eating will sleep upon the surface of j
the water while digesting its food, just ,
as a dog sleeps on land after eating a I
hearty meal. The pelagic sealers pro
vide boats of from 25 to 125 tons burden
and carry a crew of about 30 men with
canoes to lower and pursue and kill
i seals. The sleeping seals are speared,
| and the-swimming seals are shot. re
I gardless of whether they are male or
female, and usually about (10 per cent,
aro females. By the killing of the
female further increase from her is at ;
an end, and the little pup on shore dies !
for want of nourishment, because a cow
sea! will not, as is often the case among
other animals, nurse the pup of an
other seal.
In 1881 some 10,000 were killed in
this way, and this number gradually
increased until, in 1891, more than
01,000 were so taken, and from then :
until now this great herd has rapidly
.diminished.—From a speecli delivered
in the House of Representatives Feb.
7 by Hon. J. Charles Lithicum of Ma
ryland.
HERE IS THE HORN’ SONG
In the Missouri Democratic convec
tion the Houn’Song was sung ferventh
by the assembled delegates. What
there is about it to catch the public
fancy, or how its sentiments apply to
any condition of Outside politics, is not
j plain; but it seems to have been spon
taneously adopted as a party battle
I song. Here it is;
i ,, . ,
| Every time t come to town
| The boys keep a-kickin’ my dawg
aroun’;
Makes no difference if he is a houn’,
They got a-quit kickin’ my dawg
aroun'.
Sambo, lay that banjo down,
You good-for-nothin’ triflin’ houn’;
Makes no difference if he am a houn’,
j You got a-quit kickin’ my dawg aroun’.
Every time I go to school
The teacher lams me with a rule:
Makes no difference if I am a foo):
She’s got a-quit laminin’ me with a rule.
Sift the meal an’ save the bran,
You can’t grow taters in sandy lan’;
Makes no difference if he is a houn’,
You got a-quit kicking my dawg aroun’. ;
My dawg Drum is a good oT houn’,
Trails the ’possum ou the driest grouu';
Makes no difference if he is a houn’,
You got a-quit kickin’ my dawg arouD’.'
CUSSEDNESS ATTRIBUTED
TO THE SPRING SEASON
Nome Nugget, April 5: This is the
season of the year when the Christian
like spirit of the people in Alaska is at
its lowest point. More real cussedness
is liable to come to the surface in the
next two months than at any other
season of the year. A trait handed
down to us from animal life, for we
know that certain creatures get so
tired of their own skin at this season
of the year they shed it. One has to
watch for wind squalls at this time of
the year. _
Highest market price paid for shaded
ivory for jewelry manufacturing pur
poses. Robert Simpson.
Infinito, Humboldt, Cuerte Rey, Op
timo, Lovera, Bock and a fine line of
Puerto Rico Cigars at Empire Com
mercial Co.
Fresh eastern oysters $1.00 per can.
Iditarod Meat Co.
Location blanks—Pioneer office.
SALTING THEM DOWN.
Put seven dollars ($7) in the bank
as soon as you can do it; prepare for
seasons lean and lank, and you will
never rue it. I used to blow my
wages in as fast as I could earn
them; whene'er I had some scads of
tin I made a rush to burn them. I
bought all kinds of raiment gay, and
shining ties and collars; and then
one happy, fateful day, I pickled
seven dollars ($7). I put those
roubles down in brine—an impulse
led me to it. And now just take
this hunch of mine: Go likewise
thou and do it. Those seven bones
soon called for more, and oftsoons 1
had twenty; each week I put in
three or four and soon I’ll roll in
plenty. Since [ began this banking
graft my self-respect increases; I
feel that I’m as big as Taft and
just as slick as grease is. I am the
young man unafraid, theyouth with
glad kyoodle; the whole town wants
to get my trade, because I have the
boodle. I do not fear the rainy day
whereon the broke man hollers; so
take my plan—go right away and
salt down seven dollars (97).—Walt
Mason.
COMMUNICATION
Flat Creek, Alaska,
May 0, 1912.
Editor Pioneer: After reading “What
Becker Found Out In Frisco” atu
puzzled and very much disappointed in
you at making the grave mistake of
publishing and personally being re
sponsible for sending into every home
in this community that infectious and
demoralizing Fr isco letter.
I wonder if either yourself or the
author cf that abomination fully re
alizes how thoroughly debasing and
poisonous such reading would be in
every home; also the encouragement it
will lend to the moral and mental
weaklings that are already on the
downward road to sin, sickness and
death?
