IDITAROD PSOMEER
I’UULISHED P.VEKY SA IT’KDAY KVENIKG AT IlHTAKOIl. ALASKA.
yol 4 Coo. M. flrbuckls. Publisher f:° ‘
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FOR GOV HRNOR OF ALASKA
,L F. A. Strunk
LET THE WILSON IDEA PKEYAIL
The question of railroad construction in Alaska lias
been brought within the range of practical politics by
President Taft's message to congress last week dealing with
the matter, and the selection of routes becomes a subject of
vital importance to every resident of the Interior, I he
proposals submitted by President Taft include the construc
tion of two trunk lines—one starting inland from Cordova
and the other with a terminal at Seward. On the other
hand, we have the counter pioposals of Woodrow Wilson,
who, if reports are correct, favors the construction of two
trunk roads with but one terminal—Seward.
Now while the people of Alaska, or at least the vast
body of them, may have no voice in the ultimate disposi
tion of the matter, it is within their province to discuss
the various proposals, criticize them if they see lit, and
make w hatever suggestions they deem advisable to secure
recognition of the special claims of their respective locali
ties. Therefore it is not to be wondered at that when this
question of railroad construction in Alaska looms ahead all
districts clamor for a hearing. Especially is this the ease
in the coast towns, the continued existence of w hich may
depend upon the longed-for railroads to the Interior.
But considerations of tlie benefit that night accrue to
one coast town, or injury that may result to another, should
not, and probably will not have any bearing upon the
ultimate decision—the sole question to be settled being:
What form should railroad constructhm in Alaska take so
that it may result in the greatest good to the territory as a
whole? When an answer is found to that question, the
selection of routes and terminals is settled once and for all,
regardless of agitation, petitions, meetings of protest, etc.,
that may ensue. But that does not preclude us from look
ing into the proposals submitted, and judging of their
merits and demerits from our viewpoint, especially as Ldit
arod is provided for in any case, and we can approach the
subject without bias.
in his message to congress President fait recommends
the construction of two trunk lines—one having a terminal
at Cordova and going inland to Fairbanks; the other start
ing from Seward, tapping the Matanuska coalfields, then
turning westwai" and coining to Iditarod. This scheme
has several drawbacks and is sure to meet with much op
position, for reasons which we shall demonstrate. It will
remembered that the original proposition was to appeal to
congress to appropriate funds for the construction of one
thousand miles of railroads in Alaska. In his report on
proposed railroad routes in Alaska, published last year, Dr.
A. H. Brooks estimated the average cost of construction at
840.000 a mile, which would mean an appropriation of
840.0000. 000. But President Taft's scheme to make Cor
dova a terminal would necessitate the purchase of 123 miles
of the Copper River railroad. As this road cost 800,000 a
mile to build, the cost to the government would be over
811.000. 000, or sufficient, according to Dr. Brooks, to build
275 miles of new road in a more favored locality! There
are yet other objections to President Taft's proposals.
Xot only only do they include handing an eleven-miJIion
dollar melon to the Alaska syndicate; but they ignore the
claims of the rich Susitna valley, the Borinifield district,
and the Xenana coalfields, and would involve wasteful ex
penditure for two terminals, where one would serve. The
congressional appropriation for railroads will be limited,
and Alaska needs as many miles of railroad as can he got
for the money appropriated. The government should not
acquire expensive roads, hut build more.
Turning to the scheme said to be favored by President
elect Woodrow Wilson, we find the proposals not only as
broad in general conception, but provision is made for
opening up a territory limitless in possibilities, while at
the same time securing greater economy in construction,
maintenance and administration. Mr. Wilson favors one
terminal on the coast—Seward. From that point the line
would run northward up the rich Susitna valley to its
junction with the Chulitua, up the Chulitna, across the
divideat Broad Pass, across the Nenana at the canyon, down
the Nenana toits mouth, thence east-by-north to Fairbanks.
The superiority of this route over the Copper River route is
apparent to those who have read Dr. Brooks’ report on the
Beef, by the side,.$ .40
Vea!, 1 .50
button, by the carcass.. .35
Fowl,, per lb. .40
Halibut, “ .25
1DITAROD HEAT CO.
Second St. Phono 15
All Hours Alike in This House
COME ONCE AND YOU WILL COME AGAIN
FIRST A VENUE. SOUTAR & SUTHERLAND, Props.
SNYDER HOUSE Company Depot
Nicely Furnished Rooms FLAT C3TY Large Drying Room
The Restaurant formerly called The Rathskeller Iras been
turned into “A PLAGE TG EAT" E< “S,11"
THE HOME FLAT
Furnisiied Rooms, Clean Spring Beds, Batli, Cry Rooms, a"d ever^«S”e,,ce 1,1
Miner's Home Saloon
THE'HOME GF THE “QUAKER MAID”
Foot of Willow St., Iditarod
subject. Not only is the grade much less—its highest
point, Broad Pass, being only about 2,GOO feet high, or GOO
feet lower than the highest point on any other route—but
it has the additional advantage of passing through the
Matannska coalfields at sea-level; of tapping the fertile
Snsitna valley, rich in agricultural promise; opening up
I the Bonnifield country, with its wealth of minerals, and the
Xenana district with its coal. At Matannska river, 150
from Seward, there would be a junction, from which a
trunk line would turn westward toward Iditarod. This line
would serve' the Snsitna placer mining district, the great
i Kuskokwim valley, the Iditarod and the Innoko districts,
land eventually the lower Yukon and Nome. The prospect
is so magnificent as to be almost inconceivable, save to those
with vivid imaginations. There is one more point to be
noted. Under the Taft scheme a person traveling from
Fairbanks to Iditarod would have to take a sea voyage from
Cordova to Seward. According to the Wilson idea the
same journey could be made in two days—and without
| changing cars. Let the Wilson idea prevail.
The Montenegrins
X these war days in Europe the following from a modern
writer is ofinterest: “The Montenegrins are an off-shoot
of the Servian branch of the Slavonic race. Physically,
they are among the largest and finest people in Europe, and
the conditions of their mountain life in a poor country have de
veloped peculiarities that make them easily distinguishable
from the Servians. They are a race of warriors, always ready
to take up arms against external encroachments, and equally
ready to defend what they regard as their personal rights.
They have thus the reputation of being excitable, quarrelsome
and violent, but every man, even the poorest, has the bearing
and dignity of a gentleman. Theft is unknown, and drunken
ness almost unheard of. A recent report from a town official
said that the only persons who had been in the prison for halt
a year were five men who had told ghost stories, which were
prejudicial to public morality. Women are universally re
spected. A woman may go in safety anywhere in the country.
“The prince of Montenegro is probably the most absolute
sovereign in Europe, the mountaineers of the little state show
ing the loyalty of clansmen for a chief. In 1879 the senate was
transformed into a state council. A very close personal and
political friendship exists bet ween t he reigning house of Monte
negro and the imperial house of Russia. On October -1, 1H9G,
Helena, the third daughter of Prince Nicholas I., who ascended
the throne in I860, married Victor Emmanuel, prince of Xa
yles, who succeeded his father, Humbert, as King of Italy in
1900.”
AFTER THE TROUBLE
now the vanquished statesman kicks and murmurs
pL*U| while the victor sings; but let's forgot stale politics, and
try to think of helpful things. If any man real's up and
tries to thrash the threadbare issues o’er, let’s biff him once
betwixt the eyes and take him home upon a door. The land
the dippy eagle guards without our efforts can make good; let’s
take the tin cans from the yards, and bank the house, and
whack up wood. Let’s see the kids have decent rags when to
the schoolhouse they parade; our old paladiums and flags and
bulwarks do not need our aid. Let’s fill our homes with true
delight and see the wives and children laugh, while Freedom
on her mountain height is sitting for a photograph. Let’s help
the wife who daily slaves among her tubs and pots and pans,
the while the spangled banner waves above a crowd of also
rans. Let’s quit this thing of talking big of Vital Themes and
Peepul’s woes, and give some bedding to the pig, and put away
the garden hose. Oh, let us for a while be sane and fix the
porch and mend the pump, and let the musty old campaign lie
dead and rotting at the dump.—Walt Mason
FAIRBANKS QUARTZ
AVERAGING WELL
i
__
l
I
Fairbanks, February 8.—The j
Chatham Mining Company’s mill
on Chatham creek, is now running
steadily on ore which averages j
about $50 to the ton. The Rhoads- j
Hall mill, on Bedrock creek, is run-,
niug night and day in ore averaging
$30 to the ton.