A newspaper wields a mighty in
fluence in any community. Why not
stand for and by the forces that make
better men and women, happier homes,
and that saves our sous and daughters
from the life of misery, shame and dis
grace th, t is inevitable after once
entering those plague-stricken spots, as
described by Berber.
There is nothing more beautiful in
the whole world than young woman
hood in her teens, and 1 can’t under
stand how any man that lias had a good
mother, lovely sisters, and perhaps a
sweet, innocent child of his own, how
he can witness the horrible sight of
some mother's daughter, rum-soaked,
debauched and being sacrificed for the
evil uestrcs ana cniumei vi.il purposes
of the keepers and patrons of the dance
halls. Well, such men are sellish to
ihe core, unworthy of access to any
good home, and, having known and
being personally acquainted with a
large number of school ma’ams, 1 feel
positive that after a copy of the Frisco
letter reaches tlic-in that socially the
author wou'dbe barred, and ihe butter
milk and peanut refreshments shared
with a different type of men. I am not
alone in this protest, and even if I
were it would not change my opinion
for one minute. As a mother I consider
it my duty to fight and denounce ail
the evils that tend to allure young
girls from their homes and into the
dance halls and other dens of vice that
inevitably follow.
Mrs! sincerely,
MllS. C. N. IVES.
P.S. —Don’t you think you owe a
large number of your subscribers an
apology? Better get busy.—C. N. i.
Select Outside Lumber, corrugated
iron and roofing paper at IIoss & Nes
tor’s.
0D
: 'now
Through last week's mail several
letters were received from Ruby ex
pressing increased confidence in that
camp. One sucii was received by Abe
Rome. Another was received from
Dr. I. H. Moore by Judge Stanton.
The later arrivals from Ruby declare
also that it will make a catnp of more
or less importance, and some of them
say that in their opinion it will be big.
The letter received by Judge Stanton
said: “Our camp is going to be a
dandy. A lot of splendid strikes are
bring made almost daily, i urn now
in 5 to 20-cent dirt on Long, f predict
that Ruby will make the largest camp
ever in Alaska. Mark this prediction
down. When they begin to uncover
$31 pans it looks like a camp. Activity
is evident on every band now. t on
fidence permeates the air and the
kicker is nowhere in evidence."
Flume hose, tents, canvas, if. Rous.
Dr. Heinrich Wortmann,
Offices: Iditarod and Flat Crt'
Telephones at each place
II. BEHL.Y I>. t'AUTI.B
DBS. BEHLs & GARTER,
Dentists
Offices. Pioneer l)n g Stor ■*,
Flat City
Appointments bv Telephone
DR. F. W, HER MS,
Dr. AYori rminn’s <) ft ice.
First Awina- urn Wi;io\v Sii'-et
ALFRED E, Mi ALT BY,
Attorney at Law
Notary I’niur
Oltice Simpson Bldg, First ami Will ,-v
CHfiS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law,
Notary I’r.hlir, (.'onvpyancing.
Iiichaiontl St., IdiUtrod
Wicker sham & Roden,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska
GEORGE! '7CSOORUFF ALBRECHT.
Attorney et Law
Michigan, ’31 Al :3ks, TD Kentucky '91
Tlie Pioneer .Uturiicv of this Camp
! The first boat will soon nu !vo
DRESS UP
Mac—M—a
anti make a hit with the eheelui'. -i '. i
See
^Jy? | | ^ THE PIONEER |
anti we n ill do the res'.
V/s clean Panama Hatsjustlike
Outside.
- " 1 - ~ - -'
ON THE SUMMER TRAIL
R0ADH01Sh
Meals All Honrs.
Ijicjuors and Cigars
Tel: “Summit Koadhousi.”
NOTICE
GENERAL LINE OF GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS
Men’s Underwear, Sox, Mittens, Rubber Shoes, Feit
Shoes and Pacs, Mackinaw Coats and Pants
SHELF HARDWARE
Nails. Building Paper. Dog Fish
We solicit Inspection. Kvery article jruarunteeil. I
fairvsewTrading CO,I
Drink Eosiern leer,i
Miner's Home Saloon
THE HOME OF THE “QUAKES MAID"
Foot of Willow St., Iditarod
'AAAAAAiA. >>*44 AA a>. a a a aaa a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aa
Miner!)' Supplies and General Outfitting a Specially |