FIND EXTENSION
DOME PAYSTREAK
Mayer & McCabe, laymen on the
Shakespeare association,near Olnes,
Dome creek, have found an exten
sion of the paystreak. The ground
runs $2 50 to the square foot. Ex
tensive mining operations are in
progress in the neighborhood.
Location Notices at Pioneer otiice.
RUBY VOTES 01
INCORPORATION
Judge F. E. Fuller last month
signed an order providing for the
incorporation of Ruby under cer
tain specified conditions. As a
protest against incorporation had
been filed the people of the camp
will have an opportunity to show
their preference in the matter at an
election which has been called lor
March 18 next.
A. M. Capewell, W. F. Harrison
ai d Phil Gallaher are nominated as
judges of election.
TO FIGHT CANADIAN
RECIPROCITY PACT
Washington, February 12.—In
order to prevent its future accept
ance by Canada, a fight will be
made to repeal the Canadian reci
procity treaty, which Canada re
jected after its advocacy by Presi
dent Taft.
"I arn informed that a hard fight
to repeal the treaty will be mad-,”
said Representative Henry, Demo
crat, of Texas, and chairman of the
House committee on rules. ‘‘The
treaty annulment will probably
come up this session. It is sure to
provoke very much fierce con!ro
versy during the tariff legislation
of the extra session to be called
after Mr Wilson's inauguration.”
Mrs. L.C. THORNTON j
Confectionery, Drugs |
Successor to Miss Kotscti FLAT C!TV, Go'd St. i
BURNS’ VICTIM
IS PARDONED
Portland, Ote., February n.—
President Taft lias issued a pardon
for John Hall, formerly federal dis
trict attorney for Oregon He was
convicted of entering into a con
spiracy with certain alleged land
gtabbers to fence in public lands,
and has since been serving a term
itt the penitentiary'. During his
confinement Ilall refused to discuss
bis case. But when he was liber
ated, and returned to Portland, he
broke l;is eight years of silence.
He asserted his innocence of the
charge and alleged that Detective
William Burns packed a jury to se
cure his conviction, because he had
previously refused to be a party to
some of Burns’ unscrupulous meth
ods when be was railroading old
Senator Mitchell and others to the
penitentiary.
Assessment blanks at Pioneer shop.
HOfVSE AGAi^I!
ON THE WINTER TRAIL
mmm
ROADHOUSE
Meals All Honrs.
Liquors and Cigars
Tel: “Summit Roadhouse.”
Camp [ditarod No. 27, Arctic Broth
erhood, meets at A. B. Hall every
Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Visiting
brethren cordially invited to attend.
CYRIL P. WOOD,
Arctic Chief.
RONALD FROST,
Arctic Recorder.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bates, of Dis
covery, were visitors in Iditarod dur
ing- the week.
Dr. Heinrich Wortmann,
Physician and Surgeon
Offices: Iditarod and Flat City
Telephones at each place
DR. H. BEHLA,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drug Store,
Flat City.
Appointments by Telephone
Wickersham & Roden.
AT L
Iditarod, Alaska
Michigan, 1881 Kentucky, 1891 Alaska, 1910
George Woodruff Albrecht,
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of this Camp
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
Office in Wickersham & Roden Bid^r.
Second Ave.
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
FLAT CITY
Open Day and Night
Outfit Here for Innoko and Mud
River Caraps
Dikeman
Roatlhouse and Store
ROOT . COCKBURN, PROP.
Everything First Class
We Make a Specially of Printing Big and Little
On High-Grade Muslin; They are Just the Thing
to Advertise Your Business Along Winter Trails.
WILL LAST FOR YEARS, AND GET THE BUSINESS